Hotels

[dancinghomer]

3. "I know you HAVE to get somewhere in a hurry, but you may not run in front of a float. There are ropes here for a reason (I wouldn't say the second part, but seriously! Don't people realize that Little People + Big Float= BIG mess?)

Those are the same people who think that cutting off a big rig on a highway when there is barely any room is a safe and smart idea.

[Princess Susi]

I have a question about tipping at a hotel. I have read that all hotel workers should always be tipped, but I have also read that Disney hotel employees (especially housekeeping) are unable to accept tips because their jobs are "non-tipping" positions. I'll admit that I haven't stayed in a lot of hotels as an adult, so I don't know the etiquette for tipping. Is it like the restaurant industry, where it's customary to tip a certain percentage and then add more if the service went above and beyond in the guest's eyes? I'd really like to avoid being seen as a stupid cheapskate guest on my upcoming trip to WDW.

WHAT? You are NOT supposed to tip the Mousekeepers? I thought that was standard in EVERY hotel ever built. We tip them always, everywhere, if we have gotten excellent service. Usually at WDW in the Deluxe Hotels, we tip 10 bucks a day to our Mousekeeper and on the last day at the Contemporary in May 2006, I met my Mousekeeper spoke a little Espanol with her and gave her a twenty. That is just our way.

Now in a motel in Santa Cruz, like we spent a couple weeks ago where the room was very old and not in great shape and not especially taken care of, I left 3 bucks cause the bed was made well and we had nice towels and little soaps and shampoo. The maid did well there. The room had a kitchenette and the kitchen sink drain was slimy with rust. Nasty! But it was off season and we were not cooking anyway, just a one night stay, but they should have cleaned that sink anyway! VERY NASTY!

I always thought tips were just part of the deal with hotel housekeeping. Oh well, we will keep tipping our Mousekeepers if they do a great job at the Poly and the Yacht this coming trip!
We have only 10 days til we leave! YAY!

Hey Susi - You and Ralph really should go on a Disney cruise sometime. DH and I have only cruised with Disney twice, but we are older than you, we don't have kids and don't enjoy being surrounded by them, and we always have a great time on the Disney cruises. So far we've been lucky to get one of the "secret porthole rooms" on Deck 5, which is the same deck where the special kids areas are, but we've never noticed any noise or observed any loose rugrats running around. During the character greetings in the main lobby, there are lots of adults and kids milling around, but they are easily avoided. For dining, you can request an adults only table, although we've always had children at our table and they have been quite charming and well mannered. The kids on cruise are usually better behaved than kids at the parks, as they are not so exhausted and overwhelmed.

The cruise cast members are as friendly and helpful as those at the parks, and you'll love the Disney quality service and atmosphere. Being on a Disney cruise is like being at the parks only without all the thrill rides - the food is excellent, the service outstanding, the shows and programs are top quality. I say GO FOR IT! :D:

Maybe we can meet you and your wife on one sometime! :) That would be fun!
Susi

[Princess Susi]

Hey Susi - You and Ralph really should go on a Disney cruise sometime. DH and I have only cruised with Disney twice, but we are older than you, we don't have kids and don't enjoy being surrounded by them, and we always have a great time on the Disney cruises. So far we've been lucky to get one of the "secret porthole rooms" on Deck 5, which is the same deck where the special kids areas are, but we've never noticed any noise or observed any loose rugrats running around. During the character greetings in the main lobby, there are lots of adults and kids milling around, but they are easily avoided. For dining, you can request an adults only table, although we've always had children at our table and they have been quite charming and well mannered. The kids on cruise are usually better behaved than kids at the parks, as they are not so exhausted and overwhelmed.

The cruise cast members are as friendly and helpful as those at the parks, and you'll love the Disney quality service and atmosphere. Being on a Disney cruise is like being at the parks only without all the thrill rides - the food is excellent, the service outstanding, the shows and programs are top quality. I say GO FOR IT! :D:

Oh you do, you do! We've been on 12 cruises now, one being a 25-day Transatlantic+Mediterranean.

You'll see kids at meals, shows, and if you deliberately go near their pools or Deck 5. Otherwise they can actually be hard to find.

If you really want to enjoy the cruise, invite a cast member to sail with you and use their discount. (hint, hint--we need another excuse) :cruisshp:

Pick me, pick me! I really want to go on a Disney Cruise one day.

We should all go togwether some time. Maybe get an SGT cruise going! That would be fun!
I bet Zazu, you would be a great person to cruise with, since you have done so many and know so much...you would probably have tales to regale us with!
I did read your blog on one of your cruises at another site. It was fun to read. Awesome details and just fun...And the cast discount would be great! I am sure we would have a great time with you and SWMBO!

Okay, we need to find a cruise and a time where we all can go on the same one! That would be a kick!
If not, well, Ralphy and I will still try to get one in between our trips to the Parks. I still have to get to Japan. That is a big destination on my agenda and not just for Disney. I love the Japanese culture and want to see the beauty of the country. My brother has been there on business and says it is delightful there, once you get outside the metro areas and Tokyo.

