Stayed at the GF and was very dissapointed maybe should have stayed at the poly

[stemikger]

That is a lot of money - I would feel the same way. But I also feel when staying at Disney, it is really not necessary to pay that much, I have found the best part of the deluxe hotels I have visited is the lobby, so I stay at the inexpensive hotels on site and eat at the deluxes. You get to enjoy the lobby and have a few drinks at the bar and the restaurants. You get all the perks without spending the crazy money. I actually stayed at two moderates and one value and I will be back to Pop Century this year because we really loved it. However, I will be dining at Bomas in Animal Kingdom.

 

[Sammie]

The reason the maids knock on your door at Disney at 8am unless you have your Do Not Disturb sign out is, Disney's turnover and occupancy rate is much higher than most any other location. Therefore in order to get these rooms serviced so the demanding guest at the Front Desk pitching a fit that they can't get a room before, heaven forbid, 3PM!!!

So yes at Disney if you want to be left alone use the sign. Also I never understand the comment by people who say the staff walked in their room after a brief knock. Who sleeps or even goes into a room at a public hotel without securing the room with the deadbolt and latch lock, certainly not me, not even for a few minutes. Even if someone in the party is still out, I will get up and let them even after I am sure who is at the door. Common sense and common safety practices.

I agree that for the prices Disney charges they should be offering a more luxurious service, but they don't have to. They are not having to compete with the Ritz, the Ritz is across town and is not sitting right at the Magic Kingdom. If rooms were sitting empty at the Grand Floridian then it would be different, but they aren't. You are paying for location.

I think when you stay at Disney you really can not compare Disney resorts to off site resorts and ever justify it. You need to compare Disney to Disney. Now to me the moderates offer a much better value than any of the deluxe resorts.

 

[tlbwriter]

I think when you're comparing the price of a Disney property to an offsite property, you need to include the amenities that only come with the Disney property - free in-park transportation, the ability to send packages from the park to your resort, etc. Unless you assign a value to those services, you are truly comparing apples and oranges.

To the OP... I'm sorry you were disappointed in your room. I know it must have been very frustrating to have your expectations dashed. We stayed at the GF last year and were very happy with both the room and the service, but I have to admit we didn't expect "real world" 5-star service.

 

[BlueFairy1]

Same here.....we have stayed GF, Poly, WL, PO, CS, all more than once and have never gotten "towel animals".....nor have I ever expected them...We will be concierge @ the Poly again in August....and to my mind I am not just paying for a place to sleep...I enjoy the ambience of the resort or I would not pay those prices. I also must be one of the "Lucky Ones"....no bad experiences to report in over 25 visits to WDW and never having stayed off site....

 

[WendyD]

I've never had a bad experience and I love WDW but I think Disney gets away with alot and we all accept things from them that we wouldn't from any other hotel -- but hey, we do accept it and we keep on coming back for more so they have no motivation to raise their standards.

I love going, but I definitely lower my standards as to what I expect from a "luxury accomodation" when I am staying there because I am such a Disney nerd!!!!

 

[dreamflight99]

The reason the maids knock on your door at Disney at 8am unless you have your Do Not Disturb sign out is, Disney's turnover and occupancy rate is much higher than most any other location. Therefore in order to get these rooms serviced so the demanding guest at the Front Desk pitching a fit that they can't get a room before, heaven forbid, 3PM!!!

So yes at Disney if you want to be left alone use the sign. Also I never understand the comment by people who say the staff walked in their room after a brief knock. Who sleeps or even goes into a room at a public hotel without securing the room with the deadbolt and latch lock, certainly not me, not even for a few minutes. Even if someone in the party is still out, I will get up and let them even after I am sure who is at the door. Common sense and common safety practices.

I agree that for the prices Disney charges they should be offering a more luxurious service, but they don't have to. They are not having to compete with the Ritz, the Ritz is across town and is not sitting right at the Magic Kingdom. If rooms were sitting empty at the Grand Floridian then it would be different, but they aren't. You are paying for location.

I think when you stay at Disney you really can not compare Disney resorts to off site resorts and ever justify it. You need to compare Disney to Disney. Now to me the moderates offer a much better value than any of the deluxe resorts.

Excellent points, eloquently posted (as always).

Disney caters to "families" (and from the statistical reports...seem to be hitting the mark consistently).

As for the mods vs. deluxe debate...it's all a matter of opinion and personal preference. I prefer the deluxe resorts for a variety of reasons (mostly for the things the mods do not offer, ie: fitness center, CL, room service, interior halls, etc).

YET...in the same breath, I still TREASURE the magical memories we have of the numerous stays in the CBR, and most of all...DIXIE LANDINGS OAK MANOR. For the price of these rooms...(about $79-85 per eve, if I recall correctly), you just could not go wrong.

I'm sad the OP did not enjoy the GF, especially the fact the children noticed, and voiced the same opinion. WDW is a place for ADVENTURE and FUN shared together with FAMILY. I take time to remember...we are BLESSED to be visiting this place, and STAYING on property!! The rest...is frosting on the cake!

 

[Ladyhawke10]

Excellent points, eloquently posted (as always).

Disney caters to "families" (and from the statistical reports...seem to be hitting the mark consistently).

As for the mods vs. deluxe debate...it's all a matter of opinion and personal preference. I prefer the deluxe resorts for a variety of reasons (mostly for the things the mods do not offer, ie: fitness center, CL, room service, interior halls, etc).

YET...in the same breath, I still TREASURE the magical memories we have of the numerous stays in the CBR, and most of all...DIXIE LANDINGS OAK MANOR. For the price of these rooms...(about $79-85 per eve, if I recall correctly), you just could not go wrong.

I'm sad the OP did not enjoy the GF, especially the fact the children noticed, and voiced the same opinion. WDW is a place for ADVENTURE and FUN shared together with FAMILY. I take time to remember...we are BLESSED to be visiting this place, and STAYING on property!! The rest...is frosting on the cake!

ITA!!!