Originally Posted By ChiMike Good for you Dshyates. That's a great feeling, isn't it? Picked a great place to do it.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>And FWIW, I find the Royal Pacific to be a better value than any WDW resort. The restaurants are better, the theming is better, the cleaniness and overall quality of the rooms is better. And the parks are close by, along with CityWalk, so I don't waste precious vacation time traveling between my hotel room to the parks and shopping district, which typically run around 2 hours each day.<<< Not challenging this view point, but curious, as I have never been... Better than ANY Disney resort? Poly? DAKL? Wilderness? I'll give you the moderates and the values, but I would be VERY interested in Portifino if it can beat out Poly and the rest of my favorites...
Originally Posted By dshyates Yes, better than ANY WDW resort. I'll actually go as far as any U. S. Disney resort. Because Portofino Bay has better service than The Grand Californian at the DLR. The pool concierge and his helper blew me away. I felt so bad about not bringing tip money to the pool that I went back up to get some.
Originally Posted By ReelJustice <<Not challenging this view point, but curious, as I have never been... Better than ANY Disney resort? Poly? DAKL? Wilderness? I'll give you the moderates and the values, but I would be VERY interested in Portifino if it can beat out Poly and the rest of my favorites...>> Uni's hotels are run by an actual hotel company. That makes a HUGE difference. And when you're paying a premium price, you deserve premium service. Portifino looks to be on par with Disney SEA's Miracosta on theme
Originally Posted By ChiMike Ee, not sure if you read my posts, but trust me an experience at either royal pacific or certainly the portofino will rival ANY wdw resort experience. I was a multiple per year guest at the polynesian for over two decades and will say that the royal pacific certainly provides a superior experience any many areas. Polynesian has old school charm and very positive memories going for it, but the service and room quality are unacceptable in 2011
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Ee, not sure if you read my posts, but trust me an experience at either royal pacific or certainly the portofino will rival ANY wdw resort experience. I was a multiple per year guest at the polynesian for over two decades and will say that the royal pacific certainly provides a superior experience any many areas. Polynesian has old school charm and very positive memories going for it, but the service and room quality are unacceptable in 201<<<< Interesting to note. My love for it is only based on the fact that it's synonymous with old school Disney World and has a fantastic theme. Can't wait to see the Uni resorts...
Originally Posted By Daannzzz The Portofino was equal to the Disney Deluxes As far as I am concerned. I thought it quite a bit better than the Grand Floridian particularly when you figure in the price.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Not challenging this view point, but curious, as I have never been... Better than ANY Disney resort? Poly? DAKL? Wilderness? >> Portofino is easily the best theme park resort in Orlando. Outclasses everything, IMO. Royal Pacific is just about as good.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo If you want a really amazing theme hotel experience, forget Orlando, the ling bad in Phantasialand and the Hotel Colloseo at Europapark in Germany both put WDW's and Universal's to shame.
Originally Posted By jmuboy "Uni's hotels are run by an actual hotel company. That makes a HUGE difference. And when you're paying a premium price, you deserve premium service." This has long been an issue for Disney Hotels. I am surprised they have never hired some TOP Talent from a US hotelier to really focus on service standards, hotel industry trends, how to drive revenues but also guest satisfaction, etc. The US Disney Hotels should really be operated as their own unit as if it's a real hotel chain. Revenue could still be funneled to to the DL or WDW coffers, depending on where the hotel is located. However, in terms of operation and standardized practices, I think they should be their own unit in the Parks and Resorts division operated by people who are skilled in high end hotel management. It is not rocket science either. Universal does has GREAT hotels, but you have to admit that so does Disney. Disney is just lazy when it comes to actually running them (much like they are lazy running their parks in the last 5-10 years.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I don't believe there is a paradigm or some sinister plot going on here. I think it is really as simple as many people vacationing to Orlando want to experience new and exciting rides, for the experience as well as bragging rights back home.
Originally Posted By sjhym333 I am really racking my brain here, but weren't/arent the resorts their own division within Parks and resorts and I believe at one time the guy running the resorts came from a major chain. Resorts is not my area of expertise so I could be wrong
Originally Posted By ReelJustice <<This has long been an issue for Disney Hotels. I am surprised they have never hired some TOP Talent from a US hotelier to really focus on service standards, hotel industry trends, how to drive revenues but also guest satisfaction, etc.>> I listened to an interview about the Aulani DVC yesterday. Their spa will even be run by Disney (they usually use a third party). They're moving backwards IMO.
