New hotel breaks ground at Universal.

[Scuttle]

It eats away at nothing. A Value resort being built at Universal, again, is simply bad news for the string of budget hotels right outside Universal and on I-Drive. People aren't going to say "Hey, Universal has a Value Resort now. Let's forget about Disney and go to Universal instead."

How can you say that? I can assure you there will be English tourists that decide to stay at this resort instead of the ghetto values at WDW. And that will have Disney concerned. For years Disney has had the first shot at the English tourists wallets and now they don't due to Potter and now they will lose even more due to them being able to target another demographic.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

How can you say that? I can assure you there will be English tourists that decide to stay at this resort instead of the ghetto values at WDW. And that will have Disney concerned. For years Disney has had the first shot at the English tourists wallets and now they don't due to Potter and now they will lose even more due to them being able to target another demographic.

Why do we insist on using the word ghetto when referring to things in WDW? I know a certain poster enjoys doing that, but I think the term is really starting to spread unnecessarily (especially when you think about what it really means).

 

[captainkidd]

How can you say that? I can assure you there will be English tourists that decide to stay at this resort instead of the ghetto values at WDW. And that will have Disney concerned. For years Disney has had the first shot at the English tourists wallets and now they don't due to Potter and now they will lose even more due to them being able to target another demographic.

So you think people that normally vacation at WDW are now skipping it entirely for Universal because of Harry Potter?

Yeah - The attendance figures clearly back that up.

I dare you to have the guts to go to the WDW Resort boards and call the Value Resorts ghetto. Seriously, have some class.

 

[maxairmike]

Ehhh...the Values (in my experience) are little more than a heavily decorated 80s Comfort Inn. I've stayed in a few, and I'd say that's a pretty apt description, even for POP. Now Art of Animation will likely be a fair bit better, but when I go to the Values, I see the buildings and rooms and think "not much different than the cheap motels beyond the paint and props." Places that I generally don't stay at if I can help it.

If a Universal "Value Resort" is more like a modern Comfort Inn/Comfort Suites and priced in a similar range to Disney's...yeah, Universal would take the cake no questions.

 

[Scuttle]

They are though sorry. I just had the conversation with some co workers that use to work at the values and they are very bad according to them. I mean based on what I have seen in the deluxe resorts I can only imagine what the values are like. And I do have class. I'm just saying if Loews is managing this property it will make the values look like a dump. Is that any better?

 

[Scuttle]

So you think people that normally vacation at WDW are now skipping it entirely for Universal because of Harry Potter?

Yeah - The attendance figures clearly back that up.

I dare you to have the guts to go to the WDW Resort boards and call the Value Resorts ghetto. Seriously, have some class.

Did I say that? I think you misunderstood what I was saying.

 

[captainkidd]

They are though sorry. I just had the conversation with some co workers that use to work at the values and they are very bad according to them. I mean based on what I have seen in the deluxe resorts I can only imagine what the values are like. And I do have class. I'm just saying if Loews is managing this property it will make the values look like a dump. Is that any better?

OK, so you've never stayed at the Values and you're calling them ghetto?

I've stayed at every level of Disney Resort. They are perfectly adequate for the price point. Who cares if they are in "motel style" buildings? The rooms are spotless, as are the grounds. The pools are beautiful. The food courts, by far, are the best on Disney property.

I love Universal and the Royal Pacific, but it can't hold a candle to the Grand Floridian. I'm hardly going to call it a dump.

 

[captainkidd]

If a Universal "Value Resort" is more like a modern Comfort Inn/Comfort Suites and priced in a similar range to Disney's...yeah, Universal would take the cake no questions.

Depends what you're looking for. I just stayed at a newly renovated Courtyard this weekend, and while nice, I'd take a Disney Value any day of the week.

 

[Scuttle]

OK, so you've never stayed at the Values and you're calling them ghetto?

I've stayed at every level of Disney Resort. They are perfectly adequate for the price point. Who cares if they are in "motel style" buildings? The rooms are spotless, as are the grounds. The pools are beautiful. The food courts, by far, are the best on Disney property.

I love Universal and the Royal Pacific, but it can't hold a candle to the Grand Floridian. I'm hardly going to call it a dump.

Alright relax geez. RPR can't hold a candle to the GF no, but the Port can. I have stayed at the GF and I have worked at RPR and Port and IMO Portofino blows away the Grand Flo. You won't see 18 million popcorn lights out at the Portofino. The maintenance crews actually keep the place up. I also think the amenities are A LOT better. Star Service can get you basically anything you need and for free to. Anything from tampans to hair rollers to sewing kits. We also send up a lot of random amenities all the time. It's just my opinion, but from working in the star service department for a year with Loews I can say Disney offers nothing close to that based on my experiences at Disney deluxe resorts even at the Grand Flo.

 

[HenryMystic]

I don't quite understand why this discussion turned so sour.

If you're in the Disney camp that thinks everything is sunshine and roses, you apparently have nothing to worry about.

If you're in the Universal camp, your resort is whittling away at yet another coveted asset of The Mouse and you have a more economic place to stay.

If you just love theme parks in general, this is just another instance of competition which is good for everyone.

To say the look of the Disney values leaves a lot to be desired is a fair criticism IMO.

As far as the use of 'ghetto', words have a way of evolving over time to mean different things. I dare say the way it was used in this thread fits the way it is commonly used. However, I concede that there are less offensive choices.

