Will DVC count as a "Deluxe Resort" for extended park hours

[CarolynFH]

My friend is going early October on my DVC points. She does not have park hoppers. Wonder if she will be allowed access if that was not the park she chose to go to earlier that day?

Without a PH, I don’t think she’ll be able to go unless it’s at the park she reserved that day.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

I was hoping it would be a separate entry sort of like an After-Events or a holiday party. Maybe Disney will tell us something soon, so there is time for her to rearrange park reservations.

 

[MonaMN]

I was hoping it would be a separate entry sort of like an After-Events or a holiday party. Maybe Disney will tell us something soon, so there is time for her to rearrange park reservations.

I am thinking the same thing about our March trip even though I know we have plenty of time! But we are adding a Universal visit to the end so we don’t have quite as much flexibility as usual.

 

[KimMcGowan]

We just spent more than I would admit on a hotel room in Amarillo, TX, not exactly a hot spot. The room was blah, but the price was high because there was some baseball tournament in town.

Ha! I live in Amarillo. We are quite the hot spot. That post just made my night. I am still giggling 5 minutes later.

 

[TexasChick123]

Ha! I live in Amarillo. We are quite the hot spot. That post just made my night. I am still giggling 5 minutes later.

It was definitely HOT!!! I think it was 101 on one of the days. We came over that super hot Father’s Day weekend.

 

[Wakey]

From a selfish perspective I love it and it’s great.
From a moral perspective I think of the family who can only afford Pop or the campsite after a lot of saving and they are giving the kids that one trip.
I still remember when all I could afford was the Broadway Inn at the **** end of 192.

 

[dfisher9]

Staying at a DVC resort will likely always be lumped in with staying the deluxe resorts, no matter if you are direct or resale, for perks that are tied to the resort stay, such as the EMH (and potential Fastpass). There is no way that Disney will exclude cash guests staying at GFV from the perks that they give to people staying at the hotel portion. In reality, those people paying cash are really staying on points; the points that Disney owns and is now renting out to the guest. They would have an uproar on their hands if they allow people renting points from Disney to get the perks but not people using their own points.

 

[zavandor]

I understand why people are upset, because the evening EMH were for everyone onsite and now it seems they've taken them away from everyone and given only to the wealthy.
But, have they?

On site guests will get 30 extra minutes per park every day, a total of 14 hours of EMH per week. How many hours per week were available as EMH before the closure?
Sure, one person can only enjoy a total of extra 3,5 hours per week because he cannot be in four places at once, but I argue that those 3,5 hours are more valuable that the old EMH. Personally, I never used EMH, ever. Because the park that hosted the EMH was always the busiest and the time saved with the extra time was lost during the day in line. And you had to wake up early to get not much of an advantage. Now the EMH are at all parks at the same time, so it won't make a difference for the crowds and we'll get an head start against all off site guests at all parks every day. In my opinion, this is an incredible advantage, wait for the complaints from people who arrived 1h before rope drop and will see on site guests passing them in the queue for the headliner just 5 minutes before opening time.

Anyway, back on topic, this change was announced and at the same time it was understood that evening EMH were eliminated for everyone. Were they already thinking about reintroducing them only for deluxe guests? Probably. But if this was never announced, I would have been personally happy with the change. It's not the same type of service for everyone, but I think on average on site guests are still ahead.

The evening EMH have now been announced for Deluxe guests. If there are too many complaint because this is seen as elitist, what do you think Disney will do: extend the benefit to everyone of cut the cost and suspend it for everyone? I think it's the latter.
That's why I don't see this as unethical.
And it's quite curious claiming it's unethical because only Deluxes get it, but people still claim it should be given to all onsite guests, not to everyone with a standard hours extention. So this new perk is just too much elitist? So the principle is that we are ok with elitist things, but only if we can afford them.

 

[CarolMN]

And it's quite curious claiming it's unethical because only Deluxes get it, but people still claim it should be given to all onsite guests, not to everyone with a standard hours extention. So this new perk is just too much elitist? So the principle is that we are ok with elitist things, but only if we can afford them.

I don't follow the logic, either. How is offering EMH to on-site guests (but not off site guests) different from offering it to those staying in deluxe on-site accommodations (but not in other on-site accommodations)?

I agree with you. It's about the money - for both the guests and Disney.

 

[MonaMN]

There are lots of ways to add to a Disney experience by paying more - character meals, VIP tours, dessert parties - but none of those mean people can’t still come to the parks to do what they have always done.

I think they need to add some perks to excuse the costs - we basically purchased DVC when I looked at how much more a moderate costs now than it did a couple years ago. If people are going to spend even more, they’ll need more than a (sometimes functional) monorail and nice restaurants to justify it.

