The Last Hurrah

The Last Hurrah...Major Update, Page 6, post 86...guess who called??

The Last Hurrah…July 13-21

…or the final trip before I get married.


Yes folks this is the tale of my final trip to Walt Disney World as a single guy! Next May I’ll be tying the knot with my beloved fiancée and it just recently hit me that this past week will be the last time I go to WDW the same way. From now on things will be different, a good different, but nonetheless different. And to be honest, realizing this impending change, I’ve become increasingly emotional and reflective. So I’m putting together this trip report to share with you the fun times we had on our last hurrah!

First an introduction and some important background information:

The Players:

Dear Aunt (DA) – a 60 year old kid at heart, she has bad legs and has to use a scooter to get around, uses a handicapped parking permit. She’s the matriarch of these trips, taking her nieces and nephews along on her vacations to share with us the magic of Disney.

Dear Sister (DS) – a 23 year old with some pretty serious issues. She played a major and incredibly negative role in this trip, which I will probably leave out of this report due to its personal and negative connotations. Basically she has attitude problems that lead to emotional outbursts. Don’t be surprised if you hear little or nothing about her in this report.

Dear Cousin (DC) – My 25 year old partner in crime! He’s been my best friend for life, born three weeks before I was we’ve grown up together. We’ve been going to WDW with DA for several years and spent many a wonderful time!

Dear Fiancée (DF) – My 24 year old soul mate…the love of my life. We were engaged on April 1st, 2007 and have set a date of May 17, 2008 for our wedding. She’s been to WDW before, but only on day trips. Never stayed at a WDW resort and hasn’t been since 1997.

Me – 25 year old former WDW CM, worked on Main Street during my CP in early 2001, then took a full time position as a Fast Pass team member and eventually went part time while finishing college as a Jungle Cruise Skipper. I’ve been to WDW more than 20 times on vacation and still get emotional every time I have to leave that magical place!

The Setting:

Check-in: July 13, 2007
Check-out: July 21, 2007

DA, DS & DF stayed at the Hawaii Concierge building at the Polynesian Resort. It’s been our Disney home for the past 4 years.
DC and I stayed at the Wilderness Lodge in a Standard View Room for the first time. DC was a last minute addition to the trip and due to maintain livable sleeping arrangements, we added a room at the WL for the two of us, this makes it easier for 5 single adults to sleep comfortably in their own beds.

The Prologue:
On Thursday July, 12, I woke up with a twinge of excitement that could mean only one thing! I looked at the date on my cell phone…then checked my date book….could it be??? YES! It was almost time to leave for our much anticipated annual trip to Walt Disney World. My bag was packed and I had a list of errands to run for the day before we could leave.

I stopped for lunch with my Mom at Pizza Hut then headed to my work to pick up my paycheck and say goodbye to my good friends there. Headed to the bank, home to pay my bills online and picked up my AAA TripTik. Picked up DC at this house, headed to target to pick up some wrinkle releaser for our clothes and dropped by the pharmacy to pick up some medicine for DF. Finally at 5pm DC and I met the rest of the crew at DA’s house and hit the road for our trip to WDW.

This was the culmination of almost 5 months of planning, done mostly by me. I was nervous for a few reasons. I know how my sister acts and I was praying that she’d keep her attitude/outbursts in check. I was nervous about staying at two separate resorts. I was dreading the 13.5 hour drive. I was nervous about how DF would enjoy WDW…hoping she’d love it as much as I do. I was nervous because I knew that this would be the last time I’d go to WDW like this…an all expenses paid, super deluxe vacation with the people I love the most.

In retrospect, the trip had some incredible highlights and sharing my favorite place in the world with my favorite person in the world was incredible. Unfortunately, this trip was also marred by a couple of major things: The valet service, the room and service at the Poly and those outbursts of my sister. I’ll talk about the first two problems as we go along, but I’m going to try and stress the positive times. I hope you enjoy my report and I look forward to sharing with you all!

I'll be updating with new posts throughout the day and the rest of this week...hope to have some pics available by the end of the week.

