REALLY dumb question...

[taximomfor4]

Coming off a bad Value Resort experience (see ASMu Woes ) I really really need to get DH and kids back to WDW for a BETTER trip (and to get the $ out of the AP that I hd planned on getting out of it, lol) in August. Any advice on where to go and stay? Would like to stay as low as we can in price, but want to minimize the risk that the service will be so bad, and that the teen groups will disturb us as much as they did at ASMu. I was considering CSR (but cannot find that they ever offer much in the way of AP discount to bring it into my price range), POR and POFQ, and AKL or WL. Since the deluxes are Value Season in August, they might end up costing about the same (or ever so slightly more) as the Moderates who will NOT be in value season yet. At WL/AKL, we would have to get 2 rooms. Other Deluxes we could squeeze into one (we are 5 and a toddler) but how comfy would that be, lol. Unless some deluxes have slightly bigger rooms for not much more $? Or even the swan/dolphin. DH is a teacher, but they are out of teacher discounts for most of August. Do they offer AP discounts when the WDW hotels do?

AAAAHHHH, help! Need ideas! WOuld kill to stay at an EPCOT resort or monorail resort, but don't know if we could afford it. Its gonna take finagling just to get down there again!

Any help/advice/etc greatly appreciated!

Beth

 

[bavaria]

Check out renting DVC points!!!!! go to the DVC rent/trade board....

 

[taximomfor4]

I have browsed on the DVC rent site quite a few times. Will check again. Need to see if it would save us any money (or at least not cost more than Del. with AP discount).

Thanks for the reminder! Forgot about that option!
Beth

 

[bavaria]

I just found and read the post about your last stay - that was not acceptable, and I don't think that a 10% rate reduction was appropriate. I have worked in hotels for almost 20 years, so I had my own thoughts on that one!

The DVC option is one to consider - think about getting a one bedroom suite at OKW or BWV. OKW is really quiet and serene, BWV will put you closer to the action.

I sometimes wonder if Disney sprinkles some sort of pixie dust into the confrimation letter envelopes that makes us overlook things that would not be acceptable elsewhere. So often I read posts here and think 'wow, I've had guests take that all the way to the top', or 'wow, I would have had that guest screaming in the lobby' but we just seem to take it as being acceptable....

Sorry that you had a bad experience, and wish you well for a future trip!

 

[twojo21]

first one warning about august its very hot & humid, if you dont mind taking your kids out of school i would recommend september over august. still value season, so you will still save a bundle on the room ap rate or not.

as for resorts, the animal kingdom lodge is fabolous, the savannah view rooms are so enchanting, watching the animals from your balcony. the dining is good, the pool, hottub, slide nearby playground & overall exotic flair of the resort is great. the akl also has suites with a kitchenette that sleep 6-8.

the wilderness lodge is also great with a rustic, northwest theme, the magic kingdom & monorail is also just a boat ride away which is nice for park hopping. the restaurants are great, your kids will enjoy the whispering canyon antics, there's also the nearby ft. wilderness with a nightly campfire & sing along. the wilderness lodge is very relaxing.

the polynesian would be our favorite monorail hotel & the beach club for the epcot area for a family because of their multi-age activities & pools.

the port orleans riverside is also very nice with the option of adjoining rooms. the resort has a fun & southern vibe, nice pool & dining. there's also a boat to dtd & bike rentals, carriage rides around the resort.

maybe consider something different this trip like a behind the scenes tour like dolphins in depth at epcot which is an educational dolphin encounter or the family magic tour at magic kingdom, a parents night out using one of kids clubs or a day at dtd, waterpark, spa, golf, fishing or other fun recreation activity at wdw.

hope this next wdw trip is a good one.

 

[taximomfor4]

I just found and read the post about your last stay - that was not acceptable, and I don't think that a 10% rate reduction was appropriate. I have worked in hotels for almost 20 years, so I had my own thoughts on that one!

The DVC option is one to consider - think about getting a one bedroom suite at OKW or BWV. OKW is really quiet and serene, BWV will put you closer to the action.

I sometimes wonder if Disney sprinkles some sort of pixie dust into the confrimation letter envelopes that makes us overlook things that would not be acceptable elsewhere. So often I read posts here and think 'wow, I've had guests take that all the way to the top', or 'wow, I would have had that guest screaming in the lobby' but we just seem to take it as being acceptable....

Sorry that you had a bad experience, and wish you well for a future trip!

Thanks. After questioning her on WHY I was not getting at least one full night cost back, she just kept insisting that I was already getting more than my situation warranted. And that after her, there was NOBODY higher to go to...that she is the one that resolves issues directly for Eisner and the Execs. Doubt it, really, because she was the first person to contact me by phone after my email complaint. But the ball is really in WDW's court. I cannot make them give back money. I tried, lol. I even would take a discount (or upgrade) off my next ressie, after the $123.17 refund. You know, part refund and part future stay discount. But she was adamant. With no further recourse available to me, what else can I do?

