Originally Posted By SuperDry I think the Island Shangri-La is a much better hotel. It's in a relatively new building, is part of a large shopping center (Pacific Place?), and has indoor walkways to the MTR. I once stayed at the Island and Kowloon Shangri-La's back-to-back and thought that the Kowloon one was old and dumpy. But, this was about 5 years ago, and they may have renovated it since then.
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan I was going to post this a while back, but held back. After some thought, I decided it was worth mentioning and discussing. Several posts back, Lee mentioned that the Disney hotels in the Tokyo Disney Resort lacked the Disney touch; more particularly, the MiraCosta. After some pondering, I have to say I couldn't disagree more. Not saying that Lee is wrong, but I felt that both the Ambassador Hotel and the MiraCosta feel more "Disney" and magical than any other Disney hotel. They just feel "Disney" from the moment you arrive at the main entrance and contain many Disney touches, unlike a lot of other Disney hotels. The Hollywood Hotel and the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel also share this quality, being both magical and immersive. If I had to pick a Disney resort with the worst hotels, it would be the one in Paris. With the exception of the Disneyland Hotel, none of its hotels even remotely feel like a Disney hotel. They feel cold, strange, and not very magical; there's nothing to tell me that I'm in a Disney hotel.
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan Reading my comment over, I guess I didn't quite explain it as clearly as I thought I would. Perhaps someone knows what I'm talking about and can explain it in better words ?
Originally Posted By Mr X Well, I tried to explain why they felt "Disney" to me, but I gave the impression that it was just because Mira Costa has Pinocchio on the walls. I don't feel that way at all, but I dunno how to express it better, so I just gave up kinda.
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan <<Well, I tried to explain why they felt "Disney" to me, but I gave the impression that it was just because Mira Costa has Pinocchio on the walls. I don't feel that way at all, but I dunno how to express it better, so I just gave up kinda.>> I agree that it definitely has to do with, but not limited to the Disney character motifs. They add a touch of Disney magic and fantasy, being tastefully woven into the decor of both the Ambassador and MiraCosta. The lobby of the MiraCosta especially screams "Disney" to me, probably more so than any other Disney hotel for the very same reasons you explained. Even the rooms continue that Disney magic, with more representations of the Disney characters. And again, I have felt no stronger immersion in a Disney hotel than the MiraCosta for reasons I've already explained; it's simply a one-of-a-kind experience.
Originally Posted By Mr X Well, it sure as heck feels more Disney to me than motel-allstars...with the tacky cheezy vibe of a badly decorated motel-6, but you get to pay twice the price (or 4 times, whatever it is!?).
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan <<Well, it sure as heck feels more Disney to me than motel-allstars...with the tacky cheezy vibe of a badly decorated motel-6, but you get to pay twice the price (or 4 times, whatever it is!?).>> The All-Stars and Pop Century don't feel Disney to me at all, though they do feature overbearing amounts of Disney characters. Besides quality, they lack any kind of magic or immersion. I think the MiraCosta is the most "Disney" hotel because it feels the most magical and immersive. The reason I have doubts with the new Tokyo Disneyland Hotel being a better hotel is because I don't think anything can surpass the views/visuals, brilliant placement, and detail of the MiraCosta. Sure it will be located in front of Tokyo Disneyland, but being located inside Tokyo DisneySea is a much more exciting and magical experience. I've yet to hear anything that will surpass the MiraCosta, except larger rooms (which we've yet to hear confirmed, though I trust Lee). The MiraCosta already has one of the largest standard rooms among the Disney hotels (400-430 sq. feet), so I'm curious as to how much larger the rooms for the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel actually are. Not by much, I'm guessing. Whereas the MiraCosta is a luxury hotel by all means, the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel will be more of a family hotel. Following is an analysis I did on the popularity of the Disney hotels once the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel opens. The Hotel MiraCosta is part of Tokyo DisneySea and hence, will be known for its elaborate beauty and opulence. When the new Tokyo Disneyland Hotel opens, it will probably be associated with magic and dreams just like Tokyo Disneyland is. The Ambassador Hotel, on the other hand, will be associated with the new Cirque du Soleil theatre and and the glamour of Hollywood. I think the most popular choices will still be the MiraCosta and Tokyo Disneyland Hotel, but the Ambassador won't be too far behind I'm hoping.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Does kinda kill the magic imo...plus you have some crazies taking pics with telephoto lenses, putting them on the net, and pointing out which uncostumed performer is "Mickey" and which is "Donald"...etc... Real magical. >>> I think you mean which performers are acting as stand-ins for Mickey and Donald during the dress rehearsals.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< HOWEVER, I understand Lee's point that, as a hotel view, that leaves a lot to be desired. It's just not a pretty view out your hotel window (but it's an awsome "context" view from DisneySea, if that makes any sense). >>> I've stayed at the Sheraton three times, and the Hilton once, and have always had a bay view. It is rather bland, and very grey on an overcast day. But it never really bothered me. The "theme park view" from the Bayside hotels is going to be primarily of the DL parking lot, the perimeter landscaping of the parks, backs of some TDS show buildings, and the top of the volcano and castle. So, not very magical. It's the quality and service of the hotels, and their location, that's important, at least to me. <<< I haven't seen any views from the HKDL hotels though, why is that bay so different? Just no ships? Or is there nice scenery off in the distance or something? >>> On the bay side, you can see HK island off in the distance, and I think some other islands. And, keep in mind that the islands you see tend to jut out of the ocean and have some height to them. But I do think you also see your share of tankers and other ships from the HKDL Hotel. Plus, if the pollution is bad, you may barely be able to see across the water to the island because the air quality is so bad.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< The cool part about the weather (if there is one), is that DisneySea is the one park that I think looks BETTER on a cloudy or misty day. Weird, huh? >>> I disagree. Although you could argue that the greyness of the bay might blend in better with the park, I think the park as a whole looks "flat" and less colorful on an overcast day. <<< Does the Ambassador even HAVE a pool? >>> Yes, and unlike the MiraCosta, it's free to hotel guests.
