SoG Reservations for 2003??

[CutlerP]

Can somebody tell me how the renovations in SoG are coming along?? Will the renovated rooms be as nice (and as big) as the old ones? If I wanted to make reservations for (fall) 2003, will they be accepting them a year in advance like they used to?

Just curious what's going on. Anyone have some good info??

Thanks in advance!!

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by CutlerP
Can somebody tell me how the renovations in SoG are coming along?? Will the renovated rooms be as nice (and as big) as the old ones? If I wanted to make reservations for (fall) 2003, will they be accepting them a year in advance like they used to?

Just curious what's going on. Anyone have some good info??

Thanks in advance!!

Renovations aren't coming along as they have not even begun to break ground. Last I heard, which was a month ago, SoG would still be taking reservations 53 weeks in advance, business as normal. However, I wouldn't hold my breath that a 5/6 story addition, new restaurants and completely redone area in front of the hotel, along with a large parking garage, will be completed in just over a year.

 

[CutlerP]

They haven't even broken ground yet???!!! Well, I would agree that finishing something of that scale in a year is....well...highly unlikely!! So then I'm assuming that the ressies that they're making 53 weeks out are for the Contemporary section that they've taken over?

Any comments on that? Has anyone stayed at the "pseudo-Shades of Green"? We're considering a trip in October 2003 (our second time- YAY ). DH who is retired ANG is eligible for SoG. We stayed there last Oct and LOVED it - and we'd like to book 3 rooms (is that still allowed??) and meet up with his brother and family down there.....

Thanks, FirstNo for the info!!

Anyone else??

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by CutlerP
They haven't even broken ground yet???!!! Well, I would agree that finishing something of that scale in a year is....well...highly unlikely!! So then I'm assuming that the ressies that they're making 53 weeks out are for the Contemporary section that they've taken over?

Any comments on that? Has anyone stayed at the "pseudo-Shades of Green"? We're considering a trip in October 2003 (our second time- YAY ). DH who is retired ANG is eligible for SoG. We stayed there last Oct and LOVED it - and we'd like to book 3 rooms (is that still allowed??) and meet up with his brother and family down there.....

Thanks, FirstNo for the info!!

Anyone else??

Divulging a bit more of my discussion with the Rooms Manager last month....she is (was at that time) under the assumption that the hotel would open next year. I was specifically told that we would begin booking for the hotel for Sep 2003. When I mentioned that I did not believe the hotel would be ready and, perhaps it would be better to maybe do what they always do for the Xmas holiday (wait list every one until things are set and then start calling that list in the order they were placed on it until the rooms are sold out and then the list becomes a 'normal' wait list). I was given a very definite "No, we will NOT be doing that."

I'm not sure how long we have the North Wing. Originally, we (they, but it's a hard habit to break after 3yrs) were due to reopen in Aug 03. Then, 2 weeks later, it became Sep 03. In May, it became "Fall 03." See a trend? Disney isn't exactly known for playing nice with us (they make things very difficult) so, I find it hard to believe that they would extend the loss of 300 rooms for another 3 or 4 months past the time we were to originally have it. Then again, the contract may read that we have it for as long as we need it. Who knows?

Personally, I don't feel rooms need to be sold until 6 months out. By that point, they should have a good idea that '6 months from now, we should be open.' What I forsee happening, due to the lack of foresight I've seen over the years, is they'll set a particular date to re-open and not be ready due to: weather, wrong permits, building problems, etc (take your pick). Then, they'll go ahead and re-open any way and have hundreds of complaints because the hotel really needed another week, two weeks, month to truly be at 100%.

They don't care about the complaints (well, they care, but they don't care, if that makes any sense) because the place will still stay at 98% occupancy due to the large volume of clients and cheap rates for the primary vacation spot in this country for families. They'll be happy to comp you a dinner or a night's stay because you'll come back the next time.

If you want to play it safe, I'd recommend making your ressies 53 weeks out. You never know, miracles happen and they may have some better info at that time. You can always cancel it months later if it turns out you'll be in the North Wing and that's not where you want to be.

 

[CutlerP]

That's probably what I'll end up doing. As I understand, I can cancel 30 days (?or something like that, I'll have to check?) out anyway.

FirstNo, I'm trying to figure out your connection to SoG?? Guest?? Employee?? Contemporary Employee?? Interested Bystander??

Any comments on the North Wing? Is it hideous? Convenient? Nice? Just Barely Acceptable?

Also, can one who is eligible for SoG still get overflow rates at other resorts?

THANKs

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by CutlerP
FirstNo, I'm trying to figure out your connection to SoG?? Guest?? Employee?? Contemporary Employee?? Interested Bystander??

Any comments on the North Wing? Is it hideous? Convenient? Nice? Just Barely Acceptable?

Also, can one who is eligible for SoG still get overflow rates at other resorts?

