Disboards May Not Always Be Right For You :)

[lucincia]

Don't kill me for saying this - but stuff you read on Disboards may be the rule of thumb for some people, but may not be for your personal/family taste

Case to point - I studied far and wide in Disboards regarding room assignments @ WL. I read about the good rooms and bad rooms people have said. I noted that people say the lobby rooms are too noisy, the rooms closer to the front may get beep-beep-beep from the service vehicles outside, and rooms over the WCC may get too much of the rowdiness from below. Etc. Etc. Etc.

I made the room requests when we booked the package. I told them about where, how, why I want certain room requests. I planned it down to details.

Then, when I checked in, I found that our room was right over WCC. Knowing what I read from Disboards, I was disappointed and tried to change the room.

Luckily, they didn't right away. The CMs told us that they will try to find us something next day. But, that night, DW could not sleep. So, she got up around 4 AM, grabbed a book, and curled up in a rocking chair right outside our door overlooking the peaceful WL lobby. When one of us is in the room taking care of DD2's afternoon nap, we find ourselves sitting in our semi-personal overlook, rocking in the wooden rocking chair, and watching the beautifully decorated lobby and the people walking around below. You can't do that in a room not overlooking the lobby with a DD2 sleeping in the room by herself. We find that we get up before the service vehicles begin their beep-beep-beeps. We find the noise from the lobby and WCC a welcoming white noise in the room.

In short, the room is not bad. And we still can see Wishes splashing across the sky at night from our room.

We told the CM not to worry about changing our room assignment. Despite what I have read on Disboards, this room is pretty cool

 

[SeaSpray]

I'm glad you enjoyed the Wilderness Lodge, and I totally agree with you!

When we were planning our first Disney World on-site resort vacation, Caribbean Beach Resort was THE MOST negatively reviewed resort at that time. This was before the refurbishment of the rooms. However, after doing a lot of research here on the DIS boards, looking at pictures, reading the posts of the small handful of DISers who did like CBR, and realizing that NONE of the other moderate resorts really appealed to us, we went ahead anyway and booked the CBR. When we got there and saw the resort for ourselves I could not understand why there had been so many negative reviews. We LOVED that resort; the rooms were clean and large and bright, the resort grounds were absolutely beautiful, and the theming was exactly what we had hoped for.

The DIS boards are an invaluable research tool when it comes to planning Disney trips of all kinds (Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise, etc), you really have to take everything you read with a grain of salt *and* try not to get too caught up in the supposedly negative features of any resort that you read about.

We stayed at the WL this past summer up on the concierge floor. Our room did not overlook the lobby but sitting at the tables and on the couches that did overlook the lobby was the best part of having breakfast there each morning. And every single night before bed DH and I would go downstairs and sit in those overstuffed chairs that lean back, and we'd relax and take in the "noise" and ambiance of the lobby. Next time we stay there, we will definitely request a room overlooking the lobby!

 

[mjkaferle5]

I won't flame you.

Basically everyone on this board is just trying to help each other out. But opinions are opinions. And just like you said "may not be for your personal/family taste". I would never be mad at someone on this board if something wasn't to my liking at the World. I am just so happy that we have this board to be able to help each other out.

Aside from that rambling.........

Your room sounds awesome and I hope to be able stay at WL one day and have a room like that. The semi-private overlook would be awesome for my wife and myself while our kids slept.

Glad to hear you are having a great time.

 

[lucincia]

Oh, when I meant semi-private, it just means our room is out of the way (not on a busy corridor to the elevator and such). So it seems like we have the overlook to ourselves We have not seen anyone else use it

 

[disneymore]

I totally agree with the original poster. These are just everybodies opinions and you really need to experience things for yourself to judge it based on your taste. I love this board (all though I find it hard to visit, considering I don't have a trip planned anytime soon) and think that all the advice and tips are really useful. However, my expereince with resorts and restaurants sometimes competly agreed with the majority and other times did not. As long as we take the baord for what it is a place for individuals to provide thier expereinces/advice/reviews and relaize that it may be coming from a personl with totally different taste and backgrounds.

 

[paladin]

Yes, I totally agree. I love reading the boards, but I also take everyone's opinion as just that - their opinion. After all, we are strangers and don't really know each others likes and dislikes. Something that I may LOVE, you may not - though you should because I have really excellent taste . Glad your room turned out fine.

 

[SeaSpray]

I would like to add something....

