BOULDER RIDGE VILLAS & COPPER CREEK VILLAS & CABINS: Wilderness Lodge DVC Expansion Thread

[ofcabbagesandkings]

I don't know about this time but we made the move to AKL LAST year during the pool rehab. It was actually less expensive and we retained the FD as well. We weren't given an additional discount - AKL was just a bit cheaper. (ETA - I ADORED AKL and would recommend it highly for its very peaceful atmosphere as well as the animals.) This time, the availability was much less for us (multiple rooms involved) and honestly we were okay with staying at WL. Resort availability will probably decrease as people hear about the situation so calling sooner is the best IMO.

I do agree that it depends on who you talk to. If I got a "less than magical" rep, I would ask to speak with someone else. There is no reason to tolerate that at all. It's a vacation destination and not a cheap one no matter how you look at it. I sincerely hope everyone here gets something worked out to their satisfaction.

Just got off phone. The guest service line always went straight to VM, so I called regular resort reservations. Got transferred to GS. They wanted to know if I had gotten letter yet and I told them no. Told them I wanted a move to Savannah View at AKL due to noise concern. They wanted to put me in pool view because that was considered equal to woods view at WL, but I said no to paying more for savannah because we are already losing ferry to MK by moving. So they let me have savannah view at no upcharge but I am not allowed to make any other changes to reservation. Also keeping FD. Would have rather taken discount at WL but one morning of jackhammering would have been all DH needed to never go to WDW again. Think he will love AKL. Fingers crossed!

 

[laur05]

Wait the ferry will not be operating at WL once construction starts?

 

[StaciaRae]

Wait the ferry will not be operating at WL once construction starts?

I think ofcabbagesandkings means that by moving to AKL they won't have the ferry that they would've had at WL. Hopefully anyways.

 

[LynJ]

According to the questions/answers on page 1 of this thread, all watercraft transportation will continue to operate as normal.

 

[laur05]

Ok phew

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Yes, that's what I meant! Sorry to cause any confusion! And I should add that we were given option of other resorts too, but she didn't price them out for me because I already told her we wanted AKL (inconvenient but I think DH will love it, and their Xmas decorations are similar to WL from what I've seen)

 

[jimandami]

You can't call WDW when you have rented DVC points. You can get in touch with David's, and see if the owner would consider looking to see if other resorts might be available during that time. I don't know if they will attempt that or not, but you could certainly ask. Unfortunately, DVC does not upgrade for these issues as far as I know. What is happening to you is the exact reason I will probably not rent points anymore. I had this happen last December at the end of the pool refurb at WL. It was supposed to be finished when we went, but it wasn't. I didn't go through David's, but a private owner. She was great, and did try to find us something else, but there wasn't anyplace I wanted to stay that was still available.

I'm pretty positive that David's has a blanket "no changes" policy so they won't even contact the owner for you to ask about availability or switching. I remember last year a couple people complaining about it, but it is in the terms and conditions of their contract.

 

[tarak]

Yes, that's what I meant! Sorry to cause any confusion! And I should add that we were given option of other resorts too, but she didn't price them out for me because I already told her we wanted AKL (inconvenient but I think DH will love it, and their Xmas decorations are similar to WL from what I've seen)

We've stayed at both resorts during the holidays and AKL is gorgeous. It's my husband's favorite resort. I know what you mean about losing some convenience. On the plus side, AKL doesn't share with any other resort (except DTD, I think).

I hope everyone gets a response from WDW that makes them happy. We had a split-stay between Poly and BC for this August. I finally switched to the WL because of concerns with the pool construction that will be starting up soon. I don't want construction noise when I'm on vacation. I can deal with some - we were at AKL when the lobby was having work done. And while the scaffolding doesn't thrill me, I don't imagine it will have much impact on our stay. But seeing photos of the Poly when they were in full construction mode would have me nervous about staying at any resort where Disney has mentioned construction.

 

[FTM22]

Can those who received the compensation also post your trip dates? I'll wait to ask for anything until we actually arrive, since our dates fall right before the rumored closure date of the villas pool, but I'd like to know if they're offering the compensation for stays that end before October 26th.

