TEMPORARY Refrigerator Removal from WDW Resorts

[PictureJumpr]

It is on the Disney Travel Agent, that guests will be credited $15/night to enable them to make cold item purchases, if a refrigerator is requested but not available.

Is there a link to the above info, or a direct quote that we can use to ask for a credit?

We can't link you, of course, but here is the information as it stands right now:

Disney Destinations on July 11, 2013
We just received an update stating that if a fridge request is not able to be accommodated then, yes, your Client will receive a $15 credit per night to enable cold item purchases.

on July 11, 2013
The $15 credit, is that for everyone that requests a fridge for any reason? Or just those that need for medical reasons?

Disney Destinations on July 11, 2013
A $15 credit per night will be provided only if a fridge is requested but there are none available. This would be provided to any guest who makes a fridge request that is unable to be honored.

on July 11, 2013
Credit is per room correct? Or per person?

Disney Destinations on July 11, 2013
It is per room.

 

[5boyz]

I'm staying at pop century in about 3 and a half weeks. I called disney twice and got the same answer. They said they will only be exchanging out the affected refrigerators in unoccupied guest rooms. So, we still will have refrigerators. They said once a room is unoccupied they will switch it out before giving the room to another guest. I sure hope that's true. If it's not i'll be a bit annoyed that disney didn't let me know ahead of time. I expect the room to have what it includes and everything to be functioning. I buy milk for cereal in the room for breakfast. I also like my bottled water cold in the heat of summer!

Glad to hear!!!! I called yesterday directly to POP and got a rude lady who when she answered didnt say POP so I asked is this POP Century..she said it was customer service for resorts..so I asked her about the fridges and she had to put me on hold (which she didnt I could still hear her fumbling) then she said yes it says the fridges are being recalled............then she said I will have to put you on hold to find out from POP........she came back on and said NO fridges at POP...I said OH great....she said Have a magical day and hung up.... So nice to hear you actually got a more in detailed answer..Thanks you!!

 

[5boyz]

Thanks, glad we're not the only ice in the trash can people lol! Sorry you'll have to deal with that again, its a lot of work. We'd tried shipping down a foam cooler in our box of goodies last time. But the box arrived at the resort looking like it got in a fight with King Kong. So cooler was cracked in pieces when we opened the box.

In all my years of hockey tournaments we have learned how to get by..not saying I like this situation but we will manage. That sucks about the cooler...we bought 2 a few years ago (before I know about fridge swap) and they leaked all over the place and broke..we had to put them in the bath so the carpet and floor didnt get wet...got to the point we just left cooler in while showered LOL!!!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Well if you paid for a water view room and got a standard room view at check-in would'nt you be entitled to a refund of the difference? I hope there is a freg vs. the $15 a night credit, but if there is not, the credit will suffice. I will come out better money wise with the freg but I will accept it and go on.

there is a price difference with a view. You do not get a cheaper room if no fridge is included. It's an amenities..something that makes the room more pleasant and not guaranteed. If the iron wasn't in the room would you demand $$. There is no dollar value assigned to this (as a room view is) so you can not cash in on something that is "free".

 

[5boyz]

Of course you want to wash it out and sanitize it first. You can use a new trash bag as a liner if desired. Anything we put in it were in their own containers. And I don't think you'd want to use the ice for drinks lol!

Exactly!!!!!!!!

 

[andrewilley]

I have heard that POR should be done by July 31.

While that may indeed be possible, I do know that they haven't even finished doing the inventory of which rooms have which type of fridge as yet (they are working on it at the moment, but there are more than 3,000 at Port Orleans to check) so it is by no means certain at this stage. Sorry, but I'm not able to share anything further at the moment.

Andre

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

They probably received a lot of emails yesterday. I can see how they wouldn't have gotten back to you yet, and if everyone sent 3 emails, that just makes it take more time to respond.

Hmmmm, maybe, but it has been over 24 hours since I asked and I wouldn't think they'd have so many Poly CL guests who even know this was going on that they couldn't return an email. I will just call them instead.

 

[5boyz]

For some who don't use the fridge then I absolutely agree it's no big deal. Not a big deal for me, I have ability to solve it. But it is for others because it can greatly affect their trip financially.

And Dis is a small portion of the people at these resorts expecting a fridge. For many families it is an important amenity that saves them a good bit of money. Breakfast foods and making sandwiches for a week long trip is saving a lot of money. What if you showed up not knowing, didn't plan on hundreds of dollars for that food and you had a food delivery on order coming.

Disney resort prices are climbing to a point many families really have to think if they will stay on property. Disney is competing with hotels just outside the property with free internet, fridges, microwaves, free breakfast, even two room suites for less than they charge for a value some seasons. As their prices climbed the fridges and internet became included in the prices. This wasn't planned but how they handle it is critical. For me, no fridge means they owe folks a daily credit to help offset meals they planned to cover with that fridge and owe them timely notification prior to departure date if their resort is still affected to cancel food orders and be ready for extra eating expenses.

Pre-fridge days we either rolled a mini fridge on a small luggage rack to the room or brought an xtreme cooler that ice barely melted. We like to come often and to do that we try to save for the next trip. Breakfast in our room (fruit, juice and yogurt), sandwich supplies to carry into parks so that we can eat a nice table service meal each evening. Even the times we were on dining plan the fridge was great for getting fruit and juice the night before for our breakfasts and our desserts we couldn't finish for snacking later. While the mug is a nice thought I'm not walking to the food court at 10pm when I feel like a cold soda or beer. I go to my fridge.

