Electrical Water Pageant

[poly_rules]

Out of curiosity I just called the Polynesian to see what response I would receive regarding this issue.

I asked the CM if I am not a guest staying at the Polynesian, am I allowed to go to the beaches to watch the fireworks or electrical water pageant and she said, "No mam." So to be clear I said, if I am not a guest staying at the Polynesian I can not use the beaches for viewing fireworks or parades etc. and she said, "That is correct. The Polynesian beaches are for the use of Polynesian guests only."

Take the response as you wish. My question was answered. I would post her name but I could barely understand the pronounciation of it never mind try to spell it.

THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR CALLING AND GETTING AN ANSWER! not sure why I didn't think to call my self.

 

[Nikel]

Yes, but would you get the same answer from a different CM? And did you ask about people with ADRs, or were you just talking about people coming by solely to watch Wishes/EWP?

 

[Tikiman]

Out of curiosity I just called the Polynesian to see what response I would receive regarding this issue.

I asked the CM if I am not a guest staying at the Polynesian, am I allowed to go to the beaches to watch the fireworks or electrical water pageant and she said, "No mam." So to be clear I said, if I am not a guest staying at the Polynesian I can not use the beaches for viewing fireworks or parades etc. and she said, "That is correct. The Polynesian beaches are for the use of Polynesian guests only."

Take the response as you wish. My question was answered. I would post her name but I could barely understand the pronounciation of it never mind try to spell it.

Just to let you know. When you call the Polynesian number you don’t actually call the resort and the person you are talking to is not located at the resort. They also give out misinformation all the time. At one point the beach was off limits. The signs were removed and if you ask someone at the resort they tell you it is ok to go to the beach. With that said I think the beach should be for resort guests only but I am just stating the facts.

 

[cinmell]

Yes, but would you get the same answer from a different CM? And did you ask about people with ADRs, or were you just talking about people coming by solely to watch Wishes/EWP?

I asked if I was not staying at the Polynesian. I have no doubt that if I called 10 times and got 10 different CMs I may possibly receive different responses from each one. Curiosity got the best of me so I called once and posted the answer I got to that call, that's all.

 

[CheshireVal]

In the end, it comes down to the people who stay at deluxe resorts generally liking the idea, while the people who don't generally not liking the idea, but there is nothing about the idea itself that would lend itself towards anything other than the best business decision: whatever will make the most profit over time. The things they're discussing aren't significant enough to depress bookings at value resorts too much, but could have a major impact on raising average rate paid at deluxe resorts. When it is determined that that's the case, these changes will happen.

You could also argue that a lot of Disney's "business decisions" over the recent years have not been made with the guests' best interests at heart. They've gotten a little greedy and that's really started a paradigm shift in the areas of "magic" and "customer service." Seasonal operations, higher prices, shorter park hours, cheap rides, etc. Just because it's a good business decision doesn't make it the *right* thing to do, and I stand by my assertion that giving deluxe guests preferential treatment all over Disney property is unfair.

I also disagree that someone staying at a deluxe for 5 nights once a year is really going to turn over a much bigger profit than someone who stays at a value 15-20 nights a year. My point is that if they're going to start giving extra perks all over property, then they need to take into consideration just how much money people are spending.... all over the property. And since there's no way they can track that, they should forget the dumb idea altogether.

Of course, since no announcement has been made, maybe they have.

Anyway, I stay at value and deluxe equally-- and it still makes me angry.

 

[Tikiman]

Well this posting I am sure will be locked soon and I am in a feisty mood today so I will add my two cents even though I try to just stick to facts and keep my opinion out of it.

Lets start with this example.

The few passengers that fly on a plane first class pay a large percentage of that revenue (outnumbering the amount paid by the whole rest of the plane). They end up with their own amenities are a separate area off limits to the rest of the flight including a lavatory that you might want to say anyone can use but it is kept off limits to other passengers so that the customers who paid more don’t have to worry about lines of people from coach waiting for that lavatory. Also they have exclusive lines for going through security and get on the plane first. Why?? Because they pay more. Would you say well I am a traveler who flys coach 10 times as much as the guy in first class so I should get the same perks?

