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

[DisneyCosmo]

We will be staying December 13th - December 19th. First trip. 2 kiddodles, 3 & 5.

Which would you choose and why?

Thanks for your input!

 

[tubachick]

We will be staying December 13th - December 19th. First trip. 2 kiddodles, 3 & 5.

Which would you choose and why?

Thanks for your input!

I too have been pondering this question. We are going for the 1 bedroom villa. If we pay cash-- it still works out cheaper than the delux room and if we rent points it really comes out cheaper. Depends on avail during your time frame-- we are going in FEB of 06. There is also a little more ROOM in the 1 bedroom as not to get on each others nerves-- or for naps during the day.-- just my oppinion.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

We will be staying December 13th - December 19th. First trip. 2 kiddodles, 3 & 5.
Which would you choose and why?

DisneyCosmo

I have stayed in both, while the Deluxe rooms are nice if you have 5-6 people. The 1-Bedroom Villas are great for a party your size, with small children. I would choose the Villa because of the extra room, washer & dryer, and full kitchen. The Jr Suites are approximately 500 square feet, the 1-Bedroom Villa has 727 square feet, plus it's a few dollors less.

Good luck
Beckie

 

[NewlyWedsInMinnesota]

Hello All,

I am new here and I am hoping all you WL Vets can help me out.

I am from Toronto Canada and just moved to Minneapolis one month ago. Last weekend I got married ... and we are now a blended family his daughter 14, his son 11 and my son 10.

Back in February I booked a "vacation moon" for this coming October 19th - 25th. When I booked we requested non-smoking, connecting rooms, one of the rooms we wanted to have the bunk beds. The bunk beds are important because the boys are too big to share a queen bed (they are both over 5 feet tall and over 120 lbs each !!) ... and they don't really know each other well enough yet to share a bed for a week.

Anyway ... onto my dillema.

When I called today to make the final payment they told me that "due to environmental reasons the standard rooms have been relocated and there were no bunk bed rooms available". I was shocked !! I asked what our options were and how THEY were going to take care of this. I was told that the bed types were a request only and that due to that they were no obligated to do anything. They told us we could upgrade two categories in the WL and it would cost us an ADDITIONAL $815 ... or we could move to the AKL and only have to upgrade one category for an additional $350.

Needless to say I am not impressed. They also told me that I can't get a rollaway bed in the room ... that the boys will just have to sleep together. Their solution was to order extra pillows and make a "barrier" down the middle of the bed with them.

Sooo ... I phoned the hotel directly and spoke with the hotel operator. He was very nice .... but was also very confused by what I was telling him. He checked on the computer and he said that there were standard rooms with the bunks and that the reservation person must have been misinformed. I then told him that I had also talked to a Guest Relations Manager (and gave him the persons name) and said that he had also given me the same information. The operator knew the person I was speaking of and was surprised to hear this was the information that was being given out.

The hotel operator then put me on hold to speak to the operations manager at the hotel. Apparently the OM confirmed what the hotel operator was saying.

His suggestion was to not do the upgrade ... to keep my reservation the way it is ... and make sure that it is noted that we need the bunk bed room and why. He then told me that 5 days before our arrival the reservation would be sent to the hotel ... and that we should call back and talk to the Front Desk and ask them to assign us a room with the bunk beds.

I don't know who to believe ... and I don't know what to do at this point. Is there anyone else I can call ... is there anything else I can do.

Anyone with any insight into this or suggestions would be appreciated !!

Much Thanks !!
Norma

 

[lovemyguys]

Well I guess my title should say 2nd time posting b/c I did post this on the concierge thread but then I thougt maybe I should be asking the WL experts. Like I said....this is only my 2nd time posting so if I am breaking a rule by double posting a question I truly apologize. BUT, if I am not breaking any rule I have a few questions that I am hoping someone could help me out with.

A little background...
We are going to the WL 10/29-11/4. ALMOST HERE!! It will be my husband, me and our 2 sons (5 & 2). We decided to stay concierge level. Now for the questions....

1. My husband and I will be celebrating our 7th wedding anniversary while we are there. I still want the day to "feel like our anniversary". Is there anything that I can do through disney to make the day special? Should I mention this special day to concierge?

2. I thought I read a post that said WL had redone the concierge lounge. From the pictures I have seen the food is in the lobby. Does the food now have it's own room? Is there room in the room to sit and eat? If not, where do you sit to eat?

