Resort misconceptions you wish people would not make

[LisaTC]

Originally Posted by Alexsandra
I just don't get why some couples go to WDW when they hate kids!

Ooooh that's another myth we need to bust.

I don't think people hate kids. They are annoyed by children who are not taught to behave and parents are too lazy to discipline them. That's what the problem is.

That, and not realizing the WDW is exhausting, overstimulating and the poor kids need a break, a nap and a good meal. I think common sense doesn't always prevail. When I see a meltdown, I feel so bad for the kids. I just want to pick them up and take them off into the grass and give them a blanket lay on or pull out some crayons. It can't be go, go, go. They are going to act up, meltdown. To expect anything else isn't reasonable. Now, I've seen what you are talking about...parents letting their kids run amok and that's not good either, but that happens everywhere, even the grocery store.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Agree. think if the kids are restless and they just want to relax in their own way... the family should just hop back on the boat/monorail/bus to their resort and have them run around there at the play area or swim or snack or nap... I think adults forget the children's need. Parents can be selfish- "We spent so much money at the Disney and we can't just hang around the resort!" Kids get tired.. kids get hungry.. kids are kids.. Let them be. It's the happiest place one earth... so let the kids enjoy themselves and let them be happy!

 

[Missytara]

And so do adults, as well!!!!

 

[Butterflygirl35]

Agree. think if the kids are restless and they just want to relax in their own way... the family should just hop back on the boat/monorail/bus to their resort and have them run around there at the play area or swim or snack or nap... I think adults forget the children's need. Parents can be selfish- "We spent so much money at the Disney and we can't just hang around the resort!" Kids get tired.. kids get hungry.. kids are kids.. Let them be. It's the happiest place one earth... so let the kids enjoy themselves and let them be happy!

YESSSSSSSS... People always think we are crazy for only spending half days in the park but it really makes a difference in our vacation... My kids are happy, well fed and relaxed that way.. Which makes for a happier mommy... Maybe when they are older.. Park Commando might come back.. but for now.... I always choose a resort I am happy to spend time in. Vacations are about being happy and enjoying time together as a family... not tiring everyone out to the point of meltdown...

 

[cjsm&d]

We stayed at the Dolphin this past July and we loved it! What I didn't love was a lady complaining on the bus about the Dolphin! We were on the bus making our way back from Animal Kingdom and there was a lady complaining that "the people staying at the Swan/Dolphin get dropped off first, which I can't understand as they aren't Disney Hotels. We should be dropped at the Beach Club first, considering the amount of money we spent!" As she was standing we had to walk around her to get off the bus at the Dolphin. I must admit I felt a bit uncomfortable I'm guessing she had had a long day and just wanted to be 'home'.

You are nicer than me. I would have made a point to say to DW or DS on the way off the bus, "Man, its great to be on the first stop on the way back"

 

[cjsm&d]

That, and not realizing the WDW is exhausting, overstimulating and the poor kids need a break, a nap and a good meal. I think common sense doesn't always prevail. When I see a meltdown, I feel so bad for the kids. I just want to pick them up and take them off into the grass and give them a blanket lay on or pull out some crayons. It can't be go, go, go. They are going to act up, meltdown. To expect anything else isn't reasonable. Now, I've seen what you are talking about...parents letting their kids run amok and that's not good either, but that happens everywhere, even the grocery store.

Also listening to what the kids want, rather than dragging them around when they've had enough or want need to take a break. When DS was 4 or 5 I certainly didn't want to spend 45+ minutes at "Honey I shrunk the kids" or "The Bone Yard" playgrounds, but he really loved it, so DW and I would take turns checking stuff out while the other watched him.

Sometimes people with young kids forget that the trip is for the kids too.

We were always lucky. DS was never shy to say, dad, can we go back to the resort and play in the pool. Usually, that is what I'm always up for anyway!

One more thing, folks with little ones, should keep the ADRs either to a minimum or plan them out extremely well, especially at the parks.

 

[*Fantasia*]

And so do adults, as well!!!!

