Cindy's Castle room Question, are you locked in?

[DznyLvr2005]

OK, if you're one of the lucky ones to stay in the castle, I'm curious about something...
Are you locked away in the suite until the park opens up the next day???
I mean, how are they going to do that?
Will the guests be allowed out, will there be guard outside making sure everything is 'kosher'? Can you walk around the MK in complete darkness all night just because you can?
Just some thoughts that have been running through my head. I'll need to know these answers so I can prepare myself if I ever win

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

There was a post about this a while back and they were saying that seeing MK at night is not a good idea because they do all of the upkeep then and it is not very magical. I would assume that there is a guard or concierge type person there with you.

 

[ElizabethB]

I've been curious, too, although it's truly academic as we never win anything! And, the so-called random awarding of the prize doesn't appear to me to be very "random" -- at least based on the first family that won. The family that won had mom, dad and two kids (where was the dog?) all from the Midwest. Their 8-year-old daughter's birthday was on the very day and night that her family won the stay in Cinderella's Castle. Amazing coincidence, eh?

Also, don't forget that MK is actually lit through the night as lots of work goes on then -- cleaning, restocking, etc. So, if you walk around, it won't necessarily be in the dark. However, my guess is you're effectively "locked in" after park closing time, but who know?!

 

[rhiannonwales]

I remember reading that the suite came with 24 hour concierge - the reasoning that you couldnt leave the suite after the park closed so if you need anything (like drinks or emegency diapers) you needed to see the concierge.

 

[FantasmicDreams]

I was told by a CM on the Keys to the Kingdom tour last October that yes, you are locked in and unable to look out into the park once the park closes.

 

[Enderikari]

Well, besides the fact that locking folks into a room at a hotel is a violation of innkeeper's laws, think of how bad it would be if a smoker was chosen as the big winner? 10 hours with no cigarette? The last thing Disney would want would to have a person light up in the room...

My educated guess is that the concierge can be utilized to go out into the "safe" areas of the park after hours.... Make sense to me, especially knowing the level of service Disney is striving for with the Castle Suite

 

[Sammie]

Actually you are locked in, unless there is an emergency situation and going out to smoke does not qualify.

 

[BamaFan121s]

I think that for a night in the castle, I could do without a smoke for the night and overlook any "laws" they may or may not be in violation of.

(And I don't smoke, but used to, so I know it could be done.)

 

[Traveliz]

I read - I thought it was on one of the winner's reports that if you wanted to smoke they would go downstairs and outside with you.

Liz

 

[Enderikari]

Actually you are locked in, unless there is an emergency situation and going out to smoke does not qualify.

I am quite certain that you are incorrect.


In fact, the AP reporter's article mentioned that the guides or concierge even had a kind of tour that people staying in the castle could take for a period of time after the park is closed.

 

[HopperFan]

There was an article this week about a guy who won, and took a family with him. Not sure if he knew them or not from the story but he does say he asked to go outside and did....

"At about 9:30 p.m. I press 0 for the concierge and ask for an after-hours look outside the castle. You can't really leave the suite without asking, but it somehow doesn't feel like you're trapped. Someone is posted round-the-clock just to handle our requests.

I do literally have the park to myself, but there's not much to do in it because the rides are closed. Everything remains lit up as if it were packed, and piped-in Disney music fills the air. Most striking is the number of trash cans I see — dozens within a few feet of one another — that I never noticed before. They blend in when the whole place is cluttered with people."


Story was AP - maybe this link will work http://www.ajc.com/search/content/travel/southeast/fl_stories/2007/02/27/0228cinderella.html

 

[bytheblood]

Actually you are locked in, unless there is an emergency situation and going out to smoke does not qualify.

That is not correct. I was going to post a link, but I see it has already been posted.

 

[clkelley]

Well, besides the fact that locking folks into a room at a hotel is a violation of innkeeper's laws, think of how bad it would be if a smoker was chosen as the big winner? 10 hours with no cigarette? The last thing Disney would want would to have a person light up in the room...

My educated guess is that the concierge can be utilized to go out into the "safe" areas of the park after hours.... Make sense to me, especially knowing the level of service Disney is striving for with the Castle Suite

I read that you are allowed to go to the breezeway area of the Castle outside with the Concierge to smoke. To me that would still be a pain. I wish they had created some type of covered balcony that would screen the guest from the overnight work that would allow them to smoke without having to be "decent" enough to go downstairs.

I am waiting to hear how they would accomodate a winner that already had expensive plans that evening (such as Cirque tickets or Hoop De Doo, Poly Luau, Victoria & Alberts, etc.) Also, would they allow some other dinner besides dinner with the Princesses.

 

[Enderikari]

I am waiting to hear how they would accomodate a winner that already had expensive plans that evening (such as Cirque tickets or Hoop De Doo, Poly Luau, Victoria & Alberts, etc.) Also, would they allow some other dinner besides dinner with the Princesses.

