Looking for Adventure in the Great Wide Somewhere a PTR

[If U Had Wings]

Okay I should be doing other things but I keep finding PTRs that I want to read LOL!! I'm sorry about the frustrations with Disney on the phone, I hope you will be able to get everything worked out...sending pixie dust your way!!!

I'm subbing in so I can hear about the rest of your trip...Disney at Christmas time...I'm very jealous...can't wait to see your pictures!!

Thanks and welcome! The call was such a shock because usually they are so cheery and helpful when I have to call.

I can't wait to see the Christmas decorations. I want to go, but at the same time I want to experience a bit of nice weather first!

 

[MinnieNurse]

So, have you called back yet.

 

[If U Had Wings]

So, have you called back yet.

You caught me. Coming right up!

 

[If U Had Wings]

I finally got around to calling back Disney reservations on Sunday morning. I sat with my trusty cell phone, while enjoying my Panera breakfast and fussed around with Disney plans. (All in all a nice way to spend my morning, until I had to go to work. Ugh!)

This time I got a wonderful, friendly, easy to understand CM named Dorothy on the phone. She had me my price quotes in no time, and once I sat down with the numbers it was really easy for me to come up with a decision.

I'm keeping my ressies as is. Split stay between POP and WL.

I know all that drama and then no change.

I had already ruled out AKL for this trip, mostly because of the location. I love it there, but it was a bit too far away from where I've been leaning in my planning so far.

That left me with staying the same, or switching to a week long ressie at WL or CBR. If there had been any kind of discounts available at either of them things may have been different, but there were none to be had. I had been able to get a AAA discount when I booked my original stays at POP and WL. I believe the discount was for 20% at the WL, and it was a bit less for POP. I don't remember, but it was either a 10% or 15% discount on value resorts. At this point though all the AAA discount rooms are filled for both CBR and the WL. Probably because there are no other discounts available for that week thanks to Pop Warner.

To stay at the WL we would have had to upgrade to a courtyard view, from my current standard view to get the entire week. The change in price? It would have been an additional $1000. It would have brought my portion of the cost to just about what I was going to pay for my single trip, but now that I'm thinking of going back in March I'd really like to save some money so I can do another trip.

The cost to switch to CBR would have been just about the same. It would have cost us less than $200 to switch, so less than $100 for me. I thought about it. Then I went on the resort threads and checked out some photos. I checked out CBR first. The photos were all beautiful. It was looking warm, tropical, and like a perfect vacation spot. I was all set to call Dorothy back and make the switch.

Then I checked out the WL photo thread, and I knew I wasn't going to give it up. Any other time of the year I would have switched to CBR. Any other time of the year, I would have been all about sandy beaches, hammocks and pirates. But… I looked at the pics of the WL, and they were saying December/Christmas trip to me. I've never been at this time of year before, and not sure when I'll get there again in December. Part of what I want to do on this trip is really enjoy as much of the holiday atmosphere as possible. I think for this trip that means experiencing WL.

The plus side is that I've found my resort for next fall's trip!

 

[MRYPPNS]

I'm still holding out hope for you that new discounts come out for the deluxe-lite resorts: WL and AKL for your dates. I think it can happen. Current discounts are bookable until 8/8, so I don't think they would come out until after that, but there is always pin code magic.

 

[Flossbolna]

I can absolutely understand your reasoning! If you want to go for that Christmas feeling, WL is the place to go to. And giving up those discounted rooms would be stupid!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Hehehe. I wouldn't want to give up WL at Christmas time either. Maybe more discounts will be released and you will be able to take advantage of them! I have my fingers crossed for you.

 

[MinnieNurse]

WL is beautiful at Christmas. We stayed there in December 2008. Here are some pics for you. I think for the time of year you are going you made the right choice. CBR is more summer fun to me!

DH and DS sitting by the fireplace.

 

[jenjolt]

Oh I think you made the right choice too...I'm sure WL is just simply breathtaking at Christmas time and you will enjoy it so much!!! Glad you were able to clearn things up and find a CM who could work with you!!

Like LL said I will hope some more discounts will come out for you and you might find yourself at WL for the whole week...who knows!!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

At least you know for sure now where you are staying. Until the next round of discounts...

 

[If U Had Wings]

I'm still holding out hope for you that new discounts come out for the deluxe-lite resorts: WL and AKL for your dates. I think it can happen. Current discounts are bookable until 8/8, so I don't think they would come out until after that, but there is always pin code magic.

We will have to see. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed. A courtyard view would be even better than a standard!

I can absolutely understand your reasoning! If you want to go for that Christmas feeling, WL is the place to go to. And giving up those discounted rooms would be stupid!

It was the Christmas pics that did me in. (Although I did check out a few Christmas pics of POFQ that were beautiful too!) It just felt cozy and Christmasish. Normally I'm a beach theme all the way kind of girl, but I'm thinking this is a better match for this trip.

