swwake
RIP our sweet Magic (09/27/10)
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2008
- Messages
- 3,194
Well, as I mentioned, we slept on it last night. That was after I ran numbers AGAIN with a 3-night AKL and 3-night elsewhere stay. We were still set to save money over the original cost, using the 40% discount for those three nights. The big dilemma was which of the monorail resorts.
Today, I subscribed to a bunch of DIS threads about Bay Lake Towers, Contemporary Resort, Polynesian, and Club Level stays. I researched the heck out of it. I sent a big long email to Chris, because he indicated before I left for work this morning that he's really interested in this particular decision. I sent him maps and links and cost savings, etc.
I was waiting to call the CRO until we had a 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice.
Chris read my email and we talked about a few things. Here are the pros and cons:
Bay Lake Tower:
Pros - brand spanking new, experience like a Westin or W hotel, amazing Magic Kingdom view from the balcony.
Cons - limited food options, all at the Contemporary, as far as I can tell, a little bit of a walk to the Contemporary for food and monorail, we can't tell that there is much to do walking around the grounds.
Contemporary:
Pros - rooms look upscale, trendy and modern, we like the sliding doors to the bathroom/vanity, Magic Kingdom view from balcony, Club Level available.
Cons - not much to do walking around the grounds (?)
Polynesian:
Pros - themed resort, Club Level available, lots to do on the grounds and inside (Tambu Lounge, anyone? Lapu Lapu, anyone?), larger rooms.
Cons - no King rooms, not as close of a Magic Kingdom view.
Finally, we decided to go with 3 nights at AKL CL and 3 nights at Polynesian CL (if available). We could do that for $158 less than our original reservation. We're thinking bargain! and we're gonna love this place! We're having visions of walking to TTC to take the Tronorail to Epcot, Lapu Lapus on the beach, and soaking in the entire experience.
So I was anxious to call the CRO. When Trevor answered, he pulled up my reservation and asked for my PIN and asked what I was looking for. He kept saying AKL CL would be perfect for the birthday celebration. I told him the PIN wouldn't work for CL and asked him to check another resort for three nights. He checked the Poly, and sure enough, we could get the Club Level room there for the price I had calculated. I was just about to pull the trigger and shorten our AKL stay when Trevor says "let me check something real quick..."
I waited, and waited.
Trevor says "how's the weather in Austin?"
Me: "it's been a beautiful 80 degrees and the bluebonnets are blooming like crazy."
Trevor: "That sounds so beautiful. So are you looking forward to your Sunrise Safari?"
Me: "yes, we really are..."
<<long pause>>
Trevor: "Well, you know these rooms at code rates are based on availability, right?"
Me: "Yes, which is why I am surprised we can get Poly CL..."
Trevor: "I'm able to apply your code to your current AKL CL reservation for all 6 nights. That will save you $945. Would you like for me to make this change before the magic disappears?"
Me: "945 Dollars?! 945 Dollars?!"
Trevor: "Mrs. W, would you like to secure the reservation?"
Well, you can guess the rest. We are now officially sticking with our original reservation for almost $1,000 less! I am so excited about this.
When I told Chris, he was excited too and said "it's ok if we miss the Poly and Contemporary this trip. It gives us a reason to go back!" Now I like that way of thinking!
Today, I subscribed to a bunch of DIS threads about Bay Lake Towers, Contemporary Resort, Polynesian, and Club Level stays. I researched the heck out of it. I sent a big long email to Chris, because he indicated before I left for work this morning that he's really interested in this particular decision. I sent him maps and links and cost savings, etc.
I was waiting to call the CRO until we had a 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice.
Chris read my email and we talked about a few things. Here are the pros and cons:
Bay Lake Tower:
Pros - brand spanking new, experience like a Westin or W hotel, amazing Magic Kingdom view from the balcony.
Cons - limited food options, all at the Contemporary, as far as I can tell, a little bit of a walk to the Contemporary for food and monorail, we can't tell that there is much to do walking around the grounds.
Contemporary:
Pros - rooms look upscale, trendy and modern, we like the sliding doors to the bathroom/vanity, Magic Kingdom view from balcony, Club Level available.
Cons - not much to do walking around the grounds (?)
Polynesian:
Pros - themed resort, Club Level available, lots to do on the grounds and inside (Tambu Lounge, anyone? Lapu Lapu, anyone?), larger rooms.
Cons - no King rooms, not as close of a Magic Kingdom view.
Finally, we decided to go with 3 nights at AKL CL and 3 nights at Polynesian CL (if available). We could do that for $158 less than our original reservation. We're thinking bargain! and we're gonna love this place! We're having visions of walking to TTC to take the Tronorail to Epcot, Lapu Lapus on the beach, and soaking in the entire experience.
So I was anxious to call the CRO. When Trevor answered, he pulled up my reservation and asked for my PIN and asked what I was looking for. He kept saying AKL CL would be perfect for the birthday celebration. I told him the PIN wouldn't work for CL and asked him to check another resort for three nights. He checked the Poly, and sure enough, we could get the Club Level room there for the price I had calculated. I was just about to pull the trigger and shorten our AKL stay when Trevor says "let me check something real quick..."
I waited, and waited.
Trevor says "how's the weather in Austin?"
Me: "it's been a beautiful 80 degrees and the bluebonnets are blooming like crazy."
Trevor: "That sounds so beautiful. So are you looking forward to your Sunrise Safari?"
Me: "yes, we really are..."
<<long pause>>
Trevor: "Well, you know these rooms at code rates are based on availability, right?"
Me: "Yes, which is why I am surprised we can get Poly CL..."
Trevor: "I'm able to apply your code to your current AKL CL reservation for all 6 nights. That will save you $945. Would you like for me to make this change before the magic disappears?"
Me: "945 Dollars?! 945 Dollars?!"
Trevor: "Mrs. W, would you like to secure the reservation?"
Well, you can guess the rest. We are now officially sticking with our original reservation for almost $1,000 less! I am so excited about this.
When I told Chris, he was excited too and said "it's ok if we miss the Poly and Contemporary this trip. It gives us a reason to go back!" Now I like that way of thinking!
How exciting!!!
My girl is a chocoholic. The cocoa bean doesn't fall far from the tree. 
