Originally Posted By HMButler79 WHAT in the WORLD has happened to the BEST resort on property? Is this for REAL? Temporary? Has recreation really taken the pool and beach hostage for hyperactive kids? We go all the time to tan on the beach and use the pool and drink. If this is permamnet i will NOT be going back. <a href="http://www.tikiman2001.net/tiki/news/188-back-from-aulani-and-updates" target="_blank">http://www.tikiman2001.net/tik...-updates</a>
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom This is what happens when you have a Hotel management team, that is suppose to be running a premium resort and has never actually ever been to a 5 star hotel. I'm on AAA website and they don't rate any hotels in Orlando with a 5 Diamond status. Looks like the closest 5 Diamond Hotel to Orlando is going to be the Breakers in Palm Beach, FL.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Wow, that's kind of jarring. What do they do at night, when the pyro goes off? I thought they piped in the music?
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Dave, apparently there are only so many properties around the globe that carry an AAA 5 Diamond rating. Don't get me wrong anyone who meets the criteria can get it, but apparently AAA isn't willing to bend. Also the highest rating any hotel/ resort can get is a 5 Star Luxury rating. That's the highest rating of the rating system. So this so called 6 star and 7 star resorts claims are bogus. I am SHOCKED that some resorts I would easily claim would be AAA 5 Diamond resorts ( thus 5 Star ) are NOT!!!! Like the Dessert Spring Marriott in Dessert Springs, CA ( next to Palm Springs, CA ). I mean come on? The resort has got a first class spa, 18 hole golf course, 2,400 employees, there are 4 employees to every resort guest, it's the largest employeer in Dessrt Springs, boat service to luxury restaurants, private poolside cabanas. And it doesn't qualify as a 5 Diamond resort. Unbelieveable! Nothing in Orlando can compare to that kind of luxury service in my opinion!
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Luxury Hotels are NOT going to be playing 80s and 90s rock music poolside. Luxury Hotels are going to have 10 luxury poolside cabanas, not three. They are not going to be showing movies on a beach. They ARE going to have unique offerings that you can't get elsewhere. I guess Disney is just thinking that the adverage visitor to WDW is not going to actually know what kind of luxury services to expect at a "true" 5 Diamond or 5 Star resort to begin with so they can get away with "cheap" offerings.
Originally Posted By dshyates The rating system is kinda wierd, but there are reasons that some hotels that SHOULD be 5 diamond/star, but aren't. Or sometimes even lose their stars. One great example is The Greenbrier in WV. It had the longest stretch at staying a Mobile 5 Star resort. But several years ago they lost a star because Mobile had changed their criteria for a 5 star. They changed it to included stuff like 2 telephones and high speed internet access in the bathroom. Obviously a resort built back in 1919 didn't have a few of the items on the new list. Also somewhere along the way The Grand Floridian went from 4 Star to a 3 Star. <a href="http://www.forbestravelguide.com/disneys-grand-floridian-resort-spa-lake-buena-vista-fl-hotel.htm" target="_blank">http://www.forbestravelguide.c...otel.htm</a>
Originally Posted By dshyates OUCH! <a href="http://www.forbestravelguide.com/disneys-all-star-music-resort-lake-buena-vista-fl-hotel.htm" target="_blank">http://www.forbestravelguide.c...otel.htm</a>
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo This is what I mean when I say the Disney resorts are poor value for money. Yes, architecturally they are very cool, but that is it!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I have stayed in a so called 7 star before. It was pretty amazing (butler service, oils and petals in the bath they drew for us etc.). Not officially recognised by others, but it was clearly the best of the best.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom dshyates, I have to agree. The entire rating system is kinda weird. To me it seems more like an advertising gimic. If a hotel pays money or joins some association then they can get some kind of "luxury" designation. That's why I looked at AAA rating system. I think they tend to be more consistant and are gong to show the very best, not the "pretend" hotels. Speaking for myself, when you stayed at some of the top hotels in various parts of the world and you compare the Poly. The Poly doesn't even come close!!! Take the Conrad Hilton in Chicago. I didn't look to see how it rates. But, the best rooms (which I have stayed in) are the upper 4 floors of the hotel. Guests staying in those rooms have their own exclusive elevator to those floors. Each room has two bathrooms. The rooms are massive compared to Disney rooms. And we are talking rooms, not the suites. Basically what the Conrad Hilton did was take two seperate rooms on the upper four floors and make them into a single room thus giving each room two bathrooms. What "room" (again not a suite) as WDW has TWO bathrooms?