Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I like those scrunchy pillows shaped like frogs. Do they have those? >>> This reminds me. I've only stayed at this caliber of property 2 or 3 times in my life, but I have another stay planned in NYC next month. I'm going to request one of those 5-foot "body pillows." <<< - Need to stay under an assumed name? They're set up to handle it. Okay, SuperDry, who the heck did YOU piss off? >>> Airline employees have been known to despise me because of my ability to milk the system for all it's worth in order to get free flights. <<< - Are you someone that might be followed around by people with cameras? You can be assured that hotel security is on the lookout for this. I'm starting to suspect our mild-mannered SuperDry is Salmon Rushdie or something! >>> Oh come now. You know that I was speaking hypothetically. <<< - They usually have overnight laundry and dry cleaning (most regular hotels do this during business hours only, assuming they provide it at all). Or, you're able to get a shirt or suit pressed in one hour. Suiting up for the trial, SD? I can see why you're trying to avoid cameras and such! >>> I haven't been served the indictment yet. But one hotel that I have availed myself of the express laundry service is the Hotel MiraCosta. And they package up the laundered items when they deliver them back to you better than the Four Seasons possibly could. <<< - A check-in process where when you arrive at the hotel and the bellman relieves you of your luggage and puts it on the cart, he asks your name (if he doesn't already know it) and instead of just writing it down on the luggage ticket, takes you directly to your room and you complete the check-in process there, completely bypassing the front desk. >>> I've only stayed at a Four Seasons once. And I was amazed that as I pulled up to the hotel, in my rental car, and never having stayed there before, the bellman opened my door and greeted me by saying "Welcome to the Four Seasons, Mr. SuperDry." To this day, I have no idea how exactly they knew who I was. But they are definitely on the ball. <<< Okay, this need for secrecy and privacy is just a little too obvious at this point, SD. >>> I'm sure you wouldn't know anyone that values their privacy, eh "Mr. X?" Who was it that insisted on an initial meeting brokered through a third party in a clandestine manner? <<< SuperDry IS, in fact, Michael Richards, and is avoiding the public as much as possible following that unfortunate incident. >>> Michael Richards has far more hair than I do. I think he may be a bit taller as well.
Originally Posted By SuperDry In all seriousness, although it's not the way I normally travel, I hope I was able to describe the level of service that Four Seasons and similar properties provide. I've read several comments online that question the Four Seasons / WDW deal, and also heard several comments on Disney fan podcasts along those lines. For the most part, I think that these are coming from a perspective of people that don't fully understand what the level of service that a Four Seasons type of property provides is all about. And I have to point out that I don't normally travel this way, and separate from the cost, I don't particularly care for it, but I know what it is. I also know that there's a small but particular group of travelers that want this sort of thing, which is why I think it's good and probably even overdue that WDW is going to add this option to an on-property resort.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< - They have 24-hour room service and twice-daily housekeeping (and where they actually vacuum the carpet at least once a day ). I have enough trouble keeping the maid out the FIRST time she knocks and enters at 7 o'clock in the morning when I'm just getting out of bed! >>> I have a peeve and a story to tell. First, the story: I was staying at the Luxor Las Vegas, and had neglected to put the Do Not Disturb sign out the night before. Especially when they do their first rounds in the morning, housekeeping is usually extra diligent about "knocking and announcing" several times before entering, in order to make sure that nobody is in the room. I tend to be a heavy sleeper, and by the time I got out of bed and started answering her announcement at what I thought was a loud voice, I was about half way to the door when she opened it. I was unprepared for this, and I was dressed in, shall we say, full commando style. I don't think I've ever seen a door slam shut faster than I saw that morning, and probably every guest on the floor heard her short but loud scream. I guess what she experienced was just an occupational hazard of working as a hotel housekeeper. Now to my peeve: When I put the "Do Not Disturb" sign on my door, it means exactly that: DO NOT DISTURB. It does NOT mean to wait until 2 or 3 in the afternoon, then knock anyway. It does NOT mean to just go into the adjacent room and call me on the telephone to see if I want my room to be made up. Especially when I'm staying in the room alone, I don't really need housekeeping on a daily basis, and depending on my schedule, I'd much prefer that housekeeping just skip my room for the day. That's why I sometimes leave the DND tag out for the whole day. The better hotels tend to be glad to accommodate this request, and usually do so by slipping a note under the door, or leaving voice mail on the phone (and in a manner that doesn't ring the phone) to indicate that they tried to service the room, but were unable to do so because of the DND tag. I'm sure the WDW Four Seasons will be able to handle a DND tag properly.