Hehehe. I wouldn't want to give up WL at Christmas time either. Maybe more discounts will be released and you will be able to take advantage of them! I have my fingers crossed for you.

I had to book that standard view 15 months out! I'm not giving it up unless I'm absolutely positive!

WL is beautiful at Christmas. We stayed there in December 2008. Here are some pics for you. I think for the time of year you are going you made the right choice. CBR is more summer fun to me!

Those pics are great! Exactly the kind of pics that made me change my mind.

At least you know for sure now where you are staying. Until the next round of discounts...

So true!

 

[TarzansKat]

So happy for you, hon. I think you'll really enjoy yourself, and if your heart is pining for WL, then keep the split stay. Like Heidi said, you never know if a discount will open up, it's early yet.

 

[If U Had Wings]

So happy for you, hon. I think you'll really enjoy yourself, and if your heart is pining for WL, then keep the split stay. Like Heidi said, you never know if a discount will open up, it's early yet.

It's funny, if you had asked me before WL would have been my last choices for a resort. (Only the CR appealed to me less). It's just not my normal cup of tea. It also tended to remind me a bit of the Overlook Hotel in the Shining movie, and that movie just scared the bejesus out of me as a kid. For some reason though it is suddenly really appealing to me for this trip. I'm going to just give up trying to understand why and just go with it.

I definitely want to try CBR next year though. I love those hammocks!

 

[teruterubouzu]

The Wilderness Lodge does seem perfect for a holiday trip. Congratulations on getting your plans sorted out!

 

[TarzansKat]

It's funny, if you had asked me before WL would have been my last choices for a resort. (Only the CR appealed to me less). It's just not my normal cup of tea. It also tended to remind me a bit of the Overlook Hotel in the Shining movie, and that movie just scared the bejesus out of me as a kid.

Okay, that's just funny. But I mean funny weird, not laughing at you funny. Although if you'll let me, I'll probably laugh. I've never gotten a "Shining" vibe from it.

I have some significant memories tied up in that place though. It's where we stayed when I was pregnant with my son, so taking him there last year was like coming full circle and walking down memory lane all at the same time.

For some reason though it is suddenly really appealing to me for this trip. I'm going to just give up trying to understand why and just go with it.

I definitely want to try CBR next year though. I love those hammocks!

So this is your year of WL, and next year could be your year of CBR. That's the beauty of it!

 

[If U Had Wings]

The Wilderness Lodge does seem perfect for a holiday trip. Congratulations on getting your plans sorted out!

Thanks. I've never been on the property for that resort, so I'm really anxious to check it out. It will be a whole new experience.

Okay, that's just funny. But I mean funny weird, not laughing at you funny. Although if you'll let me, I'll probably laugh. I've never gotten a "Shining" vibe from it.

No, it's okay it's laughing at me funny. I have some Shining issues. Those two little girls in it gave me some serious nightmares. It's really the long hallways that creep me out the most, especially with a more outdoorsy theme. I'm glad that you never got that vibe. I saw one or two pics of the long hallways and they freaked me a bit. All they needed was a kid on a big wheel. Actually if I ever did see a kid on a big wheel in the hallway, I'd be making the move to anywhere ASAP.

Oddly enough, I've always wanted to stay here:

It's the Mohonk Mountain house in New Paltz. I saw it on a field trip when I was in college. The only reason why this place doesn't freak me out as much, is that I've seen the inside. Very classy inside. Sigh. One of these days I'll get to stay there.

I have some significant memories tied up in that place though. It's where we stayed when I was pregnant with my son, so taking him there last year was like coming full circle and walking down memory lane all at the same time.

That's so wonderful to have that kind of tie to the resort. What a great way to spend your last trip.

So this is your year of WL, and next year could be your year of CBR. That's the beauty of it!

And who knows where I'll end up in March? I really like getting to check out the other resorts.

 

[All7OfUs]

Forgive me! I have so much catching up to do, but I've taken a quick peekie at what I"ve missed and the WL just looks so incredibly dreamy at Christmas-time. I wouldn't have changed it a bit, and am glad you didn't. So cozy like, and not, definitely NOT Shining weird!

 

[If U Had Wings]

Forgive me! I have so much catching up to do, but I've taken a quick peekie at what I"ve missed and the WL just looks so incredibly dreamy at Christmas-time. I wouldn't have changed it a bit, and am glad you didn't. So cozy like, and not, definitely NOT Shining weird!

I don't forsee any more resort changes, unless I can get WL for the entire week at a more reasonable rate. It's the place I want to be now!

 

[Donald is #1]

That's great that you made your resort decision. I saw the WL lobby last year in December and it was awesome!

 

[If U Had Wings]

That's great that you made your resort decision. I saw the WL lobby last year in December and it was awesome!

I can't wait to see the place. I love the water that runs through the lobby in the pics.