SOG Vent & Question--UPDATE

[Uncle Mikey]

Thank you FirstNo for a glance inside of SOG. Motivation for change often only comes when a company is losing business because of their practices. That is obviously not the case here. So I believe you are right that there is no motivation for change. I did not realize that there were other phone numbers or e-mail as contact options. Could someone please post those for me? This has been a great thread and will keep this information in mind. We will be making our first time reservations in a week or two. Thanks.

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by Maridw
FirstNo-- Maybe you can answer a question about the waiting list for Christmas reservations. We called early in the year (Feb/Mar - I think) and put our name down for Christimas reservations - to see if we could get a room over Christmas. We were told that they were taking names and someone would be calling in late May or early June. Are they calling people to let them know who has gotten a requested reservation for Christmas, or should we try calling back to see if we got in? What is the best way to handle this?

We have booked at CS for over Thanksgiving but would drop that in a heartbeat if we had SoG ressies for Christmas. We have always wanted to try and do Christmas at WDW.

I had dinner over the weekend with my friend who still works there. Other than hearing there were over 1900 (no typo) emails waiting for the primary email person when she got back (I got a BIG chuckle out of that as she was one of the reasons I left) and hearing a few non-guest issues, I haven't heard how they're doing with Xmas.

Normally, they would have started doing Xmas between Feb-Apr. Having not gotten on the list until such a late time, you *probably* will still be called, but it may be a while yet. By this point, I imagine all of the rooms have all ready been sold out. Then again, a lot depends on how they're proceeding. I still don't believe the entire hotel will be ready w/i the next 6 mos. I think it's pretty assured the original hotel will be ready and they could comfortably sell those almost 300 rooms. That may be what they're doing. I've also heard the penalty is extremely huge if they aren't out of CR by the Dec time frame so, they're going to open whether they're ready or not (which is what I had predicted a very long time ago).

I'll talk to my friend and see if she can get me any info on Xmas, but even in 'normal' times, you'd still have a bit of a wait due to the number of people have been historically ahead of you.

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by MHopkins2
Not that she can't defend herself, but... Amy's DH is a military man - she meant that comment tongue-in-cheek.

I appreciate you're clarification and I very much appreciate Amy's apology, however I feel making that type of comment when men and women are still dying in Iraq and Afghanistan....let's just say *I* don't think it's the right time to make fun of the military's working habits. Just MO and yes, I probably am more sensitive to it since I lived it. <g>

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by Uncle Mikey
Thank you FirstNo for a glance inside of SOG. Motivation for change often only comes when a company is losing business because of their practices. That is obviously not the case here. So I believe you are right that there is no motivation for change. I did not realize that there were other phone numbers or e-mail as contact options. Could someone please post those for me? This has been a great thread and will keep this information in mind. We will be making our first time reservations in a week or two. Thanks.

Email is now 3yrs old. The web address (there's a resv request form you can fill out) is: www.shadesofgreen.org. That's the official site name, unless it changed in the almost year since I've been gone (has it really been that long?!?! YIKES!).

Both telephone numbers should be up there. However, there is no more sympathy for guests who call in whining how they're paying long distance when they've had a toll free number for so long, so user beware which number you're calling <G>.

They've lost quite a few resv agents since I left. At this point, I think they're almost half of what they were. This means that even though they should be in the slow season, you may not get through almost immediately, as you normally would. Each year our numbers went up (phone traffic was automatically tracked, email traffic was tracked by hand, but I don't know if it still is) and with the 'new' hotel opening this year, I would imagine that has increased the traffic. Good luck!!!

 

[Maridw]

FirstNo:

Thank you for you help and info.

I talked to my DH and he mentioned the email we received when we sent in the reservation request, so I found it to see what it said.

Thank you for your inquiry and your interest in the Shades of Green.
You have been placed on the wait list arriving 12/20 and departing 12/27.

Everyone inquiring travel dates of Dec 22, 2003 - Dec 31, 2003 will be placed on the waiting list. Everyone will be required to be on the "Hollydays" package for ALL nights they are staying, which is a 3-night minimum. We (SoG) will be calling guests as soon as the package information is available to us, which may be May or June 2003.

If/when a room becomes available, we will contact you. If you contact us to check the "status" of your waiting list, we will not be able to tell you this information. This is due to the fact that we have no way to anticipate cancellations.

Rest assured, we will work your request efficiently and as expediently as possible.

Please be advised, this is only a confirmation of placement on the wait list. this is NOT A CONFIRMED RESERVATION. This is only confirmation of being placed ON THE WAIT LIST.

We sent in a request on Feb 2, 2003 and received this reply on Feb 4, 2003.

I wish they had a map of what the scheduled completion is to look like. You really can't tell for the artist's picture. I am having trouble figuring out where exactly the pics are being taken from in the construction photos. I am guessing the building on the far left is the entrance??? Do you know what is what in those pics?

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by Maridw
FirstNo:

Thank you for you help and info.

I talked to my DH and he mentioned the email we received when we sent in the reservation request, so I found it to see what it said.


We sent in a request on Feb 2, 2003 and received this reply on Feb 4, 2003.

I wish they had a map of what the scheduled completion is to look like. You really can't tell for the artist's picture. I am having trouble figuring out where exactly the pics are being taken from in the construction photos. I am guessing the building on the far left is the entrance??? Do you know what is what in those pics?

It's nice to see they haven't changed my form letter <BG>.

Here's my understanding of how things should be:

The building on the far left (as you face the original building) will be the 5 story (or so) parking garage. Some where not too far behind that will be the new 4/5 story addition (we were told parts of the building will be 4 stories and other parts 5). Entrance to the hotel will still be in the same spot, however they are redoing that whole area. There was way too much congestion with both guests and buses. Supposedly, transportation will be down some steps (I heard an escalator) to a level below where the old drive way was. Guests will still use the same drive way.

The old check in desk will become a lobby area bar (non-smoking of course <g>). I *assume* a new check in desk will be put in some where in this area.

My friend working there hasn't updated me with any new changes to what we had both heard before I left. It may be another couple of months before I can confirm any thing more as far as exactly where things should be. One big mistake I think they're making is not adding another pool by the new addition. 600 rooms with an occupancy of more than 2400 people and only 2 little pools?!?! I think they're going to have complaints, but they may have run out of room (if they go any more, they could be infringing on the golf course and that's Disney territory).

 

[inaminute]

But, I finally got the official word, and it was exactly as you all said. Final payment is due when we arrive.

I tried to get through all day Monday, with no luck. Tuesday morning found the line still busy. Finally, Tuesday afternoon I received a response to the e-mail I sent on Friday evening. What a huge hassle that turned out to be!

Many thanks to those who responded to my question. It was very reassuring and got me through the weekend.