 

[Pens Fan]

I was hoping it would be a separate entry sort of like an After-Events or a holiday party. Maybe Disney will tell us something soon, so there is time for her to rearrange park reservations.

This is directly from Disney's website:

"Guests will need valid admission and a theme park reservation for the same park on the same day to experience extended evening hours. Or, Guests may visit with a ticket or annual pass with the Park Hopper option as long as they entered their first park where they made their reservation earlier in the day."

And here's the link: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/extended-evening/

Hopefully they will release the schedule soon, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[TexasChick123]

I still don’t understand the rationale behind telling everyone this was coming, you’ll have to plan for it with your park days if you don’t have a PH, and then saying they will release those days “soon”. Why not announce it and release the days at the same time?!? What’s the advantage to Disney for waiting to release the schedule? What’s the disadvantage for releasing it now???

 

[Sandisw]

I still don’t understand the rationale behind telling everyone this was coming, you’ll have to plan for it with your park days if you don’t have a PH, and then saying they will release those days “soon”. Why not announce it and release the days at the same time?!? What’s the advantage to Disney for waiting to release the schedule? What’s the disadvantage for releasing it now???

I think they are probably still planning but one advantage is that it may encourage people to add the hopper option??

Honestly though with capacity being raised abs most likely normal in the fall, it won’t matter and people will be able to change up park reservations to match without too much trouble if they don’t have the hopper or AP.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

It's not just the physical plant of the resort. Disney is not close to the level of service one might find at e.g a Four Seasons. Disney is a competent hotelier, but not much more than that. I think of them as a notch below one of the better business-class chains. The Cast does a good job at handling the routine, but they aren't particularly good at solving problems nor do they deliver the high-touch experience you'd get at one of these more luxury-class properties.

Here's a simple example: I was traveling to the Four Seasons in DC for a conference several years ago. As the bellman was opening the door to my Lyft, he welcomed me by name. I still am not 100% sure how they pulled that off--I suspect his colleague checked the name tag on my luggage as he was pulling it out of the trunk--but it appeared completely effortless. Even with ME and the ability to know for sure who is getting off the bus with at least 30 minutes notice, the Cast is looking at a tablet to try to figure out who you are as you walk up.

Fixing this is hard, because right now the level of service isn't all that different across any of the WDW properties no matter what the nightly rate is. In fact, I suspect that the decision to sell/lease that plot to the Four Seasons was essentially an admission that they wouldn't even try.

I’m still blown away that people don’t understand Disney hotels.
Its about the theming. Period.
Disney hotels are still adequate for most requirements, but that’s not their goal. It’s. Theming. Period.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but the hotels you speak of don’t really specialize in theming.

 

[fumanchu2488]

I’m still blown away that people don’t understand Disney hotels.
Its about the theming. Period.
Disney hotels are still adequate for most requirements, but that’s not their goal. It’s. Theming. Period.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but the hotels you speak of don’t really specialize in theming.

This doesn’t really make sense. Values have a lot more theming than deluxe resorts. Some deluxe do have themes, but what about contemporary, grand Floridian, Saratoga springs, OKW or even Riviera. They all have very subtle themes. Also, there are fundamental differences between the resorts.

Value resorts only allow 4 person occupancy unless you get a suite.
Value resorts do not have sit down dining.
Value resorts bathrooms and vanity areas are smaller.
Value resort beds are lesser quality.
Value resort pools do not have slides.

The point that that post was trying to make, and is very obvious, is that Disney charges the same amount of money (or more) as nearby resorts that are of much higher quality. It isn’t even close. The only advantage of Disney resorts is the location to the parks and whatever park perks they offer those guests. Unless you really think the theming of deluxe resorts is worth paying hundreds of dollars per night.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

This doesn’t really make sense. Values have a lot more theming than deluxe resorts. Some deluxe do have themes, but what about contemporary, grand Floridian, Saratoga springs, OKW or even Riviera. They all have very subtle themes.

If it’s your opinion that All Stars are better themed than the Grand Floridian, than we will never agree.

Also, there are fundamental differences between the resorts.

Value resorts only allow 4 person occupancy unless you get a suite.
Value resorts do not have sit down dining.
Value resorts bathrooms and vanity areas are smaller.
Value resort beds are lesser quality.
Value resort pools do not have slides.

those items have nothing to do with theming, so really are irrelevant to my point.

The point that that post was trying to make, and is very obvious, is that Disney charges the same amount of money (or more) as nearby resorts that are of much higher quality. It isn’t even close. The only advantage of Disney resorts is the location to the parks and whatever park perks they offer those guests. Unless you really think the theming of deluxe resorts is worth paying hundreds of dollars per night.

