What is going on with resort guests?

[RMulieri]

Culture of Entitlement explains it ALL..It isn't just Disney either...I see people act like this EVERYWHERE anymore sometimes I want to cringe in embarrassment for people, since obviously they don't see what a spectacle they are making of themself.

 

[IndianaRRT]

Agreeing with all these points!

And as the mother of a teenager, I am sorry to say that next generation will have many of the same behaviors as the ones who feel entitled. It breaks my heart to see the way some of my DS's peers are taught to behave, either through outright instruction or observation.

I have been to WDW once in my life--our trip in a few days will be my and the children's 2nd. DH went many times as a kid, but that didn't mean he OWED me a trip. We worked hard and saved, had to stay offsite because of hotel reward points night (MY something for free! ), but had some magical moments during that trip that will stay with us.

We can't afford deluxe resorts, even though we both have good jobs and aren't irresponsible with our money. We booked a value this time with a PIN (a little !) and are thrilled! We will be celebrating DH's college graduation--after several years of taking classes part-time during 50-60 work weeks, he finished his Bachelor's degree! If we get a little pixie dust because I noted it on the reservation, then that's what makes this a trip to WDW as opposed to almost anywhere else.

The point is that for 6 nights, I'll be with my DH and awesome kids in a place where we all have something to enjoy. That's enough magic for me...

 

[harley6464]

the way i look at it is if u dont get an upgrade then u should not get mad the way we do it is book early and u get the room u want deluxe mkv or cl then there no worrying about what hotel or rooms u get.

 

[ugadog99]

I have no idea why people think they are "owed" something or they are more "entitled" to free privileges than the next person. Here's what I do know: I am in serious Disney withdrawal. Due to some financial issues, I'm just praying right now that I will be able to squeak out my trip for July. The stress I've been under since last July is enormous. I truly believe I need to be at Disney to relieve some of this stress for a bit. I booked Pop in a preferred room. I am now going to switch to Pop standard to save a bit. I'm doing everything in my power to make this trip a reality. I don't expect anything from Disney other than the magic and stress relief that I always get there. I normally do not stay value for an entire trip, but I don't care because I just want to BE there. All these posts expecting something or trying to get something for nothing make me ill.

 

[EastonCat]

It seems like every other thread anymore seems to be - how can I get something for nothing?

Sorry to vent it just seems to be getting over the top lately?

Oh and if you say you shouldn't try to get something for nothing - then you're a"snob"!

Disney has been giving a lot of something for nothing with steep discounts and free dining. It attracts people who like to get something for nothing. I look forward to a time when discounts are not so steep and frequent as the park, resort and restaurant experiences have suffered. Perhaps I'm a snob, but I'd rather be surrounded by people who are enjoying their vacation in the moment and not stepping in front of me at a buffet to put cookies in their purse.

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

It's the Entitlement Culture run amok. People constantly trying to get something for nothing then some have the nerve to act indignant when they're called on it.

 

[TiaMaria]

I think there is a slight difference between people who want to sneak in to pools and concierge lounges they clearly did not pay for and people who ask for upgrades at check-in. My reasoning is as follows: Disney sometimes gives upgrades, but in my memory, I've never encountered a cast member standing at the exit to the Magic Kingdom, inviting everyone to go for a quick dip in the pool at the Polynesian or offering them an after dinner drink at the Contemporary's concierge lounge.

Upgrades are nice and I've benefited from a few, but we enjoyed the visits without upgrades just as much. On our first visit to WDW, we were offered an upgrade to GF Sugarloaf for $50 more per night. (This was when the concierge was run by a separate department. This type of upgrade no longer exists.) We loved it so much that, subsequently, we have paid for multiple club level stays at other WDW and WDL resorts and the GF. Our reservation for this July is club level at AKL. I would say our very first upgrade made good business sense on Disney's part since we would not have thought to book club level during our subsequent vacations if we hadn't experienced it at a reduced rate the first time. All upgrades are pixie dust, but some make good financial sense too.

Last year, we were at the GF in Sugarloaf. About the same time, some guests were upgraded from the Values to the GF. Was that all good will or also good business? WDW could re-sell the now empty rooms at the Values whereas the rooms at the GF would probably have remained unbooked for that week. Therefore, I wouldn't feel as bad about, politely and without any sense of entitlement, inquiring about an upgrade at check-in as I would about using something like a pool or a lounge that I clearly hadn't paid for and that is only intended for the use of a certain number of people. Your request for a fancier room and WDW's desire to re-book a less expensive room might coincide and benefit both parties.

