September 14-22 Trip Report **Updated 10/11** - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Sunday, September 16 Disney Studios(I guess it will always be MGM to me)
Today was off to a great start. We skipped everyone going to the food court. I went and brought breakfast to the room, it seemed to be quicker for us this way. We went to MGM and headed straight for the TOT, we were very disappointed that the RNR was closed for our entire trip , but we knew this going in. Eli and Luke had just met the height requirement in May and LOVED RNR. After TOT(twice) we headed to the Great Movie Ride, this was DD's place she decided to nap today . The noise didn't phase her in the least. We decided to grab some lunch and while we were eating my DH called to say that he was at the park entrance with my Aunt and Uncle. I went out and took him his AP and we met up with the rest of the group. They had decided to hit Star Tours, after Star Tours we all went to Muppet Vision 3D, we always enjoy this show. While in the show it came a down pour, fortunately I had paid attention to the dark clouds and had parked the stroller under cover and put the rain cover on it as well. The rain didn't last long and we made our way back to the TOT. It seems like I am leaving something out, but for the life of me I cannot remember what it is. It was then time for our 50's PT reservation. We had a great meal here and a funny server. I had the best fried cheese appetizer, the server even got the recipe for me. I also had the pot roast, which is my favorite here. After dinner we decided we better head back to the Resort to do a little homework, and then have a little game room time.
On my introduction page I had mentioned we were finished with the All Star Resorts. I will take a few minutes here to explain why I said that. There was nothing horrible, just several small things. We had a few issues with our room. The first night, our remote wouldn't work, but the next day they fixed it. I had also reported the fan in our bathroom would not work (it serves as a great NOISE buffer with a baby trying to sleep), it was not fixed. The phone in our room, the only thing that worked on it was the number pad, you could not use the buttons for mouskeeping, wake-up call etc. I reported this twice and was told both times , I should just dial 0 and they would connect me with whatever service I needed, which sounds okay, BUT if you have a sleeping baby/children, it is easier to be able to set your own wake-up call with out having to speak to someone at the desk. Eventually they fixed our fan after a couple of calls, but they never would replace/fix our phone, is that a huge deal, well NO, but I just think if it was an issue for us, they should have done more to accomodate us with it.
The other issue we faced this trip was SMOKING . We had neighbors that stood outside of their room and smoked, continually. Not just our neigbors it was everywhere. The tables at the pool, the kiddie pool, walking around the resort and in the bus stop lines. I am sure there were people following the rules, but it seemed many people had the attitude of we will smoke where we jolly well please and there was NOTHING Disney was doing about. It made me wonder if it was they were turning their head so to speak more at the "value" resorts. I noticed this in the parks as well. It seemed they had the attitude of letting them be as to not offend. My problem with this is, if this is your rule, enforce it. I did see many smokers in the parks using the designated areas and I really appreciated that. I will be curious to see if the same is true at the other resorts. I did not notice it when we were at the Wilderness Lodge, but we were only there for a couple of hours for dinner.
Did you call down to the desk about the smokers outside your room? I guarantee you that if I am paying for a room at Disney and everything is non-smoking except for designated areas, I will be either asking the people to move or calling down to the desk. If the desk would got enough calls, they would certainly start enforcing the rules better. I'm sorry but I cannot breath around cigarette smoke and I hate the way it makes your clothes and hair smell. It just all turns my stomach. Now, down off my soap box! Bigred
Did you call down to the desk about the smokers outside your room? I guarantee you that if I am paying for a room at Disney and everything is non-smoking except for designated areas, I will be either asking the people to move or calling down to the desk. If the desk would got enough calls, they would certainly start enforcing the rules better. I'm sorry but I cannot breath around cigarette smoke and I hate the way it makes your clothes and hair smell. It just all turns my stomach. Now, down off my soap box! Bigred
Yes, I did complain about the smoke. It wasn't hard to see that someone was smoking by all the discarded cigarettes on the ground. Every time it was met with a wide-eyed CM who didn't know what to do or said they would send someone down. In MGM, I asked CM if we were sitting in a designated area and when she said no, I replied well there are people sitting here smoking and she just looked at me. When I asked if something could be done, she just shook her head. It truly seemed like they were afraid to offend a smoker by asking them to use the designated areas. We had people in our party with asthma so it was an issue. I also forgot to mention we got a post card in the mail asking us to complete a survey on the All Star Movies. When I filled it out, I stressed the problems I mentioned in my post.
