Refrigerators being temporarily removed from all rooms

[AngryEyes]

This isn't nearly enough to ruin my trip, but it is forcing me to spend money that I otherwise wasn't planning on. Often, we eat breakfast (and drink milk & juice at far below Disney prices) in the room and then have a cold drink upon returning to the room late at night. You could argue the bucket of ice for the drink at night, but it's still an inconvenience. Keeping the milk/juice cold from 7AM-midnight isn't going to happen.

So, at the very least, if I don't have a refrigerator, I will expect free mugs for my family. Yes, I'm serious. Honestly, I shouldn't even have to ask.

 

[mousehockey37]

Just got off the phone with central reservations.

Initial response was 'refrigerators are standard at that resort'.

After mentioning that I heard that they all got pulled resortwide, then the individual said a coworker just got a call from someone else asking the same thing.... so the indivudual talked with the supervisor...

When the person came back, I got read the deal (wording not exact with what was above, but it seemed close), and offered to put on my reservation my request for one. Asked if it was for medical, and I mentioned the amount that I'm paying and said 'I want one'. (And had them put 'real lagoon view' on it as well).

For the amount that they are charging for the room, a fridge should be in there. There is nothing MAGICal about waking up to a warm chocolate milk that is sitting in melted ice.

Call up. Be polite, professional, but *firm*. If you have your reservation in front of you, you'll know how much the room costs. You're not a jerk for insisting on a basic amenity that every room in that price point within 100 miles of the place offers.

(funny. there's a Lowe's ad under this on my screen).

Just because you "want one" because you're spending all that money isn't guaranteeing you anything. Fact is, in the letter, even people who need them for Medical purposes aren't being guaranteed that they'll get one.

You want the "real lagoon view", well, let's hope that's more of a possibility.

Say, while you're at it, why don't you call the Weather Channel and book some 75 degree, sunny, and non-humid weather? As well as calling back reservations and asking that all tour groups be banned and demanding some free never-ending fastpasses. I'm sure they'll be more than happy to accommodate that for you as well.

 

[mousehockey37]

Given the premium that we all pay for a resort stay within the world I would have to argue that it is a big deal.

If they want to offer a reduced room rate, upgrade, merchandise credit or even coolers in the room with ice delivery daily I have no problem whatsoever but value for the dollar has to be there otherwise I truly feel it is an issue if it was promised at the time of booking. It is not a courtesy that they offer but rather a poignant and pivotal amenity that many people count on. We use the DDP but those not on the DDP or trying to keep costs down by keeping food in the room are going to get hosed on this. I am sure they have been aware for some time of the failings of these things by virtue of guest complaints alone and they should have had an entire warehouse filled with fridges ready to go for the swap out.

If a Disney vacation was like camping or spending a week at the shore I would be happy to "improvise, overcome or adapt" but in fact many of us save all year (or several) to be able to afford our families this wonderful opportunity and if some people are miffed by this I think it is their right to be less than thrilled.

This is the problem with society today. A feeling that there is a sense of entitlement. Sure, is this an inconvenience, you bet it is. Obviously there is something wrong with the fridges that they have to dispose of ALL of them, and they have to do it right now.

Disney's travel brochures don't say anything about it raining, but does it? Yes. Do people go to Guest Services and ask for things like you have when it rains? Probably not but I bet there have been a few. Do they warn about when tour groups will be there in full force? No. Do people feel entitled to things though when they are inconvenienced by them? You better believe it.

This society has become so dependent on entitlement that it's not even funny. That's why in my last post on this thread where I quoted another poster, I made the joke about calling the Weather Channel and demanding the perfect 75 degree, no rain or humidity forecast.

Disney is targeting everyone's safety with whatever is wrong with these fridges. If one fridge in a resort catches fire and the whole resort burns down, there's a lot more problems than just a minor inconvenience of not having a cold drink or leftovers for later.

 

[ninjaprincesst]

they said up to 4 months, so it should be complete by your trip. Hope so for you!

Thanks , I put in a request for medical reasons so keeping my fingers crossed. It is not a deal breaker for us just an inconvenience. I don't want to have to go downstairs to a fridge in the middle of the night for my eye drops but I will if I have to. Things happen and we are going to bere right around the four month mark so hopefully it will be complete by then.

 

[ninjaprincesst]

I always thought that it was guaranteed. Thanks for the info.

When I called today she said while not absoulutely guaranteed it's about 99% certin, plus they should be done by then , also she said the deluxe resorts would probably be done first just because there are less rooms to do.

