Why stay on property?

[Sarahslay]

I'm glad they are getting a refurb. But the pandemic is just an excuse, IMO. They have housekeepers, even other personal to pitch in, and pick up the dirty trays in the hall.
When we were there 8 years ago, there was no pandemic and No reason not to do their jobs and pick up trays. I think there is no excuse for being dirty.

I don't see anyone using the pandemic as an excuse, I've been three times since reopening and never see things just left in the hallway for extended periods. It might be there for a little while (who knows, the people may have just set the bag out), but it's always gone when I come back by later. Thankfully right now there are no trays to litter things up, and maybe things will improve by the time there are trays. If all else fails, if it bugs someone that much, go to the front desk and complain. Write an email. Don't just let stuff go on and on becoming more disgusting as the days go on. I've never not had swift response from a complaint, I don't know why people just let stuff fester.

 

[Sakiki]

I

I did the VRBO thing twice for beach trips last spring/early summer. One worked out well, one turned out to have very misleading reviews/pictures and we came to the conclusion the reviews were possibly fake/planted. Both had very inflexible cancellation terms and required full or mostly full payment up front - hard pills to swallow during a pandemic.

Sure it had a ton of value in terms of what you get in space, our own pool, etc, but the huge downside of limited flexibility and it being more difficult to really know the quality of the accommodations we were getting for our $ weigh heavily on our opinion of the experience.

It really reminded me of how much we appreciate and value the relative transparency of a Disney resort. They are so well documented across every corner of the internet, you can get a pretty good idea of exactly what you’re getting into.

Maybe Airbnb has better flexibility and more quality reviews, I’ve never used them.

But yeah, I’m with you - I know it’s a great option for many but a house just doesn’t have much appeal for us when we’re in WDW mode.

We’ve never done the Airbnb thing as I have some doubts about their system and the way properties are presented (there was an issue over here in the UK a couple of years ago) so we’ve always used sites like Vrbo (who bought out the previous site we used). We’ve never had a problem with property descriptions and so forth, either in the US, Europe or indeed in the UK. We mostly enjoyed our stay at AKL/JH in December 2019 (the ‘bubble’ effect) but the downside was two weeks in a standard-size hotel room. We decided that we couldn’t do that again, especially for our next trip in December 2022 which will be 22 days.

We actually enjoy shopping in different supermarkets and I enjoy cooking with slightly different ingredients (cooking is my bag not DWs). And if I don’t want to cook, we can hop in the car and go out for any meal of the day very easily (the number of places to eat within five or six miles of WDW is staggering) and if we’re on site we invariably have reservations and know where we’re going to eat be it in a park or in a resort.

Someone else here mentioned laundry but we would have to think about that anyway - it’s not practical to carry enough clothes for three weeks!

One of the beauties of WDW and Florida generally is that we can all have a different view about this and can all be happy with our own specific choices! Vacation capital of the world and all that...

 

[skittles67]

DVC member so of course we will still stay on site. Here comes my however... we fly in and have always used DME (couple of exceptions were the time we were late and missed our bus, and another time the DME line at the airport was HUGE and they told us it could be 90+ minutes). We have discussed renting a car after DME services end. We've never done that before. I think it would be good to go out and explore other parts of Orlando - find restaurants and entertainment beyond the Disney bubble. We've also mentioned doing Universal a couple of days. Since we could drive from our DVC resort to Universal for the day. Maybe it's silly, but I always felt like our vacation started the minute we got on the bus.

 

[ElizabethG]

I love hotels. LOVE THEM. I love the lobbies, the gift shops, the restaurants, the lounges, the pool...all of it.
Everywhere we travel, the hotel is the single most important aspect of the trip.

I know a lot of people love Airbnb, but we will never travel that way. I have no desire to stay in a house or condo. That is why I don't even really want to stay in places with kitchens, not my thing.

....although I wouldn't turn down a preferred view studio or standard at Riviera if anyone is listening....

I agree with everything - except for the kitchen. I love the villas. Having the full size frig and freezer is really nice. We only prepare toast or bagels in the kitchen, but still. I do really love getting take-out from the hotel quick service and eating at the dining table in the room. So great!

I also use the washer/dryer and love having it in the room. We stay for 15-16 nights, so that is just too many clothes to pack. Having it in the room is so convenient.

 

[dato63]

We haven't been to Disney in 8 years. We are booked, and planning to stay on site. Like some other's have posted, it is for the feeling. When we pull up, the nostalgia of past trips, knowing the CMs are going to make it special and memorable, that all adds to the value for me. We rarely used ME, as we have driven to Florida more than we have flown there. But, I am disappointed about the EMH. Not sure a 30 minute head start is as wonderful, but if it is all four parks open early for onsite guests - and some are staying off site due to the loss of perks - then maybe that will spread out the visitors and make it less crowded. Who knows. I'm just excited to have a trip on the books - Christmas 2021.

 

[BBdisfan]

We travel to wdw about once per year. Usually in the fall. We like to stay onsite. Last year we stayed with extended family in a 3 bdrm at wyndom bonnet creek. It was okay.

