what are your expectations of your resort?

[Dis2times]

Since I joined, I've been really interested in reading so many VASTLY differing experiences at the resorts from one poster to the next. From one description, a resort can be heaven on earth, from a different description, that same resort can be a junk heap not worth the price paid.

By the same token, I have seen CMs at the same resorts described in equally differing ways. I've read on more than one occasion from different posters that the CMs were either fabulous or downright rude and mean, and this is from the same resort on the same weekend.

When I think about what vacations are like for everyone, I know that everyone has their own expectations of their vacation. My parents, for example, have not vacationed together in over 20 years. My father works 365. My siblings do not get to vacation yearly either (they are 11 and 15 right now) so any overnight stay in ANY level of hotel is a treat for my family. They'll be blown away by VWL.

DH and I have traveled all over Europe, and we both lived just outside of Rome. We backpacked and slept on trains, in hostels, even on benches a few times (crazy students back then) so for us, traveling is much more about the overall experience rather than whether or not we see a truck from our hotel room. (THe exception to this rule is room decor- we need subued hues for our room. It's a personal thing.)

Everyone is entitled to expect certain things of their trip. I guess my question is, what are YOUR expectations? Someone posted today that their trip was disappointing, nothing bad, but they weren't blown away by "magic" and that made it a bit, as the poster put it, "nothing."

So what are your expectations of a Disney resort? Should the CM's be overly, out-of-their-way friendly and "magical?" Is efficiency not enough? Or do you feel that if they are courteous and get the job done that's more than enough? Are there those that love Disney so much that a CM could smack them in the face and they'd feel it was a magical slap? I'm joking here, but I really am amazed at how VERY different the assessments are of each resort.

Just curious. And the kids are napping.

Lisa

 

[*Fantasia*]

I expect a very nice clean room. I expect a professional and friendly staff. I expect a decent food. I expect the grounds to be very clean. I expect to pay high price...it's Disney.

 

[LindaR]

Well, The Disney Company worked long and hard for the reputation that they have.

I want cleanliness! I want someone to smile at me (maybe even smile first) when I smile at them. I do not want to hear about how much they hate their job/company....I'm on vacation and I don't really want a reality check!

I don't think that I hold WDW resorts to a higher standard than any other place that I stay.......the moderates are just motels.........I know that........if I expect to be treated "royally" then I will stay at a high-end deluxe.

I don't have any unrealistic expectations of WDW. I am amazed at the things that some people "demand". I think sometimes that the unrealistic expectations come from people who have not had the chance to travel much and just don't KNOW.

I love vacationing at WDW! But then again............I love VACATIONING!!

 

[Tissa]

I expect a clean room and friendly staff. I don't expect towel animals, free upgrades or acknowledgements of it being my birthday. Just get the basic job done and I'm happy. I also don't expect POP to be a deluxe resort.

 

[webray]

I expect a clean room and the view I paid for.

 

[BostonRob]

I'd like to see things imaculately clean. How about shampooing the carpet and washing the bedspread before I check in?

Wait a minute, are we writing want we expect or what we wish?

 

[Dis2times]

I'd like to see things imaculately clean. How about shampooing the carpet and washing the bedspread before I check in?

Wait a minute, are we writing want we expect or what we wish?

LOL, now I'm not so sure.

What we wish can be far out of line with what we should expect, so lets say what we expect.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

I expect what I've always got at a Disney resort.

Clean rooms, friendly service, beautiful grounds (where else can you walk out to beautiful gardens, fountains and NO TRAFFIC NOISE) and theming, good food and 24/7 Disney. I will never stay off site again. I recomend that to others planning a Disney trip and believe they are missing out on a lot by not doing so.

I love saving money just like the next person but some things I will splurge on. I'll cut corners in other ways so I can get to Disney World again in the not too distant future.

 

[MouseMan]

I expect the Manager to be at the front desk when I check in to greet me. I expect him/her to personally carry ALL of my bag to my room. I then expect him/her to drive me to the park of my choice (no waiting for a bus), and when I get there have the entire park staff clear the streets and stop all rides until I decide which one I will ride first with no waiting....

 

[madalex]

Clean rooms, friendly service, beautiful grounds (where else can you walk out to beautiful gardens, fountains and NO TRAFFIC NOISE) and theming, good food and 24/7 Disney.

This is essentially how I feel. To add to this I would say that the resort and surroundings are as much a part of a WDW vacation as the parks. Thus, I expect the resort to carry through and continue that "magical" feeling that one gets at the parks.