 

[TinkerbellKate]

Heading to Disney in three weeks. I just booked the trip last week. Am I bummed that there won't be a fridge in the room so I can keep milk and other beverages cool? Absolutely. Am I going to let it ruin my trip? Absolutely not. Things happen and I'd rather them be safe than sorry. When we went do Disney when I was younger, there weren't fridges in the room. We somehow survived then, I'm pretty sure we can survive now. I'm just happy that I saw this on the forum so I can plan a little better for when we leave on August 1st.

 

[ShookieJones]

It's a huge number of appliances to need all of a sudden. Keep in mind this not only affects all standard rooms at Disney World, but also Disneyland and Aulani. That's a huge number of mini-fridges to all of a sudden need. And I'm sure they need to be a particular size, etc. I doubt any manufacturer has exactly what's needed in the quantities needed just laying around in trailers ready to be hauled into Orlando.

Good point.

 

[G00fyDad]

I wonder if they're going to keep them out of cabinets this time?

And I hope they are done by the time we go on October 11th.

 

[Disvillain63]

Interesting. I just went to the Disney site and looked at the amenities for every deluxe resort, including concierge level. None of them list a refrigerator as something that is included in the price of the room. So anyone that complains the refrigerator is included in the room rate has no argument.

It was there yesterday too. I was on the site looking at March 2014 and they all had the refrigerator listed as an amenity.

Maybe a solution would be to offer $10/day to anyone that is affected by this...in the form of a Disney Gift Card that you will receive at check-in...if and only if your refrigerator is not in your room. That's the cost that used to be charged if you rented one/day and it has been computed into current room rates, even though it is listed as an amenity.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I look at it this way...while I would normally expect a fridge to be in my room and like having one, it's hard for me to fly off the handle about this when:

1. I have no 'real need' for a fridge.
2. I know it impacts almost everyone.

I guess I'll just be putting some ice in the sink to chill our beer if we wind up 'fridge-less.'

 

[Disvillain63]

Not clear if they will be contacting future reservations or not at this point. Which is why I created the thread for anyone here to have the heads up. According to Disney, they were notifying guests with a letter in the room at this point.

A letter in the room is a 'last minute' notice to most guests. I've seen many on this forum mention ordering food from Garden Grocers and others to be delivered to their resort room upon their arrival. If they are not informed about the refrigerator situation, then Disney WILL have some upset guests.

 

[nepalostparks]

A letter in the room is a 'last minute' notice to most guests. I've seen many on this forum mention ordering food from Garden Grocers and others to be delivered to their resort room upon their arrival. If they are not informed about the refrigerator situation, then Disney WILL have some upset guests.

That seems to be what they were doing up front to let those guests who are already there know what's up. Outside of the notice sent to travel agents yesterday (and the subsequent q & a on their site), what future contact is to be made with clients I believe is yet to be determined by what they find out with the replacement schedule.

 

[englanddg]

I always thought that it was guaranteed. Thanks for the info.

No...but it should be. It reminds me of when I'd walk into one of my stores and they'd be missing something on the salad bar. "Well, we ran out of Red onions." or "The produce guy didn't bring it." would be a response. Well, um, ok..., I know this is complicated, but there's this new invention called a Grocery Store. They just might have some Red Onions for sale.

If the senior resorts managers thought about it...I'm sure a few phone calls to the local best buys / Walmarts / Lowes / Home Depots / Sears (etc.) or some creative searching for online suppliers could net a few dozen "emergency fridges" that they could cycle through rooms until the final order is placed. Then, after that use is finished, the fridges could be relocated to other uses, like employee break rooms, CP dorms, etc...or...

Sold off on ebay with a special commemorative magnet set to celebrate Disney's Summer Fridgetastic 2013!

 

[MOXOMUMD]

Take this for what it's worth but I talked to a TA that did a little digging on this and found out the fridges are being replaced after a small electrical fire in one at the Grand California Resort. (Maybe a DL poster can confirm this?) The fridges won't actually be removed from the rooms until the new ones come in but they will be unplugged and the cord ziptied. The letter in the room is basically a "Do Not Use" notice on the front of the fridge. Guess I'll find out soon. We will be at WDW for two weeks and really hoped for one. It'll be dry cereal and non-refridgerated breakfast stuff for us. (And if this is true, how many people will try to plug their fridge in?)

 

[englanddg]

Take this for what it's worth but I talked to a TA that did a little digging on this and found out the fridges are being replaced after a small electrical fire in one at the Grand California Resort. (Maybe a DL poster can confirm this?) The fridges won't actually be removed from the rooms until the new ones come in but they will be unplugged and the cord ziptied. The letter in the room is basically a "Do Not Use" notice on the front of the fridge. Guess I'll find out soon. We will be at WDW for two weeks and really hoped for one. It'll be dry cereal and non-refridgerated breakfast stuff for us. (And if this is true, how many people will try to plug their fridge in?)

