How the uninformed views a deluxe

[3Gsandme]

First of all, his idea that he should wait in no lines because he had a deluxe resort? Sorry, pal.

I do not have my Masters in Disneyworld. I've only been twice and once as an adult. I did a ton of research and maybe after this trip I'll have my associates. I research any vacation we go on. I don't want to waste money. I want to get every drop of value out of my money. I don't want to stand around at my destination wondering what to do next. When I planned our trip last year I was so worried my husband would hate it. Nope! Everything was planned, we knew what we were doing, he loved it, and was very happy to book a trip this year. I know that if we wandered around looking for food or waiting for 45 minutes in lines, it would be our last trip to Disney ever.

My parents are coming with us this year. My dad is not excited other than being with this grandson. I am curious to see how he feels about it this time. We will have cooler weather, lower crowds, and more plans. We had a great trip in 1989, but we waited in a ton of lines!

I just realized I cried when we left on our last day then and last year at 34. Maybe I'll handle myself better this year.

I'm behind, but last year myself, my 14 year old, my 7 year old and my 4 year old ALL cried when we left the last night. I hope we always do.

 

[The Batgirl]

In all fairness, the rooms are insanely small for what you have to pay - the price for a typical room at The Grand Floridian are insane for what they are. (Also, I tell myself this so that I feel better about not being able to stay there )

 

[Dis703]

Hmm, the small room thing does seem surprising to me as a complaint from a European. While I've only been to France, England and Scotland one of the things I read doing my own research, and found to be true at least at times, was that rooms there in general are smaller than hotel rooms in the US.

I don't go anywhere without doing a ton of research but especially when it involves going out of the country. It's a shame this person didn't know better and it effected their trip. But some of it seems so had to understand how anyone could not have realized. Like needing to make reservations for Christmas. You can't find local places to eat here Christmas Eve or Day or even the brunches leading up in the weeks prior without making reservations almost a month ahead.

And as for healthy eating there are healthy options. Mind you if you make no ADRs and eat only quick service maybe not as much, but my kids all have severe food allergies and eat a very non processed food diet because of it (grain free for two of them). They find plenty to eat at Disney and it's mostly healthy foods. But we do pick our dining locations even QS in advance.

And no lines? Seriously? I don't know how anyone could know anything about Disney and how popular it is and expect to not have to wait in lines. Even with the idea that staying deluxe would allow this with how many deluxe rooms there are and it being the busiest week of the year. That's still too many people to allow them to walk into every single ride.

Maybe this person will realize and do some more research before their next vacation.

 

[StrawberryTink]

If you think Epcot is a real representation of a cultural experience in any of those countries, you're fooling yourself. It's a taste of the best and most touristy parts of those countries, including the US.[/

Your point makes no sense. It doesn't represent those cultures in any way, then it represents the best and most trashy. So then it represents parts of those cultures?

Clearly we aren't going to agree on your ideas.

I think i'm done, but lets just say if all the foreign Disney guests all suddenly stopped coming, Disney would sharp pull their socks up.

 

[woofle]

As an international traveller to Disney one of the things I enjoy the most is the different food and experiences. Where's the fun in travelling overseas to get what you can have at home? Over the years I have thought Disney to be good value for money. It's not what it used to be, crowd levels etc, but not many things are these days. I feel sorry for the traveller that he did not have a great experience, but agree, there is lots of information out there and if travelling to places that are very popular a little bit of planning helps. Years ago I think a little less planning was needed, but not now.

 

[Amunet]

Hrm. This man sounds very entitled. Of course, paying lots, you expect lots, I definitely get that.
I don't get the nit picking though.
While, I am not a foreign visitor, DH and I had our first experience to WDW on our honeymoon (peak summer season). By the time DH reserved (with my urging) only CBR was available for our stay (in our price range).
We did get ddp but that was the extent of our planning.
Not comparing size of family or country of residence, I wonder if the man was just not a Disney person?
We ended up eating at planet Hollywood a lot and misses a lot of park time due to time change (flew from west coast), but we couldn't help being happy with Disney (heck, the themed pool was even closed down at CBR).

Being at disney during the holidays is beautiful, triple for disney people. If all this man got from his trip was that it was a rip off, perhaps he's just not Disney material (at the very least, not WDW material)?

 

[leebee]

Not excusing all his comments, but maybe he thought he was preparing by watching the Disney vacation planning DVD. If you think watching the Disney vacation planning DVD is planning for your Disney vacation, then you are going to be as disappointed as this guy was. We laugh when we watch that vacation planning DVD, and comment how amazing it would be if Disney World was remotely like the DVD.

