Room Snob?

[madalex]

I keep looking at pictures of the rooms that people have posted in the past and remembering the rooms at the resorts I've stayed at thus far (Contemporary and POFQ) and I'm just not impressed at all! What gives?! You would think for close to $350 a night for most deluxe resorts you'd get...well...a deluxe room! Most of them look outdated, run down, with poor designs/artwork/bedding. Am I just a room snob or something? Sheesh, The Four Seasons in Maui was $400/night and it blows any Disney resort away! Same for every Vegas hotel I've been to...Venetian, Bellagio... Am I just not finding the right resort photos? Can someone tell me which resort I should be looking at? For the $$$ we spend on a deluxe resort I should feel like I'm back in Maui at the Four Seasons...not at Holiday Inn.

Hope I'm not offending, but I need some advice from more experienced resort stayers at Disney!

If you like the rooms better at the Four Seasons or the Bellagio, by all means go stay there, but it is going to be awfully hard to visit the Magic Kingdom or Epcot from those hotels.

You have made a common mistake in suggesting that a Disney room which costs a certain amount should be comparable in amenities to a non-Disney room which costs the same amount.

In fact, that is not how any real estate is priced. Real estate (including hotel rooms) is based on one thing: location. That is why a hotel room in New York is going to cost more than a hotel room in St. Louis, even if it is the exact same room in the exact same hotel chain.

Similarly, the Disney resorts have the best location there is for visiting WDW and that is what one pays for. One does not pay for the amenities or decor of the room.

 

[chellemh29]

We stay at the CR every year on either the 12th or 14th floor. I can honestly say that the rooms are not worth the 600+ Per night charge. Then again that 3.50 bottle of water wasn't exactly worth the charge either. We pay the money for the experience we recieve. Sitting on our balcony and watching the fireworks over the castle every night, being able to just step on the monorail right inside the hotel, among other things. When I go to disney I fully expect to pay three times what anything is worth just for the experience. I never leave disappointed. None of the resorts at Disney even come close the the nicest resorts I've ever stayed at, but I have the fondest memories at these places. Are the rooms worth the price, no. But the experiece is worth every penny.

 

[ols386]

I love WDW and the resorts, but I have to say that, for the price they charge for the deluxe resorts, I'm not impressed. We've only stayed at a couple of the deluxe resorts, and all 3 moderates, and 1 value. I do believe that part of what you are paying for is 'Disney', and another part is 'location'....and I understand that, but still think their prices, especially for a deluxe resort, is way over-priced. We will continue going to WDW yearly, and stay at a WDW resort.....but going forward, will probably never stay at a deluxe again....we don't mind the prices of the moderates, so will probably continue to stay at one of them (probably POR or POFQ, we really like both of them).

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

everyone has their own tastes and expectations, so there is no "right" answer.

That said...part of what you are paying for in Disney is Disney - the location, the feel, the monorail, the transportation, the views (in some cases), the service, etc.

In Maui you are paying for the room and location and service.

So, it all depends on what you are looking for. We stayed at YC last year and thought it was excellent. Have we stayed at nicer hotels? Yes...and they were cheaper. But those weren't a 5 minute walk to Epcot or a 2 minute drive to DHS and we didn't have a nice dining plan that we could use at their signature steakhouse, and we couldn't sit on our balcony eating ice cream while watching Illuminations, etc.

So, no, you're probably not a snob - but your expectation level may just need to be adjusted to include WHERE the hotel is located.

And Vegas doesn't count...they know they are taking your money at the tables...

Just my opinion...

I totally agree with your assessment. Comparing a deluxe room in WDW to a deluxe room anywhere else is just an apples and oranges comparison. Hotel rooms are just like any other real estate....its location, location, location. The most desirable location commands a higher demand thus driving up the price!

For what its worth, I think alot of these hotel rooms are much more impressive in person. Although many of the posted pictures are beautiful, it just doesn't capture the full ambience(sp?) experienced when you are actually in the room/resort .

