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Toy Story Hotel Planned to replace Paradise Pier Hotel?
- Thread starter mickEblu
- Start date
Disney Analyst
Well-Known Member
TP2000
Well-Known Member
Looks fun! It also looks like this is on that perimeter resort road, with all the other "Good Neighbor Hotels" there along the monorail line. It also looks like this becomes the de facto Value Resort for Tokyo.
Their other hotels are two Deluxes (actually Super Deluxe, far superior to any Disney Hotel in America) at the Mira Costa and Disneyland Hotel, and a Moderate (but with service like an American Ritz-Carlton on its very best day) at the Ambassador Hotel.
This Toy Story Hotel would be the Value priced hotel for Tokyo, I'd imagine. Except with customer service and showmanship standards better than the Grand Californian, naturally.
Ah, Tokyo.... when Covid is over I'm there ASAP!
PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
They debuted a pair of value resorts a few years ago, the Disney Wish and Celebration resorts. Unlike the other hotels they were not new builds; OLC bought two older buildings off-site, touched them up a bit, and operates shuttles between them and the parks. I can't imagine that people are going to be running to stay at those hotels now that the Toy Story Hotel exists.Looks fun! It also looks like this is on that perimeter resort road, with all the other "Good Neighbor Hotels" there along the monorail line. It also looks like this becomes the de facto Value Resort for Tokyo.
Their other hotels are two Deluxes (actually Super Deluxe, far superior to any Disney Hotel in America) at the Mira Costa and Disneyland Hotel, and a Moderate (but with service like an American Ritz-Carlton on its very best day) at the Ambassador Hotel.
This Toy Story Hotel would be the Value priced hotel for Tokyo, I'd imagine. Except with customer service and showmanship standards better than the Grand Californian, naturally.
Ah, Tokyo.... when Covid is over I'm there ASAP!
That said, I don't understand why anyone would choose to stay at the Toy Story Hotel when there is a real Hilton and a real Sheraton at the exact same monorail stop (both are closer to the Monorail stop, even, than the TS Hotel), likely for less money. I've stayed at both of those hotels and they're both very nice; and if they look a bit boring, well, they weren't designed to be Disney hotels. Whereas their Toy Story hotel, to me, looks hideous. So if someone doesn't care about the IP, what's the advantage of staying at the Toy Story Hotel vs. the Hilton or Sheraton? Getting to enter 15 minutes before everyone else to do nothing like the other Disney hotels there? For me that's not enough.
DonaldDoleWhip
Well-Known Member
The inside of Tokyo’s TSH looks better than expected, but I’ll never understand why they chose the exterior route they did.
It looks like Azkaban designed for pre-schoolers - I’d be terrified of never escaping.
As for the PPH, have never stepped foot in that building and hope I never have to.
It looks like Azkaban designed for pre-schoolers - I’d be terrified of never escaping.
As for the PPH, have never stepped foot in that building and hope I never have to.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
Oh, thank goodness! I'm a Bonvoy guy myself, and I stay at the Tokyo Bay Sheraton Grande there. That shared Sheraton/Hilton monorail stop is a definite plus. But the Sheraton's lobby bar, the pastry-laden breakfast buffet, and that ridiculous gambling arcade hidden in the bowels of that hotel are invaluable!
The last time I was there, just before the pandemic, I had a town car scheduled to pick me up to take me to Narita the morning I was checking out. I walk down 10 minutes before check-out, stupidly, and there's a long line of people also checking out. I started to panic, because I hate being late for a car service or any scheduled service in a foreign country because I couldn't look more stereotypically American if I tried, and I want to represent my country well when I'm abroad. So after standing there in line for 3 minutes and realizing this wasn't going to work timeline-wise, I went over to a manager looking fellow in the lobby and explained my predicament. He turned out later to be the General Manager, and he instantly produced a digital tablet and asked for my room key and checked me out within 2 minutes. Then he motioned for a bellhop to take my luggage, and he personally escorted me out to the porte cochere where my airport car was waiting for me. The white gloved taxi man took over my luggage, the General Manager handled the taxi door and graciously loaded me into the backseat, then with both hands elegantly handed me his business card (which identified him as the GM of the Sheraton Grande) and he bowed and thanked me for staying there and hoped I would return soon. It was absolute customer service perfection.
Imagine the same scenario playing out at the Grand Californian at checkout time. It wouldn't happen.
Seriously, when can we go back to Tokyo Disneyland again?
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Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
SuddenStorm
Well-Known Member
I'm a Bonvoy guy myself
If there was ever a polarizing hotel loyalty program, it's Marriott Bonvoy.
When Marriott bought Starwood and created a new loyalty program to replace Marriott Rewards and SPG, they basically created a program that doesn't make anyone happy and that's far to large to be at all meaningful.
