Shades of Green

[madge]

Hi Noel,

no questions, just a big HI!

actually, I do have a question (big surprise, LOL)--how's the waitlist situation looking for may (or any other months, for that matter)? are we in line for CR roms if they become available or will we be offered overflow?

 

[dizneycc]

First No-Thanks for all the great information! We have been wondering how they were going to expand. We are still on the wait list for late April 2002. Should we be hearing something soon? I didn't know if I should have a backup plan.
Thanks again!

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by disney4us2002
Thank you. I am finding this all very confusing. Are we still guests of Shades of Green or are we Contemporary guests? Are you part of the ticket office that will be transferring over to the Contemporary? Will the tickets remain the same, ie: single-day passes, hoppers, Stars & Stripes? We also want to purchase tickets to Medieval Times so I'm hoping all of the same ticket options are available in the relocation.

Carla

Frankly Carla, I find it confusing myself. The lack of info we get doesn't help, but your questions are pretty easy (thank you!!! <BG>).

You are a Disney guest because you will be staying in a Disney resort. Yes, we booked you, but it's no different than if we had booked you for the Poly in our overflow. You would still be a Disney guest, but because you booked through us, you would have to go back through us for any changes or cancellations.

I work in reservations, but the ticket office is moving over there, along with our ticket agents. I also found out tonight that guests will still be able to come to SoG to play golf (that should be interesting) and can make their golfing reservations through the ticket office in the North Wing. I can't believe they will get to keep the same ticket office number, but we haven't been given a new number for them. The office will open on Mar 25 (date is subject to change), but the SoG office will still be open. Once we close on the 31st, the ticket office in the North Wing will be completely open (I believe we were told they would only have 1 ticket machine for that first week and the other one or 2 will be moved over once SoG closes). Hope that helped!

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by DancingBear


Guess you were wrong there! Questions pouring in!

Good!! I was a little worried no one would write ANY THING...LOL. I feel better now!

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by laurenk
Thanks for the offer of helping all of us. Twenty of us will be there in November. When will we get a confirmation letter? We are all really nervous about that.

I also wanted to know the answer to Carla's question.

TIA!

If you don't receive all of the confirmation letters (for however many reservations you have) by mid Apr, I'd recommened contacting us just so we can verify there aren't any problems.

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by LeapYear Debbie
I'm interested too in what the renovations will consist of. I love the look of SOG now, I would hate for it to change too dramtically. Are they adding another wing or adding more floors to the existing building? I'm already planning a trip in October 2003 so I can see the changes.


Debbie

The whole front of the hotel will be different. From the artist rendering I've seen, it's a BIG improvement and, hopefully, should help with the conjestion of traffic and guests trying to board/disembark the buses.

It will be another wing that is added. 4-5 stories high, but renovations will be done in the original building, at least in the currently lobby area, garden gallery, AAFES store and employee entrance areas. Other than that, I'm not sure what changes will happen to the current building.

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by madge
Hi Noel,

no questions, just a big HI!

actually, I do have a question (big surprise, LOL)--how's the waitlist situation looking for may (or any other months, for that matter)? are we in line for CR roms if they become available or will we be offered overflow?

Wow! Someone actually EXCITED to see me <VBG>!!!

As for the wait lists, they're hurting. We've been busy. Extremely, butt kicking type of busy. When it gets like that, the lists suffer. I'm hoping that once Easter is over with, things will calm back down and we can start hitting the lists more.

I've done very little calling because of how busy it's been. My boss and her boss, primarily, have been the ones calling guests for Mar. The lists for Apr through the first part of Aug were put on hold while we figured out just how many rooms we had available. Starting next week, Apr will begin to be contacted for the first time in months (it's all ready highlighted, we're just waiting for the mass reservations transfer on Sat).

Supposedly, we've hired someone who, after she's done with her training, will be working on Saturdays to help with the wait list. So, we'll have her, me, and the girl who used to check the confirmations (there won't be any confirmations for her in the next 2 weeks), she knows how to do the wait list and she'll be helping on Saturdays as well as coming out once during the week to call guests from like 5-9pm. It will be slow going, at first, but it's always this way, every year. We struggle with the wait lists until the volume dies down and then we pick it back up again. The fun see-saw effect <g>.

