Very Disappointed with our trip!!

[MelindaM]

We stayed at the Polynesian from 9-7 thru 9-14. What a beautiful hotel!! We had a concierge suite on the third floor overlooking the water and Cinderella's Castle. I had purchased everything through the WDW travel company. We spent 12 thousand dollars paid up front for this trip. We paid for the trip of a lifetime, we ended up very unhappy and wet. Also in our package I had purchased the Deluxe Magic Package. Let me tell you what I have learned.

The Concierge is great, but don't expect increased level of service. Most of the staff in the concierge area are amazingly uninformed. We would ask questions and we would be given incorrect information more times than not. I am completely amazed by this. In addition, when you pay for the concierge service you are paying for the view and the treats they have in the lounge, don't expect anything more. I mean don't expect anything more. Get the lagoon side instead of the garden side. You pay more, but the view is superior. The treats are the same everyday, but you get tired of the same stuff. It is nice to have coffee in the morning and unlimited soda and bottled water to take into the parks though.

The Deluxe Magic Package was a huge waste of money. We got the deluxe plan because as I said before this was a trip of a lifetime. We worked off of points. We paid for 84 points for the eight days that we were there. They don't give you the option of detailing how many points you want, they just make you pay for 3 points per person per day. These points could be used for meals at select restaurants, recreational things at the hotels. We left with 58 points unused. These points do not go towards room service or alcohol. We learned there just isn't enough time to use all of these points under the most perfect of conditions. You can't eat two gourmet meals a day plus do one recreational item per day plus go into the parks. It is just way to much. Get the package below the deluxe plan. That one offers a more manageable itinerary. I think it is called Disney Magic, but double check this.

Overall our vacation was a bust. I feel like WDW is out for your cash and when they get it they are done with you. We were at Animal Kingdom when we were attacked by the Terrorists. They understandably closed the parks for the day. However, when we were to leave Friday they said if our flight was to leave so were we. Florida was in the middle of a tropical storm, there were tornados everywhere. We weren't about to fly out, not even sure we could fly out. The airports hadn't been open for days. Delta said our plane was scheduled to leave on time, so Disney said it is time to go. We were hoping they would comp us a room so we could get through the storm and then leave Saturday morning. They weren't about to comp us a room even though out of the 12 thousand we spent we had only used about 5 thousand of it. So Disney sent my family into a tropical storm because we weren't willing to spend another 500 dollars to stay. They treated us like we were trying to get something for free. What a bitter joke. I have been to WDW many times in my lifetime, and I always remember it being wonderful and magical. Not this time. We will never return!!

Granted, with the terrorist attacks our vacation mood changed quickly. It was difficult to be on vacation when so much was going on. The weather was awful. It rained daily from 3 to 8. Thursday and Friday it didn't stop raining because of the tropical storm. I have to say that the Fantasmic show did make me feel better. This is a must see at the MGM. It reminds me of how Disney World used to be. Magical!! I am very dissatisfied with the way Disney treated us. Remember the song.....be our guest be our guest let our service be the test.........another joke!! I am thinking of writing to the President of WDW company and the GM of the Polynesian. I am certain I am wasting my time, could someone give me some feedback on this and let me know what they would do in this situation. We don't expect to get anything back from them. I just feel the need to voice my disappointment in them.

We drove straight from Florida to Ohio last night. We had to stop a couple of times because of tornados in Florida. We aren't familiar enough with the state to know the counties, so as we were driving the weather emergency kept coming on over the radio. So we would stop and ask people which county we were in. Those damn tornados were all around us as we went home. What a nightmare!! I am so glad to be home!! I sincerely feel that Walt Disney World was very uncaring and unmoved by what was happening in this world. I don't say this lightly!! They couldn't care less what happened to us, and they didn't help us out at all. We had two children with us, we were all a little scared and in need of getting home safely!! We were out of money because we had to rent a car and needed gas money to get home. Not to mention, we weren't about to spend another 500.00 to stay. So they said sorry, and they sent us out to drive into a tropical storm. I am amazed and ticked off!! What would you do? Would you write or just forget about it, or do you think I am being silly? Thanks for the input. Hope your trip is much better!!

 

[pumba]

we were there from the seventh to the tenth....and it was damp off and on......but we sure looked cute in our yellow raincoats...I often wondered how those pkgs work with the food and all........Sorry again to hear about your disappointment.

 

[snuggles]

I'm glad you had such a nice view! I'm sorry the events of the week ruined your vacation. Maybe after a while you will decide to go back and give it another try. Thanks for posting!