I can see the point of people (who don’t abuse the right) to go see the fireworks from a beach at a resort that is not theirs. I can also see the point of not wanting to pay the money and have people from other resorts taking up the seating on the beach. The Polynesian is unique in that the beach is something many want to visit. They tried to keep people out and it did not work so they removed the signs. Now they are getting complaints from resort guests about people abusing the right to go to the beach. They take towels to sit on the grass from the pool area and don’t return them. They have on some nights trashed the beach, taken chairs from the pool area and the patios of rooms and that is enough to make any guests at the resort want to lock the place down. This is why SAB is as secure as it is. People ignore the rules and abuse the rights. I am sure there are just as many that respectfully visit the beach after dinner but it is the others that make it an issue.

Now I have heard the same thing about added perks (including the fast pass info) for Deluxe resort guests. The argument that someone who stays 3 times as much in a value or moderate and is giving Disney as much if not more money (I hate to say) is ridiculous. They also get to enjoy WDW 3 times as long so you are getting more use for less cost. Isn’t that the benefit of not paying for an expensive room?

Well I am not going to worry about the whole thing because as the open beach policy is abused and the complaints keep rolling in to managers they will try something else.

If you want your opinion to count that you can write

Guest Communications
Lee Cockrell
Post Office Box 10060
Lake Buena Vista, Fla 32830


Polynesian GM
Dave Venables
Post Office Box 10,000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000

Also they are the ones to write about good experiences you have had or praise for CMs that have made things special for you.

 

[CheshireVal]

Now I have heard the same thing about added perks (including the fast pass info) for Deluxe resort guests. The argument that someone who stays 3 times as much in a value or moderate and is giving Disney as much if not more money (I hate to say) is ridiculous. They also get to enjoy WDW 3 times as long so you are getting more use for less cost. Isn’t that the benefit of not paying for an expensive room?

Well, since I'm one of the people here championing the rights of the little guy: what about this? What if someone really isn't as well off as you? What if they scrimp and save and manage to put away just enough money to stay for 4 nights in a value resort?

Why should they have to sacrifice their fast pass opportunities to deluxe guests? Wouldn't that be kind of humiliating? A slap in the face? Do we really need to draw such class distinctions between the haves and the have-nots while at Disney World? I mean, do we? Disney is supposed to be an escape from reality-- not a harsh reminder of it.

I grew up vacationing in the Poly and Contemporary Tower. When I was 16, my parents divorced. A year later, my mom (a college graduate who had been out of the workforce as a SAHM for 12 years and suddenly had to find a job) was able to barely scrape together enough money to take us back to Disney World, as a single parent. We stayed OFFsitefor two nights. She was so proud of being able to take us-- she was making maybe $10,000 a year at that point. And my brother and I were so happy because we were getting our Disney vacation!

I really believe that people don't really need to be made to feel inferior just because they don't have the money to stay deluxe every single time.

Okay, off my soap box now, but I really think maybe some people don't appreciate what they have sometimes, and I honestly can't understand the attitude of "we paid for it, gimme gimme gimme more perks."

My family has worked our way back up to being able to stay at deluxes if we want to (my mom has her Masters and a great job-- I have the same), but I will NEVER forget what it was like before.

 

[Tikiman]

Well, since I'm one of the people here championing the rights of the little guy: what about this? What if someone really isn't as well off as you? What if they scrimp and save and manage to put away just enough money to stay for 4 nights in a value resort?

Why should they have to sacrifice their fast pass opportunities to deluxe guests? Wouldn't that be kind of humiliating? A slap in the face? Do we really need to draw such class distinctions between the haves and the have-nots while at Disney World? I mean, do we? Disney is supposed to be an escape from reality-- not a harsh reminder of it.

I grew up vacationing in the Poly and Contemporary Tower. When I was 16, my parents divorced. A year later, my mom (a college graduate who had been out of the workforce as a SAHM for 12 years and suddenly had to find a job) was able to barely scrape together enough money to take us back to Disney World, as a single parent. We stayed OFFsitefor two nights. She was so proud of being able to take us-- she was making maybe $10,000 a year at that point. And my brother and I were so happy because we were getting our Disney vacation!