 

[maddiesdaddy]

By the way- I read in the "unnofical Guide" last night that the Grand Floridian has the worst pillows of all of the resorts. Go figure.

Fantastic.. Admittedly I am a pillow snob so it looks like I will be packing my own...that's just very counterintuitive to me.

 

[RustManFan]

I guess I am the opposite of a room snob. Nobody would ever get me to spend $400 a night on a hotel room. Clean and comfortable is all I require....

 

[maddiesdaddy]

That is why a hotel room in New York is going to cost more than a hotel room in St. Louis, even if it is the exact same room in the exact same hotel chain.

Awww, come on..are you saying that the Arch doesn't compare to Times Square, Eiffel Tower, crazy cabs? So sad!!!!

Just a joke..since I'm from the Lou!

 

[DizzDoll]

I always felt that pictures of the WDW rooms never give them real justice. I've stayed at the CR both before and after rehab (the rooms, not me ), the POFQ, the POR and Pop. I never felt they were bad at all. As far as amenities go, CR has more than the mods which have more than the values. Unfortunately, I HAVE paid $400+ per night for hotel rooms around the world and choke every time I think about it. But for the prices you pay for Disney, you get A LOT of amenities: staying on site, the monorail, EMH, just to name a few. Plus you get "the magic" - and there's a special something about staying on-site regardless of your resort of choice. We like to crash on occasion in the afternoons, and as long as our room is clean it's fine by us. We tend not to spend a lot of time in it, just perhaps an hour to an hour and a half in the afternoons, then its back to the parks. To me, no matter where I am in the world (Disney or the "other" one I'm there for what the destination has to offer, not the hotel room. As long as its neat, clean and presentable I'm cool.

 

[hunter6009]

OP here...wow! This thread has become a hot topic!

I agree with some of you and disagree with others. Disney surely isn't hurting for money. So upgrading their "deluxe" rooms to something more deluxe looking isn't going to hurt the yearly budget any. I understand the value of location. But location plus a nice room is the best in my opinion. When comparing Four Seasons (and saying it's apples to oranges) I also disagree. For example, the Four Seasons Wailea in Maui is THE hotel to stay at (or Grand Wailea). It's all about location. Right on the beach, the very best resort, the very best service...all things you mention at Disney but with one exception. The rooms are ALSO stellar! When you pay the same amount for a less than stellar room but with the same type of location and hotel grounds...well I wish they were a bit better is all. Imagine if you could get both location AND a great room! That's what I'm looking for....

And by the way, I'm not looking for fancy smancy. I agree I want it to be "disneyesque" in my room. So put some disney decor in there! I, like another poster, have travelled and stayed all sorts of places from 5 star hotels to hostels and cars! I just like to get what I pay for. That's all!

But again, I'm limited in my view in that I haven't stayed at each resort which is why I started this thread. I'm not sure if the Contemporary was renevated after I stayed there....it was Jan. '06.??

Thanks for the replies by the way!

 

[lorasmom]

I think the CR is the closest to a truly "resort" hotel. It was comprable to the Venetian, IMO. The Poly was on par with, say, Gaylord Palms for me - it was nice, and for the rate I got, it was higher than I would have paid anywhere else for that room. I admit to paying deeply for the location - I'm a location snob .

The Beach Club was a nice resort, it's a shame the rooms were not up to par - stained curtains, chipped tiles, etc. Don't get me wrong, it does not make or break my stay, and I'd probably stay there again with the deal I got on it, but again - it's for the location.

The Wilderness Lodge has been my LEAST favorite deluxe - I thought the rooms were small, they felt run-down and old (which admittedly may have been the theming, which is not really my style), the transportation was NOT really convenient for me - but the holiday decorations at Christmastime cannot be beat!