 

[TimNJ]

Dear Melinda,

Sorry about your bad experience at WDW. It was a bad week for us all. You repeated twice that they "sent you out into a tropical storm" because you didn't want to spend another $500 on a room. With the Thousands and thousands of hotel rooms in the orlando area for under $75, what made you just not move to another room for a night?

just wondering..

 

[MelindaM]

Thanks for the feedback. You are definitely right when you said that it was poor planning on our part.......that is for certain. I will also say in our defense that we weren't blaming Disney for the terrorist attack or for the tropical storm.......that would be ridiculous. I guess we just expected more for the money we spent. They did not offer us a cheaper room. However, they did offer us a room at the Polynesian Concierge if we were willing to pay for it. Our points were still valid for Friday, and I sincerely feel that they would not have been out a penny had they allowed us to stay. The hotel was only at 20% capacity when we left. They took plenty of our money with no service rendered. It is just the principal. We weren't looking for handouts.........we had paid in full!!!! Thanks again for your feedback!!

 

[figgy4me]

Maybe you are just still tired from all that riding. It was not Disney's fault you did not use the plan to it's fullest or that maybe you chose the wrong plan. I realize you feel like you have been taken, but they spell the details of the packages out for you on their website. What ever the reason, I can not agree that they should have given you a free night's stay.
Sorry. And I am sorry your vacation was not under the best of circumstances.

 

[kate099]

We were there from the 10th to the 14th, too, and it really was a terrible week between the weather and the terrorists. Although Disney did give everyone a free ticket to return to the park at a later date, we had paid for a hopper ticket and got a one day one park ticket for later. Our vacation mood left on Tuesday, and the weather Thursday and Friday just finished things off. We also rented a car and drove back to PA on Friday. The driving was terrible and the tornado reports scary as we tried to get out of FL as quickly as possible.

I do give a lot of credit to Disney for the way they handled everything, though. As we were leaving on Friday, a gift shop person at the Boardwalk followed us from the store and gave my grandaughter a little stuffed Mickey toy. She said she hoped that she could help give us at least one good memory from our stay. It was really nice to know that people working at the resorts really wanted to help.

 

[lookingforward]

I am so sorry that your vacation did not work out. I think Disney should have encouraged you to stay where you were safe.. and I think they could have offered you a substantial discount to stay an extra night or two. Thanks for the information regarding the Deluxe Magic Plan. It is something to think about..if the weather is a problem then you may not have the opportunity to use all of the perks, etc. and this will not let you get your money's worth. I am glad to hear that you made it home safely and I hope that you write that letter to Disney. I am sure they would like to hear your reactions...and it they don't care it still might make you feel better to send it! Take care and feel better.

 

[lindylou]

Unfortunately because Disney trips are so expensive you don't have to opportunity to learn from your mistakes or "this time I'll plan differently." That is one reason these boards are so helpful. I've gathered alot of information and these couple of tips worked for me: I've never used a travel agent, I've made all reservations myself, I take copies of everything I prepaid for, conceirge is most of the time just to make sure your not sneaking anyone in, and you can never read enough about other peoples trips. I do know a Disney trip can be a wonderful adventure but you almost have to know someone who has gone before. I don't, and I can't share my magical moments with anyone from home because they think we're nuts for spending so much money. I wish you could try another trip again. My heart goes out to you.

 

[PKS44]

I am really sorry your feelings for WDW have soured as a result of the problems you had. I am also sorry that I have some harsh words for you, too. But I join just about everyone in saying that for the most part the blame for problems goes to that person who stares back at you from the mirror. I hope that this wasted $12000 at least will teach you something, but from your comments it sounds like you have yet to learn.

I have NEVER spent $1200, much less $12000 on anything without doing some significant research. Even a cursory look into the Disney packages would have taught you that they almost never pay. These boards and others could have helped you do the reseach easily. Try mousesaver.com (or mouseplanet.com -do a search for Michael Hewell's columns about those silly plans.) Concierge? If you can eat $80-$100 a day in snacks you shouldn't just take advantage of concierge level accomodations, you should be in the Guiness Book of World Records. You can't expect concierge to be "worth it," because what you are paying for is so nebulous. Concierge gets you a few $$ worth of snacks, a robe, faster check in and priority seatings at any restaurant including Cinderella's on short notice...again, a little research would have been wise given the investment you were making...As for the costs you had for renting a car and/or staying over... How is that Disney's problem? Delta presumably was flying-you said that Disney used that criteria to determine if you needed to go...so Delta sent you out into a storm, not Disney. As I undertand your story, you were afraid to fly and wanted Disney to accomodate you for free because of it...Actually neither Delta nor Disney sent you- your fear (and it sounds like your ignorance) sent you out into a storm. I undertand Disney was very gracious, generous and accomodating to anyone who was Really stranded (and not just afraid to travel). Finally it is too late to write to complain and expect anything. The time to complain was at the time you felt the service was inadequate-you might have gotten some satisfaction- but from the tale you tell it sounds like that was out of their hands anyway...I really hand it to Disney for how they even tolerate unreasonable demands like yours.
Whew.
Rant over.

