My take on PBH 3/31/11to 4/2/11

[Wadekind]

Beds and pillows are uncomfortable. Beds are very high.

Boogers on the wall in the bathroom when we checked in.

Dust/Dirt collected in almost every corner of our room and Hotel wide.

Trash cans in the public areas overflowing and/or stinking. (Several spots).

A condom outside the parking garage elevator for 2 days straight was still there when we checked out.

Must go find and use the bell hops for carts when unloading luggage in the parking garage. I found this to be very inconvenient.

Staff did not acknowledge or address you in the corridors or the public spaces unless you spoke first. (This happened with several staff members and most just grunted a response.)

The “street” areas close to the front desk are dark and lifeless.

Information on available hotel amenities, check out procedures, vending/ ice machines and boat schedule was not in our room so we had to call the front desk for information several times.

This hotel felt more like a big city (Toronto, New York, Chicago etc.) business hotel rather than a resort. I felt more like a number than a guest. The only thing this hotel has going for it is the early entry to Harry Potter and the Express Pass for the parks. I would only recommend this hotel if it was the least expensive option to get those 2 perks. I have stayed in far better hotels for the same or less money.

 

[Carl4628]

Sounds like you didn't have a very good time. Good thing that this is most likely an isolated incident. We stay at PBH a couple of times per year and have never experienced anything remotely like what you have described. Either that....or we try to focus more on the positives and less on the flaws.

 

[Disneyhappy]

Beds and pillows are uncomfortable. Beds are very high.

Boogers on the wall in the bathroom when we checked in.

Dust/Dirt collected in almost every corner of our room and Hotel wide.

Trash cans in the public areas overflowing and/or stinking. (Several spots).

A condom outside the parking garage elevator for 2 days straight was still there when we checked out.

Must go find and use the bell hops for carts when unloading luggage in the parking garage. I found this to be very inconvenient.

Staff did not acknowledge or address you in the corridors or the public spaces unless you spoke first. (This happened with several staff members and most just grunted a response.)

The “street” areas close to the front desk are dark and lifeless.

Information on available hotel amenities, check out procedures, vending/ ice machines and boat schedule was not in our room so we had to call the front desk for information several times.

This hotel felt more like a big city (Toronto, New York, Chicago etc.) business hotel rather than a resort. I felt more like a number than a guest. The only thing this hotel has going for it is the early entry to Harry Potter and the Express Pass for the parks. I would only recommend this hotel if it was the least expensive option to get those 2 perks. I have stayed in far better hotels for the same or less money.

Wow! All I can say is that my experiences have been the total opposite of yours (15+ visits). We love the beds and I get some of the best sleep at PBH. (It may also be because I am usually exhausted by the end of the day!). Where ever I stay, I can always find cleanliness issues if I look hard enough but I would not classify PBH as having issues from my numerous stays. I found worse issues at WDW, but again, I dont let it define our trip. If I had found a condom, I would have made it a point to stop by the front desk or call desk services to take care of it before a kid tries to pick it up or worse. It takes a village....

I do not understand the big city business hotel comment. I frequently travel for business in the "big" cities. I wish the big cities had resorts like PBH where I could stay for business. The atmosphere is much more peaceful and relaxing than city hotels and I probably wouldn't complain as much about my business travel.

Star services is only a buttom away on the phone and they have always been fast and responsive.

I am sorry to hear that you had such an unhappy experience. PBH is not for everyone. I just wanted to give an alternative view for those who are contemplating a stay so they can make an informed decision.

ETA that I have found the staff to be wonderful and friendly. I don't mind being the first to say "Ciao" on occasion!

 

[tink7736]

PBH is one of the nicest hotels we've ever stayed at. The staff are some of the friendliest we've encountered at any hotel. The beds are clean and comfy, as is the rest of the hotel. I could stay there and never go to the park and be happy at the great pools!

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

We had a wonderful and comfortable room last summer at PBH, and we had excellent, friendly service the whole trip. Sorry your stay was not great for you, OP.

I don't get the "big-city" comparison. Having stayed in many big city hotels, we thought PBH had very little in common with big city hotels and was instead a very relaxing resort.

 

[nytimez]

Sorry you didn't enjoy it. I'm a pretty detail-oriented person, and I didn't encounter any of these problems. I stayed at PBH for the first time in early March, and it instantly shot up my list of favorite hotels. It reminded my of the Mira Costa at Tokyo DisneySea -- I thought it was fantastic by every measure. Clean, comfortable, attentive and friendly staff, prompt service and just top-notch ambiance and theming from start to finish.

I agree with the previous poster who said there was no big-city feel here -- I felt relaxed and at ease, and the hotel constantly surprised me with terrific details and nice touches.

 

[thedisneymom]

Everyone has a different view. Here's mine. Love the corridors by the front desk-probably my fav part of the hotel. Beds are soo comfortable. Front desk people usually a little cool but very busy. Did find that garbage cans by villa pool full and overflowing on a daily basis. Adore all other aspects of the pool areas, club lounge, other hotel staff, the convenience and access to rides and attractions. It is our favorite hotel in the world. It has such a serene and calming effect on our family.