Cheers,
Josh

 

[Cara1210]

I still love your report. I can totally relate to the sister issues. I have a SIL that is extremely self-centered, also.:brick:

 

[davidpw97]

That was a nice report with great detail. I think we're all really looking forward to pictures. Why exactly did DS go on the trip? She didn't seem all that interested from the beginning, probably would have been better off leaving her home.
Reading all of your hotel issues makes me glad my family usually rents houses or condos off property, don't have to worry as much about bad service when you have your own place. Anyway, hope to see some pics soon.

 

[stitchtastic]

Hope you're not taking DS on honeymoon with you

 

[mary219]

i can not stand people who ruin the party!!your sis sounds like a nightmare,i have family members who are similiar in behavior.They stink!!they ruin what should be a good time because they are miserable sad sacks!

 

[JustPlainBill]

Great report!
I feel as if we are kindred spirits after reading of your experience with the Poly. My family and I stayed at Hawaii just last month and had the same experience with rude uncaring staff and poor housekeeping/maintenance. Our room was hot as well, lightbulbs burned out, broken fridge, etc. It was our first time at the Poly and it was also our last as well, I have never had such poor service at a deluxe resort, as you say, at $500 plus a day, outrageous! I hope you get a satisfactory response, but I would be suprised if it recompenses you for the aggravation you and your family suffered, I mean, "I'm sorry if you felt inconvenienced..." just doesn't make up for it.

 

[spectrodanny]

after all the outbursts by DS i'm surprised you,DF,DC & DA didn't have the guts to tell her "FIND YOUR OWN WAY HOME!"

 

[DznyGrlSD]

:sohappy::sohappy::sohappy: Great TR - can't wait for the photos!!!

 

[Jungle Skipper]

:sohappy::sohappy::sohappy: Great TR - can't wait for the photos!!!

Thanks...hope to have photos up soon...DF has hijacked the camera for wedding dress stuff....will try asap.

after all the outbursts by DS i'm surprised you,DF,DC & DA didn't have the guts to tell her "FIND YOUR OWN WAY HOME!"

I wish...I did threaten to just rent a car..I was so fed up ....and it really takes a lot to set me off.

Great report!
I feel as if we are kindred spirits after reading of your experience with the Poly. My family and I stayed at Hawaii just last month and had the same experience with rude uncaring staff and poor housekeeping/maintenance. Our room was hot as well, lightbulbs burned out, broken fridge, etc. It was our first time at the Poly and it was also our last as well, I have never had such poor service at a deluxe resort, as you say, at $500 plus a day, outrageous! I hope you get a satisfactory response, but I would be suprised if it recompenses you for the aggravation you and your family suffered, I mean, "I'm sorry if you felt inconvenienced..." just doesn't make up for it.

Curious to know what room you stayed in at the Hawaii building.

As for the email I sent..they better step up and fix this debacle. I threatened. I told them to look up how much money we've spent on at WDW in the last 5 and 10 years....10-14 days at year at $550 a night tickets for 5 adults, deluxe expensive meals with desert and wine...all the ridiculous souvenirs...I mean we go all out. Its enough that it should turn a few heads...even in a cash cow place like WDW, I know the amount we spend every year would be noticed if it suddenly stopped.

In my mind (and I'll talk more about this in my next installment) they need to do the following:

refund 2 nights of our stay (at the VERY least!)
Offer help in planning my honeymoon in May along with a discount on that room. I know they can do it...

I told them that its always been my dream to spend my honeymoon at WDW, but as of right now I'm not sure I can justify it. Its a once in a lifetime thing for me! I need to be assured that that trip is going to go smoothly and not be ruined by bad show and poor service. I don't think thats too much to ask, considering the disrespect and blatant disregard for our needs that was given to us this year...

My big question is when will they call, how long should I wait before I try again (if I don't hear from them) and how will this all turn out? I know they have the ability to do something!

i can not stand people who ruin the party!!your sis sounds like a nightmare,i have family members who are similiar in behavior.They stink!!they ruin what should be a good time because they are miserable sad sacks!