I really believe that people don't really need to be made to feel inferior just because they don't have the money to stay deluxe every single time.

Okay, off my soap box now, but I really think maybe some people don't appreciate what they have sometimes, and I honestly can't understand the attitude of "we paid for it, gimme gimme gimme more perks."

My family has worked our way back up to being able to stay at deluxes if we want to (my mom has her Masters and a great job-- I have the same), but I will NEVER forget what it was like before.

Well since you quoted me I assume that was directed at me.

First off don’t even begin to tell me I don’t appreciate what I have or even begin to think you know me.

Do I think that when I pay more for something (3 to 4 times as much) that there should be a benefit to that? Yes!!! Do I see people that have much more than I do and say that it is not fair and we should be treated equal. No!! That would be very unrealistic of me to think. I see many who have more than me and I don’t walk around feeling humiliated that they get perks that I don’t. I also don’t assume they are doing it as a slap in the face to me.

I am sure there are many families that enjoy their trips to WDW and enjoy all they can and they don’t waist time feeling sorry that they can’t do everything that people with more money can do. They use their time enjoying and appreciating what they have just as I do.

If going to Disney (which is not cheap) is a harsh reminder of what you don’t have than maybe rethink going.

 

[CheshireVal]

Do I think that when I pay more for something (3 to 4 times as much) that there should be a benefit to that? Yes!!! Do I see people that have much more than I do and say that it is not fair and we should be treated equal. No!! That would be very unrealistic of me to think. I see many who have more than me and I don’t walk around feeling humiliated that they get perks that I don’t. I also don’t assume they are doing it as a slap in the face to me.

If you pay more for something, then YES you should have more benefits.... concerning what you pay more for. If you pay more for a hotel, then you deserve every single solitary benefit that the hotel offers. That should not, IMO, give you blanket extra benefits all over the World, outside your resort.

 

[Tikiman]

If you pay more for something, then YES you should have more benefits.... concerning what you pay more for. If you pay more for a hotel, then you deserve every single solitary benefit that the hotel offers. That should not, IMO, give you blanket extra benefits all over the World, outside your resort.

Well it already happens with concierge guests being able to get reservations when the place shows as full to other resort guests so I don’t see it as any different.

When one night in a concierge deluxe room pays Disney the same as 4 nights or more at a value resort I can see why they are planning on adding more incentives to attract people to stay Deluxe.

You are entitled to your opinion though.

 

[cinmell]

Just to let you know. When you call the Polynesian number you don’t actually call the resort and the person you are talking to is not located at the resort.

Hi Tikiman,
I looked up a number for the Polynesian and who knows where the person who answered really was. I've heard even though you find a number for a resort it may still go to some call center but I called anyway b/c I was curious to see what the response would be. Who knows what the response would be if I or anyone else called again.

 

[antkim]

"Thanks for the good discussion! It seems that some other people on the Dis seem to have trouble with different opinions."

I have no problem with different opinions...I do have a problem with people that seem to have prove their points over and over and over again on the resort boards, transportation boards, restaurant boards etc....and really do not seem to care of how their statements may hurt someone. Some just like to bicker more than others.


Kim

 

[Tikiman]

Hi Tikiman,
I looked up a number for the Polynesian and who knows where the person who answered really was. I've heard even though you find a number for a resort it may still go to some call center but I called anyway b/c I was curious to see what the response would be. Who knows what the response would be if I or anyone else called again.

Aloha Cindy,

I don’t blame you. If I was you I would believe what they told me also but what happened is that the Polynesian front desk got so many calls that they had to reroute the number to an offsite location to handle the calls. Now if they had knowledgeable CMs there than this would be just fine but I guess they get such a turn over in CMs there that they don’t get the experience and information they need. I would think that sometimes they just go off of a gut feeling when they answer some questions but now I am just guessing. The unfortunate part is that places like the DIS are the only places you can get a reliable answer. Even some new CMs at the Polynesian give out wrong information so how is anyone to know? The only real way to know is to find out from people in here. Many of who have contacts inside Disney or are inside Disney themselves. At least you tried to get the right answer.

