No hot tubs open, GF, Cont, Poly! January 28,2008

[MermaidsMom]

Ding Ding! We have a winner! That is the reason the deluxe resorts are so expensive. Location location location! They are NOT like a normal "deluxe" resort. Unfortunately this takes some people by supprise. Disney deluxe is not other world deluxe.

If you are satisfied paying for a deluxe resort that you believe is actually not a "normal deluxe resort", great! Some people aren't quite as happy as you are about doing it.

I love Disney Resorts and I do think they are deluxe as advertised. They have problems like any other hotels but I think they are handled very well considering the guest volume and turnover they experience. I don't believe they advertise as deluxe and we are all supposed to know they are really not because they are near the parks. That's my opinion.

The OP was informing us of what they experienced and were frustrated by it. Why should they have to stay and use the hot tub at their own resort? Part of the DVC sales pitch included being able to pool hop. It's no big deal. Jumping all over the OP is just wrong, and everyone telling her/him they should basically just stay home (at their own resort) seem to be forgetting they were on vacation and were trying to do something new and different.

 

[minnie61650]

......
As said before, no one is forcing you to stay at a Disney hotel ~ Don't like them & don't feel they are up to the standards you want in a Deluxe resort? Stay somewhere else. Pretty simple.

I also have stayed at many 4 and 5 star hotels when I travel for pleasure.

Disney's deluxe hotels do not have the stellar service that I have recieved at other 4 and 5 star hotels. But then again Disney's deluxe resorts are not 4 and 5 star hotels.

If I want a hotel with stellar service on Disney property I
will stay at the SWan or Dolphin otherwise I choose to stay at the All Stars.

Disney's value resorts are a total bargain. You get so many perks (Disney theming, large wonderfully themed pools. Plenty of room and chairs to relax on by the pools, Disney transportation, and EMH)
Any of Disney's resort guests (even those staying at a value or mod) are allowed to shop, dine, use the transportation or spa facilities at any of the Disney Resorts. (Of course pool hopping is not allowed.)


Disney does charge a premium price for their Deluxe resorts.
Deluxe guests are paying for location and amenities not for stellar customer service.
Many guests are disappointed because they think the GF is a 5 star hotel.
They expect the service of a 5 star and are disappointed when their expectations are not met.
It is in no way near a 5 star hotel even though it costs as much as many 5 star hotels.
The GF is rated 4 diamonds by AAA but most sites rate it as 3 and a half.
The Poly and CR are usually considered 3 star hotels.


Just my 2 cents.

 

[auntie]

I think the OP's point of posting was to report that SO MANY resorts had "repair issues" at the same time. A better plan would be for them to stagger the maintenance so guests could go to the next resort and use the hot tub there while theirs was being repaired. It's very odd they were all down at once. How often does that happen in the real world?

True, the glass should be viewed as half full, especially while on vacation. But does that mean we should check our expectations at the door?

I laugh at so many people here rushing to defend poor service. Good grief people, why don't you all send a letter telling Disney that you don't really care what they do to you while you're there. Everyone seems so quick to accept unacceptable service, almost welcoming it, that I think you all may have inhaled a little too much pixie dust.

Gee..I was thinking the very same thing. I really didn't have the impression the OP was doing all that much complaining..merely commenting on the lack of coordination in regards to hot tubs being serviced all at the same time. What is this "you don't do enough research" attitude if you didn't know the Poly doesn't have a hot tub? Honestly...I think when one pays nearly $400.00 a night for a Deluxe resort you might be inclined to think the resort (especially with it's tropical theme) would offer a hot tub. Not everyone who visits Disney is as obsessed with planning and "the magic" as we here on the Dis are! The Sleep Inn we stayed in a few weeks ago for $80.00 a night had a hot tub! This..."if you don't like it..don't stay there" attitude seems kind of harsh. I appreciate hearing all types of concerns and issues that guests encounter during their stays. I think if the OP wants to visit resorts they should be able to do so, without having to justify their reason for doing so. Nonsense. What difference does it make. Maybe the Pope was at the Contemporary and they felt like taking a dip in the pool with him. Who cares? I think the OP expressed legitimate concerns regarding some maintance issues, passing along their experience it gives future guests a heads up.

 

[jim and meesie]

Thank you all! AMEN

 

[sarcasticblonde]

I'm still trying to figure out why you thought you could "pool hop" to the Contemporary. Pretty sure that isn't DVC.

 

[gonemousin']

I'm still trying to figure out why you thought you could "pool hop" to the Contemporary. Pretty sure that isn't DVC.

DVC owners can pool hop to ANY resort, not just DVC resorts. It's one of their "perks".

 

[jim and meesie]

Wow Disney rules police abound!!! Here is the official info from the DVC website on DVC pool hopping. Why is everyone so concerned with what others are ALLOWED to do or not. I was not sneaky and I told the lifeguards that I was "pool hopping". The point of the original posting was the QUALITY standards at Disney resorts which concerned me.

Pool Hopping Information for 2007

You and any Guests staying with you at Disney's Old Key West Resort, Disney's BoardWalk Villas, The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Disney's Beach Club Villas or Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa are permitted to use other Disney Vacation Club and Walt Disney World Resort hotel pools (in addition to the pool at the Resort hotel at which you're staying) if they are not at capacity.

