Crashing the local hotel breakfast buffet

[horseshowmom]

I particularly like Embassy Suites hotels and stay in them whenever I can. I remember one of them requiring us to show our room key for breakfast (I think it was Nashville, but I'm not sure). It crossed my mind then that they must be having a problem with non-guests visiting the breakfast buffet. If I were management, I would probably check guests too if I thought I had a problem with it.

And for the record, after reading this thread, I doubt I will ever use a hotel coffee pot again.

I stopped using glass drinkware in hotels after seeing a program (20/20, Primetime, or something of that nature) do an expose on how the maids handled cleaning (or actually just the opposite) the glassware.

 

[YodaGirl]

While all of it is shocking to some point, I think that the most shocking was this:

When I posted the New Times article on my Facebook page, Facebook buddy Wave Journey noted witnessing guests who "bring their Tupperware containers with them for breakfast, so they can also make lunch." It used to be that people would sneak a sandwich into a plastic bag, "but recently, we've witnessed them more blatantly filling their lunch containers."

Before I heard some of the terrible things people do with hotel coffee pots I used to use them to make tea or hot chocolate - I'd just run the water through to get hot and then pour it into a mug with whatever I wanted to drink. I imagine the previous poster does the same thing, only with noodles instead of a tea bag. That wouldn't change the flavor of your coffee at all.

It's the people who use the coffee pot to heat hot dogs or to wash underwear (both of which I've seen people claim to do) who are to blame for the taste of your coffee. Either that, or the hotel just stocks bad coffee.

I don't know about any of the other stuff, but I've never had a good cup of coffee at Disney, unless it was in my camper from my coffee pot.

 

[manning]

I'm not sure that it's a joke! I'm still recovering from the pp who used the coffee pot for ramen noodles No wonder the coffee in my room tastes like sludge.

I sometimes wonder if the guest after me can iron their shirt after I grilled the steak on the iron. I'll have to use a pan next time.

 

[ImprovGal]

Imagine what the ramen noodles must taste like! (First thought as a coffee hater. )

Making a grilled cheese sandwich on an iron may not be theft, but it sure could damage something the next time it was used as an iron. But I've never seen anyone at the budget board who seriously does that, either.

The only grilled cheese making via an iron that I've heard of involved first wrapping the cheese sandwich in aluminum foil and then pressing the foil-wrapped sandwich with the iron to toast it. No mess involved.

My problem with the coffee makers (at least until I saw the post about the underwear -- gak!) is that if I use them to heat water for tea, it still tastes like coffee. I now only use the coffeemakers to heat water to melt my henna hair color (henna in a separate container, not touching the coffee maker).

 

[2BigKIdz]

No people actually put hot dogs in the pot with water or ramen noodles and cook it. It is absolutely disgusting.

I realize being frugal and stealing is different but you hear of people bringing their own buns into restaurants at Disney and taking toppings from the salad bar without buying anything. That is just as much stealing as what is described in the OP. I also think having a fridge swap at a resort that offers a fridge to rent is pretty much stealing or at least getting around a charge in what I personally consider an improper way. If I were to become the VP of Disney World it would be the first thing I stopped.

They also rent strollers, would you stop people from bringing their own stroller also?

 

[FireDancer]

They also rent strollers, would you stop people from bringing their own stroller also?

Their own strollers? No. From storing strollers at resorts and passing them around to one another. Yes. I also wouldn't stop people from bringing in their own food or many other items but anything that resembles an appliance that we offer for rent I absolutely would.

I personally think it is beyond shady to try to get around a charge by swapping stuff back and forth but I think it is even worse that they actually store this stuff at the resorts. I would feel that it was less shady if they at least didn't involve Disney at all in the storage or transport of the item in question.

 

[Bob NC]

I personally think it is beyond shady to try to get around a charge by swapping stuff back and forth.......

LOL, I think even Disney realizes that their rental prices are so out of whack that they can't, with a straight face, insist that you can't bring your own refrigerator.

What other rental item anywhere, at any time, have you seen where the 3 or 4 day rental would pay for the item? Ever rent a car for 6 or 8 thousand a day?

 

[shalom]

What other rental item anywhere, at any time, have you seen where the 3 or 4 day rental would pay for the item?

So buy a stroller and trade that one. Which on second reading I think is what you're advocating? I have no problem with people trading strollers that they initially purchased; if they're trading a Disney-owned stroller I think that's wrong.

The price Disney charges is not just for the stroller; it's for the convenience of being able to get a stroller where and when you want it, and for having a stroller you didn't have to haul there with you. People hanging onto Disney's strollers and passing them around at the resorts aren't getting that convenience, but they've still stolen Disney's stroller.

 

[SingleFather]

What other rental item anywhere, at any time, have you seen where the 3 or 4 day rental would pay for the item? Ever rent a car for 6 or 8 thousand a day?

