Mini Bar= Room Refrigerator?

[AMaloy314]

Another thread has inspired me with yet another question. The thread was concerning the mini bar that was available in a deluxe room. They apparently required a key to use them. Is that minibar located in the refrigerator in the room? If we end up in a deluxe room, does that mean that I have to unlock the minibar to use the refrigerator for things like milk and pop that I bring with us?

Has anyone had any experience with this?

Thanks

Anna

 

[mapmakerj]

Mini bars are only in select deluxes. We stayed at AKL and our fridge was a standard dorm size fridge in a cabinet.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Usually if a hotel has a mini-bar, it is filled with hotel items and there is no room for your own stuff anyway.

 

[MouseWorshipin]

I always, ALWAYS empty the servi-bar fridge of whatever is in there and stick my stuff in. Housekeeping usually takes the stuff away the next day.

It doesn't matter if you open the lock, if you don't consume anything, you can't be charged for it.

 

[TammiMcMan]

If we end up in a deluxe room, does that mean that I have to unlock the minibar to use the refrigerator for things like milk and pop that I bring with us?

All you need to do is call mousekeeping when you arrive and they'll send up an empty fridge for you to use. Ours fit nicely right under the vanity in the bathroom. No worries.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

Since all Deluxe resorts should have refrigerators in them, just call the front desk or ask when checking in to have one sent to your room. They won't have any problems with this but you may have to wait a while to get it.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

It doesn't matter if you open the lock, if you don't consume anything, you can't be charged for it.

Not true for the mini bars where you are charged if you even move an item. Those are deadly!

 

[dutch_girl_scout]

When we stayed at the Dolphin in December, it was either a $20 charge to have the mini-bar emptied, so that we could use it for our stuff, or $10 a night for a fridge rental. It wa a no-brainer, we paid to have it emptied. I had requested with my reservation to have it emptied before our arrival, but it wasn't. I called when we got to the room, and someone came up and emptied it. I guess it depends on the resort. I was surprised to find out that some of the moderates come with fridges in the rooms for free, like CSR.

 

[CarolA]

I always, ALWAYS empty the servi-bar fridge of whatever is in there and stick my stuff in. Housekeeping usually takes the stuff away the next day.

It doesn't matter if you open the lock, if you don't consume anything, you can't be charged for it.

I wound NOT recommend this. You can be charged. I have a friend who used to do this. One day a $200 mini bill charge appeared on her bill.... They charged for EVERYTHING she took out... Finally after negoiations they only charged her a $50 restocking fee. She had another place charge her several dollars for items they claimed were ruined.. After a few of these she quit!

If it is NOT where it is suppose to be when the service guy comes in, you can be charged...

And if "housekeeping" is really taking your stuff, I am surprised you weren't charged. In most places housekeeping is sepeate from the mini bar service.

 

[BCV23]

As someone said, the deluxe resorts at WDW do vary.

The rooms at the GF have stocked minibars. We just refuse the key to make sure there is no chance of being charged by accident. You can request a mini refrig which we always do as we have insulin.

The Polynesian does not have minibars in any rooms. The newly refurbished rooms do have built in refrigerators. For other rooms, you can call and one will be delivered to you.

We haven't stayed in the BC for some years but the Y&BC used to have minbars. I believe I've read they no longer do.

 

[MouseWorshipin]

I wound NOT recommend this. You can be charged. I have a friend who used to do this. One day a $200 mini bill charge appeared on her bill.... They charged for EVERYTHING she took out... Finally after negoiations they only charged her a $50 restocking fee. She had another place charge her several dollars for items they claimed were ruined.. After a few of these she quit!

If it is NOT where it is suppose to be when the service guy comes in, you can be charged...

And if "housekeeping" is really taking your stuff, I am surprised you weren't charged. In most places housekeeping is sepeate from the mini bar service.

OK, OK, you can be charged. But they can't make it stick. Unless you sign a folio agreeing to it, they generally take it off. Worst case, you charge it back. I should have said, "you shouldn't be charged."

Housekeeping does, indeed, do the counts. I don't know where you get the idea that they don't. At least, they do them at the Ritz, the Marriott, the Wydham, the Hilton, and the Holiday Inn (Crowne Plaza). The hotels run this. Did you think they were allowing some other group to enter their guest rooms?

Hotels are ALL THE TIME removing servi-bar charges that people dispute. You can't win this one (like you can with the movies), and in the long run, it is easier to just remove it than try to fight a chargeback you know you're going to lose. You guys have really bad luck with people fighting you on servi-bar charges!

 

[CarolA]

OK, OK, you can be charged. But they can't make it stick. Unless you sign a folio agreeing to it, they generally take it off. Worst case, you charge it back. I should have said, "you shouldn't be charged."

Housekeeping does, indeed, do the counts. I don't know where you get the idea that they don't. At least, they do them at the Ritz, the Marriott, the Wydham, the Hilton, and the Holiday Inn (Crowne Plaza). The hotels run this. Did you think they were allowing some other group to enter their guest rooms?

Hotels are ALL THE TIME removing servi-bar charges that people dispute. You can't win this one (like you can with the movies), and in the long run, it is easier to just remove it than try to fight a chargeback you know you're going to lose. You guys have really bad luck with people fighting you on servi-bar charges!

It is not the "housekeeper" that cleans your room.. it's the minibar staff. At most Marriotts and Hiltons it's acutally run by food and beverage (the guys who do the movies... I have had to talk with them when they have screwed my bill up! (And I have used Mini bars so I don't mind paying when I used the stuff, but at the Swan a few weeks ago the Diet Coke was so OLD it was FLAT! I took the FLAT Diet Coke to the front desk to complain LOL!) So yes, they are allowing them to enter your room, it's hotel employees. And if they come in and you have Removed everything you can be charged a restocking fee. My friend tired the "I didn't sign route" Basically if you accept the key it's an implied agreement and you are stuck.... They explained that the "implied" also protects them if you give liquor in the fridge to a minor...It's your responsiblity not thiers! So if you take out an entire shelf don't always expect them to put it back on without a discussion.

 

[summerrluvv]

I stayed at the Hilton Times Square once and if you touch an item from the mini bar it sends a message to the front desk to charge you for that item. Sophisticated system they have there.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Does the CR have stocked mini-bars in the wing rooms? I hope not. Is the tower the same as wing rooms and does it matter if it is a refurbished room or not? Anyone?

 

[tazleiten12]

Does the CR have stocked mini-bars in the wing rooms? I hope not. Is the tower the same as wing rooms and does it matter if it is a refurbished room or not? Anyone?

No they dont, Also hi from Delafield, WI!