My beef with the resorts

[disneymyway]

I'll be bold and post a criticism - hopefully it will provoke an interesting discussion.

I really wish they would do things at the resorts a bit more like regular hotels.

I'd like a minibar. Trying to get a simple snack at the Beach Club after MNSSHP was ridiculous. I was reduced to a bag of doritos in the laundry room.

Why no pay per view? I mean, I know they don't want you staying in your room, but there are times that you just don't feel like going to sleep and everything is closed. At least have some more interesting tv channels.

On another board I read that you couldn't even get the baseball playoffs in your room at the resorts! That's just not right when you are paying all that money!

All the things that I would like are just things that would make money for WDW - why do you suppose they don't do them?

There's a hotel in NYC that I stay at and the rate is about $325 - sometimes more, sometimes less. If the WDW deluxes were run like that place it would be so wonderful! It has all the things I love and more - and impeccable service - never a screw up in 10 years I've been staying there.

Don't get me wrong - I LOVE WDW and the resorts are adorable and fun. I just think there is room for improvement here.

Do you agree?

 

[Laura]

People actually USE minibars and pay per views at Disney World? :lol:

Ok so I used the minibar at the Dolphin once to buy a bottled water. But for the most part I am thoroughly stuffed every second I'm at Disney. I also can't imagine wanting to sit in my room and watch a pay per view. I'd rather go take a walk, go swimming, or even - go to sleep!

The internet thing bugs me though. With so many people who rely on email communications it would be nice if they'd include it. I am glad they have at least wired the rooms for it now so I can pay for it if I need it that badly.

 

[disneymyway]

Ok so I used the minibar at the Dolphin once to buy a bottled water. But for the most part I am thoroughly stuffed every second I'm at Disney. I also can't imagine wanting to sit in my room and watch a pay per view. I'd rather go take a walk, go swimming, or even - go to sleep!

.

Like I said, we don't during the day - but when all the parks are closed at nine we don't want to go to bed. Last trip we found ourselves watching a bad lifetime movie one night.

We don't want to go to bed at 10:00. I guess we should just go into Orlando or over to Universal. I just would rather stay on property and wish there was more for people like us that stay up late and don't get up early.

 

[Phonedave]

I'd like a minibar. Trying to get a simple snack at the Beach Club after MNSSHP was ridiculous. I was reduced to a bag of doritos in the laundry room.

This bugs me to no end. I am a late night kind of person. Now I don't want a crown roast at 3;00 AM, but some options would be nice. However it's not just Disney. I was staying at the Tampa Riverwalk about 3 weeks ago. I got in at 11:30 at night, and there was NOTHING at all to eat. Restaruant - closed, room service - closed, gift shop - closed. I asked the manager if there was anyting in the area that was open, either a bar or even somthing like a 7-11. Nope - all closed. He did give me the name of a pizza place that would deliver - in about 45 minutes. I just got off a flight and then drove in from Orlando, I don't want to wait for a pizza. OK, now my rant is over. So yes, I agree, WDW is, in may spots, lacking in the after hours food department.

Why no pay per view? I mean, I know they don't want you staying in your room, but there are times that you just don't feel like going to sleep and everything is closed. At least have some more interesting tv channels.

PPV is not a big deal for me, but WDW does have the worst channel lineup I have ever seen. Yes, you did not come there to watch TV, but my normal time to go to sleep is about 1:00 AM. When the parks have kicked you out at 9:00 you can only float around in the pool for so long

Don't get me wrong - I LOVE WDW and the resorts are adorable and fun. I just think there is room for improvement here.

Do you agree?

Me too. I love them as well. Other people have mentioned free internet. That does not bother me. Internet is AVAILABLE -its just not free. Better TV and night time food is not available. I dont mind paying for it, but at least give me the option.

