Originally Posted By avimagine Well Motel 6 would be an improvement over some of the Sheraton "4 star" hotels I've been at... See though I think where you are in life also affects this, aside from personal preference. I know if I wasn't poor and dumb and reasonably affluent my choices would change.
Originally Posted By Christi22222 In situation A, I would go with the mega resort over All Stars. In situation B, I would leave property and forego the motel 6. For me it's the combination of location and theming. And clearly location doesn't trump everything in my case. However, I wouldn't do the capsule thingy, either. I do enjoy the parks, but the resort itself is an attraction for me. Guess I want both.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<resort itself is an attraction for me. Guess I want both.>> They are for me as well, but I can just visit without having to pay their exorbitant rates.
Originally Posted By avimagine Playing devils advocate, isn't that like driving through Beverly Hills pretending you live there?
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper Not really. I can enjoy a hotel without staying there. Besides, if you've seen one Disney hotel room you've seen them all. It's not like staying there will allow me to enjoy the place more.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I don't care that there is a Waldorf-Astoria at Bonnet Creek or the 5-Star Gaylord just off-property - I want something different to what I'm used to when I'm on-property. I know that the deluxe hotels and even the GF don't compare to real world offerings like St. Regis, Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton or W - and I don't care. I don't need those perks (spa etc.) when I'm at WDW.>> That's fine, but that just means you're buying into the Disney MAGIC BS. I spent some time at the GF the past two nights (no, not staying there ... but have before) and the GF commands price points that are often much more than true 5-star properties -- and let's be blunt, on a typical day the GF is often a lot closer to a 3-star in terms of service and basics than even 4-star and that is the flagship resort. The boorish behaviour (like the spelling?) you witnessed on your Dream cruise and were honest enough to write about here was in fashion tonight at the GF (and I am not even talking about a sighting of one of my favorite online non-personalities there). Folks using the lobby like their trailer park living rooms. Feet and shoes on furniture in the lobby. Yelling children running around while a musician attempted to play the piano. A family who thought nothing of rearranging the furniture so they could undress (seriously) and then dress their girls in princess costumes on the sofas to head to the 1900 Park Faire buffet etc. BOORS. How these people even afford a 'value' resort astounds me, but government aid and DoD jobs are plentiful. But don't want to go too far astray. Point is the GF used to really be classy and that was without the tile with characters everywhere or obvious Mickeys in the lobby carpeting. Now, well, to say it compares to a typical Marriott may be stretching things. I love the theming of Disney resorts. But more and more that theming is about toons in everything. And when I can PL a room at Gaylord Palms for $45 a night, paying hundreds of dollars to stay at a WDW resort in this economy is borderline mental illness ... UNLESS you take advantage of one of the great discounts offered and have never stayed at a WDW resort or not often. Guess what? I've stayed at every single non-DVC resort at WDW except for ASMovies, all of them. At WL alone, I think I'm somewhere near 130-140 nights. I used to be a whale when it came to WDW resort stays. Now, I just don't care very much. I suppose I may hit up a CM pal when the 60% discount kicks in in a few weeks ... that might make it worth it to add some nights to my WL tally. I dunno. But when I pay 5-star prices, I damn well expect at least high-end 4-star service and amenities and that just doesn't happen enough at WDW. I just don't want to stay at a WDW resort with characters who would fit in on Jersey Shore.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Ok, so who is going to book the new Four Seasons on property? And, I am interested hear how they will handle transportation to the parks. Will it be a shuttle van, bus, limo?>> I probably will at some point, although I admit I am sickened it was built where it is going. The whole idea of Golden Oak makes me want to puke. Driving thru Celebration for a business meeting earlier this week, I was reminded of what a disaster Disney's community-building was and remains (roads that look like they belong in a ghetto since they haven't been repaved since the city was formed, office towers with floors that have never been occupied in a decade, foreclosures galore, public areas that are clogged with weeds and dead grass because they aren't maintained etc ...) ... don't really want to see this again on the other side of 192. And, no, don't think the market for $5 million homes in the center of a theme park resort is what Iger thinks (and even if it is, it still is a godawful idea)
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 One other thought, I do get amused in a sick way at folks who think nothing of paying $300-500 a night to stay at say the Poly or BW or YC and all they do is sleep at the resorts and maybe catch breakfast on the way to the parks. What a ridiculous waste of $$$ when all you do is sleep there. When I stay at a WDW resort, I may spend a day there without ever leaving. I certainly use the pool, dining, recreation, spas etc. People who spend $400 just to sleep six hours when they could spend $40 to do so, but might have to (heaven forbid) drive 10-15 minutes to the parks have too much money on their hands IMHO.
Originally Posted By avimagine ^^ they may be on a "free dining" package, so don't forget the value of that free food in the parks Actually that's how my family used to do a lot of our vacations growing up, we'd stay at a 3-star property while touring (amusement parks/living history etc) and then a 5-star at the end for a day or two to "relax" from our vacation before heading home. We also did non Disney campgrounds with the trailer but that's another story.
