Last minute hotel change

[tiger4me2]

The BWI has king size beds in some rooms , hard to get but you can ask at front desk. Good luck and try to make the best of it.

 

[kandb]

I can't believe Disney would give a deluxe room because someone complained about the bridge being out? Why wouldn't Disney just put the couple in a room close to OPR? I just find this so hard to believe (not that I don't believe the OP but maybe partner is paying extra?), just seems very strange to give such a big upgrade for the bridge being out.

 

[DLM1980]

If he is I would see it on the some bill. You have not seen my partner complain. He will keep at it and wear a telephone rep down and go high enough up the chain till he gets what he wants. Sometimes it's embarrassing when it's in person if I don't feel it's warranted. He spent one whole day on the phone in Vegas just to get our departure date changed two days later. I ended up leaving him at the pay phone at the top of the stratosphere hotel because I got tired of waiting for him so I went back to the Luxor while he did his thing

 

[kandb]

Wow, I guess the saying is true, "the squeaky wheels gets the grease". Just surprised they just didn't put you close to OPR as opposed to giving you a deluxe. I think some people just like to complain and it seems likes it's worked in his favor so far

 

[rpb718]

so we are now less than 24 hours before arrival and my partner is upset about the bridge closure at CBR. Mind u we don't even know that we were going to be affected by it so he called Disney to complain and now they have me at the boardwalk no price change no affecting my free dining. But I feel sad now. I've spent the past year excited to finally get a renovated room at CBR. I love that place, now less than 24 hours before arrival I got CBR taken from me. I know I should be excited for Disney and that this is a deluxe but I can't help but feel like I've now lost part of my vacation

First off - your partner got a great deal. Second, and this is important, you cannot let them know they got a great deal. Sure, you can enjoy it, but you need to maintain that general feeling of being "put out" by the change. Yeah, that's how I'd play it out. It'll work in your favor in the future - trust me.

 

[gdrj]

I think it is amazing that Disney switched you to Boardwalk at no extra charge! That is a huge amount of savings right there. You never know, you just may forget about it all as soon as you arrive. Hope you have a magical stay!

I think you will enjoy the Boardwalk. You are walking distance to Epcot during the food and wine festival. Great location, wonderful pool, it's a lovely resort.

OMG I would be doing jumping jacks! I've stayed there twice and I LOVE IT. So close to everything. No WAY would I be upset about that. Give it a chance... you're lucky!!

Great upgrade!!

NO offense but IMO if you don't enjoy BWI instead of CBR, Donald Duck should come to your room, throw your clothes in your luggage and throw you to the street
Being able to walk or boat to EPCOT and the Studios is tremendous. Having the Boardwalk to walk and enjoy is a plus.

 

[gdrj]

I'm worried about the parking, been reading that boardwalk is a pain for guests towards the end of the nights, especially with food and wine (I'm cheap, valet is not in my vocabulary)

The only thing I'm liking is the walk to Epcot (done it before) but I think I'm gonna have to drive there anyways....something about coming in the main gate and seeing spaceship earth, and getting my picture taken right away, at least once, the rest of the time the gateway will work

As a guest at BW I have never had an issue trying to park. There can be a bit of a walk, but IMO I am walking much further inside parks so a little extra never bothers me. With boats to 2 parks it really cuts down the need to drive. When staying at BW we will usually use bus for MK and car for AK, since we tend to go to MK after AK

 

[DLM1980]

NO offense but IMO if you don't enjoy BWI instead of CBR, Donald Duck should come to your room, throw your clothes in your luggage and throw you to the street
Being able to walk or boat to EPCOT and the Studios is tremendous. Having the Boardwalk to walk and enjoy is a plus.

