connecting rooms at wilderness lodge

[noodle7729]

My family and I will be traveling to WDW next september and are debating between 2 resorts. We would love to stay at the wilderness lodge but would need connecting rooms because we are traveling with a toddler and we don't all want to go to bed at 8:00. I know that this can be guaranteed but what do you think the likely hood is of us getting connecting rooms. If it isn't very likely we will be booking a 2 bed villa at the beach club so we would rather save the money at the wilderness lodge (about 1000 cheaper for each couple). Thank you so much in advance.

Jamie Hambleton

 

[simplymama]

My family and I will be traveling to WDW next september and are debating between 2 resorts. We would love to stay at the wilderness lodge but would need connecting rooms because we are traveling with a toddler and we don't all want to go to bed at 8:00. I know that this can be guaranteed but what do you think the likely hood is of us getting connecting rooms. If it isn't very likely we will be booking a 2 bed villa at the beach club so we would rather save the money at the wilderness lodge (about 1000 cheaper for each couple). Thank you so much in advance.

Jamie Hambleton

Disney will guarantee connecting rooms when it is two adults and children. Yes, I am aware that here on the DIS there have been those rare exceptions, but in our numerous experiences we've never had a problem and it says right on our reservations "connecting rooms guaranteed for families"

If there are more than two adults, it's then just a "request" only, and they may try to accomodate you, but there is just no way to know, if your request will be honored, as it depends on room availability at the time.

If there are more than two adults and it's that important to you, I'd book the villa at Wilderness Lodge.

 

[maxiesmom]

Disney will guarantee connecting rooms when it is two adults and children. Yes, I am aware that here on the DIS there have been those rare exceptions, but in our numerous experiences we've never had a problem and it says right on our reservations "connecting rooms guaranteed for families"

If there are more than two adults, it's then just a "request" only, and they may try to accomodate you, but there is just no way to know, if your request will be honored, as it depends on room availability at the time.

If there are more than two adults and it's that important to you, I'd book the villa at Wilderness Lodge.

It doesn't make a difference who is staying in the rooms. Any request, wether it be for connecting rooms or a room location, is a request only and not guaranteed. It says that on Disney's own web-site. Will they do everything they can to meet your request? YES! But connecting rooms are never 100% guaranteed. Not getting them may be rare, but it does happen. And you need to know that and be prepared in case it happens to you.

$1000 per couple is a lot of money, but realize that you are taking a small chance that you won't have connecting rooms. If you can deal with the risk, then go for it. You can spend $1000 on a lot of souvineers.

 

[CanadianGuy]

As noted here.. Guaranteed in Disney speak means "We'll do our best but no guarantees" -- and it doesn't matter what the CM from the reservation center may have told you on the phone etc.

I've seen people post about 'full on Disney meltdowns' at the front desk over this issue.

Please please please keep in mind that this is not guaranteed ..

Knox

 

[noodle7729]

that's my fear that we won't get the rooms. I guess that we will probably end up coughing up the money for the Villa. Oh well

Thanks

Jamie

 

[rayelynn]

I was told that connecting rooms ARE guaranteed at POP because my husband and I are traveling with our 5 children (12 & under). We do not plan on spending our evenings in 2 completely seperate rooms, and the children certainly cannot be left alone. So, they sure better give us connecting rooms!!!!!!!

 

[maxiesmom]

I was told that connecting rooms ARE guaranteed at POP because my husband and I are traveling with our 5 children (12 & under). We do not plan on spending our evenings in 2 completely seperate rooms, and the children certainly cannot be left alone. So, they sure better give us connecting rooms!!!!!!!

That is the rub. You can be told you have guaranteed connecting rooms, but there is wordage in your reservation that negates that. Disney is only guaranteeing you a room. Period. And not even a room at the resort you have booked it at.

Primarily that is so if there is some major problem like a pipe burst Disney can move you. But it does give them an out for any reason. Resort overbooked? Move them to a different one. No connecting rooms available? Well nothing is guaranteed.

It is unlikely but Disney can expect you to make do with 2 non-connecting rooms. They would demand that you and your husband sleep in different rooms, so that the children are not left unattended. Again, that happening is unlikely, but it CAN happen. Best to know that ahead of time and decide what you would do if it happened to you.

