Why stay on property?

[Disneylover99]

I was just wondering which part of Universal you found unclean? I can agree with any financial comparisons between Disney and Universal— we love them both. We stay in the deluxe Universal hotels and find it a more relaxing vacation, as we can walk or boat to the parks and stand in the express ride lines for free.

I‘m curious about this too. While I love Disney on the whole, so much more than Universal, I actually found the Universal resorts and parks cleaner overall.

 

[bizeemom4]

I'm talking amenities and access-wise. Not going to tell anyone they have to like it better than Disney hotels.

Without Magical Express, free magic bands, or access to the dining plan, I'd say the amenities are pretty even.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Op: simple for me... total Disney immersion

 

[DVCSunDevil]

I was just wondering which part of Universal you found unclean? I can agree with any financial comparisons between Disney and Universal— we love them both. We stay in the deluxe Universal hotels and find it a more relaxing vacation, as we can walk or boat to the parks and stand in the express ride lines for free.

It wasn't the Universal hotel that was unclean. We stayed at Royal Pacific and it was nice. Even though it was nice, the pool area and other areas of the resort definitely were not "detailed" as much as WDW resorts. We spent a good portion of one afternoon at the pool and there was garbage (from lunches) and used towels all over the place. And the pool area stayed like that for awhile after a good majority of the people had cleared out. You don't see that at WDW results...CMs are always coming by to clean up.

However, Universal Studios parks were definitely not clean in many areas. I went into some of the bathrooms and they were disgusting. I have never seen a WDW park bathroom be disgusting. And around many of the food stands the trash cans were completely overflowing. It was stuff like that, stuff you don't see in WDW. Neither the "untidiness" at Royal Pacific or unclean areas of Universal are deal breakers. We like Universal. But Universal is definitely #2 to WDW in the things I mentioned (cleaner, theming, service, etc.).

 

[Disneylover99]

It wasn't the Universal hotel that was unclean. We stayed at Royal Pacific and it was nice. Even though it was nice, the pool area and other areas of the resort definitely were not "detailed" as much as WDW resorts. We spent a good portion of one afternoon at the pool and there was garbage (from lunches) and used towels all over the place. And the pool area stayed like that for awhile after a good majority of the people had cleared out. You don't see that at WDW results...CMs are always coming by to clean up.

However, Universal Studios parks were definitely not clean in many areas. I went into some of the bathrooms and they were disgusting. I have never seen a WDW park bathroom be disgusting. And around many of the food stands the trash cans were completely overflowing. It was stuff like that, stuff you don't see in WDW. Neither the "untidiness" at Royal Pacific or unclean areas of Universal are deal breakers. We like Universal. But Universal is definitely #2 to WDW in the things I mentioned (cleaner, theming, service, etc.).

10 years ago, I would have totally agreed with you and said, yeah, you don't see that at Disney.

But over the years, I have found Disney getting move and more lax when it comes to cleanliness. We've seen plenty of filthy public washrooms at Disney. Not all the time, but enough for me to say it has become a more regular occurrence, where it know longer surprises me like it used to. Same with by the pool area and especially in the hallways outside people's rooms. Nasty trays of half eaten food on the floor/ground for several hours outside of resort doors with plenty of CM's walking by, just ignoring it. I guess it wasn't in their particular job description to clean it up. I don't know.

 

[DVCSunDevil]

10 years ago, I would have totally agreed with you and said, yeah, you don't see that at Disney.

But over the years, I have found Disney getting move and more lax when it comes to cleanliness. We've seen plenty of filthy public washrooms at Disney. Not all the time, but enough for me to say it has become a more regular occurrence, where it know longer surprises me like it used to. Same with by the pool area and especially in the hallways outside people's rooms. Nasty trays of half eaten food on the floor/ground for several hours outside of resort doors with plenty of CM's walking by, just ignoring it. I guess it wasn't in their particular job description to clean it up. I don't know.

Interesting. Is there a certain resort at which you normally stay? I'm just wondering because I haven't seen those things, at least not enough to indicate a downward pattern. I might see the occasional tray of dishes outside of a room (which is completely understandable), but then it is gone relatively quickly. And my daughters always have commented how amazed they are at the cleanliness of the WDW park restrooms. I'm not saying what you said you have seen isn't accurate, I just haven't seen those things.