Yes.. adults can have their moments too! I see couples explode at one another They could use some R&R themselves!

YESSSSSSSS... People always think we are crazy for only spending half days in the park but it really makes a difference in our vacation... My kids are happy, well fed and relaxed that way.. Which makes for a happier mommy... Maybe when they are older.. Park Commando might come back.. but for now.... I always choose a resort I am happy to spend time in. Vacations are about being happy and enjoying time together as a family... not tiring everyone out to the point of meltdown...

Vacation are about enjoying and relaxing... not tiring each other out or getting the nerves worked up and throwing shoes at one another. If you are having this kind of vacation.. then you will for sure will need to take another vacation to release stress!

 

[Debbart]

While I certainly believe that a room should be decorated nicely, in good repair and clean, I doubt that half of people's homes could pass the unbelievable white glove test some people put the rooms and mousekeeping through when they stay at resort.

 

[cyb]

Some of the people mentioned here really remind me of a character in a british sitcom: Keeping up appearances.

Don't know if it was ever shown on US tv, but it was hilarious

Mrs Bucket (pronounced by her as bouquet) always trying to appear better, always putting people or things down to make herself appear better. She ended up looking laughable, snobbish and none too bright of course.

.

Yes it has be shown in the US and I love the show! Hilarious!

 

[pbarager]

We are giving our daughters a taste of both. 7 nights at AKL and 2 nights at Pop. Knowing them, they will have a blast at both.

 

[Butterflygirl35]

We are giving our daughters a taste of both. 7 nights at AKL and 2 nights at Pop. Knowing them, they will have a blast at both.

Of course.. It is DISNEY!!! Have a great time!

 

[NancyIL]

I'm not a fan of the presumption of income regardless of where one is staying.

Just because I can afford something more expensive doesn't necessarily mean I want to pay for it.

Agreed!

And regarding the issue of people in deluxe resorts being snobs. By and large this statement is false. But not completely.

There was a thread earlier this year where several posters loudly and proudly proclaimed their love for the deluxe resorts because they didn't have to deal with 'the riffraff' and 'trailer trash' that were to be found at the values and mods. I know!! They actually had no shame in verbalizing this kind of ridiculous garbage.

Of course guests at the deluxes come from all walks of life and all socioeconomic strata! But some of those same guests still like to think they are better than everyone else based on the size of their platinum card limits.

A few people on the Disney Cruise Line board have made similar comments about the "clientele" who cruise on other cruise lines - especially Carnival. People who think they are better than others are the low-class folks, in my opinion!

I wish people wouldn't be so hard on the Swan and Dolphin. I've now stayed at both, but I've also sayed at the GF, BLT, WL, BC, BWI, and AKL. Five of my trips have also inclued Club Level stays. While I've enjoyed all my Disney deluxe stays, I also thoroughly enjoyed my Swan and Dolphin stays. Here's why....

1. Location, location, location....you can't beat the walk or boat ride to both Epcot and Studios.

2. Beds...they're better than any Disney-owned hotel...period.

3. Bedding and pillows....more luxurious than any Disney-owned hotel.

4. Toiletries...I enjoy them as much as H2o+ products at Disney-owned hotels.

5. S & D share buses with BWI and sometimes YC and BC....and are picked up last and dropped off first! Same with boats to the Studios!

6. There may be no hidden Mickeys in the room...but you can buy all the Mickeys your heart desires in the lobby gift shop....and looking out your window and seeing ToT, Expedition Everest, or Spaceship Earth? It doesn't get more Disney than that!

7. PRICE!- For our next trip, a full stay at a deluxe isn't financially in the cards, and we priced out both POR and The Dolphin. For a 4-night stay, the Dolphin rack-rate came out to be less than $100 more....total. For us...the location and the comfort make this choice a no-brainer. We're going to stay at the Dolphin...and I frequently see it on Priceline for about $45/night less than the rack-rate...if this happens, then it will actually be cheaper than a moderate! Deluxe hotel for less than a moderate? Yes please!

