Sapphire Falls Resort

[natespf]

That seems suicidal, but I suppose it is convenient

Oh they pitch it as a convenience, but they really know people spend a lot more money that way

 

[Nick]

Oh they pitch it as a convenience, but they really know people spend a lot more money that way

Same exact reason MagicBands are a thing (although hotel key cards cost Loews a lot less money )

 

[UNIrd]

I hope they're planning on more than one full service restaurant. I love that the RPR has a few different dining options. Unless the walkway to the meeting spaces is that short and you could just walk a few more steps to the restaurants.

 

[Mad Dog]

That's going to be a really short walk to the Royal Pacific Restaurants. Two to five minutes apx.

 

[Disneyhead]

Re: impulse spending and charging privledges.

It is a myth that the main reason resorts have charging privledges is to increase guest spending. The main advantage is getting rid of the per swipe charges the credit card companies charge the retailers.

 

[Nick]

Re: impulse spending and charging privledges.

It is a myth that the main reason resorts have charging privledges is to increase guest spending. The main advantage is getting rid of the per swipe charges the credit card companies charge the retailers.

It may be a myth, but it sure does make spending money more convenient now, doesn't it?

 

[Teebin]

Re: impulse spending and charging privledges.

It is a myth that the main reason resorts have charging privledges is to increase guest spending. The main advantage is getting rid of the per swipe charges the credit card companies charge the retailers.

This makes so much sense in hindsight. 5 cc charges in a park per family could really impact the bottom line when multiplied times thousands. Thanks for the insight!

 

[Brian G.]

Universal has posted a property map on their website, so I took the opportunity to add it onto the current Google Earth view.

 

[tsojl2005]

it just blends in so beautiful with the surroundings in how it matches the sidewalks, driveways, waterways, etc. awesome job with the overlay.

- - - Updated - - -

not sure if this has been said but where do you think parking is going to be at for this resort hotel? surrounding it like cabana or to the south or left of the ballrooms?

 

[natespf]

Universal has posted a property map on their website, so I took the opportunity to add it onto the current Google Earth view.

Very nice, but I think it should be a little bigger. Shouldn't the road on the right overlap the existing convention entrance?


Also with the charge to room privileges, I see both sides being a big benefit. The credit card already has the same effect as charging to the room as to spending more, both ways the customer does not see physical money leaving his/her wallet. IDK but I would think most people would use cash over credit card for the smaller purchases, that is things other than the tickets, hotel, and dinner at CW. So with the snacks, lunch and gifts if they charge with either credit or to the room the guest is likely to spend $5, $20, $50... more than if they were spending cash. That would still outweigh the buck or two they need to spend on swipe fees, which are something like a quarter each time. But I do understand with thousands of guests charging multiple times that adds up to thousands of dollars. So with more coming in and less going out it is a win-win for the resort, and a win, lose or (over)draw for the guest depending on their financial situation

 

[tsojl2005]

So with more coming in and less going out it is a win-win for the resort, and a win, lose or (over)draw for the guest depending on their financial situation

The looks on some people's faces when they get ready to check out and the hotel gives them their bill. LMAO! probably the same face i make when i see how much I've racked up on room service and the dreaded resort tax.

 

[Brian G.]

Very nice, but I think it should be a little bigger. Shouldn't the road on the right overlap the existing convention entrance?

God forbid it's slightly off-scale...

But yea, I noticed the right side was a little off after I posted.

 

[OrlandoGuy]

Re: impulse spending and charging privledges.

It is a myth that the main reason resorts have charging privledges is to increase guest spending. The main advantage is getting rid of the per swipe charges the credit card companies charge the retailers.

Additionally, the Universal hotels take it upon themselves to set a limit as to how much charging power a room key has unless otherwise specified by the guest upon check-in. The balance can be reloaded but it's still a method of keeping insane spending in check, as well as to eliminate the dangers of theft. Basically, the room key charges are not tricky ways of getting guests to spend more, at least not overtly.

 

[UniversalCityFL]

It is a myth that the main reason resorts have charging privledges is to increase guest spending. The main advantage is getting rid of the per swipe charges the credit card companies charge the retailers.

Wouldn't the credit card bank fee still apply to the final (hotel+spending) bill at check-out when Loews puts the charge through?

Wether it's multiple "per swipe" fees, or just one fee for the final hotel bill, the amount lost by Universal would be the same since it's a percentage, right?

 

[martymcflyy85]

Universal has posted a property map on their website, so I took the opportunity to add it onto the current Google Earth view.

This is great. Thanks for posting this. Now we can see the route the water taxi will take.

 

[natespf]

Wouldn't the credit card bank fee still apply to the final (hotel+spending) bill at check-out when Loews puts the charge through?

Wether it's multiple "per swipe" fees, or just one fee for the final hotel bill, the amount lost by Universal would be the same since it's a percentage, right?

There is a percentage of the total, but there is also a flat rate per swipe fee on top of that. So it is (y% + x¢) for each transaction. As you said the y%s would add up the same, but they can reduce the number of x¢s. It is very little each time, but millions of times a year adds up to a lot of money.

 

[Teebin]

Universal has posted a property map on their website, so I took the opportunity to add it onto the current Google Earth view.

Excellent BriMan, it helps point up that this is a resort that means serious business. Really, really, really serious business. Now, when are the complimentary Universal Express buses from the airport to begin?

 

[UniversalCityFL]

There is a percentage of the total, but there is also a flat rate per swipe fee on top of that. So it is (y% + x¢) for each transaction. As you said the y%s would add up the same, but they can reduce the number of x¢s. It is very little each time, but millions of times a year adds up to a lot of money.

Got it. Thanks for explaining.

 

[Nick]

Excellent BriMan, it helps point up that this is a resort that means serious business. Really, really, really serious business. Now, when are the complimentary Universal Express buses from the airport to begin?

If that were to happen, it could be a BIG blow to the mouse. I'm not sure they could do it strictly like Magical Express though and i'm not sure how successful it would be if they tried to do it like that. People don't mind being trapped in WDW without a car because they feel like they are "transported" (or so the legend has it)... While Universal certainly has a growing customer base, they all know Disney exists and many will want to go there as well. Not having a car for their trip may cause many of the average guests to rethink things.

 

[RonaldsModernLife]

If that were to happen, it could be a BIG blow to the mouse. I'm not sure they could do it strictly like Magical Express though and i'm not sure how successful it would be if they tried to do it like that. People don't mind being trapped in WDW without a car because they feel like they are "transported" (or so the legend has it)... While Universal certainly has a growing customer base, they all know Disney exists and many will want to go there as well. Not having a car for their trip may cause many of the average guests to rethink things.

What do you mean trapped without a car? The Magical Express is simply a bus that takes you to the hotel from the airport, right? When I go down to Orlando, we used to just reserve a Mears shuttle to pick us up and take us to the Hard Rock, we also used them to take us from Universal to Disney, though for our last trip, we just called a taxi to do that. I wouldn't mind a bus service from the airport to the Universal hotels. Do most UOR guests rent a car?