WWYD: it's 1am and I'm up because

[megs1313]

relevant background info:
-checked in herebto CBR on Monday, no issues up to tonight. Resort seemed empty until today
-called and requested a room away from smoking areas because of asthma/allergies


WWYD:
A young couple stood outside my window (literally in front of my window) talking after 11 this evening. Despite cranking up my sound machine, I couldn't sleep through it, so I opened the door and asked them (nicely) to move elsewhere. They were quick to move. BUT, I didn't know they were out there smoking. I had thought it was people walking passed that I kept hearing periodically, but now it's so obvious that I can't believe I didn't realize it was just the same people going out there periodically to smoke! I really should have because there's only one other room on this side of the building so there's literally no foot traffic except that room. Anyway, as I'd opened the door to speak with them, smoke finds its way into my room. My eyes. My throat. My nose. I've taken Benadryl and my inhaler. I've been trying to use the ceiling fan, but it's just recirculating this foul air. I could ask to be moved immediately, but the rest of my family is asleep, it's me that's got the breathing issues and I wouldn't wake my 3 year old for all the tea in China. Obviously, the front desk was no help and I wish I'd caught the CM's name because I'd be speaking to someone about not letting her answer phones with her people skills.

So what would you do? Anyone have any ideas? I'm so tired.

 

[dansdad]

relevant background info:
-checked in herebto CBR on Monday, no issues up to tonight. Resort seemed empty until today
-called and requested a room away from smoking areas because of asthma/allergies


WWYD:
A young couple stood outside my window (literally in front of my window) talking after 11 this evening. Despite cranking up my sound machine, I couldn't sleep through it, so I opened the door and asked them (nicely) to move elsewhere. They were quick to move. BUT, I didn't know they were out there smoking. I had thought it was people walking passed that I kept hearing periodically, but now it's so obvious that I can't believe I didn't realize it was just the same people going out there periodically to smoke! I really should have because there's only one other room on this side of the building so there's literally no foot traffic except that room. Anyway, as I'd opened the door to speak with them, smoke finds its way into my room. My eyes. My throat. My nose. I've taken Benadryl and my inhaler. I've been trying to use the ceiling fan, but it's just recirculating this foul air. I could ask to be moved immediately, but the rest of my family is asleep, it's me that's got the breathing issues and I wouldn't wake my 3 year old for all the tea in China. Obviously, the front desk was no help and I wish I'd caught the CM's name because I'd be speaking to someone about not letting her answer phones with her people skills.

So what would you do? Anyone have any ideas? I'm so tired.

First chance you get go to the Concierge Desk at OPR or the Front Desk at The Custom House and tell them what is going on. When you hit the Front Desk button on the phone in your room it does not actually go to the Front Desk. It doesn't even go to anyone physically on WDW property. It goes to a Call Center. Now the CM you spoke to definitely should have either called the Front Desk themselves or transferred you there.

Guests are only allowed to smoke in the Designated Smoking Areas. They will do something about it. When you do speak to someone actually at the resort they will either offer to move you, move your rude neighbors or warn them if it happens again they will be removed from the resort. One of those will happen especially because it is affecting your physically.

We had this happen to us at Beach Club with a group of 4 all smoking on their balcony even after multiple, polite reminders from me that smoking on the balcony is not allowed. After I spoke to the Front Desk they warned them and the next night with them out there smoking away, they came and removed them from the resort.

 

[megs1313]

Like first chance I get, as in I should walk over there (from stinking Aruba 56, literally as far as possible and nowhere close to any of my room requests) right now in the middle of the night or in the morning?

 

[danikoski]

I'm guessing it is not a designated smoking area outside your room? If it was me, I would walk up to the front desk and discuss with a manager. I recognize that involves opening the door again. The front desk on the phone in the room does not go to the front desk at the hotel, so walking over there is really the only option, I believe.

If that is not an option at this point, go take a shower, leave the door cracked and if there is a fan in the bathroom, kick it on. Leave the ceiling fan on. Take a shower to get the smoke smell off you, plus the humidity from the shower will catch some of the smoke particles and hopefully, if there is a bathroom fan, will send some out. The humidity also loosens up air passages.

I feel your pain. I have asthma triggered by smoke as well. It can suck when people smoke where they aren't supposed to. In the morning, if you don't go tonight, I'd definitely go speak to a manager at the front desk

 

[dansdad]

Like first chance I get, as in I should walk over there (from stinking Aruba 56, literally as far as possible and nowhere close to any of my room requests) right now in the middle of the night or in the morning?

That is up to you and your current comfort level. From Aruba 56, the front desk is maybe a 4 minute walk. I too have asthma that gets triggered by smoke so I feel your pain. @danikoski gave some really good advice.

 

[danikoski]

I hope it all worked out and you got some sleep last night

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Just wanted to mention, when you do call the "front desk" in the middle of the night, that call should be logged so the front desk can see it attached to your reservation should you go to the front desk later to discuss the issue. We've had to call the "front desk" three times in the middle of the night (on separate trips) due to noise issues and when I've gone to the front desk in the morning, there was always a note that I called, why I called and when. I hope they are able to work this out for you so you are able to comfortably sleep in your room.

 

[fbb]

Just wanted to mention, when you do call the "front desk" in the middle of the night, that call should be logged so the front desk can see it attached to your reservation should you go to the front desk later to discuss the issue.

I don't understand the common advice here to actually go to the front desk instead of calling. Whatever system Disney uses, they can relay the information.

No one advises to physically go into the kitchen instead of calling room service or go into the laundry instead of calling housekeeping.

