The NEW WL FAQ (Part 5) Simbas and Tiggers and Humphreys OH MY!

[Ronald Duck]

I'll post more ;ater. Questions!!

Just tell us everything (and show us if you can)!!! With 19 days to go, I'll soak it all up like a (happy) sponge

 

[ADisneygirl]

We just got home yesterday from a fabulous trip! What a great time we had! We were surprised at check in to not only have our room ready to get into at 11:00am, but that we had been given an upgrade from standard to woods view! The check in CM said "you will be on the 6th floor and you will have a wonderful view of the fireworks". All we had requested was N/S and a higher floor because we didn't want a low floor with a standard view.

Talk about pixie dusted! I knew right away that I was getting a renovated room when she told us what floor we were on. We were in room 6026, just around the corner from the elevator. We had to take the elevator down past Roaring Forks. This room location is also closer to the pool then if your room is off of the elevator in the lobby.

I had been thinking that I'd miss the old decor a little. I saw a few pictures here on the DIS of the new rooms and was on the fence about them. Well, we thought the room was quite beautiful. The blue around the wood furniture is not as bright and garish as it appears in many photos. The headboards are incredible and a big improvement. I loved the fact that I didn't do the middle of the night dance of pain from cracking a toe on the footboard legs of the old rooms! I did miss the old armoirs though. They were so nice. But we had a big flat screen tv!

The view off our balcony was beautiful. I could see the otter pond below, woods all around, the CR straight ahead and to the right we saw the lake. From the 6th floor you really can see all the fireworks. In fact, it looked as if our room was perfectly centered for it! And even though it was the enclosed balcony that some people do not seem to like, we liked it. It felt cozy and very private.

The renovations are complete on floors 5 & 6 and they were working on 3 & 4. The hallways on 3 are still the same. The changes at Roaring Forks are not that noticeable. The room with the tables to sit down at is not any bigger. They had about 12 tables for 4 and along the back wall were @ 5 tables for 2. Outside RF along the hall they put several tables for 2 that were not there a few years ago. The area where you order the food is different. I don't think it is layed out well though. In the mornings it gets quite busy in there and the line for hot food snakes all over. There are now 2 registers but there is no definitive directions as to how to line up. So sometimes we heard and saw people lining up at each register and sometimes people made one big long line and then dispersed to either cashier when they got to the counter. They need a rope or lines on the floor to divide or direct.

Any questions? I'd be happy to answer and help if I can.

Here are some of my pictures:

my son outside our room

our room

beautiful headboard

tv

carpet and bedspread

hook on wall near tv

son and daughter sitting in hall outside RF

 

[Ronald Duck]

Thanks SO much for the new pics and the room (et al)description, ADisneyGirl!

When DW read your description of your room, we both agreed we're going to request North Side, 6th Floor! I guess a lot of trees that used to block the fireworks (et al) view are no longer there thanks to the hurricanes!

 

[dreamer423]

Well, we arrived late in the afternoon to "welcome home". Ranger Stan was there to greet as us we wlaked in. Loved it! We were celebrating my belated birthday for a quick weekend. I had requested Woods view, north side high floor/fire works. When I checked in, I smiled when I saw Steri. Until he looked at Ds 4 in his stroller and said "you didn't request a King bed, did you?"
"absolutely not. "

I explained what I requested and he apologized for the error and said he could give us something on 2 now and move us tomorrow somehwere to 5. Yes, I know they're requests only, but when the request is in error, there's no hope of getting anything you look forward to. I so wanted to give Ds the fireworks from the balcony. I just said that calmly to Steri and he said, let me get a manager. I waited while they came out of a meeting and Nicole gave us room 5088, on the lobby, with a $100 room credit and a ride to Epcot to pick up DDE and then to MK for CRT dinner. She again apologized for the error and said we'd see fireworks. No complaints from me.

The renovated rooms are beautiful. The photos above are great. I will say thee was a faint odor upon enteringthat smelled like air freshener from a smoking room, but I think it was prbably new carpet/paint erc. BUt if you're sensitive to smells, you may notice. The room and balcony was slightly smaller than some of the woods view rooms. Looking down we had some of the service area and the exit of the driveway. We couldn't see the castle, but we did see a lot of the firewroks-the higher ones. We could hear a little noise from WCC but nothing to keep us up or wake us up. No towel animals. I requested turn down and di get it all three night with little chocolates and lovely little sayings. ALthough there was a spot of mustard onthe table on the bslcony that went untouched for 2 days. I didn't notice it until the after we;d been for a while-smelled mustard and couldn't figure out where it was coming from...