-dave

 

[happymom52003]

I do think pay per view would be a good thing to have. It is not something we would use alot, but there are circumstances that arise that would make it nice. For example one time my DD was not feeling well. My DH had to stay at the resort with her and put her to bed early while some other family members and I went to Epcot for dinner and the Candlelight Processional. In that case, it would have been nice if he had a movie to watch since he was stuck at the resort.

 

[RiversideBunny]

Not everything closes at 10 pm does it?
Aren't there places where something is going on- like in the WL lobby area, or the GF lobby area, or outside the BW resort on the BW?

Does the whole place go dead at 10?
Could be that we have just always come back to the room around 11 pm or midnight and never noticed.

Maybe the new lounges in the Contemporary will be open late.

 

[MKCP 1985]

I agree with you. Anytime a person is asked to pay a premium rate for a hotel, there should be some basic amenities that are industry standard, even on Disney property. I'm sure there are many people in the hotel industry who pull their hair out over their super nice hotels with excellent views and bus transportation to all Disney parks getting passed over because people (like me) decide to stay in inferior hotel rooms on Disney property.

Disney doesn't even use the extra-space shower rods in the bathrooms for Deluxe resorts such as Animal Kingdom Lodge!

Oh well, I guess the wake up call from Mickey and pals helps make up for it! :lol: Hilton and Mariott don't have THAT, do they? :lol:

 

[Tinkerbella16]

And this is why I really don't like going to WDW in January or other slow times - I don't have little kids and I'm not going to bed at 9:00. What do you all do with yourselves at night at WDW? I really don't like going offsite either. Now that PI is leaving, or changing, or whatever it is doing I think it will be either harder for grownup entertainment.

I always go at a slow time when the parks close early. Staying at POR or POFQ is really great, since they have the boat to DTD. We'll come back from the parks, take the boat right over and relax, eat, have a drink or shop at DTD. I do this most nights on my trips and love it!!! I never really ever went to PI.

 

[disneymyway]

Oh well, I guess the wake up call from Mickey and pals helps make up for it! :lol: Hilton and Mariott don't have THAT, do they? :lol:

You are sooooo right! And that, and stuff like that, is why I love WDW!

 

[disneymyway]

I always go at a slow time when the parks close early. Staying at POR or POFQ is really great, since they have the boat to DTD. We'll come back from the parks, take the boat right over and relax, eat, have a drink or shop at DTD. I do this most nights on my trips and love it!!! I never really ever went to PI.

I think that can even be a problem though. In May, my daughter and I were meeting at WDW. I got in from Ohio in the am and she came from NY at night. I picked her up at MCO at about 10:00 pm and we wanted a drink. We knew the resort bars would be closed so we went to DTD. In all of DTD (not counting PI, which doesn't even count anymore) we could only find one place for a drink - House of Blues (and it was dead). It wasn't even 11:00!

Are there so few people at WDW without kids? Maybe that's what I'm not getting.

 

[WDWCPF98]

It would be nice to get an escort to your room after check-in. Has anyone else been lost trying to find your room after checking in? When I stayed at the Coronado I had a room in the Casitas 2 section. We saw signs for Casitas 1 & 3 but none for Casitas 2. It's not like we were in a panic looking for our room but we certainly weren't having much fun wandering around in the FL heat with our luggage.

Of course the sprawling resorts are what make the Disney hotels so much more cool that a typical high rise hotel. Guess you can't have your cake and eat it too!

 

[Thessair]

While I dearly love most of the resorts as they are, I would weep with joy were free WiFi to appear. Oh how I would dance like a madman.

 

[Phonedave]

I think that can even be a problem though. In May, my daughter and I were meeting at WDW. I got in from Ohio in the am and she came from NY at night. I picked her up at MCO at about 10:00 pm and we wanted a drink. We knew the resort bars would be closed so we went to DTD. In all of DTD (not counting PI, which doesn't even count anymore) we could only find one place for a drink - House of Blues (and it was dead). It wasn't even 11:00!

Are there so few people at WDW without kids? Maybe that's what I'm not getting.

