Manda
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2005
- Messages
- 1,475
We stayed at Wilderness Lodge from 1/27 through 1/31 and it was just about perfect. Our first nearly problem-free trip to a Disney resort. We checked in early on the 27th and still got our room - a first for us! Plus, we were upgraded from standard to courtyard view. Not a huge upgrade, but another first for us since we've never received any upgrade at all.
We were assigned room 2160. The only problem with it is it was all the way at the end of the very, very long hallway. And, of course, we got all the way back there and found that our keys didn't work. I hiked back to the front desk and they cut new keys and I insisted someone walk back with me in case the keys didn't work again. She barely contained her eye rolls, but accompanied me. And, of course, the keys still didn't work. She let me in with her master key though and the keys and lock started magically working later.
We had room service for both breakfast and dinner and both were great. Although, I was disappointed to see yet another Uncrustable when my son ordered PB&J off the room service menu. *roll*. Whispering Canyon was kind of a disappointment. We were there towards the end of lunch and they were pretty much done with all the antics. We didn't get much more than a big plate of food and a little kidding with my son when his Croc accidentally shot out into the aisle. Roaring Forks was tolerable and rarely busy - so that was nice. Very limited food options though.
This was our first time staying at a non-Monorail resort without a car and I was relieved to find the transportation painless. We even did 3 parks on a couple days, so we were on the busses and boats a lot! We never waited long and rarely had to stand. DME on the way in was quick and easy. The way back was not as quick and I was having slight panic attacks about making it on time after we just kept stopping at yet another resort to pick up more guests. But we did make it on time...
And that's when it all breaks bad, but sorta good, LOL. We were supposed to leave on Thursday night, but a snowstorm hit Chicago and all flights into Chicago were on gate hold. I was traveling alone with my four year old and was having panic about reliving our December 2005 similar experience that ended up with an overnight stay at MCO. I wasn't up to doing that alone. The gate agent was threatening with possible diversion, etc., and was offering for people to rebook around the storm without any increase in fare. I decided that I was better off sleeping at Disney than MCO, so I decided to move my flight until after the storm. Of course, the storm warning was through 6pm Friday, so I rebooked for Saturday morning. Two extra nights and basically a whole extra day at the parks!
And then comes the BIG problem - they couldn't get my luggage off the plane. So, we're going back to Disney World with no luggage for two days. I quickly called Disney and was able to get a room at All Star Sports with my AP discount - about $61/night with tax. Interesting because I'd called 10 minutes earlier to check availability and there were no discounted rooms available. We stopped at the airport Disney store and bought a clean t-shirt and socks for me and undies for the boy and then back on DME and off to All Stars.
As we were checking in, I was telling the CM my whole story because I just needed an adult to vent to and she told me to hold on a minute. I thought maybe she was going to give me a room upgrade or something... Well, she came back and told me that I should go to the gift store and buy whatever we needed for the next couple days - PJs, clothes, toiletries, etc. - and they would reverse the charge on my account. WOW! Talk about Pixie dust!!! Unfortunately, the two things we really needed - shorts and/or swim trunks for the boy and undies for me - they didn't have, but I bought other stuff. Got a nightgown and capris for myself, a shirt for my son, and toiletries. About $120 and they didn't blink an eye about crediting it back to me. I'm sure I could have bought more, but I felt guilty about it already, LOL.
And that's where I finished being impressed by All Stars.
I've always felt a little guilty when we don't book the cheapest room available and now I'm completely convinced that the $$ for the deluxe resorts is worth every single $$. The bus lines were HORRIBLE. The food lines were HORRIBLE. We waited 20 minutes just to get a pasta and salad at the food court. I think we got a "preferred" room because it was just about the best location I'd guess. If you're going to stay there, it was the place to be. It was Surf's Up, room 1101. Right at the pool and across from the food court and bus transportation.
We could hear every door closing all night and conversations in every part of the resort. There was some sort of dance competition going on and those girls were screaming in the pool until after midnight. Never, ever, ever again will we stay there. My son did really enjoy the kiddie pool though and I made use of the conveniently located laundry facility since I didn't have any clean clothes or luggage.
