New Enhancements, Dining Options Coming to Disney’s BoardWalk

[castlecake2.0]

It's a modern trend in hotels where a while back, someone who's never worked in a hotel, felt the desk wall separated the guest from the agent and thus by not having walls makes the service more personable with the agent able to address the guests needs out in front, blah blah blah. It's all corporate bs nonsense, just like how they took the chairs and desks away from the cm's at Yacht Clubs club level. Corporate thinks this is a good look having the cm's standing at the ready, but the general consensus is that it looks awful and like they don't care about the cm's. I actually couldn't believe they made the club level cms stand there all day and neither could the cm's.

From someone who actually works in these locations, it makes things easier for the cast (front desk anyway, never had a role where I could sit)

 

[Ayla]

Speaking from experience, breaking up the check in desks into smaller “pods” makes it easier for cast to get out from behind the desk and help guests without having to go all the way around/ through backstage doors to get out to the lobby.

I don't need a CM to stand next to me to help me.

 

[castlecake2.0]

I don't need a CM to stand next to me to help me.

You might not, but other guests sometime do

 

[ToTBellHop]

I don't need a CM to stand next to me to help me.

“Can you show me how to do X on the MDE app?”

 

[castlecake2.0]

“Can you show me how to do X on the MDE app?”

Nope she doesn’t need help she can figure it out on her own

 

[Ayla]

Nope she doesn’t need help she can figure it out on her own

I can, thanks.

 

[UNCgolf]

I think the long desks look better at most hotels (much better, really), but I understand the easier movement aspect and it's not a huge deal. If it makes things easier for employees (and guests, in some cases) it's an okay tradeoff because the desks are a minor part of the design.

 

[Dr.GrantSeeker]

Just checked into the Boardwalk for a quick weekend getaway. We are staying in a newly refurbished room. I will say I am pleasantly surprised with how they turned out. We have an oversized garden view room and it appears either they haven't put the desks in the room or maybe they wont be including desks in the renovated rooms. There is some awkward dead space since it is larger than a regular room. But here are some pics! Oh yeah the bathroom is exactly the same as it was prior, which is odd? Looks like all they added was the glass shower door.

 

[MinnieM123]

Just checked into the Boardwalk for a quick weekend getaway. We are staying in a newly refurbished room. I will say I am pleasantly surprised with how they turned out. We have an oversized garden view room and it appears either they haven't put the desks in the room or maybe they wont be including desks in the renovated rooms. There is some awkward dead space since it is larger than a regular room. But here are some pics! Oh yeah the bathroom is exactly the same as it was prior, which is odd? Looks like all they added was the glass shower door.

It does appear as though there's (dead) space in one area only of the room, waiting for more furniture. Wondering if the furniture (desk, or whatever) hasn't arrived yet. Anyway, I really like the large guestroom space.

 

[FigmentForever96]

Just checked into the Boardwalk for a quick weekend getaway. We are staying in a newly refurbished room. I will say I am pleasantly surprised with how they turned out. We have an oversized garden view room and it appears either they haven't put the desks in the room or maybe they wont be including desks in the renovated rooms. There is some awkward dead space since it is larger than a regular room. But here are some pics! Oh yeah the bathroom is exactly the same as it was prior, which is odd? Looks like all they added was the glass shower door.

Ohhhh I really like it

 

[Weather_Lady]

It does appear as though there's (dead) space in one area only of the room, waiting for more furniture. Wondering if the furniture (desk, or whatever) hasn't arrived yet. Anyway, I really like the large guestroom space.

They may not be adding extra furniture to these rooms, just to keep things consistent with the regular-sized room amenities, although that dead space is certainly distracting!

On the other hand, it does appear that @Dr.GrantSeeker's room might not have been quite complete -- or else that there are intentional differences between it and a "standard" rectangular room. Notice the darker finish (I think, unless it's a photo exposure issue) on the coffee area/closet area in his second photo, with two closet sections. Photos of standard-sized refurbished rooms show a lighter finish, mirrors on the doors, and three closet sections instead of two (example below) -- so part of the trade-off for more floor space may be less closet space.

 

[DCBaker]

Workers have begun reinstalling steel beams today on the upper portion of The Cake Bake Shop.

 

[Bocabear]

Holy crap! Could they not have just moved in and redesigned the interior? If they have gone all the way back to the structural steel, they are spending way too much money for a cake shop...shame they did not spend the time and care on the design for the Crepe shop in EPCOT...lol

 

[Rteetz]

Holy crap! Could they not have just moved in and redesigned the interior? If they have gone all the way back to the structural steel, they are spending way too much money for a cake shop...shame they did not spend the time and care on the design for the Crepe shop in EPCOT...lol

The "tower" is shorter than it was previously.

 

[SpectroMagician]

Speaking from experience, breaking up the check in desks into smaller “pods” makes it easier for cast to get out from behind the desk and help guests without having to go all the way around/ through backstage doors to get out to the lobby.

I honestly cannot think of a single reason why someone who's job it is to give me a key and take my credit card would need to come out from behind a desk.

 

[castlecake2.0]

I honestly cannot think of a single reason why someone who's job it is to give me a key and take my credit card would need to come out from behind a desk.

Maybe a guest needs help with directions, help with luggage, maybe there’s no guests in line and the front desk host/hostess wants to be available in the lobby to greet guests walking through. Now instead of having to go through multiple doors/hallways to get to the lobby they can just come out from behind the desk. And if you don’t need any of that they can still stand behind a desk and take your money and give you a room key.

 

[MisterPenguin]

I honestly cannot think of a single reason why someone who's job it is to give me a key and take my credit card would need to come out from behind a desk.

To come and get the guest in line not paying attention instead of screaming across the lobby "NEXT!!"

 

[Bocabear]

I have NEVER had a Hotel desk clerk come out from behind the desk to escort me to the front of it...They can always make eye contact and quietly motion with their hand for the next guest... If they don't step up, the person behind them will say something...
I appreciate the formality of the desk. it feels professional. I don't want the desk clerk to walk around to hand me my key... Kind of like I don't need to line cook to come out of the kitchen to hand me my eggs in the dining room... The lack of a desk is too informal.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

I have NEVER had a Hotel desk clerk come out from behind the desk to escort me to the front of it...They can always make eye contact and quietly motion with their hand for the next guest... If they don't step up, the person behind them will say something...
I appreciate the formality of the desk. it feels professional. I don't want the desk clerk to walk around to hand me my key... Kind of like I don't need to line cook to come out of the kitchen to hand me my eggs in the dining room... The lack of a desk is too informal.

Almost all hotels are shifting towards these "pods", the only time I found them useful (as an employee) was at Disney. Especially with MDX and other guest problems, it's easier to come around and see how I can help. For Disney, it's also quite a process in most resorts to get out from the desk if needed. This makes it much easier. I don't really get the gripes here about this.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Can we focus on succulents as God intended, please?