We got towel animals but....

[duck_adoo]

we won't be staying at POR again. I'd actually stay off site before staying there again. My cousin who we travelled with posted before..but I'm just getting around to it. We were travelling with Auntie (w/heart condition), cousin (disabled on left side) uncle, DH 2 9yo dd's and 2yo.

The highlight...mousekeeper Augustina (Wed-Fri), room was very clean and got towel animals.

Low lights...requested bldg 14. Due to the physical constraints of relatives, we want to be close to the food court & Pool. Also had requested (actually required) special cleaning of the rooms ahead of time. DD had a serious allergic reaction about 1 week before we left it we couldn't figure out the source.
When my relatives arrived the day before us, they were given an occupied room. Yes, they walked into the room and there were already suitcases and other personal belongs. This was bldg 14. Needless to say, this was inexcuseable. Next, we were given bldg 37 on the back. My cousin insisted on a golf cart to take them there. To which they hesisted to grant. BTW, bldg 37 is the absolute furthest point from food court and pool. Also room was full of dust. My Aunt had to go and remind them about the special cleaning. They couldn't find it the day before, but it appeared on the second day. Also, all week they were cutting down trees in front of out building. so much for afternoon rest periods, and not great for allergies either. We were told there were no other rooms available. Transportation stunk. As did the odor outside our building. It smelled like manure most of the week. Food court food was OK..but if you're not all getting the same type of food, by the time the last person is done, the first person's food is cold. I don't want to go on and on...but to sum it up again we won't be staying there again.
I suppose if you're closer to the food court and pool it would have been better. I had a great time because I was with my family, but I will be writing a letter to the manager. Yes I asked his name while I was checking out. I know there are people that love it there, but this wasn't a good week at all for the resort.
Also, I have stayed at Coranado Springs before so I knew what to expect from a moderate.
I hope others have better luck than we did.

 

[LoriDee]

Sorry, to hear you had such a bad experience with POR. I do hope the rest of the trip was much much better.

 

[safetymom]

I am curious what do you expect them to change? I can understand being upset when you went into an occupied room but cutting down trees or fertilizing could happen at any resort. The food court issue happens at all of the resorts.

What could they have done to make it right for you? I am not flaming just asking an honest question and would like an honest answer back. Thank you.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Just a follow up question also, did you make your requests on your reservation or did you go through the special services department? I believe they are the only ones who can guarantee and block a specific room or location. Any requests made through CRO are simply that, requests and not guaranteed.

How was your cleaning request handled at the hotels you stopped at during your drive?

 

[CheshireVal]

I'm sorry you had a bad time, but, you have to remember that a request for a certain room is just that: a request. They can't be granted all the time.

Also, if Disney stopped landscaping to allow everyone to rest in the afternoon, people would be complaining that the grounds were ugly and unkempt. You just can't please everyone. Personally, I'd rather there be noise from landscapers in the afternoon than first thing in the morning or late at night.

 

[robinb]

I am curious what do you expect them to change?

I would say that the OP has some valid complaints: (1) Her disabled family was given a room in the building farthest from the food court and (2) it wasn't cleaned for their special needs and (3) landscape maintenance didn't allow them to rest properly and (4) fertilization left an unpleasant odor.

Personally, I would expect them to place me in a different building. If a different building was not available, I would expect to be moved to a different resort.

 

[TammiMcMan]

I would say that the OP has some valid complaints: (1) Her disabled family was given a room in the building farthest from the food court and (2) it wasn't cleaned for their special needs and (3) landscape maintenance didn't allow them to rest properly and (4) fertilization left an unpleasant odor.

I think we need for the OP to respond before we know if #1 and #2 are valid complaints. If they were requested through CRO, we all know that they are considered requests and nothing is guaranteed. However, if they did go through special services, someone dropped the ball.

For #3 and #4, it's unfortunate, but Disney is a 24/7, 365 day a year facility. Landscaping and other maintenance issues need to be done sometime. I can understand frustration that it's being done around the room you're staying in, but it appears that the work was not so early that it woke anyone up or late into the night.

 

[duck_adoo]

While I understand a request is just that, a request, I left 2 messages for the manager and spoke w/a CM 3 days before our arrival and were told we would be all set. I do have the CM's name, but wouldn't want to post it. I'm sure she did her best, but the rooms were probably given out before we got there by mistake. My concern w/the tree triming was they knew we had an allergy situation before we arrive and I'm sure the tree triming is scheduled well in advance. I think they should have moved us, or switched us to a different resort. I think the different resort would have been difficult as we were 5 in a room. We had also requested connecting rooms, but when I spoke w/the CM before we arrived I said that wasn't a priority and I didn't want to be requesting and she said 'It's no problem, I understand." Even the food court I could have dealt with, it was just one other thing. I think if all those things hadn't been disappointing, then it would have been fine. The other problem was dd got sick the 4th day (had a fever for 3 days, ended up having bronchitis). The tree triming was from about 8am until about 4pm. As I stated earlier, it is difficult to rest w/the noise.
Again, I didn't have an awful time at all. When we could get to the parks, we had fun because we were with family. The resort was just a big disappointment and we ended up being at the resort quite a bit. But at least we didn't get any part of Katrina .