Thanks for the DVC advice. I looked again, but with 5 + a toddler, we have to get a 2 BR it looks like. And that, even cutting out weekends, was averaging $300 +/ night. I can do better, most likely, with AP discount and mod or AKL/WL standard connecting rooms...and the "Reservation Assistance" whatever that really is, lol. She assured me that they rarely offer it. Wow, I feel special. hehe

Beth

 

[taximomfor4]

first one warning about august its very hot & humid, if you dont mind taking your kids out of school i would recommend september over august. still value season, so you will still save a bundle on the room ap rate or not.

as for resorts, the animal kingdom lodge is fabolous, the savannah view rooms are so enchanting, watching the animals from your balcony. the dining is good, the pool, hottub, slide nearby playground & overall exotic flair of the resort is great. the akl also has suites with a kitchenette that sleep 6-8.

the wilderness lodge is also great with a rustic, northwest theme, the magic kingdom & monorail is also just a boat ride away which is nice for park hopping. the restaurants are great, your kids will enjoy the whispering canyon antics, there's also the nearby ft. wilderness with a nightly campfire & sing along. the wilderness lodge is very relaxing.

the polynesian would be our favorite monorail hotel & the beach club for the epcot area for a family because of their multi-age activities & pools.

the port orleans riverside is also very nice with the option of adjoining rooms. the resort has a fun & southern vibe, nice pool & dining. there's also a boat to dtd & bike rentals, carriage rides around the resort.

maybe consider something different this trip like a behind the scenes tour like dolphins in depth at epcot which is an educational dolphin encounter or the family magic tour at magic kingdom, a parents night out using one of kids clubs or a day at dtd, waterpark, spa, golf, fishing or other fun recreation activity at wdw.

hope this next wdw trip is a good one.

Thanks so much for the input! We are pretty stuck with August, because I have Nursing School and DH is a teacher (cannot vacation during school year, only during vacations.) We would prefer October, but not possible. Gonna have to swim a lot, lol. Would have looked at FT Wilderness cabins, but too far to reach pools, water launch, etc. And the pool is too boring after the cute themed pool at the All Stars. Especially when we know we will spend time in them in August, lol.

Will we actually FIT in the Poly or other Deluxes? Without paying my entire summers income for a suite?

If it helps any, it will be dh, me, dd 11, dd 7, ds 5, dd2

Thanks !
Beth

 

[bavaria]

Well, wouldn't a one bedroom work? my studio had two beds, and I believe that the living room would have a pull out sofa, no? you could also save a bit on food since you'll have a kitchen.

If you go last two weeks of August, a one week stay would require 196 points at OKW, which you could get for around $1960. That's $280/night, including taxes. If you did two value resorts they would be over $100/night with tax per room. For just a few $$ more, you could get a really comfy quiet place to stay, with all the Disney magic but not the headaches you had before.

If you stay Sun-Thu only, it's even cheaper on a per night basis...... I know it's a hassle, but what if you did the weekdays at OKW and moved for your weekend nights???

 

[bavaria]

OK, I just realized that you have 4+2, not 4+1 like I thought! and OKW one bedrooms apparently only have kings in the bedroom, according to Deb's site. So I guess that is NOT an option - sorry......

 

[taximomfor4]

man! And i just started looking at the DVC resorts again, lol! Couldn't figure out if there were pullout sofas or not!

Putting my thinking cap back on!

Beth

 

[bavaria]

So, my new thought is to do POR or POFQ which you should get for just over $100/night with an AP discount, if they are the same for August and if they do come out.

That way you would have much more room than if you did one room at the Poly, plus you'd have a nice athmosphere. I've been at POR when Pop Warner was there, and even with lots of kids it was still pretty quiet.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

We just had a great stay at CS. The floors in the rooms could have been a little cleaner, but we all liked the theming, we were close to a bus stop, close to the pool. The pool was great, and wasn't crowded. The kiddie pool was really cute (though the ducks liked it too!) We also liked the Pepper Market, it was quick, there were quite a few choices, and the portions were quite generous for many of the meal options. The rest of the hotel was very clean, and we had fridges in our rooms.

 

[bavaria]

and the "Reservation Assistance" whatever that really is, lol. She assured me that they rarely offer it. Wow, I feel special. hehe

that's what I used to put at the end of guest response letters - 'please feel free to contact me personally so that I may ensure that your next stay is an enjoyable one'.

What did that mean? sometimes it was an upgrade, sometimes a gift, sometimes an alert to all departments, sometimes I was just extra nice on the phone. Depended on the situation.

 

[MAGICX2]

Thanks. After questioning her on WHY I was not getting at least one full night cost back, she just kept insisting that I was already getting more than my situation warranted. And that after her, there was NOBODY higher to go to...that she is the one that resolves issues directly for Eisner and the Execs. Doubt it, really, because she was the first person to contact me by phone after my email complaint. But the ball is really in WDW's court. I cannot make them give back money. I tried, lol. I even would take a discount (or upgrade) off my next ressie, after the $123.17 refund. You know, part refund and part future stay discount. But she was adamant. With no further recourse available to me, what else can I do?

Thanks for the DVC advice. I looked again, but with 5 + a toddler, we have to get a 2 BR it looks like. And that, even cutting out weekends, was averaging $300 +/ night. I can do better, most likely, with AP discount and mod or AKL/WL standard connecting rooms...and the "Reservation Assistance" whatever that really is, lol. She assured me that they rarely offer it. Wow, I feel special. hehe

Beth

I would like to read about your stay. Where can I find this post? ALSO,
I would highly recommed POR. We have stayed here and I love it! The pool is great, the grounds are great, and the main lobby area is great! It's just GREAT!LOL The reason I suggest it, is there are two queen beds in the rooms, plus a roll away. If your other two can stand to sleep in the same bed then the toddler can sleep in the rollaway, OR one in bed, one in rollaway, and toddler in pack and play if he will still stay in one. It won't be as spacious as a deluxe or DVC resort, but if you are like us you are not in the room that much anyway. The only down fall to POR is it is spread out. If you get a room to far away from lobby area it can be a hike. We always request Bayou section building 14,15, or 16. These are closest to main building, short walk to pool, and bus stop, but still quite and enjoyable. Good luck!

 

[taximomfor4]

I would like to read about your stay. Where can I find this post? ALSO,
I would highly recommed POR. We have stayed here and I love it! The pool is great, the grounds are great, and the main lobby area is great! It's just GREAT!LOL The reason I suggest it, is there are two queen beds in the rooms, plus a roll away. If your other two can stand to sleep in the same bed then the toddler can sleep in the rollaway, OR one in bed, one in rollaway, and toddler in pack and play if he will still stay in one. It won't be as spacious as a deluxe or DVC resort, but if you are like us you are not in the room that much anyway. The only down fall to POR is it is spread out. If you get a room to far away from lobby area it can be a hike. We always request Bayou section building 14,15, or 16. These are closest to main building, short walk to pool, and bus stop, but still quite and enjoyable. Good luck!

Here is the link...
ASMu Woes

Beth

 

[Anne MN]

I read your woes-
The resort royaly messed up!
If your res is with special services, no one else can touch it.
I know because I have to use them everytime we make res- it can be a pain, but it ensures that things are guarnteed for medical reasons.
and if you have 1 room with small children, it is NOT a request- it is a safety issues! (yours and theirs)

I have had some "glitches" with my res before, but once talking to someone higher up, they got resolved

 

[kidzmom3]

I would like to read about your stay. Where can I find this post? ALSO,
I would highly recommed POR. We have stayed here and I love it! The pool is great, the grounds are great, and the main lobby area is great! It's just GREAT!LOL The reason I suggest it, is there are two queen beds in the rooms, plus a roll away. If your other two can stand to sleep in the same bed then the toddler can sleep in the rollaway, OR one in bed, one in rollaway, and toddler in pack and play if he will still stay in one. It won't be as spacious as a deluxe or DVC resort, but if you are like us you are not in the room that much anyway. The only down fall to POR is it is spread out. If you get a room to far away from lobby area it can be a hike. We always request Bayou section building 14,15, or 16. These are closest to main building, short walk to pool, and bus stop, but still quite and enjoyable. Good luck!

I think the maximum capacity for POR is 5 total in the room. Just thought I would send that out there.

 

[MAGICX2]

I think the maximum capacity for POR is 5 total in the room. Just thought I would send that out there.

Kidzmom3 is right, the max capacity at POR is 5, but I thought you were 2+3, not 2+4. I am not sure. However you can still get a room at a pretty decent price with your AP, or you can wait for the ever lovin' codes to come out! You could get two CONNECTING rooms and it would be very spacious. We did not have a problem with noise or people outside the rooms at all and we usually face a quite pool. Hope this helps!
PS-Read post ASMu Woes! What an awful thing! The person/people you spoke with obviously didn't know how to treat the customer. We stayed at ASMo once when Hurrican Floyd? hit in 1999. It wasn't nearly as bad as last year and we got two nights free and three days of our park tickets refunded. All this from the girl checking us out at the front desk! MAKE your husband do it again. Give him this, If he owned a business and something went wrong one time, wouldn't he want the person to try his business again so he can try to make things right? I use this for everything from restauraunts to hotels to stores. Even though it wasn't right, one time does not set the standard. I think if he tried again he would see the Disney magic shinning through!

 

[kidzmom3]

5 + a toddler = 6 people total

 

[taximomfor4]

ok...CRO says that my toddler doesn't count at all. Since POR can sleep 5 (using trundle bed in AB), we can still also have P-N-P for toddler (who doesn't count at all in the number count.) I just think it would be terribly awfully crowded, lol.

Beth