How do you spell horrible? Newport Bay Club

[Runnsally]

This is not your country. The way Europeans plan their day is not the same as how Americans plan their day in the park. The hotel manager is scheduling maintenance according to the usual patterns of European hotel guests. For example they most likely know that if 500 people are staying in the hotel, then 490 people will most likely NOT be in the hotel during the afternoon. One American family wanting them to change a maintenance schedule is not going to be taken seriously, when the 490 Europeans don't have a problem with the maintenance schedule.

This is not your country. The way Europeans plan their day is not the same as how Americans plan their day in the park. The hotel manager is scheduling maintenance according to the usual patterns of European hotel guests. For example they most likely know that if 500 people are staying in the hotel, then 490 people will most likely NOT be in the hotel during the afternoon. One American family wanting them to change a maintenance schedule is not going to be taken seriously, when the 490 Europeans don't have a problem with the maintenance schedule.

Maybe the original poster is Canadian.

 

[disneyholic family]

This is not your country. The way Europeans plan their day is not the same as how Americans plan their day in the park. The hotel manager is scheduling maintenance according to the usual patterns of European hotel guests. For example they most likely know that if 500 people are staying in the hotel, then 490 people will most likely NOT be in the hotel during the afternoon. One American family wanting them to change a maintenance schedule is not going to be taken seriously, when the 490 Europeans don't have a problem with the maintenance schedule.

It’s not scheduled Maintenace, it’s some ridiculous government mandated check when all the hotels at DLP will have their power turned off.

If the manager is to be believed, they tried to convince the French governmental authority to postpone due to the extreme weather but to no avail.

 

[olafLover]

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[olafLover]

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[B3rlingirl]

I am sorry that you have encounter these cultural problems...
(I have not yet been so DLP so I can’t speak first hand but as a European/German I can imagine the situation...)
The AC use is like others have noted completely different than in the US... to an extent that if you build a building/ hotel now you are strongly discouraged from relying on an AC to cool the building by laws...(in fact it is forbidden to rely solely on AC at least in Germany) and even if you have one in your hotel it is only used to cool down the air a few degrees (environmental reasons as well as health reasons)...
That heat wave right now is not a common thing so it is pretty special and many “middle Europeans” don’t really know how to handle heat well...(at least many Germans don’t) and governments (at least Germans) aren’t exactly known for quick rescheduling of things just because the circumstances would call for that... so in other words if they power outage was preplanned it probably can’t be changed with such short notice... (governments (at least Germans) aren’t exactly known to be smart and also probably wouldn’t think about when DLP park goers would do midday breaks...)

 

[zavandor]

DLP is currently 100% owner and operated by the Walt Disney Company.

 

[BadPinkTink]

DLP is currently 100% owner and operated by the Walt Disney Company.

But it is located in France and therefore it had a legal obligation to follow French Government and European Parliament Law.

Government mandatory safety checks can not be rescheduled or postponed due foreign families complaint in a hotel.

 

[Runnsally]

But it is located in France and therefore it had a legal obligation to follow French Government and European Parliament Law.

Government mandatory safety checks can not be rescheduled or postponed due foreign families complaint in a hotel.

I think the point was more that Disney has a commitment to customer service. For instance, we are checking in tomorrow. Would be nice to know in advance that the hotel will be offline at check in time.

 

[Karin1984]

I think the point was more that Disney has a commitment to customer service. For instance, we are checking in tomorrow. Would be nice to know in advance that the hotel will be offline at check in time.

I am sure they have a work around for that. Whenever I check in, all the paper work is already printed and they don't need to do anything om the computer. I just sign the documents, get my key and go to my room or leave my bags.
My guess is they probably have activated all the keys before the black out and ready to hand out. If the electronic lock doesn't work at the time, I am sure they have other ways to get into the room, which they must be able to do in case of an emergency.

 

[Runnsally]

I am sure they have a work around for that. Whenever I check in, all the paper work is already printed and they don't need to do anything om the computer. I just sign the documents, get my key and go to my room or leave my bags.
My guess is they probably have activated all the keys before the black out and ready to hand out. If the electronic lock doesn't work at the time, I am sure they have other ways to get into the room, which they must be able to do in case of an emergency.

Makes sense. Was thinking more about stairs/elevators, but we’ll make it an adventure. Thanks.

 

[olafLover]

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[JessicaRabbit13]

I'm sorry you have had a bad experience. I think you need to manage your expectations when visiting other countries. France and Europe have very different cultures to the USA including customer service. They cannot cater to the US standard because most of their customers are from Europe. I personally prefer the USA way of doing things, but that is my opinion and I make choices based on that. Doesn't mean I cannot enjoy other places that aren't my preference. The amenities at DLP hotels are less because people are only visiting for a short trip - 2-3 days not a week or longer like the WDW resorts. Unfortunately DLP hotels are not at the same level but this is something that should be researched and not just assume that because it says Disney it is going to be the same.

In terms of the AC, as other posters have stated, it is not common in Europe other than the hotter countries to have AC and when they do it is not always as cold as US guests are accustomed to. I dislike the AC in WDW as it is too cold and the contrast makes me ill.

With the cleanliness that is a real shame. I'm not sure what is going on, as recent reviews have been poor. I stayed last September and the cleanliness was on the same level as other Disney resorts I have stayed at (California, Orlando & Hong Kong). There must be some issue and you should definitely make a complaint.