Long story short, I see no reason for a flame war in this thread. There are and will be plenty of opportunities for that elsewhere.

 

[Scuttle]

^^^ Agree I apologize if the ghetto reference offended anyone. I just wanted this thread to be a discussion about how this new value resort will effect WDW. Again my apologies now let's get this back to a good discussion.

 

[captainkidd]

Alright relax geez. RPR can't hold a candle to the GF no, but the Port can. I have stayed at the GF and I have worked at RPR and Port and IMO Portofino blows away the Grand Flo. You won't see 18 million popcorn lights out at the Portofino. The maintenance crews actually keep the place up. I also think the amenities are A LOT better. Star Service can get you basically anything you need and for free to. Anything from tampans to hair rollers to sewing kits. We also send up a lot of random amenities all the time. It's just my opinion, but from working in the star service department for a year with Loews I can say Disney offers nothing close to that based on my experiences at Disney deluxe resorts even at the Grand Flo.

Quick story:

Last year we were staying at Royal Pacific. As I've said, I love Universal and love this resort. However, one problem arose during the week. Guys only will get this. July. Sweat. Walking. Yeah, it helps to have some Tinactin on you. Well, I didn't. I went down to Royal Bali Gifts and they don't sell it. I was in REAL bad shape. I called Star Services and they were very helpful in making some calls for me. They called me back and informed me that Portofino carried it. So, I walked all the way over from Royal Pacific, which as you know, is no hop skip and jump. I get there to find out, the girl working at Portofino was wrong. They didn't sell it. She was absolutely useless. No help at all. As it were, I found out there was a Walgreens about a mile away. So, I walked it and had to walk back to Royal Pacific. Not fun.

Anyways, Portofino's theme, IMO, is carried off excellent. However the resort itself left me cold. I've stayed at Hard Rock and Royal Pacific and have no desire to stay at Portofino.

 

[Scuttle]

That's a disappointing story. I'm suprised because on multiple occasions we have had people drive over to Portofino to get stuff for guests. I guess every place has there village idiot.

 

[Master Yoda]

Just out of curiosity, if this new resort will not be offering the same perks at the the 3 current resorts offer how is this really any different than a third party chain building a new resort close to property? The whole reason, for me at least, to stay on property was to get the on property perks. When that feature is eliminated the equation in reduced to nothing but a cost to quality and proximity comparison.

 

[maxairmike]

Which is why I expect it will be properly announced with the limited use Express option as a perk, or maybe the ability to add it for a very reduced price of something like $5-20/person depending on the season or pricing in the park, possibly with a more expensive unlimited add-on. I can understand not extending the boat canal for a "value," since it would be a pretty short walk to the park, or even just to the RPR boat stop. I've walked from the employee lot before, and it really wasn't a bad walk.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Just out of curiosity, if this new resort will not be offering the same perks at the the 3 current resorts offer how is this really any different than a third party chain building a new resort close to property? The whole reason, for me at least, to stay on property was to get the on property perks. When that feature is eliminated the equation in reduced to nothing but a cost to quality and proximity comparison.

Which is why I expect it will be properly announced with the limited use Express option as a perk, or maybe the ability to add it for a very reduced price of something like $5-20/person depending on the season or pricing in the park, possibly with a more expensive unlimited add-on. I can understand not extending the boat canal for a "value," since it would be a pretty short walk to the park, or even just to the RPR boat stop. I've walked from the employee lot before, and it really wasn't a bad walk.

I agree that there will still be perks, but now they might just differentiate. The current resorts get unlimited use of the express pass system and can ride as much as they want. Perhaps if a value resort is in the cards they will get some express pass privileges but it will be more restricted. They could still get some sort of transportation (just because it isn't a boat doesn't mean there won't be something) and they could still get early admission to Harry Potter (which could be a huge perk when phase 2 opens).

 

[Clomidg]

differin lamisil

Why I must buy expensive pills while I can get generics differin gel on line with delivery to my place and for considerably lower price. I am ready to accept the situation that customer support sometimes can be dull when I want to trace my order plus lamisil pills

 

[HenryMystic]

Quick story:

Last year we were staying at Royal Pacific. As I've said, I love Universal and love this resort. However, one problem arose during the week. Guys only will get this. July. Sweat. Walking. Yeah, it helps to have some Tinactin on you. Well, I didn't. I went down to Royal Bali Gifts and they don't sell it. I was in REAL bad shape. I called Star Services and they were very helpful in making some calls for me. They called me back and informed me that Portofino carried it. So, I walked all the way over from Royal Pacific, which as you know, is no hop skip and jump. I get there to find out, the girl working at Portofino was wrong. They didn't sell it. She was absolutely useless. No help at all. As it were, I found out there was a Walgreens about a mile away. So, I walked it and had to walk back to Royal Pacific. Not fun.

Anyways, Portofino's theme, IMO, is carried off excellent. However the resort itself left me cold. I've stayed at Hard Rock and Royal Pacific and have no desire to stay at Portofino.

The boats could have saved you some walking.

 

[captainkidd]

The boats could have saved you some walking.

I've stayed at Universal 6 or 7 times now, and still don't know how the boats operate. I always walk.:hammer:

 

[Pioneer Hall]

I've stayed at Universal 6 or 7 times now, and still don't know how the boats operate. I always walk.:hammer:

Seems that they all load at the individual hotels and go to the central drop off/loading spot near the NASCAR cafe. You can transfer from resort to resort from there.