 

[MelindaM]

Geez, do you feel better? Thanks for the post!!

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

*WOW*- I can't imagine spending that much on a vacation- there must have been several of you! $12000 for a WEEK! My 13 days is only costing me about $2500, and thats with staying in deluxe hotels more than half the time. You would probably have been a lot better off if you had purchased at least 1 annual pass-- it would have come to just a little more than a 7-day ticket, and probably could have saved you a few hundred dollars on your room. (Well, I'm not sure- do they DO AP discounts on consiegre? I've never checked into that..)

 

[pumba]

 

[josierac]

Pumba - I know what you mean about being nice.

but

Melinda M,
I am sorry you didn't have a good time and that you spent a lot of money. but.
The Deluxe plan is never worth it unless you eat at expensive restaurants twice a day.
I am going to agree with the other posters that you didn't do your homework on this. The plan states everything that is included. If you didn't think you couldn't have used them all then you should have looked at a different plan.

I have never taken the plan because there is no way you can do all that is offered and still do the parks. Some people I know have taken the plan for a couple of days and have not gone to the parks on those days or only have gone in for dinners. They have then stayed longer and just enjoyed the parks and not been on a plan.

The concierge levels have always been just a perk and not anything more than that. The price difference is a lot between regular rooms and concierge.

I know that I have priced going and doing a once in a lifetime type of trip.
If I stayed at the GF in a lagoon view room for 10 days with no discounts = 3651.90
Park admission for 10 days. Annual pass approx $350 per adult (2) & 2 kids = $1200 appr
Eating a nice restaurants every day for dinner $150 per day = $1500 (we don't drink much alcohol)
small bkfst and counter lunches = $60 per day = $600

Grand Total - $6952 (approx). Even if the dinners cost us more or we spent more on something else. The total is way below what you paid.

Again I am sorry you had a bad trip. Hopefully when you can look back on this you will give it one more try. This time giving it a little more thought on what you want to do on your trip.

 

[Katy]

I always purchase trip insurance. It finally paid off about a year and a half ago when we couldn't fly back into Boston because of technical difficulties at Logan Airport. Our insurance
reimbursed us for an additional three nights ad DxL, covered our meals, telephone, and transportation to the airport. I will always spend the extra $100.00 when I spend a lot of money on travel.

 

[ryanropp]

We stayed 9 days and spent only $2100. That was on room, tickets, food. It was me, wife, mom and baby. The key to an inexpensive trip is to stay outside of disney. We rented a home in wyndham palms and had 2 families so we split the cost. Saved us about $800. Then we ate breakfast and dinner there. I saved so much this trip, that I'm planning on going back in January

 

[pnelson]

PKS44,

Very well said, in my opinion. Also, I would never drive or fly if I felt it was dangerous, and NOBODY would make me or send me out into a tropical storm. I think Orlando has more hotel rooms than any city in America-there must have been at least one that was less than $500. You could have stayed at ALL-Stars and then still used your points for meals, etc.

 

[Robin1116]

Thank-you fo posting! I do hope that it made you feel better.... And I do hope that you go back to WDW, it looked like in your post that you said this was your last trip!

Remember to never do the Deluxe Plan again (unless you have some sort of serious eating disorder!) That was a bad joke! It really is just Disney's way of making a buck, I really don't see how anyone could ever win with this plan.

And secondly if you stay concierge.... take advantage of it... let them help you make resevations..... I think you stayed in a wonderful area. We stayed GV Concierge at the Polynesian last November and felt our "splurge" (which not mean meanly but was less than half of you costs at rack rate) was worth every penny we saved for!!! And lesson learned to us DH is military and we could have stayed atleast in a GV room for overflow rates at SofG!!!

So I guess my point is we always have lessons to learn, even if we plan and plan our vacations!!!!

Maybe you should sit down and write a letter if you feel so strongly about your trip though, just to let the Polynesian know how a guest felt... not sure what they may offer you out of it...