 

[gwynne]

I don't understand the common advice here to actually go to the front desk instead of calling. Whatever system Disney uses, they can relay the information.

No one advises to physically go into the kitchen instead of calling room service or go into the laundry instead of calling housekeeping.

I don't believe your comparisons are the same.
Having someone at a different location make some notes is very different than talking directly to CM at your hotel front desk.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I don't understand the common advice here to actually go to the front desk instead of calling. Whatever system Disney uses, they can relay the information.

No one advises to physically go into the kitchen instead of calling room service or go into the laundry instead of calling housekeeping.

That is very true.

But if you want prompt or even immediate service, you go to the source. Or to the top.

Doing that means walking over to the front desk.

 

[danikoski]

I don't understand the common advice here to actually go to the front desk instead of calling. Whatever system Disney uses, they can relay the information.

No one advises to physically go into the kitchen instead of calling room service or go into the laundry instead of calling housekeeping.

Eventually, sometimes, you can get things sorted through the call center. But many times, walking to the front desk and physically talking to someone is sooooo much faster and less hassle. Plus you don't have to play the game of telephone and have what you wanted or needed get relayed incorrectly. I also asked once to be transferred to the real front desk and was told I had to go there. That CM didn't believe they could transfer the phone call. Whether right or wrong info, the problem was remedied quite quickly by physically going to the front desk.

 

[AngiTN]

I don't understand the common advice here to actually go to the front desk instead of calling. Whatever system Disney uses, they can relay the information.

No one advises to physically go into the kitchen instead of calling room service or go into the laundry instead of calling housekeeping.

Room Service button, you call the wait staff
Housekeeping button you call the Housekeeping staff
Front Desk button, you don't call the front desk.
Big difference.
Going to the source is better than a middle man

 

[firstwdw]

when I had a room issue there I had much better luck with the main desk at the Custom House-so head over there and ask to speak to a manager-Hope the rest of your night was uneventful and that things get resolved today. Good luck.

 

[Lynne M]

I don't understand the common advice here to actually go to the front desk instead of calling. Whatever system Disney uses, they can relay the information.

No one advises to physically go into the kitchen instead of calling room service or go into the laundry instead of calling housekeeping.

Calls to the front desk at Disney resorts are routed to a call center. Even if you're calling from a room at the resort. Now, usually, this system works fine, messages are routed, and the guest's issues are handled. But, as with any system that's run by humans...sometimes stuff happens.

We advise that if a guest is getting frustrated because a problem doesn't seem to be getting handled after they've called, or if they just want to talk to someone face-to-face, that they physically go to the desk. Should a guest have to do that? Definitely not. But if I've got an issue that needs to be fixed quickly, that's really stressing me out or preventing me from getting on with my vacation fun, I'd rather take a walk and get it handled than stand on principle.

 

[Micca]

Sorry you had to deal with that @megs1313, hope they sorted it out to your satisfaction. When you get some time I think we'd all like to hear how they handled it. Try to enjoy your day.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I think for a situation like this, where it involves specific people in a specific place at a specific time, you walk to the desk and hope for the best.

Because it is very hard for them to identify who the people are doing the thing if you call the call center, they put a note on your account, and you follow up in the morning, KWIM? When I worked in a college library and we'd get complaints about activities in the men's third floor bathroom, the problem was always that they'd be gone by the time security made it upstairs, so it's not like we could warn them that regardless of what certain local magazines said, the library was not amused by its status as a pickup zone.

 

[Sandi]

What happened Megs? I'd like to know how this was resolved.

I had an issue with a room at a different resort where I literally could not sleep due to the service elevator noise all night long. I was up at 4:00 a.m. and down to the front desk. They saw how miserable I looked and were able to move us to a different location later in the day. I hope they can move you since the smoke has already permeated your room.

 

[megs1313]

First off, thanks for the advice and support!

I headed to straight to OPR this morning and the CM was very sympathetic and did her best to help me. We ended up moving rooms (which was complicated because we had connecting rooms with my mom and they weren't able to get us another connecting) and I'm hopeful that this won't be an issue going forward. It's an "upgrade" to a pool view room and I'm crossing my fingers that it won't be too noisy for us. Overall, they did what they could in a bad situation. I will say, that there are a LOT of designated smoking areas at CBR. They're all along the paths in addition to the courtyard and I didn't know that before. Having said that, the issue was that these people weren't in a designated area and so I'm not sure how much it matters if people just don't want to be considerate. The big silver lining today is that we're now on the 2nd floor and much closer to the laundry and today was laundry day anyway.

 

[bumbershoot]

I hope the room change works well for you.

When you hit the Front Desk button on the phone in your room it does not actually go to the Front Desk. It doesn't even go to anyone physically on WDW property. It goes to a Call Center.

Yep.

Like first chance I get, as in I should walk over there (from stinking Aruba 56, literally as far as possible and nowhere close to any of my room requests) right now in the middle of the night or in the morning?

Glad you went the next morning. If my husband had woken up to see me in distress he would have gone that night while I stayed to play the martyr. I never want to inconvenience my family and will poison myself to do so. Which, of course, is more inconveniencing than just waking up to move elsewhere.

I don't understand the common advice here to actually go to the front desk instead of calling. Whatever system Disney uses, they can relay the information.

No one advises to physically go into the kitchen instead of calling room service or go into the laundry instead of calling housekeeping.

They *can* relay it. They don't always. There are some points of failure along the way. The phone CM thinking it's note-worthy. Putting the note in correctly. The manager the next day getting the info in a timely manner. The manager the next day having a moment to deal with it.

FAR better to just go there and talk with them in person.