I would take reviews on Trip Advisor with a grain of salt! I love reading the forums and reviews, too, but do not place too much worth on them. As mentioned by a pp here, lots of times people with high expectations write reviews when they are disappointed. And if you read many of them, the complaints are all over the place and lots of times, not the fault of the management. One place we stayed, there was a negative review because of mosquitos in the room (and they were getting in through the windows!)!!
Yes, but in general, it seems like Disney doesn't make the top of the list for many of the things mentioned above, noting that the "average" guests are not major Disney fans.
Value for the money is a high consideration in the TA rankings, so people are looking for deals and the most bang for the buck.
I liked the comment earlier, Disney offers moderate service, and I agree with that. They do not offer a true 4 star experience, with full time room service, the guarantee when booking for certain things like type of room, bedding, etc. Also guaranteed check-in times. Now, does the off-property Hotels always deliver, the answer is no,but they plan in advance, and if a problem happens, Management will work with the guest to fix the matter (upgrade, reduced room rate, free meal, etc.), while Disney says, "Sorry, it was just a Request". Seems like Disney is doing what is best for them in shuffling hotel rooms about, and not for the guest. Also long check-in lines at Disney is an issue as compared to other locations, that will be more flexible with its staff in making sure the lines are kept as short as possible.
Things like offering transportation from the Hotel to the Main Entrance Plaza, even for those off-property Hotels that are about the same distance away as the Disney owned ones. Plus easier access to parking and valet areas instead of getting stuck on
Disneyland Drive in traffic while folks figure out where to go for Theme Park Parking, or for the Hotels and Downtown Disney.
For families, things like a free breakfast can add up quickly in savings, so is access to low cost options like CVS and Walgreens for shopping for basics, and off-property dining options.
Everyone travels differently, and for some, the "Disney Tax" for staying on-property is worth it, but for many, especially in Anaheim (as compared to Orlando) it isn't worth it, and opt to stay in places like the Great Wolf Lodge, which is an amazing Resort within itself, or the 3-4 Star Full Service Hotels that
AAA would say is about equal to the Disney Hotels, or opt for a limited service Hotel, an Extended Stay Hotel (aka Apartment style with a Kitchen) or even a Motel/Inn.
Visitors have to weigh a lot of things, including walking distance or opt for a shuttle/drive, how much do they want to spend (or can afford), and what "perks" are they looking for. Many folks care less about Valet parking, not interested in Room Service (they think, hey, let's just call for take-out, which is a pain in the butt to do at a Disney Hotel, as Disney does that on purpose).
So each to their own, but IMHO, if you are looking at value for your buck, the TA rankings are a pretty good and fair list.
And yes, I am known as a TA Expert by TA.