Two days left in our 8-day wondrous T-giving week at SSR...it's been completely fantastic!
What follows--a report on a variety of computer issues--in no way interfered with the terrific time we've been having all week.
First: despite 20+ tries in the 10 days preceding our departure for WDW, I was never able to get online check-in to work. But, no biggie. In person check-in was smooth...our villa was ready and it was, for us, the perfect location...
Next: Magical Express delivered a departure envelope 3 days after we arrived, and 5 days before we were to leave. The envelope told me they do not have our departure flight information and gave me a number to call to inform them...my ME packet that came to my home does have the departure info, tho...but I dutifully called and they told me they do indeed have our departure info, and it was correct. Again, no biggie. I now have a departure voucher and who knows, we may get another one tomorrow (the date we "should" get one).
Then: I'd made ADRs for each day we're here, but as is our custom, we changed our minds several (4) times. Each time I called to see if we could make the change we wanted to make (we could and did), Dining's computer system could not find our room reservation. And Dining will not (cannot?) check restaurant availability w/out room reservation info first. After the second such experience, I just told the CM that while we are staying at SSR (and were calling from the in-room phone!), could we just make the reservations as if we were not staying on site. Both times the CM was willing to do that (and all the CMs were exceedingly pleasant--they're just as frustrated with the computer glitches as any of us are!)
It is seriously easier and quicker to make ADRs w/out "admitting" to being an on site guest! I still had to go through the long, drawn-out process of "finding" us (or, in our case, failing to find us) in order to cancel the "old" ADR...each time, the CM couldn't find a room reservation for us, and so canceled by way of looking at the restaurant's list for the time in question. It seems we are "permanently lost" in the DVC villa reservation computer gizzards...but again, no biggie...we have our villa; it's perfect in all respects...
Finally, Mousekeeping is all messed up! We have so far gotten two full cleanings (complete with bed linen changes) and one trash and towel service...in 6 days...I don't get it at all...but again, no problem. I'd have tidied up a bit more had I known Mousekeeping was coming...but I really can't/won't complain about "extra" cleanings...
So...Disney's computers are having the predictable bugs during this enhancement process...but while the bugs are many and varied, they haven't caused us any problems.
And they did have the unexpected benefit of letting me stumble on a MUCH easier way to make ADRs...it really is noticeably quicker and more efficient to make the ADRs as if you're an off-site guest (and we had no problem using our Dining Plan credits at the places reserved as an off-site guest).
Oh: one other tidbit that might prove helpful: we did do the dining plan this trip, but we also used our TIW card for "extras"...again, no issues and no problems...I didn't know if we'd be able to combine the two processes, but turns out we can and it's easy...
So...we're now off to Animal Kingdom and then Candlelight Processional at Epcot tonight. We sure are loving being here...
Happy holidays!
What follows--a report on a variety of computer issues--in no way interfered with the terrific time we've been having all week.
First: despite 20+ tries in the 10 days preceding our departure for WDW, I was never able to get online check-in to work. But, no biggie. In person check-in was smooth...our villa was ready and it was, for us, the perfect location...
Next: Magical Express delivered a departure envelope 3 days after we arrived, and 5 days before we were to leave. The envelope told me they do not have our departure flight information and gave me a number to call to inform them...my ME packet that came to my home does have the departure info, tho...but I dutifully called and they told me they do indeed have our departure info, and it was correct. Again, no biggie. I now have a departure voucher and who knows, we may get another one tomorrow (the date we "should" get one).
Then: I'd made ADRs for each day we're here, but as is our custom, we changed our minds several (4) times. Each time I called to see if we could make the change we wanted to make (we could and did), Dining's computer system could not find our room reservation. And Dining will not (cannot?) check restaurant availability w/out room reservation info first. After the second such experience, I just told the CM that while we are staying at SSR (and were calling from the in-room phone!), could we just make the reservations as if we were not staying on site. Both times the CM was willing to do that (and all the CMs were exceedingly pleasant--they're just as frustrated with the computer glitches as any of us are!)
It is seriously easier and quicker to make ADRs w/out "admitting" to being an on site guest! I still had to go through the long, drawn-out process of "finding" us (or, in our case, failing to find us) in order to cancel the "old" ADR...each time, the CM couldn't find a room reservation for us, and so canceled by way of looking at the restaurant's list for the time in question. It seems we are "permanently lost" in the DVC villa reservation computer gizzards...but again, no biggie...we have our villa; it's perfect in all respects...
Finally, Mousekeeping is all messed up! We have so far gotten two full cleanings (complete with bed linen changes) and one trash and towel service...in 6 days...I don't get it at all...but again, no problem. I'd have tidied up a bit more had I known Mousekeeping was coming...but I really can't/won't complain about "extra" cleanings...
So...Disney's computers are having the predictable bugs during this enhancement process...but while the bugs are many and varied, they haven't caused us any problems.
And they did have the unexpected benefit of letting me stumble on a MUCH easier way to make ADRs...it really is noticeably quicker and more efficient to make the ADRs as if you're an off-site guest (and we had no problem using our Dining Plan credits at the places reserved as an off-site guest).
Oh: one other tidbit that might prove helpful: we did do the dining plan this trip, but we also used our TIW card for "extras"...again, no issues and no problems...I didn't know if we'd be able to combine the two processes, but turns out we can and it's easy...
So...we're now off to Animal Kingdom and then Candlelight Processional at Epcot tonight. We sure are loving being here...
Happy holidays!