So by this reasoning, you can just take whatever item if YOU think the price is too high?

 

[myheartlivesatwdw]

The only grilled cheese making via an iron that I've heard of involved first wrapping the cheese sandwich in aluminum foil and then pressing the foil-wrapped sandwich with the iron to toast it. No mess involved.

Imho, if people are grilling sandwiches in their room, it's time to rethink the budget.

I never understood spending all that money to go to Disney and then eat hot dogs and noodles in the room? The room (unless a suite with kitchen)is to sleep & relax in...not to cook in. Hence, why there is no kitchen, stove, washer, dryer, skillet, and a partridge in a pear tree.

And to steal a meal at a hotel you are not staying at? Mind boggling.

 

[MamaLema]

One of the hotels in So Cal that we stay at was having this problem. They solved it by handing out tickets to everyone in our party for the length of our stay. 1 ticket per person per meal (they did breakfast and dinner buffets). We had to present them to a worker before they would let us in to eat. It seemed to help with the problem.

I like this idea

 

[agnes!]

I remember people posting that they saw with their own eyes or knew of people cheating their way into the concierge lounges at Disney hotels... These folks would either have one member of the family stay in that section/level and then they'd sneak other extended-family members in or people would just walk in from elsewhere in the hotel. The Polynesian is the one I remember tales about.

And then these cheats would boast about it.

agnes!

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

I remember people posting that they saw with their own eyes or knew of people cheating their way into the concierge lounges at Disney hotels... These folks would either have one member of the family stay in that section/level and then they'd sneak other extended-family members in or people would just walk in from elsewhere in the hotel. The Polynesian is the one I remember tales about.

And then these cheats would boast about it.

agnes!

I was in a hotel recently that had club level rooms with a lounge. There was a note on the thing that describe the club hours, offerings etc. that said that if you brought guests you would be charged $150 per guest for use of the lounge. I thought that was great!

 

[Bob NC]

So by this reasoning, you can just take whatever item if YOU think the price is too high?

Nice leap, but I didn't say that, or, anything remotely like that.

 

[myheartlivesatwdw]

Nice leap, but I didn't say that, or, anything remotely like that.

I don't understand your reasoning either....Disney has the right to charge $5436687 for a fridge if they so choose. You are not required to use one.

 

[msjprincess]

LOL, I think even Disney realizes that their rental prices are so out of whack that they can't, with a straight face, insist that you can't bring your own refrigerator.

What other rental item anywhere, at any time, have you seen where the 3 or 4 day rental would pay for the item? Ever rent a car for 6 or 8 thousand a day?

Isn't it only around $10 a day to rent a refrigerator?

 

[Bob NC]

So by this reasoning, you can just take whatever item if YOU think the price is too high?

Sorry, I thought the topic was "swapping", passing along something you already own, rather than "stealing." I don't have a clue what you're talking about.

I don't understand your reasoning either....Disney has the right to charge $5436687 for a fridge if they so choose. You are not required to use one.

What reasoning don't you understand?

The ONLY thing I commented on is that I think even Disney realizes that they charge a pretty darn high price to rent a dorm cube refrigerator. I'm not sure of their price or the price of the fridge, but I'd guess you could buy one for less than a weeks rental.

Personally, if I wanted one I would either rent a room that came with it, or, I'd rent it from Disney. I can't see going through all the trouble of this whole "swap", deal.

My comment was that I don't think Disney will put a stop to the "swap" deal. If they do, it's no skin off my nose.

Isn't it only around $10 a day to rent a refrigerator?

Look, Disney can charge whatever they want. As a matter of fact I think I DID rent one on a trip years and years ago. By renting from Disney you save yourself the hassle of carrying one with you or going thru the inconvenience of swapping one.

 

[goofyernmost]

Look, Disney can charge whatever they want. As a matter of fact I think I DID rent one on a trip years and years ago. By renting from Disney you save yourself the hassle of carrying one with you or going thru the inconvenience of swapping one.

You, of course, are absolutely correct. Since those that stay on-site religiously, will happily lob off an arm for the privilege of immersion, they will continue to be able to charge whatever they want.

Me? I have better things to do with my hard earned money. Off-site I don't have a group of foam head or plastic characters lying about, but I do have a spacious room, free frig and microwave, heated pools and a literally endless choice of places to eat at reasonable prices. And the TV gets channels that aren't owned by Disney. Imagine that. I can still get the "top 7" loop even off the property. P.S. all for approximately $40.00 per night. Even with car rental when I fly in, I save a whole lot of money.

I stayed at POP just once a couple of years ago. I rented a postage stamp sized frig. that I couldn't even fit a gallon jug in. They placed it next to the door because there was no other place for it and it partially blocked the door so you couldn't get it completely open and I had the privilege of paying extra for that. Never again. And no WiFi! What century are we living in anyway?