Everyone I have seen getting this discount (myself included) has stays STARTING no earlier than October 25. Obviously, I could be wrong but so far that's what I understand because it's directly related to closures of amenities.

 

[stitchfan18]

What number are you calling? We're booked next year, so we still have time, but I clearly was talking to the wrong person because they didn't even know which resorts were close to MK...

 

[limabeanmom2003]

The fact that they are offering $100 off each night's stay tells me that they know this project is going to be loud and and a big inconvenience to guest.

 

[Disneygirl1984]

After 6 phone calls and being given the complete run around I was finally able to speak to a very nice cast member in Guest Services. The only availability for my dates was AKL which is a little further out than we'd like to be so I was offered the 100 dollar discount on top of the free dining that I already had. Fingers crossed that courtyard view will be far enough away from the construction when we are there.

 

[FTM22]

The fact that they are offering $100 off each night's stay tells me that they know this project is going to be loud and and a big inconvenience to guest.

I figure that as well and am hopeful that being on the front end of it will mean not such a big mess for my trip. Last year we were in the middle of pool rehab and SOOOO glad to be at AKL instead.

 

[FTM22]

After 6 phone calls and being given the complete run around I was finally able to speak to a very nice cast member in Guest Services. The only availability for my dates was AKL which is a little further out than we'd like to be so I was offered the 100 dollar discount on top of the free dining that I already had. Fingers crossed that courtyard view will be far enough away from the construction when we are there.

This was what I figured would happen pretty quickly with availability. AKL isn't as far out as it really seems - staying there last year I found easy transport everywhere but DTD (that was a long ride!). But it's certainly good that you persisted and got a magical CM!

 

[stitchfan18]

I finally go through to the right person. We're not traveling until next October, so I thought I'd call even though I wasn't sure anything would be done this far out. Once I finally got to GS they just wanted to make a note that we'd need a quiet room. I asked about options at other resorts, and they gave me prices to upgrade. Finally, I asked if they were offering any discount to guests because of the inconvenience. I was offered the $100 discount, so I had to ask if they were offering any discounts at other resorts because we didn't want to risk the noise. After an hour on the phone, We ended up being offered to switch to the CR. Still not 100% ideal since we need an outdoor space, and there is only one floor that gives us a patio, but at least we'll be away from construction. I think the offer to switch to the Poly was only during their construction right now because she told me the only other resort they could do a switch without paying the difference was AKL.

 

[laur05]

Are they charging the difference to stay at another deluxe or just matching got and transferring everything to the deluxe u choose?

 

[Masonmj84]

Sorry if this has already been discussed on this thread, but am I correct in assuming that the impact of the construction should be relatively minimal if one books a courtyard view room in the main lodge?

By way of reference, we stayed in the Poly in April of 2014, shortly before they gutted the Grand Ceremonial House (GCH) and closed the main pool area. At that time, they were right in the middle of constructing the bungalows and converting 3 of the longhouses on the East side of the resort to DVC. Under those circumstances, we didn't feel that the construction was terribly obtrusive (it would have been a totally different story during the GCH and/or main pool refurb). I don't even remember hearing a lot of construction noise.

 

[Kanga Roo]

Sorry if I missed the answer to this question somewhere in the previous posts, but does the Spa being closed only through Feb give us any possible hope that the loudest noise by the villas will be over then? The changes to the Hidden Springs are the ones I look forward to the least. I love that pool, and there were plenty of chairs for everyone with lots to spare when we were there in June. Oh well, we will probably tough it out next summer anyway. Rather have the VWL anyday!

 

[stitchfan18]

Are they charging the difference to stay at another deluxe or just matching got and transferring everything to the deluxe u choose?

I was only offered AKL or CR for no extra fee, as far as I know it would have been normal cost to upgrade to any other deluxe.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Are they charging the difference to stay at another deluxe or just matching got and transferring everything to the deluxe u choose?

It depends on your room level. Courtyard can move to anything, Woods and Standard will be offered comparable room levels. Unless you don't mind haggling a bit.