I agree...I would much rather kick back and have fun!

Hope you're not taking DS on honeymoon with you

:hurl:
Absolutely not..lol...

That was a nice report with great detail. I think we're all really looking forward to pictures. Why exactly did DS go on the trip? She didn't seem all that interested from the beginning, probably would have been better off leaving her home.
Reading all of your hotel issues makes me glad my family usually rents houses or condos off property, don't have to worry as much about bad service when you have your own place. Anyway, hope to see some pics soon.

Thanks! I pride myself on detail....
I'm not sure why she went, in fact, I'm pretty sure she invited herself along without invitiation.
As for WDW hotels, I've never had a problem with them before, with one minor exception. I would prefer to stay on property, but right now couldn't justify such a move.

I still love your report. I can totally relate to the sister issues. I have a SIL that is extremely self-centered, also.:brick:

Thanks! its been so good having you along for the ride...still more to come, although most of the Disney stuff is gone..hope I can get pics up soon!

 

[danipooh]

Definitely post the pictures!! I love putting faces with names! Well not really names in this case...but people!

I really hope that your letter gets to someone who cares. I'm really curious to see what they do for you. Hopefully at the very least, if they keep getting complaints about the Poly maybe they'll reevaluate how management is running the staff. But I feel that you are entitled to some type of monetary compensation or cool freebies for your honeymoon. It's not like you were staying at the Days Inn for $49 a night!!

 

[spectrodanny]

Josh have you considerd staying at the Grand Floridian for your honeymoon. I had Excellent service there in '99.

 

[JustPlainBill]

Curious to know what room you stayed in at the Hawaii building.

I believe it was room 3514, Magic Kingdom view.
When my wife and I spent our honeymoon at WDW 20 years ago we stayed at the Contemporary. We're going to go back there for the first time next year for our 21st anniversary. The Poly was a terrible disappointment for us, we had warning ahead of time that the service had dropped off there before we made our reservations but had decided not to heed the advice.
Good luck on your wedding, wishing you the best!

 

[Jungle Skipper]

Josh have you considerd staying at the Grand Floridian for your honeymoon. I had Excellent service there in '99.

We've thought about it...I've stayed there before...one trip. Incredibly elegant resort...just not our style. We both think its beautiful, but both just feel out of place there...we're simple people really....the elegant thing just doesn't work for us! lol...we'd like to stay at the WL...but it depends on $$ and response to this compaint.

I believe it was room 3514, Magic Kingdom view.
When my wife and I spent our honeymoon at WDW 20 years ago we stayed at the Contemporary. We're going to go back there for the first time next year for our 21st anniversary. The Poly was a terrible disappointment for us, we had warning ahead of time that the service had dropped off there before we made our reservations but had decided not to heed the advice.
Good luck on your wedding, wishing you the best!

Hmm...well sorry to hear about your problem there Bill. We were in room 3504....4th room from the lounge on the 3rd floor...MK view. It really was horrible and I was flat out shocked at the service.

As for the contemporary, its just not my atmosphere anymore...I love the new rehab....very sleek and sophisticated...which is just not me! lol. But it is a wonderful resort.

Last time I stayed there was 5 years ago...on the 12th floor club level....had a problem with the room being cleaned. On check in, it quite literally looked like some one had been executed by the mob in our room. Add a chalk outline to what looked like dried blood on the floor and you've got a crime scene. There was dried red stuff on the floor and wall, bedspread....it was GROSS! We asked it get taken care of and asked to move, but they were "booked solid"...so cleaners were sent to the room almost every day...the carpet was always wet...felt like we were in a room under construction.

After that experience, I contacted guest communications and they apologized profusely and then acted as a personal aid while planning our next trip. That trip was the one which turned us on to the Poly...and now this. We're not hard to please people by any stretch of the imagination...but the Poly was 100x worse than that. But I'm sure you will LOVE the Contemporary...it'll always have a special place in my heart.

Thanks for the well wishes on the wedding...I'm excited...we've been busy planning since we got back from WDW!

