The Christmas 2006 Tree Swap Now Closed!

[CinderellaIam]

Ben,

As we discussed before I left, the tree was left at the front desk for you with your name on it on 12/14. They said it would be brought over to bell services but if you asked for it at the desk they would refer you to the bell desk. I feel bad that you didn't get it.

Stauncie went through a lot of trouble finding me to make sure I got the tree, and then I took a trip (via AK) to the AKL and back to make sure you got the tree. Not sure where you called me, as I checked out of BCV on 12/14 and the only messages I received were from Stauncie

To imply that I took the tree...that is very insulting and rude.

Stauncie, if you need help in locating the tree, please let me know and I will make as many phone calls as necessary to track down your tree.

Stauncie,

I was there from 12/16-12/26...and never got the tree. The hotel said it was never left. I checked on it everyday and had several hotel front desk managers looking for it. The tree was never located or left for us by CinderellaIam. I tried to call her several times and left messages, but got no call back. I assume she took the tree when she left.

Thanks,

Ben Martin

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Stauncie,

I was there from 12/16-12/26...and never got the tree. The hotel said it was never left. I checked on it everyday and had several hotel front desk managers looking for it. The tree was never located or left for us by CinderellaIam. I tried to call her several times and left messages, but got no call back. I assume she took the tree when she left.

Thanks,

Ben Martin

LIKE I SAID...

The front desks do NOT seem to be well-equipped to handle the swaps. There doesn't seem to be a firm protocol on this. Trees were getting lost, NOT DUE to anything the swap members did or did not do, but because the front desks seem overburdened. It's not fair to accuse anyone of not doing their part in this, especially when I posted just a couple posts earlier that trees are getting misplaced by the resort staff. And, as frustrating as it is, it's not really their job, either. This is probably somewhat my fault, as I organized this swap without fully understanding the limitations of the resorts. It seemed to go so much more smoothly last year, and there were SEVERAL inter-resort swaps arranged. I don't know what happened, but please, LET'S NOT blame each other! Blame me if you must.

 

[stauncie]

I will blame myself, first. I wasn't organized, and didn't communicate myself with everyone in swap #1. Sorry, guys. Goodness, I didn't even think to get CinderellaIam's REAL name!!! Disney does NOT know her as CinderellaIam
Besides the fact that we had a HORRIBLE stay, found out our reservation had been cancelled just 2 days before we left for our trip, and then they had given away our room, so we ended up staying at the AKL reg room(nice, but NOT the concierge room we had originally booked at the Yacht Club) I called my son at home, had him check the DIS board to see if cinderellaIam had left me her contact info. Rest assured that Disney does NOT give out your info. It took 1 cast member and 1 manager at the AKL, and then 2 desk clerks and someone from the back office at the Beack Club to finally contact CinderellaIam, using the clues I had.

Ben -
I am so sorry that you didn't get a chance to use the tree. Please accept my apologies.


CinderellaIam,

If you can let my know WHICH desk you left it at (Yacht Club or Beach Club), and any claim #'s or names you left with it, it would help in finding the box.
Poor Momma spent almost 2 hours at the Beach Club yesterday looking for the tree. She is a cast member, so she was personally checking bell services, and said that it was a TOTAL MESS in there.
There IS a 10 ft tree they kept trying to give her, left last February!!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Oh, stauncie, I'm so sad that you had a difficult time of it! I hope your entire vacation isn't ruined. I love the AKL, but if you were counting on an entirely different area and concierge to boot, wow, that is a let-down (esp. if you didn't even get a room with a savannah view).

If anyone decides to do this swap next year, make sure that people end up meeting face-to-face to swap. If that can't work, I don't think it would be worth it to go through this much trouble.

 

[CinderellaIam]

Stauncie,

As I said, you went through some awesome hoops to locate me, and I appreciated it. I went the same day we spoke to AKL and picked up the tree. I, in turn, left it for Ben Martin (this is the name I put on the box) on 12/14 at the Beach Club front desk. They had a bellman come over for it, I don't remember his name, but I do remember that his name tag said he was from West Islip, NY - I remember this because that is where the airport is located that we were flying into that evening. At least we thought so, our flight was cancelled due to fog on the ground In West Islip-after we were already checked in.

I did have a claim ticket, however in the mayhem of re-booking our flight, re-claiming our luggage and finding a hotel for both my and my sister's families for the night, I misplaced it. I spent a good amount of time this morning going through all my bags, pockets, etc. again this morning to no avail.

I will call the Beach Club in the morning with this information and hopefully they will locate the tree.

 

[cdndislvr]

Thanks so much to UrsulasShadow for all the work she did organizing this swap and for the wonderful tree she provided for us. Our tree was missing for a few days (we checked everywhere in the hotel we could think of......even the gift shop) and then it magically appeared in our room. We have no idea where it had been, why it wasn't located when we checked in, but it was such a beautiful little tree when we finally did receive it and it made all the difference to our undecorated room. Just a note for people doing this next year, make sure you exchange both names before going on your trip. UrsulasShadow had our name but I did not think ahead enough to get her name. I felt a little silly when the CSR staff kept asking me the name of the guest who left it for me...ahhh......UrsulasShadow? Kind of funny.....I did PM UrsulasShadow from the resort and got the info but probably would have been smart to do that ahead of time. Although I wonder if it really would have made any difference because our tree arrived with our names clearly written on it.

Thanks again UrsulasShadow.....the Christmas trees really make a difference when you're away from home during the Christmas season.

 

[matysgrandma]

Well, unfortunately tree swap #3 had some problems, too. I called every day during our stay and the front desk told me there were two trees left but someone had already taken them. So who knows what happened! We still had a wonderful time and I thank you UrsulaShadow for all the hard work you put into this!

 

[DomisDisAunt]

Hi Phisigprincess!!! I am DomisDisAunt and the first supplier of the Christmas tree for the Swap 7 this last Christmas! I am soooo glad that they finally found the tree for you and you were able to use it for at least a couple of days! When reading your notes it sounded like you got the tree from the girl that I swapped with and not pyrxtc. I am trying to track it down as I never got it back and I was curious about who you got it from. I know you were going to forward it onto Cinderella Fan, were you able to make the swap. I had written her both before we left and after we returned and I have gotten no response from her. When and where did you meet? How did the swap go? Any details that you can tell me on how to reach her? I have tried to contact her again by e mail but that does not seem like it will be good enough. I was just trying to either recoup it for next year or make sure it was donated to someone before she returned yet, I haven't heard a word! It was a very nice tree and I can't believe someone that got a chance to share in having it would just ignore returning it so that someone else would have a chance to use it next year but no replys are making me wonder!
Thanks for any help you can give me!! I appreciate that you passed it on and kept the swap going! Again, I hope you had a terrific time at WDW!! We sure did and planning again already for Thanksgiving next year!!
DDA