Do you think this is fair or not?

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

When my family and I were just at the Contemporary about a week into our stay a huge Gospil singing group checked in and there must have been a lot of them, because I heard that they were also staying at Coronado Springs and the Swan. Anyway some of the group members must have been staying on the Atrium Club, however a few times when I would be going up to the 12th floor a lot of them would be coming from the 10th floor and the opposite would happen when going down, because a lot of them would be getting off at the 10th floor. Anyway my guess is the Atrium Club was sold out and to be fair WDW told them if they wanted access to it they could pay for for a regular room in the Tower. I understand why WDW did that for them, but I kind of feel that is a bit un fair and here is why. Back in February when my Dad tried to book the Atrium Club it was sold out for our dates and before switching to the Polynesian Club Level building, he booked a Tower Bay Lake View. However he was not told that we could pay more for it and have access to the 12th floor lounge. Personally we would not have done that, although I kind of wonder how come we never got that offer this group did? I also think that if any guests are told a certin room category is sold out then that's how it should be.

 

[bytheblood]

Yep, I think it is absolutely fair. You have no idea what the circumstances were surrounding the decisions made. Disney's hotel, Disney's discretion, simple as that.

 

[Allison]

Yep, I think it is absolutely fair. You have no idea what the circumstances were surrounding the decisions made. Disney's hotel, Disney's discretion, simple as that.

I completely agree.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

It also could have been a perk for a screw-up somewhere. A couple of years ago, DH and I went to New Orleans with 2 other couples, each booking the same package deal. We got there to check in and they could not find us rooms and wound up moving 2 of the couples to the concierge level of the hotel. They also gave access to the 3rd couple because we were all traveling together and they had over-booked and it was their fault.

Like the pp said, you never know what the circumstances were and why that was made available to them.

 

[theparsons]

When my family and I were just at the Contemporary about a week into our stay a huge Gospil singing group checked in and there must have been a lot of them, because I heard that they were also staying at Coronado Springs and the Swan. Anyway some of the group members must have been staying on the Atrium Club, however a few times when I would be going up to the 12th floor a lot of them would be coming from the 10th floor and the opposite would happen when going down, because a lot of them would be getting off at the 10th floor. Anyway my guess is the Atrium Club was sold out and to be fair WDW told them if they wanted access to it they could pay for for a regular room in the Tower. I understand why WDW did that for them, but I kind of feel that is a bit un fair and here is why. Back in February when my Dad tried to book the Atrium Club it was sold out for our dates and before switching to the Polynesian Club Level building, he booked a Tower Bay Lake View. However he was not told that we could pay more for it and have access to the 12th floor lounge. Personally we would not have done that, although I kind of wonder how come we never got that offer this group did? I also think that if any guests are told a certin room category is sold out then that's how it should be.

I don't know DIsney's policy on large groups, but I have coordinated enough conventions to know that hotels regularly give perks and freebies and make special arrangements and accomodations to those attending a convention that either aren't available to the average hotel visitor, or sometimes that cost that vistor but not the conventioner. It's all part of the bid process when we ask hotels to tell us what they'd do for us if we hold our convention at their location. Since our conventions can mean hundreds of rooms, plus people in their restaurants, plus the fees charged to us for use of the equipment and facilities (sometimes even THAT is throw in free for a guaranteed number of rooms sold).....it's well worth it for hotels to make specials for groups of that magnitude. Again, I have no clue if Disney does that, but it sounds like the Gospel group may have had some extras given to them because of the size of their group.

Remember that Disney's "Grand Gatherings" which I think are groups of 8 or more are given several very nice perks that you and I can't get, even if you're a family of 7 staying at the GF. Although I don't see the perks you spoke of listed, it does say "and more". It's probably not unlike the convention business where it's all a matter of what you negotiate.

Next time you go, why not ask them for special perks.....free if you have a large group or the hotel isn't going to be full anyway, or paid for that maybe isn't typically avaialble..........you may be able to negotiate something extra just for staying there. Just be sure that any perks you prenegotiate gets put in writing....hate to have you arrive and find the CM didn't put notes about your agreement in the reservation! For conventions we have multi-page contracts, that's probably going to far, but an email confirming everything arranged couldn't hurt.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I don't know DIsney's policy on large groups, but I have coordinated enough conventions to know that hotels regularly give perks and freebies and make special arrangements and accomodations to those attending a convention that either aren't available to the average hotel visitor, or sometimes that cost that vistor but not the conventioner. It's all part of the bid process when we ask hotels to tell us what they'd do for us if we hold our convention at their location. Since our conventions can mean hundreds of rooms, plus people in their restaurants, plus the fees charged to us for use of the equipment and facilities (sometimes even THAT is throw in free for a guaranteed number of rooms sold).....it's well worth it for hotels to make specials for groups of that magnitude. Again, I have no clue if Disney does that, but it sounds like the Gospel group may have had some extras given to them because of the size of their group.

Remember that Disney's "Grand Gatherings" which I think are groups of 8 or more are given several very nice perks that you and I can't get, even if you're a family of 7 staying at the GF. Although I don't see the perks you spoke of listed, it does say "and more". It's probably not unlike the convention business where it's all a matter of what you negotiate.

Next time you go, why not ask them for special perks.....free if you have a large group or the hotel isn't going to be full anyway, or paid for that maybe isn't typically avaialble..........you may be able to negotiate something extra just for staying there. Just be sure that any perks you prenegotiate gets put in writing....hate to have you arrive and find the CM didn't put notes about your agreement in the reservation! For conventions we have multi-page contracts, that's probably going to far, but an email confirming everything arranged couldn't hurt.

I had never thought of it like that before, so thank you for posting that information.