A lot. They'd be better off snipping the power cord...not zip tying it!

But, I'm sure they probably can't, because they have a "return and swap" deal with the vendor...just a guess...

 

[mousehockey37]

It was there yesterday too. I was on the site looking at March 2014 and they all had the refrigerator listed as an amenity.

Maybe a solution would be to offer $10/day to anyone that is affected by this...in the form of a Disney Gift Card that you will receive at check-in...if and only if your refrigerator is not in your room. That's the cost that used to be charged if you rented one/day and it has been computed into current room rates, even though it is listed as an amenity.

Maybe the best solution to the problem is that guests thank Disney for looking out for their safety. As another poster commented, at one time, there were no fridges in the rooms. Is it something that people can do without? From all the responses, apparently not.

Like I said, you get one fridge that catches fire and burns down an entire resort, you'll have people on here wanting room upgrades at other resorts, or the power to bump other guests in other resorts, people suing TWDC because they DIDN'T do anything to prevent this, people trying to get free vacations and everything else.

Disney is NOT going to do anything for anyone over this. If you are of a medical need for a fridge, then ask for one. This is all leading to the next problem, and it seems to have reared its ugly head already on this thread: People are just calling saying that they have a medical need for them now. Don't be surprised if there's an addendum from Disney that you'll have to send documented proof that you need the fridge. Just because you want one, doesn't give you the right to call and say you have a medical need when you don't. If you are a person of this caliber, my hope is that karma comes back to find you and at a point later in time you are denied something when you are in need due to the rudeness of others.

 

[englanddg]

Maybe the best solution to the problem is that guests thank Disney for looking out for their safety. As another poster commented, at one time, there were no fridges in the rooms. Is it something that people can do without? From all the responses, apparently not.

Like I said, you get one fridge that catches fire and burns down an entire resort, you'll have people on here wanting room upgrades at other resorts, or the power to bump other guests in other resorts, people suing TWDC because they DIDN'T do anything to prevent this, people trying to get free vacations and everything else.

Disney is NOT going to do anything for anyone over this. If you are of a medical need for a fridge, then ask for one. This is all leading to the next problem, and it seems to have reared its ugly head already on this thread: People are just calling saying that they have a medical need for them now. Don't be surprised if there's an addendum from Disney that you'll have to send documented proof that you need the fridge. Just because you want one, doesn't give you the right to call and say you have a medical need when you don't. If you are a person of this caliber, my hope is that karma comes back to find you and at a point later in time you are denied something when you are in need due to the rudeness of others.

Fridge GACs?

Maybe they could put RFIDs in the fridges like they are doing to prevent people from stealing soda (how much of THAT money could have been used to plus the parks?)...

You hit a nail on the head about people who take advantage of a system, abusing it. At some point, it means that the system breaks and needs "fixed"...

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...This is why we can't have nice things...

 

[Victor Kelly]

Looking at Disney.go.com corporate fact sheet shows 25,000 rooms at WDW alone. This does not include DL or any other Disney resort. This is not some minor thing that will be taken care of in a month. And I hate to say it but I see many claiming they have a medical need when they do not, when there are people that really do need them for medications that really do need to be in a fridge, I know I have some.

But, I feel if people that need a fridge and cannot get one, perhaps Disney should off to provide styrofoam coolers to these guests. They are not that expensive.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

Limited Time Magic styrofoam coolers. The HESS stations better stock up now.

 

[G00fyDad]

Maybe the best solution to the problem is that guests thank Disney for looking out for their safety. As another poster commented, at one time, there were no fridges in the rooms. Is it something that people can do without? From all the responses, apparently not.

Like I said, you get one fridge that catches fire and burns down an entire resort, you'll have people on here wanting room upgrades at other resorts, or the power to bump other guests in other resorts, people suing TWDC because they DIDN'T do anything to prevent this, people trying to get free vacations and everything else.

Disney is NOT going to do anything for anyone over this. If you are of a medical need for a fridge, then ask for one. This is all leading to the next problem, and it seems to have reared its ugly head already on this thread: People are just calling saying that they have a medical need for them now. Don't be surprised if there's an addendum from Disney that you'll have to send documented proof that you need the fridge. Just because you want one, doesn't give you the right to call and say you have a medical need when you don't. If you are a person of this caliber, my hope is that karma comes back to find you and at a point later in time you are denied something when you are in need due to the rudeness of others.

We have one of these on the boards right now. Of course people are going to do this, and yes, I agree that Disney should require proof of the need. It would be simple enough to bring in the prescription copy for the Disney so they can have one delivered to your room.