Longtime members are often confused what perks they're actually entitled too, and many feel that Marriott Bonvoy is a huge step down from SPG (which would be primarily due to the oversaturation of Elite Members).
Heck, there's even a site for members to air their grievances- https://www.bonvoyed.com/
I'm a Bonvoy guy as well, the program is great and the guaranteed perks are phenomenal, especially at full service properties. But the entitlement that runs rampant among Elite Bonvoy Members has turned many hotel employees off of hospitality.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
Oh! That makes sense. When Marriott bought Starwood I was nervous. But then after the merger (that seemed to last forever!) I thought “Well, this is great!”.
But that was probably because I had a ridiculous amount of points at the time.
If it helps any, I’m an Elite Bonvoy guy who sometimes forgets to mention it if I just show up, or my car‘s dashboard just guides me to a hotel on the road automatically. Then the Bonvoy folks somehow retroactively credit me, probably because of my Amex number.
I could care less about the points on a one night stay in America. It’s those multi night stays in Asia and Europe where you rack up huge totals! I’m sure you have to deal with your share of Southwest Karens, though.
SuddenStorm
Well-Known Member
What do you think of the variable point redemption changes they're making this month? It has many online terrified that Marriott is devaluing their points.
If your expectations aren't unreasonable Bonvoy is great. Guaranteed 4p checkout for Plat, Titanium, and Ambassador is a lifesaver if you have a late flight. Not to mention lounge access at full service properties. And some of Bonvoy's targeted offers are phenomenal.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
One note on that Tokyo Disneyland Sheraton story above. I Googled. There are 1,016 rooms at that massive hotel. So it's a hotel with thousands of people staying there per night. And I was just one random dorky American in a very busy, cavernous lobby who hadn't planned my departure very well. And yet I was treated like royalty for my screw up and last second request. 
There are only 750 rooms at Disney's Grand Californian. Now imagine going up to a harried CM in the crowded lobby at the Grand Californian with a long line at the front desk and asking for help in making a quick getaway because a town car was going to pick you up in 10 minutes. You'd get a tight smile and told where the end of line was. But they'd use two fingers to point you to the end of the line, because they think that's cute. World Class Guest Service!
I'm no longer a business traveler. I'm just a retired guy who (before Covid) traveled for leisure quite a bit. And I hope to resume my leisure travel schedule by the end of this year after I move my life next month. So that said...
I don't care about the variable point thing, for the little I've read about it. I was one of the first Delta Frequent Fliers in the late 1970's, so I've seen airlines and then the hotel chains go through many recalibrations (and cutting of perks) of how their redemption plans work. I guess I expect it. And, I still don't think I'm owed much beyond a clean and comfortable room, a smile from employees, and maybe a couple of cocktail vouchers or a plate of chocolate covered strawberries when I check into a hotel I've stayed in before many times. I'm easy to please and happy to be there!
I know technically, the Ritz-Carlton has only a tenuous connection to Bonvoy Elite perks. The two brands barely connect to each other, as a way to elevate the Ritz-Carlton "brand" most likely. And yet, when I check in to the Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage for my Easter vacation with some family in a few weeks, I know they will do their usual best to welcome me back to that location with grace and style and a few extras. They are just so darn good about that at the Ritz-Carlton!
That said, I wouldn't mind getting from my current Gold status to Platinum. The 4pm checkout is usually great for international travel, and the welcome gifts and auto lounge access are fun. I just am not sure I can pack in enough travel to get to 50 nights, but I'm going to try to get there by '23!
There are only 750 rooms at Disney's Grand Californian. Now imagine going up to a harried CM in the crowded lobby at the Grand Californian with a long line at the front desk and asking for help in making a quick getaway because a town car was going to pick you up in 10 minutes. You'd get a tight smile and told where the end of line was. But they'd use two fingers to point you to the end of the line, because they think that's cute. World Class Guest Service!
I'm no longer a business traveler. I'm just a retired guy who (before Covid) traveled for leisure quite a bit. And I hope to resume my leisure travel schedule by the end of this year after I move my life next month. So that said...
I don't care about the variable point thing, for the little I've read about it. I was one of the first Delta Frequent Fliers in the late 1970's, so I've seen airlines and then the hotel chains go through many recalibrations (and cutting of perks) of how their redemption plans work. I guess I expect it. And, I still don't think I'm owed much beyond a clean and comfortable room, a smile from employees, and maybe a couple of cocktail vouchers or a plate of chocolate covered strawberries when I check into a hotel I've stayed in before many times. I'm easy to please and happy to be there!
