FYI: EMH and DTD Hotels

[Lanshark]

We have PAP's and visit pretty often. The last few years we have stayed at the DTD hotels after spending many years at the Contempory. The stays have been affordable and we still qualified for e-nights. We were able to buy our e-night tickets in the lobby of both the Best Western and what used to be the Marriott (now Holiday Inn). I have an 18 and 14 year old and e-nights were a priority.

Last December I booked the Best Western for our upcoming trip. I asked them about e-nights and they indicated "No Problem". As I was checking the boards the other day I saw a couple of threads mentioning EMH. Being the disney veteran I am, I researched it and found it basically replaced e-nights at no cost to the patron. You must stay on Disney property. EMH sounded great but I decided to check Disney to see if the DTD hotels are still considered "Disney" enough to qualify. I assumed there wouldn't be a problem since they were "Disney" enough for e-nights the last 5 years . Well, I was wrong. The only DTD hotel that qualifies for EMH is the Hilton. Since we're leaving in about a month I was pretty upset. Bottom line is I was able to switch to two connecting Pop Century rooms for about $30 bucks more a night. It's actually a better arrangement for my family but had I not double checked and gone down there I would have been up a creek.

Just thought I'd post this as an FYI to anyone else staying at a DTD hotel and thinking it qualified for either early entry or EMH. Disney has changed the rules. They used to but not anymore (Unless it is the Hilton).

 

[Phrank40]

Yes, you are right, I just got back from stay at DTD Best Western and the Downtown Disney Hotels brochure I got when I checked in seems to only mention the Hilton as having EMHs. The Best Western had no mention of it as one of their features.

Wonder how the Hilton got this perk but none of the other hotels did?

Phrank

 

[Lanshark]

I wondered the same thing.

When my husband cancelled our reservation at the Best Western he told them why. He said the woman got kind of quiet and said she would pass this on to management. If they had never been included in the Disney perks I would have understood but I believe there were a total of 7 DTD hotels that always have been included and all but one are now excluded. Obviously, Hilton and Disney struck some type of deal and the others did not.

 

[TLinden16]

I would guess that the Hilton pays a good chunk of change to offer that perk to their guests.

Karen

 

[mom2rb]

Isn't the Hilton the only one that still uses the Disney Buses? I bet that could have something to do with it.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Back when they had the Surprise Mornings (Early Entry, as lots of people called them), only the Hilton had entry rights to that. None of the other DTD hotels. EMH is an extension of Surprise Mornings that now includes evening hours as well as the one hour early in the AM at a selected theme park.