Damn Doug, what happened to semi-formal?

I'm going to PM you in a minute.

 

I think you posted you info in the wrong thread vdubdoug, MBE you meant to post in this one

 

maybe add best dressed mini. A lot of people dress their mini up. Maybe hold it down by the old registration building. Either way great idea....

 

Focus, people, *focus*! Please keep this one on-topic.

 

Ah jeeze guys...guess what? We stayed in the hotel this year, and REALLY wanted a cabin for next year because we have two kids and would love to spread out a bit. I heard that they were selling out quickly, and left the dinner Saturday night to book. And lo and behold, ALL the cabins were gone! GASP! Whatever shall I do? Well, I booked another room at the inn. Too bad for us that we just weren't quick enough. I didn't think twice that all the other people swooped in and stole the cabins right out from under us, I was just happy to have made a reservation at all. Appreciate what you DO have. I'm tired of hearing all the complaining. I get enough of that from my kids. If it was such a terrible time, and the Fontana doesn't know how to treat guests, then don't come next year.

The event rocked, and we were happy, the kids were happy, and we all want to do it again, regardless of whether we're in a room or a cabin. Just don't put us in a tent.

 

Strange. I reserved the same cabin i was in on sunday morning at about 9:30. She told me all the inn rooms and the good cabins were taken. I'll keep my dog wood with 30 bazillion steps outside it.

 

Yep, GASP!, I reserved my cabin early Sunday morning too so I guess some misinformation must have been going on Saturday night.

 

They were trying to fool everyone into not reserving in the morning so that they could get the good cabins for themselves!

I really miss the willow that we were in for MOTD 4 Can I reserve for 2009 yet?

 

MINI Meet East in Alcoa, TN June 28-July 1. No, he didn't .......what was the message about my boot hinge?

 

I did hear from someone at Fontana and they are aware of our complaints in this area and going thru some growing pains with our event and asked us to be patient with them.

 

Patience regarding growing pains is one thing, mis-information from reservation staff resulting in missed opportunities is something completely different. Being told flat out at the front desk that reservations will not start until check-out Sunday morning, even though apparently they had been taking them since April, is inexcusable. Then come Sunday morning and the resort is full.....

I am not sure it is even possible to hold the MMCN without staying on-site.

 

We reserved our "rustic" cabin with no a/c (who needs it) Sunday morning. We're just glad we were able to get a spot. But like many others, we were told by someone on Friday that the cabins were all gone. Perhaps it was a plot against us by those who had to camp out in their MINIs all weekend

We are persuing other possibilities also. Fontana isn't the only place to stay

Lois &
Mark

 

And I'm tired of reading your condescending, self-righteous, cop-out, horsesh!t posts. (By the way, what you obviously didn't learn in preschool is that first-come first-serve is "winners take all" not taking turns and sharing.) And who ever said it was a terrible time? We had a blast. Glad you enjoyed your time. You're welcome (from all of us who organized events). But I'm really not here to start or continue arguments.

It sucks that this happened under these kinds of circumstances. Right now I'm confronted with a bigger issue: I have 20+ people that helped us to host one of the premier events of the weekend with no place to stay - so there is nothing to appreciate yet (for MOTD 6). Like mielnicki, as much running around Fontana as we did, I can't even begin to imagine trying to host the Casino from some remote place. Plus, a few from our group (myself included) planned to be even more heavily involved in planning for next year.

For 2 years running I have reserved 3 Magnolia cabins and filled them with 20+ people - even though I come by myself. If it was just me, I'd sleep in a tent if I had to (I slept in a different spot - even on the couch - each night as it was). Far from being a whiny jerk, I'm generally the type to suck it up for the betterment of the whole. And from my years volunteering, I generally try not to criticize unless I'm able to be a part of the solution. ...here I am at a loss. ...Right now, I am frustrated enough that I have already considered not coming back.

 

I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were one of the many great people that made this event happen for all of us. I understand your frustration if this is the case. I know I'd be frustrated as well. I'm new to this, and have a hard time keeping everyone's names straight. There are tons of people that probably go every year, and don't show an ounce of thanks to the people who work so hard to put things together. Pamalalala and I put together the Little Dragons event, and just that little thing took a lot of coordinating and planning, and money to make it happen. It wasn't much of a much, but I felt a twinge of what the people who help with the larger events must feel. If I were a major player in MOTD, I'd too want a decent place to stay. I didn't mean to sound condescending. Well, maybe I did a little, but I thought I was talking to someone who just wanted to sit around and complain that things just weren't going their way. There are so many people out there like that you know. I feel lucky to have our little room in the inn.

 

Mini2Go, I need to caution you - that sentence is borderline on the "respect" NAM guideline. That being said, I feel your frustration. You may recall last year how DCMM handled the event registration and two dinners... and we all busted our asses to get it done, only to find that a few cranky misers here (with chips on their shoulders) had to boldly criticize our actions and our intent. This was in spite of the fact that all of us in the Dragon committee had worked so hard on a completely volunteer basis, for the benefit of the entire MINI community. Planning these things isn't easy, but it's so easy for some people to be an armchair critic when they aren't doing it themselves. The larger the event and number attending (especially when other logistics like tables, chairs and/or food are involved), the more difficult the work is!