I compare it to the years you have to go to your in-laws for Christmas and not your own family’s house. Like, the food was ok - not the quality I’m used to on a Dis trip, the pool was fine (wasn’t all that excited/impressed), room was spacious but felt like any hotel anywhere.

But staying on property, it’s definitely more magical (like going home for Christmas! Even as an adult!) I’d rather save up for the trip and do it the way that brings the most joy not just the cheapest bottom line. I enjoy the research and planning and like to make each trip a little different.

 

[5th gate dreamers]

I'm glad they are getting a refurb. But the pandemic is just an excuse, IMO. They have housekeepers, even other personal to pitch in, and pick up the dirty trays in the hall.
When we were there 8 years ago, there was no pandemic and No reason not to do their jobs and pick up trays. I think there is no excuse for being dirty.

i would say that there is no excuse for an adult to treat their hotel that way. it toes that line of "theyre your server, not your servant" in regards to servers. its not housekeepings job to patrol the halls like a robot vaccuum 24/7 looking for litter.
for example, i like to clean the toilets once a week. i once had a roommate who just refused to do any chores, so eventually i quit since i wasnt their servant. went 11 months without cleaning the toilet till they were gone. cleaned it that evening. i would hope housekeeping has that attitude about it.
of course, the best course for everybody would be to give the room doing it a warning that that is unacceptable from a sanitary perspective and next violation would elicit a ban. i feel its that serious. yes, its annoying from a "you filthy lazy person" point of view, but its actually a health concern. it lets the responsible adults enjoy their expensive hotel stay, and welcomes those who never learned manners to take their business elsewhere.

 

[WEDWDW]

There are plenty of garbage cans, people just need to walk outside the building to get to them. The tiny cans by elevators aren’t made for that amount of trash. The bigger, rectangle cans on the grounds of the resorts are able to handle the trash. People just need to walk a bit further.

Or call Housekeeping and tell them you need a larger trash bag than the ones in the POP rooms and Housekeeping will come get the Food Court trash and dispose of it properly and take the Tray back to Everything Pop.

Or,yes this IS an option,walk the Food Court Trash back to Everything Pop and dispose of the Trash and return the Tray.

Or bring some larger Trash bags from home and put the Trash in them and Housekeeping will pick it up when they do the room clean and they will get the Tray(s) and return them to Everything Pop.

What should NEVER be an option is the below-put the leftovers on top of a too small Trash Can by Elevators that Guests are constantly using and call it a day.

Very disrespectful to other POP Guests-not in any way Groovy!

 

[DVCSunDevil]

I don't see anyone using the pandemic as an excuse, I've been three times since reopening and never see things just left in the hallway for extended periods. It might be there for a little while (who knows, the people may have just set the bag out), but it's always gone when I come back by later. Thankfully right now there are no trays to litter things up, and maybe things will improve by the time there are trays. If all else fails, if it bugs someone that much, go to the front desk and complain. Write an email. Don't just let stuff go on and on becoming more disgusting as the days go on. I've never not had swift response from a complaint, I don't know why people just let stuff fester.

I agree. I think there may be a lot of exaggerating go on here. We have only stayed onsite at WDW and I have never seen trays and garbage lining the hallways. Again, there may be a BRIEF period where someone puts a tray in the hallway but it is usually gone in a reasonable amount of time. I have never seen the hallways be an apocalyptic wasteland that some people are saying it is.

 

[WEDWDW]

I agree. I think there may be a lot of exaggerating go on here. We have only stayed onsite at WDW and I have never seen trays and garbage lining the hallways. Again, there may be a BRIEF period where someone puts a tray in the hallway but it is usually gone in a reasonable amount of time. I have never seen the hallways be an apocalyptic wasteland that some people are saying it is.

Happens a lot actually.

This is an old picture from the All-Stars,but I saw the same thing at Pop Century last week.

How can one do this and just walk away?

 

[Disneylover99]

I agree. I think there may be a lot of exaggerating go on here. We have only stayed onsite at WDW and I have never seen trays and garbage lining the hallways. Again, there may be a BRIEF period where someone puts a tray in the hallway but it is usually gone in a reasonable amount of time. I have never seen the hallways be an apocalyptic wasteland that some people are saying it is.

I didn't get that vibe from anyone on this thread. But then again, I'm one of the complainers, so you might be talking about me.

I don't think anyone is saying it is absolutely like this all the time. Just that it's being noticed/seen more and more. I may notice it more at The Poly, because we usually don't even go to the parks when we stay there so we are back and forth to our rooms all day.

I'm always happy to hear others never experiencing/noticing this. But others have.

 

[Disneylover99]

Happens a lot actually.

This is an old picture from the All-Stars,but I saw the same thing at Pop Century last week.

How can one do this and just walk away?

View attachment 553131

I guess the food was really bad that day.

Sometimes I think it just takes one person in your corridor to get the ball rolling. They look out the door and say oh yeah, good idea, and then everyone puts their garbage out.
It really is particularly gross when people leave their food trays outside on the ground at the values and moderates.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

I didn't get that vibe from anyone on this thread. But then again, I'm one of the complainers, so you might be talking about me.

