Hidden Hotel Costs...

[disneychrista]

What "hidden" costs have you run into at a hotel during your Disneyland trip? Things like "energy sur charges" or parking fees etc.


**NOTE - we will be offsite**

 

[jlima]

*resort fees. The first time we stayed at the Paradise Pier, the front desk clerk didn't say one word about the resort fee ($7/day, I think), and there it was on the statement they slid under the door on checkout. When I called the front desk to gripe the clerk said it was for coffee, newspaper, self parking and the fitness center. OK, but they only give you the USA today on weekday mornings, and the 2 mornings we were there were Sat & Sunday and no paper was delivered to our room; we don't drink coffee; we would have used the fitness center had we know we were paying for it anyway (but didn't because we thought it cost extra) and we were valet parking our car at $12/day! They took it off the bill. I would have paid it, had the front desk clerk who checked us in told us about it, particularly that it included use of the fitness center.

*parking. ALWAYS ASK if there is a charge for parking, even for self parking. All Disney properties charge for parking, and the bigger hotels such as the Anaheim Hilton also charge.

*tax. Room tax in Anaheim is 15%. In Garden Grove it's 13% and in Orange it's 10%. Depending on where your hotel is can make a difference in your total hotel bill. Ask when you make your reservation.

*energy surcharges - I haven't seen one since the summer of 01, but when they were around they were $3/day.

Hope this helps!!

 

[my3kids]

Is coffee provided at no charge to guests staying onsite? That would be a huge plus for me. We are at DLH.

I was told when I made my reservation the amount of each night's room, the total tax and the total for the stay. She also said there was a $7.00 per night resort fee that wasn't included in the total that we would pay at the front desk.

 

[hookedup]

I find it particularly irritating when you are there on a weekend (no USA Today) dont & dont use the coffee or workout room - basically it is a $7.00 parking fee for me as I see it.
The reason it is not part of room fee is that they can't tax it as a room fee - that's why they call it a resort fee.

OT - I stayed at a nice place last month that had a $15.00 a day "resort fee" that was also supposed to include all tips. When I tried to tip our check-in bellman he wouldn't accept it. But my dh was not aware of this and tipped our check-out bell clerk and he took it! I guess that day we had a $20.00 "resort fee" LOL!!!

 

[my3kids]

So there is complementary coffee for DLH guests? Is it in the lobby? In each tower or only the main one?

 

[NancyIL]

I can't speak about fees at Disneyland area hotels specifically - but in general, be sure you know what it will cost to pick up the phone in your hotel room! Many hotels charge even for making 800# calls!

 

[ADisneyPrincess]

The Resort Fee at the DL hotels now includes local calls. They used to charge you $.75 per call (even local and 800 numbers), but that is now included in the fee.

 

[jlima]

There are coffee makers with coffee, tea, sugar, etc. in the rooms at the PP, DLH and Grand Californian. The resort fee is supposed to cover the cost of this. It isn't free . . . you're paying for it in the resort fee, even if you're not drinking it.

Telephones - should have mentioned this earlier! Expect to pay at least .75 or $1 every time you dial a "9" to get an outside line, unless it's included with your resort fee (thank you Princess!). Many hotels now are charging extra for longer telephone calls; i.e., if your call is longer than 30 mins, it's .10 a minute. This is directly targeted at people surfing the internet. We just stayed at the Embassy Suites on Harbor Blvd and this was their policy; it's also in effect at the Hilton Suites on State College. I learned this the hard way when I fell asleep over DH's laptop one night after a long day at the parks & paid about $3.00 for that nap.

 

[my3kids]

Thanks for the coffee information! I just have to have some when I first wake up. Boy it sure easier to make a pot in the room than to wander around for a snack bar or drive to a Starkbucks. I'd gladly pay $7.00 for that and the parking. But, if they hadn't told me upfront, I'd be plenty mad!

I've got a coffee maker in my room....I've got a coffee maker in my room!