Every one on the list is on the list for a room at the Contemp. For guests currently on the lists, just like before, we won't offer overflow unless you let us know you no longer wish to be on the list and would like to be assisted with a room else where. Unless they change the rules yet again (and it always seems like I'm the last to know), new rule is we do not have to force you to go on the list, if you don't want to. We can assist you with a reservation in our overflow, even if the list is open. That rule will probably change once we can start booking for our own resort later in this year. However, we cannot have you on our list, or booked at the Contemp/SoG, and have made you a reservation in overflow for the same time frame. /COLOR]

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by dizneycc
First No-Thanks for all the great information! We have been wondering how they were going to expand. We are still on the wait list for late April 2002. Should we be hearing something soon? I didn't know if I should have a backup plan.
Thanks again!

Welcome!! I just wrote to Madge that we have a lot of people to call off the Apr wait list and we should start with that next week. The list will continue to be called and we'll get as many people in as we can.

If the vacation is important to you (some guests live close by and can come at any time), you should ALWAYS have a backup plan. I've always told my guests that. The only thing I recommend is that you should be aware of the cancellation policy of which hotel you've booked yourself into since we can, and do, call all the way up until the day before arrival.

Hope you get that call soon!!

 

[cunwdw]

Firstno, Thank You for sharing all of this valuable information.

My question is a little different. In the past when we have stayed at the CR in the garden wings, I have always requested and received a room in the north wing. If Shades of green is relocating all of their guest to the CR north wing and occupying 300 rooms... I can't imagine that will leave much space left over for us Non-military types. Do you have any insight as to how the CR will handle this? I am worried about being "relocated" to the south wing. I don't think that I would enjoy having to stay in the south wing.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Tom

 

[madge]

thanks, noel.....I just wasn't sure if we were on the WL for the contemporary or not and now I do. it great to "see" you here--is this going to be your home for a while? trying to keep up with the fortress is exhausting, LOL.

thanks for the great info, as always!

BTW--when have I never been not glad to hear from you? <g>

 

[DancingBear]

Thanks so much for the info!

Since you mentioned golf, does that mean that SoG guests will still get a golf discount? Do you know the details on this (how far ahead you can call, who you call, etc.)

This is all extremely helpful, thank you so much. As you said, if there was more info on the website it would help keep the call volume down from those concerned about all of the unofficial information they are hearing.

 

[DawnCt]

Thanks Noel. The renovations at the Hale Koa were wonderful, its a great resort with the best beach on Waikiki. We also love the Kilauea Military Lodge on the BI. Shades of Green will be terrific when it is done. Regarding the pool size. Wilderness Lodge is a very large hotel but considering the number of rooms, the pool isn't that large. SoG may end up being okay. Time will tell.

 

[laurenk]

FirstNo- Thanks for answering all of our questions so promptly, and with such detail! I really appreciate you doing this for all of us.

 

[GrammieMame]

I'm the guy that has the reservation starting April 2 but hasn't received a letter yet. Coincidentally, I had a phone message yesterday that the letter had been returned. I called today and they (sho' nuff) had the wrong address and said they would get the letter out immediately.

At some point will I be able to call either the CR directly or the main Disney reservation number and be assured that I have a confirmed CR reservation? When will they have this information, and which one to call. We have 7 people coming, Easter week, and I sure would sleep better if I knew for sure that everything was OK.

You are so kind to try & relieve all our anxieties. Thanks.

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by cunwdw
Firstno, Thank You for sharing all of this valuable information.

My question is a little different. In the past when we have stayed at the CR in the garden wings, I have always requested and received a room in the north wing. If Shades of green is relocating all of their guest to the CR north wing and occupying 300 rooms... I can't imagine that will leave much space left over for us Non-military types. Do you have any insight as to how the CR will handle this? I am worried about being "relocated" to the south wing. I don't think that I would enjoy having to stay in the south wing.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Tom

I'm sorry, but I don't think you'll like my answer. With 300 rooms, yes, we will be taking up the majority of the wing. I can't imagine there will be more than 60 rooms left, if that many, for Disney's guests. I'm surprised we were given the North Wing since it's closer to the MK, but I'm guessing we got it because that wing is non-smoking and that's what our resort was.