Coolers will be a great alternative BUT (1) most won't even know to bring or order one (2) many can't get off property to get one (3) there isn't going to be enough ice in those machines to keep every cooler iced. I can see it now, people in long lines for the ice machines hoping it doesn't run out before they get there.

Installing them is only half the problem. there aren't just 30,000 plus mini fridges sitting in a warehouse hoping to be bought. Disney had better get their thinking caps on how to handle this with care. This potentially could get ugly at the front desk

Bravo...well said....

 

[DisneyDreamer1974]

there is a price difference with a view. You do not get a cheaper room if no fridge is included. It's an amenities..something that makes the room more pleasant and not guaranteed. If the iron wasn't in the room would you demand $$. There is no dollar value assigned to this (as a room view is) so you can not cash in on something that is "free".

I bet I do cash in on it if I don't get a freg! Why would Disney be offering a credit if you don't have one in your room then? They know that they have to make it right in some manner. What if there was no shower in your room when your got there? The freg is listed as a item included in the room.

 

[diskids2]

I havent either..I will be there July 29.

I haven't either and I arrive Sunday. I read it on the DIS.

 

[andrewilley]

Why would Disney be offering a credit if you don't have one in your room then? They know that they have to make it right in some manner.

If they do it, it's an example of the great guest service recovery that Disney are famed for, to try to avoid unhappy guests.

However I repeat that you do not have a RIGHT to any kind of compensation at all, even for a missing freg.

Andre

 

[diskids2]

Hmmmm, maybe, but it has been over 24 hours since I asked and I wouldn't think they'd have so many Poly CL guests who even know this was going on that they couldn't return an email. I will just call them instead.

I called last night regarding this for my resort. I think calling is the best way.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

I bet I do cash in on it if I don't get a freg! Why would Disney be offering a credit if you don't have one in your room then? They know that they have to make it right in some manner. What if there was no shower in your room when your got there? The freg is listed as a item included in the room.

It is a courtesy ..because they are trying to be reasonable. But as some have said this isn't, in their mind, enough. I am merely pointing out, that this isn't a reason someone is paying additional for a room.
And a shower in my room is really apples to oranges. I can reasonably expect to use my room without a fridge.. No shower in the room is not reasonable.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

If they do it, it's an example of the great guest service recovery that Disney are famed for, to try to avoid unhappy guests.

However I repeat that you do not have a RIGHT to any kind of compensation at all, even for a missing freg.

Andre

 

[jaykorf001]

A number of posters have brought up needing to refrigerate medication. While insulin isn't the only one, it's the most common - so I did a little research. This is from the BD website http://www.bd.com/us/diabetes/page.aspx?cat=7001&id=7247:

BTW, there are several different kinds of insulin with different care requirements.

 

[rachael95]

I used to refer to my pumped milk as "liquid gold"

When my DS was in the NICU, the nurses actually referred to it as better than gold. Because you're right - it is.

Just a note on the fridge situation, my TA said they heard that this will not affect people staying in All Star Music family suites or Art of Animation suites in addition to the Ft. Wilderness cabins. I'd not seen anyone mention that but I've also not read every message.

 

[DisneyDreamer1974]

Well I know that now all the rooms have a mini freg in it, correct? But I do remember a time when we stayed at the values and they did'nt have them in it. You could pay $10 a night to rent one I think. So Disney did put a value of them then. I am not really looking forward to using a cooler with ice in it, (if I have to) but I will make amends to do so.

I am worried about the ice machines on over load as well if they do not have any at the Yacht Club next month. I wish I would know before we go as to whether or not we will be getting one. I imagine that there will be a big rush on coolers in Orlando within the next month or so.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

10 years ago, you could pay for one in a deluxe, but that has nothing to do with the current situation.

I don't see a "run" on coolers. I think the majority of people may use the fridge, but don't necessarily require one.

I truly feel for the people that need one for medical reasons. From what I am hearing, people are calling the resorts/TA and saying they have a medical need just to insure they can get one..and that is as despicable as parking in a handicap spot or cutting a line by faking a medical condition.

 

[5boyz]

All of you posting about not having a way to keep your kids' milk cold are almost making me feel like a bad parent. My first reaction was, "How am I going to keep my beer cold???"

And all of you concerned with medications - on a recent trip (not to Disney), the resort ran out of fridges (even though I had called and noted I needed one - it was a work convention, I was pumping milk for my son who I had to leave home). Several times a day I had to walk down to the front desk and hand over my milk - I was not thrilled (anyone who has ever pumped will tell you how protective they are of their milk!). Disney seems like they have their act together better than a normal resort, but just in case be prepared to have to hand over your medications, etc to the front desk to keep.

So is my husband.....

 

[kallanach]

I think the information released and the way it was is leaving Disney to scramble to make it better for the guests. They need to have a solution in place to accommodate guests--the Disney way. Don't leave people hanging. Provide a solution. Make it right for guests. We are staying AKL CL end of July. Concierge has been great. They say not all refrigerators affected. Also said will work to accommodate our needs. Good service. Keep the magic alive!