 

[dhcalva]

Might I humbly suggest the AKL for your honeymoon? It's in the same price range as the WL. Actually, we've usually ended up staying at the AKL cheeper than we could at the WL.

 

[Jungle Skipper]

Might I humbly suggest the AKL for your honeymoon? It's in the same price range as the WL. Actually, we've usually ended up staying at the AKL cheeper than we could at the WL.

Well we have given it some thought. However with all of the changeover to the DVC I've been told its probably harder to get in to. Its an option, and depends on the price. But I really am drawn to the location of the WL a bit more...that boat to the MK is nice, IMHO just as nice as the monorail.

Cheers,
Josh

 

[Jungle Skipper]

The Aftermath

So this somewhat nightmarish trip to Walt Disney World is over. But now that we’re home, I’m reminded that even a problem laden, less than spectacular experience at Walt Disney World, is better than a mediocre day in the real world. I guess we should all be thankful for the opportunity to be in such a magical place. Getting home and getting back into the swing of things is weird and to be frank…I hate it.:fork:

After leaving DA’s house on Saturday night, I took DF home and helped her get situated and acquainted with being home again. She had a really hard time adjusting to being home alone again. After a bit I headed to my home and was able to get everything inside…except for my toiletries bag, which fell out of my luggage and onto the back seat of my car. My deoderant melted and my shampoo leaked. Yuck....buut my care smells nice! :ROFLOL:

Anywho…Sunday morning comes around and its time to get moving. I got up and unpacked all of my stuff...Disney laundry sure stinks to high heaven when you pull it out of the suitcase. So I started some laundry and then went through my souvenirs…the final inventory of Disney Loot.

Limited Edition Bronze Pirate Mickey Figurine
Painted Pirate Mickey Figurine
Framed Wilderness Lodge Drawing
Animal Kingdom Drawing (Unframed)
Starfighter Mickey Bobblehead from Star Tours
Walt Disney World Frame
Liberty Tree Tavern Mug
Picture of us riding Everest

Yeah…somebody went overboard…:shrug:
After doing this I talked with DA on the phone a bit about the trip and what I should include in my email to WDW. So I start writing. Four pages later I’ve crafted a professional letter than expresses my concern and unhappiness over the problems we experienced while at the Poly and touched on major problems like the valets, the HoopDeeDoo Review and the inappropriate comments made by the WL front desk lady. My request was the someone contact me and help make some good out of this problem filled vacation.

As I’ve stated in this thread, I think an appropriate response is to refund at least two nights stay at the Poly and offer us help in planning and a better than normal rate for our honeymoon in May. I think this is an appropriate request seeing all the problems we put up with has certainly made me concerned. They have a lot of making up to do after this debacle and I need some reassurance that should we make WDW our honeymoon destination…that similar problems will not occur. A bad vacation is one thing, but a honeymoon is a once in a lifetime thing. I sent it around 1pm on Sunday afternoon…still waiting to hear back from them.
I went to DF’s apartment and we hung out for a bit and eventually went to my parent’s house to visit and have dinner. Dad grilled out some wonderful pork loin and corn on the cob. It was a yumtastic meal! Unfortunately DS was there too….still in her angry mood from the explosive trip home. She was incredibly rude the whole evening.

DS never said a word to DF and I. DF tried to make nice, asking her how it was going, how she was recovering from the trip…trying to make small talk. DS responded by rolling her eyes and grunting. What a pain, so rude. Wouldn’t look at either one of us and never spoke or responded to our conversation at dinner. Mom, Dad, DF and I had a great meal…DS acted as if she was put out by being there. Forced to dine with us horrible vacation ruiners!

After dinner, DS quickly left, as if escaping the jaws of our oppressive presence. How dare we accept my parents invitation for dinner! After she left, DF showed Mom and Dad our new Wedding Cake Topper and Champagne Glasses. Mom got a little choked up.

