I think this thread needs more attention paid to it. Just so we are clear, I will go back to WDW but I do have to say I feel like there has been a paradigm shift. Mind you, I am not going on a tirade here about a horrible experience, these are just observations I have made on my most recent trip. My family and I are DVC members and we are all in agreement, something has changed. I would love to hear some of the WDW Magic community and their thoughts.
The most important thing has been the decline in service. I’ve never heard “no” or “sorry we can’t do that”, not only at WDW, but anywhere else I went on vacation, as many times as I did on my last trip (5/31-6/4). There has been a discernible change in the employee’s attitudes, this is ubiquitous. There are many instances I could reference but I’d rather highlight a few experiences that best illustrate my point. I had an issue at check-in; we had several different reservations as we are all DVC members. We tried to change our reservation and move a member from one room to the other. Point-blank they said, “No, we can’t do that. You have to call DVC.” I was astounded; they didn’t even offer me a phone. We got the issue resolved, but it wasn’t the optimal solution and when I informed the woman at check-in that it wasn’t optimal she said, “we’ll you’re too impatient”. It is just one example of a pall of snarkyness that has encompassed the world.
There is also a very glaring issue with technology. As someone who keeps up-to-date with the latest technology, I can only assume that the problem is that their technology infrastructure is too advanced for their software. There is no such thing as a key to the kingdom. I cannot begin to tell you how many times our PINs were erased. And after we checked out our entire party (14) had several quick-service meals to use a piece. Each time the food service person couldn’t complete the transaction. They could see that we still had meals left, they just couldn’t complete the transaction. We tried to resolve it at BW, but they said, “there is nothing we can do.” So each time on our last day when we ordered a meal someone had to call BW’s front desk. Completely inefficient and frustrating.
The biggest issue however was the lack of attention to detail. I saw rust, chipped paint, loose floorboards and worst of all trash, even an over-full trashcan in MK. I am easy to please, but I do not and cannot stand for an overflowing trashcan in WDW. It’s lazy and impish and is indicative of the service that has become all too common in these parks and resorts. I feel like there is a serious lack of training and understanding among management and staff.
If you notice not once in my post did I refer to anyone as a “cast member” and I think that is the most glaring problem right now; they are not playing a role, they are just getting through the day. There is a serious lack of attention to details within the cast and the sets and it breaks the heart. And I am not saying that everyone was horrible. I could dedicate just as much space to people that were great. We got family portraits and our photographer Amanda was amazing. We had dinner at the Kona Café, which is easily becoming out favorite restaurant on property and our waiter Jeremy was fantastic. But judging the entire body of work, I have noticed a lack in service, something I think Walt would be very ashamed of.