We were assigned room 2160. The only problem with it is it was all the way at the end of the very, very long hallway. And, of course, we got all the way back there and found that our keys didn't work. I hiked back to the front desk and they cut new keys and I insisted someone walk back with me in case the keys didn't work again. She barely contained her eye rolls, but accompanied me. And, of course, the keys still didn't work. She let me in with her master key though and the keys and lock started magically working later.
We had room service for both breakfast and dinner and both were great. Although, I was disappointed to see yet another Uncrustable when my son ordered PB&J off the room service menu. *roll*. Whispering Canyon was kind of a disappointment. We were there towards the end of lunch and they were pretty much done with all the antics. We didn't get much more than a big plate of food and a little kidding with my son when his Croc accidentally shot out into the aisle. Roaring Forks was tolerable and rarely busy - so that was nice. Very limited food options though.
This was our first time staying at a non-Monorail resort without a car and I was relieved to find the transportation painless. We even did 3 parks on a couple days, so we were on the busses and boats a lot! We never waited long and rarely had to stand. DME on the way in was quick and easy. The way back was not as quick and I was having slight panic attacks about making it on time after we just kept stopping at yet another resort to pick up more guests. But we did make it on time...
And that's when it all breaks bad, but sorta good, LOL. We were supposed to leave on Thursday night, but a snowstorm hit Chicago and all flights into Chicago were on gate hold. I was traveling alone with my four year old and was having panic about reliving our December 2005 similar experience that ended up with an overnight stay at MCO. I wasn't up to doing that alone. The gate agent was threatening with possible diversion, etc., and was offering for people to rebook around the storm without any increase in fare. I decided that I was better off sleeping at Disney than MCO, so I decided to move my flight until after the storm. Of course, the storm warning was through 6pm Friday, so I rebooked for Saturday morning. Two extra nights and basically a whole extra day at the parks!
And then comes the BIG problem - they couldn't get my luggage off the plane. So, we're going back to Disney World with no luggage for two days. I quickly called Disney and was able to get a room at All Star Sports with my AP discount - about $61/night with tax. Interesting because I'd called 10 minutes earlier to check availability and there were no discounted rooms available. We stopped at the airport Disney store and bought a clean t-shirt and socks for me and undies for the boy and then back on DME and off to All Stars.
As we were checking in, I was telling the CM my whole story because I just needed an adult to vent to and she told me to hold on a minute. I thought maybe she was going to give me a room upgrade or something... Well, she came back and told me that I should go to the gift store and buy whatever we needed for the next couple days - PJs, clothes, toiletries, etc. - and they would reverse the charge on my account. WOW! Talk about Pixie dust!!! Unfortunately, the two things we really needed - shorts and/or swim trunks for the boy and undies for me - they didn't have, but I bought other stuff. Got a nightgown and capris for myself, a shirt for my son, and toiletries. About $120 and they didn't blink an eye about crediting it back to me. I'm sure I could have bought more, but I felt guilty about it already, LOL.
And that's where I finished being impressed by All Stars.
I've always felt a little guilty when we don't book the cheapest room available and now I'm completely convinced that the $$ for the deluxe resorts is worth every single $$. The bus lines were HORRIBLE. The food lines were HORRIBLE. We waited 20 minutes just to get a pasta and salad at the food court. I think we got a "preferred" room because it was just about the best location I'd guess. If you're going to stay there, it was the place to be. It was Surf's Up, room 1101. Right at the pool and across from the food court and bus transportation. We could hear every door closing all night and conversations in every part of the resort. There was some sort of dance competition going on and those girls were screaming in the pool until after midnight. Never, ever, ever again will we stay there. My son did really enjoy the kiddie pool though and I made use of the conveniently located laundry facility since I didn't have any clean clothes or luggage.
I'm glad you had a great trip, overall. And "WOW!" to Disney for helping you out with the emergency clothing situation. 
. I can purchase most other things I need at the resort or Goodings.
Because we were going for 9 nights and had a TON of checked luggage I wasn't willing to sacrifice it so we switched back to the original flight and stayed in Dallas for 3 more hours.
I am thinnking if your luggage is on a plane and you don't get on then your luggage is still going on that plane.
