NEW HOTEL?

[NobodyElse]

Did you know that none of the Disney in California hotel rooms have microwaves? Not even at the upscale Grand California. How does that make it a 4 star hotel????

While I understand your frustration, I don't believe in-room microwave ovens specifically figure into star (or diamond) rating criteria. I've stayed at the St. Regis Monarch Beach, Halekulani on Ohahu, as well as a few Ritz-Carlton properties, and none have had microwaves. (And of course many of us have stayed at lesser-diamond-rated places that had them.)

I think the best hope for your situation is the creation of more DVC units in the resort area.

 

[LongLiveTheKing]

staying at the local hotels bordering DLR.

Ah, yeah, about that... You should probably catch up on the parking garage thread to see what the Harbor situation is gonna be.

 

[NobodyElse]

FYI:
Diamond Rating Guidelines

Microwave is listed under "Other Guest Room Attributes (Points allocated as appropriate)".

Side-note: Sometimes I wonder if some hotels avoid microwaves A) because it might not fit the decor and B) fear of guests burning popcorn or reheating fish, etc.

PS: It might be worth perusing their Four and Five Diamond Service Expectations and AAA Hospitality Standards and compare with experiences at your Disney property of choice.

 

[Daannzzz]

They way I have seen it (not that I agree, but that it just seem like this may be the thinking of the indudtry) with more expensive hotels is that if you can afford the price of the hotel room, you can pay the extra costs for room service. You would have your coffee and meals brought up and most extras would be an additional. For people who regularly afford high cost lodgings it is not an issue. It really bugged me a lot the first couple times we stayed in very nice hotels that almost everything cost extra and there were less convenient ammenities in the hotel room than a regular motel. My idea above is the only explanation I could come up with.

 

[TP2000]

While I understand your frustration, I don't believe in-room microwave ovens specifically figure into star (or diamond) rating criteria. I've stayed at the St. Regis Monarch Beach, Halekulani on Ohahu, as well as a few Ritz-Carlton properties, and none have had microwaves. (And of course many of us have stayed at lesser-diamond-rated places that had them.)

I knew I liked you for a reason!

I stayed at the Halekulani for the first time in the late 1970's and was a changed man. That was when United flew huge 747's daily from LAX to Oahu, and to end the big dinner service the muu-muu uniformed stewardess rolled into the cabin with a cart topped by a dry-ice volcano serving up hot fudge sundaes! And people think the 1970's was all misery and gas lines, it wasn't.

The Halekulani has grown and gotten very sleek and stylish over the recent years, but the service is still top notch. And the Sunday brunch at Orchids is beyond paradise. Don't you just love it?!?

Back OT, I have been lucky enough to stay in some great hotels, and the 4 or 5 star hotels rarely have microwaves. The point of staying in a true luxury hotel is that you pick up the phone and call room service for popcorn or whatever you desire, not make it yourself. But at the 2 star Marriott Courtyard level of hotel, yes an in-room microwave and mini-fridge are expected because there is no room service available.

 

[NobodyElse]

The Halekulani has grown and gotten very sleek and stylish over the recent years, but the service is still top notch. And the Sunday brunch at Orchids is beyond paradise. Don't you just love it?!?

Lets stay off-topic for just a bit longer to continue the walk down Memory Lane. I visited the Halekulani in 1993, and at that time it was the only five diamond rated hotel on Waikiki Beach. I believe it was the first hotel I ever went to where I approached somebody at a sleek counter, stated my name, and was told "Welcome! Let me escort you up to your room for registration".

Another memory was that they had crews trimming the (not young, thus very tall) palm trees. While it was fascinating to watch the seasoned workers climb up the trees to do their work, the chain saws were a bit noisy. Upon returning to our room from an outing, we found a note from one of the managers apologizing for the inconvenience (I hadn't complained) and inviting us down to Orchids for drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Totally appropriate (preemptive) service recovery.

One last memory. DISCLAIMER: I felt like an ungrateful jerk the moment this thought popped into my head. Don't judge my first world problems too harshly. We had spent the previous seven days on Lana'i. I loved it there, but that's too much story for now. Suffice it to say, it was a sparsely populated island. The first night at the Halekulani when I was ready to go to sleep, I felt a tinge of disappointment. Why? Because I could hear the faint sounds of road traffic. That's how spoiled I had become. = embarrassment.

So, back on topic, I guess some hotels in Anaheim will seem more deserving of high ratings than others, yet they all may fall short in comparison to hotels elsewhere. It's all relative, and we'll all need to choose what works best for each of us.

 

[TP2000]

I ended up at the Halekulani for the first time in '78 because the close friends I was going with had already stayed there and knew to return. If it had been up to me back then I would have just checked in to the giant Sheraton next door and been thrilled that it was where the Brady Bunch stayed when they went to Hawaii on their show and that Don Ho was playing in their lounge. I did see Don Ho perform at that Sheraton on a later visit to the Halekulani, June of '84 if I remember right.

