Official Worst Room Location Thread

[twinklebug]

I think it's a shame that you can't pay for and guarantee a view of the inner courtyard. I would be really disappointed if paid for courtyard and ended up getting the villa view...for that reason, I will probly go with Woods view when we finally stay at WL. I reeeely reeely want a view of the inner CY, but Im not willing to pay that money and cross my fingers that I will get it.

Note that there is also no guarantee you'll get a "woods view" - this last vaca we paid for a "woods view bunk bed" room and wound up with room 5093... a rooftop/bus stop/parking lot view. We had just switched rooms and we were too sick (flu) to complain or move again. Sad part is, out of the 9 rooms we've ever stayed in, that was the most expensive room I've ever paid for on Disney property and by far the worst room location/view we've had. I honestly would have switched us to POR in a heartbeat, gotten a better room & paid 1/2 the price if we were up to it healthwise.

I understand there is no way to ensure all rooms have great views and we will wind up with a bad view on occasion, but I think Disney needs to take a good hard look at how they've classified each room. The person who said they paid for a courtyard view and got a mudpuddle behind the waterfall should have paid woods view rate IMHO.

 

[LSchrow]

never had a horrible view, but the only 2 that we weren't happy with were:
~ BWV studio: the balcony was literally in a tree. we do spend a lot of time on the balcony, & it was a disappointment not being able to sit outside with my morning coffee without bugs swimming in it
~ BCV: 3 out of 3 times, we wound up with the road view. first time, we just assumed "EPCOT view" would give us a similar view of Illuminations that we get at the BW. NOT: the view is a road, with tall trees that block all but a very few of the fireworks. just no sense of "escapism" as other resort views provide, imho.

the truly outstanding:
GF lagoon view
BWV BW view (tho aside from that one "balcony in tree" view, we've found even standard view at BWVs to be gorgeous)

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

Note that there is also no guarantee you'll get a "woods view" - this last vaca we paid for a "woods view bunk bed" room and wound up with room 5093... a rooftop/bus stop/parking lot view. We had just switched rooms and we were too sick (flu) to complain or move again. Sad part is, out of the 9 rooms we've ever stayed in, that was the most expensive room I've ever paid for on Disney property and by far the worst room location/view we've had. I honestly would have switched us to POR in a heartbeat, gotten a better room & paid 1/2 the price if we were up to it healthwise.

I understand there is no way to ensure all rooms have great views and we will wind up with a bad view on occasion, but I think Disney needs to take a good hard look at how they've classified each room. The person who said they paid for a courtyard view and got a mudpuddle behind the waterfall should have paid woods view rate IMHO.

POR

Thanks for letting me know its way better!

 

[auntie]

I was one of the negative WL posters. I think a lot of the negativity is that the views don't approach expectations for the resort.

Our lousy view at WL was VERY close to the bus stop, and still fairly convenient to the lobby and boat dock.

For me, I think I was more disappointed than disgruntled. My view of the side of VWL was no worse than the parking lot views I had at the CR. I was going through a very stressful time at work, and would visit the DIS and the Disney site almost daily and dream about that beautiful Courtyard View that I had paid to get.

In my mind, I was going to have a beautiful view on the 4th or 5th floor in the center of the resort. I even braced myself that it would be on the side, and on the 2nd or 3rd floor instead of in the center area. I don't think I would have been that disappointed if I had been anywhere in the inner Courtyard including on the 1st floor behind the pool bar as someone else spoke about.

I was very disappointed with Disney that they would call the area overlooking the Villas a Courtyard View. That wasn't the Courtyard we were interested in viewing! Again, we PAID extra for that view, and it was at best...below average. We had just checked out of POR, (for a lot less money) and had a much more delightful room location.

