SOG update?

[8caliace]

Anyone out there with any info on how the construction is progressing at SOG? When will they begin to take reservations for the re-opening? Thanks is advance for any info.

 

[DancingBear]

The last authoritive answer I saw was from FirstNo about 4-6 weeks ago and they hadn't even broken ground!

FirstNo, please let us know current status!

 

[DawnCt]

I will be happy when the renovations are complete, however, don't forget that there are overflow rates to other resorts to consider. We made plans yesterday for a 5 night, over Thanksgiving weekend, trip to WDW and got a rate of $164 per night at the Yacht Club. I have paid as little as $135 per night there, but not during a holiday period. I am also paying more for airfare but such is life. My husband will be deployed for Enduring Freedom during that time and the kids and I decided it would be better not to spend Thanksgiving at home. I also found a good rate with L & M car rental. In the past I have been able to snag a good rate with Dollar using the KISS code, but that is not available for our trip. I rented a mini van for $199/wk with a !0% AAA discount at the counter.

 

[SnowAngel]

SOG is still taking reservations. They are just moving people over to the Contemporary North Garden Wing until SOG is re-open. Last I heard it is to open Aug 2003

 

[0506]

I called the other day regarding october of 2003, the cm was very nice but said as of the last update, opening is scheduled for late fall of 2003. She said by the time I make my resises this october they should have some sort of update.

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by 8caliace
Anyone out there with any info on how the construction is progressing at SOG? When will they begin to take reservations for the re-opening? Thanks is advance for any info.

They still have not broken ground, but construction fences are up so, I believe construction will start next week. It's only been 4.5 months....

Also, I have terminated my employment with SoG so, you won't be receiving many updates from me. One of my good friends will still be working there, however she only works one day a week and they pretty much forget she's there. I'm not sure how much info you all would be interested (guest stuff as opposed to working environment stuff) in that I can get from her, but whatever tidbits I hear about, I'll be sure to post. I'm going in today to pick up my work mail (I haven't been at work for 2 weeks) and clean out my office. If there's any thing interesting in there, I'll be sure to let you all know.

I'm sorry I won't be able to help you all out much, but I just couldn't take the way things are done and being run there any more. After a little more than 3 years, I finally had enough. New job with a big pay raise (not in the hotel industry) and I am much happier. I'll still be happy to answer any questions I can from my knowledge of being there and how things are done and should be done. I can be more free and direct in my answers now that I don't have to watch what I write.

 

[ToriLammy]

Originally posted by FirstNo


New job with a big pay raise (not in the hotel industry) and I am much happier. I'll still be happy to answer any questions I can from my knowledge of being there and how things are done and should be done. I can be more free and direct in my answers now that I don't have to watch what I write.

Good luck and best wishes on your new job. Thanks for all your help with SOG in the past.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Are you "Noel"? I received some e-mails from SOG with that name and thought of you. Whoever Noel is was always VERY quick to answer! Congratulations on the new job!

 

[lookingforward]

FirstNo, we will definately miss your updates, info, etc. Thanks for all the help and encouragement you provided to us! Good luck with your new job!!!

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by BibbidiBobbidiBoo
Are you "Noel"? I received some e-mails from SOG with that name and thought of you. Whoever Noel is was always VERY quick to answer! Congratulations on the new job!

Guilty as charged!! Hence my SN: FirstNo(el). Thank you for the kind words. Most appreciated!!! I've been handling the email office since it's inception a little over 2yrs ago. For the first 15 months, I was doing it exclusively. Sep of last year, I finally got the back up I had been asking for since the previous Dec.

Surprisingly, I had no information in my inbox when I went in today. The only thing I can share with you all is part of a talk I had with the Rooms Manager last month. She confirmed that rates WILL go up when the hotel reopens. She didn't remember the exact rates, but I believe that the large gap between Cat 1 and Cat 2 people will close considerably. If I had to guess (these are just guesses...I have NOT heard any rumors), I'd say Cat 1 will be $75-80 and Cat 2 will probably be close to what it is now: $90-93. Cat 3 and 4 will probably go up just a few dollars, too.

We will still have the same amount of pool view rooms and the same additional charge will apply. The additional adult rate will go up from $10 to $15. There will be handicap rooms which will need to be specifically sold. I don't know what will happen if a guest needs one and they are sold out.

To my knowledge, this info has NOT been shared with the other agents, so asking them won't do you any good. If SoG follows suit, they probably won't let the agents know until the last minute about the new rates and what to advise the guests.

