Resort Fees...

[WINTER]

Called to check rates for Fairfield Inn in the Marriott Village because we really like it there and have stayed there the past 2 years. One person told me there is a $5 fee per person for park transportation; another person said $10. Can you believe it? $40 to transport to the parks? Whatever happened to 'complimentary'. Are most resorts doing this now?

 

[Pat_Elliott]

I'm finding most of the offsite places (and the onsite places, for that matter) can't really justify the "resort fee," and why they try I don't know. Some of the hotels on the fringes of 192 are so cheap now that places near the park zone are pretty much yanking their price down as low as possible, and recoup some of it under the guise of a "resort fee." Some best one I ever heard was at the Best Western Lake Buena Vista. I asked what the $5 resort fee was for and was told it was for unlimited local telephone calls, complimentary shuttles, and use of the "common areas." I asked "you mean those common areas you bragged about in your brochure that said it could all be had for 49.95? He said "yup."

So I told him I promised not to use the phone, I'd only walk through the lobby to get in and out of the hotel, and since I rented a car, I wouldn't use the shuttle, would that be an agreeable situation? After a ten minute game of cat and mouse, he actually waved the fee. As we were finishing our transaction, he said (in context) "I just work here, that's what they told us to say, it's pretty much just an extra five bucks a room because everyone else is doing it."

So try to get out of it, but don't count on it. Enjoy Marriott Village at Lake Bryan. It was one of our favorite stops ever!

Pat

 

[CarolA]

The Marriott Village fee is not really a "resort" fee, but a transporatation fee. So in theory you would not have to pay it unless you take their transportation to the resorts. Personally, I would not stay there without a car. I find that offsite transporatation does not normally work with my schedule.

I can understand whey hotels in Orlando are now having to charge for transporatation. They are dropping room rates so low that the "freebies" have to go!!!

 

[Pat_Elliott]

CarolA,

It's been a bit since we stayed there (October 2001), but when we stayed at the Courtyard Marriott village, we were in fact charged a "resort fee," and we weren't given a choice about whether to pay it. Their story, of course, could have changed in a year and a half, as they were a relatively new hotel when we stayed.

Personally, I agree with the concept of not giving "freebies," e.g. unlimited local phone use and transportation. But I personally get a little agitated with the concept in general when you're not given the choice. If they don't bury it in the room cost and they don't give you a chioce, it's a little deceptive. In the case of the BWLBV, it was kind of a joke that they'd charge us for "use of the commons and resort features." They're kind of why one chooses a hotel. If their charge was strictly for optionals (transportation, a choice of unlimited local calls) and one could decline such service, then it has a little more legitmacy.

Winter, Carol and I are in agreement on the transportation: rent a car. Unlike Disney transportation, off-site transportation really has to be worked around rather than with, and we've found it costs us more in park time and vacation enjoyment than the cost of a cheap rental car.

Pat

 

[CarolA]

The Marriott may charge a resort fee. However, the original poster said for transport to the parks. Is it possible the charge for both? I would not be surprised,

 

[Pat_Elliott]

Originally posted by CarolA
The Marriott may charge a resort fee. However, the original poster said for transport to the parks. Is it possible the charge for both? I would not be surprised,

As I say, a year and a half can make a great difference in what's going on at a new hotel, and Oct. 01 was my last experience there. So I'd be lying if I said I know what Winter heard. If they're charging him five to ten bucks for a "transportation fee" that he can accept or decline, then the Marriott's doing it more up-front than I've seen elsewher and I applaud them.

However, from what I've seen, the "resort fee," or "transportation fee," or whatever hotels choose to call it (so as not to pick on Marriott, I think theyr'e typical), is simply an upcharge because what they have to charge for rooms is lower than their budget will allow. I think the story often changes, but in many of the cases I've seen they claim the "resort fee" to be for any amenity with which they can label it. Transportation and free-phone service are the most common, and are usually both given as reasons, meaning you're right, it's for both.

I just kinda wish they'd call a spade a spade. If I choose to stay outside the parks, as an experienced Orlando traveler I find out if there's a resort fee before I compare prices. If it's a transportation fee, then sell daily transportation tickets. If it's for unlimited local phone calls, tell me how much a day it costs for unlimited phone calls. If it's non-optional, then tag it on the cost of the room, because it's a cost of staying in that room, not a resort or transporation fee. If you're going to charge me ala carte, then I should have the right to choose said item or not.

And don't take the rant wrong, by the time I choose a hotel or resort, I'm happy to pay whatever the bottom line is. I'd just like to see a little truth-in-advertising.