If the pool you are visiting reaches capacity, you may be asked to leave in order to accommodate Guests of that Resort hotel. Please check with a Host/Hostess at the Front Desk of the Resort hotel you wish to visit to find out about pool-access availability. You must present your current "Key to the World" card with your Disney Vacation Club "Member" designation on it to use other Resort hotel pools. Pool hopping is not available at Uzima Pool at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and Stormalong Bay at Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts or at the leisure pools of these two Resort hotels. There are no exceptions to this policy.

Resort hotel pools may become unavailable from time to time because of capacity limitations. Due to expected high occupancy, Disney Vacation Club Members may not "pool hop" during the following dates*:
February 18 - 24, 2007
March 31 - April 8, 2007
May 25 - 28, 2007
June 30 - July 7, 2007
August 31 - September 3, 2007
November 19 - 25, 2007
December 16, 2007 - January 2, 2008
*Other restricted dates may be added based on projected pool capacity.

 

[kirbsam]

the coolest thing about these boards is someone will take the most minute point from your post. soemthing which really doesnt even pertain to the topic at hand(eg. pool hopping), choose to reply to that part, and nitpick it to death. i love that about the people here.

 

[Maxie86]

I just found out that the time we are going (2weeks ) the volcano pool will be down for mainenance.
We will be allowed to use another resorts pool facilities?

The hot tub is a bummer too, but since we are doing the Land/Sea I figure we can get our hot tub time in on the Wonder.

I'm not really sure yet how much time we will have to swim anyway....we are staying at the Hilton at the airport the night before we leave for WDW and have a day room for the day we come back.......I think we will use the indoor pools there not at WDW.

There is a very nice quiet pool at the Poly. You will also be able to use the pool at the GF if a slide is important to you. It is only a 5-10 minute walk to the GF, or a very short monorail ride.

 

[dis-happy]

I'm still trying to figure out why you thought you could "pool hop" to the Contemporary. Pretty sure that isn't DVC.

It will be soon....Disney just hasnt' gotten around to announcing it yet.



I'm not a big hot tub person (too many gross germs floating around in those things--I prefer the jacuzzi tub in my room after it's been thoroughly cleaned out by me of course) but will make one comment: several times I've seen pools and hot tubs closed down at WDW because of stupid parents whose kid is in there without a pull-up and has an accident. The pool is instantly closed for 24 hours I think, and Disney, not wanting to gross everyone out, says it's closed for maintenance. Just want to point out that they don't necessarily have control over when those hot tubs need to "go into maintenance".

 

[MermaidsMom]

the coolest thing about these boards is someone will take the most minute point from your post. soemthing which really doesnt even pertain to the topic at hand(eg. pool hopping), choose to reply to that part, and nitpick it to death. i love that about the people here.

Very well said!!

 

[auntie]

I agree, a thread regarding maintenance issues, and lack of deluxe amenities at a deluxe resort somehow becomes a pool hopping thread. Lights and Sirens!::cop:

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

We always stay at a Disney deluxe and never once used the hot tub. It's not a top priority of ours but for some it's a must. I do think that the OP was just trying to let people know that there were maintenance issues and nothing else but then it seemed that the original topic was left in the dust.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

several times I've seen pools and hot tubs closed down at WDW because of stupid parents whose kid is in there without a pull-up and has an accident. The pool is instantly closed for 24 hours I think, and Disney, not wanting to gross everyone out, says it's closed for maintenance. Just want to point out that they don't necessarily have control over when those hot tubs need to "go into maintenance".

That happened a few years ago when my family and I were staying at the Wilderness Lodge. We were just getting ready to get in the pool, when a lifeguard said it was closed because a baby had an accident. So because of that the water needed to be dranined and the whole pool needed to be closed for 24 hours. Now if we wanted to we could have used the pool at the Contemporary because that is what they were offering and this was before the DVC Villas section has opened, so we they did not have the 2nd pool at that time.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Disney never promised a Rose Garden (or) a hot tub.
2) The ones that do exist must be maintained.
3) That is just the way it is.
4) Some people get inconvenienced, but it has to be done.
5) Sorry that the OP felt cheated.
6) Maybe, as they stated, the Marriott might be better for them next time.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think the OP's point of posting was to report that SO MANY resorts had "repair issues" at the same time. A better plan would be for them to stagger the maintenance so guests could go to the next resort and use the hot tub there while theirs was being repaired. It's very odd they were all down at once. How often does that happen in the real world?

People don't pool hop (or hot-tub hop) from resort to resort outside of Disney. So how can you really say that multiple places are not having problems with their hot tubs at the same time? Truth is, you don't know.

 

[bdklein]

the coolest thing about these boards is someone will take the most minute point from your post. soemthing which really doesnt even pertain to the topic at hand(eg. pool hopping), choose to reply to that part, and nitpick it to death. i love that about the people here.

Is wrong. The word is something. Plus you should have capitalized the "es" to make it Something. Is that minute enough?? But I did not nitpick it to death. LOL

 

[mickaholic4077]

Is wrong. The word is something. Plus you should have capitalized the "es" to make it Something. Is that minute enough?? But I did not nitpick it to death. LOL

Actually,it should have been post comma something. Something really didn't have to be capitalized. How's that for nit-pickiness?

 

[safetymom]

I think this thread is done. Thank you to those people that ansered the OP question.