Rules, regulations, and policies. Severe staff sho...

Rules, regulations, and policies. Severe staff shortage. I've been to the KALAHARI about 30 times over the past 8 to 10 years. I use to give it five stars, but terribly disappointed the last few time. The rules, regulations, and policies run this place. I desperately needed a medication sold out of the gift shop and they were closed and refused to have a manager or security just get it. No drinks allowed throughout the resort except the bars and staff are like little Nazi's enforcing every rule, policy, and regulation possible. They use to make the large drinks be anything you want, but now new rules dictate large drink refills to only be the very limited menu selection. Five years ago, everyone had those huge drinks. Management, if you're reading this, just look at your liquore sales relevant to capacity and compare it within the context of longevity with respects to the long term customer. Any new buzz or fad will pass. And the Kalahari success is getting to their heads a lot. Can't even leave the water park with one of the 28 dollar huge drinks. Can't even sit in the hot tub with a bloody the next morning. A bartender told me today that they can no longer make the large bloody Mary's in the big glass because it was costing the resort to much money, so instead I got a little plastic cup for $11 for a bloody with one pickle and two olives. Kids couldn't even take gummy multi-vitamin in the water park- no outside food strictly enforced to the point of taking vitamins. My elderly parents are on a special diet and they made them walk out of the park to have their special diet snacks even though we spent about 15 dollars per person in food among a very large group. On Sunday afternoon, I spent almost $300 for lunch in the water park. My elderly parents were asked to leave for eating celery sticks due to their special diet for medical conditions. I understand the "no outside food" concept, but it's not like we were having a major 10 course meal for anything. They base rental of private cabanas off occupancy and even though the conference took up more than half the resort among people who wouldn't step foot in the waterpark, private cabanas cost $700 for the day and they all sat empty. I said I'd pay $400 and once again - policies, regulations, and rules and they said no. All strictly enforced to the max with no flexibility. Also, can never find staff when needed. The Waterpark severely understaffed. Theme park understaffed. 30 min to get wristbands and I gave up in the amusement park. Hardly any customers at the Waterpark, but yet longer than necessary lines because lack of staff. I waited over 20 min for a drink multiple times and spent a lot less than I would have. The Kalahari could have gotten a lot more money out of me. A lot more. But I became frustrated by all the new rules and lack of flexibility that I just drank water the entire time the next day. The biggest problem I have is that you can't enjoy the resort during the slow time because the staff shortage is so extreme that you'll wait in line just as long for anything as compared to busy times. You may get a good deal during slow times, but lack of staff makes up for it. My advise to management is to get a little lighter on the enforcement or rules and provide adequate staff during slow times. I don't see the value of coming during the school day or missing work anymore. You can still have policies in place while maintaining a certain level of flexibility, such as allowing elderly individuals on a special diet to eat small snacks at the Waterpark of they have medical documentation. Provide a full staff even when it's slow. I hate having to look for employees because it's so slow. And please do something about those huge drinks. It cost a lot and why do you care of someone just wants a large jack and coke or bloody in it. Encourage comsumption of the large drink. Sell private cabanas in a way that actually sells out every day. Inflexible rules, Insurance regulations, policies and procedures run this place - not people.