They sort of tried that on us last year..as I mentioned when we got to the room I saw I had a veiw of the courtyard of the villas..not a pool view of the villas..which is supposed to be the same rate as WL courtyard view.(if you're stilling following that!). First they mentioned that it was a courtyard view..just of the Villa courtyard, not the WL courtyard. While personally I do prefer the Villa Pool view. I've had Courtyard of the WL and have found they can be noisy and don't think they offer much privacy, being that it's the inside of the U shaped resort. Just a personal preference,we like the view of the villa pool, but pay for is considered "Courtyard" view to get it. When I found upon arrival in the room that we were looking at the Villa Courtyard, which while was a fine view.. only I felt we PAID for an upgraded view. When I called the front desk they told me they didn't have two rooms with the Villa Pool view, and they were trying to keep the family together. (my older son had his own room). I told them I have stayed in the resort MANY times, and it had never been my experience that what we had at that moment was the same rate as a Villa Pool or a Courtyard view for that matter....thus the explanation of keeping the family together. However they first tried to pass it off as being an official courtyard view. While they did move us further down the hall to have a perfectly lovely view of the Villa Pool,(my son stayed where he was) They also offered us one room with a view of the inner courtyard..which I didn't want. I was prepared to ask for a refund if they weren't able to do so. I think if you pay for a Courtyard view or a woods view for that matter and they aren't able to accomodate you they should at least let you know that when you check in, and reimburse the difference in rate. When WL first opened we always asked for this site of the resort. Before the villas were built this too, was considered a "woods" view. We preferred it over taking the chance that the opposite side of the resort with the so called "woods view" had us over the loading dock..and the smells of the smoke house.
While we have had views we didn't like, I do have to say, that when I asked for a different room we have always been accomodated. While I'm very polite with my inquiry, I'm not shy about asking for a change that I feel we paid for.

 

[creativeamanda]

Here is mine first. I edited it so you can see.

I'm sure it wasn't funny then, but dang! That's one heavy trek!

 

[G8r4evr]

Note that there is also no guarantee you'll get a "woods view" - this last vaca we paid for a "woods view bunk bed" room and wound up with room 5093... a rooftop/bus stop/parking lot view. We had just switched rooms and we were too sick (flu) to complain or move again. Sad part is, out of the 9 rooms we've ever stayed in, that was the most expensive room I've ever paid for on Disney property and by far the worst room location/view we've had. I honestly would have switched us to POR in a heartbeat, gotten a better room & paid 1/2 the price if we were up to it healthwise.

If I paid for woods view and ended up with a view of the parking lot/roof, I would complain until they credited the difference between a standard and woods back to my card. Did you express your disappointment with anyone? Id like to see them try and convince me that I should have to pay extra because there are a few trees behind said parking lot.

As for CY, I wouldnt have a leg to stand on, because the villa view is technically classified as CY view.

 

[Ms Marigny]

Room 3817 in Trinidad South at CBR. We checked in at 5:30 pm which is normally late for us and I knew that Trinidad South was a bad location, so when the CM gave us our room number, I begged him to put us anywhere else, even offered to pay more for a water view or preferred room. Nope, he didn't even bother to look for something better and said they were all booked and that was all that they had left.

I have to say it really put a damper on our trip. I love to walk and like how spread out this resort is, but it was really truly too far from everything. I felt like buzzards were circling us every time we trekked to the food court. It didn't help that I was pregnant at the time either.

Since then we've always made sure to check in no later than 9 am and have always gotten the location we requested, even if we have to wait for the room awhile. I would much rather do this than get stuck out in Siberia again.

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

I'm sure it wasn't funny then, but dang! That's one heavy trek!

Yeah...we all laughed and said that we should have took the golf-cart from the fort wilderness lodge.

 

[G8r4evr]

While we have had views we didn't like, I do have to say, that when I asked for a different room we have always been accomodated. While I'm very polite with my inquiry, I'm not shy about asking for a change that I feel we paid for.

Thankfully, this has been my experience as well. For the prices that they charge, I think Disney owes it to its cutomers to revamp their room categories and also make sure that said categories are truly offering what you are paying for. With that, I would love for them to make separate categories for true waterviews at the mods (If I want a pool view, I think I should be able to book and pay for a pool view, but if I want a lake/river/beach view, I should be able to book and guarantee one of those).