Mom and Dad then had to go to church, so DF and I left to go to DA’s and check up on her. It’s a Sunday night tradition for us to visit DA and watch the Next Food Network Star and other Food Network shows. She enjoys our company and we love hanging out with her! So we visit and I help her unpack some things. Then we looked through our Disney Photopass CD…got some good pictures.

But it is kind of funny, because you can see DS change in her attitude as you progress through the week. In the beginning she is happy and smiling and close to the group. As the week moves on she looks annoyed with a fake smile. Then the pictures change as she scoots away from us leaving the picture off balanced, with the three of us and DS standing a short distance away looking irritated. Eventually she’s not in the pictures because she’s back in the room sulking and being bored. Her own decision. Her loss. Looking back it’s amusing, albeit sad.

Flash Forward to Monday Night

I work late...long 14 hour day at work to be exact, get off around 1:30am and go home. I had just typed and posted an installment of our trip report and then I hear stomping coming toward the back of the house. My mom and dad are asleep…its DS. She’s ticked off. She angrily shoves a letter under my nose, so close I can’t read it. She barks at me “What can I do to fight this?”

Apparently, she’d been denied unemployment. About a month before vacation she was fired from her job as a server. Their story: she yelled at her supervisor and called her the b-word. Her story: She was the victim of targeting by a boss who didn’t like her and lied to the owner. So DS filed for unemployment and despite warnings by my dad and I that she can’t count on it, DS was banking on receiving the money. She wasn’t looking for a job very hard because she was afraid no new employer would let her take her vacation. Sounds smart, huh?

Well…as dad and I predicted, unemployment was denied and now she was furious. I told her I couldn’t help her while she was yelling and barking at me. She went on and on about how “they can’t do this to me…” acting as if she were some innocent victim. However, after seeing the outbursts she had while we were in FL, there is no doubt in my mind she was fired for the right reason. :zipit: I bit my tongue and didn’t speak up, then she started yelling and cussing at me. I thought she’d been processed by a drunken sailor.

I stopped her and told her calmly that I couldn’t handle her yelling and until she could calm down I wasn’t going to acknowledge her with conversation. Then it happened. She goes nuclear. I’m a horrible brother. I ruined her vacation. She hates me. She hates DC. We treated her like $#@! All week long and we owe her an apology for ruining her vacation. She hates me, she hates DF and hopes we don’t make it and that our marriage will fall apart. She started in on DF calling her a baby, a b---- and a c--- and a w-----. At this point I can’t hold it in anymore.

I cut her off and said “THAT’S ENOUGH OF YOUR RANTING! Maybe you got denied unemployment because of your unstable attitude. You are disillusioned by what happened on this vacation. If anyone owes apologies to anyone…its you. You owe DA, DC and DF an apology. And if you can’t see that or understand why, then I feel sorry for you….”
:fork:
She cut me off and started yelling at me and ranting about DF and I and how much she hates me. I was fed up. I just turned away from her and started typing an email. I wasn’t going to pander to her. This really drove her up the wall. She pushed me and I turned to her and told her to step off and grow up. I then said “After the things you have just said to me and about myself and DF, you have gone to far. Until you apologize to DA, DF and DC you don’t exist to me. And until you take back the things you said about me and DF, then you aren’t going to be in our wedding. Your invitation to be a bridesmaid has been withdrawn and held open until you apologize."

She yells at me that she doesn’t f-ing care and she doesn’t want to be in our f-ing sham of a wedding anyways and in fact she doesn’t want to be there. She hates me and her and everyone else is wrong but her.

At this point, there is nothing more you can really say to her. She starts yelling and I turn away, ignoring her. After 5 minutes of profanity laden abuse I turned and asked: “What part of you don’t exist until apology don’t you understand? Yell all you want, it doesn’t bother me, but you’d best not wake up mom and dad.”

