Disney Deluxe vs "True" Deluxe

[CarolA]

I have been flamed several times for claiming "Disney Deluxe" is not really deluxe.

So this week I had the chance to stay in The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, TN.

http://www.preferredhotels.com/valu...velAgentId=09546386&src=tig2_googlemaps_BNAHH

Rack rate for a random day in Feb for a standard room $279 (My corporate rate $189 year round)

I compared it to the BC/YC experience

1. Valet. Hermitage greeted me immediately as did my last stay at the YC/BC. Tie there. However, the valet at the Hermitage asked my name which was then passed on to the bellman and the front desk so they were waiting for me. Advantage Hermitage. (Although I think this would be next to impossible at Disney so I don't really hold it against them)

2. Check In. Quick and professional at both places. Tie

3. Getting to the room. Hermitage, walked to elevator and introduced to Concerige on the way. YC/BC pointed in direction of elevator. Advantage Hermitage.

4. Room. YC/BC Standard room with view over portico. Two double beds etc. Hermitage. 475 square foot room. (I had a king bed at no extra charge) Advanatage Hermitage

5. Bathroom. YC/BC standard bath with double sinks outside of bath. Standard size towels. Hermitage. Marble bath with nice soaking tub, seperate shower, "toliet room" and FLAT SCREEN TV that swiveled around so you could watch in either the bath or at the sink. Double sink Large Frette bath sheets! Advantage Hermitage. (Actually YC/BC isn't even in the race)

6. Bed. YC/BC Linens and bed were really nothing special. Hermitage. Feather comfortors "pillow menu" with four types of pillows in the closet. Frette linens. (These cost a fortune and are SO NICE) Advantage. Hermitage

7. Location. YC/BC Disney. Hermitage Downtown Nashville. Advantage YC/BC (Although if you want to be in downtown Nashville it's a great location!)


8. Service. YC/BC Fine. But no special touches like the concergie going out of his way to hunt for a paper instead of just sending me to the gift shop. No automatic turndown. Hermitage. Excellent. Automatic turndown with adoreable little "Tennesee Tea Cake" cookies Advantage Hermitage.

9. Extras. YC/BC H20 lotions and bath stuff. Family Fun magazine Old style TV Hermitage Molton Brown stuff, five differnet magagzines, two VERY nice robes HD TV. Advantage Hermitage.


Rate for YC/BC standard room on the same day $440!!!

IMHO if Disney wants to charge those prices they need to meet the standard. While I realize some of it might be hard due to the "volume" the quality of the rooms should not be that far apart!

 

[ElizabethB]

I agree with you that Disney Deluxe bears little relation to deluxe elsewhere. However, I disagree that Disney needs to meet the Hermitage's standard (or the Four Season's or Ritz Carlton's for that matter) if they're going to charge the same or sometimes more than those hotels.

Why? None of them have four Disney theme parks outside their doors. As long as Disney has that, and they don't, Disney can charge whatever Disney wants, even when delivering an inferior product and service. They'll still fill their rooms!

Thanks for the report. Very interesting.

 

[bellebuzzntink]

Interesting analysis, although one I'm sure a lot of people don't want to hear. Having never stayed at one of the WDW deluxe resorts, the only info I have is through looking at the pictures of the rooms, and admittedly not nearly the same as staying there. But, one of the reasons I haven't stayed at the deluxe resorts is because the price is so high versus what it appears you are getting, and I have to agree with you. What I've seen, only in pictures, is a far cry from some of the hotels I have actually stayed in. With that in mind, I'm hoping our next vacation is at the Poly or CR! Even with the fact that the WDW deluxe resorts don't measure up to true deluxe hotels, you can't beat the location! I'd take a Disney World vacation any day of any week no matter where I am staying!

 

[princess pooh]

ITA with you CarolA. I'll stay at a disney deluxe because of the location. but the service doesn't compare to a real deluxe hotel.

 

[Papillon]

OMG, CarolA, 16,000+ posts!!! I think I'm a high roller at 150!!

 

[DVC Mike]

None of them have four Disney theme parks outside their doors. As long as Disney has that, and they don't, Disney can charge whatever Disney wants, even when delivering an inferior product and service. They'll still fill their rooms!