Originally Posted By Mr X >>I think you mean which performers are acting as stand-ins for Mickey and Donald during the dress rehearsals.<< If you say so.
Originally Posted By Mr X >>I disagree. Although you could argue that the greyness of the bay might blend in better with the park, I think the park as a whole looks "flat" and less colorful on an overcast day.<< I shouldn't have said the whole park...but I definitely love the way the harbor and volcano look on an overcast day.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< <<I wonder if by "flexible" you mean "preferred customer status"?>> No I don't mean that. >>> Leemac, what was being referred to was the check-in procedure in the lobby, and you have referred to this indirectly in the past. Although my status isn't as high as you because I don't spend nearly as much time in hotels as you do, I do have status in both the Hilton and Starwood loyalty programs. So, when at the Hilton or Sheraton, I don't have to wait in the main check-in or check-out lines at reception. That's a very nice feature. The Hilton and Sheraton literally have a separate area roped off for the likes of us. Not so at the MiraCosta, unless one is staying in the Speciale suites and can check in upstairs. I didn't even notice this until you referred to it indirectly with regard to the Hilton a couple of years ago. I've been so mesmerized by everything else at the MiraCosta that it didn't occur to me. But once you pointed it out, it did start to bother me. And then there's the lack of broadband (not to mention the unexpectedly snippy letter I received from the MiraCosta GM when I inquired about it). Plus the lack of a loyalty program. Plus the inane reservation policies and procedures: not bookable through standard GDS's (one of those Japan things, although this is has become greatly less an issue over the last 10 years), not bookable directly via the web by foreigners, and the 14-day cancellation policy to avoid a one-night forfeiture. Because of all of these things, I've been staying at the Sheraton in my recent few visits. If I had been visiting TDR on business, these problems probably would have come to light much sooner, so I can appreciate that someone that travels there mostly on business might really dislike the MiraCosta. But, by and large, they don't cater to business travelers, so even if it didn't suit one's needs, I think it's unreasonable for a business traveler to hold these things against the MiraCosta in a general sense.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< >>TDL Hotel has the killer spot right in front of the entrance to TDL. They are working on an exclusive entrance too (although operationally it might be difficult). That would be the killer selling point to the TDL Hotel.<< I'd be curious to learn how they could pull that off (being so far from the entrance)...Underground access? >>> I thought about this too. Putting on my armchair imagineering hat and an unlimited budget, it seems to me that a great way to address this would have been with a dedicated entrance turnstile in the hotel, with a controlled-access passage between that point and a point beyond the main turnstiles. But, where would you put such a thing? There's an underground roadway between the Resort Line station and the hotel, so underground would appear to be ruled out unless you veered far to one side. And, overhead isn't practical because of the monorail beam. If they are still working on an exclusive entrance at this late date, then it would seem that this must be nothing more than a dedicated set of turnstiles.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Heck the Ambassador sells out quicker on some dates than the MC. >>> I'm sure the Maihama Dreamgate does as well. Although what you say above is no doubt true to some extent, can you share with us what the proportions are? If the online availability chart is any measure, it's probably like 95% of the time that the MiraCosta sells out before the Ambassador, if not more often. So, although it's true that the Ambassador sells out first "on some dates" it sounds like you're using this as an argument to say that "some people prefer the MiraCosta, and others the Ambassador" as if it were a 50/50 split. But you do have a valid point about view and location. The harbor view rooms sell out first at the MiraCosta, since they're not that much more than the partial and entrance views. Although the MiraCosta is more expensive than the Ambassador and yet it sells out first most of the time, there's still the question as to why it's more popular: is it the style, or the location? You seem to like neither about the MC, yet it has consistently been more popular in general for nearly 6 years now.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I feel you can get the same level of service at the Miracosta as you would at the Ritz or the Peninsula. >>> I'd have to strongly disagree with this. This gets back to what leemac was saying about his not finding Japanese hotel service standards all that great, and in fact preferring American ones. As Mr X alluded to, the key point here is the level of hotel you're referring to. In my opinion and experience, the level of service that you'd find at a hotel such as a Sheraton, Hilton, or Hyatt is going to be far higher in Japan than you'd find in America. This applies to all aspects of service in the hotel: doorman, bellhop, front desk, and so on. And, this applies not only to the quality, attentiveness, and politeness of the service, but the staffing levels. Rarely in a Japanese hotel will there not be enough bellhops to handle arriving guests. And, the standard level of service in a hotel like a Sheraton or Hilton in