In summation....S & D aren't my favorite hotels on the property, but BC and BWI are, so we've decided that when we're blessed enough to have the funds, we'll stay at BC or BWI, but when money is tight, we'll be more than glad to stay at the Swan or Dolphin, and I think these resorts deserve a little more respect around here!

I LOVE the Swan (especially) and Dolphin, and that's where I usually stay. I don't care that it isn't an official Disney hotel. I earn Starwood points for my stays, and those points can be used for free hotel nights or transferred to an airline frequent-flyer program.

However, in January I got a great AP rate at All Star Music, so that's where I stayed for a week-long solo trip. I enjoyed it and would stay there again.

 

[mom2princesses2]

-CSR is just a 'conference hotel'. That it lacks Disney theme'ing. etc..etc..

This was mine!

 

[mcd2745]

"Resort misconceptions you wish people would not make...."



That you should come back to your room and find a towel animal every day.

 

[Magic3forme]

I love how so many people bash the Contemp for not feeling Disney enough? Really?? and it just looks like a big concrete block. that is my favorite resort.
I love the theming, and how many other resorts have a monorail run through it??
and the views from the theme park rooms... they can not be beat!!

 

[cjsm&d]

I love how so many people bash the Contemp for not feeling Disney enough? Really?? and it just looks like a big concrete block. again realy??? that is my favorite resort.
I love the theming, and how many other resorts have a monorail run through it??
and the views from the theme park rooms... they can not be beat!!

That's not really a misconception, that's a difference of opinion. I have never stayed there, but I certainly would if the right package came along.

But you can objectively see how some folks look at it and see a big cement block. The inner lobby area is also very train station sterile looking.

 

[*Fantasia*]

I love how so many people bash the Contemp for not feeling Disney enough? Really?? and it just looks like a big concrete block. again realy??? that is my favorite resort.
I love the theming, and how many other resorts have a monorail run through it??
and the views from the theme park rooms... they can not be beat!!

That's not really a misconception, that's a difference of opinion. I have never stayed there, but I certainly would if the right package came along.

But you can objectively see how some folks look at it and see a big cement block. The inner lobby area is also very train station sterile looking.

I agree. It's not really a misconception, it is called "opinion". Some doesn't feel or see the resort Disney enough. There is no right or wrong when it comes to how you feel or your experience. ...and I think in your case, you are defending your love for this resort which there is nothing wrong with that. We all have to respect everyone's opinion whether it's the opposite from ours. Really.. really.

 

[mousefan73]

My first trip to WDW was as an adult; as a child my vision of WDW was the princess castle and the Mission Earth ball at epcot and how Epcot ( in my mind as a child) was built tomgive us an experience on how us how the future world would look. Part of this vision in my head was the monorail AND the Contemporary resort and how the train goes inside of it. For me the contemporary was like a space station like cool thing. And for me that was DISNEY world. That resort and the monorail was beside the castle, the one thing I i had to see first when i finally got to WDW.

 

[Bell30012]

I used that snobbery of the Grand Floridian as a life lesson. My stepson was around 14. His total ambition in life was to be a skateboarder. He wore nothing but the black, spent hours drawing all the tattoos that he planned to have when old enough and would never get his hair cut without a fight.

One day we were waiting for a character meal at GF and I told him to look around at the guests of the GF. These people paid $500+ per night. They were people who could afford the best Disney had to offer. I then told him to count the number of visible tattoos on those guests. The number of men with earrings or men with little pony tails. Strangely, there were none.

He got the message. Now years later, his skateboarding career didn't make it and he has a regular job. He did get a couple tattoos but wisely got them in areas where they are easy to conceal with clothing. He has actually mentioned that moment to me and the impact it had upon his life.

 

[Planogirl]

All this thread proves is that people have different tastes. Personally I don't care for either the Grand Floridian or the Allstars but only because the theming doesn't appeal to me. In the case of the budget resorts I prefer to stay in a moderate but mainly because I enjoy having the extras the moderates provide.

I do think that hotel snobs are rather strange though. Who cares where someone stays?