- Mar 13, 2024
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We adore Disney, but there have been moments when our hotel experiences seriously tested our patience.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
You can plan meticulously, snag dining reservations, and time your park visits perfectly—yet all of it loses its charm if your hotel stay turns into chaos. Over the years, we've had some dreadful experiences at Disney World resorts, and we're revealing five that still haunt us. These stories resurface whenever someone says, "it's worth the splurge" or "give it another shot."
This memory is hard to shake. During a son’s birthday celebration, one team member went all out at Disney’s flagship resort. Opening the room door revealed a stench akin to a wet dog’s extended stay. Stained carpets, battered furniture, and a missing chunk from the headboard left them shocked. They documented everything before heading straight to guest services.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
The manager's response? Simply, “What do you want me to do? We’re fully booked.” Hours later, a new room was “found,” long after their Magic Kingdom visit. Milk and cookies were left as an apology (as it was December), but the damage was done.
They tried the Grand Floridian again on a short trip—just for a night. It was a mistake. Room assignment came after fireworks, nearly 10 PM. Cast Members blamed them for not doing online check-in, despite it being attempted three times. The Grand Floridian is now permanently off their list.
Caribbean Beach Resort has its charms. The Skyliner and beautiful pool stand out. But such perks fade fast when a Cast Member enters your room unannounced while your kids bathe.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
This happened on check-out day. While prepping for a final swim, and despite a “Do Not Disturb” sign, someone entered without knocking. Shocked, they vowed never to return.
Disney hosts countless events, and we don’t blame cheerleaders for their excitement. But staying at All-Star Resorts during competition season is a test of endurance.
Crowds
Continuous noise reigns inside rooms, walkways, and the food court. Be it 6 AM or 1 AM, tranquility is elusive. Unless you’re a participant, we recommend avoiding All-Stars during those times.
Art of Animation is a favorite for its theme, but the initial experience was rough for one team member. With a nighttime check-in and requested rollaway bed, expectations were high. Reality hit differently.
Art of Animation
Bags didn’t arrive until 2:30 AM, pajamas and rollaway bed included. The night was a frustrating blur. Though this was back in 2018, and we’ve had better experiences since, that one gave us pause.
While most Disney resort stays are smooth, some can become nightmare scenarios. Whether it’s system failures, unexpected intrusions, relentless noise, or subpar room conditions, a bad stay can ruin a trip. We urge guests to research their timing, verify everything at check-in, and speak out when things go awry. Sometimes, saying “never again” is the right call.
Art of Animation Resort
Remember, mishaps can occur at any hotel. We've heard plenty of great experiences at the mentioned resorts too—our tales are just the opposite end of the spectrum. Your stay could be entirely different, and hopefully much better.
Don’t want to tackle Disney World trip planning solo? Reach out to [Small World Vacations](https://www.smallworldvacations.com/affiliates/?quoteform=wdw&affiliate=disneyfoodblog) for expert help ensuring a magical vacation.
Have you ever had a Disney resort nightmare? Share your stories in the comments!
You can plan meticulously, snag dining reservations, and time your park visits perfectly—yet all of it loses its charm if your hotel stay turns into chaos. Over the years, we've had some dreadful experiences at Disney World resorts, and we're revealing five that still haunt us. These stories resurface whenever someone says, "it's worth the splurge" or "give it another shot."
The Grand Floridian
This memory is hard to shake. During a son’s birthday celebration, one team member went all out at Disney’s flagship resort. Opening the room door revealed a stench akin to a wet dog’s extended stay. Stained carpets, battered furniture, and a missing chunk from the headboard left them shocked. They documented everything before heading straight to guest services.
The manager's response? Simply, “What do you want me to do? We’re fully booked.” Hours later, a new room was “found,” long after their Magic Kingdom visit. Milk and cookies were left as an apology (as it was December), but the damage was done.
They tried the Grand Floridian again on a short trip—just for a night. It was a mistake. Room assignment came after fireworks, nearly 10 PM. Cast Members blamed them for not doing online check-in, despite it being attempted three times. The Grand Floridian is now permanently off their list.
Caribbean Beach: Lovely But Not Worth It
Caribbean Beach Resort has its charms. The Skyliner and beautiful pool stand out. But such perks fade fast when a Cast Member enters your room unannounced while your kids bathe.
This happened on check-out day. While prepping for a final swim, and despite a “Do Not Disturb” sign, someone entered without knocking. Shocked, they vowed never to return.
All-Star Resorts During Cheer Season = No Sleep
Disney hosts countless events, and we don’t blame cheerleaders for their excitement. But staying at All-Star Resorts during competition season is a test of endurance.
Continuous noise reigns inside rooms, walkways, and the food court. Be it 6 AM or 1 AM, tranquility is elusive. Unless you’re a participant, we recommend avoiding All-Stars during those times.
Art of Animation: Missing Bags and Bed
Art of Animation is a favorite for its theme, but the initial experience was rough for one team member. With a nighttime check-in and requested rollaway bed, expectations were high. Reality hit differently.
Bags didn’t arrive until 2:30 AM, pajamas and rollaway bed included. The night was a frustrating blur. Though this was back in 2018, and we’ve had better experiences since, that one gave us pause.
What We’ve Learned
While most Disney resort stays are smooth, some can become nightmare scenarios. Whether it’s system failures, unexpected intrusions, relentless noise, or subpar room conditions, a bad stay can ruin a trip. We urge guests to research their timing, verify everything at check-in, and speak out when things go awry. Sometimes, saying “never again” is the right call.
Remember, mishaps can occur at any hotel. We've heard plenty of great experiences at the mentioned resorts too—our tales are just the opposite end of the spectrum. Your stay could be entirely different, and hopefully much better.
Don’t want to tackle Disney World trip planning solo? Reach out to [Small World Vacations](https://www.smallworldvacations.com/affiliates/?quoteform=wdw&affiliate=disneyfoodblog) for expert help ensuring a magical vacation.
Have you ever had a Disney resort nightmare? Share your stories in the comments!