I've been back to the Halekulani nearly a dozen times since then, most recently in '13. It's time to go back. I think the only place I have received better service consistently was at the Tokyo Conrad, but then that's Japan so it probably shouldn't count.

Steering this back OT, for those who have splurged on a real four or five diamond/star hotel, can you imagine Disney trying to pull that off? I just can't. I love Disneyland, but my gosh their hotel service at their "Deluxe" properties in California and Florida is like the average Airport Hilton on a good day.

I am going back to Tokyo Disneyland next year. I generally stay at the Tokyo Bay Hilton for that part of the trip after moving from the Conrad (because you earn like 8 Million Hilton Honors points for staying just one night anywhere in Japan), but this next time I'm considering staying at the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel or the MiraCosta. I'd be fascinated to see what the Disney hotel service is like in Tokyo, although I've already had several meals at the flawless MiraCosta.

The MiraCosta has crisply uniformed bellhops standing in the elevator lobby to press the Up button for you with their white gloved hands, because it's Japan, so I'm sure it will make the Grand Californian or Grand Floridian look like a Motel 6.

 

[Phroobar]

Just a picture of the multiple cranes that can be seen from PP.

 

[rle4lunch]

Any new hotel at Disneyland needs to have a DVC. Those of us that have stopped going to Florida, and have FLA based DVC points to spend are being screwed. Basically because the GF fills fast with only 50 units. We're over spending points on staying at Disneyland hotels using points because we can't get a villa. And Disney doesn't care. We cannot afford the airfare to FLA, nor care to visit FLA until they offer something new, and maintain that property. Flame me as you want, but it is very clear that Disneyland is for the discerning guest, and FLA has become the destination for the masses. Witness the Trader Sam's version in DLR vrs the WDW version.
But California Disney is not all that fabulous for paying guests. Did you know that none of the Disney in California hotel rooms have microwaves? Not even at the upscale Grand California. How does that make it a 4 star hotel???? One can't zap popcorn in room while watching a Disney classic movie.
While Disney can't wait to turn every hotel room into a DVC unit in FLA, the opposite seems to be true in California, and we think they are shooting themselves in the foot.
The cost of our using our DVC membership in California vrs savings we got in the past in FLA may lead to us selling our DVC contract, and staying at the local hotels bordering DLR.

They'd probably charge a special California 'excess use of radiation tax' for the added microwave. it's all about the money. why be able to cook something when you can easily head downstairs and buy some overpriced sundries?

Or maybe it's more benign in nature, like "We've got too many discerning guests who abhor the smell or possibility of burnt popcorn. that's for commoners. remove them to steerage class quarters immediately and fetch me my asparagus infused vita-water, post haste!" (read in Thurston Howell's voice of course)

 

[Deleted member 107043]

Looks like the new hotel may be DOA:

"The council repealed a policy offering big-dollar incentives to developers building luxury hotels that meet AAA’s criteria for four-diamond ratings. Tait has been critical of the previous council majority that, in July, awarded an estimated $550 million to a couple of developers, including Disney, to build three such hotels.'

http://m.ocregister.com/articles/city-739100-council-anaheim.html

 

[Darkbeer1]

NO, they can't take back the 4 ones they approved (so long as the developer follows the rules agreed to). What this means, that after the 4 planned ones are built, there will be no more 4 star Hotels that will get the Tax Rebate.

I watched the painful 7 and 1/2 hours on the webcast, Mayor Tait has become a grumpy old man with revenge on his mind for the next two years, and the way he acted on the dais, saying he wouldn't support the Chamber of Commerce since it ran ads against him when he ran....

It is not a good time to be a business in Anaheim, hopefully the next election will bring a new mayor and more level headed folks to the city council, which has been renamed the "People's Council" by the new voting block.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

Mayor Tait has become a grumpy old man with revenge on his mind for the next two years,

Seems like this is the mood across the political spectrum in the US at the moment.

Glad to hear that this has no impact on the planned DLR hotel.

 

[jbradway]

I wondered about that myself. Tait seemed like he was set on revenge since a lot did not go his way over the past few years. I don't think a rubber stamp council for Disney would be a good thing either. But it's never good when you start making decisions based on spite. That tends to backfire and everyone loses.

 

[jmuboy]

I get you dont wanna rubber stamp everything Disney wants, I also am a VERY MODERATE American in my political views believing both parties have good and bad ideas. That said .... wake up Anaheim! Where would you be if DL rolled itself up and moved away or was never built?