She stormed off swearing and slamming things. I eventually went to bed. What a night. I locked my door because DS was being crazy. I had images of waking up in the night to a steak knife being stabbed through the back of my skull. That’s how insane she was acting. The next morning I reported to mom what had happened and told her the ultimatum I had given regarding the wedding. Fortunately mom agreed and said that wa unacceptable. However DS still gets a free pass as Mom and DA now believe that its all the result of some medical problem and DS just needs to go see a doctor…she goes next week, so hopefully they can help me out. But she still has to apologize, my ultimatum stands. In fact, DF and I have set a date, a few of our friends know said date, and its plenty of time for DS to apologize. If she does not, then she will be replaced. I think that is fair and appropriate. Especially considering the unforgivable things she said about the love of my life. What kills me is none of this was called for…no one did anything remotely close to inappropriate to her. It is all ridiculous.

Since that night, DS hasn’t spoken to us. She’s griped about us to her friends (some of which know me and have told me what’s been said and how wrong DS has been acting). I’ve seen her twice since then and she’s given me death looks both times, then turns away. I’ve been cordial and get no response. It’s sad….

As for Disney…still waiting to hear from them. Its been 11 days and no response. Hope to hear from them by midweek. Will update once I do hear from them.

So that’s it so far….thoughts? comments? Discussion?

I love all my new TR friends! Hope you still enjoy…and still trying to get the camera back so I can post pics…sigh….sorry for the delay. And I still have to figure out how to do that..never posted pictures on a forum before..so bear with me! Thanks again!

Cheers,
Josh

 

[minnie2000]

I can't believe you're having DS as a bridesmaid!

Seriously though, I would change that. Given her history, she is bound to make a scene at your wedding. Couldn't she just be a guest? Then, if she decides not to come, or behaves badly and has to be removed, it won't make such an impact, as it would if the bridesmaid suddenly disappeared!

P.S. Don't let anything ruin your wedding day, you only want happy memories, you don't want it to be remembered for one of your sister's major tantrums.

 

[danipooh]

I can't believe you're having DS as a bridesmaid!

Seriously though, I would change that. Given her history, she is bound to make a scene at your wedding. Couldn't she just be a guest? Then, if she decides not to come, or behaves badly and has to be removed, it won't make such an impact, as it would if the bridesmaid suddenly disappeared!

I agree! Unless she can get her act together, I would say don't have her be a bridesmaid...maybe you could have her involved in the wedding in some other way so that if she does have a fit the day of the wedding, it won't be so obvious. Do her and your DF normally not get along? It's hard...she's still your sister. Maybe if she really does have a medical problem she can talk to someone or get on medication and get better. It would be for her own good!

As for Disney, can you post your letter? I'm curious to hear what you said in it! And as for your honeymoon...you'll have a fabulous time no matter where you stay. You'll be on such a high after the wedding, it will all be magical no matter what! Don't worry too much about it being perfect; it will be to you because you'll be with the one you love most!!!

 

[dox]

Usually my favorite trip reports contain pictures but this one ranks right up there with the best! It was a very informative and entertaining read all at the same time. Plus you really took us along with you on your trip, experiencing the highs and lows. Good job.

And yes, please post the letter to Disney. Would love to read what you had to say.

Just curious, and I'm sorry if it's too personal a question, but what do you do for a living? You seem to work long hours and you're an excellent writer.

 

[rwdavis2]

It may very well be a medical disorder. A "cousin-in-law" exhibited very much the same type of behavior. It appears that if she's on her meds she's OK but she doesn't always take them.

It's quite obvious your sister is mentally ill and in need of meds and therapy.

Was this her first time at WDW? How does she normally act when presented with a new situation? My daughter (12yo at the time) was quite miserable (WDW and Universal) when we first went to Orlando in 2004. This past January we went to Universal only and she had the time of her life. It appears any time she's presented with a new situation (school year, event, vacation) she's anxious and upset but when it's familiar she's OK.

Good luck. Until she gets and accepts help I'd go so far as to tell she can't come to the wedding and to hire security to keep her out. Don't ignore the situation and hope for the best.
Bob

 

[lilclerk]

It may very well be a medical disorder. A "cousin-in-law" exhibited very much the same type of behavior. It appears that if she's on her meds she's OK but she doesn't always take them.

I was thinking that too, my aunt is the same way. It's tough, but jeez, this is horrible.