Now for the electricity being down for 1.5 hours NOT 3 hours it is annoying but it has to be done at some point. Please explain when you think it would be better? 3pm when people have access to their rooms? 6pm when people want dinner? 10pm when people arrive back from the parks and need light to see? 7am when people want breakfast? The hotels do not serve lunch and do not have people checking into their rooms from 1.30 until 3pm so it is a perfect time to do it. Rooms do not have fridges and the sunlight will be sufficient to light the rooms. If windows and curtains are kept closed the rooms should stay cool. Most people will be in the parks in the middle of the day and any blog post or review for DLP or WDW will tell you this is the busiest time of the day so you are in the minority of people who will be in their hotel rooms during the power outage. Also, complaining about French law is unnecessary; there are PLENTY of US laws that the rest of the world think are ridiculous but when visiting the US we still respect and abide by these laws.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Based on recent reviews on tripadvisor and here, we chose the most recently renovated hotel for our upcoming stay, we'll be at Cheyenne. We have stayed at the All Stars/Pop before and have low expectations here. We know there is no bustling food court for breakfast, we know first hand European A/C is nowhere near as efficient as here in the US. We know the room will be smaller, the bed rock hard. We know folks will be smoking in the parks, they are not as clean, etc....

European standards are so much different than the US. We stayed at a Hilton "resort" in Scotland last summer during a warmer than normal period. The room was tiny, like no place to set the bags on the floor tight. There was no A/C at all. We were on the 3rd floor with no elevator, my wife was on crutches. I went out to explore around 5:30-they had mini golf, a small waterpark, a diner type restaurant and pizza parlour. All of it had closed at 5:00. We had to leave the hotel to find dinner as all they had was a fine dining restaurant open and they had no open tables. Mini golf and pizza are evening things in the US.

I doubt when the date for the blackout was picked the weather would be known. Can't fault Disney there.

The only complaint I would have is dirty hallways. Doesn't matter how old the buildings are, dirt can be cleaned.

 

[Ms Poppins]

Having been to DLP numerous times in the hot summer months, once with extreme heat, I've always had a completely different experience with AC. Our favourite hotel has always been Hotel New York, which is currently closed. The reason we kept going back, especially in the summer, was because the AC was fantastic. Santa Fe, Cheyenne and the Sequioa Lodge in the old days only ever had ceiling fans. We loved going back to our hotel and enjoying the AC in the rooms. We also loved having a pool in the hot weather - that's where we spend our afternoons.

OP - I've never been at the Newport Bay Club (going in a couple of weeks) but it makes me wonder if there might be something wrong with the AC in your room?

Also, in all of our visits we've only experienced poor housekeeping once. Please call housekeeping or if it's really bad speak to the front desk and ask to be moved to another room because it is not normal in my experience.

Finally, please don't let this spoil your holiday. Yes, totally aware of the differences between countries, cultures, parks etc, but if you can see past those small things and see Disneyland Park for what it is, I'm sure you'll have a great time

 

[MikeOhio]

I stayed at Newport Bay last year and found it to be very clean. Hopefully the report in this thread is an isolated incident.

 

[disneyholic family]

So the manager didn't shrug? They tried to have it postponed, but it's the government who didn't allow it

She shrugged when I said it’s life threatening.

A woman on the bus going back to the hotel today said her daughter was caught in the power outage in the hotel.

Since the only notice given was a small sign in the lobby that most people didn’t notice, many were unaware it was going to happen

Her daughter went back to the hotel midday as she was feeling terribly ill from the heat.

When the electricity went out she was shocked and scared but the phones also didn’t work so she couldn’t call the front desk to find out.

They should have made sure that all guests were informed

 

[disneyholic family]

But it is located in France and therefore it had a legal obligation to follow French Government and European Parliament Law.

Government mandatory safety checks can not be rescheduled or postponed due foreign families complaint in a hotel.

But they should have made sure everyone knew
There was no message on the phone
No note in the check in info
No one said anything - and we’re in concierge
The only notice was a small sign in the lobby that few people walk by and fewer notice

 

[disneyholic family]

I stayed at Newport Bay last year and found it to be very clean. Hopefully the report in this thread is an isolated incident.

Read the recent reviews on trip advisor
Many mention the problem


My advice, if you’re going to DLP, stay at the Disneyland hotel even if it costs more.

 

[disneyholic family]

Having been to DLP numerous times in the hot summer months, once with extreme heat, I've always had a completely different experience with AC. Our favourite hotel has always been Hotel New York, which is currently closed. The reason we kept going back, especially in the summer, was because the AC was fantastic. Santa Fe, Cheyenne and the Sequioa Lodge in the old days only ever had ceiling fans. We loved going back to our hotel and enjoying the AC in the rooms. We also loved having a pool in the hot weather - that's where we spend our afternoons.

OP - I've never been at the Newport Bay Club (going in a couple of weeks) but it makes me wonder if there might be something wrong with the AC in your room?

Also, in all of our visits we've only experienced poor housekeeping once. Please call housekeeping or if it's really bad speak to the front desk and ask to be moved to another room because it is not normal in my experience.

Finally, please don't let this spoil your holiday. Yes, totally aware of the differences between countries, cultures, parks etc, but if you can see past those small things and see Disneyland Park for what it is, I'm sure you'll have a great time

Saw lots of people requesting room changes for various reasons - smell of sewage, flooded carpet, smell of mold, etc. but the hotel is fully booked so no one was moved including the family with 5 inches of water on their floor

 

[Ms Poppins]

Saw lots of people requesting room changes for various reasons - smell of sewage, flooded carpet, smell of mold, etc. but the hotel is fully booked so no one was moved including the family with 5 inches of water on their floor

]

Really saddened to read this. I hope you’re managing to make the most of it. I’d keep asking to be moved, even to another hotel.