The pool was great as always. We never ate at Roaring forks, but I will say that they've gone healthier. There was no Mud and bugs Cereal that DS waits for all year.

I will say that the new rooms were so new that I felt guilt everytime a drop of sunscreen dropped onthe carpet, or wate spilled or whatever. Sorry future occupants of room 5088.

I'm gald we experienced the lobby rooms, different perspective, but not my cup of tea.

The $100 was great, paid most of our food bills so was able to indulge in some photo albums. frames and A DVD for DS.

Rest of trip was fab too. Shared Illuminations with DISer-thanks Prince Goofy, dinner at CRT-good for one time, don't need to repeat. Even got a sword for DS and he's in heaven abouti t. Tried to sleep with it DId nap holding on to it all theway home.

Seems like the bunk beds on 5 north are mostly in the wing 2d closest to lake , based on on conversation with HK, but never saw a room.

HTH

 

[JPN4265]

.... ...actually, 8 minutes....

Actually 510 seconds.

 

[CarolB]

I am getting so anxious. We check in one week from today. Hoping early morning check-in will take care of any issues that might arise. We really need the bunks, due to our teen configuration (boy/girl - not related), but will bring along the air mattress just in case. Paying for courtyard view and hoping for the same area we had last year, due to the view. Celebrating DS HS graduation, my birthday and our anniversary, so a very "happy time", we hope anyway.
All your reports are building the excitement. Love the pictures. I think we will like the renovations, especially since we have only stayed at WL one other time, so no real attachment to the old decor. We used to stay always at the Poly and still love it there, but limited discounts just didn't make it an option this year.
Keep the updates and pictures coming.

 

[pooh2001]

Thnk you for all the info on this thread. Our first visit to the WL will be in 3 weeks

We reserved a Courtyard room (only room left - but $500 less than the Poly )

I have requeted non-smoking and bunkbeds(DS & DD teens who do not sleep together).


WCC ? - I have read no more antics. Our DD requested to have her birthday lunch there. Do they still do birthday cup cakes ?
Can our DD still wear her pink Libby-Lu cowboy hat to WCC ?

 

[tardin1964]

ADisneyGirl gald you had a great trip. Thanks for posting your pics!

 

[mydogisbo]

Thanks for all of the great comments & pictures of the renovated rooms--you've convinced me that this is where we want to stay when we go in January to celebrate birthdays & our 10th anniversary!!! I can't wait--that is SO far away!

One question that someone who has an upcoming trip might be able to answer--with the renovations & the new 2007 pricing (more for bunk bed rooms)--does anyone know if there are bunk bed rooms in that north wing that would have a good view of the MK & fireworks (& even the monorail would entertain 2 little boys)?

Thanks!!!!

 

[MICKEY'S DREAMERS]

These appeared on the Passporter site. They were taken and posted there by loobyoxlip (Tina):

Closeup of new light switch on headboard:

New (wider) patio chairs:

Headboard and lights above it:

Bed and headboard (I do like the animals!)

Another shot of the TV and table:

WOW !!! I LOVE SOOOOOOOOO MUCH the NEW look of the rooms !!!!

 

[ADisneygirl]

Thnk you for all the info on this thread. Our first visit to the WL will be in 3 weeks

We reserved a Courtyard room (only room left - but $500 less than the Poly )

I have requeted non-smoking and bunkbeds(DS & DD teens who do not sleep together).


WCC ? - I have read no more antics. Our DD requested to have her birthday lunch there. Do they still do birthday cup cakes ?
Can our DD still wear her pink Libby-Lu cowboy hat to WCC ?

I don't know who told you that there were no more "antics" at WCC, but let me tell you that last week there were plenty! We went twice. At dinner our server threw the straws at us, announced to the whole restaurant that I didn't want all that meat on the skillet touching my chicken, and the kids had the pony stick horse race around the room. At breakfast one day we all had to do the hokey-pokey. One table that didn't get up got singled out and the servers all went over to see if they could encourage them to participate. Don't go here if you want to be left alone at mealtimes!

 

[LisaRN]

WOW !!! I LOVE SOOOOOOOOO MUCH the NEW look of the rooms !!!!

I agree..thanks so much for posting those photos!