Yep, while The Hermitage Hotel may be a nicer hotel, the BC/YC has something it doesn't -- LOCATION. It's in Walt Disney World!

 

[Minnie824]

I completely agree. We stayed at the Ritz in Naples this summer. Want to talk location? Beautiful! Right on the ocean. Whole staff was awesome, grounds were beautiful, bed was comfy, room was huge! Even had an extra hallway. Then we went to the Poly. It made the Poly seem like a 2 star hotel compared to the 5 star Ritz. Did not even come remotely close in my book.

 

[grannyminnie]

I'm not flaming you, but it's all relative. If I want to be at Disney "in style", then I'm gonna pay those prices! (or at least get a discount on them) If I'm going to overnight in Nashville, I'd stay at a Courtyard...and get points to boot!

 

[angelmav]

Interesting point you bring up CarolA. Certainly Disney doesnt have to meet those standards due to their location and they probably do 'just enough.' However they are really pushing the envelope in price for those that are accustomed to staying at Deluxe level resorts to the point where its hard to justify.

 

[ga9497]

Totally agree - Disney Deluxe and real world Deluxe hotels are not comparable. We do stay at the deluxes when we can get a discount because of location, room size and the queen vs double beds

I do need to correct you in a couple of things
The YC has 2 queen beds, not doubles
You can get a king bed in the deluxe hotels, except the Polynesian, at no additional charge but they are just on a request basis and not guaranteed. The moderates is the only resort category that charges extra for the king beds

It will be interesting to see if they do anything to their deluxe hotels and amenities once the Four Seasons opens on one of the Disney Golf courses

 

[PrincessBride07]

First off I want to say that I agree with you completely that Disney Deluxe isn't a (let's say) Hermitage Deluxe. Though some people may want that pampering hotel stay they may find in NYC and such, you have to remember this is a family vacation destination. They focus on accommadating families. Even the places surrounding Disney aren't exactly Hermitage Deluxe. True you have some very nice ones, but very few true deluxe. If you notice a lot of the hotels are focusing on time share type places. They are trying to pull in families that normally have young children. To me it does make sense, I mean would you take an average 6 year old to vacation at the Hermitage or the Ritz Carlton???? As for the cost, it is a simply supply and demand situation.

 

[jenjersnap]

I never thought anyone could argue successfully that the Disney deluxe hotels are in the same league as "real world" deluxes in terms of amenities and services. Someone has given the OP a hard time for making that statement?!

Learn something new every day.

I thought it was clear Disney was milking us dry because it's Disney World and they know that they don't have to provide a superior experience since we (or someone like us) are gonna keep coming anyway.

 

[kaysmommie]

ITA and have found this to be true myself since we stay in Hyatt's & Ritz Carlton. They are much more deluxe than Poly. But I would still rather be in Disney . We are going to Nashville in a few months so I'm going to book the Hermitage. It looks really nice.

 

[minnie61650]

Interesting point you bring up CarolA. Certainly Disney doesnt have to meet those standards due to their location and they probably do 'just enough.' However they are really pushing the envelope in price for those that are accustomed to staying at Deluxe level resorts to the point where its hard to justify.

I agree.
Which is why when I want to stay at Deluxe resort at WDW with a wonderful location, I will choose to stay at the Swan/Dolphin resorts.
They are true 4 star hotels which have steller 24 hour customer service.
The Swan and Dolphin resorts have some great deals and are often 50% or more less than the other Epcot resorts.

I will not pay Disney's prices for location when they are reslly only 2-3 and half star hotels . Also Disney's Deluxe resorts are truly lackng in costemer service.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[vettechick99]

This is why I refuse to pay more than $275 for a deluxe (and I've stayed at most of them). IMO, most deluxe rooms are worth <$300 but definitely not much more than that!