There are a couple five star resorts in the area, but very few. The Disney resorts have better amenities and service than 95% of the hotels in the country. (I stay in hotels a lot. In my last 30 years of life, I have lived in hotels almost 15 of those years).
Personally the location of the Disney resorts means very little to me. It’s all about the theming. Walking in and being under the illusion you are in a different place.

 

[Brian Noble]

I’m still blown away that people don’t understand Disney hotels.

Oh, I understand all right. But, you often find people talking about the "great service" that Disney provides at its resorts, and usually that means that the person speaking has never experienced a hotel that provides better than average service---and that includes better business brands, eg. a Westin, not just the "luxury" segment.

If you value quality high-touch service, you are going to be disappointed in any WDW resort. If your point is that Disney doesn't really care about that, I agree with you. They don't--at least, their actions suggest that they don't.

But I also disagree with your assessment. I don't think it's about the theming, period. I think it is also about location and access. It's also worth pointing out that the Lowes resorts at Universal are themed, provide both location and access, and that Lowes is in my experience a noticeably better hotel operator in terms of service than is Disney---at least at the three top-tier properties there.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Oh, I understand all right. But, you often find people talking about the "great service" that Disney provides at its resorts, and usually that means that the person speaking has never experienced a hotel that provides better than average service---and that includes better business brands, eg. a Westin, not just the "luxury" segment.

If you value quality high-touch service, you are going to be disappointed in any WDW resort. If your point is that Disney doesn't really care about that, I agree with you. They don't--at least, their actions suggest that they don't.

But I also disagree with your assessment. I don't think it's about the theming, period. I think it is also about location and access. It's also worth pointing out that the Lowes resorts at Universal are themed, provide both location and access, and that Lowes is in my experience a noticeably better hotel operator in terms of service than is Disney---at least at the three top-tier properties there.

I have never stayed at a Universal/Lowe’s hotel, but I have visited Portofino Bay for dinner. From what I saw it looked to be themed on a more moderate level. Can’t speak for service & amenities.

 

[fumanchu2488]

Oh, I understand all right. But, you often find people talking about the "great service" that Disney provides at its resorts, and usually that means that the person speaking has never experienced a hotel that provides better than average service---and that includes better business brands, eg. a Westin, not just the "luxury" segment.

If you value quality high-touch service, you are going to be disappointed in any WDW resort. If your point is that Disney doesn't really care about that, I agree with you. They don't--at least, their actions suggest that they don't.

But I also disagree with your assessment. I don't think it's about the theming, period. I think it is also about location and access. It's also worth pointing out that the Lowes resorts at Universal are themed, provide both location and access, and that Lowes is in my experience a noticeably better hotel operator in terms of service than is Disney---at least at the three top-tier properties there.

To add on, it is not just service, it is the room. The Grand Floridian was last updated 13 years ago (might be 14). Most luxury resorts, even 4 star resorts like a JW Marriot are updated on 6 - 7 year schedules. I know even some 3 stars are mandated by corporate to refresh rooms on 6 year cycles (see Courtyard Marriot). So comparing rooms that haven’t been touched in over a decade to any room that has been updated is not close. This is evidenced even on Disney property. We took a trip and stayed at BWV for a week but flew in a few days early and stayed for a night at Grand Destino. If you just consider the resort, there was no comparison between the two and GT was way better. Now I would obviously rather stay at BWV because of the proximity to the parks, but the room and hotel in general wasn’t even close.

As a semi-frequent business traveler pre-COVID, I could say some of the lesser hotels I stayed at often (which was a Courtyard Marriot) they knew my name, room preference, gave me free water bottles and other items I needed (tooth brush, shaving cream, etc…). I would argue the service at some of those resorts was the same or even better than Disney deluxe rooms.

All that being said, that is why Disney has a need to add these perks to staying on site, specifically at deluxe properties. A lot of people will probably be willing to pay the same money for a lesser resort to get the Disney pixie dust.

 

[KittyKitty]

On site guests will get 30 extra minutes per park every day, a total of 14 hours of EMH per week. How many hours per week were available as EMH before the closure?

I am having a hard time finding Disney stating it is 30 minutes in the morning. Could you direct me to it? I did see where all Disney resorts at Disney World are included in the morning. Thanks

FYI. I found Dis WDW News. It says at one time, Disney stated 1 hour, but now on Disney's blog, then don't state the length of time.

https://www.wdwinfo.com/news-storie...ing-hours-coming-to-walt-disney-world-guests/