Dizny Dad
DiznyDi Fan
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2009
- Messages
- 2,622
Just returned from the Marriott Beach Club in Oahu, HI. Located in Ko Olina, it is on the third lagoon in Ko Olina. The new Disney Aulani Resort is being constructed on the second lagoon.
Let me say that the Disney Aulani complex is impressive, and look forward to participating at some point.
I wanted to relate our experience staying at the Marriott Beach Club compared to the Disney experience. It is all in the details.
Disney has always started out with "Welcome Home" whether you are a DVC member or not. The front desk at Marriott welcomed us warmly, but asked if we were members. Wouldn't the reservations have indicated that? why ask?
After our reception at the front desk, we were instructed to visit the Welcome Desk to received our free food vouchers, etc. After a warm Hawaiian greeting and a few instructions on the use of the facilities (which were gorgeous by the way) we were them immersed in the mining of preliminary information that they needed for their database for the "Preview" we would be seeing on our choice of days. I found it interesting that they start with the assumption that you are interested. To be polite, we answered a few questions and deferred our selection of times for the Preview until a later time. We were contacted in our rooms about selecting a time for the preview, and were offered an opportunity to return to the facilities with a very low rate for a 5 day stay if we agreed to be involved in the full preview experience immediately upon our return.
I love it when passing a DVC Kiosk; you have to approach the DVC rep and just about beg them to discuss DVC. They don't motion you over, approach you on the sidewalk as you go by, etc.
But I must say, Disney is in the details. DW and I noticed soon into our stay the things we would never have encountered in a Disney facility; small trash, cups, straws, in the bushes at the hot tubs, small fixtures and handles loose or missing, ice machines multiple floors away, and other such details.
We particularly did not appreciate that the studio we stayed in had only two small drawers to be used for clothing, and there was no table to sit at to eat or write post cards. Small details but ones we have found to make the studio experience acceptable for the two of us.
Please don't get me wrong here. The stay was wonderful, the people warm and friendly, the food good, the facilities gorgeous. It is just that once you have been Disney-tized, it is hard to accept anything less.
By the way, Aulani is coming along well. It looks like it will be a real standout amoung its fellow Ko Olina neighbors! Can't wait.
Let me say that the Disney Aulani complex is impressive, and look forward to participating at some point.
I wanted to relate our experience staying at the Marriott Beach Club compared to the Disney experience. It is all in the details.
Disney has always started out with "Welcome Home" whether you are a DVC member or not. The front desk at Marriott welcomed us warmly, but asked if we were members. Wouldn't the reservations have indicated that? why ask?
After our reception at the front desk, we were instructed to visit the Welcome Desk to received our free food vouchers, etc. After a warm Hawaiian greeting and a few instructions on the use of the facilities (which were gorgeous by the way) we were them immersed in the mining of preliminary information that they needed for their database for the "Preview" we would be seeing on our choice of days. I found it interesting that they start with the assumption that you are interested. To be polite, we answered a few questions and deferred our selection of times for the Preview until a later time. We were contacted in our rooms about selecting a time for the preview, and were offered an opportunity to return to the facilities with a very low rate for a 5 day stay if we agreed to be involved in the full preview experience immediately upon our return.
I love it when passing a DVC Kiosk; you have to approach the DVC rep and just about beg them to discuss DVC. They don't motion you over, approach you on the sidewalk as you go by, etc.
But I must say, Disney is in the details. DW and I noticed soon into our stay the things we would never have encountered in a Disney facility; small trash, cups, straws, in the bushes at the hot tubs, small fixtures and handles loose or missing, ice machines multiple floors away, and other such details.
We particularly did not appreciate that the studio we stayed in had only two small drawers to be used for clothing, and there was no table to sit at to eat or write post cards. Small details but ones we have found to make the studio experience acceptable for the two of us.
Please don't get me wrong here. The stay was wonderful, the people warm and friendly, the food good, the facilities gorgeous. It is just that once you have been Disney-tized, it is hard to accept anything less.
By the way, Aulani is coming along well. It looks like it will be a real standout amoung its fellow Ko Olina neighbors! Can't wait.
wonder if it's there enroute to/from filming of fourth Pirates movie ?
Really looking forward to your photos- can I ask you how it was to vacation in Ko Olina? Did you enjoy the area? Thanks for sharing!