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

I guess it really depends on what you call deluxe I suppose - I have stayed at "deluxe hotels" all over the world, most of the time on the concierge floor (I travel extensively on business) - but give me a room at any DW hotel Century with my family any day over the Fairmont in Dubai alone. It has honestly never occured to me to compare any hotel I stay in elsewhere to anything Disney has to offer - it's like being on a different planet. Service? I stayed at the Sheraton Knightsbridge last month in a room for 600 pounds a night (about $1200) and I asked to borrow a power adapter that there was a drug store around the corner and could probably purchase one there. Maybe it's because many of you visit DW way more than we do and start to notice these things, but luckily it hasn't happened to us yet.

 

[dingoballs]

I have been flamed several times for claiming "Disney Deluxe" is not really deluxe.

So this week I had the chance to stay in The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, TN.

http://www.preferredhotels.com/valu...velAgentId=09546386&src=tig2_googlemaps_BNAHH

Rack rate for a random day in Feb for a standard room $279 (My corporate rate $189 year round)

I compared it to the BC/YC experience

1. Valet. Hermitage greeted me immediately as did my last stay at the YC/BC. Tie there. However, the valet at the Hermitage asked my name which was then passed on to the bellman and the front desk so they were waiting for me. Advantage Hermitage. (Although I think this would be next to impossible at Disney so I don't really hold it against them)

2. Check In. Quick and professional at both places. Tie

3. Getting to the room. Hermitage, walked to elevator and introduced to Concerige on the way. YC/BC pointed in direction of elevator. Advantage Hermitage.

4. Room. YC/BC Standard room with view over portico. Two double beds etc. Hermitage. 475 square foot room. (I had a king bed at no extra charge) Advanatage Hermitage

5. Bathroom. YC/BC standard bath with double sinks outside of bath. Standard size towels. Hermitage. Marble bath with nice soaking tub, seperate shower, "toliet room" and FLAT SCREEN TV that swiveled around so you could watch in either the bath or at the sink. Double sink Large Frette bath sheets! Advantage Hermitage. (Actually YC/BC isn't even in the race)

6. Bed. YC/BC Linens and bed were really nothing special. Hermitage. Feather comfortors "pillow menu" with four types of pillows in the closet. Frette linens. (These cost a fortune and are SO NICE) Advantage. Hermitage

7. Location. YC/BC Disney. Hermitage Downtown Nashville. Advantage YC/BC (Although if you want to be in downtown Nashville it's a great location!)


8. Service. YC/BC Fine. But no special touches like the concergie going out of his way to hunt for a paper instead of just sending me to the gift shop. No automatic turndown. Hermitage. Excellent. Automatic turndown with adoreable little "Tennesee Tea Cake" cookies Advantage Hermitage.

9. Extras. YC/BC H20 lotions and bath stuff. Family Fun magazine Old style TV Hermitage Molton Brown stuff, five differnet magagzines, two VERY nice robes HD TV. Advantage Hermitage.


Rate for YC/BC standard room on the same day $440!!!

IMHO if Disney wants to charge those prices they need to meet the standard. While I realize some of it might be hard due to the "volume" the quality of the rooms should not be that far apart!

You can't really compare "deluxe" hotels against the deluxe resorts at WDW, which are located within an all-inclusive vacation destination catering primarily to families. Besides, why do you feel the need to compare anyway? No one is forcing you to stay at a deluxe WDW resort. Stay off-site and get what you feel is your money's worth...

 

[CarolA]

Just a thought... I could have compared this to the Swan/Dolphin. In that case the location is the same....

And actually the Swan/Dolphin do measure up a little better IMHO.

I am not "anti Disney" I just think people need to think IMHO the mods/values don't have that much "worse" location for several hundred less a night.

Now I admit I bought DVC partially to "insulate" myself from Disneys prices that have reached "rip off" IMHO. Sorry, but the location is NOT $200 a night better IMHO. Your feelings may vary. For me, Disney has priced themselves over the "value" point for the product they deliver in hotels.

Disney is WORLD CLASS in running the parks. Personally I think we, as consumers, have let them get away with be "just ok" in running hotels by saying "it's Disney" or "it's all about the location"

 

[Cool-Beans]

I've given up on comparing Disney to real luxury-type hotels. They just don't measure up.

 

[bavaria]

yet again Cool-Beans is speaking for bavaria