I have always liked reading the negative reviews of the various resorts because the information in them can often help us become aware to specific situations that we might not have known about. For example, when researching for our first on-site resort, I had read how "spread out" CBR was. A lot of people complained about that. That information was invaluable to me because at the time of our trip, our youngest DS who was 10 at the time, was just off crutches and physical therapy for a chronic hip problem he has. We knew we'd be doing a lot of walking in the parks, but once I knew that some of the buildings at CBR were very far from the main building/food court/pool, then I knew enough to request a room/building CLOSE by. (At that time there were no preferred location rooms that you could pay extra for; everything was just a request). We were given a room in Martinique, building 25, and it was an EXCELLENT location. So my point is, if nobody on these boards had mentioned how far away some of the buildings are, I would not have known that, and had not known that I could make a room request.

So, I always find value, even in the negative resort reviews

 

[Eeyore2003]

Definitely agree. It's not only the negative comments that can be disappointing but also positive. Such as most people love Boma, we did not find it good at all. I am one person who does think that sometimes there is too much critisim. Not so much recently, but for a while there it seemed like that's all there was. And I also totally agree with the others, you have to look at everything as the "opinion" of one family or person. Their family expectations may have been higher or different than yours, or their experience might have been different and then, of course, likes and dislikes.

I think one thing we often forget is that the internet is "Worldwide", there are so many more people reading and writing than it seems like. Also, maybe it's human nature, but we tend to be "satisfied" and "happy" when things are great and nice, and upset when things are "wrong" and "bad". Because we're upset, we tend to write about that more I think.

On the good side, it also gives you the freedom to post and share your opinions, whether they be good or bad. The only thing that I get more upset with is opinions to the point of rudeness or blaming people that really have no control over the situation.

For example: If people in the other thread on "tinkerbelle" would blame Disney on the rudeness of the people. They have no control over the type of people that come or how they behave when there unless it's blatently wrong.

 

[mjkaferle5]

Oh, when I meant semi-private, it just means our room is out of the way (not on a busy corridor to the elevator and such). So it seems like we have the overlook to ourselves We have not seen anyone else use it

I understood what you meant by "semi-private".

 

[Sammie]

Hopefully anyone planning a vacation using Internet forums and/or guidebooks can recognize the difference between fact and opinions.

I must say though sometimes it seems some that post here forget and think their opinion is "fact" especially when it comes to which resort is best.

I think the example of the difference I love best is that the Yacht Club and Grand Floridian are "stuffy". Unless there is no air conditioning on during the summer it is not stuffy, just one's perception of that.

 

[Feralpeg]

I'm sure I'll get flamed for this, but I think most people over plan. They set themselves up for disappointment because things will just not go exactly the way they plan them no matter how hard they try. I never ever asked for a particular room. I never layed out an exact touring plan. The most we did was decide which days we wanted to do each park and made ADRs. We were never disappointed. That being said, I know that many people derive pleasure from the act of planning. If that is the case, go for it. But, I hate seeing people obsessing about every detail. It's suppose to be a vacation!

 

[Eeyore2003]

I'm sure I'll get flamed for this, but I think most people over plan. They set themselves up for disappointment because things will just not go exactly the way they plan them no matter how hard they try. I never ever asked for a particular room. I never layed out an exact touring plan. The most we did was decide which days we wanted to do each park and made ADRs. We were never disappointed. That being said, I know that many people derive pleasure from the act of planning. If that is the case, go for it. But, I hate seeing people obsessing about every detail. It's suppose to be a vacation!

I agree but kind of in a round about way. I love the planning part, I ask for my preferred views usually, have my little planning sheet, and read all the stuff of interest on the board and add and subtract all the time from my plans. The tricky part comes in looking at it with the "attutude" you mention to begin with. Planner or no planner, or in between, you have to realize...

1. Your on vacation!!! Enjoy and relax!!!

2. It NEVER goes as planned, and the ONLY one that REALLY cares is YOU!!! So "let go" of the things that don't go "perfectly as you envisioned." If everyone is having fun, it doesn't matter!!!

3. Appreciate the advice and opinions, more things usually turn out better because of the great advice, and the few that things don't turn out great, are usually things that it was nice to try anyway. Now you know how YOU feel about it and can share YOUR opinion !!!

 

[4theloveofdisney]

That is so awesome that it worked out for you! It just proves that sometimes you just have to go with the flow. I have learned from experience, as well, that sometimes you are pleasantly surprised!

One year we stayed at PoP and were put in the 90's. We had ressies for WL but due to a work schedule change, we had to opt to leave a month and a half early and only had 2 days to change our plans. Pop was one of the only things open and since it was new, we decided to try it. Disappointed that it wasn't WL and that our room assignment was in the 90's, we had decided that this was the last place we wanted to be! The plus side was that it was quiet and our quiet pool was quiet and the walk really wasn't *that bad to the bus stop if we cut through the 70's and so on. We knew we must have really been lucky to have peace and quiet when spending time at the main pool on several occassions. Many people could be overheard complaining about how loud the music was at night. Right off of the main pool was where I had wanted to be but having little kids who need sleep, and after hearing everyone complain, over and over, we decided were happy to be in the 90's- lol!