 

[Disneylover99]

Interesting. Is there a certain resort at which you normally stay? I'm just wondering because I haven't seen those things, at least not enough to indicate a downward pattern. I might see the occasional tray of dishes outside of a room (which is completely understandable), but then it is gone relatively quickly. And my daughters always have commented how amazed they are at the cleanliness of the WDW park restrooms. I'm not saying what you said you have seen isn't accurate, I just haven't seen those things.

I believe you too when you say you haven't seen it.
I think for me, it's because I never saw it for the first few years either. And then gradually I noticed it more and more.

The biggest tray offender for me so far has been the Poly. I think I noticed it more then ever on our last trip because we stayed right at the end of Rarotonga and so we had to pass all the other rooms to get to the main building. We called it tray alley that trip. lol. It was really surprising how long those trays sat out. When I see those trays lying around outside of rooms at Pop, I occasionally pick them up and toss them myself if the tray has been around all day and it's almost nightfall. We like a ground floor room, so it bothers me when people put food in the outside corridors. It just attracts animals.

 

[MomOTwins]

I believe you too when you say you haven't seen it.
I think for me, it's because I never saw it for the first few years either. And then gradually I noticed it more and more.

The biggest tray offender for me so far has been the Poly. I think I noticed it more then ever on our last trip because we stayed right at the end of Rarotonga and so we had to pass all the other rooms to get to the main building. We called it tray alley that trip. lol. It was really surprising how long those trays sat out. When I see those trays lying around outside of rooms at Pop, I occasionally pick them up and toss them myself if the tray has been around all day and it's almost nightfall. We like a ground floor room, so it bothers me when people put food in the outside corridors. It just attracts animals.

This drives me nuts too. I think people don’t realize they need to call room service to come pick up their trays. Wish they printed that on the in-room dining menus or say so when you call to place your order (or in the app, if that is how it is done these days).

 

[Disneylover99]

This drives me nuts too. I think people don’t realize they need to call room service to come pick up their trays. Wish they printed that on the in-room dining menus or say so when you call to place your order (or in the app, if that is how it is done these days).

Haha! I didn't even realize that, because I've never ordered room service. But that makes sense.
Or maybe they do call and are told to leave it outside their room and then it just sits there forever until the right CM finally comes around for collections.

We often bring a tray of counter service food to our room at each resort we stay at. I just bring the tray with food scraps back to the counter service area for disposal when we're done.

 

[cjlong88]

This drives me nuts too. I think people don’t realize they need to call room service to come pick up their trays. Wish they printed that on the in-room dining menus or say so when you call to place your order (or in the app, if that is how it is done these days).

Oh man, I would love a feature on MDE that would allow you to order room service and then when you're done eating you can click a "collect my tray" button.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

As a frequent Poly guest - I'll agree with the tray stuff. A normally popular in-room dining option given the Ohana feast/goodies you can order + gross guests + poor monitoring/initiative by management to be proactive about taking away trays = piled up plates of sticky wings and bread pudding in the hallway. I hate it, but put up with it because I otherwise love Poly.

At least for now with no in-room dining hallway mess is limited to the brown to-go bags and to-go containers that people think are OK to leave in the hallway.

 

[Disneylover99]

At least for now with no in-room dining hallway mess is limited to the brown to-go bags and to-go containers that people think are OK to leave in the hallway.

Ugh. Sorry to hear it. I was hoping people leaving their crap in the hallway was less of an issue right now. Guess not.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Ugh. Sorry to hear it. I was hoping people leaving their crap in the hallway was less of an issue right now. Guess not.

Like any good DISer my comment was more about the 3% of the time you may see something like that and not the 97% of the time you don’t.... BUT, I couldn’t help but laugh/sneer at the few times I saw it when I was there a few weeks ago. I mean, who thinks it’s OK to put pizza boxes in the hall?? There are very few things that bother me about guest behavior - it’s a big world, we all have our habits, we’re all different, etc - but that is one that always gets under my skin for some reason.

 

[DL1WDW2]

What happened to the trash/recycle for DVC Members.. Have these been closed?

 

[JakeAZ]

Lots of great responses to the (recently) heavily debated topic. I actually don't think the reasoning matters at all. Some love to stay on-site and will regardless of what perks come and go. Some will stop staying on-site until benefits return. Some never stayed on-site to begin with. All have valid reasons that work for their families.

I think the biggest takeaway, for me at least, is Disney wouldn't remove benefits if they thought they'd pay a huge financial penalty for it. They've run the numbers and have the data that suggest people will continue to pay the high prices regardless of what is "included".

