Best WL courtyard view room?

[LSUwest]

We are leaving Sunday for 8 nights at WL. Our plane lands at 4:00 pm so I hope it won't take too long to get to WL (using ME). Any advice on which courtyard view rooms have the best view? What rooms are better than courtyard view (should my wife manage to get an upgrade during check in)?

Thanks

 

[Minerva]

I don't think there can be a bad inner courtyard view and the only upgrade from courtyard would be to concierge and honestly I'm not sure I'd take it if it was offered unless it was a courtyard view and even then I'm not sure I would take it because of the solid balconies. I didn't think that would be such a big thing before I was there but it was heaven to be able to sit on our balcony and watch everything going on in the courtyard and the electric water parade at night.

 

[katallo]

We were in 5001 and it was great. Room was at the end of a hall facing the lake. Quiet and beautiful!

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I agree with Minerva!

Basically, make sure you stress "inner courtyard." The "other " (and IMHO, less desirable CY view) is of the quiet pool. I am always shocked that the WL charges the same rate for both inner and "quiet pool" CY views.

Also, I personally would want floors 3, 4 or 5. Floors 6 and 7 have solid wall balconies, and like Minerva said, it makes a HUGE difference. Basically, you have to stand at the edge of your balcony to see over it...it is not a "slatted" blacony like all the other floors. So when you are in your room looking out, you see a wall with a little bit of sky above it.

Floor 7 is all concierge level. If you got a free upgrade to concierge (which I believe is pretty rare) I would take it, but I would be upset about the solid balcony!

I agree all inner CY views are great, but we always feel extra lucky when we get a room that faces straight out to the lake. I believe I had room 5041 last trip, and it was great. If you PM me with your email addy, I will email you a pic of the view...I am so sorry, I do not know how to post pics on threads!

 

[sara74]

We are staying at WL 4/23 to 4/29 and I was planning on upgrading to a CY view as a surprise to DH. I know Disney is so family friendly but I'm still nervous. Are the balconies really safe for a toddler and a preschooler? Do they move to a solid balcony wall farther up because there is a greater fall risk with the slatted ones? The kids would be supervised of course, but I am still nervous.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Hi Sara!

You could always request the first floor, if you would feel safer.

In a way, I almost feel the slatted balconies are safer, because you can see out THROUGH them. With the solid wall balcony, I would be afraid a toddler would want to climb to see over them.

I have never heard of a toddler (or anyone) falling from a balcony at the WL. Then again, that is not the sort of thing WDW would publicize, right?

 

[Minerva]

It's my turn to agree with Wildernesslodgelover. I think you'd be safer with little kids with a slatted balcony than a solid one because they can see through the slats. A little one would have to get up onto a chair to see over the solid ones and that wouldn't be good at all. The first floor rooms are very handy to the pool my only suggestion if you're going to ask for one would be to request one in the north wing. The south wing rooms have a lot of foot traffic nearby all day long with people walking by to and from the boat, and when MK is open late that can be pretty late. When our balcony door was closed I never heard anything from outside but on the first floor with a bunch of people walking by you just might.

 

[speakupjc]

We bought a courtyard view and requested a view of the lake, however, we ended up with a view of the pool on the 1st floor. Needless to say we didn't love our room. My advice be ready for any room (despite any requests that you may have made) because they don't or can't accomodate your needs all the time.