Another year we stayed at CBR. I got my room choice - preferred, lake view, corner room. When we walked over the bridge to the other side though, I felt it was so much more quaint and wished we had been placed there instead!!!

Still another time I wanted to stay in Cabannas at CSR but we were in the Cassitas 1. Our room was excellent though - right next to the main building/food court, overlooking a pretty courtyard and fountain and with a lake view. We were very pleased again.

Again, at OKW I wanted to be near the main pool. However we were way in the back but it was peaceful. Our balcony was on a nice quiet lake and we felt like we had the place to ourselves!!! It was wonderful.

I still like to plan where I'd like to be but it isn't so heart breaking anymore if I can't get what I want!

Again, happy that it worked out for you and thinking that my next stay at WL will be where you were - lol!

Thanks for sharing!

 

[TAKitty]

I think that most people consider the information on the boards with a grain of salt. I really don't care about what view I get. I think it is funny when I read about people worrying about what the "best" location is. However, I do like to be close to the main lobby or food court. I love to read the various opinions and then see what I think when I am there. I think some of the best information I have received is that you can go early to MVMCP and things like that.

Yeah, leaving in a week! to try the Yacht Club "the stuffy resort" I will see for myself!

 

[westcliffemom]

I agree OP, usually instead of requesting some building/room, we just go with the flow and more often than not, we're pleased with the location. Each room/building/floor has it's own special appeal to different people for different reasons!

 

[Ladyhawke10]

I agree but kind of in a round about way. I love the planning part, I ask for my preferred views usually, have my little planning sheet, and read all the stuff of interest on the board and add and subtract all the time from my plans. The tricky part comes in looking at it with the "attutude" you mention to begin with. Planner or no planner, or in between, you have to realize...

1. Your on vacation!!! Enjoy and relax!!!

2. It NEVER goes as planned, and the ONLY one that REALLY cares is YOU!!! So "let go" of the things that don't go "perfectly as you envisioned." If everyone is having fun, it doesn't matter!!!

3. Appreciate the advice and opinions, more things usually turn out better because of the great advice, and the few that things don't turn out great, are usually things that it was nice to try anyway. Now you know how YOU feel about it and can share YOUR opinion !!!

That's exactly how I can tell who's opinions I might trust more than others...the posters who report back with a list of nominal side routes from their projected plans as major disappointments--those are the opinions I take with a grain of salt. A lot of others' perceptions I genuinely trust--when the person seems to have a more balanced (and relaxed) response to their surroundings. Yes, I have opinions on the opinions I take some with a grain of salt, but not all--many I trust very much--especially those who post "sound" posts a lot and I know how they generally seem to respond to things.

As far as resorts...I think the service is good at all of them and slip ups are going to happen at any one about as often as it could happen at any other at WDW. I think most preferences should probably just be based on which theme one finds most appealing and how close it is to the park most frequented--there are the other variables, like jacuzzi (Poly doesn't have one!), transportation options and set-up, pool exciting or not exciting, price breaks, etc. But the biggies are theme, price and location, right? Planning helps find one that's (hopefully) right. And that's where all the opinions come in handy....

 

[goodferry]

I am not going to disagree with you either. I have never made a room request, ever, other than non-smoking. When we stayed at CBR we got a corner room in Trinidad North, perfect location. At the Polynesian Concierge, we got a third floor room right near the elevator and the entrance to the lounge, once again, it was perfect. At the BWI we got a GORGEOUS room overlooking the Boardwalk. Not once have we requested anything. We always go with the flow and try to make the most of what we get.
The same goes with restaurants. I made the mistake in the past of taking every review I read on the boards to heart instead of taking into consideration what we like to eat. We HATED Le Cellier (gasp), but we loved Mama Melrose, which a lot of people warned me away from and I almost cancelled. I think it's OK to consider opinions, as long as you don't discount options that might suit you best!

 

[disneysteve]

I think it is helpful to read other people's reviews. But I'm always careful to distinguish opinions from facts. For example, if someone says they didn't care for the food at a particular restaurant, that's opinion. If someone says there were roaches crawling on the floor, that's fact.

Quick story: We took a cruise earlier this year and had a great time. When we got back, I posted my review at cruisecritic.com. I also read several other reviews posted by folks who were on the same cruise with us. Reading some of those reviews, it was almost impossible to believe that we had taken the same trip. Their experiences were hugely different than ours: didn't like the food, had lousy service, had problems with shore excursions, thought the shows were bad, on and on. We had none of the problems others listed. But I realize that one person's idea of slow service is another person's idea of relaxed dining. One person may prefer basic meat and potato kind of meals while we enjoy gourmet food.

We're all different. We have different likes and dislikes and different expectations when we travel. So read reviews, but do so with an open mind.