 

[madalex]

I agree with some of you and disagree with others. Disney surely isn't hurting for money. So upgrading their "deluxe" rooms to something more deluxe looking isn't going to hurt the yearly budget any. I understand the value of location. But location plus a nice room is the best in my opinion. When comparing Four Seasons (and saying it's apples to oranges) I also disagree. For example, the Four Seasons Wailea in Maui is THE hotel to stay at (or Grand Wailea). It's all about location. Right on the beach, the very best resort, the very best service...all things you mention at Disney but with one exception. The rooms are ALSO stellar! When you pay the same amount for a less than stellar room but with the same type of location and hotel grounds...well I wish they were a bit better is all. Imagine if you could get both location AND a great room! That's what I'm looking for....

The Four Seasons is not located at or near WDW, so to suggest somehow that it is the "same type of location" as a WDW resort makes no sense. There is almost no location that is the "same type" as the WDW resorts and that is why Disney can price their hotels in a manner which, to you, is not consistent with the room that one gets.

In addition, to state that "upgrading their "deluxe" rooms to something more deluxe looking isn't going to hurt the yearly budget any" is incorrect. Spending even one dollar that isn't required is going to hurt the yearly budget. Disney can get away with charging what they do without upgrading the rooms, so why would or should they spend money to do so, since all that would do is reduce their profits (and Disney is, after all, a for profit corporation)?

 

[LSchrow]

we've stayed in most of the deluxes (excluding CR), and have stayed DVC room exclusively for the past few years.

like others said, it's all about location a 5* hotel elsewhere (& we've stayed at many) that is steps from a beach or a myriad of entertainment options similar to WDW's has cost us as much or more per night. (note that whether at WDW or elsewhere, i will always try to find some discount: TA, EB, AAA, etc).
also, just mho: although the swolphin resorts are considered "deluxe", we find them too cold and unappealing for our tastes. (have visited, & seen interior room photos, but not stayed there....we might consider them over a moderate tho).

we also haven't experienced some of what others have (poor upkeep in the rooms), so that prob greatly colors our affinity for the GF, YC, & BWI.

 

[LMO429]

The Four Seasons is not located at or near WDW, so to suggest somehow that it is the "same type of location" as a WDW resort makes no sense. There is almost no location that is the "same type" as the WDW resorts and that is why Disney can price their hotels in a manner which, to you, is not consistent with the room that one gets.

In addition, to state that "upgrading their "deluxe" rooms to something more deluxe looking isn't going to hurt the yearly budget any" is incorrect. Spending even one dollar that isn't required is going to hurt the yearly budget. Disney can get away with charging what they do without upgrading the rooms, so why would or should they spend money to do so, since all that would do is reduce their profits (and Disney is, after all, a for profit corporation)?

I think what Hunter6009 was referring to the Four Seasons complex they are currrently building on WDW property
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17403324/

 

[kaffinito]

Oh, you are definitely paying for the location not the room! For a lot less I can get a suite in a water park/resort that has a lot more amenities and freebies. But, the resort isn't Disney, and the theming isn't up to Disney standards either (although they try!)

I know I'm paying for the location at WDW, so whenever I start my resort shopping over again I start with the highest priced rooms so that a room for 340 or 510 seems reasonable compared to what I was looking at! lol

I would love it if Disney's room amenities, decor, and furniture matched their prices, but I know that they won't and I also know that I'll keep staying on site no matter what the prices become.

 

[JulyGirl]

Well, I just got back from 4 nights at at the Venetian (at half the price I've paid for Disney), and I will never look at a Disney Deluxe resort the same. The Deluxe resorts are not luxury resorts afterall. They simply have a bit more than the mods and values do. After my Vegas stay, I may just downgrade my futre Disney visits .

 

[asmit4]

I 100% agree with the OP, we did AKL and we were very dissappointed. I should have known better looking at the pictures and reading reviews. This is why we will stay at values from now on. I realize that DW is more expensive, comparing apples/oranges, but I WANT a TRULY deluxe hotel, and I won't pay deluxe prices for a themed 'holiday inn' which IMO- is what AK was.

The tubs were exactly the same as the value resorts, the sheets the same, sure the beds were a bit larger, but just 2 queens. The rooms were small, the bathrooms were small. The towels seemed the same to me at both values and deluxes (I could be wrong). I guess by same, I mean 'same feeling'...they were not plush like 4/5 star resort towels should be.