 

[crella debille]

Usually I keep my mouth closed, but in this instance I have to agree with the other posters. We are travelling on Wednesday 9/19 -- staying conceirge at AKL, with airfare for 5, and annual passes (for 2 adults and 1 child -- other 2 are under 2 years) and rental minivan for the week - we are spending under $4000.

I certainly agree that it is not Disney's responsibility to comp anyone anything simply because they are not comfortable flying. To be quite honest, in wake of all that has happened in the past week everyone should be grateful they and their families are safe and alive and not crybaby because you could not get Disney to comp a room for really no reason.

 

[MelindaM]

I want to thank everyone that has responded to my post. Yes, your words were harsh at times, and I am not really sure why my post made people mad. However, I realize we are all allowed to have our opinions and I thank you for sharing yours.

Like many of you, my husband and I have traveled extensively across North America. We have stayed at Disney World before in our travels, and we have stayed in hundreds of concierge suites across America. We have stayed in expensive resorts, cheaper resorts and just plain hotel rooms. I will say again that I have never been treated as poorly as I was treated at Disney World’s Polynesian Resort. They were not informed, they showed no mercy and yes I expected a lot more service for the money we spent, regardless of whether we spent too much or not (as so many of you pointed out).

We met a few great people that worked there. Tim worked at the Pool Bar in the resort. He was wonderful and gave us a lot of hints on things not to miss. Another concierge staff member booked us fabulous seats for the Cirque Du Soleil. This was after another concierge told us we would have to go to the ticket window to reserve our seating and obtain our tickets. Everyone that worked in the restaurants was wonderful and helpful. Our package included a 15% gratuity, but we always double tipped these people. They were great. We gave our free passes to a young couple with two kids. They were wet (we were all wet) and very discouraged with their trip. They didn’t plan on spending so much money so we gave them our tickets.

Our flight was scheduled to go out 6:30 pm Friday, but so were the flights for Wednesday and Thursday. We weren’t even sure our flight was going to go. On Thursday they had closed the airport because a bomb had been found. They also discovered two Delta Pilot uniforms missing on Thursday. We went to the concierge on Thursday to discuss our departure. They told us that because our plane was leaving so late, and the unsteadiness of the airlines we may want to consider getting a car, or that some of their customers were using the train system. We asked them, at that time, if it were possible to spend an extra night. The concierge told us that yes; Disney was putting people up an extra night but that our flight had to be cancelled. She was going to talk to her superior about our late flight and potential problems with us not being able to leave as scheduled. We had a long time at that point to discover if our plane was going to be cancelled or not so we ordered a car for 10:00 Friday morning just in case. The concierge said we could cancel it without penalty if need be.

We woke up Friday with the wind whipping and the rain pelting. There were tornados being sighted everywhere. They were putting down sandbags at the Polynesian. They had evacuated the campground and hardly anyone was going into the parks. The pools were closed, and the recreation was closed. At that point and time we weren’t even sure if the tropical storm was going to turn into a hurricane. I realize that some of you think that a tropical storm or a hurricane is no big deal, but for us it was our first and it was a big deal.

We had to check out by 11:00 so we talked to Nelson. I am not sure who he is, but I am assuming that he is the manager at the concierge. He was very cool but polite and assured us that if our flight were cancelled they would allow us to stay. It was still early in the morning and we had no idea what was going to happen with the weather or with our flight. So after talking to him we realized that they were not going to allow us to stay until our flight was cancelled. That was still a long time away and we had to check out in a few hours. So our choices were to wait hours to see if our plane was to leave with no room and our luggage by our side, or we could get another hotel room and spend more money, or we could rent that car and get out of town before the storms got any worse. We chose the latter. Everything was chaotic and very unnerving and we didn’t want to deal with any more uncertainty so we rented that car and drove home.

I do have to say the National Car Rental was superior on how they handled the emergency. We ended up spending 50 bucks for a Chevy Blazer with no mileage and no penalty for one way. That is what I call service!! I can’t say the same for the Polynesian!! They could have made our trip wonderful if they would have said, yes Disney will put you up for another night. I would have raved about the service and quality of this resort. All the other problems we had at the hotel would have been wiped out. I wouldn’t have even minded wasting so much money. That is called service. That is called taking care of your customers. That is called giving a little and getting a lot. That is what I thought Disney was all about. That is what Disney USED to be. We aren’t demanding people. Under the circumstances we were all in, we didn’t ask for anything outlandish. We needed help, and they could have easily helped us. We are home now and I feel much better being here. I feel better about our trip and as for the money we’ll make more. The only difference is, we won’t be so eager to give it to DisneyJ Thanks for the posts and I think it is time to end it now. God Bless America!!