New Enhancements, Dining Options Coming to Disney’s BoardWalk

[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?

 

[castlecake2.0]

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.

It’s really interesting that some people have an issue with this change! It makes things so much easier for the cast to not have to go on an Amazing Race detour to get out to the lobby.

 

[James Alucobond]

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.

But … they have a desk. Just one they can walk around easily. And since they often have to play tech support with the app and Magic Bands now, it’s nice to be able to look at the screen or device together rather than passing it back and forth across the desk.

 

[Weather_Lady]

But … they have a desk. Just one they can walk around easily. And since they often have to play tech support with the app and Magic Bands now, it’s nice to be able to look at the screen or device together rather than passing it back and forth across the desk.

Yes. I appreciate the added ease for the cast members to walk around the desk. No offense to any technology-challenged folks (of which I am certainly one in some areas), but we've all had the experience, especially at tech-heavy Disney, with waiting in the front desk line, while half the cast members assigned to that task are doing absolutely nothing hotel-related, but instead are awkwardly trying to view the phone screen of someone opposite them in order to assist them with a technical issue, or in the most egregious cases, show them how MDE works in the first place! If allowing cast members to physically come alongside a guest and help them figure out MDE, etc. will save a few precious seconds and/or cast member neck strain, I'm in favor.

 

[Bocabear]

Or how about having a tech support team in each lobby to assist with a satellite desk, so people can get checked in and out efficiently.
That would be extremely helpful if helping people with the tech on their phones is interrupting the flow of guest check-in. Let's face it, an the premium resorts you are paying Ritz Carlton prices for a decidedly lesser experience. Have some tech people on hand to help manage the problems...

 

[Weather_Lady]

Or how about having a tech support team in each lobby to assist with a satellite desk, so people can get checked in and out efficiently.
That would be extremely helpful if helping people with the tech on their phones is interrupting the flow of guest check-in. Let's face it, an the premium resorts you are paying Ritz Carlton prices for a decidedly lesser experience. Have some tech people on hand to help manage the problems...

From your lips to Iger's ears!

 

[TDLFan]

As someone whose worked in the hotel, cruise, casino industry, I can tell you these pods are almost unanimously hated by front desk staff and managers. The desk act as protection from drunk and unruly guests acting as the only barrier staff have, it helped to keep sensitive information from guests eyes, it stopped all cash transactions having to go to the safe in the back for something as sinple as change, it significantly handicapped the front desk operations all in the name of making it seem like the staff is more approachable and able to come out and direct. I'm now involved in a project where 3, billion dollar cruise ships are going back to having the full desk back and just completed a project where a a large Vegas resort is going back to the long desk as well with no way for guests to become intrusive in operations. Some of these pods were designed so the staff can't even have water at the desk. As stated in an earlier post, this concept was cooked up by someone who hasn't spent a fair amount of time behind the desk.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

As someone whose worked in the hotel, cruise, casino industry, I can tell you these pods are almost unanimously hated by front desk staff and managers. The desk act as protection from drunk and unruly guests acting as the only barrier staff have, it helped to keep sensitive information from guests eyes, it stopped all cash transactions having to go to the safe in the back for something as sinple as change, it significantly handicapped the front desk operations all in the name of making it seem like the staff is more approachable and able to come out and direct. I'm now involved in a project where 3, billion dollar cruise ships are going back to having the full desk back and just completed a project where a a large Vegas resort is going back to the long desk as well with no way for guests to become intrusive in operations. Some of these pods were designed so the staff can't even have water at the desk. As stated in an earlier post, this concept was cooked up by someone who hasn't spent a fair amount of time behind the desk.

Most of the gripes you've mentioned aren't as much of a problem at Disney. Speaking from experience.

 

[TDLFan]

Most of the gripes you've mentioned aren't as much of a problem at Disney. Speaking from experience.

You're correct. I just have a real thorn in my side about these desks...lol

 

[Epcot82Guy]

Or how about having a tech support team in each lobby to assist with a satellite desk, so people can get checked in and out efficiently.
That would be extremely helpful if helping people with the tech on their phones is interrupting the flow of guest check-in. Let's face it, an the premium resorts you are paying Ritz Carlton prices for a decidedly lesser experience. Have some tech people on hand to help manage the problems...

I believe you mean Seamless Magical Experience Activators.

 

[Bocabear]

Could we put them in capri pants and a horizontal red and white striped shirt with a pale blue knit cap?...
Just like Hook's favorite sidekick....
SMEE or SMEA...

 

[wdwmagic]

Trattoria al Forno and the Pizza Window will be closed for refurbishment from June 11-17, 2023

 

[DCBaker]

Trattoria al Forno and the Pizza Window will be closed for refurbishment from June 11-17, 2023

One update to this - Trattoria al Forno will provide a limited breakfast menu during those dates, with Guests who book breakfast being directed to dine in the Flying Fish dining room.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Most of the gripes you've mentioned aren't as much of a problem at Disney. Speaking from experience.

Much of the gripes you’ve mentioned aren’t a problem outside of Disney. Your only job should be checking in and out guests, not helping with phones, or showing them where some random lobby feature is. Everything about your job should be behind a desk.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

Much of the gripes you’ve mentioned aren’t a problem outside of Disney.

They aren’t.

Your only job should be checking in and out guests, not helping with phones, or showing them where some random lobby feature is. Everything about your job should be behind a desk.

All of these things you just mentioned are responsibilities of a Disney resort concierge, whether you like it or not. Which is why I mentioned that the pods are a good idea.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

They aren’t.

All of these things you just mentioned are responsibilities of a Disney resort concierge, whether you like it or not. Which is why I mentioned that the pods are a good idea.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t there only one concierge at each resort? I absolutely agree that they should be in front of the counter but the check-in CM’s? I think they’re better suited behind the counters…

 

[MagicHappens1971]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t there only one concierge at each resort? I absolutely agree that they should be in front of the counter but the check-in CM’s? I think they’re better suited behind the counters…

Technically every "check-in CM" is a "Concierge". Every resort is situated a little differently depending on how they are deployed. Front Desk CMs can do almost anything a GR cast member can do, aside from issuing compensation for park issues.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

Technically every "check-in CM" is a "Concierge". Every resort is situated a little differently depending on how they are deployed. Front Desk CMs can do almost anything a GR cast member can do, aside from issuing compensation for park issues.

In that case, if they are all equals, have one CM out in front and the rest behind…IDK, they just look like car salespersons at desks as opposed to behind the counter. Maybe it’s just me…