[mickeysgirlz]

Originally Posted by chastmastr

We got off to, as usual , a late start. When we finally arrived it was around 7 or 8. I assembled Cubby's scooter and parked the car for check-in, and to get my own rental scooter (which, because my back tends to go out after a few minutes of standing or walking, I rent when we go to Disney) and get help with the luggage. Went to front desk. All was well so far. We were going to be in Broadway building. Cool. And then I asked the fateful question of getting someone to help with luggage. For the first time ever at any Disney hotel we've been in, I got the reply, "Oh, they've gone home for the day."

...

Silence. This kind of "And that's that" attitude was, again, something I'm not used to at Disney at all.

"Er... my partner and I have mobility issues... can we talk with your manager?"

So she went off to parts unknown for a startlingly long time. I asked a passing cast member about it and she said there'd be no problem, thank God, and they eventually found a couple of guys to help with the luggage, and also to get my rental scooter out of Bell Services, and they eventually found the key to start it up , but it did work out. Still, it was a bit jarring. I mean, this is Disney and all. And alas, we found that same kind of not-really-helpful oh-well-that's-just-the-way-it-is tone -- ubiquitous in all manner of other areas of life but not Disney, that's one of the things we love most about it, they're just spontaneously nice and helpful usually -- a bit too much this trip, at least at the All-Stars. (OMG I had the most embarrassing meltdown in the gift shop near the end of the trip about whether or not something I'd had sent there the day before was there, since we were checking out using automatic checkout to leave the next day and all...)

So, we got to the room, with luggage, and the scooters, in the end. Very pretty room too. Pics to follow. We didn't hate everything after all!!

David

Which All Star was it? Sounds kind of like my "Sorry no room for you" ordeal . . . and that was it bye bye IT KILLED ME!!!

[dznygrl]

Ugh I hate it when CMs have that attitude....in Disney "no" or "that's the way it is" should not even be an answer. We had some similar experiences with All-Stars cast members. (Shouldn't they be trained to give the same service as at other Disney resorts?!?)

More, more please!

[tiggerlover1971]

hm sorry thats why I like staying at POP century ....

[chastmastr]

We were at All-Star Music -- and yes, Pop Century was much better when we were there!!

[mickeysgirlz]

Originally Posted by chastmastr

We were at All-Star Music -- and yes, Pop Century was much better when we were there!!

Wow! That is my favorite of the All Stars . . . you should have asked for the manager . . . that attitude is NOT acceptable at WDW!

I met a CM once, who had worked there for like 15 years . . . he said when he was hired the process was a long one . . . he said now they take anyone with a pulse, put them through quick training and done!

3 years ago I noticed a slide in service, and then it seemed to come back to the "old Disney" I was used too . . . I hope it's not sliding again??

[dznygrl]

Originally Posted by mickeysgirlz

I met a CM once, who had worked there for like 15 years . . . he said when he was hired the process was a long one . . . he said now they take anyone with a pulse, put them through quick training and done!

3 years ago I noticed a slide in service, and then it seemed to come back to the "old Disney" I was used too . . . I hope it's not sliding again??

It's true at Disneyland too...the first time DH and I got hired on, the casting center was consistently turning people away due to not having the Disney "look", or not impressing them with personality, etc. They took applicants into interviews in groups of 3 at a time, asked very rapid-fire and pointed questions, and only selected one person to hire out of the group! (DH and I were lucky enough to be the "chosen ones" from our group interviews!) Then you'd have to go onto a second interview AND a personality test, and even at that point many of the "chosen ones" would get turned away emptyhanded!

The second time we went back, they were literally taking everyone with a pulse. The interview had even become a joke. They basically just wanted to know your availability and that was it...I watched people come in with mohawks, dressed in cut-offs and football jerseys, cursing up a storm, and they'd walk out with a job in thirty minutes. (They would just tell them they'd need to "tone down [their] hairstyle". )

It broke my heart to see things becoming this way.