I go with kids, and I go without kids. It makes no difference, there is not much to do after the parks close.

-dave

 

[disneymyway]

While I dearly love most of the resorts as they are, I would weep with joy were free WiFi to appear. Oh how I would dance like a madman.

Now I want free WiFi too just so I can see you dance like a madman!

:lol:

 

[Thessair]

Now I want free WiFi too just so I can see you dance like a madman!

:lol:

Might be worth it. Of course, your view might be blocked by the throngs of people fleeing in terror.

 

[shoppingnut]

Ragland Road in DTD is open late and you can eat and drink there. I find plenty to do after the parks close. We go to the marketplace, Jellyrolls or even shop at the Premium Outlets.

I have no need of a mini-bar in my room and would be annoyed if the fridge was full of stuff and I couldn't buy my own things and put them in there. I'm sure that Disney felt that the mini-bars were more trouble than they were worth. Having to battle with people over charges for items taken out of the bar were most likely constant, unlike other hotels where they cater more to the business traveller and don't have that problem, since there are so many kids at disney. And also when people decided they were taking everything out and tossing it in a drawer to put their own stuff in too, that was another problem. Even with a lock I bet there were too many issues.

 

[disneymyway]

Ragland Road in DTD is open late and you can eat and drink there. I find plenty to do after the parks close. We go to the marketplace, Jellyrolls or even shop at the Premium Outlets.

I have no need of a mini-bar in my room and would be annoyed if the fridge was full of stuff and I couldn't buy my own things and put them in there. I'm sure that Disney felt that the mini-bars were more trouble than they were worth. Having to battle with people over charges for items taken out of the bar were most likely constant, unlike other hotels where they cater more to the business traveller and don't have that problem, since there are so many kids at disney. And also when people decided they were taking everything out and tossing it in a drawer to put their own stuff in too, that was another problem. Even with a lock I bet there were too many issues.

All I'm asking for is the things regular resorts have and do. At 11:00 at a resort there should be plenty to do and there just is not at WDW. The marketplace closes then. Resort bars are closed. A Friday night at DTD my daughter and I could only find house of blues willing to serve us at 10:50 pm. :shrug: In that whole big property, it is just really really dead at night. I think I'm starting to realize that there just must not be much demand for it. Most people must be there for little kid vacations.

That might be fine for some people but of us are there for a more grownup vacation and it would just be nice, is all.

 

[MKCP 1985]

Ragland Road in DTD is open late and you can eat and drink there. I find plenty to do after the parks close. We go to the marketplace, Jellyrolls or even shop at the Premium Outlets.

I have no need of a mini-bar in my room and would be annoyed if the fridge was full of stuff and I couldn't buy my own things and put them in there. I'm sure that Disney felt that the mini-bars were more trouble than they were worth. Having to battle with people over charges for items taken out of the bar were most likely constant, unlike other hotels where they cater more to the business traveller and don't have that problem, since there are so many kids at disney. And also when people decided they were taking everything out and tossing it in a drawer to put their own stuff in too, that was another problem. Even with a lock I bet there were too many issues.

There are bars onsite and offsite for those who want to go out. For many reasons, that isn't always a desirable option.

I think the original poster has a valid point that for guests staying on property, Disney should be sophisticated enough to provide a basic service to its resort guests in the way of making available mini-bar type items, regardless of the time of day or night. Mini-bar or 24 hour availability at the on-site store, the items should be made available.

Likewise, to keep pace with comparably priced and equipped hotels off-site, Disney should implement pay per view. That doesn't mean they have to offer -like content. Disney is a complex entertainment conglomerate. ESPN pay per view, current Disney movies, etc. could be some of the types of offerings.

As a consumer, I'd like to see that happen in the 21st Century.

 

[shoppingnut]

There are bars onsite and offsite for those who want to go out. For many reasons, that isn't always a desirable option.