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

I didn't read through the whole thread (sorry!) but was just wondering if anyone had any pics or info on the renovations of the seating area of RF? I heard it was supposed to be done by now, and we're headed back to the WL in Dec. Thanks!

 

[Starz723]

Hi Everyone

Please refresh my memory.. I just put a reservation in for MouseFest in December..I selected the woods view, otter pond, 5th floor.

Help I cannot remember the room number that faces the MK and can see the fireworks. I had this room last time I was there and for the love of me, cannot find the number.

Can anyone help with the room number so I can request it.

Thanks alot

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

. Paying for courtyard view and hoping for the same area we had last year, due to the view.

If you have not yet requested this particular area in which you stayed in last, be sure to do so. The WL usually does not receive the requests until about 3 days prior to your arrival.

Have a wonderful time!!

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

I didn't read through the whole thread (sorry!) but was just wondering if anyone had any pics or info on the renovations of the seating area of RF? I heard it was supposed to be done by now, and we're headed back to the WL in Dec. Thanks!

Reports have said the seating area is very similar, just a few more tables added. There's also a few tables just outside Roaring Forks.

 

[ADisneygirl]

I didn't read through the whole thread (sorry!) but was just wondering if anyone had any pics or info on the renovations of the seating area of RF? I heard it was supposed to be done by now, and we're headed back to the WL in Dec. Thanks!

I can give you a first hand account. The RF renovations are completed. The area to order food has changed a bit. There is now a sandwich/salad station as well as the hot food station. The drink area remains the same except for the addition of the soft serve ice cream machine at the end. There are two registers to pay at now, but they needed a more definitive direction for lining up. Some people lined up at each register, sometimes people lined up in one long line and then dispersed to each register when approaching the counter. People were a little confused about this. The seating area did not change drastically. They did change the little round tables to rectangular tables for 4. The old set up had a few tables for 4. Now most are tables for 4, with the back wall having the tables for 2 lined up on it. The seating area did not get any bigger. Also they put a row of round tables for 2 outside RF along the hallway. I would guess there were about 7 of them out there. Here is a picture of my son and daughter sitting at one of them:

 

[eeyore45]

I don't know who told you that there were no more "antics" at WCC, but let me tell you that last week there were plenty! We went twice. At dinner our server threw the straws at us, announced to the whole restaurant that I didn't want all that meat on the skillet touching my chicken, and the kids had the pony stick horse race around the room. At breakfast one day we all had to do the hokey-pokey. One table that didn't get up got singled out and the servers all went over to see if they could encourage them to participate. Don't go here if you want to be left alone at mealtimes!

Zurgswife and Delswife are the ones that are giving this info, Zurgswife has posted on the restaurant thread - she says that Bobby (the server in her siggy photo!) is no longer working there even tho WL wants him to stay - they (management) have told the servers to "tone it down" so the new CM's being trained are not into all the antics that have been reported in the past - there still are some, but not as many, and it does depend on who is serving - - and yes there have been calls ot management!!

I'm sure there have been many posts saying the WCC is too loud for some rooms - I'm sure management is trying to address those complaints - I say we need to barrage them on the beloved WCC!!!

I too am tempted to ditch the WCC adr (first Ohana, now WCC!) I know its not supposed to be HoopdeDoo, but for one TS, and considering there really isnt a "boy" themed restaurant, this one was such a great alternative!!

so yes, there are antics, there are pony races - its just toned down, depending on who is still serving, new trainees will still offer some antics, and pony races... I think the hats, the napkins have been toned down.. I'll try and post the link!!

 

[mydogisbo]

Just wanted to add that the Travel Channel is scheduled to replay their "Great Hotels" feature on the WL on June 16 @ 12:30pm.

 

[eeyore45]

I do believe zurgswife to be a reliable source.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1128428

They took away the stunts....lexans full of sodas or tea. Then they took way how much the could yell or come into contact with the table customers. Our last vist in March they no longer had the cowboy themed napkins as they were disappearing. Delswife just reported that last week they made more changes....No more Napkin hats at all, no more twirling the napkins, yelling is at at minmum. In the 2 hrs Delswife was there didn't do any pony races...

The worst change is that it has become such a stifling atmosphere that our dear bobby has decided to leave.....

If you have going for the fun and have never been before you probably won't know what you are missing...but if you have gone before things have changed and the MAGIC IS MISSING!!!!

In a subsiquent post she talked to management and they did confirm there still are pony races.