Aloha

Steve

 

[cinmell]

Aloha Cindy,

The unfortunate part is that places like the DIS are the only places you can get a reliable answer. Even some new CMs at the Polynesian give out wrong information so how is anyone to know? The only real way to know is to find out from people in here. Many of who have contacts inside Disney or are inside Disney themselves. At least you tried to get the right answer.

Aloha

Steve

I do believe that people on the DIS know more than CRO and CM's most of the time. Thanks for all of your information. Your site has been a big help to us for our upcoming vacation.

 

[Tikiman]

I do believe that people on the DIS know more than CRO and CM's most of the time. Thanks for all of your information. Your site has been a big help to us for our upcoming vacation.

I am glad it has been helpful to you. Thanks for letting me know.

 

[grimley1968]

If you pay more for something, then YES you should have more benefits.... concerning what you pay more for. If you pay more for a hotel, then you deserve every single solitary benefit that the hotel offers. That should not, IMO, give you blanket extra benefits all over the World, outside your resort.

Bravo! Point very well made. There is a lot of discussion about what is in the best interests of Disney's bottom line, but not enough about what is in the best interests of the guests. Maybe extending the resort caste system into the parks would be in the best interests of Disney's bottom line, maybe it would not. But I'd sure hate to see this happen. People who drive down to WDW and stay nowhere near WDW for the night are paying just as much for their park tix as onsite guests, and may or may not be paying more than Deluxe guests to Disney overall when you factor in Disney stores, DVD sales, in-park shopping, etc.

I think perks for onsite guests should stay the way they are. They already get many park perks inside the parks as it is (EMH if you consider that a perk, the 180+10 deal for ADR's, easy and free transportation back to the resort). If WDW wants some heirarchical structure to its FP system, I say let ALL people who go to the parks, choose whether to pay extra for that feature or not. I'm willing to bet most wouldn't do it. But at least that way, people who visit the parks, but might not stay onsite, won't have their loyalty tested, when they may be quite loyal to Disney in other ways besides just staying onsite.

Oh, and back on topic: I think Tikiman has answered the OP. Enjoy the EWP!

 

[bicker]

Out of curiosity I just called the Polynesian to see what response I would receive regarding this issue. ... So to be clear I said, if I am not a guest staying at the Polynesian I can not use the beaches for viewing fireworks or parades etc. and she said, "That is correct. The Polynesian beaches are for the use of Polynesian guests only."

Thanks for taking the time to do this. While a verbal isn't as reliable as written or email, it does seem that at least some CMs know about a policy that restricts use of facilities (other than restaurants) to resort guests.

To really put this issue to bed, you may want to send your question directly to WDW Guest Communications. They will provide the final, official answer. It is often a big surprise to folks what the official policy is, when we get a written (or email) response from them.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I asked the CM if I am not a guest staying at the Polynesian, am I allowed to go to the beaches to watch the fireworks or electrical water pageant and she said, "No mam." So to be clear I said, if I am not a guest staying at the Polynesian I can not use the beaches for viewing fireworks or parades etc. and she said, "That is correct. The Polynesian beaches are for the use of Polynesian guests only."

Thanks for calling Cindy, but did you mention those that are patronizing the hotel in the way of dining/shopping ? I've actually been encouraged by Poly CM's to go to the beach.......given directions and all........people book a dinner at the CA Grill in hopes of watching the fireworks from a special viewing area. Disney doesn't seem to discourage this. I do agree there must be occasions for abuse, but who's to say if those towels left on the grass were left there by a Poly guest or non ???? I think Poly guests and non can be rude and disrespectful.

The argument that someone who stays 3 times as much in a value or moderate and is giving Disney as much if not more money (I hate to say) is ridiculous. They also get to enjoy WDW 3 times as long so you are getting more use for less cost. Isn’t that the benefit of not paying for an expensive room?