Despite some of the thanklessness you may feel, know that the vast majority of those who attended truly appreciate your efforts - me included. I had a blast this year... I have to admit it was great taking "a year off" and not being responsible for anything. We (as in DCMM) really needed a break after last year! Hopefully next year DCMM will step up again and take on one of the dinners or another major event.

Regarding the whole Fontana cabin/room situation, yeah it does kinda suck to have the situation change unexpectedly. I honestly have no problem with the "first come first served" policy... I don't think that anyone can truly lay "claim" to any particular room or cabin... after all, we don't own them! However, that being said... knowing exactly what the reservation policy is, is half of the battle, and having the policy change unexpectedly is a bum deal for those who thought they knew the protocol.

Hopefully next year, the policy will be clearly stated and known well in advance, so that everyone gets an equal chance to reserve the room or cabin of their choice. And I'm sure that the most determined people who really have a strong preference will do whatever it takes to make it so!

 

No prob. I understand - and frankly now appreciate your perspective and intentions. Sorry I flipped a little bit.

Respectfully received.

I don't have any problem with first-come first-server either. But you really hit the nail on the head that knowing the policy is (at least) half the battle. I guess we'll see how it all shakes out.

 

So just how important does someone need to be in your book in order to have the right to express displeasure over the way Fontana mishandled the reservation process without being treated in a condescending manner

 

Wow. Makes me kind of glad I didn't attend. Perhaps those that feel they have "rights" to the cabins should update their wills to leave those said "rights" to a fellow MINIac and make sure Fontana has a copy of said will and first notification of your passing so proper dispersal of your "rights" can take place.

Okay, clarification of the reservation policies would be good and highly suggested for Fontana, but it's too late now for next year and frankly folks.....looking in from the outside.... it's not the end of the world.

 

Everyone needs to take a deep breath. There, now don't you feel exactly the same?

It is very important for the organizers of the events be housed in the village. If not in cabins then at least the lodge. Snooter & I moved from a B&B in Robbinsville last year to the Village this year for that very reason. Trying to run events when out of the area is very difficult.

PittStop is in the worst situation since they ended up not being able to get ANY reservations in the village for next year.

 

Paris Hilton?

No wait ... she doesn't read anything so another hotel is waiting for her

 

You consider Paris Hilton important?

Lock her up. No special privileges.

 

Imagine you take one vacation a year to the same spot every year. And each year you were able to reserve your place for the following year. Out of the blue you then find out the place has opened up your regular slot to Joe Blow before they even asked if you were coming back again.

This isn't about rights as much as proper customer service. Repeat business is a keystone to just about every industry. Fontana essentially told all their repeat customers they could care less if they can make it back next year.

It's not the fact that they opened it up early but that everyone was operating under the old rules. And I have personally experienced that you can call Fontana one day and get someone telling you no and the next day get a yes when nothing has actually changed for them.

 

I thought it was common practice in the hospitality industry to treat repeat customers with special consideration. Not necessarily "fair" but that's usually how it works. I think they just got confused/overwhelmed and dropped the ball. I can't imagine they'd intentionally cause this level of chaos and frustration.

Bigger isn't always better (at least not initially). Growing pains seemed to have been felt in lots of ways this year. Please remember to be constructive and respectful with your comments - we ALL have the goal of making MOTD enjoyable for everyone.

 

Thank you, thank you, that sums up my feelings on the matter to a tee

 

It's funny - for several years now, I've attended MOTD and noticed "other" people there too... non-MINI owners. When I've seen that, I've said to myself "Why doesn't Fontana guarantee the entire place for only MOTD attendees?"

That's when I came to realize that their reservation system is blind, as it should be. If a non-MINI owner wants to stay at Fontana Village that weekend, and they book far enough in advance, then they have every right to. What if they have been coming here every year with their family for the past 8 years - longer than any of the new MINIs existed?

The same applies for previous MOTD cabin/inn "tenants" versus new MOTD attendees. Nobody should get special treatment, just clarity on the protocol.

The only exception I can possibly think of are a limited block of inn rooms (NOT cabins) being "reserved" for large MOTD event planners. And by that I mean 1 or 2 people who are planning each event, not all of their helpers, etc. Logistics do dictate that in order to have a successful large event at MOTD, the people who are actually "completely in charge" of that event need to be on-site as much as possible.

Why only inn rooms? Because I think it's unreasonable to expect cabins with a larger tenant capacity to be pre-reserved for 1 or 2 event-planning people only. Many of the cabins were deliberately "shared" with extra people on couches, in sleeping bags, etc., and I don't think that large event planners are going to be as likely to do that as well.

I don't know - no perfect solution here, but consistent and accurate information, regardless of what it may be, is the first step.