Any word on SOG?

[MELSMICE]

Has anyone heard when SOG will be finished & reopen. We have ressies there with my brother for April 2004 & were wondering if it would be open by then.

I'm asking because while we were there last week my DH golfed with someone that was supposed to be at SOG but was put up at the Lake Buena Vista resort. In the past we were transferred to the Contemporary.

Any info?

 

[Leader of the Club]

follow this link and read this thread:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?postid=4442591#post4442591

 

[kimmie]

My sister called SOG the other day. Our reservations are April 4th, 2004. They told her they HAVE to be open by March 1st, 2004. She asked about overflow rate for the Polynesian and was told they are full for overflow. Leaves me wondering what will happen if they AREN'T ready! Not really interested in being at DTD (just my opinion). We will be spreading pixie dust on the mounds of dirt I see at SOG! lol Still looks like a lot of work to be done!

 

[Leader of the Club]

My DH is worried about the dust and mess if they open on March 1st and they are not fully ready, as in no landscaping and possible heavy equipment still in use.

 

[FirstNo]

Here's something I found out last night which made me cringe: the contractor, allegedly, had asked for another extension for completion....past Mar.

Word I have was he was told in no uncertain terms, the hotel needed to be finished by Mar 1.

Again, I wouldn't be holding my breath. It's Nov and even the contractor has doubts he'll be done in the next 3 1/2 mos.

 

[kimmie]

First No - I am really begining to worry. My sister is calling again this morning to ask for overflow rate. Maybe PO-R. Can they give us a good rate for CR? What should we ask for? The Polynesian is full for overflow rate during our stay. (splitting the week before and after Easter)
We need to know we will have a room. Not willing to risk the wait with this contractor. By looking at the pictures, I haven't seen much progress at all.
TIA

 

[sk8ingmom]

Joining in the frustration! We are booked at SoG 3/12-14 & 3/18-20, on both sides of our 4 day cruise.

I'm going to book a backup room at a moderate just in case SoG doesn't open and they try to float us to something that isn't on property. I'm pretty sure the Disney resorts have a 7 day cancellation policy, so we should know about SoG in time to cancel. Of course if SoG offers me a better rate somewhere on property, I'll take it! Best I've found so far is CBR for $188 a night - lots more than SoG!

I made my reservations last April. At that time, they were scheduled to open in December, so I though even with typical construction delays we would be fine - oh well!

 

[kimmie]

sk8ingmom - We are stumped by all this too! We (my sister and I) have been given some overflow rates. Just not in our price range. If I use the overflow rate, then the SoG reservation cancels. If they DO open then I am at another resort paying more! I know we should just book another room but then we will have lots of $$ out there. Just don't know what to do!
We also made our reservation last April for April 2004. I just don't understand it. If I hang in there hoping for them to be open, and they aren't, can they send me to an off property resort? The CR - garden wing overflow rate was given to us, but it seems high too! Just can't bear the thought.

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by kimmie
First No - I am really begining to worry. My sister is calling again this morning to ask for overflow rate. Maybe PO-R. Can they give us a good rate for CR? What should we ask for? The Polynesian is full for overflow rate during our stay. (splitting the week before and after Easter)
We need to know we will have a room. Not willing to risk the wait with this contractor. By looking at the pictures, I haven't seen much progress at all.
TIA

Depends on what you consider a "good" rate. Unfortunately, you're looking at going during the 3rd busiest time of the year so, even with a discount, you're still going to pay for it.

CR that time of the year would probably (having not worked there in over a year, I'm guessing using past pricing as a reference) be around $150 + tax for just a standard wing room.

The cheapest deluxes were always WL and the wings in CR so, if you're looking deluxe, that's the way to go.

As for the moderates, you'll probably be looking at about $125/nt, not including tax.

I still think they'll open, however I don't think the hotel will be finished. If any of them had half a brain, they would have started selling the hotel, but only the original portion. It's less people to move, if you have to, and even if the new portion isn't finished, you can still have people staying (less complaints from less people) as long as the front of the hotel is complete. People can go eat else where and the majority won't push for reimbursement due to the noise of trying to finish. But, that would make too much sense <eg>.

Oh, btw, I had also heard that the phones have been absolutely chaotic lately. I'm a bit surprised. Although I expected a jump even during the slow calling season, from what I've heard, it's absolutely ridiculous. And if the phones are that way, the email is even worse. Considering they only have 8 people, not including admin, to answer phones and 1 inept person doing email, that doesn't help you all trying to get through. I don't even want to know what it's going to be like come Jan when the true busy calling season begins.....UGH!!!!

 

[MELSMICE]

The past 2 years in April we have been put up at the North Garden Wing at the Contemporary for the same price as SoG. Don't you think they would do the same?

I would absoultely HATE to be offsite. Plus, what if people didn't put it in their budget to pay more for accommodations or didn't plan on being offsite and having to rent a car. Just doesn't make sense that Disney would do this.