Originally Posted By barboy ///You say "location location location", but the All-Star location sucks./// Actually I thought I said 'Pop'(if I said All- Stars, then I meant 'Pop'), but your point is still valid----- yes, as for on property stays Disney positioned them in lousy locations. But I would take a lousy location on property than anything off. Again, this assumes that the on property has a working toilet & shower, decent bed and the room is clean..... I just wouldn't spend any real waking hours in there when the parks beckon. No matter what destination I tap I go for the sights and not the hotel or its amenities. There was one exception to this 'rule'----the Mira Costa Hotel. Aside from straddling Disney Sea(meaning having the perfect location)the hotel's looks and theme mattered quite a bit since it blends in and is part of the park. And I did spend more time in that place than any other hotel per paid night since it is part of the park and so lavish. ///It's not near any of the parks, and assuming you rely on busses (do you?)/// For my first 2 trips in the 90's I relied on buses but all of the trips since then I either had my own car or rented one.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 just responding to initial post- sorry for being late to the party. I wouldnot stay 15 miles away- it's not what I want when I am there..I desire the convenience for our party of ten to be able to split up and some use the car we have and some use the Disney transportation. I also really do like being within the confines--it is a mental thing and not saying everyone should feel like this or that there is a 'business case' to justify why I do. I do not view my vacation trips as I do my project management skills- emotion plays a factor. --SO I am likely a bad example - and Disney could certainly pull this off- just travel to Vero Beach to see how nicely they can run a resort not 'on the grounds' and as someone who travls a lot- I have seen more than my share of Marriotts and Hilton properties- and fail to be as impressed by most of them as much as some. Maybe it's because I am travelling from work and not looking as hard- but there always seems to be issues for me when I travel with the accomodations.. Now I have stayed in some Four Seasons properties ( not from work- don't want to give any accountants a heart attack) - and the service is usually excellent and the facilities top notch..minor issues only- ever)- but also pay very very tidy sums for that experience.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>and as someone who travls a lot- I have seen more than my share of Marriotts and Hilton properties- and fail to be as impressed by most of them as much as some.<<< I am thinking perhaps Marriott is a higher quality in Europe than the US. I have only stayed in a Renaissance in San Francisco and a MArriott at Monterey with ocean view. Though the Newport Coast Villas were on par with the European villas, and far nicer than the DVC ones I have visited.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Though I would never really compare them with Four Seasons. I expect a Disney deluxe to be on par with a Marriott or Hilton however.
Originally Posted By barboy ///So, is it JUST the fact you might have to spend 5-10 minutes on a "non-Disney" road that makes all the difference to you?/// Let's say that you are right about the 5-10 minute difference. Again, since I like afternoon short naps while touring then those extra few minutes per leg mean an an additional 30 minutes of driving per day. ***** <---- pulls into EPCOT's parking lot at 9 am. OH SH%$#@%^%!!!!!, Wife forgot her park hopper pass and sunscreen back at the hotel........Oh well, tack on another 15 minutes and make that an extra 45 driving for the day***** Also, I do like the Disney saturation so leaving property doesn't appeal to me.
Originally Posted By Ursula Having read the first post, I can tell you I would not want to stay there. I like the Grand. I like the Poly. I prefer to be not only ON property, but near something that I can walk to or take a short bus ride to get to. You can make a big fancy hotel all you want to, but it needs to be near something for my tastes and dollars. I enjoy walking from the Grand to the Poly, too. We are not park commando people and we DO enjoy our room and our balcony and room service and the monorails. Although, I can see you idea working not near theme parks, ala Ko Olina.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 It will be interesting to see what happens when the Four Seasons does open on property. ---- I also can't wait to see the price points when it does. Regardless of how much property lease money they are getting, I doubt very highly Disney will let Four Seasons price points be anywhere near theirs.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I am thinking perhaps Marriott is a higher quality in Europe than the US. ------------ it must be the case because I can tell you as I travel this country I go back and forth between Hilton properties and Marriotts because of issues- there are cheaper alternatives that sometimes are better- Holiday Inn's included.. that's why I can't see the love affair with them..my experiences ( and they are many) are that when the room is average and the service is average I am actually happy. I am booked into a Marriott room in Indianapolis in Aprl for a volleyball torunament we are traveling to. It is a Spring Hill property and with taxes over $200/nite with taxes/parking and does not include even a continental breakfast. It is the mid range of their many properties in their Marriott Village just outside downtown Indy. It's a motel 6 with better beds - as we've been there before. So price point wise I don't get goose bumps thinking about staying there..I'll be happy if it is clean
Originally Posted By vbdad55 they are just opening a JW Marriott in the same area ( they have about 5 properties there) - which should be higher quality ( and I am hearing it is) - but with taxes and parking on top of the $229 base prices it will push $275 - $300 with breakfast. This is for a single room - nothing special in downtown Indy...
