some trips don't start as magical

[sueg]

Pre ordered car service "forgot" to pick us up.
United kiosk "had a moment" (according to United employee) & would not give us our pre-paid luggage tag.
Flight got off fine & arrived a little early, but we sat on runway for 20 minutes waiting to deplane. Then we waited 30 minutes for our luggage,
Alamo "skip the line" worked fine.
OKW Hospitality House parking lot filled & could only get a 30 minute spot. Got to front desk to double check our online check-in. Confirmed check in & text/e-mail info. CM says we are at capacity, don't expect your room anytime soon.
Drive to Disney Spring to activate APs. 45 minute wait. Still no text/e-mail on room.
Drive & park at Epcot. Selected for "random" security check. Use FP for Soarin. Walk to Flying Fish where we has a disappointing $160 meal (for 2 with one glass of wine). Still no text/e-mail on room. Back to Epcot where I am put thru additional security again. Drive to OKW.
Room was apparently ready at "about 4" but sometimes the text/e-mail system "doesn't work" (per CM) Didn't get upper floor request.
Tomorrow has to be better!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Got to love those days where nothing is absolutely horrible but also nothing goes absolutely right. Wishing you some pixie dust tomorrow!

 

[sueg]

Sitting on balcony of 4610/4611 lock-off with coffee. Nice view of pond & quiet pool. (Of course, view for photos would have been better on upper level, but I'm moving on from yesterday)
Will try not to see the large, rusted paint damage on door of unit. (Out of blue paint or just waiting for mass refurbish)
Off to Epcot w/ 2 FPs. Waiting for DS & DDIL to join us. Hopefully Magical Express goes smoothly for them. DDIL isn't a Florida fan so we are hoping this trip goes well for them. (No pressure...but we want those grandkids to join us for future trips)

 

[disneynutz]

I guess that's why I hold Disney to a higher expected standard and why I get upset when they let us down. We can't control most of the world around us but we could usually expect Disney to take us to a place where things were different and we were willing to pay a premium price to enjoy the magic.

Bill

 

[Melissakay1q]

Hopefully today is a better day!

 

[sueg]

I will definitely handle room notification differently from here on in. Never want to be constantly asking/nagging about room availability. But I want a phone number from now on so when we here nothing by 4 PM, we can call from wherever we are.
Also, we are lucky that we don't usually travel at peak times & being here during full capacity is an adjustment for us. It is crowded. Over 20 minutes to get thru bag check & front entry at Epcot this AM.

 

[fishermouse]

Get the security check a lot, they are trying to get as many as possible, avg about every 3rd person or depending on how busy it is. You can call to check on the room, but We are usually to busy to get back to it anyway. Had it late a few tomes if they are busy but usually in earlier than 4. Suprused you had a bad meal a Flying Fish it is supposed to be very good.

 

[sueg]

After I calmed down, I spoke to a supervisor today about the check-in problem. She said that IT is "working on it" and they are aware that there are systemic problems with receiving texts. If you leave a # for a text, they don't send the e-mail She said that IT want them to log all problems with the notification system and she was glad I came back to discuss it because the CMs last night did not log my problem. She showed me the phone number, in small print on the bottom of the map. Now I will call if the notification isn't received by 4.
On a positive note, we had one of the BEST meals EVER at California Grille tonight.

 

[DVCjj]

I hope your trip from now on (starting with your great CA Grille meal) goes wonderful.

I got back 3 weeks ago from a truly great trip even though it started with AA not being able to land at MCO due to lightening, packed-like-sardines-flight circled til pilot announced he was running out of gas, flew to Tampa where they had no gate, finally got gas, flew back to MCO where they had no gate. 6-1/2 hours for a 2-1/4 flight. Then BLT couldn't find reservation. BUT.....the trip got SO much better and we had the usual great time.

Hope yours does also!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you enter through the International Gateway during late afternoon/evening, every one goes through the scanner.