 

[sk8ingmom]

I would love to float to CR, but I just have a feeling its not going to happen! Since we are traveling at a busy time and SoG was SUPPOSED to be open, I'd be willing to bet Disney has been booking the rooms that SoG has been using for the past year.

I checked the moderates for the dates we are going (3/12-14 & 18-20). CBR & POR are $188 a night & CSR is over $200, so I'm looking at about $100 a night more than SoG! I don't really want to do a value resort that time of year - DH and I both work at colleges so we know its spring break time!

I think I'm going to book CBR & cancel it if SoG offers me a better rate somewhere on property. I've been spoiled! I don't want to stay off property!

I'm hoping SoG will at least open the parts that are done - we're military folks, we're good at going with the flow! I don't mind being homeless for a month or two every three years, just not on my vacation!

 

[ftwildernessguy]

2 weeks ago today I was playing golf at Oak Trails over by SOG, and my feeling was there was no way they were going to finish by March. One of the ladies at the concession tent told me they had their doubts and the contractor said they needed an extension, but the military was unwilling to give it to them. The new section was bare rafters, no roof yet. The parking ramp was up but obviously not completed. Personally, I have my doubts.

 

[kimmie]

I think we are going to switch over to CR and pay the overflow rate. I feel that the bit of extra $$ will be worth the peace of mind . What do you all think?

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by kimmie
I think we are going to switch over to CR and pay the overflow rate. I feel that the bit of extra $$ will be worth the peace of mind . What do you all think?

I'll tell you what I used to tell my guests when they wanted my opinion on whether or not to take a chance on the waiting list: "It's YOUR vacation. Only you know how important it is to you. If you've invested a lot of unrefundable money and time and the family is looking forward to it, then I would suggest making a reservation elsewhere to ensure you have a place to stay."

As you can see, what applied to the waiting list, applies to what's going on with the construction. And this would be my advice to any one who's currently in the same situation.

 

[kimmie]

We went ahead and changed to the overflow rate at CR. I just want the peace of mind knowing my room is there. I just feel I can relax now and begin the real planning. Thanks for all the help FirstNo! Keep us updated on anything you hear!

 

[ToriLammy]

Originally posted by ftwildernessguy
One of the ladies at the concession tent told me they had their doubts and the contractor said they needed an extension, but the military was unwilling to give it to them. The new section was bare rafters, no roof yet.

From what I understand it would be the third such extension, they were originally supposed to open Sep 2003, then Dec 2003, now March 2004 - that's six months of extensions. Can't really blame the military for wanting to hold the builder to the contract. The military entered an agreement with the builder/contractor - extensions cost more money - maybe the contractor is trying to milk the job and get all the "government" money they can. I hope that is not the case and I hope that the time is being used wisely to build the best facility they can but I kind of doubt that. I only replied because I didn't think it sounded right that the "military was unwilling" - they already gave them an extra six months. Maybe unwilling to give yet another extension but I don't believe the military is at fault here, at least not all by themselves

 

[MELSMICE]

Originally posted by kimmie
We went ahead and changed to the overflow rate at CR. I just want the peace of mind knowing my room is there. I just feel I can relax now and begin the real planning. Thanks for all the help FirstNo! Keep us updated on anything you hear!

If you don't mind me asking - what is the overflow rate at CR at that time? We will be there at the same time & are looking into the possibility of doing this also now.

Anyone else have overflow rates at other resorts they can share. There are 3 families of us going & now we're getting nervous!

 

[mbelec]

Here's hoping they get it all together by the time of my reservations as well - we're 3 rooms (the max you can book by the way, since someone asked) arriving May 28 (- June 7).

There's no way my sister can afford a more expensive onsite if SOG is not habitable, so we'd have to look for something offsite, which is a bummer. Fortunately we already planned to rent cars. But it's definately not the same experience, let alone early entries, free parking, walk to trans. ctr., etc.

I'm going to wait it out, myself, and keep my fingers crossed. I believe (hope!?) that if things are not ready for the reservations they have by that time, they'll offer adequate alternatives for the same price.

I never would have thought when I made ressies in May that they wouldn't be done by that time, but I now have my doubts . . .


Even more important: here's hoping they don't activate DH in Feb.

 

[kimmie]

Melsmice - Our overflow rate is $189 plus tax. Not the greatest, but for us its worth it to know we will have this room. The kids love the watermice, so we really want to be at one of the resorts that you can rent from and I can sit by the pool while they go out on the lake. I think the GF was about $300, and the Polynesian was not available at all. WL was around $230 or so, if memory serves me. My sister had them all written down. If you would pm me I will get them from her.
We thought about waiting it out, but really want to be onsite, not at DTD. (just MY opinion)

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Overflow rates we have had in the last 2 years have been:
$79(twice, more recently) and $99(twice, 01) for moderates
WL-woodsview-$119 (Dec 01)
We have taken FL resident or AP rates the other trips and also experienced CR(Sog rate) for around $99 late May/early June.
Going to AKL on Wed for $119!