Originally Posted By TP2000 The thing with Disney deluxe hotels on both coasts is that the facilities are generally top notch from a physical plant and theme standpoint, but they are let down continually by their front line employees. It's getting rather sad. The staff in the porte cochere, lobby and front desks are generally noticeably unpolished and too casual. The front desk clerks pretend to be a big deal, but two minutes into the conversation and you can tell these aren't folks who had good training. The worst part is when they try and gloss over their lack of profesionalism and polish with a cheesy smile and that insipid phrase "Have a Magical/Grand Day!" The valet guys at the Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier Hotel are some of the worst; generally slumped over their curbside desk talking about ballgames and parties with each other as hotel guests walk by and enter the building without so much as eye contact let alone an actual spoken greeting from the valet staff. The bar staff at the Steakhouse 55 bar are just embarassing. And I remember well the last visit there with out of town friends where a manager type in polyester slacks one size too small was bellowing behind the bar about breaks taken and tasks completed. Stay classy Disneyland Hotel management! The bar staff at the Hearthstone Lounge is a tad better, and yet still lacks polish and the sharpness you expect in a hotel that looks that great and charges those prices. If Disneyland was out in the middle of the desert it would be one thing. But it's not, and within a 30 minute drive you can be at several other top notch hotels charging the same price range as the Grand and even DLH; the Montage, Laguna Ritz, The Island, Pelican Hill, etc. Spend 5 minutes at any of those hotels, and the reception you receive as you check in is quite clearly in a totally different league than the Disney properties. Really, it's getting to be an embarassment for Disney. Have a Magical Day!
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 "The valet guys at the Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier Hotel are some of the worst; generally slumped over their curbside desk talking about ballgames and parties with each other as hotel guests walk by and enter the building without so much as eye contact let alone an actual spoken greeting from the valet staff." (Attention DoMs - Standard TDR comparison coming - avert your eyes if you feel the need to defend mediocrity a you WILL feel ashamed!)Compare this to my parting story from TDR - and bear in mind I did not even stay at one of their hotels. We were at a nearby good neighbour hotel and had caught the bus.....sorry, luxury coach(and it WAS!)to head back to Narita airport. Our hotel was one of the first on the list and after that we headed into TDR to pick up people at the MiraCosta there. After everyone was loaded and the bus pulled out to head to the next hotel I looked outside to get one last look at a Disney resort before I headed home for Australia. To my surprise, the two bellboys at the entrance were standing at attention. One of them saw me staring in wonder at this show of respect and professionalism and he snapped his shoes together and, looking me right in the eyes, saluted me. I was gobsmacked! It was like the CAPPER on my seven week Disney holiday and formed THE PERFECT ending from THE PERFECT Disney CM at pretty much THE PERFECT Disney resort. I am not ashamed to say a tear escaped my eye at this simple gesture that spoke VOLUMES to me. It was the encapsulation of the company ethos as Disney envisioned it himself. This young Japanese man, born thousands of kilometres from where Disney lived, in a far removed time and in a different culture would have made Walt proud. So when is the OLC buying WDW?!?
Originally Posted By LadyandtheTramp Had lunch at Tuchop Chop on Sunday, while we were picking up our annual passes. Lunch menu was somewhat limited (about on a par with Disney hotel restaurants) but the service was quick, frequent, and friendly. Pricing about the same as Disney. One funny occurrence, was that the food server came with our main course, and we said that our appetizer hadn't come yet. We tried to convince her to leave it, and we'd have the appetizer afterwards, but she wouldn't have it, and brought the appetizer. Then, instead of getting reheated entrees, we got fresh ones. Interesting.
Originally Posted By ChiMike Great to hear Lady! I've noticed that same kind of service at all of the resort hotel restaurants. I've also noticed that on recent attempts to dine at Disney that they are in such a frantic rush to turn over tables due to the DDP that I get my entree and appetizer at the same time with no apologies or consideration. You almost wonder how much they stage some entrees waiting for the order.
