Disney World is known for its amazing hotel theming. There’s nothing quite staying in a transportive environment like Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge!
But, while Disney owns many hotels, hotels are not the company’s primary business focus. And Disney often leaves it to other hotel companies to test out new trends before adopting them.
Here are three hotel trends we think Disney should jump on ASAP!
Online Tipping for Housekeepers and Bell Staff
Yes, we totally know the drill. We need to carry cash — small bills, preferably — to tip the bell staff and housekeepers. But knowing and doing? Well, they are two different things. We think about needing that cash in our pocket right when we need it for a tip, and whoops, we spent it at Gideon’s Bakehouse yesterday.
Hotel properties including the Virgin Hotels chain are shifting to online tipping for hotel staff, using an app called TipYo. Disney, we would love to have this ability in the My Disney Experience App!
Everything You Can Do On My Disney Experience BEFORE Your Disney World Vacation
Choose Your Own Room
You know how when you check in for a flight, you can often select or change your seats? The app gives you a map of the plane and shows you available seats, and you just tap which one you want.
Yeah, that’s possible with hotels now, too! Hilton Hotels allow you to browse a floor plan of the hotel and select your room when you check-in via their app, according to Hotel Tech Report. You can also decide to pay extra to upgrade your room to a more desirable location — just like paying more for those airplane exit rows!
11 Tricks To Get A Hotel Room Upgrade No Matter Where You’re Staying
Robot Room Service
As staffing shortages continue in the hospitality industry, many hotels are cutting out in-room dining (aka room service). Some hotels — including one at Universal Orlando Resort — have turned to robots as the delivery system for their in-room dining.
Relay the Robot delivers in-room dining orders and other extras requested by guests, according to AllEars.net.
A Definitive Ranking of EVERY Disney World Hotel!
Disney is relying more and more on technology in serving guests through the My Disney Experience App, Genie+ and MagicBand+, and we’re sure more is on the way!
Hold up for a sec! Before you plan your next trip to Disney World, you’re going to need this discount code – WDW2023. Use it to save 25% when you buy our DFB Guide Everything Bundle here. You will get ALL of our best-selling eBooks with details on Disney World Dining, EPCOT Festivals, the BEST snacks in each park, and soooooo many tips and tricks we’ve learned over decades of visiting our happy place.
Want More Details About Disney World’s Hotels?
Ranking of ALL of Disney World’s Hotels
9 Ways Your Disney World Hotel Stay Will Be Different in 2023
Our Picks for the Best Disney World Hotels in 2022
These Are the WORST Disney World Hotels for 2022
13 Critical Things You’re FORGETTING About When Booking a Disney World Hotel
You Couldn’t Get the Disney World Hotel Reservation You Wanted – Now What?
The 6 Disney World Hotel Problems No One is Talking About
See Why You Might BAIL on Your Disney World Hotel
A Full List of Changes Announced for Disney World’s Hotels
8 Gadgets You Need for Your Disney World Hotel Room
The Surprising Things You Won’t Find in Your Disney World Hotel Room
The Secret Way to Stay in Disney World’s Hotels for LESS!
What Items from Amazon Can You Have Delivered to Your Resort Hotel? We’ve Got the Details
Are Disney World Hotel Perks Worth the Hefty Price Tag?
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney World hotel news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
What hotel innovations would you most like to see come to Disney World? Tell us in the comments!
TRENDING NOW

Something BIG could be changing in Disney World soon and we've got all the updates...

Disney has announced a new partnership with Black-owned business CreativeSoul Photography to bring a new...

Here's how Disney World hotels are CHANGING in 2023!

More executive changes have been announced for the Walt Disney Company -- see the latest...

Which Disney cruise ship is BEST? We're ranking them all in several important categories!

When a popular vacation destination (Disney World) collides with a popular vacation time (Spring Break)...

The way you book Disney World hotels in advance has officially changed.

Welcome to Florida! Here are the laws you NEED to know before visiting.

Disney World's newest ride will have adaptive seating!

The latest line celebrates classic Fantasyland!

How could the current CEO, Bob Iger, change Disney Genie+? We're taking a deep dive...

We've got some bad news from Disneyland -- the All-American College Band is now on...

You might recognize these characters!

Can't decide where to eat in Magic Kingdom? We can help! Here are the BEST...

Check out the FULL MENU for Roundup Rodeo BBQ in Disney's Hollywood Studios!

What is the Lake Nona project? How will it impact Disney World? This post covers...

If you're looking for an easier way to carry around your park essentials, look no...

We're taking a lap around EPCOT to check out all the best breakfast options you...

See how one celebrity goes undercover in the Disney parks!

Here's how to get even more money on the Disney Dining Promo Card!
Back in the day you could request your room at the Disney hotels. No guarantees but you could request when you made the reservation. Had it work several times, got close several times and missed out as well. No extra charge so long as the room was in the same class
If Disney paid their staff a living wage, there wouldn’t have to be any tipping. On top of that, if they put it in anything official, then the people would get taxed on it, instead of just putting the tip in their pockets. Since the US charges the poor to make a living, every bit they can get “under the counter” is a bonus to them.