 

[disneynutz]

After I calmed down, I spoke to a supervisor today about the check-in problem. She said that IT is "working on it" and they are aware that there are systemic problems with receiving texts. If you leave a # for a text, they don't send the e-mail She said that IT want them to log all problems with the notification system and she was glad I came back to discuss it because the CMs last night did not log my problem. She showed me the phone number, in small print on the bottom of the map. Now I will call if the notification isn't received by 4.
On a positive note, we had one of the BEST meals EVER at California Grille tonight.

Receiving notifications has been an issue for years, if IT is working on it they are really slow.

Bill

 

[hcortesis]

Room was apparently ready at "about 4" but sometimes the text/e-mail system "doesn't work" (per CM) Didn't get upper floor request.
Tomorrow has to be better!

We hear this same story every time we check in at the BCV and GFV and don't receive our text.

 

[Nanajo1]

Disney IT IMO doesn't have a great track record.

 

[fishermouse]

After I calmed down, I spoke to a supervisor today about the check-in problem. She said that IT is "working on it" and they are aware that there are systemic problems with receiving texts. If you leave a # for a text, they don't send the e-mail She said that IT want them to log all problems with the notification system and she was glad I came back to discuss it because the CMs last night did not log my problem. She showed me the phone number, in small print on the bottom of the map. Now I will call if the notification isn't received by 4.
On a positive note, we had one of the BEST meals EVER at California Grille tonight.

Admittedly I am very patient when on vacation, but I have not had an issue with notifications. This is with 3-5 visits a year since 2003. back then you had to check in for status. I always use online checkin now and just go about my day, when I get my page bags are usually waiting, I then have groceries and owners locker sent up. Just so simple anymore. We keepa change of clothes and swimsuit in a cary on in case room is not ready,

 

[sueg]

Really good dinner at Morimoto Asia. I think DS will add good fine dining options to dinners at the hotels. We went by ferry from OKW and really enjoyed it.
I realized that we are not used to traveling in full capacity times. Dates were dictated by DDIL's schedule. I should have realized that when I had trouble booking. I know its F & W. There is a huge business conference at Boardwalk area. Its just plain crowded This is good practice for us for a January trip, dictated by younger DS's schedule, where we had TROUBLE booking. Ended up at SSR. Had to adjust our dates, because its the Disney Marathon. Who knew. We will use our time at SSR to further explore dining at DS since we can walk over bridge from SSR. Definitely Art Smith, maybe Rick Bayliss.
Going to do battle at MK without FPs today, because DS & DDIL wanted to ride Test Track & this afternoon was all I could get.(I suggested single rider line, but they are newlyweds & wanted to ride together.
This trip, while very different for us, is getting a good balance. Thanks for all of your input.

 

[hardis5]

Disney IT IMO doesn't have a great track record.

Receiving notifications has been an issue for years, if IT is working on it they are really slow.

Bill

We are talking Disney IT - enough said.

 

[Duchie]

DH and I were "randomly" selected every single time we walked into Epcot this trip and almost every time at the other parks. They were literally directing everyone to the secondary screening thing, which wasn't so bad at the International Gateway entrance but horrible at the main entrance.

 

[sueg]

Gate at MK was bad this AM. But I went no bag & they were hardly doing "random" extra screening. Our bus ride over was stressful. Long wait, SRO and 3 mobility vehicles in addition to many strollers.
No FPs was a big problem at MK. Pirates said 25 minute standby which was 45 minutes. We left & went to Epcot. Grazed at F&W and enjoyed our FP for Test Track.
Why is FP system stuck on FPs for one park or only after you've completed FPs in one Park?

 

[Sammie]

I just wait until after 4 pm to even think about the room being ready and have great success with it being so.

 

[sueg]

I agree with Sammie and really didn't expect room before 4PM. It was the 8PM & no text that got to me. CM reminded me about the "working on it" text we once got at BWV. Forgot about that.
OT. We met friends off-property in Winter Park. Great wine room with dozens of bottles for 1, 2, 4 oz. pours. Followed with a very good meal at Luma on Park. DS still says CG meal was better, but this was pretty darn good. Winter Park on our list for possible FL relocation spots.