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Sounded like a great day until running into the smokers. I would have been furious and said something to the ones standing by your room. My son has asthma and if anyone tries that around us they will hear about it. As will the CM management, up the chain as far as I have to go.
You can rest assured people probably have the attitude of "I spent boo-koo bucks to be here I will do what I want to do". Rules are rules.
But I probably should get off my soap box because I just got back from small claims court against an ex slumlord who lied thru the whole case. I have figured it out that you have to lie, cheat, and steal in this lifetime to get anywhere. If you play by the rules it gets you nothing.
I digress......sorry for the rampage. I do hope the trip gets better and you hurry back with more!!
Karla, I'm sure glad you had the guts to say something and do something. Unfortunately, I think that A LOT of people have to get off their proverbial behinds and say and do something too. This is a health issue. Not just a politically correct issue. When Disney gets swamped with complaints then perhaps it will do something about it. Meanwhile, I am a fiery redhead and I will not hesitate to say something to those few smokers who continue to be rude and oblivious to others. Next time, ask to speak to the hotel manager if a CM is not cooperative. And report that CM. Maybe after enough bad reports on a CM, that person will start responding to the guests needs. Whew! I sure can get fired up, can't I! Time to get back off the soap box again. Bigred
Oh, yes the trip was wonderful, don't get me wrong. I just wanted to include that unfortunate experience since it was part of our trip. But that said it was just a small part, by golly, I am at Disney and I WILL HAVE FUN!!!!! . We did have a great trip and I can't wait to share the rest of it very soon.
__________________
Karla
Last edited by TinkerBelts; 10-10-2007 at 06:17 PM..
Reason: forgot to make print blue
Sounded like a great day except for the problems at the resort...
I would be the same way as you...if I am paying for a room fix what is broken or move me....or give me a real good deal to comepensate because literally speaking the room charge is based on a room at 100% - if someone does nto work then they should deduct...plain and simple...
Don't know if this is true but if my landlord can up my rent by $10 a month ebcuase I needed a new stove (the other one was 40 years old and finally died) his excuse being that my rent was based on an apt. with an old stove so a new one drives up the rent price - I feel that the same thing goes for a hotel room....
Also I am surprised about the smokers...when we stayed at the POR while I did see people smoke they were always in the desiganted areas...there were enough of them and spread out so I don't see why people would have a problem to just go where it is allowed....
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After another food court breakfast (my DH loves the chocolate croissants ), we were on our way. It was such a beautiful day. DH headed straight for Soarin to get our FP's and the rest of us headed to Test Track. Once DH got there, we got in line, which moved very quickly. We always love this ride (well now that the robots don't freak Luke out. He went through a time when he refused to ride TT because of the robots). After Test Track those in our party that wanted to hit MS, the did the green side as the orange side makes DH and others in our party green !
Here is a disclaimer: I have never ridden MS because I am so freaked out by enclosed spaces . This is the ONLY ride at Disney I will not ride, I have never even attempted it. The only other thing that Disney I had that I did not like was Alien , I did it once and HATED it, the dark, things breathing down my neck and oh,yeah holding me down, NO THANK YOU! I think I would love MS "IF" I could get past the being closed up, but for fear of tearing down the ride clawing my way out, I stay off .
After MS we headed for Ellen. I just love this ride. I know it has been the same show forever, but I never tire of seeing it. DD had a nice nap while we were in there, it still amazes me that she could sleep through the loud rides. I saw other children napping peacefully in their strollers, but not DD . Get on a ride and she sacks out. After Ellen we decided to hit lunch , then it was on to Soarin. I was the one that sat out Soarin with DD, but you know I didn't even mind. We walked everyone in and then we came back outside and walked around. We walked, well I walked and she was carried over to the Living Seas and watched the birds. I just so enjoyed just soaking up being at Disney. It was just so peaceful and happy .
After Soarin we did Living with the Land. I really enjoy looking at all the things they are growing, especially since I know dinner tonight is at the Garden Grill. After LWTL we headed out to board clam shells at the living sea, then onto Figment. After that it was time for our FP at Test Track, DH sat this time out, then they all hit MS again.
