SWS hotels

[Bobo912]

I just noticed that the ABD website has "Grand Canyon National Park Lodging" under accommodations. I thought it specifically said The Thunderbird. Was that just my imagination or has it always been vague?

 

[sayhello]

I just noticed that the ABD website has "Grand Canyon National Park Lodging" under accommodations. I thought it specifically said The Thunderbird. Was that just my imagination or has it always been vague?

I'm pretty sure it used to specifically say the Thunderbird. Maybe they're leaving it open if they're able to get a better hotel? I sure hope it's still one of the ones on the Rim! My guess is they're in negotiations, and don't want to be specific until they get it all worked out. Interesting. Might be worth a call to ABD tomorrow to find out...

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ETA: If you hover over the Grand Canyon on the map, it still says the Thunderbird. Who knows if that's an oversight or not?

 

[Smuggs]

I pulled my 2010 ABD brochure and it states: Thunderbird Lodge. The 2011 brochure states: Within Grand Canyon National Park.

So yes, they are definitely being vague and I will be peeved if we are not in the park!

 

[sayhello]

I pulled my 2010 ABD brochure and it states: Thunderbird Lodge. The 2011 brochure states: Within Grand Canyon National Park.

So yes, they are definitely being vague and I will be peeved if we are not in the park!

Well, I'm pretty sure it will be in the park, given the "Within Grand Canyon National Park" part. The question is, will it be in The Village, and will it be on the Rim?

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[Bobo912]

I called ABD and was told that they are using both the Thunderbird and Maswik Lodge. For my date we are staying at the Thunderbird. We're still only up to 12 people. That's up 3 from when I booked in January.

 

[sayhello]

OK, so here's the info I got from ABD:

For the June 18th & 25th trip, and the July 2nd trip, they will be using the Maswik Lodge.

All other trips will be using the Thunderbird. She wouldn't specify, but I'm assuming there was some conflict with the end of June/start of July trips.

Here's a link to a map that shows where all the lodging in the Village is:

http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/upload/200909village_map.pdf

The Maswik Lodge is not right on the Rim like the Thunderbird is. It's on the other side of the railroad tracks from the Rim, but it looks to be walking distance (some reviews on Trip Advisor say "a five minute walk from the Rim"). While it's still pretty basic, it gets much better reviews than the Thunderbird, but the location is not quite as spectacular.

From what the rep said, it sounded like they were *trying* to get the Kachina Lodge, which is between the Thunderbird and the El Tovar, but aren't going to be able to use it.

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[sayhello]

I called ABD and was told that they are using both the Thunderbird and Maswik Lodge. For my date we are staying at the Thunderbird. We're still only up to 12 people. That's up 3 from when I booked in January.

When are you doing SWS, Bobo912?

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[sayhello]

I pulled my 2010 ABD brochure and it states: Thunderbird Lodge. The 2011 brochure states: Within Grand Canyon National Park.

So yes, they are definitely being vague and I will be peeved if we are not in the park!

Smuggs, when are you going on SWS?

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[Bobo912]

We're on the July 5th trip.

 

[sayhello]

We're on the July 5th trip.

Ooo! That was close!

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[Bobo912]

Ooo! That was close!

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You said it! I'm sure the Maswik would be fine, but still I would have been disappointed not to be right on the Rim.

 

[Smuggs]

We are on the May 28th trip. So Thunderbird should be it.

Last I checked the trip was not selling well though, so I am hoping it goes. We have such a small frame of available time to go due to work and weddings and NONE of the other SW trip dates will work.

 

[Bobo912]

We are on the May 28th trip. So Thunderbird should be it.

Last I checked the trip was not selling well though, so I am hoping it goes. We have such a small frame of available time to go due to work and weddings and NONE of the other SW trip dates will work.

Your trip is one of the dates for which DU is offering a bigger Amex gift card: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2662672
Maybe that will help boost bookings. Not sure what's going on with my date, but DU doesn't even have it in the list for their "no obligation quote". I've seen it listed as sold out on other websites, but according to ABD it's 25% booked as of today.

 

[Smuggs]

Well, the Maswick does have a pizza pub. In fact I am glad this was mentioned because we could take a walk over there to have a slice and a brew if needed.

There is no restaurant at the Thunderbird correct? Where do they serve breakfast since it is included? Did anyone go to El Tovar for breakfast?

 

[sayhello]

You said it! I'm sure the Maswik would be fine, but still I would have been disappointed not to be right on the Rim.

Exactly. Glad you got the Thunderbird.

We are on the May 28th trip. So Thunderbird should be it.

Last I checked the trip was not selling well though, so I am hoping it goes. We have such a small frame of available time to go due to work and weddings and NONE of the other SW trip dates will work.

My SWS trip went with 14 people. So it's been known to go way less than full...

Your trip is one of the dates for which DU is offering a bigger Amex gift card: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2662672
Maybe that will help boost bookings. Not sure what's going on with my date, but DU doesn't even have it in the list for their "no obligation quote". I've seen it listed as sold out on other websites, but according to ABD it's 25% booked as of today.

That's really very odd. You should call one of those "other websites" and see what they tell you about your trip...

Well, the Maswick does have a pizza pub. In fact I am glad this was mentioned because we could take a walk over there to have a slice and a brew if needed.

There is no restaurant at the Thunderbird correct? Where do they serve breakfast since it is included? Did anyone go to El Tovar for breakfast?

The Bright Angel Lodge is right next door to the Thunderbird, and it *does* have a restaurant. I don't know if that's where they serve breakfast, but it would seem the most logical place to me. My trip stayed at the Grand Hotel in Tusayan before they switched to the Thunderbird, so we just had breakfast there...

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[kristilew]

Well, the Maswick does have a pizza pub. In fact I am glad this was mentioned because we could take a walk over there to have a slice and a brew if needed.

There is no restaurant at the Thunderbird correct? Where do they serve breakfast since it is included? Did anyone go to El Tovar for breakfast?

When we did SWS and were at the Thunderbird, the breakfast was served privately in the Bright Angel- not the main dining room, but another room that was directly facing the Thunderbird - a 30 second walk from one to the other, very convenient.

You are up and moving so early on the two mornings at GC, that I would imagine a full service restaurant like El Tovar would require a super early seating to be ready. I think one morning we had to be on the bus at 7:30, and the other morning at 8 with all our bags packed.

 

[glassslipper2004]

We had breakfast at the Bright Angel Lodge (not in the dinner dining room, but in a different breakfast room) when we did SWS. We stayed at the Thunderbird. The rooms were very basic, and the hotel doesn't have any amenities at all, but the location couldn't be beat. That said, as long as you are within walking distance to the rim, I would think that would be almost as nice as staying right on the rim. The neat thing is to be able to wake up super early and go out in your pj's and sweats to see the sunrise (and all the animals too). It's a fantastic trip!

 

[Bobo912]

What about dinner at El Tovar? Should we do it? Or maybe lunch on a free day, since it's just the kiddo and me.

 

[sayhello]

What about dinner at El Tovar? Should we do it? Or maybe lunch on a free day, since it's just the kiddo and me.

I didn't get a chance to eat at El Tovar, but everyone who did said it was really great. Lunch would probably be less spendy.

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[glassslipper2004]

We had lunch there - very nice, great atmosphere. I can't remember if we had an opportunity to have dinner there. We did have one dinner at Bright Angel - the food was ok, not fantastic.