They only had 1 pool and it was CROWDED. Sure- the lobby was great but b/c everyone was running by our door in the morning, sleeping in would have been IMPOSSIBLE. WAY more loud than ASMU.

I want high end threadcount sheets, along with a high end bathroom with separate shower and at least a large soaking tub, if not 1 with jets. I want high end towels, king size beds, larger rooms, larger balconies, more attentive staff, turn down service...the list goes on.

I now know that DW does not provide these things, at least not at AK. Nothing wrong with that, it is what it is. DW can call it 'deluxe' all they want, but IMO- it doesn't qualify as deluxe so we won't spend our $$$ there again. We will stick with a value resort.

I also agree with many who posted that those who have the most issue with 'deluxe' are those that are high end well traveled. Having stayed at MANY truly 5 star resorts well, DW doesn't come close. That's ok, they just won't get me to spend the big bucks

I know people have looked down before at those at values, maybe not you, but family, friends, I've seen it on the boards about 'room snobs'....just remember, those staying at the values aren't necessarily beneath you....many just refuse to pay deluxe prices for a moderate hotel.

When we want deluxe, we hit B&B's in New England, west coast, resorts in Mexico and the caribbean...when we go to DW, we go, do commando and just know we will be getting a place to sleep and a clean bathroom. We all have different expectations, and I know now not to plan/expect a deluxe onsite DW vacation. When we want deluxe, we will go elsewhere.

 

[Kay7979]

I think we must consider that Disney resorts are more geared to families than any other hotels. Most hotels have a great deal of business travelers and adult guests, while most Disney hotels are occupied by families. Business travelers and adults are impressed by high end finishes such as granite and marble and very dressy drapes and bedspreads/comforters, so that's what the 4 and 5 star hotels provide. Those hotel rooms probably don't get as much wear and tear as rooms occupied by families with small children. Disney, I believe, furnishes their rooms to have a casual, fun decor, rather than striving to be glamorous. They use a lot of color and fun mixes of patterns (which most people used to business travel hotels think looks tacky. Go read TripAdvisor reviews of Coronado Springs room decor!!!) I think Disney decors select a theme and then pump up the volume of that theme with bright colors, whimsical wallpapers and fabric patterns. I bet given a choice between the casual, whimsical Disney room and the elegant decor of the Four Seasons, most kids would hands-down pick the Disney room.

I agree that the rooms should be well-maintained and there is no reason not to have good quality linens, towels etc. but I think we have to keep in mind who these rooms are being marketed to. The rooms are being marketed to families who came to escape the stress of everyday life and have a fun, light-hearted, carefree Disney vacation.

 

[bytheblood]

I am a resort snob. There are certain resorts I will never stay in. I say to each his own. It is okay by me if you are a room snob if it is okay that I am a resort snob.

I will say though, I may be picky, I do not feel any room on Disney property is worth $300 or more a night. JMO.

 

[goofy4tink]

Disney's deluxe resorts do not match up to those deluxe resorts in the 'real world'. They aren't meant to. We need to remember that Disney has put in several classes of resorts..value, moderate, and deluxe. They compare only to other on-site Disney resorts. YC is certainly a deluxe resort compared with POP or CBR.
The WDW deluxe resorts have nicer amenities, and have alternative transportation to a park vs buses only. You are paying for location, location, location. My room at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Tampa was as nice, if not nicer, than a room at the GF, at half the cost! But, it's a long ride to Epcot from Tampa!
We can only compare WDW resort to WDW resort. It just isn't fair to compare the Polynesian to the Bellagio...two completely different things. If we do that, we are comparing apples to oranges. But, if we keep the comparison within WDW confines, then you can see the different catagory comparisons.

 

[madalex]

I think what Hunter6009 was referring to the Four Seasons complex they are currrently building on WDW property
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17403324/

I think not, as his post specifially referenced the Four Seasons in Maui. It will, however, be interesting to see how the Four Seasons at WDW is priced relative to WDW's deluxe hotels.