Forgive me but I didn't like it

[SeaSpray]

You're forgiven! Although I love the Polynesian, I'll admit you're probably not as much in the minority as you think.

Concerning the view, there are a lot of pictures posted taken with telephoto/zoom lens. If you don't know that, they seriously misrepresent what you actually see with the naked eye from the Polynesian. The castle is pretty tiny from there (but still nice).

I completely sympathize with the smoking room issue. I know I could not tolerate it. That's why we requested to not be placed on the third floor in Hawaii. I interpreted "smoking optional" as meaning "someone smoked in it just before you arrived and you have to like it".

We had a much better reception experience than you did and yours should have been better.

Hi Erik

Just wanted to say that on my web site, I have 3 different pictures of the same shot of the view we had of the castle from the Hawaii building, and above each picture, I *do* describe whether a zoom was used or not. In fact, out of the 3 pictures, I even show which one looks like what you actually see in person. The reason I do this is because the pictures taken without any zoom at all definitely misrepresent the actual view; at least with *my* camera, the pictures of the castle using no zoom at all make it appear as if the castle is a few miles away in the distance. LOL And it definitely does not look like that in person! I'll add them into this post, just to show what I mean (And regarding "smoking optional" rooms, we were in one of those in July, pre-refurbish, and did not smell smoke at all, but of course I don't know if that can be said for all of the smoking-optional rooms. Just wanted to add that in because it's not true that all of the smoking-optional rooms reek like smoke! LOL)

Ok, here are some pictures:

Taken with NO zoom:

Taken ZOOMED in (not zoomed all the way though!) on the castle:

Taken zoomed a little, but in my opinion, THIS is what it looks like from the Hawaii building, when looking out across the lagoon:

Another picture taken without using any zoom at all. It looks like your miles away, when in fact you aren't! lol The view of the castle looks MUCH MUCH closer when you are there in person

The reason I can say this with confidence is because while we were there 2 weeks ago, there was a helicopter flying right in front of the castle and zig-zagging back in front of Space Mountain (I have a guess as to what they were doing, but that's another story!), and this helicopter was flying in front of the spires of the castle and looking like it was practically landing in front of the castle and in front of Space Mountain...anyway... from our balcony we could clearly see this helicopter and exactly what it was doing, and could even see the windows and propellor of it. If you look in the picture right above this, the castle looks so tiny that if it looked that way in person, there's no way we could've seen the helicopter and watched what it was doing! When we got home and downloaded the pictures, I was shocked at how small the castle looked in some of the pictures, because it did not look that small in person.

That's it, just wanted to comment on the castle views since the subject was brought up

 

[klinlin]

When I go for my cheesy yearly ocean vacation I pay over $350 a night for a Holiday Inn. Yep, a Holiday Inn. The only thing going for that hotel is location. Forget the great amenities in that place. There are none! I have always thought WDW to be a bargain. Compared to what I have to pay to take other vacations it is.

Last year, I spent over $1200 (includes taxes) at the Jersey Shore for just 3 nights, with nothing but a clean room very close to the beach! I spent all kinds of money on the cheesey rides and games at the boardwalk. I thought to myself, "I could be spending less for alot more at Disney." We are leaving in 9 days! Worth every penny!

Unless I find toenails.... That would push me right over the edge!

 

[skiwee1]

Last year, I spent over $1200 (includes taxes) at the Jersey Shore for just 3 nights, with nothing but a clean room very close to the beach! I spent all kinds of money on the cheesey rides and games at the boardwalk. I thought to myself, "I could be spending less for alot more at Disney." We are leaving in 9 days! Worth every penny!

Unless I find toenails.... That would push me right over the edge!

We say the same thing while we are at the ocean. At least with Disney, once you buy a ticket your entertainment is paid for. At the ocean we pay for so much more just to occupy the kids. I know we spend much more for one week at the ocean then 12 days at WDW staying at the Poly.

 

[Sammie]

I
Yes, concierge staff oughtta be able to get you in to sold-out restaurants. That's what they're for in real hotels -- they get the traveler a ticket to a sold out show, that kind of thing. Otherwise you're paying about $100 a night for cookies and a mint on your pillow.

I have completely given up on WDW concierge, and stay in regular rooms now, and haven't noticed any difference, except for having to bring my own cookies and gummy worms.

I agree they should, but go over to the Value or Family board and post that you think concierge guests should be able to get CRT even when it's sold out and see what happens.

For that matter I think they should get restaurant perks and a certain number of Fast Passes.

However I don't ever see that happening at Disney, as they want to keep the parks on equal ground for all guests.

 

[erikthewise]

Hi Erik

Just wanted to say that on my web site, I have 3 different pictures of the same shot of the view we had of the castle from the Hawaii building, and above each picture, I *do* describe whether a zoom was used or not. In fact, out of the 3 pictures, I even show which one looks like what you actually see in person. The reason I do this is because the pictures taken without any zoom at all definitely misrepresent the actual view; at least with *my* camera, the pictures of the castle using no zoom at all make it appear as if the castle is a few miles away in the distance. LOL And it definitely does not look like that in person! I'll add them into this post, just to show what I mean (And regarding "smoking optional" rooms, we were in one of those in July, pre-refurbish, and did not smell smoke at all, but of course I don't know if that can be said for all of the smoking-optional rooms. Just wanted to add that in because it's not true that all of the smoking-optional rooms reek like smoke! LOL)

Ok, here are some pictures:

.....

Thanks for posting Seaspray! I was thinking of your wonderful pictures when I posted my comment, and how they showed both zoomed and unzoomed views. I agree the unzoomed photos seem to make the castle look somewhat smaller than it does in person, but not sure why...

 

[iliketoby]

For that matter I think they should get restaurant perks and a certain number of Fast Passes.