THANKs

I quit my job this past Sat w/SoG. Prior to that, I was a reservations agent for the little over 3yrs I was there. My first 14 months was as a telephone agent and the rest of the time was handling the internet reservations while still helping out on the phones when I could (and was needed). I did (called) waitlist almost the entire time I was there. Disney employees do not work at or, for the most part know any thing, about SoG. And, SoG employees are not Disney CMs (not that you asked but it's a misconception I thought I'd clear up).

I don't have many comments on the NW. I've read good and bad on these boards. As I've always told my guests, if you have a problem you MUST COMPLAIN!!! No one knows there's some thing wrong if you don't tell any one. SoG has an office in the NW (next to the ticket office). I believe it is manned from 7am to 10pm, 7 days a week. The people are there to act as liasons with Disney and answer any questions or clear up any problems you have. Use them. They're bored out of their minds for the most part any way.

I don't care for the decor of the NW (we were driven over there a few months ago for a look around), however if I were paying less than $100 for the room, I could put up with the decor for the convenience and savings.

Yep, overflow is still there. Pretty much the only income they (SoG) receive right now, besides ticket sales, is from overflow so, they'd be happy to book you in it. However, to my knowledge, rates for 2003 are not in the system. Usually, they get the rates from the other hotels (Disney is usually last) in the Aug/Sep time frame. Then, they have to find the time to input it into the system. You can always try. They may have a few hotels all ready in.

 

[CutlerP]

OK - so here's what I don't understand....how (exactly) does the Overflow process work? What we really want to do is to stay at BC but the pricetag of $280ish is pretty steep compared to the 90ish we'd pay at SoG. From what I read, it seems like an overflow rate of 170ish is what BC would be...which isn't too too unreasonable. So when do you attempt to make ressies using overflow rates? Does SoG have to be FULL for the dates you want before overflow is offered? When would be the ideal time to check this out? I guess I just don't quite get it!!

Thanks!

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by CutlerP
OK - so here's what I don't understand....how (exactly) does the Overflow process work? What we really want to do is to stay at BC but the pricetag of $280ish is pretty steep compared to the 90ish we'd pay at SoG. From what I read, it seems like an overflow rate of 170ish is what BC would be...which isn't too too unreasonable. So when do you attempt to make ressies using overflow rates? Does SoG have to be FULL for the dates you want before overflow is offered? When would be the ideal time to check this out? I guess I just don't quite get it!!

Thanks!

The old rule (and one they probably will go back to once the hotel reopens) was that SoG had to be sold out AND the wait list had to be closed before they would offer overflow.

Now, because the only revenue out of reservations office is from the commision the hotel (not the agents) gets from overflow bookings, you are welcome to ask for overflow at any time. You do not have to go on the wait list and the hotel does not have to be sold out.

If your time is for 2003, I don't believe overflow rates from the hotels have come in yet. They are usually sent to SoG in Aug/Sep and then they have to be input, by hand, into the system. Once all that is done, the rates are available for booking. I believe the Disney resorts are the only ones that are automatically done, via a download from Disney. Disney has been known to be slow on providing next year's rates. I think the latest I saw Disney available for the following year was the beginning of Oct.

When you call, you tell the agent you would like to check "X hotel(s)" for "this time frame" and the agent should give you the lowest rate available for each time (taxes not included).

Disney is a little different from the other hotels they book. Other than the All Stars, we usually receive 3 different rates for each hotel (AS are only 2 rates): one is the standard rate and the other two are discounted (one is more discounted than the other). If the discounted rates are sold out and all that is left is the standard rate, then you are offered the standard rate (I would ALWAYS advise my guests if what I'm offering was standard so, they would have the option of eliminating the middle man (SoG) and going directly through Disney....much less hassle that way). I do not know if the other agents advise the guests of that, but you can always ask.

Also, the way Disney books, if the night of your first stay, the rate is $129, but the rest of the nights are $99, your nightly rate will be $129 (rates are based on the first night's stay). However, if you're flexible, you can always ask the agent, "If I came in a day later and extended my stay a day later, would that get me a cheaper rate?" If you asked that question in the above scenario, your rate would drop down to $99 for the entire stay (this happens a lot around the times when rates change, like from slow season to holiday, slow season to peak, peak to slow, etc).

Now, if your vacation is for a time next year where they do not know if the hotel will be open, I would ASSUME they would let you go ahead and book overflow. However, for arguments sake, let's say they are showing a reopening of Oct 1, 2003. You want to book Oct 5 to the 10, but you want the BC. I don't know what they'll do. If they go back to the old rules, you'll have to wait a few months for every thing to sell out and the list to close to be able to book. However, SoG usually isn't very good about anticipating things they should all ready be thinking. I would imagine they haven't even thought about the above yet. Then, you'll get put on hold while the agent goes to ask what to do. I hope that helped!!!

 

[DawnCt]

Hi Noelle, I am sorry to hear that you won't be with SoG anymore. I actually did receive a wait list call from you personally a few years ago and it was a pleasure to talk with you. As always, you are a wealth of useful information.