One the flip side, we are staying 2 nights at Universal before our next WDW trip in November and I feel their pricing is absolutely justified when staying at a premier hotel. When going during busy times, you are basically getting a huge discount on the cost of EP and getting the hotel room for free. 2 club rooms with 5 people in each, for 2 nights was booked for $2100. The EPs alone, for the 3 days we have access to, would have been $4400 for 10 people!

 

[rjb123]

We generally always stay on property. Even if we will not be going to the parks but will be in the area for another event (sporting event etc) we tend to stay on property. To me, it is a reliably clean room that I know will have decent service and food options. I don't have to drive all over creation in crazy traffic looking for something to eat, I don't worry or wonder if the room will be clean or filthy and loaded with bedbugs. As a woman, I like knowing that Disney is a relatively safe environment if I am traveling without my DH. I hated DME the few times I used it, so I generally rented a car. I only used EMH during planned park trips and that was just a "nice to have" thing- I never felt they "owed" me. Yes it is expensive, but for me/ us its worth it.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

Interesting. Is there a certain resort at which you normally stay? I'm just wondering because I haven't seen those things, at least not enough to indicate a downward pattern. I might see the occasional tray of dishes outside of a room (which is completely understandable), but then it is gone relatively quickly. And my daughters always have commented how amazed they are at the cleanliness of the WDW park restrooms. I'm not saying what you said you have seen isn't accurate, I just haven't seen those things.

I have to agree with disneylover99, the majority of our deluxe stays, we have noticed trays sitting in the hallways and a bunch of times and they are still there at night when we get back from the parks Poly and GF had the most culprits, but also seen it at BW and AKL. I have a pic somewhere, of one day where there had to be 15+ trays littering the hallway, if I find it I will post it. We NEVER put any food containers etc. in the hallway, we always leave it for our mousekeeper or (since I am not lazy) I may take it myself to a trash bin.
Years ago I would have never picked a US resort over WDW, but now I have found their resorts to be better, food amenities, etc. as well as a better value. We love being in the "bubble" but I am not going to be foolish with my $$ just because of that.

 

[Leight19]

Bit off topic but feel it fits into the discussion on the “magic” of Disney bubble and discussions on decline in service at Disney and resorts. On my recent trip I was ready for some missing offerings so that didn’t bother me much and still felt magical being at Disney but what was a bit shocking to me was how different some of the cast members were. I haven’t traveled to Disney since 2018 so not sure if this was general change overtime or something related to covid but I felt I saw too much of the background drama leak into cast. Examples that stood out to me was hearing cast member discuss news about upcoming layoffs (understandable since news had just broke), hearing two cast members gossiping about third cast member (happened twice at two separate resorts), and the one that bothered me most (maybe it shouldn’t) was two haunted mansion cast members openly discussing Star Wars and their favorite Star Wars planets (did they get rid of the role playing of haunted mansion cast members?).
To me, I was lucky to have plenty of excellent cast interactions and magic moments but I feel like some of the company drama is starting to effect the front line cast member and that really hurt some of magic to me more then any of these reduced offerings.

 

[WorldOfPooh]

Like any good DISer my comment was more about the 3% of the time you may see something like that and not the 97% of the time you don’t.... BUT, I couldn’t help but laugh/sneer at the few times I saw it when I was there a few weeks ago. I mean, who thinks it’s OK to put pizza boxes in the hall?? There are very few things that bother me about guest behavior - it’s a big world, we all have our habits, we’re all different, etc - but that is one that always gets under my skin for some reason.

Usually it's because they don't want roaches in their room.

 

[WorldOfPooh]

Usually it's because they don't want roaches in their room.

I have to agree with disneylover99, the majority of our deluxe stays, we have noticed trays sitting in the hallways and a bunch of times and they are still there at night when we get back from the parks Poly and GF had the most culprits, but also seen it at BW and AKL. I have a pic somewhere, of one day where there had to be 15+ trays littering the hallway, if I find it I will post it. We NEVER put any food containers etc. in the hallway, we always leave it for our mousekeeper or (since I am not lazy) I may take it myself to a trash bin.
Years ago I would have never picked a US resort over WDW, but now I have found their resorts to be better, food amenities, etc. as well as a better value. We love being in the "bubble" but I am not going to be foolish with my $$ just because of that.

LIke I said the main reason people put the food in the halls is because they are petrified of roaches. If you leave the pizza boxes and food in the room then the roaches will congregate.

I usually put all my food trash in the refrigerator but I can't remember if all the Disney resorts have refrigerator's in their roooms.