Regarding the accommodations/dining situation, he WAS staying at a Disney DELUXE RESORT. Previous posts have discussed the deluxe aspect, and I pretty much agree with most of it. We Disney-holics accept what Disney offers as a deluxe, but none of these properties are actually deluxe when compared to true deluxe hotels. Also, Disney refers to these as RESORTS. Many, many resorts world-wide are all inclusive, offering things such as spa services, meals, etc., as part of the experience. I can see how, if he thought the planning DVD actually represented WDW and anticipated staying at a truly deluxe resort (and paying the exorbitant price Disney commands), he and his family could be QUITE disappointed in their experience.

 

[whiporee]

You want crazy prices -- try any ski resort in Colorado during the season. Disney's got nothing to a slope side resort in Vail or Beaver Creek (900/night per room), and don't even think about Aspen. And that's for resorts that are about the same level of comfort-accomodations as Disney.

Same thing for resorts in the Caribbean hotspots like the British Virgins or he nightmare that it Atlantis. They have something to offer besides the hotel itself, and therefore the level of service isn't as important. If you go to a Four Seasons in Chicago or New York, you're going to the hotel -- the hotel itself is large part of the attraction. At Disney (or skiing in Colorado or the islands) the surrounding amenities are what you're going for and always will be. There's no reason for WDW to be at the level of the Waldorf because there's no added benefit for it.

 

[Luckybee]

You want crazy prices -- try any ski resort in Colorado during the season. Disney's got nothing to a slope side resort in Vail or Beaver Creek (900/night per room), and don't even think about Aspen. And that's for resorts that are about the same level of comfort-accomodations as Disney.

Same thing for resorts in the Caribbean hotspots like the British Virgins or he nightmare that it Atlantis. They have something to offer besides the hotel itself, and therefore the level of service isn't as important. If you go to a Four Seasons in Chicago or New York, you're going to the hotel -- the hotel itself is large part of the attraction. At Disney (or skiing in Colorado or the islands) the surrounding amenities are what you're going for and always will be. There's no reason for WDW to be at the level of the Waldorf because there's no added benefit for it.

I'm not a skier so I can't comment on that but we've been to many amazing deluxe resorts in the Caribbean all of whom offer location +service+amenities. Not sure where you're getting that they don't but perhaps we've just had different experiences. If you're talking about Atlantis....well then on that you're bang on....lol...their service makes Disney's look like its better than a 4seasons

 

[whiporee]

But a place like Beaches -- comparable to WDW, sort of -- you have to fight for beach chairs, everything's crowded, the food's okay. The rooms are a little bigger, but not that much. And a week there costs every bit as much as a week at WDW. Same thing with cruises -- expensive, but the place is the key. But everything else is okay -- expensive drinks, mediocre food. The attraction is the surroundings much more than the place.

I also think that when there are kids -- when something caters to families -- those 5-star amenities don't make a lot of sense.

 

[dixonsontour]

I've been thinking about this thread and out of interest checked the booking info I got. I'm based in England and booked online with Walt Disney Travel Company in 2014 for our October 2015 stay. You can't get any more specialist TA than one that is a division of Walt Disney Company Limited!

I booked a deluxe. The emailed booking confirmation reminds me to book magical express, reminds me I need a valid passport/Esta and says documents will be mailed to me 2 weeks before I travel. Nothing about needing to book adrs/fp etc.

I've also booked twice in the past with Disney US online. The info that should have been mailed to me was waiting at check in - I recall getting a brochure re ddp in the envelope at check in.

Specialist Disney TA's don't exist here like they do in the US (making adr's, letting you know when a better deal comes out etc) I've used an English online Orlando specialist TA in the past and their info was scant same as WDTC.

Travel agents like Virgin, Thomson have glossy brochures advising they are Disney specialists but queries are dealt with by an Indian call centre. As I stated previously the amount of misinformation from these high street travel agents is staggering.

The reviewer isn't English but i'd suspect his options are similar to mine for booking.

I personally can't comprehend how you can book a $$$ holiday and not spend time planning but people do.

I can see how he would assume he could eat in his deluxe hotel restaurant and get concierge to arrange things as needed when they were there.

 

[Brian Noble]

As a person who works in a 5 star hotel, it makes me upset to think that disney are loosing points for service, particularly in a "deluxe" hotel.

Then you know that Disney doesn't come anywhere close to that level of service. There's a reason that Disney contracted with the Four Seasons for that new property---they know they can't compete in that space.