This is a great post and I agree with you 100%

For the people who argue about the concierge lounges - trust me - the F&B department knows exactly how many individual bodies are booked on any given night into concierge rooms - and they plan accordingly. To say "well our room holds 4 but only 2 of us are staying so why shouldn't we have guests?" They may have a bit of extra out, but don't fool yourself - what if every room did that?

 

[summerlady]

Wahwahwah....I left a huge tip for mousekeeping every day but didn't get one towel animal.

 

[THERESA522]

There are just SO many things my kids & I get for FREE when we go to Disney, and everyone else gets them too...you just have to be able to look around and appreciate them when they're happening!

I think we're living in a ME society, so sad and so disappointing! It's just not that difficult to be happy in Disney!!!

 

[btcrane]

The distinction made between asking if a room upgrade is available and pool hopping or sneaking into CL is an important one. Pool hopping and "sneaking" definitely uncool.

That said, I would be too embarrassed to ask for an upgrade. I'm also the type of person who doesn't like to haggle over a price, unless it's a car or someplace haggling is expected. I still hate it.

Someone close to me, however, has no problem with being a jack*** as has been previously described in this thread. He has been known to throw a fit when he can't get into a restaurant, feels that any money he can save while at Disney he is "entitled" to because he's already paid so much to be there, and has even been known to only give a CM in a Fastpass line some of the FP's from his group, saving the others so he can ride again.

Behavior like this makes me cringe, especially if I am traveling with him--guilty by association.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I would be happy to just to get to WDW. Doesnt matter where I stay, or get. People just want something for nothing. This is what the next generation is learning. Jo

 

[bdoyledimou]

The posts that annoy me are the people who change their childrens ages to get something they are not entitled to.

We actually upgraded our Nephews age (from 8 to 10) to get him on the Adult dining plan. We also explained to the CM that that is what we were doing, and we paid the difference for both the dining plan and his tickets . Thats not a bad thing.. but when a 10 year old is marked as a 9 year old for savings, that sucks.

I think the (Two) Year(s) of a Million Dreams events really really spoiled a lot of people, as well the fact that people don't seem to realize that the promotion is OVER.

I attended YMD both years it was on , for a total stay of 20 days between the two stays, and my part(ies) didn't get a dream.

The first year, it was me and three friends who went on a whim totally random phone call at 2 am and a drive down to Disney for 7 days.
After we did and saw everything we could, we decided to MAKE dreams (we got extra fastpasses and handed them out to people, one of my companions paid for the meals of the two families behind us meals at Columbia Harbor House (he budgeted $100 just for this task but only spent $70) we found prime seats for the parades, and just before they started, gave them to a familyu with small kids) and had a blast and a great time, even though a lot of the people we tried to do something for looked at us like we had two heads!!)

 

[goofy4tink]

Getting something for nothing is fun!

The first time we stayed at GF, we were upgraded to GF RPC. We really enjoyed it, and have booked CL rooms ever since. So, it was a win/win for Disney. We were also once upgraded to a two-bedroom suite. That was lux! And, great fun! We didn't ask for these upgrades, they just happened.

Having said that, Disney often upgrades people. And, it is Disney's hotel and Disney's right to do so. We can resent it, saying, "I paid for my room, why should those interlopers get an upgrade and be drinking my beer and eating my olives". But, we don't own the CL lounges -- Disney does!!!

If someone wants to ask for an upgrade, I see absolutely nothing wrong with it. What's the harm?

As for using pools at other resorts, if it's not allowed, then fine. Comply with the rules. But, I see no harm in asking if friends staying at another hotel can join us for the afternoon at our pool. Big deal.

And, as I said on another thread, CM's have told us to feel free to have others in our party join us in the lounge. It was only one time, and we didn't actually do it, but again it's Disney's lounge and Disney's CMs.

We on this board are not the pool police, the lounge guards and the upgrade controllers!

I basically don't much care what other people are doing. I'm on vacation and want to enjoy myself. Upgrades??? Close to 35 stays in WDW and only one time have we gotten an 'upgrade'...and that was my dh, who was staying at YC, with a business convention. My dd and I were staying across the lake at BWV..since we were going to be there longer than he was. He checked in and was informed that as part of YOMD promo, he was being upgraded from a standard room to a CL room!! Really? Seriously??? Of course, since I wasn't staying there.
But....other than that one time, we have always gotten the room we reserved. Asking for an upgrade is fine, but be prepared to open your wallet for it. It's when people get there, and ask for a 'free' upgrade that gets to me. But, that's their business. And truly? There just aren't all that many times that happens.