That's fine that you feel my statement was ridiculous Tikiman, but I respectfully disagree. A person who stays at the AS for 20 nights out of the year vs a person who stays at the Poly for 5 nights out of the year has LOTS more opportunity for spending in the wdw complex alone. I'm thinking they provide disney with increased revenue for meals, shopping, and theme park admission etc. If you're vacationing for 3 weeks, that alot more food & park admission alone you'd have ----all inside disney's complex, vs only 5 nights of dining/park admission for the Poly guest. I think a value guest can quite conceivably equal more in revenue for disney over the course of a year depending on amount of stays. Your analogy of the plane reservations was well taken.....but we're talking disney here. A icon that has prided itself on customer service and treating all it's guests equally. Bicker made a statement about offsite guests.....but I was only referring to onsite guests in this discussion. I think drawing different lines/policies inside the theme parks for the onsite guests will be quite noticeable to all and I feel that would be a mistake on disney's part. I think those that continue to be able to afford deluxe will do so and there is still a very large percentage who will never be able to afford more than value/mod despite the teasers disney might plan to offer up. But how those value/mod guests feel when they see a rumored plan such as the FP one, will stick with them for a long time and help to form a different picture of disney and how they perceive disney values them in the long run. I could see loss of repeat and loyal customers down the lane, so a policy like the FP one might just be a washout for disney.

For the record, I'm a DVC Member so it's not even like I'll be affected much by a proposed policy like this. My most recent stays were at OKW, BWV and VWL (I did stay at POP with some friends last year as well because that is where they wanted to stay). I just feel for those that willl be affected.

 

[bicker]

You could also argue that a lot of Disney's "business decisions" over the recent years have not been made with the guests' best interests at heart.

Disney's managers have a legal obligation to make all of Disney's business decisions with the shareholders' best interests at heart.

They've gotten a little greedy

No: They've gotten responsible. For many years now, actually, they've been answering to the only folks they're supposed to be answering to: the people who own them.

Just because it's a good business decision doesn't make it the *right* thing to do

In a corporation, ita good business decision is always the *right* thing to do, by law.

I stand by my assertion that giving deluxe guests preferential treatment all over Disney property is unfair.

Just like "children stay free" is unfair. There's nothing wrong with unfairness if it is in the best interest of the business.

I also disagree that someone staying at a deluxe for 5 nights once a year is really going to turn over a much bigger profit than someone who stays at a value 15-20 nights a year.

It's not a matter of opinion. There is a proportion. Absolute and deterministic. And deluxe resorts charge rates that include a higher margin. That's a well-known fact.

Beyond that, given that the vast majority of deluxe resort guests stay 5-7 nights and the vast majority of value resort guests stay 5-7 nights, even if it were true that there's more contribution to profit from 15-20 nights at a value resort versus 5 nights at a deluxe resort (which I rather doubt), it would actually be irrelevant.

My point is that if they're going to start giving extra perks all over property, then they need to take into consideration just how much money people are spending.... all over the property. And since there's no way they can track that

You're mistaken.

they should forget the dumb idea altogether.

I understand that that is what you wish would happen, because you believe you would personally be adversely affected by the changes. I respect that. My point is that it simply won't dictate reality.

 

[bicker]

If you pay more for something, then YES you should have more benefits.... concerning what you pay more for. If you pay more for a hotel, then you deserve every single solitary benefit that the hotel offers. That should not, IMO, give you blanket extra benefits all over the World, outside your resort.

Tikiman's airline example belies this. Folks pay extra to join the airline's club, which gets them access to the club rooms. However, it also gives them priority check-in service, and priority reaccommodation in case of a flight cancellation. Did you ever see all the business folks going into the club when a flight is cancelled rather then getting in the long line to get put onto another flight? That's because there's no line inside, and they get allocated those seats long before most of the people waiting in the regular line out in the terminal even get up to the gate agent. They even get more free upgrades to first class in such cases.

All service provides know the difference between their high-margin customers and their low-margin customers. They know that most of their low-margin customers will make their purchasing decisions solely on the low price, while the high-margin customers will be much more likely to make their purchasing decisions based on how special they have been treated.