I know technically, the Ritz-Carlton has only a tenuous connection to Bonvoy Elite perks. The two brands barely connect to each other, as a way to elevate the Ritz-Carlton "brand" most likely. And yet, when I check in to the Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage for my Easter vacation with some family in a few weeks, I know they will do their usual best to welcome me back to that location with grace and style and a few extras. They are just so darn good about that at the Ritz-Carlton!
That said, I wouldn't mind getting from my current Gold status to Platinum. The 4pm checkout is usually great for international travel, and the welcome gifts and auto lounge access are fun. I just am not sure I can pack in enough travel to get to 50 nights, but I'm going to try to get there by '23!
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LittleMerman
Well-Known Member
Toy Story is kind of a boring theme but the concept art is "lightyears" better than Paradise Pier Hotel. I stayed there a few years ago and it was a completely basic hotel with the least possible Disney touches. They could have done so much more, and it was fairly expensive for an almost non-Disney hotel. At least the art is cute. And Disneyland doesn't have a Toy Story Land so this will appeal to a lot of people that enjoy the franchise on the West Coast.
Model3 McQueen
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Uninspired and boring. Man I feel like such a donkey for being so pessimistic all the time, but darn me if the IP placement isn't getting tired.
SuddenStorm
Well-Known Member
That said, I wouldn't mind getting from my current Gold status to Platinum. The 4pm checkout is usually great for international travel, and the welcome gifts and auto lounge access are fun. I just am not sure I can pack in enough travel to get to 50 nights, but I'm going to try to get there by '23!
Which Amex do you have?
Obviously, Amex Platinum gets you automatic Gold Status, but you'll have to actually stay 50 nights to hit Platinum.
Gold Elite is nice- but Marriott has extended everyone's status through 2023. So anyone that had or earned Elite Status in 2020 has that status until June 2023- so the program is way over saturated at the moment. And the lounge access can be a huge benefit especially when traveling abroad, as well as an increased chance for upgrades (just don't throw a tantrum at the desk if you don't get one, the stories I could share...). And if you have a late flight that 4 pm is a lifesaver.
The Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card is great if you stay in hotels enough to make it worth it. The Marriott Statement Credit and Free Night Award alone cover more than the annual fee, not to mention generous point multipliers on travel and dining. But, it also gets you 15 Elite Night Credits.
Bonvoy often has great promotions- right now I'm registered for one that gets me 1,000 bonus points and 1 bonus Elite Night Credit each night. So you get credit for 2 nights for every one night you actually stay.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
Robbiem
Well-Known Member
Oh, thank goodness! I'm a Bonvoy guy myself, and I stay at the Tokyo Bay Sheraton Grande there. That shared Sheraton/Hilton monorail stop is a definite plus. But the Sheraton's lobby bar, the pastry-laden breakfast buffet, and that ridiculous gambling arcade hidden in the bowels of that hotel are invaluable!
The last time I was there, just before the pandemic, I had a town car scheduled to pick me up to take me to Narita the morning I was checking out. I walk down 10 minutes before check-out, stupidly, and there's a long line of people also checking out. I started to panic, because I hate being late for a car service or any scheduled service in a foreign country because I couldn't look more stereotypically American if I tried, and I want to represent my country well when I'm abroad. So after standing there in line for 3 minutes and realizing this wasn't going to work timeline-wise, I went over to a manager looking fellow in the lobby and explained my predicament. He turned out later to be the General Manager, and he instantly produced a digital tablet and asked for my room key and checked me out within 2 minutes. Then he motioned for a bellhop to take my luggage, and he personally escorted me out to the porte cochere where my airport car was waiting for me. The white gloved taxi man took over my luggage, the General Manager handled the taxi door and graciously loaded me into the backseat, then with both hands elegantly handed me his business card (which identified him as the GM of the Sheraton Grande) and he bowed and thanked me for staying there and hoped I would return soon. It was absolute customer service perfection.
Imagine the same scenario playing out at the Grand Californian at checkout time. It wouldn't happen.
Seriously, when can we go back to Tokyo Disneyland again?
the Sheraton and the Hilton are both great. I think the Sheraton is better but the Hilton is fine as well. Both look very corporate outside but each have some themed floors. We stayed in an ocean liner themed room at the Sheraton with a balcony overlooking the parks and a fairy tale ‘happy magic’ room at the Hilton which was a lot of fun. There are other themes at each as well. Much more fun than recent stateside Disney hotel rooms which are getting blander IMO
Sharon&Susan
Well-Known Member
Ratchat is reporting that the hotel will begin it's conversion into the Pixar Pier "soon" and will gain as a perk a new back entrance to California Adventure that they're currently working on right now.
PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
Everything old really is new again.
socalifornian
Well-Known Member
I wonder what they’ll do about security since they want it further from the parks. Can’t see them putting it in the lobby and spending money on a bridge