Absolutely unacceptable

[smidgy]

I will ALWAYS call CR (BLT), Poly, and GF Monorail Resorts. period. and most people will. not everyone reads all the guides, follows the "dis" etc. etc.

even so, most guides call them "monorail resorts". and most people do, too. and most people who book a room at them consider the monorail stop at their resort a major factor in their decision to book at that resort.

(um, not "most people on this thread", just "most people who go to WDW")

I do think the view of the castle across the lagoon from the poly is kinda neat, and actually prettier thtn the castle view from CR, with all the parking lot and cars in the way.


and I agree with kellyNY.. my hubby said the exact same thing about CR.. "feels like you're in an airport". he actually hated (well, disliked a lot) BLT. the rooms were like staying in Akea(sp?) the only reason we rented points from our friends to stay at BLT was to finally stay at a Monorail resort.

 

[KellyNY]

I respectfully disagree. while ALL" Disney Resort" transportation is free to all (like say, someone who wanted to take a link bus to the TTC, and ride around on disney transportation all day.. unlike back in 1994, when we had to show our CBR ids. to get on the bus), those who book at poly, GF, or CR, do so (and pay the price) partially becasue the monorail actually stops AT the resort they are staying at.(as opposed to having to take a link bus or drive tot he TTC,)

our favorites are the moderate resorts. we find the buses very convenient. we stayed once at beach club.. now, if the walkway to epcot was blocked while we were there, we would not have been happy at all.

IMO, Disney transportation , while available to everyone, is a definite factor when choosing which resort to stay at on Disney property. esp.l when the monorail will stop and pick you up "right at your resort".
and numerous people have the same mindset, whether or not they even know about the "dis".

I actually posted few pages ago how strangely Disney prices resorts. MK resorts obviously offer more then others. Bigger rooms, 5 people per room, fireworks view at night, and of course location. How much all those extras worth? All those components what makes any resort cost more. Is access to monorail and boats adds to the price, or the fact that it will take you much faster then from moderate or value, good question if you ask me.

There is nothing really to compare with to say for sure. And of course do not forget that technically Disney transportation is "complimentary", so if you take it to Disney with any set of mind, you will not win here. Does not mean you have to change the way you choose your resort but that is personal preference.

 

[kaytieeldr]

But, I've also stayed at Shades of Green. It's across from the Poly, so is it an MK resort? It's just not the same...no monorail upstairs.

Along with Fort Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge, and Villas at Wilderness Lodge. Which is why I feel calling them, geographically, Seven Seas Lagoon resorts makes the most sense.

Many people feel referring to them as deluxe - which the owner does - is an insult to actual deluxe hotels/resorts.
Calling them Magic Kingdom - which the owner does - isn't specific enough.
That people and guidebooks opt to designate them by a single feature seems disingenuous; it's like calling the Beach Club a pool hotel.

Nope. Seven Seas Lagoon Resorts works

 

[Jennasis]

I call them Magic Kingdom Resorts. We're staying at BLT in September. Not FOR the monorail, but rather for the view, the decor, the ambiance. CR is our hands down favorite of all resorts. For DH and I, we'd never take the monorail "home" from MK. We would walk (even after a late MNSSHP or EMH). But that's how WE roll. I would never presume to claim to know whether most people do/do not do it that way. I just know what works for us.

 

[dopeylover]

If one of the main reasons you're staying at Poly is b/c of the monorail, and now you won't be able to take advantage of it, I would call, and I would see if I could switch.

If you're going to have to take buses now anyway (which I may add is what I do every time I'm there, it's not the end of the world!), and you're upset that you paid a lot of money for the hotel, why not call and ask to be switched to a Moderate? This way, you're lodging your complaint AND saving some money at the same time! If they won't refund your money in cash, ask if there's any way you could have a gift card issued to you, and then you have spending money for your trip! Not sure if that is even a possibility, but I find it NEVER hurts to ask. What is the worst anyone could say? No? Then you're just in the spot you're in now, which is staying at a GREAT resort w/ a few glitches.

Enjoy and good luck!

 

[TLSnell1981]

Along with Fort Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge, and Villas at Wilderness Lodge. Which is why I feel calling them, geographically, Seven Seas Lagoon resorts makes the most sense.

Many people feel referring to them as deluxe - which the owner does - is an insult to actual deluxe hotels/resorts.
Calling them Magic Kingdom - which the owner does - isn't specific enough.
That people and guidebooks opt to designate them by a single feature seems disingenuous; it's like calling the Beach Club a pool hotel.

Nope. Seven Seas Lagoon Resorts works

"Hey,want to stay at a Seven Seas Lagoon resort' "No, I want to go to Disney World!"

How many guests know the name of the body of water? Now, lets add Bay Lake and Silver Creek to the confusion.

How many know, which hotels have monorails?

I started to include Wilderness Lodge, but..

 

[Angel Ariel]

But, I've also stayed at Shades of Green. It's across from the Poly, so is it an MK resort? It's just not the same...no monorail upstairs.

I've also stayed at SoG and yes, I would consider it an MK resort. It's proximity to MK (along with the fact that it's very comparable to the Deluxe resorts in terms of quality/amenities at a fraction of the cost) is a large reason why DH and I will stay there as long as we're eligible.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I've also stayed at SoG and yes, I would consider it an MK resort. It's proximity to MK (along with the fact that it's very comparable to the Deluxe resorts in terms of quality/amenities at a fraction of the cost) is a large reason why DH and I will stay there as long as we're eligible.

I also consider SoG an MK resort and it is comparable to a Deluxe. SoG is a very nice hotel with large rooms and a Starbucks. .