When I advised the Rooms Manager last month that downward communication was non-existant and we would appreciate knowing why after 3.5 months (at that time) there still had been no ground breaking, I was told that I was correct and that she should be able to provide us more info on the matter. A month later and there still has been nothing. So, when the agents tell you that they don't know what's going on, please believe them. They aren't pulling your leg...at least not on that subject.

Construction fencing is blocking the entrance to the front of the hotel and the parking lot on the left side. The smaller parking lot on the right is still open for the golfers and remaining SoG personnel. However, I did not see any construction equipment.

My understanding (I've heard this information from a number of employees over a length of time, however this is not "official" info) as to why it has taken so long is that no one seemed to consider that a general contractor was needed. Without the general contractor, permits could not be acquired and building could not begin. I ASSUME since the fencing is going up, that pretty much every thing is in place, at this point. However, this is not the first time this has happened. When the current reservations office was completed, they never bothered to get the correct permits and the agents could not move out of the trailer behind Evergreens until those permits were had. The office opened just a month or so before I started working there. I'm going by what I've been told by the people who were there to experience it. IMO, there is no way the new hotel will be completed in 16 months (fall of 03 is until the 3rd week of Dec), unless they will be working 7 days a week and we receive little rain the rest of this summer and next.

A friendly word of advice: for those on the waiting lists for Xmas and Tgiving (this is directed at those who are on for their entire vacation time and not just for a few additional nights to add on to their existing reservation), if you were put on the list Mar 2002 on, I would seriously consider calling/emailing and asking to be removed and assisted with a reservation in overflow. I took a look at availability today and it doesn't look promising. There a lot of people on the list for both time frames. Although I did a lot of wait list working (calling), I did not handle the Xmas time frame so I don't have as good of a guess work on it, but I don't think I'm far off on my guessing. As always, you're welcome to take your chances. I'm not a seer and some thing may become available, but knowing that overflow sells out for peak time frames, if you really want a room at a fairly reasonable rate, I wouldn't suggest waiting much longer.

Once again, I'm happy to answer any SoG questions that I can. I'm able to answer more freely on how the process works, or should work, and let you know if things are being done correctly. Don't hesitate to ask, but having only been a pion, I won't be able to answer every thing. Sorry for being so wordy!!!

 

[DancingBear]

Thanks for the info, FirstNo. Sorry you won't be at SoG, but glad you're happier at the new job!

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I thought you HAD to be "the First Noel...!" You answered requests within an hour, others take DAYS ! Sorry to see you go, but best of luck. Stop in to give us the scoop when you do hear anything !

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by BibbidiBobbidiBoo
I thought you HAD to be "the First Noel...!" You answered requests within an hour, others take DAYS ! Sorry to see you go, but best of luck. Stop in to give us the scoop when you do hear anything !

You're very kind....having been a SoG guest on more than a dozen occassions while I was in the military, I always tried to remember what it was like to be that guest waiting on the phone or waiting to be called off the waiting list. I always tried my best to answer the emails as quickly as I could. Unfortunately, when the busy season hit (Jan-Apr) and, for the most part, I was still answering emails by myself and receiving more than 250+ emails a day, it was difficult. But, most guests were still responded to within that 3 day window (it helped I worked weekends so, email was answered 7 days a week). BUT IT DOESN'T HELP WHEN YOU EMAIL AND THEN CALL.....ARGH!!!!! <BG>

Before my last review, I sat down and counted how many emails I had dealt with in the year's time. I answered, plus/minus a few hundred, 35,000 emails by myself from May 01 to end of Apr 02. I had a few days when I answered over 300 in a day, but most days, during the busy season were between 230-250. It was enough that my hand and arm would hurt from the repetitive, rapid motions, 8hrs a day, 5 days a week.

I definitely had my share of moronic and imbecilic guests, however it was guests like yourself that made me glad I was doing my job to the best of my ability. The kudos and thanks really do mean a lot to some one who is working themselves hard and trying to do things correctly when most people at their job don't care how things are being done.

No matter which type of customer service person you talk to; the check out lady at the grocery store, the mechanic at the auto shop or the bank teller, never hesitate to smile and, at the very least, say "thank you...have a nice day!" or "I appreciate you taking care of this for me." Those words can turn around some one's day like you wouldn't believe.

Thank you to every one for the well wishes. They are all VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Blondie]

Noel, thank you for helping all the DISers here that needed SOG advice and information! It was nice having a "direct line" to info!

Best of luck to you in your new job!

 

[seashoreCM]

>>> I also found a good rate with L & M car rental.

Caution! There have been recent reports on these boards that L & M had raised their rate when you get to the rental counter just because they felt like doing it, despite your reservation.

Keep looking for alternate rental car deals.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm