booking Friday...couple of questions

[daisyx3]

Friday is the 7 month window for our March trip. Couple of last minute questions:
1) we are booking for my husband and me, my daughter and her husband, and my (then) 2 1/2 year old grandson. There is a chance my son in law will not be able to go as he is a Marine, and at the whims of when his posts/training start. I plan to book as if he will go, though, with the resort and the dining when it gets to 180 days, and when we get closer to the trip I will remove him if we can't go. Will this be an issue for anything? I thought it would be easier to remove him than to add him to reservations later.
2) Pretty sure we are going with BLT over VGF, although both are available in 1 BR now. I think the second toilet and the walking distance to MK make the difference and my grandson LOVES Mickey Mouse, Donald, etc. so we are doing one meal at Chef Mickey's. What is a good request for a lake view room? I have been there twice; once with a view of marina and once with a view "inside the C" into other people's rooms. I read somewhere north tower even number? And over 5th floor? How far are elevators?

 

[kniquy]

Will this be an issue for anything?

you are correct in thinking that it will be easier to remove than to add so definitely book everything - room, dining, FP as if he will be there. You can always show up to an ADR with less people but you can't always add last minute. If you are getting the dining plan there might be a time frame for removing him so look into that if that is part of the plan or for any other prepaid events/restaurants. I am pretty sure the dessert parties are 5 days prior.

 

[BillPA]

If you will get the DP, that can wait until 48 hours before you arrive, so just wait until your son-in-law knows. And thank him for his service.

 

[daisyx3]

Thanks! I don't think we are going with the DP this time, but we may look into it. I'm sure my son-in-law would get a lot of it but DH and I eat less now and don't like coming out of TS restaurants stuffed (like Ohana last year LOL). I don't think a 5 night trip is enough for TIW to be worth it either. I'll sit down and figure that out after I get the room booked.

 

[jaygalterio]

Personal experience is that you are correct. Removing a person is a lot easier than adding. I've done both and removing was FAR less of a headache.

I know it's still way out there, but here is another little tidbit we discovered during our last visit to the Polynesian. Since you have a 1 Bedroom, it might be useful to you:
Publix Super Market at Cornerstone at Summerport, 13450 Summerport Village Pkwy, Windermere, FL 34786

It's directly behind the Magic Kingdom and just a 15 minute drive from BLT. You avoid all of the headaches... No I-4, no 192, no Hotel Plaza Blvd, no International Drive.

I found it purely by accident and cursed myself for not discovering it sooner.

 

[drusba]

Over the many years, as to restaurants, I never had a problem removing someone from the reservation and almost always had a problem adding anyone, except somewhat easier if you are three just adding a fourth, and always impossible if four trying to add a fifth. When I know who they are in advance, I always include anyone who will potentially go when making reservations even if someone might not end up coming.

I would take the BLT 1BR over the VFG 1BR because of the second bathroom and lower points. For BLT lake view, we usually just request high floor (and have always gotten it). A north tower, even number, high floor request, would potentially put you on the outer wall on the north side of the building (the front entrance faces west) with an excellent view but I am always concerned about trying to do a more limited request than just high floor because if a location request cannot be met, they don't try to give you something near to what you requested but instead just put in any available room.

A real issue is when your son-in-law will know he can come. You need to know before 60 days out to be able to purchase a park ticket and include him in the fastpass reservations.

 

[daisyx3]

.

A real issue is when your son-in-law will know he can come. You need to know before 60 days out to be able to purchase a park ticket and include him in the fastpass reservations.

We are going to be using military tickets that my daughter and son-in-law purchase for us. Even if he doesn't go, she can activate them when we get to the parks with her military ID. We did this in 2015 when she took my husband and me to Disneyland when they lived in San Diego; SIL was in Kuwait.
If it's still up in the air at 60 days we will make his FP reservations; if he has to cancel less than 60 days out, will cancel his FPs and hopefully they can use his ticket within the year for another trip. They should be living in Pensacola by sometime in January and will be there for 2-3 years.

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't think a 5 night trip is enough for TIW to be worth it either.

You might be surprised. As a family of three we've made TIW work within a very short number of days just having one TS per day. It covers alcohol, if that's a part of your lives, and it also covers a decent number of QS restaurants if you're willing to go to the food courts or QS at AK park.

 

[jscottnc]

BLT all the way. The extra bathroom makes a big difference. I recommend faxing a request for a villa on the outside of the curve -- they are bigger. We lucked into room 8410 when we stayed at BLT: lake view villa with a side view of MK.

Sample description to use in the assignment fax:

Bldg Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort,Flr 14,N/S-facing room.Exmple:8410

 

[disneynutz]

BLT all the way. The extra bathroom makes a big difference. I recommend faxing a request for a villa on the outside of the curve -- they are bigger. We lucked into room 8410 when we stayed at BLT: lake view villa with a side view of MK.

Sample description to use in the assignment fax:

Bldg Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort,Flr 14,N/S-facing room.Exmple:8410

Faxing may not work, best to have MS add the request to your reservation. Some room assigners don't like faxes, at WL I was told that the faxes go straight into the trash. The more work that you make for the CM's, the less chance for them matching you to a room request.

Bill

 

[daisyx3]

We did go with BLT; I will be calling MS with my requests this next week. Then I have a month to figure out our plans to book dining!