ghp918
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2002
- Messages
- 33
Hello All!
I (Gail 25) took my Grandparents (Peter 70 and Barbara 72) to The Sagamore at Bolton Landing on Lake George for the weekend of October 4-6. We stayed in a Lodge Suite, which turned out to be a little fiasco, but worked out in the end.
Day 1: Friday October 4 2002
I was up at 7am and showered and over to my grandparent's house by 9. We packed up the car and hit the road around 9:15 from Rochester, NY. We took the NYS Thruway and then took a small jaunt on 30A over to 87N. We arrived at the Sagamore around 2:30PM. When you first arrive on the island you have to stop at a registration building where we checked in and recieved room keys and a guide to the resort as well as an itinerary sheet listing the days activities such as a wedding and when restaurants are open and such. We drove over to our lodge building (#5) and we walked down a steep flight of stairs to get into our room. As we were hauling our luggage down, a bottle of wine was broken when my grandfather lost his footing. We stood in the entryway and I just about burst into tears. First of all, a lodge suite "cost" more points and I figured we would have the same ammenities as the guests in the 'historic hotel' such as bell services. Secondly, I specifically called Member Services and told them I was bringing my grandparents and they do not ambulate that well, so I requested a lodge close to the main building. It was never explained to me that we would be down a flight of stairs with no elevator. Had I know the situation, I would have requested the main building. So there I was in the entryway of this suite with wine splattered all over the floor and my grandparents frustrated about the stairs. I picked up the phone to the main desk and asked if a room was available on the main floor. The woman replied that rooms on the main floor only had king sized beds. We were three people and needed 2 Double beds, so that would not work. I then asked if there were any rooms available in the main hotel... there were not. I then asked if there was a lodge closer to the main hotel, as that was my request and she stated that there was nothing noted on my reservation, but there was a room available in building #3. She sent someone over to help us with our bags and we moved to building 3, still down a steep flight of stairs. Later I spoke with them again to express my dissatisfaction with the stair issue and I asked what they do with handicapped people, her reply was... "Well, they have to be in a King room." Also let it be noted that there was NO handicapped parking at all in the resort, which I think violates the Americans with Disailities act. Anyway....
STill dissatisfied with the location, we settled into our room. It really was a beautiful suite, It had a small kitchen and large living room with fireplace, sort of like a 1 BD room at BCV, but the fridge was smaller, dorm sized. and there were only two stove burners. The living room was huge with a fireplace and a wrap around couch. We had a patio with two rocking chairs and the view was of Lake George. Our bedroom had a TV and a dresser, two double beds and a chair. Windows looked out on the lake as well. There were two spiffy Sagamore embroidered robes in the closet and there were three closets total in the suite. The bathroom was your typical hotel bathroom with Sagamore soaps and sewing kit.
After unpacking, my Grandmother layed down for a nap before our 6:30PM dinner reservation at Trillium. We got cleaned up for our reservation and called transportation (complimentary) to come pick us up and take us to the main building. They said five minutes, so we waited a few and then hiked up the stairs and waited 15 min or so and nobody came. We got in the car and drove to the main building and valet parked. We walked around a bit, looking in the gift shop. We then went over to Trillium... the AAA four diamond award winning restaurant that requires a jacket for gentlemen and no children under 7 are allowed.
They were ready and waiting for us. The dining room was deserted except for maybe seven tables. They attempted to seat us inbetween two couples in the middle of the dining room and I knew my Grandmother would not be happy, so I asked for a table overlooking the lake away from other diners. They changed our table and took away a place setting before we sat down and it happened to be the place setting where my grandmother wanted to sit. So now we have a bad first impression of the hotel and now the dining room. Our server took forever to come and ask us about beverages. We were served bread and only one pat of butter for the three of us to share, so my grandfather asked for more butter and they took our butter dish and returned with another single pat of butter. Ahhh! They brought us Crab Bisque, which would have been wonderful, except it was served lukewarm. I had shrip and scallops for an appetiser and my grandparents each has snails. I tried one, but it tasted like salty fishy slime... Ewww. They liked them though.FOr dinner I had really yummy lobster richman
oorman and my grandparents both had lamb, which was extremely tender, which I love, but again it was served lukewarm. Our server then brought over a crumbcatcher and "raked" our table, which was a new experience for me. I had heard about crumb catchers, but never saw one in action.