View attachment 126956

I take no offense, I really enjoy driving so boating and walking is not a plus for me, I know, I'm strange, send Donald! After my first time here with no car (his decision not mine) and dealing with the buses I won't go without ever again (i am that guy that waits for the next bus so he can sit and won't give it up if mother Theresa was to get onboard)

Everyone mentions the pool...I have one in my backyard and in the 6 years we have been at our house, I go in it maybe three times a season...this year only once.. The funny thing is, my partner always says he wants to sit by the pool on every vacation we have ever done but he has NEVER once sat or laid out at a hotel in the 12 years we have been together, even when I ask him if he wants to go hangout poolside

I suppose I should have known this was eventually going to happen, he is my little princess! After our first visit we stayed value not knowing anything and he hated it so much somehow we got bummed to CBR (there was more too it we were told by CM on the phone we could add the dining plan when we checked in, etc). On trip two I reminded him about how he didn't like the value and we should book CBR but he didn't listen and it happened again. So from then on out I did the bookings, we wanted to try the monorail resorts but they were out of our price range and every trip as the day got closer I would get "are you sure we can't try <insert deluxe name here>"

Oh well, if I stay up any later tonight it will be a 24 hour day for me....MK tomorrow, err today!

 

[DLM1980]

So now that I'm home, and have a day off of work (can I go back on vacation please) I've had time to think about it and do the disney survey. I don't think I would ever willingly choose the Boardwalk without upgrading from the disney dining plan to the deluxe dining plan (that way I can use whatever credits for whatever places). I had to make reservations 180 days in advance, I had planned all our breakfasts as quick service meals and the only place that had breakfast as a quick service was The Bakery, which served the same damn 3 items every day and the egg on the breakfast sandwich was horrible. also there was no indoor (read A/C) seating. I could have went to whatever that table service was but then I'm paying OOP every morning for eggs, waffles, sausage, bacon, breakfast potatoes and since its table service, its going to cost more. While eating breakfast I couldn't help but stare at the garbage can overflowing with empty bakery boxes and thinking thats such a waste, just give us trays and a sandwich paper wrapper, or just a plate.

Was the ability to walk to Epcot great? Sure, its about the length I would have walked from my spot at the TTC to the monorail or ferry had I gone to MK. However I don't have any "Welcome to Epcot" pictures in my photopass account, I could have walked all that way back, but now instead of being all fresh as a daisy I'm all sweaty and stinky from the trek from the international gateway.

The room was ok, smaller than what I'm used to, and I was a bit disappointed that we got the room with the worlds smallest balcony and it had no awning over it, yet the ones on both sides of me did so when it started raining I had to go back inside. I had earlier said I would have preferred to open my door to the outside world and someone else said they wouldn't but in all honestly it almost was like that, the main lobby is nice and cool, the elevator doors close, you go up to the 5th floor, the doors open and BAM hot air, I don't know about floor 4, but 3 (where the laundry was) was definitely cooler then the floor I was on.

My partner wanted to see the pool, but he didn't know where it was so I went with him and we found the quiet pool and on the way were amazed at the rooms that had fenced in front yards, don't know what type of room they were but those were adorable!

Was disappointed, I missed out on meeting some of the crew from The DIS....the one morning I was sitting on the round couch in the entrance way watching the DVC Cast Member try to get people to make an appointment and my partner comes back from the room and says "I think I just saw those guys from that podcast you watch walk down the hallway" later that day I checked twitter and saw Kevin say they were at Epcot for F&W and I tweeted him if they came in through the BW and he replied that was him! Oh well, better luck next trip (but then again I'd have to want to stay at the boardwalk)

As for the next trip we booked the bounce back for Free Dining again at the CBR, however the partner is already talking about wanting the Poly (which I've never stayed but have visited the grounds and like, just can't really afford) but I'm thinking should 30% discount come we might just give up the dining plan....I've found myself on more than one occasion wanting to leave a park for the day but being forced to stay because I had made reservations for a restaurant because the plan included the ability to do so....I'm thinking next time just picking one or two must-try places and then pressing our luck and playing "Walk-Up or QuickService" The dining plan allows me to try the places I want to eat at without feeling like I'm wasting money on my partner's food (We tried Narcoosees this trip and he had some pasta and shrimp plate but only ate the 5 pieces of shrimp on it....5 pieces of shrimp for thirty some dollars! I could have bought him two 2lb bags of frozen shrimp for that price back home)

 

[ParrotBill]

Thanks for posting your follow-up. I am a DVC owner at BWV so I was wondering what you would think. I have to agree with you about food: My biggest issue with Boardwalk, and has been ever since it opened, is the need for better counter service food at breakfast, lunch and dinner and indoor seating for it. The dining plan definitely ties your hands on your day's activities... mixed blessing.