Anyway, I guess it is time we sat down with our TA and planned a cruise. I still ahve to get over that fear of being out there surounded by all that water...

[Princess Susi]

I came across this video a few weeks ago of a couple that was upgraded to an Executive Suite at Coronado Springs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tA7VHQyCh0

For being a Moderate resort, that is one VERY nice room... (with all the arches and walls, I think i cound the equivalent of FIVE standard-size rooms between the bedrooms and the common room...)

-Rob

That is a very nice suite. Too much room for Ralph and I. And it reminds me of being home with a dining table and all the rooms. I like hotels and feeling like I am in Resort hotel (for me, that is part of being away from home) and I like staying in a well appointed guest room, that does not have to be a suite, unless of course it a themed suite for fun, like the Mickey Penthouse or the Pirate suite.
I don't want to be reminded of home when I am at a Disney resort and that suite has all the fixings of a house. I like Room Service, not a kitchen and dining table. A small table to eat room service is nice, but a whole dining room area? Not for me. I want to KNOW that I am on vacation in a resort room near a pool or great view and some really nice theming. Those are my wishes for a good hotel room.

But that being said, that sure is a nice suite for someone. Looks like my house...kinda...sorta! :) A bit smaller however...heeheehee...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When is everyone coming to visit us in Denver? We have a great guest suite upstairs in our house with a view of the Rockies from our deck, a pool and a 40 ft long stream that ends in a waterfall into the pool. It is like a resort here. We have themed rooms too! The guest suite is themed around the east coast, like Nantucket. It has lighthouses and sailboats and blue and white color themes. It is a wonderful room. You are invited to Chez Susi' for a visit!
There are gorgeous Disney collectibles all over and I will be sure to count before and after your visit. ;) Muwhahahahahahaha!!! Just kidding!

If you can tolerate cats and a screechy bird, you are welcome to come. I know Disneymom is already making plans to come before we sell. We ain't gonna be here forever. It is a beautiful house that I partially designed and definitely decorated. I designed the landscaping as well. A Landscape Architect put my ideas on paper and we tweaked them to work for the yard and space.

Even if you are just coming to Denver for a business trip or passing through, you are invited to stay in our guest suite. It will save you $$$ on a hotel. No charge here at Chez Susi'. All the comforts of home. Ralphy is the best chef and will make you breakfast and I will make sure the *Mousekeeping* is impeccable and you don't even have to leave a tip! :D: LOL!
We would love visitors and if you are so inclined, come visit. You will be greeted by me :belleg: Ralphie :pooh: and our three lovely furry children Oliver Tinkerbell :cat1: (she bites ) and Tawny :berlioz: our grey sweetiecat, as well as: Carmen our screechy parrot! :parrot2: He will give you a kiss hello!

We will be happy to show you the sights, sounds and smells of Colorado! :cow3: Moooooooooooooo..... :hysteria:

Susi :p:

[Shorty82]

Maybe we can meet you and your wife on one sometime! :) That would be fun!
Susi

FYI, Whazzup is the wife. AFAIK her hubby doesn't post here.

[Princess Susi]

FYI, Whazzup is the wife. AFAIK her hubby doesn't post here.

Ack mispost, that was meant for Zazu. Oops! I know Whazzup is a woman. eek....

[Princess Susi]

When CRO overbooks by 3 rooms in a 650-room hotel, that's deliberate overbooking. I can handle that.

When CRO overbooks by 47 rooms in a 650-room hotel, that's a screw-up!

Holy whatchamacallit! They actually do that! That is not cool! I feel for the poor CMs who have to deal with the mess and the guests who get screwed up. What a mess. :mad: :(

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Holy whatchamacallit! They actually do that! That is not cool! I feel for the poor CMs who have to deal with the mess and the guests who get screwed up. What a mess. :mad: :(

I think that what is suprising to me, is that so many people don't show up!

I mean, I pre-pay everything and know that if you don't make it, you forfeit a lot of money!

I can only think a a couple of things that would keep me from a vacation at WDW, and even then, I would call and let them know we couldn't make it, or were delayed!

[hobie16]

With Aloha and ATA going belly up and the other airlines increasing their prices because of increased demand, we're seeing a lot of no shows in Hawaii because they're out the money they spent for air and can't afford to buy another set of tickets. The airlines are already reporting a 21% decrease in occupied seats.

Short term, the hotels collect regardless but the restaurants and other activities are seeing reduced income. We went to a place that's normally packed two nights ago and one third of the tables were empty.

Long term, it could be pretty quiet around here for some time to come. The hotels will cave in at some point and reduce room prices but they usually wait a long time thinking things will get better.

Energy prices are killing everyone. One projection says we may see $140 a barrel soon. :(

[LittleDollClaudia]

Wow, I thought our hotel was the only one that was that bad. Yeah, unfortunately we have overbookings ALL THE TIME.

Do you know how awful I feel when I have to put a guest in a smoking room or whatever room I have available because some yahoo hit the override button allowing the room type to be oversold?

Whoo, some of the fights I have avoided weren't pretty. It comes down to who's here to receive the benefit of getting their reservation as it was booked.

It sucks, but you don't even want to know how many times I play musical rooms in a day.