For dessert I had the Creme Brulee sampler, a scoop each of: lime, oreange, raspberry, white chocolate, cappucino, and caramel. Since having Creme brulee at the California Gill, I've been an addict, so this was heaven for me. My grandparents splita maple walnut cheesecake slice and they had double espressos, which came in a regular sized demitasse cup... my grandfather asked about the size and the girl explained that a double is a full cup and a single is a half full. Ummm OK? The waiter never brought me my refill on my diet coke and he took it off our bill which still came to ... brace yourself... $245!!! It was the single most expensive dinner of my life. At the Sagamore, all you meals have an 18% gratuity included in your bill, regardless of whether the server deserves it or not! Honestly, I generally tip 20%, but more or less based on my experience. OK, we got the crumb catching experience, but they were slow, our food was cold and they were not attenative at all especially considering they were not busy! I've had better service at Friendly's on at Friday night. Regardless, as we were leaving my grandfather stopped by the Maitre 'D to complain about aspects of the bill, such at the double espresso size to which this woman replied... it isn't double size.. it is run theough the espresso machine twice to make it stronger. In all, they should get their story straight and be consistant. I will never eat there again and would not recommend eating there to anyone.
As we left, we stopped in the verandah where a three piece band was playing jazz music. This was one of the highlights of our trip, just sitting back, having a cocktail and relaxing to the music. My grandparents danced to an old tune and we really enjoyed the verandah. We returned to our room where the beds had been turned down and Godiva chocolates left on the nightstand. My grandmother took a bath while I wrote a postcard and some notes out for a trip report. In all, I was hoping for a better experience. Disney just does things so perfectly sometimes, and when something isn't up to that standard of care, it is a disappointment.
Overall, the resort was nice, but the particular accomodations I had reserved were not appropriate for my guests. Our room would have been perfect for a family or couple who wanted a rustic, secluded, romantic accomidations. I think a room in the main building would have worked better for my grandparents who do not ambulate well enough to hike up and down stairs and huff it over to the main building. I think if we were in the main building we would have been happier, but our room itself was great, just not a great location for us. The Trillum was overpriced and overrated. I would never go back. Music and cocktails on the verandah was great!
Day 2 to come tomorrow...
I (Gail 25) took my Grandparents (Peter 70 and Barbara 72) to The Sagamore at Bolton Landing on Lake George for the weekend of October 4-6. We stayed in a Lodge Suite, which turned out to be a little fiasco, but worked out in the end.
Day 1: Friday October 4 2002
I was up at 7am and showered and over to my grandparent's house by 9. We packed up the car and hit the road around 9:15 from Rochester, NY. We took the NYS Thruway and then took a small jaunt on 30A over to 87N. We arrived at the Sagamore around 2:30PM. When you first arrive on the island you have to stop at a registration building where we checked in and recieved room keys and a guide to the resort as well as an itinerary sheet listing the days activities such as a wedding and when restaurants are open and such. We drove over to our lodge building (#5) and we walked down a steep flight of stairs to get into our room. As we were hauling our luggage down, a bottle of wine was broken when my grandfather lost his footing. We stood in the entryway and I just about burst into tears. First of all, a lodge suite "cost" more points and I figured we would have the same ammenities as the guests in the 'historic hotel' such as bell services. Secondly, I specifically called Member Services and told them I was bringing my grandparents and they do not ambulate that well, so I requested a lodge close to the main building. It was never explained to me that we would be down a flight of stairs with no elevator. Had I know the situation, I would have requested the main building. So there I was in the entryway of this suite with wine splattered all over the floor and my grandparents frustrated about the stairs. I picked up the phone to the main desk and asked if a room was available on the main floor. The woman replied that rooms on the main floor only had king sized beds. We were three people and needed 2 Double beds, so that would not work. I then asked if there were any rooms available in the main hotel... there were not. I then asked if there was a lodge closer to the main hotel, as that was my request and she stated that there was nothing noted on my reservation, but there was a room available in building #3. She sent someone over to help us with our bags and we moved to building 3, still down a steep flight of stairs. Later I spoke with them again to express my dissatisfaction with the stair issue and I asked what they do with handicapped people, her reply was... "Well, they have to be in a King room." Also let it be noted that there was NO handicapped parking at all in the resort, which I think violates the Americans with Disailities act. Anyway....
