Do You Think AAA's Diamond Ratings Are Accurate?

[Tom P.]

As you probably know, AAA reviews hotels all around the world and uses a diamond rating system to rate them. For no apparent reason, I started looking at the ratings for the resorts at Walt Disney World. Looking only at Disney-owned, on-property resorts, here are how they break them down:

One Diamond
No Disney resorts fell into this category.

Two Diamond
All-Star Movies
All-Star Music
All-Star Sports
Fort Wilderness
Pop Century

Three Diamond
Art of Animation
Caribbean Beach
Coronado Springs
Old Key West
Port Orleans - French Quarter
Port Orleans - Riverside
Saratoga Springs

Four Diamond
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo House
Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village
Bay Lake Tower
Beach Club
Boardwalk Inn
Boradwalk Villas
Contemporary
Grand Floridian
Polynesian Village
Wilderness Lodge
Wilderness Lodge Villas
Yacht Club

Five Diamond
No Disney resorts fell into this category.

Not every DVC property had a separate rating. For example, there was no separate rating for the villas at the Grand Floridian. But that list encompasses most.

Here's what AAA says the ratings mean:
One Diamond: Budget-oriented, offering basic comfort and hospitality.
Two Diamond: Affordable, with modestly enhanced facilities, decor and amenities.
Three Diamond: Distinguished, multifaceted with enhanced physical attributes, amenities and guest comforts.
Four Diamond: Refined, stylish with upscale physical attributes, extensive amenities and a high degree of hospitality, service and attention to detail.
Five Diamond: Ultimate luxury, sophistication and comfort with extraordinary physical attributes, meticulous personalized service, extensive amenities and impeccable standards of excellence.

So what do you think? Agree? Disagree?

 

[Tink415]

IMO, I mostly agree, except:
Fort Wilderness cabins are 3 diamonds.
Most of the DVC villas are more towards 3 diamonds (haven't stayed at VGF yet).
Most of the deluxe resort rooms are more towards 3 diamonds.

 

[minnie mum]

I more or less agree with their ratings. Certainly no WDW resort rates a 5. As for whether the Deluxes and villas deserve 4? I'll give AAA the benefit of the doubt. While you and I can argue over just how highly refined or stylish, or how extensive the amenities are at any given resort, AAA has a pretty detailed inspection process and hotels have to at least meet their minimum standards for that category.

Why would I disagree with them. It's their rating system and they set the standards criteria.

 

[kyleandconnorsmom]

I worked for AAA in the travel department for years and always used their rating system to book customers at resorts and hotels. We never recommended anything less than a 3 diamond and kind of gave a fair warning of what a 2 diamond might be like and what they may not enjoy about it. In 7 years of using that system I can honestly say I never had one client come back and complain about the report they chose. Most of your standard Days Inn, Knights Inn, etc were 2 diamond, while your Hampton and Holiday Inns were usually 3 diamond and 4 diamonds were typically the Marriotts and Embassy Suites, Westons, etc. so based on that, I tend to think the Disney rankings are comparable.

 

[writerguyfl]

As someone who used to work in hotels, I firmly believe that the AAA rating system is more than fair. As minnie mum notes, the inspection process is very detailed. The list of requirements is several pages of bullet points covering every area of the hotel. The requirements are very specific. For example: "Answer the phone within X number of rings" or "Use the guest's name at least X times during the check-in process".

Inspections are also anonymous. The hotel does not know that the guest is an inspector until the inspection is complete.

Also, the AAA requirements also include the physical aspects of the hotel, not just service. I imagine that's why the value resorts are stuck with the two-diamond rating. I'd bet that when comparing the value resorts to other two-diamond properties, Disney would be head and shoulders above the competition. But, unless the improve the physical requirements of those resorts, they will forever be stuck at a two-diamond rating. Of course, very few people use the AAA rating system when shopping Disney World. Thus, it probably doesn't matter much.

I also think that Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort is probably an "almost" four-diamond hotel. I'd bet that the lack of room service is probably the reason why they are three-diamond. Similarly, I think Disney's Coronado Spring Resort didn't get a four-diamond rating because they have exterior entry guest rooms.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

I think 4 diamond, based on the description provided, is a stretch for Disney deluxes. I think deluxes would be mostly 3 diamond and no more than 3.5.

 

[ellie05]

I agree with it. As someone that worked in the industry and knows how hard is to keep and maintain the ratings I think it is pretty accurate. I think Disney deluxe are were they need to be I think they are comparable to a Marriott and provide comparable ammenities.