 

[zagafi]

I expect the Manager to be at the front desk when I check in to greet me. I expect him/her to personally carry ALL of my bag to my room. I then expect him/her to drive me to the park of my choice (no waiting for a bus), and when I get there have the entire park staff clear the streets and stop all rides until I decide which one I will ride first with no waiting....

Yeah, what he said.

 

[Mermaid02]

I expect it to be clean.... I expect to feel like the room is relatively "new"..... I expect the staff to be pleasant, accomadating (reasonably so..) ... and friendly..... I expect the staff to keep other guests relatively quiet and move me if they refuse to be quiet.....

 

[Tara]

What I expect from any hotel:

1. I expect a clean comfortable room that provides the level of luxury for which I'm paying. I don't expect turndown service at a value resort, but I also don't expect limited food choices at a deluxe.

2. I expect courtesy and respect from staff, which I also freely give.

3. I expect staff to attempt to meet my (reasonable) needs.

4. I expect that my safety is important.

From a Disney resort, I specifically expect:

1. A resort experience that is outside of the box, with themeing that impacts my stay in both subtle and major ways.

2. A higher level of service than I might receive at just any old hotel. (again, within reason -- I expect the same of other high-quality hotels)

3. Frankly, a little magic. I don't expect to be showered with freebies and upgrades and have CMs strew my path with roses, but I do expect to experience something different, whether it's as simple as enjoying displays of toys and stuffed animals in the room windows at All-Stars or a cheery interaction with the greeter at the GF.

I don't think my expectations are unreasonable -- in fact, I don't think I expect anything that Disney doesn't outright say it wants to provide. My expectations of Disney don't seem to be any higher than Disney's expectations of itself! (not to say that they always live up to those expectations)

 

[pennylynn]

I only expect a clean room with a bed because I spend most of my time in the parks. But I have to say that when I'm at Disney I must be oblivious to any problems around me because I can only think of one time that I noticed anything that wasn't magical. I've never had food that I didn't like, I've never been unhappy with any housekeeping and only one time with a crabby cast member.

 

[old lost boy]

I expect exactly what WL gives. A clean comfortable room with everything working. A friendly, knowledgeable staff. I expect dining choices. I expect a nice pool. At a Disney resort I expect a theme. A neat theme. I think people are disappointed when they expect a Ritz-Carlton-type experience at AK or Poly. There are Disney hotels (GF, Swan, Dolphin) that would give that feel but not all.

 

[lmhall2000]

Interesting, reading everyone's....mine are along the same path...

DO NOT want...

Caddy glares from CM's towards ANYONE...I don't care if they're asking for the moon...wearing the most obnoxious socks with sandals walking into the GF....or ask you one of those same questions you hear 20x a day "Where's the nearest bathroom?" of "When do the parades start?"

mold in my bathroom

hair on the bathroom floor

smoke in my non-smoking room

to wait over an hour for a priority seating

I DO WANT

clean linens

courteous CM's

Of my trips...I've only had one HORRIBLE CM....but his attitude and sneer were enough to wipe out 30 good CM's who were kind...it's crazy how those bad seeds just stick out like a sore thumb there. Had one smoky room which they switched due to my son's asthma...and the rest has been RIGHT ON!

That's why we return.
Tara

 

[MAGGIED]

I would say that I would like....

clean, comfortable beds....

clean bathrooms.....

friendly staff...........

a private lunch with Mary Poppins.........

quiet time after 11pm.............

warm pool water..........

Mickey to escort me to the front of the line on the attractions.............

extra pillows................

more time and money to spend...........

 

[GoofyinNY]

I expect clean rooms, great landscaping and theme, hospitable staff. I guess I expect some magic. (So far, I haven't been disappointed.)

 

[HayGan]

I expect a very nice clean room. I expect a professional and friendly staff. I expect a decent food. I expect the grounds to be very clean. I expect to pay high price...it's Disney.

ITA!!!

We will be staying at the Poly and I expect to have a curtious welcome and check-in, a clean room and clean surroundings. The rest of the experience is up to us. If we get some extra from the CM's then great but it certainly is not expected.

I travel for work and stay in accomodations ranging from bed & breakfasts in the back woods of Pennsylvania to 5 star hotels in Chicago/New York and everything in between. Irregardless of what I am paying for a room, I expect these things in any place I stay. The amount you are paying shouldn't dictate the attitude of the staff, cleanliness of the room or grounds.

 

[disneycake]

I expect clean rules, a friendly staff, nice landscaping, a clean pool, and that I'm going to do a lot of walking which I don't mind because I get to take everything in. I also expect things to take some time, to wait on line, and for things to be far from one another - does it bother me? no, because I know that's how they make disney special. You won't be crammed on top of each other, you'll have lots of luxuries and time to feel you truly are in a different world.