But, to speak to your comment about who cares if you are allowed to bring a friend or two to the CL lounges area with you, or to the pool area. Fine...many have been able to do just that thing. BUT...here's the rub. What happens when 15 people are told they can do that? Those 15 resort guests now bring in a few of their friends....so rather than just those paying guests at the pool, or in the lounge, you have basically tripled the number. And that just isn't fair to other paying guests.

What's good for one guest has to be good for all the guests. And that is going to make for a not so special experience for a lot of people.

But...people are going to do what they want to do. And nothing anyone says here is going to change that.


But truly,,there is a certain sense of entitlement around nowadays. I hear it all the time. I was standing in a resort lobby...BW...and there was a woman who was in line checking in. Well, it would seem that she had booked one catagory of room, but in all reality wanted a boardwalk view room for the same price. She was most annoyed to find that wasn't happening. She came right out and said..'Well, with what I'm paying to stay in this place, I should be able to have two rooms facing the lake, not a view of some crappy gardens!!' Really? Seriously?? She quite huffily stomped away, not having gotten her 'free upgrade'. Sure, they had a boardwalk view room but not for free. And this woman was not prepared to pay for it.
People want free food in the parks, they want better rooms, they want special gifts given to them if they wear those stupid birthday buttons. They want a towel animal every night. Oh well..human nature is not going to change.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

But, to speak to your comment about who cares if you are allowed to bring a friend or two to the CL lounges area with you, or to the pool area. Fine...many have been able to do just that thing. BUT...here's the rub. What happens when 15 people are told they can do that? Those 15 resort guests now bring in a few of their friends....so rather than just those paying guests at the pool, or in the lounge, you have basically tripled the number. And that just isn't fair to other paying guests.

I got a great example of that and it's something I saw for myself in August 2009. While my family and I were in the Atrium Club Level lounge at the Contemporary all of the sudden about 25 - 30 people came in and there was also a few little kids who kept running around the whole time in the lounge. Well it turns out a few of those people were staying up there, however the rest of those people were not and they were making a lot of noise and it was very hard to enjoy ourselfs. So these people were either friends or family staying on other floors of the Contemporary. Well later that evening when we returned they had put out two signs in the lounge in english and spanish that said the Atrium Club lounge was reserved for guests staying up there and in all years we have been staying there they never put those out. We then started speaking to one of the Club Level Cast Members who told us they don't mind if guests bring 2 or 3 friends or family into the lounge for food or drinks because they are not bothering anyone, however he also told us what these people did was wrong. When I asked how come they were told they didn't ask these people to leave I was told the 1st time they are not allowed to say anything, however if the people staying up there brought them back up a 2nd time then they would need to tell them those other people wouldn't be allowed into the lounge.

 

[minniejack]

Reminds me of a time when I tried to sell my own house. The guy and I went round and round about the price; it was listed at $71,000.00 (this was back in 1994) and he could only qualify for $30,000.00. I said, then you are looking at the wrong neighborhood, try the trailer park down the street. He just couldn't believe that I would sell my house to him for $30,000.00 because that was all he could afford. Geez.

I will get off my soapbox now.

Same thing happened to us in '94--maybe it was the years? The appraiser actually didn't count a bedroom because he was working for the buyer and trying to lower the price for him.

The posts that annoy me are the people who change their childrens ages to get something they are not entitled to.

And my DD has always been on the tall side and at times we wanted to carry around her birth certificate because restaurants and hotels all over this crazy land didn't believe us on her age. From waitresses rolling their eyes to downright questioning her and us when we asked for a child's menu.

We've had all kinds of magic (it's all in what you consider magic--from being onstage at Lion King, being the Beast at Belle's storytime...eating delicious ice cream bars, getting pics with both Minnie and Mickey at Chef Mickey's) happen inside the parks and just today we were talking about what great time we had at Disney during Hurricane Charley because the lines were smaller...

One year they gave us treats for the kids birthdays, the next year they did not. We weren't upset, but DD16 still talks about how nice that was...magic shouldn't be requested--it should just happen.

 

[Evan&Kimberly]

We actually upgraded our Nephews age (from 8 to 10) to get him on the Adult dining plan. We also explained to the CM that that is what we were doing, and we paid the difference for both the dining plan and his tickets . Thats not a bad thing.. but when a 10 year old is marked as a 9 year old for savings, that sucks.