 

[simplymama]

I was told that connecting rooms ARE guaranteed at POP because my husband and I are traveling with our 5 children (12 & under). We do not plan on spending our evenings in 2 completely seperate rooms, and the children certainly cannot be left alone. So, they sure better give us connecting rooms!!!!!!!

As I said above, yes there is the very rare occasion where something happens that they can't accomodate the connecting rooms, but they would do everything possible to make the request happen WHEN it is a family with 2 adults and small children sharing two rooms.

Disney doesn't want you standing in line with your reservation confirmation in hand that says in large print "Connecting rooms GUARANTEED for families" screaming the place down, while they try to quietly turn it over and look for the small small print that negates what's on the front.

Remember connecting room requests when there are more than 2 adults(3 or more) will say requested, but NOT guaranteed!

We've done this numerous numerous times and Disney has never let us down. Ok, I'm running off to knock on some wood now

Has it ever happened to somebody. Of course, but seriously, don't lose sleep over it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I know that this can be guaranteed

Disney will guarantee connecting rooms when it is two adults and children

I was told that connecting rooms ARE guaranteed at POP because my husband and I are traveling with our 5 children (12 & under).

Connecting rooms are never guaranteed. Despite computer-generated coding/wording on reservation paperwork that makes it appear they are, the disclaimer permanently printed on the back of that same paper states that there are no guarantees.

If at all possible, Disney will provide connecting rooms to Guests who request them. Sometimes it's just plain not possible. If the request can't be granted on check-in day, Guests who are willing to change rooms the following day should be accommodated.

 

[maxiesmom]

.

Disney doesn't want you standing in line with your reservation confirmation in hand that says in large print "Connecting rooms GUARANTEED for families" screaming the place down, while they try to quietly turn it over and look for the small small print that negates what's on the front.

Remember connecting room requests when there are more than 2 adults(3 or more) will say requested, but NOT guaranteed!

From what I understand all the "Guaranteed connecting rooms" on your reservation does is put your connecting request of those who have more adults in their travleing party. It still does not 100% guarantee you connecting rooms. And no matter how infrequently it happens, it is best to know there is a chance of it happening, that way you can decide what action you will take if it does happen to you.

That is all I am trying to say.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I was told that connecting rooms ARE guaranteed at POP because my husband and I are traveling with our 5 children (12 & under). We do not plan on spending our evenings in 2 completely seperate rooms, and the children certainly cannot be left alone. So, they sure better give us connecting rooms!!!!!!!

What is your Plan B if they can't?

 

[rayelynn]

To be honest with you, I don't have a plan B, yet. Any suggestions?

 

[maxiesmom]

To be honest with you, I don't have a plan B, yet. Any suggestions?

Ask if they can either move you to another resort in the same class (Value/Mod/Deluxe) that has connecting rooms available, or better yet upgrade you to one that does.

Change your reservation to a Family Suite or a DVC Villa.

If neither of those works, be ready to sleep seperate from your hubby.

 

[ktlm]

We stayed at WL last December and again in May and both times got connecting rooms with no problem. In December we traveled with my Mom and specifically requested connecting. In May we traveled with the inlaws, and just linked our reservations and made a note to have rooms somewhere close to each other, preferably on the same floor, and they gave us connecting. Also, my experience with my DD who was 2 in December and 3 in May is that she was so tired after a day of disney that she was out cold and nothing would wake her up. We had the tv on and parts of the lights on in the room after she went to bed with no problems.

 

[a1970model]

We have traveled with friends the past three years we've went to Disneyworld, and always requested connecting rooms. Here's our stats:

Polynesian: connecting rooms
Wilderness Lodge: couldn't grant our request, but were able to get us 5 rooms apart
Coronado Springs: connecting rooms

The Wilderness Lodge did try to grant our request, but we discovered that they were totally booked during the time we were there (July 2008). They did get our rooms as close to each other as possible. Looking back, it wasn't that much different from being right next door and it's not a deal breaker for us. We will most likely go back to the Wilderness Lodge next year because we all really enjoyed the resort and its theme.

Good luck!