 

[twinklebug]

If I paid for woods view and ended up with a view of the parking lot/roof, I would complain until they credited the difference between a standard and woods back to my card. Did you express your disappointment with anyone? Id like to see them try and convince me that I should have to pay extra because there are a few trees behind said parking lot.

As for CY, I wouldnt have a leg to stand on, because the villa view is technically classified as CY view.

No, I'll admit I didn't even whisper a word to anyone, The kids and I were sick and the move and a 'bout with bell services zapped all will from me. I chalk it up as a live & learn excercise. The big lesson learned being to make sure I stay away from coworkers with the flu bug before vacation.

... besides, at least we were 5093, with a view the poor folk below us on 4093 and the like had nothing but roof & walls to look at.

 

[G8r4evr]

No, I'll admit I didn't even whisper a word to anyone, The kids and I were sick and the move and a 'bout with bell services zapped all will from me. I chalk it up as a live & learn excercise. The big lesson learned being to make sure I stay away from coworkers with the flu bug before vacation.

... besides, at least we were 5093, with a view the poor folk below us on 4093 and the like had nothing but roof & walls to look at.

I know how that goes...Im just curious if they would have given you a hard time had you complained. Ah well, if it happens to me, I will stand up for both of us and report back here.

 

[auntie]

If I paid for woods view and ended up with a view of the parking lot/roof, I would complain until they credited the difference between a standard and woods back to my card. Did you express your disappointment with anyone? Id like to see them try and convince me that I should have to pay extra because there are a few trees behind said parking lot.

As for CY, I wouldnt have a leg to stand on, because the villa view is technically classified as CY view.

I'm thinking you are likely right in that they now consider the view of the Villa Courtyard to be a "Courtyard View"..which to me means "inner courtyard".
Originally the view of the Villas and their "courtyards" were the same rate as a woods view. We had this view several times. We would pay woods view rates, and make mention in our reservation of the Villa side of the U shaped resort. We weren't charge a "Courtyard" view to look at the Villas. It would seem that last year for our trip they have changed their idea of what is a woods view...would seem it's the side of the resort that would face the MK(not that you can ever really see that either...although some have claimed to have seen a smidge of fireworks from a few top floor rooms. I can see why so many people are unsatisfied as of late with their views at the WL. The view should be what they say it is..or the rate should be adjusted. To include the Villa view as the same as the inner "Courtyard view" is just wrong..not the same at all. I can see charging the same if you have a direct water view of the Villa Pool..but othewise, it's just wrong. It should be same as a woods view..that it used to be.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

No, I'll admit I didn't even whisper a word to anyone, The kids and I were sick and the move and a 'bout with bell services zapped all will from me. I chalk it up as a live & learn excercise. The big lesson learned being to make sure I stay away from coworkers with the flu bug before vacation.

... besides, at least we were 5093, with a view the poor folk below us on 4093 and the like had nothing but roof & walls to look at.

We didn't complain either. After the CM said are you SURE you wan't THAT room, we said, we're SURE, we want a KING bed. I REALLY hate to make a ruckus. I just figured if it wasn't us, it would have been somebody else, and didn't see making the bellman make another trip, etc. Looking back, we should have complained because it did put a big damper on our trip.

 

[G8r4evr]

The view should be what they say it is..or the rate should be adjusted. To include the Villa view as the same as the inner "Courtyard view" is just wrong..not the same at all. I can see charging the same if you have a direct water view of the Villa Pool..but othewise, it's just wrong. It should be same as a woods view..that it used to be.

I couldnt agree more. For as much as they charge, I think Disney's room catergories should leave little to no room for interpretation.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I feel your pain. We were in the last building of Trinidad South. It was so frustrating to watch the FULL busses zoom on by ... I actually avoided WDW for several YEARS after that stay. I was totally over WDW after being banished to Trinidad South without a car.