Originally Posted By SuperDry And for those of you that have followed some of the TDR hotel threads in the Tokyo section over the past year, let me add something. Leemac in particular stated his disappointment with the Hotel MiraCosta and the level of service it provided for the price. It was not until typing what I did in #13 that I understood what I think he was trying to say: for $500/night, in most cities, you can get a far higher level of guest service than you do at the MiraCosta if you stay at a Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, or similar property. I think there's a lot more that goes into the MiraCosta equation than that, but I do see the point.
Originally Posted By Mr X >>>Airline employees have been known to despise me because of my ability to milk the system for all it's worth in order to get free flights.<<< lol. That story about the bellman knowing your name is crazy! I can only assume it would be because you were the only single traveller scheduled to arrive at that particular time? Otherwise, how COULD they know? And wouldn't they look stupid if you happened to be someone else!?
Originally Posted By Mr X I don't remember which hotel this was (might have been the Brighton near TDL, actually), but I had DND on my door all day and when I opened it there was a bag hanging on the doorknob filled with towels and toiletries. THAT, I thought, was really cool.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< That story about the bellman knowing your name is crazy! I can only assume it would be because you were the only single traveller scheduled to arrive at that particular time? >>> I'm not sure how they would know that I was a single traveler. I would imagine that many couples that travel together book their room under a single name with the assumption that all hotel rooms (at least in the US) allow for 2 adult occupants. <<< Otherwise, how COULD they know? And wouldn't they look stupid if you happened to be someone else!? >>> I thought about all of those things. The particular situation was that I was staying at the Four Seasons on the Big Island in Hawaii. The airport is rather small (the only one in Hawaii still using "air stairs" for jets even though the other airports in the state have added Jetways). Most of the airport literally consists of buildings that look like thatched-roof huts. So it's a small place. I did see someone at the airport with a Four Seasons placard that they were holding up and a walkie-talkie, but since I had not arranged airport transfers, I just passed by them and went to the rental car desk. If I had to guess how they knew who I was, I would say that perhaps they have an informal relationship with the car rental agencies at the airport and were able to phone ahead with what car I was driving. Regardless of how they did it, it showed that they were definitely on the ball and paying attention to what they were doing.
Originally Posted By Mr X Re...4 seasons vs. Disney's "premier" hotels, I'd say this. Staying "on property" at Disney is a lot of fun, and I'd equate it to taking a Carnival cruise. Lot's of fun, good for families, and pretty nice overall. Staying in the Grand Floridian or Beach Club or whatever is STILL like a Carnival cruise, only you're staying in one of the suites. Still a lot of fun, but not quite the same as, say, a voyage on the QEII. Granted, I think I'd even PREFER a Carnival cruise, loads more fun, but noone would argue that it could possibly be close to the level of luxury you find on the QEII. That's what I'd say about Disney hotels vs. 4 seasons.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I don't remember which hotel this was (might have been the Brighton near TDL, actually), but I had DND on my door all day and when I opened it there was a bag hanging on the doorknob filled with towels and toiletries. THAT, I thought, was really cool. >>> That's neat. I've never had that happen, but I have found it common in Japan to have an English-language newspaper hanging on my doorknob in the morning, even though every other doorknob on the floor has a Japanese newspaper. And, when you call the hotel operator from the room, they almost always answer in English. That's what I like from a hotel: attention to detail, giving you what you want without you having to ask, and just in general having staff that pays attention to what they're doing rather than just clocking in for a shift.
Originally Posted By Mr X I can think of one more possibility then, if the airport is so small...perhaps you were the only person on that particular flight scheduled for check in? In any case yes, it's obvious that they were right on the money service-wise and paying very close attention!