 

[Longaway]

For those scoffing at the reviewer's complaint about waiting in ride lines, keep in mind that staying at one of Universal Orlando's "Deluxe" hotels grants you Universal Express Unlimited. It's not as outrageous a complaint as some are making it out to be.

As far as the quality difference between a "Deluxe" hotel and Disney's version of a Deluxe hotel, well, it's night and day. You can point out "location, location, location" all you want, but the prices they charge for what is actually offered is simply shameful.

 

[wdwrich]

For those scoffing at the reviewer's complaint about waiting in ride lines, keep in mind that staying at one of Universal Orlando's "Deluxe" hotels grants you Universal Express Unlimited. It's not as outrageous a complaint as some are making it out to be.

As far as the quality difference between a "Deluxe" hotel and Disney's version of a Deluxe hotel, well, it's night and day. You can point out "location, location, location" all you want, but the prices they charge for what is actually offered is simply shameful.

Sure, but location is very much the key at Disney. If it wasn't, the deluxe hotels would have low occupancy rates that would drive the prices down, but that's just not the case.

Universal can offer the Express Unlimited because the number of on-site guests there doesn't come close to the number at WDW. It just isn't practical to do the same at Disney.

 

[Longaway]

Sure, but location is very much the key at Disney. If it wasn't, the deluxe hotels would have low occupancy rates that would drive the prices down, but that's just not the case.

I can understand that, but when you advertise as a "Deluxe Resort", and price comparatively/higher than non-Disney "Deluxe Resorts", people are going to expect more than just a convenient location. They're going to expect the same, if not higher, level of service, because that's what Disney has conditioned people to believe they offer

Universal can offer the Express Unlimited because the number of on-site guests there doesn't come close to the number at WDW. It just isn't practical to do the same at Disney.

You're absolutely right. It's not practical at all. That doesn't mean, though, that the expectation of comparative amenities, when at comparative locations with comparative (or one being higher) prices is ridiculous.

In my opinion, WDW is still mired in a similar mindset as they were when Pressler and Harris were in charge. DL got a lot of loving care and attention by Lassetter and others, while Orlando is still stuck in it's penny pinching ways. The hotel system is a prime example of that!

 

[Brian Noble]

Sure, but location is very much the key at Disney.

I'm not so sure. You can't be close to everything. For example, getting between BLT/CR or GFV/GV and Epcot is something of a hassle, because you have to transfer at the TTC and it takes a while. We loved our stay at BLT, but I can get from e.g. CSR to any theme park parking lot in 10-12 minutes, tops. For that matter, I can do the same from any of the Bonnet Creek resorts or even Windsor Hills.

 

[gschon]

We do eat too much sugar. He is right about that.

 

[wdwrich]

I'm not so sure. You can't be close to everything. For example, getting between BLT/CR or GFV/GV and Epcot is something of a hassle, because you have to transfer at the TTC and it takes a while. We loved our stay at BLT, but I can get from e.g. CSR to any theme park parking lot in 10-12 minutes, tops. For that matter, I can do the same from any of the Bonnet Creek resorts or even Windsor Hills.

Obviously, no deluxe resort can be convenient to all 4 theme parks, but how can one compare a bus ride to being on the monorail, or staying at BLT/CR where one can walk to MK? EPCOT deluxe resorts likewise offer walking convenience to two parks. Granted, WL and AKL do not offer such theme park convenience, but they are priced lower than the other deluxes. I stand by my opinion that other than WL and AKL, the location of Disney deluxe resorts is a major factor in room pricing.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

You can't be close to everything, no, but the less expensive resorts are within walking distance of nothing. And how many posters on this board say they will gladly pay more to know they do not have to ride a bus to every park.

 

[Brian Noble]

how can one compare a bus ride to being on the monorail

Easily. The bus ride from almost any WDW resort to Epcot is much shorter than the monorail ride from BLT/CR because you have to connect. And goodness help you if the monorail has issues---which it seems to at least semi-frequently.

I get what you are saying, and I've stayed at BLT, BCV, and BWV. They are convenient for visiting the parks they are close to (as is VWL with the boat service and very quick bus to MK). But, I've also stayed at OKW and CSR, as well as several great offsite locations---Bonnet Creek, Windsor Hills, etc. The overall transportation "effort" really isn't that different from one spot to another. To be fair, for most of those trips, I've also rented a car, which smooths things out quite a bit.

Indeed, TouringPlans did a quick analysis for a "typical" WDW vacation and the transportation time required from each. The results were eye opening to say the least.
http://blog.touringplans.com/2012/0...spending-the-least-amount-of-time-in-transit/