TEMPORARY Refrigerator Removal from Walt Disney World

[kneedeep]

hmm,seems like a discount on a room that doesn't have a fridge might be in order....it won't happen,but it should.

It may. While it would be nice if Disney proactively 1)informed everyone with an upcoming reservation about the no-fridge situation and 2)offered each of those guests a small discount or even a styrofoam cooler if they arrived with perishable items, it is more likely that they will respond on a case-by-case basis to those who express that they are inconvenienced.

While we have not had this exact scenario, we have had numerous other issues come up during the past 10 years of WDW visits and DH is amazing at *politely* explaining how the issue has affected us, and asking what can be done to make it right. We have never been disappointed with Disney's response. That is why we keep going back!

 

[Sandi]

I just checked the WDW site for the Pop Century resort. They are not listing a refrigerator as an amenity. I did not check before this broke, so I do not know if it was listed before.
When they were putting the "refrigerators" into the values, there was on uproar on this site that they were being call "beverage coolers" by Disney and would not keep food cold. If they listed them as "beverage coolers" on the WDW site, before I just looked, then most guests would not be expecting to keep full meals in their rooms.

People on here know about the refrigerators and now they know they are gone. Plans do change and we need to change with them.

It was. Disney changed it after.

 

[karice2]

Does anyone still have the old fridge swap fridges? Those used to work pretty good if I recall.

 

[DisneyDreamer1974]

My TA emailed me yesterday, and said that she will be putting in a request for each of her quest for their trips. She did also state that if they do not have one available, each room will get a credit of $15 per night. So I think that will suffice. Good to know.

 

[MarkC71]

Does anyone know what prompted the fridge removal? It must have been a safety issue for Disney to remove all of them at once.

 

[Marionnette]

Does anyone know what prompted the fridge removal? It must have been a safety issue for Disney to remove all of them at once.

It could be related to a refrigerator that caught fire last month at the Grand Californian.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3126730

 

[luvmy3]

Yes so does Garden Grocer take the initiative to notify it's customers and hope people order coolers or are they going to keep hush too because they are not at fault and people will probably cancel or at least alter their order some if they know in advance. It will be interesting to see.

It would be nice, but the truth is Disney should be doing that, they are the ones with the obligation to do so. Guests arriving in the next few days are expecting a fridge in their room, it seems very wrong to not inform them there wont be one until they check in.
I am glad I read the DIS, we are coming in August and we were counting on a fridge in our room. I put in a request through my TA, but even then we wont know until we check in. I wasn't planning on putting an order in for GG but I may just for the cooler since we need it for a semi-medical reason.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

It would be nice, but the truth is Disney should be doing that, they are the ones with the obligation to do so. Guests arriving in the next few days are expecting a fridge in their room, it seems very wrong to not inform them there wont be one until they check in.
I am glad I read the DIS, we are coming in August and we were counting on a fridge in our room. I put in a request through my TA, but even then we wont know until we check in. I wasn't planning on putting an order in for GG but I may just for the cooler since we need it for a semi-medical reason.

You are confusing Disney with a real hotel chain. Real hotel chains understand what your are saying.. Disney lives in a world where folks are happy to overpay for subpar hotels and they don't have to meet some of the standards one would expect of a real hotel chain.

unless folks actually take their money and WALK, Disney will continue as it's always done!

 

[Minnesota!]

FYI - - -

1) Someone brought in a chunk of cheese yesterday morning.
2) They put it behind the Front Desk counter.
3) One of our College Program girls asked if that was for Mickey.
4) The CM said, "No. It's for the no-fridge-folks' whine".

(Only because she knew that there will those who will claim
Disney ruined their vacation for something totally our of
the control of WDW.)

That is awesome!!! And so true...

What I don't understand is how people will be ABLE to say this ruins their vacation. Take your grumbly behind to Hess or Walgreens and pick up a styrofoam cooler or two if you don't hear about it before you arrive. It will take maybe 30 minutes out of your day. Big deal.

People look to whine about anything...

 

[Suzanne74]

You are confusing Disney with a real hotel chain. Real hotel chains understand what your are saying.. Disney lives in a world where folks are happy to overpay for subpar hotels and they don't have to meet some of the standards one would expect of a real hotel chain.

unless folks actually take their money and WALK, Disney will continue as it's always done!

I disagree. We have always had positive customer service with Disney and it sounds like they are taking $15 off.

 

[JLKennedy]

Take your grumbly behind to Hess or Walgreens and pick up a styrofoam cooler or two if you don't hear about it before you arrive. It will take maybe 30 minutes out of your day. Big deal.

People look to whine about anything...

I don't rent a car so how will I get my grumbly behind to Hess? Is the Magic Express gonna stop for me?