I think the original poster has a valid point that for guests staying on property, Disney should be sophisticated enough to provide a basic service to its resort guests in the way of making available mini-bar type items, regardless of the time of day or night. Mini-bar or 24 hour availability at the on-site store, the items should be made available.

Likewise, to keep pace with comparably priced and equipped hotels off-site, Disney should implement pay per view. That doesn't mean they have to offer -like content. Disney is a complex entertainment conglomerate. ESPN pay per view, current Disney movies, etc. could be some of the types of offerings.

As a consumer, I'd like to see that happen in the 21st Century.

It's true, I find it odd that they don't offer pay per view ESPN, since they own it and there would be nothing wrong with offering PPV family movies, if they didn't want to offer R ones.

I think a 24 hr place to buy snacks would be good, I just wouldn't like to come and find my fridge full of stuff so I couldn't put my own things in there. I just think that the in room mini-bar must have been a problem or people were just not using it so they eliminated it. I'm sure there is a good reason because we all know Disney isn't going to eliminate something that they can make a good profit on.

 

[DisneyBunny]

PPV is not a big deal for me, but WDW does have the worst channel lineup I have ever seen. Yes, you did not come there to watch TV, but my normal time to go to sleep is about 1:00 AM. When the parks have kicked you out at 9:00 you can only float around in the pool for so long



Me too. I love them as well. Other people have mentioned free internet. That does not bother me. Internet is AVAILABLE -its just not free. Better TV and night time food is not available. I dont mind paying for it, but at least give me the option.

-dave

For us, being DVC members, the mini-bar and internet being free are moot points (althouigh I do agree with you all that internet should be free. If they can do it at my neighborhood Holiday Inn, why not in WDW, where thr going rate is more than double)

But I SO need a better channel line up. I can deal with the dozen or so tours/DVC promos (which, again, moot point for us) and such in every language... but where's the Food Network? Comedy Central? TLC?? I went crazy without them when we were down there. I get why they don't offer some of the more "adult" channels - and by that i mean Comedy Central... but food network? Why can't I get my Alton Fix while I'm away!? :hammer:

 

[slappy magoo]

Eh, I guess we're paying for the things Disney does well, at the exclusion of things they don't do well, or don't want to do at all.

Minibars aren't as big a deal for me. A: I don't drink that much. B: Minibar prices = We almost always drive down, and when we don't, we rent a car. We hit a store and get smoe beverages, maybe some booze though not often, cheaper sodas and snacks, throw them in our fridge. Poof, instant minibar. And probably all for the price of two of their little bottles.

We're DVC members so I guess free Wifi isn't as much of an issue for us. :wave: However, I have a motorola Q with internet access via the cell system, so I'm not out of touch. I've even written wdwmagic posts while waiting on line at WDW! And as iphones slowly take over the world (yeah, like most of you don't want one), it'll cease to be as much of a factor for most of us as well. Would make sense for WDW to have wifi everywhere, though. I know, we're suppsoed to leave our cares a world away and all that, but if we're in a situation where we need to be kept in contact, it's nice to have that option. Don't want to keep plugged in, you can leave your coputer at home, win-win for everyone.

And PPV? Meh. Between my laptop playing DVDs and my Archos filled with movies I either ripped (FROM MY OWN COLLECTION!) or recorded off cable (take THAT, ipod owners ), on the off chance I'm not exhausted from the parks, I've got options galore. I was the most popular guy on line at Splash Mountain one trip, playing clips form Song of the South to kids who had no idea what the deal behind Brer Rabbit was all about.

So your issues are not my issues, though I'm sorry you have those issues. And while I see your point - for the money you spend, more amenities doesn't seem like that big a deal, I find my way around those lack of amenities with a minimum of fuss or cost.

What I think would be great (AND WILL NEVER HAPPEN) is for the resorts to offer satellite radio. No biggie, I get Sirius online, and I'm sure some people would ruin it by playing Stern or Shade 45 at top volume.