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 First of all, Butler, if you're using the hotel's facilities without staying there then you're kind of part of the problem. I've gone back and forth about the subject over the years, and I don't think it's completely black and white, but generally pool-hopping is wrong. I can make an argument that if you go to a resort that isn't busy and if you drop money on a meal or drinks or merchandise and then use a quiet pool or take a dip when it's not being used by many people that it really harms no one ... but we can argue that later ... No one has ever said or claimed the Poly is more than a 4-diamond resort, which most Disney Deluxes are (diamonds are AAA). Largely based on amenities, locations etc ... Poly certainly qualifies. I haven't stayed there in years now, but when I have I'd have said it was close to 4-star in service. I will say that it certainly, like every WDW resort (including GF) has gotten a more downmarket feel over the past decade. Some of that is because the service is often closer to 2-star. Some of it is because the clientele often seems like the kind of people you just look at and shake your head that they can afford a hotel that averages a $400-plus rack rate a night. Some of that is the caliber of cast ... I saw two CMs at Captain Cook's who were TOOTHLESS (missing teeth, no dentures) a few weeks ago and they weren't seniors either (upper end of middle age, maybe). Again, is that the image a deluxe resort wants to convey? I noiticed a huge difference in just plain classy vibe when I was at the Royal Pacific a few weeks ago. And instead of cheesy entertainment at the pool, I saw real fire twirlers at the pool bar. I saw bath sheets at the pool and not the same towels you'd get at Pop or Poly. I saw classier guests.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Like the Dessert Spring Marriott in Dessert Springs, CA ( next to Palm Springs, CA ). I mean come on? The resort has got a first class spa, 18 hole golf course, 2,400 employees, there are 4 employees to every resort guest, it's the largest employeer in Dessrt Springs, boat service to luxury restaurants, private poolside cabanas. And it doesn't qualify as a 5 Diamond resort. Unbelieveable!>> I have stayed there and it is an amazing resort. You really can't compare it to Disney resorts. ...
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I have stayed in a so called 7 star before. It was pretty amazing (butler service, oils and petals in the bath they drew for us etc.). Not officially recognised by others, but it was clearly the best of the best.>> Was this in the middle east? I don't get that beyond the fact they believe they are so far beyond anyone else they have created this new level ... to me, 5-star/5-diamond will always represent the best.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Yes it was, gold fountains, and service like I have never had anywhere else on the globe (and I have stayed in some pretty nice places).
Originally Posted By MPierce The loud music with all the little kids doing aerobics has been going on poolside at the Wilderness Lodge for several years now. It is annoying to say the least. There's nothing quite like coming back to the room midday for some relaxation time, and you end up listening to the Village People blasting across the courtyard.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom We have had this discussion a dozen time. And I do want to qualify something. I don't in any way think that if your staying at the poly your getting a substandard experience. I think anyone staying at the poly is going to be very pleased with the facilities and accomidations. BUT: It's NOT a 5 Star or 4 Star experience (5 Diamond or 4 Diamond experience). I had stayed at several Disney Deluxe resorts and I don't' feel as pampered as I have when I have stayed at other luxury resorts elsewhere. Oh, and remember when I had commented that one of the things that I liked about my stays at the Hyatt Regency on Whacker in Chicago,is that the same staff is there year after year. I get the same experience when I stay at the Best Western in Downtown Disney. The same hotel staff year after year (and they remember me)! To be fair, I would like to point out that "I" make a clear distinction between a 4-5 star ( 4-5 Diamond) hotel and a DESTINATIION hotel. There are several hotels out there that may not make the 5 star rule, but are clearly destination hotels!! Just name your Fairmont Hotel property around the world.... all unbelieveable hotels.... but probably not making the 5 star cut (I'm sure on the other hand some of them do make the 5 star cut). My point is that althought in my opinion Disney may not have any 4-5 star ( 4-5 Diamond) hotels or resorts. They definately have many destination hotels!!!! Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, Grand Floridian.... I would throw in the Disney moderate resorts as well as ALL being destination hotels/ resorts. They offer unique decor, facilities, recreation, and offerings. They are dazzling!!! All of them!!! The value resorts I think are still impressive, but kinda generic is their offerings. I don't want to come across as slaming the poly or Disney's other hotels/ resorts. Because I think they are kinda kewl, over priced, but kewl.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> ^^Which Village Person do you dress as? Cowboy, I'm guessing. << It goes without saying.