I think the (Two) Year(s) of a Million Dreams events really really spoiled a lot of people, as well the fact that people don't seem to realize that the promotion is OVER.

I attended YMD both years it was on , for a total stay of 20 days between the two stays, and my part(ies) didn't get a dream.

The first year, it was me and three friends who went on a whim totally random phone call at 2 am and a drive down to Disney for 7 days.
After we did and saw everything we could, we decided to MAKE dreams (we got extra fastpasses and handed them out to people, one of my companions paid for the meals of the two families behind us meals at Columbia Harbor House (he budgeted $100 just for this task but only spent $70) we found prime seats for the parades, and just before they started, gave them to a familyu with small kids) and had a blast and a great time, even though a lot of the people we tried to do something for looked at us like we had two heads!!)

Love Your Concept!!!People are always lookin for something how about giving something for a change!!!!

 

[flicx]

Read alot of people complaining about other people looking for more than what they have spent.You know disney has slowly done this from year to year too.Let's face it I bought three day park hopper tickets with no expiration for 68.00 in 1985.These same tickets have tripled in price since then,most peoples salaries haven't. You now also pay extra to park hop and have no expiration on tickets,more,more,more!Rooms have gone up at this kind of rate too.They also have tricked up the calender by lessening value seasons,charging more for weekends etc.I can't fault a person for hoping to get a little extra knowing the history of disney pricing.My grandmother stayed in the contemporary tower when it opened for 25.00 a night.How many times more would you have to pay now! Don't get me wrong I love disney but greed has definitelty become part of the disney plan.Don't be so quick to condemn people for doing basically what disney has been doing for decades trying to get all they can!

 

[johnsonet]

Wahwahwah....I left a huge tip for mousekeeping every day but didn't get one towel animal.

LOL

...
That said, I would be too embarrassed to ask for an upgrade. I'm also the type of person who doesn't like to haggle over a price, unless it's a car or someplace haggling is expected. I still hate it.

Someone close to me, however, has no problem with being a jack*** as has been previously described in this thread. He has been known to throw a fit when he can't get into a restaurant, feels that any money he can save while at Disney he is "entitled" to because he's already paid so much to be there, and has even been known to only give a CM in a Fastpass line some of the FP's from his group, saving the others so he can ride again.
Behavior like this makes me cringe, especially if I am traveling with him--guilty by association.

Truly pathetic - this is the type that seems to be rapidly multiplying: WHINERS and babies

...

But truly,,there is a certain sense of entitlement around nowadays. I hear it all the time. I was standing in a resort lobby...BW...and there was a woman who was in line checking in. Well, it would seem that she had booked one catagory of room, but in all reality wanted a boardwalk view room for the same price. She was most annoyed to find that wasn't happening. She came right out and said..'Well, with what I'm paying to stay in this place, I should be able to have two rooms facing the lake, not a view of some crappy gardens!!' Really? Seriously?? She quite huffily stomped away, not having gotten her 'free upgrade'. Sure, they had a boardwalk view room but not for free. And this woman was not prepared to pay for it. People want free food in the parks, they want better rooms, they want special gifts given to them if they wear those stupid birthday buttons. They want a towel animal every night. Oh well..human nature is not going to change..

EXACTLY. "For what I'm paying..." is soooo common. No personal responsibility for the fact that they knowingly booked "standard view" over "Water View" since it saved them about $100 per night I've booked standard view too but I would never, ever think to complain about getting anything but that.

 

[Deb & Bill]

... Don't get me wrong I love disney but greed has definitelty become part of the disney plan.Don't be so quick to condemn people for doing basically what disney has been doing for decades trying to get all they can!

Things cost a lot more. Minimum wage has gone up. Disney has added more attractions and more hotels. None of us are making the same wage we made ten years ago.

It just costs a whole lot more to operate the parks and the resorts.

 

[flicx]

Things cost a lot more. Minimum wage has gone up. Disney has added more attractions and more hotels. None of us are making the same wage we made ten years ago.

It just costs a whole lot more to operate the parks and the resorts.

Disney has more than upped there prices according to the economy! They have increased prices,cut value seasons,increased weekend rates,charge for options that used to be free on tickets etc.Lets take the price of a 3 day ticket park hopper no exp ticket in 1985(68.00).That won't get in for one day at one park anymore.Disney is a great place, but if you start looking at there financial history greed is definetly present!