I love your use of the word "banished", cause that is exactly how I felt about Trinidad South, too!

I remember on my long trek from Trinidad South to the food court, I would pass by all the closer buildings, and just wished I was there. It looked so much more fun and lively there! I would see happy people, hear caribbean music, just felt so much more disney-esque. Then to trek back to my banishment in the lonely, removed, too-quiet Trinidad South. I did have a car which I used all the time by the 3rd day of my trip, which helped.

I will only stay at CBR again in a preferred room.

 

[Ronald Duck]

Ok, I am on a roll here .....

Here is a map of where I stayed at WL. I was ground floor in a woods view room facing the otter pond. The room was centrally located and steps away from Roaring Forks, but it had a pretty obvious problem when I got there - it was directly next to the loading dock. There was a fence, but right on the other side I could easily hear trucks, workmen, lots of feet, talking, and of course the "beep beep beep" of trucks backing in. I felt so uncomfortable on my patio being just feet away from that. Tried to switch rooms - nope, all booked. The room was a king bed and handicapped-assessible, and like another poster said, the room was very worn. Just not the relaxing trip I hoped for. I was too low to see the fireworks, even.

So if anyone is assigned this room location - run!

OMG...I know that room all too well One time, early in the a.m., I took a wrong turn coming out of Roaring Forks and went out a door that locked behind me! I was caught in front of the otter pond (which was then known as the gator pond), right next to the room you're referring to (to my right) and the loading dock (to my left). Since I didn't have my cell phone with me, I came close to walking onto that room's patio and knocking on the window ...luckily, a loud workman (this was 7 am!) on the laoding dock heard my cry for help and let me out of there before I became gator bait

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

OMG...I know that room all too well One time, early in the a.m., I took a wrong turn coming out of Roaring Forks and went out a door that locked behind me! I was caught in front of the otter pond (which was then known as the gator pond), right next to the room you're referring to (to my right) and the loading dock (to my left). Since I didn't have my cell phone with me, I came close to walking onto that room's patio and knocking on the window ...luckily, a loud workman (this was 7 am!) on the laoding dock heard my cry for help and let me out of there before I became gator bait

I would be crying.

 

[Ronald Duck]

I am beginning to see a pattern with Wilderness Lodge and solo/couples here. My guess is WL seems to place them in basically the left-overs that people who truly need a handicapped-assessible rooms didn't want/use. And many of these rooms are ground floor (not all, but many I would guess) and at the ends or bends of hallways.

I stayed solo at WL last month (my second solo trip there) and paid for a courtyard view, and I requested a balcony. At check-in, guess what? No balcony. I was assigned a first floor room (room 1065 or something) that was one floor down from the lobby, and the absolute farthest end of the hall. This room would have had a view of people sitting at the pool bar, forget a view of the courtyard!

You may be onto something with regard to room assignment at WL...on our first WL stay, DW and I GOT room 1065, and we stayed there! Your description of the room is accurate...and on top of that, the speaker that plays the famous WL music was right next to our patio (great music, but LOUD and repetitive) .

Still, we have really fond memories of that room...partly because it was our first experience at WL, which is now our favorite resort, and partly because there were hidden benefits, such as easy access to the beach and boat dock, and easy access to Roaring Forks, diagonally across the gorgeous courtyard.

 

[Mermaid_Ariel]

Not sure if anyone saw this link but there was a thread about this not too long ago with some GREAT pictures of bad room views. I felt so sorry for these people.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1674676&page=3

 

[twinklebug]

Not sure if anyone saw this link but there was a thread about this not too long ago with some GREAT pictures of bad room views. I felt so sorry for these people.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1674676&page=3

OMG - the rooftop view from WL were the folk down below us - I could tell it was bad down there, but WOW. I guess "standard" category equates to an inside below deck room on a cruise... you get that feeling you need to come up for air.

from that thread: