AVP
02-15-2011, 01:37 PM
A reader sent MousePlanet details of an online survey they received after a recent trip to the Disneyland Resort. The survey questions reveal some possible changes to hotel reservations policies at the Resort, and give a glimpse at possible future benefits. Some of the changes look intriguing, and some look downright loathsome.
Before we get into the details, I want to preface this by saying that just because something is included in a survey, it does not mean the Resort is going to make any changes anytime soon, if at all, or even in the format presented. Surveys like this are used to gauge consumer reaction to possible alternatives, and the final product / promotion / policy change will likely undergo several revisions before it's ever presented to the public. All that said, these surveys do provide a fascinating glimpse into what Disney is currently evaluating, and it's fun to chew over the possibilities.
This survey was about possible radical new changes to the Disneyland Resort Hotel reservations policies, and seemed to be based on a two-tier system. Guests who book full price packages would have access to new benefits and services (some at an additional cost), where guests who book discounted rates would be subject to a new set of restrictions.
On the positive side, Disney asked respondents to rate how appealing each of these possible perks would be for guests paying full price for their stay:
1 free character breakfast
1 free quick-service breakfast entrée and drink per person per night
Access to dining reservations 2 weeks before other guests
1 guaranteed World of Color FASTPASS for each member of party
Guaranteed early check-in after 8am
Complete reservation flexibility; no modification or cancellation fees
Complimentary round-trip shuttle between California airports and your Disneyland resort hotel
1 free FASTPASS for each member of party per night of stay
Access to free, supervised children's activities
1 Free refillable mug per person
1 guaranteed dining reservation at most Disneyland Resort restaurants.
None of the low- or no-cost -to-Disney items listed here, like the free Fastpasses, the World of Color Fastpass, the guaranteed dining reservation or the refillable mug, would make me change my booking practices. They are all just "value added" items which, like the free pins and lanyards and reserved seating coupons available if you book through select travel providers like AAA, are nice to have but not deal-makers for me. It is interesting to note that these are items not currently offered through any of those other travel providers, and I wonder if they are being considered as a new exclusive to the Disney Travel Company packages or for another travel provider.
The free character breakfast and quick-serve breakfast have some value, especially if they can be used at the hotels, where hot breakfast options are few and expensive. Guaranteed early check-in and access to children's activities (possibly a free pass to Pinocchio's Workshop) may be enticing to some depending on your travel plans. But are you going to be willing to pass up a 20-30% discount for any of them?
The most interesting benefit is the "complimentary round-trip shuttle between California airports and your Disneyland resort hotel." This not only may be a much more compelling offer to some travelers, but it's also the second indication I've had in recent weeks that Disney may be bringing a "Magical Express" type service, like that offered in Walt Disney World to the Southern California resort.
For guests who book at a discounted rate, Disney also asked survey respondents to evaluate how "restrictive" these potential new conditions would be:
Reservation deposits are not refundable, but are bankable for future use within two years
Choice of price range, but specific Resort assigned by the Disney Reservation system
Full payment at time of booking
Reservations are not eligible for upgrades
Magic Mornings are not available
Reservation deposits are not refundable, and cannot be banked for future use
Dining reservation booking window begins later than for other guests (30 days prior to arrival instead of 60 days)
With this Disney is signaling another potential change to their cancelation policy, this time making some of all of your reservation deposit non-refundable, but leaving the possibility that you may be able to "bank" that deposit for a future trip. I could see imposing such a penalty for changes less than a certain time out from the stay, say 60- or 90-days, but not telling me my deposit is forfeit the second I pay it.
Likewise, I'm not happy about the requirement that reservations for discounted rooms be paid at the time of booking, which essentially requires guests to choose between paying upfront or paying more. While such policies are common with deep-discount travel sites, I expect a bit more flexibility when booking directly from Disney. But the whole idea of Disney choosing my hotel for me is a deal-breaker. I do not want to have to pay full price for the Disneyland Hotel just to avoid being stuck at the Paradise Pier.
The Magic Morning restriction is odd because MM access is technically a function of your admission media, not your hotel. Most 3-day or longer park hopper tickets include one MM admission, though Disneyland Resort hotel guests are also allowed access to that benefit on a "space available" basis. Unless Disney changes their ticketing policy, I would expect visitors with qualifying park hopper tickets to still have access to that benefit, though annual passholders staying at the hotels would lose the option.
Finally, the 30-day window for dining reservations would require a larger change in Disney's restaurant operations, because Disney Dining currently operates with a 60-day window for all guests, regardless of whether they are staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel or not.
Now that you've seen the survey proposals, what do you think about these possible changes? Is Disney just taking reasonable steps to keep pace with trends in the hotel industry, (a similar policy change (http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/showthread.php?t=161332) by local favorite and MousePlanet sponsor Howard Johnsons Anaheim Hotel was met with strong complaints when announced earlier this year), or is The Mouse going too far with these possible (but not confirmed, so don't panic quite yet) changes? Is it fair for Disney to penalize people who take advantage of the discounts Disney so prominently displays on their Web site?
Before we get into the details, I want to preface this by saying that just because something is included in a survey, it does not mean the Resort is going to make any changes anytime soon, if at all, or even in the format presented. Surveys like this are used to gauge consumer reaction to possible alternatives, and the final product / promotion / policy change will likely undergo several revisions before it's ever presented to the public. All that said, these surveys do provide a fascinating glimpse into what Disney is currently evaluating, and it's fun to chew over the possibilities.
This survey was about possible radical new changes to the Disneyland Resort Hotel reservations policies, and seemed to be based on a two-tier system. Guests who book full price packages would have access to new benefits and services (some at an additional cost), where guests who book discounted rates would be subject to a new set of restrictions.
On the positive side, Disney asked respondents to rate how appealing each of these possible perks would be for guests paying full price for their stay:
1 free character breakfast
1 free quick-service breakfast entrée and drink per person per night
Access to dining reservations 2 weeks before other guests
1 guaranteed World of Color FASTPASS for each member of party
Guaranteed early check-in after 8am
Complete reservation flexibility; no modification or cancellation fees
Complimentary round-trip shuttle between California airports and your Disneyland resort hotel
1 free FASTPASS for each member of party per night of stay
Access to free, supervised children's activities
1 Free refillable mug per person
1 guaranteed dining reservation at most Disneyland Resort restaurants.
None of the low- or no-cost -to-Disney items listed here, like the free Fastpasses, the World of Color Fastpass, the guaranteed dining reservation or the refillable mug, would make me change my booking practices. They are all just "value added" items which, like the free pins and lanyards and reserved seating coupons available if you book through select travel providers like AAA, are nice to have but not deal-makers for me. It is interesting to note that these are items not currently offered through any of those other travel providers, and I wonder if they are being considered as a new exclusive to the Disney Travel Company packages or for another travel provider.
The free character breakfast and quick-serve breakfast have some value, especially if they can be used at the hotels, where hot breakfast options are few and expensive. Guaranteed early check-in and access to children's activities (possibly a free pass to Pinocchio's Workshop) may be enticing to some depending on your travel plans. But are you going to be willing to pass up a 20-30% discount for any of them?
The most interesting benefit is the "complimentary round-trip shuttle between California airports and your Disneyland resort hotel." This not only may be a much more compelling offer to some travelers, but it's also the second indication I've had in recent weeks that Disney may be bringing a "Magical Express" type service, like that offered in Walt Disney World to the Southern California resort.
For guests who book at a discounted rate, Disney also asked survey respondents to evaluate how "restrictive" these potential new conditions would be:
Reservation deposits are not refundable, but are bankable for future use within two years
Choice of price range, but specific Resort assigned by the Disney Reservation system
Full payment at time of booking
Reservations are not eligible for upgrades
Magic Mornings are not available
Reservation deposits are not refundable, and cannot be banked for future use
Dining reservation booking window begins later than for other guests (30 days prior to arrival instead of 60 days)
With this Disney is signaling another potential change to their cancelation policy, this time making some of all of your reservation deposit non-refundable, but leaving the possibility that you may be able to "bank" that deposit for a future trip. I could see imposing such a penalty for changes less than a certain time out from the stay, say 60- or 90-days, but not telling me my deposit is forfeit the second I pay it.
Likewise, I'm not happy about the requirement that reservations for discounted rooms be paid at the time of booking, which essentially requires guests to choose between paying upfront or paying more. While such policies are common with deep-discount travel sites, I expect a bit more flexibility when booking directly from Disney. But the whole idea of Disney choosing my hotel for me is a deal-breaker. I do not want to have to pay full price for the Disneyland Hotel just to avoid being stuck at the Paradise Pier.
The Magic Morning restriction is odd because MM access is technically a function of your admission media, not your hotel. Most 3-day or longer park hopper tickets include one MM admission, though Disneyland Resort hotel guests are also allowed access to that benefit on a "space available" basis. Unless Disney changes their ticketing policy, I would expect visitors with qualifying park hopper tickets to still have access to that benefit, though annual passholders staying at the hotels would lose the option.
Finally, the 30-day window for dining reservations would require a larger change in Disney's restaurant operations, because Disney Dining currently operates with a 60-day window for all guests, regardless of whether they are staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel or not.
Now that you've seen the survey proposals, what do you think about these possible changes? Is Disney just taking reasonable steps to keep pace with trends in the hotel industry, (a similar policy change (http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/showthread.php?t=161332) by local favorite and MousePlanet sponsor Howard Johnsons Anaheim Hotel was met with strong complaints when announced earlier this year), or is The Mouse going too far with these possible (but not confirmed, so don't panic quite yet) changes? Is it fair for Disney to penalize people who take advantage of the discounts Disney so prominently displays on their Web site?