Japan will be that the bellhop relieves you of your bags as you enter the front door, and will escort you to your room upon completion of check-in formalities. Sure, in a US hotel of similar quality, you could check your bags upon arrival, but often you will be expected to go to your room yourself and then call down to have your bags brought up. In Japan, as soon as you have completed check-in, a bellman with your bags will be immediately by your side and will take you to your room. And they do this for every guest. And the kicker is, Japan as a "no tipping" policy for everything. So, this heightened level of service is provided with no expectation that the person providing the service will be immediately rewarded with cash - they do this just for whatever their base pay is, and usually with more courtesy, attentiveness, and politeness than their counterpart in the US whose compensation will be primarily dependent on the cash tip given by the guest immediately upon delivery of the service. It's amazing to see in action. It's common for the assistant general manager of a Japanese hotel to have his desk in the lobby of the hotel, opposite the reception desk. In America, AGM's are almost always hiding in their office behind the scenes. How much nonsense do you think goes on in the lobby when the AGM is sitting there observing everything in plain sight? Here's another example: I always travel with my laptop, and sometimes it's in a bag that appears as if a laptop is inside. If I were to check this bag at the MiraCosta, Hilton, or Sheraton at TDR, the bellman might ask if there's a laptop inside the bag. If I say "yes" then they'll treat it with extra care. If the same thing happened in the US, they'd be apt to tell me "Sir, we can't accept laptops as checked bags" as has happened to me on several occasions. In the US, the hotels cannot seem to hire people or maintain physical security so that items such as laptops don't "disappear" from checked baggage. Everything I've said above applies to hotels of the caliber of a Hilton, Sheraton, or Hyatt. I think that these hotels in Japan, and the local versions of them (perhaps like the Brighton or MiraCosta) provide a far superior service experience than their counterparts in the US. But when you get to the next level, things are different. If you're talking about hotels such as the Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, or Peninsula, then I can see how the Japanese notion of service might seem to be lower than it is elsewhere. At these types of properties, you get superb service wherever you go. In the US, these properties will bend over backward and do just about anything you need or want them to do (although it might cost you). They'll press your clothes in the middle of the night. If you need some sort of toiletry and they don't have it, they'll literally send someone out on the town to get it for you. They may mark it up 1000%, but at least you have the option to have someone go out and get it for you. One way to look at it is that these properties are looking to say "yes" to your requests, even if they are unusual, unless they really must say "no." The Japanese service model is to make the standard level of service very much higher both in terms of what's provided and the way it's provided so that in most cases you don't have to ask for exceptions to the rule. But if you find yourself needing to work outside the rules, Japan is not going to be very accommodating. So, I think how one views hotel service standards in Japan versus America very much depends on what level of property you're talking about, and unless you're talking about very high end properties, the Japanese level of service far exceeds what is found in the US.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< >>I think you mean which performers are acting as stand-ins for Mickey and Donald during the dress rehearsals.<< If you say so. >>> Who was the one complaining about certain guests spoiling the magic?
Originally Posted By Mr X >>In the US, the hotels cannot seem to hire people or maintain physical security so that items such as laptops don't "disappear" from checked baggage.<< Well, in fairness I have 2 counterpoints. 1st, unless I'm mistaken theift is much more common in the U.S. than Japan. So, an unattended baggage cart that might be find for 3-5 minutes in Japan is in far more danger of being riffled in America (even all other things being equal, like staffing levels). 2nd, Japanese guests (the vast bulk of their business) would not likely complain too much if the computer were to get broken. They'd probably accept a "sincere" apology, since the reasoning could be it broke elsewhere along the journey or was otherwise possibly not the bellhops fault. And the Japanese are so fond of "shoganai" (it can't be helped) that I doubt the hotel would run into liability issues much. Contrast that to America, where if the compter ended up broken it MUST be the bellhops fault, and the customer would likely complain long and hard until they were given replacement funds for the computer and an entirely free stay. I don't know if either of these are completely accurate, but it's just the impression I came up with when you mentioned it.
Originally Posted By Mr X i before e...yeah. I remember now. In an alternate universe, LP has an edit feature and half the arguments of this universe...and of course Tokyo DisneySea is still the greatest theme park on earth (what would you expect from the awe inspired greatness of the Hedgemony of Japan under God, the beloved Emperor?). But we Americans wouldn't complain about it because, since they co-opted Walt Disney for their own glorious purposes, we never got no theme parks.