I am interested what state of development the hotel is in. The initial announcement from Disney was so vague and was obviously design still in the very early stages of design. I imagine we wont see any ground broken on it until around the time SW Land opens. Until that new East Parking area is complete the Resort cant afford to lose west side parking capacity to new development.

My preference is to get a California version of the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel. The Art Nouveau design touches of the SDL Hotel are really cool, especially inside. And that design includes the roof dining with glass canopy allowing indoor comfort with great views.

 

[truecoat]

NO, they can't take back the 4 ones they approved (so long as the developer follows the rules agreed to). What this means, that after the 4 planned ones are built, there will be no more 4 star Hotels that will get the Tax Rebate.

I watched the painful 7 and 1/2 hours on the webcast, Mayor Tait has become a grumpy old man with revenge on his mind for the next two years, and the way he acted on the dais, saying he wouldn't support the Chamber of Commerce since it ran ads against him when he ran....

It is not a good time to be a business in Anaheim, hopefully the next election will bring a new mayor and more level headed folks to the city council, which has been renamed the "People's Council" by the new voting block.

I took it the same way, that they had taken the tax financing back. It's interesting the article didn't spell this out more.

How many 4 diamond hotels would be built beyond the ones planned? 1 or 2 at most? Seems more like grandstanding if that's the case. Look how we stood up to the corporations and stopped them from fleecing the taxpayers when the real truth is there wouldn't have been many if any more at this level.

 

[TP2000]

I get you dont wanna rubber stamp everything Disney wants, I also am a VERY MODERATE American in my political views believing both parties have good and bad ideas. That said .... wake up Anaheim! Where would you be if DL rolled itself up and moved away or was never built?

That's about where I am politically too, and I think Anaheim's current political direction is just shooting themselves in the foot. Anaheim without Disneyland would just be Stanton with better freeway access.

I took it the same way, that they had taken the tax financing back. It's interesting the article didn't spell this out more.

How many 4 diamond hotels would be built beyond the ones planned? 1 or 2 at most? Seems more like grandstanding if that's the case. Look how we stood up to the corporations and stopped them from fleecing the taxpayers when the real truth is there wouldn't have been many if any more at this level.

Agreed. I read it that the tax breaks had been rescinded for all four properties that applied for them. Are we absolutely sure the existing properties will get them? If so, it's kind of a spineless and meaningless political move by Mayor Tait, as even in the wildest of dreams could the Anaheim Resort District support more than four different 4-Diamond luxury hotels.

The luxury hotels that applied for and received the tax subsidy in 2015-16 are, in no particular order;

1. Disney's 700 room new hotel on the Downtown Disney parking lot
2. JW Marriott with 466 rooms on the southeast corner of the GardenWalk property (next to Cheesecake Factory)
3. Wincome Group 580 room hotel on the corner of Disney Way & Harbor, current site of Anaheim Plaza & Suites
4. Wincome Group 634 room hotel on the corner of Disneyland Drive & Katella, current site of Annabella Hotel

 

[TP2000]

I watched the painful 7 and 1/2 hours on the webcast, Mayor Tait has become a grumpy old man with revenge on his mind for the next two years, and the way he acted on the dais, saying he wouldn't support the Chamber of Commerce since it ran ads against him when he ran....

It is not a good time to be a business in Anaheim, hopefully the next election will bring a new mayor and more level headed folks to the city council, which has been renamed the "People's Council" by the new voting block.

I've followed Anaheim politics for years, and I agree that the previously mild mannered Mayor Tait seems to be going off the deep end here.

I'm afraid Mayor Tait is at that stage in life that many men go through, except instead of buying a Corvette and hitting on cocktail waitresses, he's trying to stick it to Disneyland and the Resort District businesses who depend on Disneyland. It's getting kind of weird.

 

[Darkbeer1]

It was made clear at the council meeting that they couldn't rescind the already approved projects.

So that means that so long as the property owner plays by the rules set down, they get the rebate.

Now, for two of them, it should be easy. (Disney and the JW Marriott)

Alas, the Wincome has a larger issue, depending on the vote in November of 2018. (Unless they speed up the time lines). What is upfporthe vote is the removal of special terms that made it easier to follow the rules in regards to permitting and construction. If the city voters agree with the union and remove the better rules, it will make it more difficult for Wincome to qualify for the Rebate money, but they are already looking at ways to make sure the vote doesn't matter. But personally, I would like to see them need to fight for a win in November of 2018, as it could help drive voters in a off-year election (which normally has less turnout, especially the low-information voters) could help in the Mayor's race, and the three council seats up for grabs.

 

[jmuboy]

When is the estimated date we may see work on this project? I assume after the eastern parking area is completed? I cant imagine they'd give up any parking space until then?

 

[Darkbeer1]

Which project? The new Disney Hotel is rumored to start construction in 2019.