The one thing I can say is just like we tell our guests, all requests are just that; requests. I know Disney is the same way and although you may request the North Wing, it's not a guarantee. On the bright side, you can bet that the majority of the guests Disney deals with don't think to request any thing, other than maybe non-smoking. I've discovered in my dealings with guests, many of them don't even realize they can ask for their heart's desire. They just figure they'll take what they can get and they're happy they have a room at all. That improves your chances of getting what you'd like.

Best bet is to call the Contemp and let them know how you feel, but I'm going to guess they'll remind you that they'll do their best to honor as many requests from all of their guests, as they can, but you can't be guaranteed what you'd like. Sorry!!

BTW, is my sig line too much? I don't want to cause any problems so if there's too much in there or the graphic needs to go, PLEASE let me know!!! And for the person who mentioned they sent me a private message (I'm sorry, I don't remember the name), I checked but didn't see one from any one. So, I'm not ignoring you!!

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by madge
thanks, noel.....I just wasn't sure if we were on the WL for the contemporary or not and now I do. it great to "see" you here--is this going to be your home for a while? trying to keep up with the fortress is exhausting, LOL.

thanks for the great info, as always!

BTW--when have I never been not glad to hear from you? <g>

I can't keep up with them on Yahoo. It's too much. I'm still on the Delphi site, for the few that remain there, but it's a private site and I can't get the SoG info out to people there. Since going back to the 'other' Disney Boards is not an option for as long as certain people 'over there' remain in charge, I needed to find a new home where the info could be used.

Of course, you're welcome to direct any one 'over there' that I'm now here and I'm happy to try and answer their questions.

I had checked out these boards previously and thought they would make a good new home. I can get the info out and, hopefully, help some people out. If it saves just one person from waiting 30 minutes on the phone only to be told "we're sold out, have a nice day!" then I've done some good.

 

[DancingBear]

Your sig line and your responses are sterling! No problems here!

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by DancingBear
Thanks so much for the info!

Since you mentioned golf, does that mean that SoG guests will still get a golf discount? Do you know the details on this (how far ahead you can call, who you call, etc.)

This is all extremely helpful, thank you so much. As you said, if there was more info on the website it would help keep the call volume down from those concerned about all of the unofficial information they are hearing.

I have no clue about the golf. We (reservations) never handled it so, I can't give you any info on it. Someone asked the question last night if guests will still be able to play golf. The answer was 'yes' and then it was asked where would they need to go/call to make tee times. We were told that they would be able to do that in the 'new' ticket office in the North Wing. Nothing else about it was mentioned. I imagine that golf times will be taken from both places (ticket office in the North Wing and the concierge at SoG) from 3/25 through 3/30. Then, starting on the 31st, they'll only take them from the Wing, but that's just a guess.

And don't get me started on the website <g>.

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by GrammieMame
At some point will I be able to call either the CR directly or the main Disney reservation number and be assured that I have a confirmed CR reservation? When will they have this information, and which one to call. We have 7 people coming, Easter week, and I sure would sleep better if I knew for sure that everything was OK.

Supposedly, we'll be inputting all of the Disney confirmation numbers for our guests' reservations, starting next week. But, with over 10,000 and having to do it by hand, it's goig to be slow going. Common sense would say they would start inputting them based on priority (Apr before May, May before Jun, etc), but common sense isn't always how they prefer to do thing <bg>.

If I were you, I'd probably wait until Wed. Give them some time to try and get something in the computer. Call and let them know your situation. If we aren't showing your Disney confirmation numbers, we should, by that time, be able to contact someone at Disney and get that/those confirmation number(s) for you. I would be sure to ask whichever agent you speak with to double check the info with Disney (deposits on file, etc). You shouldn't have to ask that, but again, it's a common sense thing and some of the agents aren't the brightest bulbs in the pack. It's not that they would intentionally leave out any info, but we have some kids, literally, working and they haven't been in the position where they were the ones spending lots of $$ on a vacation and need to know that EVERY THING is ok. I'm sure your ressys are fine, but like you, I'd like to see it in writing. And, if I can't do that, then I'd like the name of the person I'm dealing, date and time I spoke to them and found out EXACTLY what is on my reservations in Disney's system.

 

[Liz Kushner]

My husband is 100% disabled and has an ID card, however, I nor any of my children do not have any ID's that back that up. Will that be a problem if he is not with us - does that mean I can only stay at Sog (or CR) when he's with me?