I paid for a room that listed this as an amenity....if they cannot provide it, I am due a credit of the cost they used to charge to rent one.

PERIOD

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Malibustyle23]

Does anyone still have the old fridge swap fridges? Those used to work pretty good if I recall.

Not sure but someone started a thread asking about them yesterday and they received a reply that they were no longer allowed on these boards. I don't remember that happening so I'm not sure why unless it was because "we" were taking money from WDW's pockets?

 

[luvmy3]

That is awesome!!! And so true...

What I don't understand is how people will be ABLE to say this ruins their vacation. Take your grumbly behind to Hess or Walgreens and pick up a styrofoam cooler or two if you don't hear about it before you arrive. It will take maybe 30 minutes out of your day. Big deal.

People look to whine about anything...

I think people have the right to whine about 1) Being inconvenienced this way 2) having the added expense of cab fare and purchase of a cooler added to their vacation and 3) taking time away from their vacation to go get said cooler.

While you may not think its a big deal, great you are free to take your grumbly behind to Hess and whistle zippity doo dah all the way there. The rest of us can whine that we have too

 

[captainjen]

I am just glad to have them removed. The idea of waking up to my room on fire really freaks me out

 

[Sagginit]

thanks OP for posting! i am not going until November but glad to know. we have DDP and there are times we don't finish meals or grab snacks, like fruit salad, that need a fridge. it won't kill my trip but it certainly will be inconvenient. last trip we grabbed some fruit salad and other items for breakfast in the room late at night to give more time to get to rope drop. we will have to eliminate that as an option.

i hate to sound like a brat but not have a fridge in a hotel room is one of those things i loathe. i have a food allergy and often bring things with me just in case. to get there and find out my fridge is actually a mini bar or only select rooms have a fridge is always a headache for me.

 

[goingtowdwwithkiddos]

I will be there in exactly 1 week. I have ordered and paid for GG a month ago including some food that needs to be kept cold. I have not been notified as of today from Disney or GG of the situation, I have put in a request for one so we will see if it is there when I get there next friday. NO it will not ruin my vacation BUT I have spent 5k not including dining to get to disney, stay on site, visit parks, not have to worry about driving etc. Expecting a fridge to be there when it should be , I do not think is to much to ask for as I am spending the money not to worry, and have planned so I can relax, not get ice 2x a day like I did when I stayed value 5 years ago without one.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I don't rent a car so how will I get my grumbly behind to Hess? Is the Magic Express gonna stop for me?

I paid for a room that listed this as an amenity....if they cannot provide it, I am due a credit of the cost they used to charge to rent one.

PERIOD

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Given that resort rates didn't increase by the rental rate when refrigerators were put in the rooms, no, nobody is "owed" a discount of that amount if their room doesn't have a usable refrigerator.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Not sure but someone started a thread asking about them yesterday and they received a reply that they were no longer allowed on these boards. I don't remember that happening so I'm not sure why unless it was because "we" were taking money from WDW's pockets?

Swaps involve a potential exchange of money, which violates DIS Guidelines. When swaps went bad, participants may have tried to hold the DIS responsible.

Nothing to do with taking money from Disney.

 

[kaytieeldr]

thanks OP for posting! i am not going until November but glad to know. we have DDP and there are times we don't finish meals or grab snacks, like fruit salad, that need a fridge. it won't kill my trip but it certainly will be inconvenient. last trip we grabbed some fruit salad and other items for breakfast in the room late at night to give more time to get to rope drop. we will have to eliminate that as an option.

i hate to sound like a brat but not have a fridge in a hotel room is one of those things i loathe. i have a food allergy and often bring things with me just in case. to get there and find out my fridge is actually a mini bar or only select rooms have a fridge is always a headache for me.

Okay, so, first, it's expected to take a span of four months to replace all the in-room affected refrigerators property-wide. They're not taking out all 20,000 yesterday and waiting until Veterans Day to place new fridges in all those rooms all in one day.

According to the now-closed thread on this topic on the Resorts board, refrigerators will be replaced as rooms are unoccupied (likely for a night or more, not the same day between guests, or while occupants are away).

Even guests who arrive with no advance knowledge and no refrigerator but also just the intention of refrigerating leftovers, would have time to adapt. Much fruit doesn't need to be frozen and is generally better at room temperature.

 

[seashoreCM]

Refrigerators must have plenty of ventilation in back otherwise they are overworked and it gets unusually hot back there.

Unrefrigerated fruits keep better if spread out instead of being piled in a bowl.

When a fridge is turned on after being off for awhile it may take an hour or even two to get to proper cooling temperature. During this time, items touching the walls may thaw rapidly.