Disney was never able to charge top $$$$ because there is no monorail access.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I don't disagree that the monorail access is part of the price increase for GF/Poly/CR. That said, I also don't think that a lack of monorail access for a few hours a day should require Disney to lower the rate of the resort to a non-monorail resort rate. While it may not be continuous monorail access, there still is monorail access for at least half of the park day.

I do think Disney should have better communicated the decision, but I don't know that I'd expect any compensation (other than being allowed to switch resorts w/o fees) because I do think there are reasons beyond the monorail that affect the rates of those resorts.

 

[ttintagel]

I understand that progress must be made and that maintenance is required, but if you book a hotel because of the monorail and pay a premium for that service, you should at least be made aware of this ahead of time and get somewhat of a discount on the room.

Exactly! This is what all the people saying, "Don't complain, because it won't make them turn the train back on today," are missing. They need to think these things through and take care of details like warning resort guests, and they're not going to do that if they don't get any feedback about it.

 

[dzorn]

I also consider SoG an MK resort and it is comparable to a Deluxe. SoG is a very nice hotel with large rooms and a Starbucks. .

Disney was never able to charge top $$$$ because there is no monorail access.

Well I guess Disney doesn't charge top dollar as the resort is for the military and I believe run by the military. Monorail access has nothing to do with what SoG can charge.

Denise in MI

 

[ttintagel]

Well I guess Disney doesn't charge top dollar as the resort is for the military and I believe run by the military. Monorail access has nothing to do with what SoG can charge.

Denise in MI

I think TLSnell1981 was referring back to the days when Shades of Green was the Disney Golf Resort. I think that's why he/she said, "was never" instead of "isn't."

http://passport2dreams.blogspot.com/2012/01/return-to-golf-resort.html

 

[KellyNY]

I also consider SoG an MK resort and it is comparable to a Deluxe. SoG is a very nice hotel with large rooms and a Starbucks. .

Disney was never able to charge top $$$$ because there is no monorail access.

Starbucks? This alone should call for $$$$. In Disney it is like water in Sahara.

 

[Alesia]

I also consider SoG an MK resort and it is comparable to a Deluxe. SoG is a very nice hotel with large rooms and a Starbucks. .

Disney was never able to charge top $$$$ because there is no monorail access.

It has nothing to do with monorail access. Disney doesn't set the room prices at Shades of Green - it's owned by the department of defense. It is an Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC) resort, so it's part of the military's Morale, Welfare, and Recreation program. That's why the prices are so reasonable.

 

[TDC Nala]

Exactly! This is what all the people saying, "Don't complain, because it won't make them turn the train back on today," are missing. They need to think these things through and take care of details like warning resort guests, and they're not going to do that if they don't get any feedback about it.

Nobody says not to complain. Go ahead and complain. It's that some of the concerns - there will be long lines for the boats, it will take a lot longer to get back to the resort or to the park, will I miss my ADR - don't appear to be a problem in practice with the alternate transportation. If the problem is that you love the monorail, paid for the resort to get access to the monorail and they knowingly shut it down during the day for several weeks without giving you a chance to stay elsewhere, there's no reason not to complain.

 

[TLSnell1981]

It has nothing to do with monorail access. Disney doesn't set the room prices at Shades of Green - it's owned by the department of defense. It is an Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC) resort, so it's part of the military's Morale, Welfare, and Recreation program. That's why the prices are so reasonable.

Well I guess Disney doesn't charge top dollar as the resort is for the military and I believe run by the military. Monorail access has nothing to do with what SoG can charge.Denise in MI

Prior to 1994, the propery was owned by Disney.

I think TLSnell1981 was referring back to the days when Shades of Green was the Disney Golf Resort. I think that's why he/she said, "was never" instead of "isn't."

http://passport2dreams.blogspot.com/2012/01/return-to-golf-resort.html

And, it was also "The Disney Inn"(1986).

Starbucks? This alone should call for $$$$. In Disney it is like water in Sahara.

And, the average standard room is 480 sq ft.!!! The lack of access to the monorail, definitely hurt this MK resort.

 

[Angel Ariel]

The lack of access to the monorail, definitely hurt this MK resort.

I'd be interested to know what they were attempting to charge at the time, compared to the Poly/GF/CR. Wilderness Lodge opened in 1994 (when they sold SoG to the military), it is also a Deluxe resort which doesn't have monorail access, and Disney doesn't seem to have any occupancy issues there. In looking at the pricing, though, it's at least $150/night cheaper than the Poly (at least according to the compare tool on WDW's site).

I wonder if they were trying to charge closer to what Disney was charging for the Poly/GF/CR and that was the issue with occupancy - and something they fixed when they opened WL.

 

[redshoepaul]

Are you serious? 11:30 is really late to get into any park if you want to spend the day.

 

[KellyNY]

Prior to 1994, the propery was owned by Disney.
And, it was also "The Disney Inn"(1986).



And, the average standard room is 480 sq ft.!!! The lack of access to the monorail, definitely hurt this MK resort.

I am not familiar with SOG location at all. How close it is to MK? Does it have view, piped fireworks at night? Is it completely comparable to MK resorts? I asking because I simply have no idea.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I'd be interested to know what they were attempting to charge at the time, compared to the Poly/GF/CR. Wilderness Lodge opened in 1994 (when they sold SoG to the military), it is also a Deluxe resort which doesn't have monorail access, and Disney doesn't seem to have any occupancy issues there. In looking at the pricing, though, it's at least $150/night cheaper than the Poly (at least according to the compare tool on WDW's site).

I wonder if they were trying to charge closer to what Disney was charging for the Poly/GF/CR and that was the issue with occupancy - and something they fixed when they opened WL.

I do not remember, the exact rates, but they were significantly less, than the Monorail Resorts. It was worth the extra $$$$ for the convenience of the monorail.