STill dissatisfied with the location, we settled into our room. It really was a beautiful suite, It had a small kitchen and large living room with fireplace, sort of like a 1 BD room at BCV, but the fridge was smaller, dorm sized. and there were only two stove burners. The living room was huge with a fireplace and a wrap around couch. We had a patio with two rocking chairs and the view was of Lake George. Our bedroom had a TV and a dresser, two double beds and a chair. Windows looked out on the lake as well. There were two spiffy Sagamore embroidered robes in the closet and there were three closets total in the suite. The bathroom was your typical hotel bathroom with Sagamore soaps and sewing kit.
After unpacking, my Grandmother layed down for a nap before our 6:30PM dinner reservation at Trillium. We got cleaned up for our reservation and called transportation (complimentary) to come pick us up and take us to the main building. They said five minutes, so we waited a few and then hiked up the stairs and waited 15 min or so and nobody came. We got in the car and drove to the main building and valet parked. We walked around a bit, looking in the gift shop. We then went over to Trillium... the AAA four diamond award winning restaurant that requires a jacket for gentlemen and no children under 7 are allowed.
They were ready and waiting for us. The dining room was deserted except for maybe seven tables. They attempted to seat us inbetween two couples in the middle of the dining room and I knew my Grandmother would not be happy, so I asked for a table overlooking the lake away from other diners. They changed our table and took away a place setting before we sat down and it happened to be the place setting where my grandmother wanted to sit. So now we have a bad first impression of the hotel and now the dining room. Our server took forever to come and ask us about beverages. We were served bread and only one pat of butter for the three of us to share, so my grandfather asked for more butter and they took our butter dish and returned with another single pat of butter. Ahhh! They brought us Crab Bisque, which would have been wonderful, except it was served lukewarm. I had shrip and scallops for an appetiser and my grandparents each has snails. I tried one, but it tasted like salty fishy slime... Ewww. They liked them though.FOr dinner I had really yummy lobster richman

For dessert I had the Creme Brulee sampler, a scoop each of: lime, oreange, raspberry, white chocolate, cappucino, and caramel. Since having Creme brulee at the California Gill, I've been an addict, so this was heaven for me. My grandparents splita maple walnut cheesecake slice and they had double espressos, which came in a regular sized demitasse cup... my grandfather asked about the size and the girl explained that a double is a full cup and a single is a half full. Ummm OK? The waiter never brought me my refill on my diet coke and he took it off our bill which still came to ... brace yourself... $245!!! It was the single most expensive dinner of my life. At the Sagamore, all you meals have an 18% gratuity included in your bill, regardless of whether the server deserves it or not! Honestly, I generally tip 20%, but more or less based on my experience. OK, we got the crumb catching experience, but they were slow, our food was cold and they were not attenative at all especially considering they were not busy! I've had better service at Friendly's on at Friday night. Regardless, as we were leaving my grandfather stopped by the Maitre 'D to complain about aspects of the bill, such at the double espresso size to which this woman replied... it isn't double size.. it is run theough the espresso machine twice to make it stronger. In all, they should get their story straight and be consistant. I will never eat there again and would not recommend eating there to anyone.
As we left, we stopped in the verandah where a three piece band was playing jazz music. This was one of the highlights of our trip, just sitting back, having a cocktail and relaxing to the music. My grandparents danced to an old tune and we really enjoyed the verandah. We returned to our room where the beds had been turned down and Godiva chocolates left on the nightstand. My grandmother took a bath while I wrote a postcard and some notes out for a trip report. In all, I was hoping for a better experience. Disney just does things so perfectly sometimes, and when something isn't up to that standard of care, it is a disappointment.
Overall, the resort was nice, but the particular accomodations I had reserved were not appropriate for my guests. Our room would have been perfect for a family or couple who wanted a rustic, secluded, romantic accomidations. I think a room in the main building would have worked better for my grandparents who do not ambulate well enough to hike up and down stairs and huff it over to the main building. I think if we were in the main building we would have been happier, but our room itself was great, just not a great location for us. The Trillum was overpriced and overrated. I would never go back. Music and cocktails on the verandah was great!
Day 2 to come tomorrow...