However I don't ever see that happening at Disney, as they want to keep the parks on equal ground for all guests.

OK, I'll go with you on that. But if everyone is on equal ground, I don't think some of 'em should have to pay $100 or so more a night for it. It isn't like it is a giant hardship for me to pay it, I just refuse to spend it for nothing. Since we're all on equal ground, I'm going to pay the lower amount.

Who said, "It's never the principle of the thing...it is always the money"? I don't know, but I'm with 'em. I just refuse to throw $1400 away.

The part about it being unfair for one guy to buy something that someone else can't afford I can't agree with. Didn't buy it when I was broke, don't buy it now.

Obviously WDW is doing fine with its low-service concierge. If they weren't, they'd improve. They certainly know better than I how to rake it in.

 

[stemikger]

Hey different strokes for different folks.

Although I don't do deluxe resorts, I did appreciate your review. I had a great time when I ate at Ohan's last year, but then again, I wasn't paying top dollar to stay there.

I appreciate your honesty. Thanks.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

My point is that your room rate at WDW or any hotel covers more than the room, even if you don't use the other amenities such as the lobby and turndown service.

How did I miss this post yesterday? LOL, I shouldn't even respond, but you know, this is hilarious. Have you actually read any of my posts? I have indicated time and again that I know why Disney hotels charge the rates they do, I have factored in all the amenities, and that this is all my personal opinion. Of course I know that WDW is going to charge me for turn down service and fresh flowers in the lobby, whether I care about them or not. My point is that having amenities that I don't care about isn't going to make me like a hotel more, when things I do care about are missing. Obviously you and I differ on what we look for in a hotel. Neither one of us or right or wrong, we are just different. I don't know why you seem so intent on proving to me that WDW hotels are as good or better than other hotels. What's the big deal?

Oh, and if you think the only hotels that can be compared to Disney's are other theme park hotels, well, that's fine. I'll reword my original post in this thread to read: "... I know a lot of people disagree, but really, I don't think theme park hotels compare to non-theme park hotels in the same price ranges. The rooms and service are always a step down from what I'm used to... But hey, it's a theme park , you're paying for the conveniences of being on-site, and I've learned that if you have to decide what's more important and make trade-offs." Or will you find some fault with that opinion, too?

 

[ducklite]

Oh, and if you think the only hotels that can be compared to Disney's are other theme park hotels, well, that's fine. I'll reword my original post in this thread to read: "... I know a lot of people disagree, but really, I don't think theme park hotels compare to non-theme park hotels in the same price ranges. The rooms and service are always a step down from what I'm used to... But hey, it's a theme park , you're paying for the conveniences of being on-site, and I've learned that if you have to decide what's more important and make trade-offs." Or will you find some fault with that opinion, too?

When worded that way it makes perfect sense to me and generally speaking, I agree.

Anne

 

[huh??]

"Hotel Breakers for 10% less than the Grand Floridian?/" I don't know how to quote. This is my first post, after 2yrs this claim has finally propelled me out of lurkdom.

We paid $235 a night for the Breakers at Cedar Point last July. No discounts. The Grand Floridian is at least $400/night during the summer season. That's a 40% savings, not 10%. Cedar Point isn't open during DisneyWorld's peak season in the spring.

 

[Sammie]

OK, I'll go with you on that. But if everyone is on equal ground, I don't think some of 'em should have to pay $100 or so more a night for it. It isn't like it is a giant hardship for me to pay it, I just refuse to spend it for nothing. Since we're all on equal ground, I'm going to pay the lower amount.

Who said, "It's never the principle of the thing...it is always the money"? I don't know, but I'm with 'em. I just refuse to throw $1400 away.

The part about it being unfair for one guy to buy something that someone else can't afford I can't agree with. Didn't buy it when I was broke, don't buy it now.

Obviously WDW is doing fine with its low-service concierge. If they weren't, they'd improve. They certainly know better than I how to rake it in.

You missed my point completely. Resorts are not equal. Therefore the differences in price.

However once you arrive at the parks there is no difference in a guest staying at the most expensive suite or a value resort. That is when guests are on equal ground.

I don't think Disney will offer perks "in the parks" to concierge guest such as sold out park restaurants that they will not offer to all guests.

I do know they offer some assistance in getting into restaurants in the resort where you are staying over guests staying elsewhere.

But then I don't consider their concierge low service.

 

[lou7401]

Just wanted to add that I just came back from the Poly and while I didn't stay concierge, we did have two adjoining rooms. I honestly wasn't impressed for what I was paying. Next time I'd rather pay another $100 or so per night and stay at the GF which was perfect IMO! I agree that the Poly is very 70's - I could see the Brady Bunch filming one of their shows there. But my biggest complaint was mousekeeping who did the worst job I've ever seen in a large hotel. I had to complain about something every day with them and I'm an easy going person. We still had a great time overall, but I don't think we'll be going back to the Poly.

 

[iliketoby]

You missed my point completely. Resorts are not equal. Therefore the differences in price.

However once you arrive at the parks there is no difference in a guest staying at the most expensive suite or a value resort. That is when guests are on equal ground.

I don't think Disney will offer perks "in the parks" to concierge guest such as sold out park restaurants that they will not offer to all guests.

I do know they offer some assistance in getting into restaurants in the resort where you are staying over guests staying elsewhere.

But then I don't consider their concierge low service.

You're absolutely right. I did miss your point.

I guess I'm really responding to the woman who travels often, but claims that the people used to better concierge service should lower their expectations for WDW, because they don't claim to be as good. I think Disney sells its hotels as "luxuy"-type hotels, and until their concierge service gives me what other "luxury" hotels do (or at least something other than cookies that I can't get on a regular floor), I'm not paying for it.

Sorry.