I don't think anyone is saying it is absolutely like this all the time. Just that it's being noticed/seen more and more. I may notice it more at The Poly, because we usually don't even go to the parks when we stay there so we are back and forth to our rooms all day.

I'm always happy to hear others never experiencing/noticing this. But others have.

I agree, I have seen it with my own eyes (like I mentioned), and there has been many threads over the years talking about this same subject. It seems like POLY and GF are the main resorts mentioned and the only reason that I can think of, is that they have exterior buildings, where a lot of the other deluxe resorts do not.
All I can do is just post based what our family has seen or done in the almost 40 trips to WDW.

 

[Disneylover99]

I agree, I have seen it with my own eyes (like I mentioned), and there has been many threads over the years talking about this same subject. It seems like POLY and GF are the main resorts mentioned and the only reason that I can think of, is that they have exterior buildings, where a lot of the other deluxe resorts do not.
All I can do is just post based what our family has seen or done in the almost 40 trips to WDW.

Good point about the exterior buildings. I'd imagine there are fewer CM's in and out of these buildings. That might be a reason why trays are not picked up as quickly in comparison to rooms attached to the main building.

 

[Missingmypooh]

Speaking of food.
We typically stay on site because of food allergies.

Disney offers an allergen cleaning for the rooms, allergy friendly Mickey waffles for breakfast and grabbing some enjoy life snacks from the lobby!
The kids just love staying onsite, especially the theming at AOA. Oh, and the skyliner can’t be beat. We’ve done pop and AOA a few times since the skyliner opened (with Priceline deals- so maybe it’s the cheapness which with I got the rooms) and it can’t be beat.

most places look at you like you’ve got three head if you mention anything food allergy related, but the Disney resorts (as of October 2020) were still top of the game for Orlando theme parks with food-allergies. You simply can’t buy that peace of mind (unless your cooking at an Airbnb, which we’ve done, but that’s not a vaca)

 

[DVCSunDevil]

I didn't get that vibe from anyone on this thread. But then again, I'm one of the complainers, so you might be talking about me.

I don't think anyone is saying it is absolutely like this all the time. Just that it's being noticed/seen more and more. I may notice it more at The Poly, because we usually don't even go to the parks when we stay there so we are back and forth to our rooms all day.

I'm always happy to hear others never experiencing/noticing this. But others have.

I was referring to comments that make it sound like this is an everyday occurrence that people see on every WDW trip. In all of our trips, I have never seen trays lining the entire hallway for an extended period of time. Which is what some comments have stated. The occasional trays outside the room are acceptable, IMO. These are resorts. That's is what happens at every resort when people get room service.

 

[DVCSunDevil]

Happens a lot actually.

This is an old picture from the All-Stars,but I saw the same thing at Pop Century last week.

How can one do this and just walk away?

View attachment 553131

Again, I wasn't disagreeing that people put their trays outside their room. The picture you showed is precisely that scenario and it is completely acceptable, IMO, provided it gets picked up in a reasonable time frame. My comment was toward the comments that say entire hallways were basically cluttered with trays on a routine basis. That I have not seen at WDW. The occasional trays (like in your picture) I have seen.

I stay in hotels easily over 100 nights per year due to my job. I get room service a lot, and whey I am done eating I put the tray and food outside my door. And then it gets picked up. Sometimes when the food is brought to my room the hotel employee will even tell me to just leave it outside my door when I am finished (actually, they tell me to do that most of the time now that I think of it). So, IMO, having the sporadic trays outside the room isn't a big deal...unless a long period of time elapses and it doesn't get picked up. In which case I would simply tell the front desk.

 

[Disneylover99]

The picture you showed is precisely that scenario and it is completely acceptable, IMO, provided it gets picked up in a reasonable time frame.

Do you really think it’s fine to leave a whole tray of food on the ground like that outdoors? Some people will put those out late at night.

If you’re on the ground floor, the only ones picking it up at that point are going to be the animals strewing it around the pathways, dragging it into the bushes and making an awful mess that nobody wants to be walking through the next morning.

 

[disneyseniors]

i would say that there is no excuse for an adult to treat their hotel that way. it toes that line of "theyre your server, not your servant" in regards to servers. its not housekeepings job to patrol the halls like a robot vaccuum 24/7 looking for litter.
for example, i like to clean the toilets once a week. i once had a roommate who just refused to do any chores, so eventually i quit since i wasnt their servant. went 11 months without cleaning the toilet till they were gone. cleaned it that evening. i would hope housekeeping has that attitude about it.
of course, the best course for everybody would be to give the room doing it a warning that that is unacceptable from a sanitary perspective and next violation would elicit a ban. i feel its that serious. yes, its annoying from a "you filthy lazy person" point of view, but its actually a health concern. it lets the responsible adults enjoy their expensive hotel stay, and welcomes those who never learned manners to take their business elsewhere.

You would think that if the housekeeping staff wasn't responsible, that they would at least alert the ones who are responsible for keeping the halls clean, safe and sanitary.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Honestly I’ve only seen the food tray thing at the deluxes. It always bothers me when I see it, too.