Anyone stayed in the Newport Bay recently?

[DLPaddict]

Possibly staying here, but am wondering if they still have renovated anymore rooms or is just the 4 that was done recently?

Thanks

 

[Alahis]

They are, currently, renovating the hotel.
In fact, one of the biggest phase of the renovation had begon 2-3 weeks ago or will begun soon.

That giant rehab will be finished around 2016. But they already have renovated 4 rooms, but it's not possible to request them, as I've heard.

 

[Lisa_C]

They are, currently, renovating the hotel.
In fact, one of the biggest phase of the renovation had begon 2-3 weeks ago or will begun soon.

That giant rehab will be finished around 2016. But they already have renovated 4 rooms, but it's not possible to request them, as I've heard.

Hasn't begun yet?? I'm sure when we did the podcast we were told that its been announced but only a "sample" room was done to show how it'll look?? They're all on the list by NPB is next.

 

[Alahis]

I've got almost all my info from the french board "Disney Central Plaza", so, it's possible they may be wrong....
I've read the whole subject (and believe me, it's very long and full of fights and hatred ) and I can safely say :
- 4 standard rooms have been renovated, they are in the same hallway
- Their number may be : 2179, 2180,...
- You can try to request them but nothing is guaranteed.
- There's a very heated discussion about the rehab of the rooms. Very, very heated.

Anyway, they are also quoting the DLP UK website :
"Disney's Newport Bay Hotel:
Indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna & steam room will be closed in Nov 2013 - until further notice.
The East aisle (524 rooms) will be closed for refurbishment from 1 November 2013 until further notice. During this period the following facilities will be closed: outdoor pool; indoor pool and whirlpool; sauna and steambath; massage; fitness room; game room."
So we can safely assume that the rehab of the rooms will begun in November.

I hope it helps ?

 

[DLPaddict]

I read that it started on November 1st too. As long as my room isn't falling to pieces I should be ok lol

 

[Flossbolna]

- There's a very heated discussion about the rehab of the rooms. Very, very heated.

Would you mind explaining why it is so heated? I get that many topics with relation to Disney can get very heated, but a hotel refurb??? Am just curious!

 

[Alahis]

Some people think the rehab of the rooms is too "disney", too childish (with brightly colored bedsheats and stuff), like the Santa Fe, where they abandonned the New-Mexico/66Road vibes for Cars, or the Sequoia Lodge and its association with Bambi. They think that what made the DLP hotels unique were the fact the hotels were not too brightly colored and not associated with disney characters....Like the NPB had a New England feel, the Sequoia was more nature, NY had a modern vibe.....
They also think the hotels are too expensive for what they really are, that DLP is not really well managed and that it's the least "liked" park by TWDC....A lot of detractors think that DLP has to learn from Europapark and the way they have evolued, in terms of hotel standards.

Others people don't mind, because it's disney, so it has to be expected, it has to be kitsch and/or childish...

...And I just don't like the idea of having characters pushed so violently into the rooms and hotel and I think we lost that vibe of New England, of a georgian/edwardian seaside hotel you know ?
(I also think DLP need better management and a bit of more love from TDWC)

But as people like arguing and being mean to each others, those subjects are always very heated, it's sad but hey, at least, not every forum is like that !

 

[Flossbolna]

Alahis, thanks for the info! I think it is great to have people reporting from the French language boards! Unfortunately my French is so bad that I can't really follow them.

I do understand some of the critical view points, I would agree with regard of the prices DLP charges for these rooms. Especially the non-discounted ones. All my last trips since 2008 have only been with some sort of deep discount. I do think it is kind of unfair to the new comers that only the people in the know seem to get the good deals. And I also don't understand why they publish different offers for different countries. I think for Germany I have never seen a deal that was better than 20% off. I know that I can book another country's offer, but how many people have a clue about this trick?

Anyway, thanks for the info! I found it especially interesting how on a French forum the German Europapark is considered a good example. I still haven't been there, but have heard many good things. Their hotels do look wonderful! But they are pricey, too!

 

[Alahis]

They may be pricey too, but the standard of quality is better, IMHO.

Here, in Belgium, when I'm trying to use the -30/-40% deals, it never works because you need to be in the NYH or other 4 keys hotel and/or for 4d/3n....But I know the parks by heart, I don't need that many days here, I don't usually have that many days off the university, so if I want to stay in the Cheyenne or the Santa Fe, it's only -10% or 20%.....and honestly, it's not interesting at all. I will not pay +300¬ for 2d/2n there, the rooms have a lower quality standard than the Pop Century and it's all of the cheapest on-stay WDW property....(and I loved the Pop )

But yeah, the price of the rooms, the quality of the rooms in DLP are some of the very heated discussion (with park rehab and, oddly enough, any innovation they try to propose)