Deluxe resort losing a star?

[Dagger]

For me, stars are irrelevent. I've stayed in non-Disney 5 star hotels that dont even compare to a stay at a Disney value or moderate.

All the Disney resorts are top notch places to stay, and they can be ranked either 1 star, or 100 stars, it makes no difference.

How relevent are the star rating to people? Do you even consider it? For me, a personal recommendation, or a previous stay counts far more.

I agree, the system is flawed and bias anyway so I don't go by it at all.

Disney means walking into a even "Value" resort and having a CM play with your children, sometimes giving them things such as stickers or balloons, having huge smiles on their faces as they greet you in a themed, one of a kind, immaculately clean lobby and ultimately just setting the standards with their first impression untouchable by other hotels.

Not to mention the anticipation that goes with the association that you're *IN* WDW, etc.

 

[mousermerf]

tink81,

Your stats troubled me more than they reassured me. With 65 professionals and 54,000 hotels, that means they each review 2.27 hotels per day, every day of the year, no Holidays, no exceptions.

We know that's not true though. So, as you said, they visit - but in what capacity? They tour the room the front desk picks and browse the lobby.

I don't think that counts as a review. They don't stay several nights, they don't order room service, and they don't try to get a towel for the pool.

Whereas when I have done test-stays for the Unofficial Guide i've had to tear the sheets off the bed to find out the age of the mattress, need to discern the thread count of the sheets, linens, everything. I travel unknown to Disney and pay regular rates.

Overall, I think AAA ratings are just ridiculous.

 

[speck76]

For me, stars are irrelevent. I've stayed in non-Disney 5 star hotels that dont even compare to a stay at a Disney value or moderate.

All the Disney resorts are top notch places to stay, and they can be ranked either 1 star, or 100 stars, it makes no difference.

How relevent are the star rating to people? Do you even consider it? For me, a personal recommendation, or a previous stay counts far more.

Working in the industry, the ratings system no longer means anything....

All of the echannels (priceline, expedia) have their own ratings system, and to be honest, if you as a hotelier do not like your rating, you can call up the website and they will chage it for you...how is that for integrity? :lol:

To be a 4 or 5 diamond hotel through AAA is a condition of economics, and not much else.....more and more hotels have found that being a 5 diamond hotel (which is a major expense) does not give the property any type of edge to charge higher rates, and the cost of maintaining that level of service effects profitability.....it is just not worth it.

 

[alanbrai]

Maybe not, but I can lie on the beach, and all I have to do is raise that little flag and a frozen Margarita will appear. :lol:

Why go to WDW to sit on a beach and drink margaritas?

 

[bork]

Not sure about the star rating, but the AAA Diamond ratings for resorts in '06 are as follows:

Pop and All Star- 2 Diamond

CBR, CSR, POFQ, POR, WL, AKL, OKW, SS,Boardwalk, Poly, Contemporary- 3 Diamonds

Yacht and Beach Club, GF- 4 Diamond

This is a change from past years. I don't know when it changed, but the Boardwalk used to be 4 diamonds, the All Stars and Pop Century used to be 3 diamonds. Maybe it is the Boardwalk that they were talking about losing stars/diamonds.

Years ago, maybe 10-15, the Polynesian was 4 diamonds.

I also notice that the Swan dropped from 4 to 3, but the Dolphin stayed at 4.

 

[tink81]

Hey bork, a lot of poeple here have commented about the decline of the Polynesian, I have never stayed but would love to and have heard how things just aren't what they used to be! Diamond ratings are re-evaluated on a yearly basis, so ratings will change. Let's hope the Poly can be restored to its former glory.

 

[speck76]

Why go to WDW to sit on a beach and drink margaritas?

why not?

 

[Ducky_Love]

and to be honest, if you as a hotelier do not like your rating, you can call up the website and they will chage it for you...how is that for integrity? :lol:

Shhhh!!! Don't tell them that!! :animwink:

 

[kaos]

Why go to WDW to sit on a beach and drink margaritas?

Maybe to some, that is what the word "vacation" means...

To me, for example, vacation is getting away from work, enjoying the theme parks, drinking to excess at some bars, and driving around this great country of our!! :drevil: