I just received an email from my TA. She said WL is requesting for all under the group rate to move to another resort. Our only deluxe choice to stay at the same rate is the Boardwalk. I have no desire to stay there. At an added price we can choose Poly or BC. It's at a substantial rate increase. My husband is livid. He only wants to stay at WL during the holidays. My TA said she has emailed WL that we have no desire to move, but she doesn't think it will help. I guess this is the price you have to pay for being at such a discounted rate. I have no clue what we're going to do.
Just curious, why would you not stay at BWI? I have a Christmastime chapter in my BWI thread, like I do for WL. BWI is beautifully decorated at Christmas and is warm and inviting. It's wonderful being able to walk right into Epcot and DHS from BWI and it's a very relaxed and quiet atmosphere over there. Obviously, the theming is not at all like WL (it's more like GF) so if you wanted to stay at WL, couldn't you stay and accept the $100 per night credit?
KOOK, thank you so much for this explanation as I truly did not know what I reserving with the agency and your explanation makes perfect sense and as always you are awesome. I will say that as frustrated as I got it was not my TA's fault and I would not hesitate to book with them again. Everything is a learning experience. Just need to decide now what is right for us with this situation. I hope everything works out for everyone.
So glad I could be of help,
@rachdd. Have you made a decision yet?
Just got a call from our TA, and she said that Disney called them and that they will actually be closing rooms down at WL
On the bright side, Disney told the TA that they will switch all their WL customers to GF-LV at no extra charge. DW is not super excited about the move, she was really looking forward to our 1st stay at WL with the Christmas decorations.
It's very common for resorts to take rooms offline that may be impacted by rehabs. Do you still have the option of staying and receiving a $100/night credit? Have you mentioned the GF Spa to DW
Goodness gracious, how bad is this construction expected to be if they are actively moving guests away from the main lodge, away from where the construction is supposed to take place?
Any long-term work that would be disruptive to guests or impact views usually means that at least some rooms will be taken out of inventory for some period of time.
Yes, not only moving guests, but moving lots of them! For heaven's sake, people, if WDW is offering you an upgrade (GF, BC or BWI) at a deep discount, take it! I know it may not seem ideal as WL is beautiful at Christmas, but if they are moving people, it sounds like it's not going to be so great this year! Something is going on in that main building that is going to impact guests, it seems, in a big way.
ITA with your recommendation. The impact will most likely be to the South Wing rooms, especially those that face VWL. I suspect some VWL villas that face the pool area will also be blocked from booking.
When they did the main pool construction last fall they closed off the lower floors closest to the construction area.
I would think that the rooms closest to the villa's pool in the south wing, especially the end closest to the pool itself, would have to be closed off and the windows covered up like they were for the main pool construction. They didn't close off the higher floors, though. We saw people sitting on their balconies watching the pool construction.
I have haven't heard a word from them & I have this Sept trip (which shouldn't be too bad, only one night) but 7 days at end of November. I called & was told nothing is going on then just closing the quiet pool at the villas. I am staying club level & even they are being close mouth about it. More than likely I will be canceling it anyway but it would have been nice to hear from them.
Note my son want to go with us next Sept & he told me he doesn't care about the construction. I said fine but I want it in writing if they complain to me lol. I am trying to lure them into the Poly. I would go to the BWI but our grandson who will be almost 5 would like the MK more so than the Epcot area. Though the AKL might be an idea since he is into animals.
Since you're staying CL, you could end up with a South Wing room. However, the CL floor rooms don't go beyond mid-Lodge so even those rooms wouldn't directly face the VWL pool area. Unless you're staying in a Deluxe CL room and some of those rooms are at the end of the wing fronting Bay Lake. I would recommend requesting a North Wing room so that you'll be as far from the major work as possible.
We have reservations for Dec 4-Dec 12...I have not heard anything. I was so excited about the Christmas decorations but now I am not feeling the love. I booked through Disney reservations. This is going to be the first time we've gone at Christmas and it took a ton of arm twisting to get my husband to go. One of his request is Wilderness Lodge because it's "quiet"....not gonna be quiet with construction going on.
Should I be calling them??
Yes, call and ask to speak to Guest Services. Many have posted that they have been offered a credit, a percentage off and/or they could be moved (upgraded). If you prefer a quiet atmosphere, BWI is a very quiet and laid back resort. If your DH's heart is set on WL, you could take the credit and request a North Wing room or perhaps he'd like a FW cabin?
Well, I just called to ask about WL construction during our stay (12/27-1/2). The agent said "Do you mind if I put you on hold while I get more information on that?" After about 3 minutes she came back on the line she said, "I am not seeing any plans for refurbishment at that time." Not sure what to do now. Still thinking about changing resorts as I don't want to worry about any of this leading up to vacation or during our stay. I just want to relax and have a magical time within the Disney bubble (construction-free)!
The bolded made me LOL
and
. I think you'll need to call back and ask for Guest Services and find out what can be done for you. Have in mind before you call back whether you want to move or receive a credit, if offered. Have a resort in mind that would be acceptable to you or stay put and request the North Wing
Interesting........I have a "magical" deal at Thanksgiving and I was not offered anything. They said their Disney Sales Rep said they don't know how far along construction will be then......and how the resort will be impacted. So Disney is not moving/compensating people at this time. I'm annoyed to get brushed off when others are being compensated.
I don't know if this is the case, but it's possible they're downplaying this so that clients don't cancel. The agency buys blocks of rooms through Disney Group Sales and they "own" the reservation. If they don't re-sell all of those rooms, they lose money on each un-booked room.
Well, to update, I went ahead and changed our reservations to CR for our late December trip. I honestly have no idea how or if the construction will impact hotel guests at that time, but I can't just leave it to chance. As much as this thread has been helpful, the prospect of following it for the next 5 months for blow by blow construction updates is not exciting me. Exhaling a little now, and looking forward to a construction-free stay in December. Hope to return to WL someday when the dust settles...
(Even though there is no "dust" at this time!)
Unsubscribe now and completely rid yourself of worry! See you on the CR thread
Thank you so much, i am over the moon!! i have been given a one bed suite!!
WOW! Were you booked in a Deluxe room or suite at WL?
We hope you both have a great time as well.
Thanks everyone for all the information it has been 4 years since our last DW trip , I received a 30% off pin code and decide to book Dec 13 - Dec 18 at WL " I know no free dining then" after reading this thread I called and was upgraded to The Grand Floridian at no additional cost I am beyond thrilled !!!!