Originally Posted By Mr X >>>That's neat. I've never had that happen, but I have found it common in Japan to have an English-language newspaper hanging on my doorknob in the morning, even though every other doorknob on the floor has a Japanese newspaper. And, when you call the hotel operator from the room, they almost always answer in English. That's what I like from a hotel: attention to detail, giving you what you want without you having to ask, and just in general having staff that pays attention to what they're doing rather than just clocking in for a shift.<<< Yes, that newspaper thing is great ain't it? Especially when I was staying in a hotel for several weeks, it was a really nice touch. Actually, in reading what you wrote above, I'd say that Japanese hotels IN GENERAL approach that kind of service level (aside from alias assistance and paparazzi patrols, anyway). Which makes me really wonder, what kind of experience do you get staying at the Four Seasons Tokyo?? (I believe that the Park Hyatt in Tokyo is regarded as "premier"...that's the hotel that was featured in "lost in translation"...and one thing I noticed while exploring there was that the "lobby" was a series of posh desks where guests could be seated and check in, business-like)
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 <<I was unprepared for this, and I was dressed in, shall we say, full commando style. I don't think I've ever seen a door slam shut faster than I saw that morning, and probably every guest on the floor heard her short but loud scream.>> Oh, man, SD. I feel you. They can put a man on the moon, but they still haven't figured out a way to erase those gang tattoos.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <>>I don't understand why Disney is allowing four seasons to build on there property by Osprey Ridge.<< Simple. They get a nicer hotel on property and invest minimal $$ to create it, while getting a lot of dough from 4 Seasons in the process to operate it.< Bingo - dead on..... If Disney wanted to try and duplicate 4 Seasons they could, they have chosen not to... The crowd there will be different than at other resorts, the greens fees mentioned here will not be an issue, and the Ritz Carlton off grounds but close by likely sealed this deal. There are man who will stay at the new 4 Seasons and link to the Disney Cruise.. I have no issue with it and frankly like that option if my DVC points are used for the year already and looking for a short weekend stay.... The price point will be key and it will be interesting to see how much influence Disney will have on that, because if it is too close to say the Contemporary or GF -- the comparisons will not be kind to the Deluxe resorts.
Originally Posted By Mr X >>>the comparisons will not be kind to the Deluxe resorts<<< Don't know if I agree with this. Too many people are blinded by "the magic"...Disney could go downhill by another 50% in quality and people would STILL stay there rather than the dreaded "non-Disney" hotels.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 One thing that amazes me about US businesses is how readily they capitulate to the pressure to show that they're observing the current trendy and fluffy management program du jour. Instead of spending their money in a way that directly supports their business goals, they divert hundreds of thousands of dollars to visibly implement the new faddy way of operating. Can't let the competitor, Company Z, make of big show of adopting kaizen or fishboning or total quality without us making a BIGGER show of how VERY dedicated we are to this common-sense but disguised-as-some-new-revelation commercial program. Even though it costs us. Big time. Back in the 80's and 90's, Disney was a prime vendor of this "quality training" for businesses. If you wanted to show that you met the artificially mandated standards for your industry, you went to WDW and subjected yourself to a few fluffy days of walking through utilidors and learning how to nod your head when a customer complained. If you were involved in a regulated industry, you sent your entire staff. My point... Disney positioned itself as an INDUSTRY LEADER in EXEMPLARY SERVICE. And the rest of the business world bought into it. People got credit for going to Disney to learn how to give service. So why shouldn't Disney -- as AMAZING as it's positioned itself to be -- be in a position to offer that absolutely magical level of hotel service that mere companies like Four Seasons offers?
Originally Posted By Mr X Why? I'll tell you why. They don't pay their workers enough to get such a high quality of employee. That's why.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 Okay. I guess that explains the outsourcing. Disney can't pay $7.50/hour to a bellhop working in a Moderate resort and simoultaneously pay $13.50 to one working at a premium resort, eh?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo "They've been allowing outiders in since the beginning. And more and more since the mid-90's (not only hotels...outside vendors, transportation, utilities, etc., etc...). I do believe that hotel plaza blvd with it's many outside hotels was around since the beginning, no? I think it just wasn't noticable because people had no idea how vast the Disney property really was." And of course the original DL hotel wqas owned by the Wrather corporation until the late 1980's. This is not new at all!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <>>>the comparisons will not be kind to the Deluxe resorts<<< Don't know if I agree with this. Too many people are blinded by "the magic"...Disney could go downhill by another 50% in quality and people would STILL stay there rather than the dreaded "non-Disney" hotels. < For a portion of the audience that is true, not for those the 4 Seasons looking to attract...and then there will be that grey area of populace in the middle -- if the cost per night is on par with say GF - and they stay at each - it's going to take a LOT of Pixie Dust to blind them
Originally Posted By mrichmondj << For a portion of the audience that is true, not for those the 4 Seasons looking to attract...and then there will be that grey area of populace in the middle -- if the cost per night is on par with say GF - and they stay at each - it's going to take a LOT of Pixie Dust to blind them >> Based on rates at other Four Seasons Resorts, and trying to predict comparable rates for a resort on WDW property, I could only guess that room rates for a Four Seasons WDW resort will exceed the rates at the Grand Floridian by a good clip. If Four Seasons matches the Grand Floridian rates, it will be among the least expensive resorts in that company's portfolio.
