First stay at Sequoia

[maleficent_man]

Hi all!

That's us all booked up for a 4 night stay in October at Sequoia Lodge - our daughter will be 15 months and it'll be her first visit - hopefully she'll grow to love it as much as Mum and Dad!!

I've never stayed at Sequoia Lodge before - can anyone offer any advice on the do's/dont's with the hotel? Just want to make sure we make the most of it. Does anyone know if there are certain times which are better than others to catch the characters there?

Thanks!

 

[Bexx]

I think that all the lodges have been refurbished, but not all the main building ones have been. But being in the main building is more convenient for the facilities than being in one in the lodges. So I guess it depends which is more important to you, but if you can get a refurbished room in the main building, then great!

There is no set time for characters - I have seen them at different times of the day The lounge/bar from late morning to mid afternoon is usually nice and quiet and so a good time for character interaction if they are around. There are also two very nice terraces off the main lounge which are lovely if the weather is nice. We met Ranger Minnie there, who came out there to see us on an unseasonably nice day in March.

 

[JustJonathan]

I've only ever stayed in the Sequioa (too afraid to try a change as we love it so much), and you'll have a great time here.

I was told when last booking that as of end of January this year all rooms throughout have all been refurbished now, main building and lodges.

Enjoy your holiday!

 

[megarasweet]

I stayed at SL when I was five and the park was in it's very early years, and I still remember being very excited about the theming when we arrived! Years later and DFi and I are planning to return (can't justify HNY of DLH now that we're planning a wedding!). We're so excited after seeing photos of the refurbs - it looks like it has so much character! I'm sure you're going to have a wonderful time - it looks very family friendly so I'm sure you'll have an amazing first trip as a family

Can't wait to hear about your trip in October!

 

[Mum to Belle]

Congratulations on booking your trip!!

On our last trip we saw Pluto when we were checking in (11am) and then half an hour later we saw Mickey! In the mornings we saw them again, around 8am and 8.30am I think. 11-11.30 was quieter, but we got great photos both times.

We found the bus back to the hotel was great when we were tired/cold. It also saves negotiating the staircase or tiny lift to get out of the lakeside exit which isn't the easiest with a small person & buggy!

Presumably you will already know about the cocktails in the Redwood Bar...?!!

 

[Hipster Meg]

We stayed at SL last November and thought it was lovely. We didn't spend that much time at the hotel - we were only there for 2 nights and wanted to make the most of our time - but did find time to sample a glowtini in the bar! We were in one of the refurbished rooms in a lodge but luckily it was near the entrance so we didn't have much of a walk to breakfast. We found it easiest to take all our stuff with us to breakfast so that we could head straight from the restaurant to the park without having to go back to the room for bags etc.

The breakfast was plentiful and I think there was the option of having something hot if you were willing to pay extra. We went at 7 both days and it was already quite busy but there was staff there to show us to our table so we didn't have to fight for space. I was happy to see this as we upgraded from the Santa Fe to the Sequoia during a flash sale specifically because I'd heard that breakfasts at SF could be a bit of a bun fight!

 

[DLPDreams]

Someone has just come back from the SL and they didn't have a refurbed room in the main building - can't recall who is was though!?

If a refurbed room in the main building is important to you (I've read that sometimes it can be a bit of a trek from the lodges to breakfast for example, esp in October), then you could always send them a polite email explaining you are travelling with your baby DD and a refurbed room in the MB would be appreciated etc? No harm in trying just in case they aren't all refurbed by the time you go

 

[jothp]

We have stayed in the SL twice and really loved it. When our DD was about 15 months she wouldn't eat much of the breakfast apart from the small kiddies yoghurts that you get, I think she was eating about 5 a day!.

 

[maleficent_man]

Thanks for the replies folks!

We're booked into a Montana Room - is this in the main building or in one of the Lodges? Sorry for sounding silly!!

 

[Bexx]

Well... Montana rooms used to be the ones in the main building, but when they started the refurbishment in the lodges they became the Montana rooms instead, though now it might be back to how it used to - but I don't know!! Does that help?

I would ring and check, and put in a request for where you want to be, if necessary. You have already paid the extra for a Montana room so you should be able to stay where you prefer.

 

[Mum to Belle]

Our room in November was in the main building and hadn't been refurbished. The website said that the Montana Rooms are in the main building, but I never know whether to believe that?!! Hopefully when we go in November again they will all have been refurbished!

 

[daiseyirl]

we go in 3 wks, ive booked a standard room and was told it was outside in the lodges, dont really mind to be honest as im hopeing the weather will be nice enough!!