 

[wheezywhizzy]

Sorry you had a bad experience.

The only thing I agree with you about is the beds being uncomfortable. It was to stiff.

However, the room was super clean. Every area we visited was in excellent condition. The staff was super nice. The front desk man and the valet guy treated us so good and they remembered us the next day and went out of their way to speak to us.

It's hard for me to believe that the thing about the trash is true and the uncleanliness. If that were the case I doubt they would pick the PBH to put up celebrities in.

 

[thedisneymom]

Unfortunately, there are so many people who visit the pool area throughout the day that the trash cans do have a tendency to overfill. I am probably one of the biggest supporters of PBH. Yet, I had to go to 3 different cans by the villa pool to empty our lunch tray. They need a midday pickup for sure. But I will finish by saying I had never had a bad experience nor will I ever feel that a hotel could be better than PBH. In my book 5 stars.

 

[damo]

I've never had an issue with any of your complaints. I'm sure that they are all possible but I have never experienced them.

 

[macraven]

op, so many issues and you only called one time to the front desk?
(for directions of check out/ice/etc)

in the brochure you receive at the check in, it states to call star service for anything.
just push the button on the phone in your room.


i have had some issues staying on site at the 3 hotels, but, i didn't sit on it.
i contacted the front desk for the manager after calling star service.

what problem i did have at that time was resolved within a very reasonable period.
once that was done, it was done and forgotten.

you never read about any issues i have had since i started staying on site at universal.
i have had issues, but, they were dealt with and handle to my and the manager's satisfaction.

that, to me, is what counts in the long run.
there is an error and it is corrected.
no arguing, no loudness involved, just a simple conversation of what the problem is and told it will be corrected.

and it is.

i forget any issues then.
no sense beating a dead horse.

op, hopefully you will handle your next stay at a hotel immediately while you still are there. you can then look back on that vacation and say, "what a nice stay that was"......

 

[Bluer101]

i forget any issues then.
no sense beating a dead horse.

I had to.

 

[macraven]

I had to.

thank you.........

the perfect smilie......

 

[Wadekind]

I never said once in my post that I did not have a good time at Universal. I had a GREAT vacation. I just did not think all that much about PBH and I gave a few reasons why. Some were my opinion and some were physical issues. I did not spend my time there looking for problems these were things that stuck out to me when I sat down to write my take. Everyone has their own idea of what they expect from a hotel this one did not meet mine.
If you don't agree share your experience but being told I'm a plant for Disney and scolded as beating a dead horse for reporting my issues is personal. I did not come on here and berate everyone for saying they liked this hotel so why the personal attacks and accusations of sabotage when I say I do not like it?

 

[macraven]

I never said once in my post that I did not have a good time at Universal. I had a GREAT vacation. I just did not think all that much about PBH and I gave a few reasons why. Some were my opinion and some were physical issues. I did not spend my time there looking for problems these were things that stuck out to me when I sat down to write my take. Everyone has their own idea of what they expect from a hotel this one did not meet mine.
If you don't agree share your experience but being told I'm a plant for Disney and scolded as beating a dead horse for reporting my issues is personal. I did not come on here and berate everyone for saying they liked this hotel so why the personal attacks and accusations of sabotage when I say I do not like it?

i only saw two of your posts.
this one is on what you encountered at the hotel.
you trashed it and said nothing about the parks except in this quote:

The only thing this hotel has going for it is the early entry to Harry Potter and the Express Pass for the parks.


i missed anything you said about having a great time at the parks.


My take on PBH 3/31/11to 4/2/11
Beds and pillows are uncomfortable. Beds are very high.

Boogers on the wall in the bathroom when we checked in.

Dust/Dirt collected in almost every corner of our room and Hotel wide.

Trash cans in the public areas overflowing and/or stinking. (Several spots).

A condom outside the parking garage elevator for 2 days straight was still there when we checked out.

Must go find and use the bell hops for carts when unloading luggage in the parking garage. I found this to be very inconvenient.

Staff did not acknowledge or address you in the corridors or the public spaces unless you spoke first. (This happened with several staff members and most just grunted a response.)

The “street” areas close to the front desk are dark and lifeless.

Information on available hotel amenities, check out procedures, vending/ ice machines and boat schedule was not in our room so we had to call the front desk for information several times.

This hotel felt more like a big city (Toronto, New York, Chicago etc.) business hotel rather than a resort. I felt more like a number than a guest. The only thing this hotel has going for it is the early entry to Harry Potter and the Express Pass for the parks. I would only recommend this hotel if it was the least expensive option to get those 2 perks. I have stayed in far better hotels for the same or less money.

 

[damo]

People take reviews much more seriously when they are balanced. When only bad stuff is listed, it sounds like you are just out to bash. Although that may not have been your intent, that is always how it comes off.