 

[TammiMcMan]

Sorry that you were promised something that the resort CM couldn't deliver on. For future reference, you probably want to go through special services. There is a link right on the Disney World web page with lots of information and who to contact. They have the ability to go right in and block the room, while even the resort CM or manager must take the extra step to get your request to the room assignor. From the sounds of it, they did meet your request by trying to place you in building #14, but because it wasn't locked, an earlier guest was able to bump you out of there.

Hopefully you'll have a much better trip next time. I know how disappointing it can be.

Tammi

 

[sk8bug72]

I agree with you about the food court. It is not set up very well and is very confusing. I also found that it was slow.

When I went, the buses where horrible, and there was old food in the refrigerator in our room. Also, Checking in took FOREVER!!! And then they lost our luggage.

I completely understand your frustrations, but I'm glad that you had a great trip!

 

[dcgrumpy]

As far as the landscaping and fertilization, I think the afternoon is the best time. When else could they possibly do it?

I think you would find the same problem with any food court if you each want something different

 

[CheshireVal]

My concern w/the tree triming was they knew we had an allergy situation before we arrive and I'm sure the tree triming is scheduled well in advance.

I still don't understand the whole tree-trimming thing. If someone's allergies are so severe that they can't be around landscaping like that, I wonder at the idea of going somewhere like WDW for a vacation (where everything is largely outdoors). I just don't see what else they could have done for you.

 

[robinb]

I still don't understand the whole tree-trimming thing. If someone's allergies are so severe that they can't be around landscaping like that, I wonder at the idea of going somewhere like WDW for a vacation (where everything is largely outdoors). I just don't see what else they could have done for you.

I'm not the OP, but I do have allergies. If the trees were being trimmed and landscaping moved around a lot of particles and allergens were probably stirred up. The OP's family was so allergic that they requested the room to have an extra thorough cleaning before moving in.

The OP and her family could have been moved to a Deluxe resort of given an extra room at one on the other moderates. Honestly, being able to breathe and rest during the day is not an unreasonable expectation. Especially if one is disabled and tires easily.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

As far as the landscaping and fertilization, I think the afternoon is the best time. When else could they possibly do it?

I think you would find the same problem with any food court if you each want something different

I agree. MOST WDW guests are in the parks during the morning/afternoon and that is the ideal time to do the landscaping. It has to be done sometime.

 

[minnie61650]

I'm not the OP, but I do have allergies. If the trees were being trimmed and landscaping moved around a lot of particles and allergens were probably stirred up. The OP's family was so allergic that they requested the room to have an extra thorough cleaning before moving in.

The OP and her family could have been moved to a Deluxe resort of given an extra room at one on the other moderates. Honestly, being able to breathe and rest during the day is not an unreasonable expectation. Especially if one is disabled and tires easily.

ITA
Linda

 

[mommyoeo]

For future reference, you probably want to go through special services. There is a link right on the Disney World web page with lots of information and who to contact. They have the ability to go right in and block the room, while even the resort CM or manager must take the extra step to get your request to the room assignor. Tammi

Can I contact them if I booked my trip through a TA? Or do I have to get my TA to call them? For everything else, I have had to go through the TA.

 

[k5thbeatle]

I can understand being a bit upset walking in on an occupied room but what else did you expect? Did you want them to come home and wash your car and clean your bathroom too?

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I still don't understand the whole tree-trimming thing. If someone's allergies are so severe that they can't be around landscaping like that, I wonder at the idea of going somewhere like WDW for a vacation (where everything is largely outdoors). I just don't see what else they could have done for you.

I was thinking the exact same thing. It seems sort of selective sometimes.

 

[CheshireVal]

I'm not the OP, but I do have allergies. If the trees were being trimmed and landscaping moved around a lot of particles and allergens were probably stirred up. The OP's family was so allergic that they requested the room to have an extra thorough cleaning before moving in.

The OP and her family could have been moved to a Deluxe resort of given an extra room at one on the other moderates. Honestly, being able to breathe and rest during the day is not an unreasonable expectation. Especially if one is disabled and tires easily.

I don't agree with this. I think if you're that allergic to trees then maybe you should book a resort with interior corridors and very little vegetation in the first place. It seems unreasonable to expect Disney to shuffle guests around for something that isn't their fault to begin with. Besides, if the OP was there during a crowded time (and it sounds like it was recently), then there might not have been very many rooms available....

 

[Mariposa]

Since this was a disability/medical need situation, I don't get why no one at the resort bothered to tell the OP to call/contact special assistance before they arrived. I mean, if the CM at the resort knows that what they're putting in the computer will only be seen as a 'request' and not a need (which I'd hope they know) then why didn't they give the OP the number/address of someone to contact to make sure the room was set aside? Oh well, maybe the CM didn't think it would be an issue and they'd be able to get the room.

IMHO, the OP should have been given a more accessible room there or been moved to another resort.