By this time it is time for dinner at the GG. We always love this place. Tonight when we are seated the salad and bread is already on the table. I was SO disappointed to see biscuits as the bread! Where was my whole grain bread , that I have grown to love here? You know the pumpkin and or sunflower rolls. After a very long wait our server showed up to take our drink order, after another long wait, he returned. I have had better servers here , but our meal was YUMMY! After dinner we hit Soarin again and then headed back to the Resort for homework and gameroom.
This was just a WONDERFUL day . So relaxed, so fun and I am loving the low crowds. I cannot say enough about Tourguide Mike . He ROCKS, even though we didn't do rope drops everyday, his park suggestions were right on .
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Sorry your flight ended up being so late, but sounds like you had a great first day in the World. More please 
We skipped everyone going to the food court. I went and brought breakfast to the room, it seemed to be quicker for us this way. We went to MGM and headed straight for the TOT, we were very disappointed that the RNR was closed for our entire trip
, but we knew this going in. Eli and Luke had just met the height requirement in May and LOVED RNR. After TOT(twice) we headed to the Great Movie Ride, this was DD's place she decided to nap today
. The noise didn't phase her in the least. We decided to grab some lunch and while we were eating my DH called to say that he was at the park entrance with my Aunt and Uncle. I went out and took him his AP and we met up with the rest of the group. They had decided to hit Star Tours, after Star Tours we all went to Muppet Vision 3D, we always enjoy this show. While in the show it came a down pour, fortunately I had paid attention to the dark clouds and had parked the stroller under cover and put the rain cover on it as well. The rain didn't last long and we made our way back to the TOT. It seems like I am leaving something out, but for the life of me I cannot remember what it is. It was then time for our 50's PT reservation. We had a great meal here and a funny server. I had the best fried cheese appetizer, the server even got the recipe for me. I also had the pot roast, which is my favorite here. After dinner we decided we better head back to the Resort to do a little homework, and then have a little game room time. 
, I should just dial 0 and they would connect me with whatever service I needed, which sounds okay, BUT if you have a sleeping baby/children, it is easier to be able to set your own wake-up call with out having to speak to someone at the desk. Eventually they fixed our fan after a couple of calls, but they never would replace/fix our phone, is that a huge deal, well NO, but I just think if it was an issue for us, they should have done more to accomodate us with it. 
. We had neighbors that stood outside of their room and smoked, continually. Not just our neigbors it was everywhere. The tables at the pool, the kiddie pool, walking around the resort and in the bus stop lines. I am sure there were people following the rules, but it seemed many people had the attitude of we will smoke where we jolly well please and there was NOTHING Disney was doing about. It made me wonder if it was they were turning their head so to speak more at the "value" resorts. I noticed this in the parks as well. It seemed they had the attitude of letting them be as to not offend. My problem with this is, if this is your rule, enforce it. I did see many smokers in the parks using the designated areas and I really appreciated that. I will be curious to see if the same is true at the other resorts. I did not notice it when we were at the Wilderness Lodge, but we were only there for a couple of hours for dinner. 
Karla
Marianne IS bigred!
. We did have a great trip and I can't wait to share the rest of it very soon. 
to hear about the problems at All Stars. Sounds like a fun day at the Studios! Can't wait to hear about Epcot
), we were on our way. It was such a beautiful day. DH headed straight for Soarin to get our FP's and the rest of us headed to Test Track. Once DH got there, we got in line, which moved very quickly. We always love this ride (well now that the robots don't freak Luke out. He went through a time when he refused to ride TT because of the robots). After Test Track those in our party that wanted to hit MS, the did the green side as the orange side makes DH and others in our party green
!
. This is the ONLY ride at Disney I will not ride, I have never even attempted it. The only other thing that Disney I had that I did not like was Alien
, I did it once and HATED it, the dark, things breathing down my neck and oh,yeah holding me down, NO THANK YOU! I think I would love MS "IF" I could get past the being closed up, but for fear of tearing down the ride clawing my way out, I stay off
. Get on a ride and she sacks out. After Ellen we decided to hit lunch , then it was on to Soarin. I was the one that sat out Soarin with DD, but you know I didn't even mind. We walked everyone in and then we came back outside and walked around. We walked, well I walked and she was carried over to the Living Seas and watched the birds. I just so enjoyed just soaking up being at Disney. It was just so peaceful and happy
. He ROCKS, even though we didn't do rope drops everyday, his park suggestions were right on
. 
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