Hope you get your CBR visit the way you want next time.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

I'm sorry I'm not seeing the draw so far. I'm biting my tongue right now in front of my partner but I'd still rather be at CBR. The bathroom setup is gonna be a thorn in my side to fight him for the shower and I feel cramped in this room vs CBR

They didn't even explain anything at checkin about the resort. Where to eat breakfast what my dining plan consisted of etc

You are at Disney World -- the happiest place on earth!!!!!! Turn the frown upside down!!!! Enjoy your vacation -- We are staying at the Dolphin next week because we want to be able to walk in and out of the International Gateway for Food and Wine -- I wanted to book one of the true Disney Epcot resorts, but even with the extra resort fee, the Dolphin is still $150 less per night than I could get YC/BC/BWI. Believe me, my lovely companion is thrilled that she doesn't have to wait for a bus and take a bus back -- we can hop on a Friendship boat or walk to either DHS or Epcot - -for MK, we are going to go through Epcot and take the monorail -- we aren't going to AK this trip.

Seriously, get with the program or you are going to hate your vacation -- no regrets on the change in resorts - it's not like you were planning Poly and now are staying on International Drive at Joe's Motor Lodge and Shrimp Farm!!!!

Tom

 

[DLM1980]

You are at Disney World -- the happiest place on earth!!!!!! Turn the frown upside down!!!! Enjoy your vacation -- We are staying at the Dolphin next week because we want to be able to walk in and out of the International Gateway for Food and Wine -- I wanted to book one of the true Disney Epcot resorts, but even with the extra resort fee, the Dolphin is still $150 less per night than I could get YC/BC/BWI. Believe me, my lovely companion is thrilled that she doesn't have to wait for a bus and take a bus back -- we can hop on a Friendship boat or walk to either DHS or Epcot - -for MK, we are going to go through Epcot and take the monorail -- we aren't going to AK this trip.

Seriously, get with the program or you are going to hate your vacation -- no regrets on the change in resorts - it's not like you were planning Poly and now are staying on International Drive at Joe's Motor Lodge and Shrimp Farm!!!!

Tom

The vacation is over now, the resort wasn't what I wanted.....yes I was at Disney world, yes I had a fantastic time away from the resort, but the time at the resort was not the best...maybe I should try out this shrimp farm....it sounds promising

 

[KonaKaiTom]

Silly question, did you not like the Boardwalk or did you not like that your partner switched out the resort last minute without consulting you? It sounds to me like a little of both. I'm sorry you didn't have the vacation you wished for --hopefully next time you will.

Tom

 

[DLM1980]

Silly question, did you not like the Boardwalk or did you not like that your partner switched out the resort last minute without consulting you? It sounds to me like a little of both. I'm sorry you didn't have the vacation you wished for --hopefully next time you will.

Tom

I hated the boardwalk. When 365 days prior you know your staying at one place, and start planning your vacation around it, then to have plans changed 24 hours before hand which would throw off your plan. Every morning sitting outside in the humid weather eating the same crappy food was just a little dagger in my heart that reminded me I'm staying at a crappy hotel. Sure they say "Welcome Home" when you arrived but it sure didn't feel like the home I've been expecting.

Had the boardwalk had a better Quick-Service place to eat at that had more than 3 items on the breakfast menu and it had an A/C dining area I probably would have been fine with it...but until then I won't willingly stay at that hotel again.

We've resort hopped for breakfast other times and all the ones we stayed at had plenty of choices and a covered dining area to sit in. This one did not.


Am I mad at my partner for changing hotels on me, yes, am I used to it, yes. When we first started coming to Disney he booked value not knowing anything and immediately upon getting into the room want to switch hotels, thats how we got to know CBR. When I started taking over the planning I just immediately would book the CBR because I knew we were going to end up there anyways. He just used the the bridge being out as an excuse to go elsewhere. Part of this move was my fault, had I not told him I had heard the bridge was out, he wouldn't have even known till we were there, and we most likely wouldn't have been affected by it (rental car and/or he loves to walk)

 

[tiger4me2]

I am sorry you didn't enjoy the BWI. We prefer this resort over any of the resorts. Yes it doesn't have a good counter places to eat at but that doesn't stop us from staying there.

You tried it and now you know you don't want to try it again. I think the problem is your partner. He shouldn't have change it without talking to you. Good luck in your next trip.