Pat

 

[WINTER]

I specifically asked what the charge was for shuttle to the parks and was told $5 per person by the Guest Services. However, the person at Reservations told me $10 per person. I have always used the shuttle from the Marriott Village on my 2 or 3 previous stays and it was worked great. For a family of 4, $20 is more than enough in my opinion but $40 would be ridiculous!

 

[Pat_Elliott]

Winter,

After reading your last post and re-reading your original post, I'm stumped. The "resort-fee" game is oft debated, but a fact of Orlando Hotel life. What you're talking about, however, sounds insane.

Are they saying it's $5 per person (or $10 per person depending on who you talk to) per day, or for your entire stay? Meaning is that $40 what you'll pay for your trip, or per day? I wouldn't even pay $20. The worst I've ever, ever heard of was, I think, $12 per day, assigned to the room. That would cover any amentity for which they claim to be charging, for everyone in the room. $40 per day would almost double the cost of staying at that hotel.

For $40 per day, you could rent a mighty fine car and go to the parks when you dang well please. If it were me, I'd call again, ask to speak to a manager, and make them clarify what and how much. I'll let other readers speak on this one, but I've never heard of a "per person" fee. If that's a fact, I just lost faith in one of my favorite off-site hotels.....I'll look forward to hearing more. That sounds nuts.

Pat

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by Pat_Elliott
...(snip)...
I just kinda wish they'd call a spade a spade. If I choose to stay outside the parks, as an experienced Orlando traveler I find out if there's a resort fee before I compare prices. If it's a transportation fee, then sell daily transportation tickets. If it's for unlimited local phone calls, tell me how much a day it costs for unlimited phone calls. If it's non-optional, then tag it on the cost of the room, because it's a cost of staying in that room, not a resort or transporation fee. If you're going to charge me ala carte, then I should have the right to choose said item or not.

And don't take the rant wrong, by the time I choose a hotel or resort, I'm happy to pay whatever the bottom line is. I'd just like to see a little truth-in-advertising.

Pat

Me, too! A little truth-in-advertising would sure make choosing an off site hotel a lot easier as well as less time consuming.

 

[WINTER]

I will contact again and clarify - then let everyone know my findings!

 

[WINTER]

Made my reservations. The rate I got was $60 per night plus tax. If you want to use the shuttle to the parks, it is $5 per person.

 

[Pat_Elliott]

Originally posted by WINTER
Made my reservations. The rate I got was $60 per night plus tax. If you want to use the shuttle to the parks, it is $5 per person.

Winter,

One more question, if you happen to know: is that $5 per person for the stay, or $5 per person per day? Just curious. I'll give Marriott this: at least it's an option. Still, that's a mighty hefty fee.

 

[WINTER]

per day, I think. might need to clarify that also

 

[WINTER]

$5 per person round trip. Hopefully that would be for the day but we never take breaks so when we go to the parks we are there for the duration.

 

[Pat_Elliott]

Gotcha. I'm half stunned, half impressed. I'm impressed that they're making add-on fees optional, but stunned that a family of four has to pay twenty bucks a day for park transportation. Transportation is pretty much a part of the deal at many, if not most of the hotels in that region.

But it's a nice complex. I still think I'd stay there. You're allowed to use any of the pools in the village, make sure to check out the pool at the Marriott. It's a "walk in" and runs indoor/outdoor, with a waterfall between the two. My nephews spent hours going through the waterfall (kind of makes you wonder why you take them to the parks). Great pool. And at least last time I was there, it didn't cost five bucks a pop to swim in it.

Enjoy. Despite my displeasure with the transport fee, it's a real nice complex.

Thanks for the info,
Pat

 

[Pat_Elliott]

To Winter,

Just an interesting update to this old conversation. In planning for our June trip, I picked up our 2003 AAA Trip Book for Florida. Clearly, on page 717 of the book, it lists for the Marriott Village family: "Complimentary transportation to Walt Disney World Attractions." Are you a AAA member? If you are, I'd call up and scream until they waved the transportation fee. If it's a resort fee, that's one thing, but since they made it clear to you it's a per-person transportation fee, it's in conflict with the ad they paid for in one of the most circulated travel books in America!

Hope it helps,

Pat

 

[WINTER]

thanks for the info!

 

[nicolep91]

For $20 a day, I would think you should be able to rent a car. Then you would be able to come and go as you please and not have to worry about a shuttle schedule, etc. Last time we went to WDW, we got a rental car through Priceline for $15 a day!

Just a thought...