Dinner does not HAVE to be at Cinderella's Royal Table, it just has to be offered. but that is the one that is complimentary with the stay in the castle.. If you already have reservation to the above places and still wish to attend, your concierge will get you there, and get you back to the castle when you are finished. If you didn't wish to leave the castle, then I am sure with a phone call, you could have those plans rescheduled, or be refunded your deposit. That sounds simple enough to me...

Besides, Dinner at Cinderella's isn't a character dining opportunity... Besides meeting Cindy in the downstairs lobby, and a Fairy Godmother wandering through the dining once every hour, its really kind of a nice place (with good Prime Rib)

And as to the other point...
"At about 9:30 p.m. I press 0 for the concierge and ask for an after-hours look outside the castle. You can't really leave the suite without asking, but it somehow doesn't feel like you're trapped. Someone is posted round-the-clock just to handle our requests.

I do literally have the park to myself, but there's not much to do in it because the rides are closed. Everything remains lit up as if it were packed, and piped-in Disney music fills the air. Most striking is the number of trash cans I see — dozens within a few feet of one another — that I never noticed before. They blend in when the whole place is cluttered with people."
Doesn't sound like he was restricted to the breezeway, does it?

 

[clkelley]

Dinner does not HAVE to be at Cinderella's Royal Table, it just has to be offered. but that is the one that is complimentary with the stay in the castle.. If you already have reservation to the above places and still wish to attend, your concierge will get you there, and get you back to the castle when you are finished. If you didn't wish to leave the castle, then I am sure with a phone call, you could have those plans rescheduled, or be refunded your deposit. That sounds simple enough to me...

Besides, Dinner at Cinderella's isn't a character dining opportunity... Besides meeting Cindy in the downstairs lobby, and a Fairy Godmother wandering through the dining once every hour, its really kind of a nice place (with good Prime Rib)

And as to the other point...
"At about 9:30 p.m. I press 0 for the concierge and ask for an after-hours look outside the castle. You can't really leave the suite without asking, but it somehow doesn't feel like you're trapped. Someone is posted round-the-clock just to handle our requests.

I do literally have the park to myself, but there's not much to do in it because the rides are closed. Everything remains lit up as if it were packed, and piped-in Disney music fills the air. Most striking is the number of trash cans I see — dozens within a few feet of one another — that I never noticed before. They blend in when the whole place is cluttered with people."
Doesn't sound like he was restricted to the breezeway, does it?

Yes, at 9:30 pm, but what about 2 in the morning?? As a normal course of action at WDW, I'm usually only at my resort from about 2am till about 6am. (Adventurer's Club and Comedy Warehouse Hound here) I'm not knocking the castle stay, I would love to spend a few hours soaking in that tub, but I don't think I would be the typical winner.

 

[Enderikari]

Yes, at 9:30 pm, but what about 2 in the morning?? As a normal course of action at WDW, I'm usually only at my resort from about 2am till about 6am. (Adventurer's Club and Comedy Warehouse Hound here) I'm not knocking the castle stay, I would love to spend a few hours soaking in that tub, but I don't think I would be the typical winner.

Shouldn't be too difficult... It sounds to me like Disney is trying to treat the winners like the won something, and not trying to make it a nuisance or stop the guests from experiencing something they wanted to do... Personally, I would want to stay in the suite, being a once in a lifetime thing... But if you won, and wanted to hang out throughout WDW, wouldn't it be cool to do that with a VIP Guide? Or to tell the folks in the Adv. Club that you were staying in the castle that night and to see how they played off of it?

 

[MelanieC]

Ahhh, to dream of staying in the castle. It would be so cool.

 

[bethmomoftwins]

We just got back and won the Castle stay, so I can report on this firsthand. They do kind of "lock you in". There is a concierge 24hr on call so anything you need, you can get pretty much immediately. If you want to go out in the park (we were told we can be out during park hours or up to 2hrs after park closing only) you just call the concierge and they send up your park guide to bring you down. The elevator is locked and only the CM park guide can call it with a special pass card.

My FIL is a smoker and went down numerous times to smoke but always accompanied by the CM/park guide.

We were out til 1am (with a 12:30MK closing for PandP party) and just went up and stayed up til 8:30am. But he said I could stay out and take pix til 2:30am. I was toooooo tired.
Beth

 

[BamaFan121s]

Congrats Beth! I bet you guys had a blast.

I cannot even fathom what it would be like to virtualy have the whole park to myself. Even if everything was closed and no rides were open...just to walk at my own pace and not have to fight a crowd...oooooh....goosebumps!

 

[lalalahollywood2003]

my roommate and i were JUST talking about this last night! haha. it's good to finally know the truth! hehe!