[llama]

Oh my goodness - this does not sound good. I'll be waiting to read more!

[timkelmom]

Anxiously waiting to hear more. We have had similar experiences at the All Stars, but it has not been the norm. Most of our experiences have been positive ones, but I have occasionally run into the rude or disinterested CM.

I am sorry your trip was the same as Alexander's day.

[dixie]

David I am also intrigued to hear more- I am so sorry you met with that very un-Disney attitude at check in- and I am so keen to hear about the DP as its a first for us too this trip- pray tell all :)

[chastmastr]

Well, at first the Dining Plan seemed lovely -- we went and were able to get dinner that night at the food court without worrying about price of entrees -- but then, oh then! Using it up became a real issue! (Our tummies were oogy. When you have oogy tummies -- and then a lot of food you've already paid for that you need to either use of lose -- it's a nightmare if you're the kind of person who worries about "making it worth it.") We dodged the buffets this trip, but still... also, Cubby is diabetic. Free desserts every meal were a terrible temptation. But I think it comes down to the "use or lose" aspect. If you could keep the Dining Plan points, or whatever, to use in the next calendar year or something, that would be fantastic and useful. Alas, it's not set up that way.

By the way, is there still a weight/exercise thread in Chit Chat anymore? (Last night we had leftover fried chicken, but added brown rice, steamed vegetables with ginger dressing, and most critically stopped when we were full! This should go on that thread...)

David

[dixie]

Originally Posted by chastmastr

Well, at first the Dining Plan seemed lovely -- we went and were able to get dinner that night at the food court without worrying about price of entrees -- but then, oh then! Using it up became a real issue! (Our tummies were oogy. When you have oogy tummies -- and then a lot of food you've already paid for that you need to either use of lose -- it's a nightmare if you're the kind of person who worries about "making it worth it.") We dodged the buffets this trip, but still... also, Cubby is diabetic. Free desserts every meal were a terrible temptation. But I think it comes down to the "use or lose" aspect. If you could keep the Dining Plan points, or whatever, to use in the next calendar year or something, that would be fantastic and useful. Alas, it's not set up that way.

By the way, is there still a weight/exercise thread in Chit Chat anymore? (Last night we had leftover fried chicken, but added brown rice, steamed vegetables with ginger dressing, and most critically stopped when we were full! This should go on that thread...)

David

Oh absolutely I understand where you are coming from with that! in a way one feels kind of 'obliged' to 'use' the plan to its full extent- and again you're right if you could 'bank' DP points and save them over to next trip/year well that would be just perfect, but alas from Disney's perspective not economically viable

[llama]

We've stopped taking the DP for that precise reason. It's too much food and it's too stressful. I can see it being great if you have teenage boys - but to us it just became a marathon - eat it or lose it. I don't think I've ever been so miserable about eating at WDW. We did "lose it" the last day - we just couldn't face all that food again. Last time out we bought the Disney Dining Card - for $60.00 we can eat anywhere we like and get a 20% discount - works much better for us.

[tiggerlover1971]

yes david there is still a weightwatchers thread but its probably about 4 -5 pages back on Chit chat since I have been the only one posting when I get a chance lol ..... Yike makes me glad to have the DDE club card instead so I can not be forced food .

[pumouse]

Oh that stinks. I hear ya about the food. I'm not much of an eater anymore (since I lost 65 pounds I kinda view food as an enemy) so that soooo would not work for me!

[roxie]

Originally Posted by chastmastr

This kind of "And that's that" attitude was, again, something I'm not used to at Disney at all......

I mean, this is Disney and all. And alas, we found that same kind of not-really-helpful oh-well-that's-just-the-way-it-is tone -- ubiquitous in all manner of other areas of life but not Disney, that's one of the things we love most about it, they're just spontaneously nice and helpful usually -- a bit too much this trip,

I am so sorry....we ran into this when we were there last fall and it broke my heart!