3. We have been dealing with a travel agent for meals and arrangments. I thought I read that since we are using an agent the concierge would not have our info (address and phone #). Should I email them to "introduce myself" and give them that info? Who do I email?

4. I read that some concierge resorts send out a planner (can not remember what the name of it was). Does WL?

5. Are there different levels of rooms on the concierge floor? Was I supposed to ask for a specific level/type?!?! I just asked for 2 queen beds.

6. Does anyone else get all choked up thinking about the looks of amazement on their child/rens face when they first see "The World"


Thank you to anyone that responds. I am sorry for not having the abbreviations down yet but after finding this board 2 days ago and not being able to stay off it I am sure I will have them down soon. Thanks again!!

Lisa

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

His suggestion was to not do the upgrade ... to keep my reservation the way it is ... and make sure that it is noted that we need the bunk bed room and why. He then told me that 5 days before our arrival the reservation would be sent to the hotel ... and that we should call back and talk to the Front Desk and ask them to assign us a room with the bunk beds.
I don't know who to believe ... and I don't know what to do at this point. Is there anyone else I can call ... is there anything else I can do.

Norma

All I can say to your post is, do what the manager sugguested, changing to AKL or upgrading to another view will not guarantee you a room with bunkbeds. Remember that is a request not a guarantee. I know that the managment will do everything they can to try and accommodate your request.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

1. My husband and I will be celebrating our 7th wedding anniversary while we are there. I still want the day to "feel like our anniversary". Is there anything that I can do through disney to make the day special? Should I mention this special day to concierge?

Lisa

Yes there are many things you can order through Disney to make your day Special (call conciege or your TA make sure they both have the information)

2. I thought I read a post that said WL had redone the concierge lounge. From the pictures I have seen the food is in the lobby. Does the food now have it's own room? Is there room in the room to sit and eat? If not, where do you sit to eat?

There are tables and chairs located around the 7th floor balcony you will overlook the Lobby.

3. We have been dealing with a travel agent for meals and arrangments. I thought I read that since we are using an agent the concierge would not have our info (address and phone #). Should I email them to "introduce myself" and give them that info? Who do I email?

4. I read that some concierge resorts send out a planner (can not remember what the name of it was). Does WL?

Can't help you with this I never use a TA...I have heard that if you have booked through a TA the reservation is owned by them. What does your agent say, she/he should already have all the concierge information.
I do know that yes Conciege does send out information.

5. Are there different levels of rooms on the concierge floor? Was I supposed to ask for a specific level/type?!?! I just asked for 2 queen beds.

This also depends on what type room or suite your TA booked you need to speak with your TA.

6. Does anyone else get all choked up thinking about the looks of amazement on their child/rens face when they first see "The World"

Oh yes that's what makes us all love WDW so much, you realy need to speak with your agent, I'm sure she/he will be able to answer your questions. Have you given your agent your dinning request for your trip?

 

[Florida_Mom]

Hi all! This is a great thread!

My family will be staying at WL in December for the first time--I'm so excited! We are going to be attending MVMCP the first night we are there. Has anyone taken the boat back from MK to WL after this event? It usually a very crowded event, and I will have my two boys in tow, the youngest being 4. With it going so late, I really don't want to stand in a half hour line waiting for a boat. I will have my car, too, so we could just drive it over, but then we'd have to do the whole monorail, TTC, tram thing.

Anyone know which option might be quicker? Thanks!

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

I really don't want to stand in a half hour line waiting for a boat. I will have my car, too, so we could just drive it over, but then we'd have to do the whole monorail, TTC, tram thing. Anyone know which option might be quicker?

Florida_Mom

The Wilderness Lodge has a direct bus that runs between Magic Kingdom and the resort. This is what I'm planning on using for MNSSHP next month, however I read just the other day that the bus may not still be running so until I can verify or visit I'm not sure.

While noone enjoys standing in line waiting, the boat would still be your quickest transportant after MVMCP if the bus isn't available. I must also tell you that a 30 minute wait would be a minimal wait, in fact your wait time maybe 45-60 minutes.

If you drive to TTC before, the wait after would be longer riding the Monorail/TTC/Tram/Car then drive drive back to WL, if you do decide to take your car I wouldn't wait on the Monorail I would ride the Large Ferry back to TTC. The ferry can hold more passengers and most guest just don't think of it when leaving, they all head toward the Monorail.

I will be visiting in a few weeks so I will post any information I can about the BUS. Only one person posted that bus wasn't running and I would never say that the person was not correct...If anyone has just returned within the last week and in fact rode the bus to Magic Kingdom I would love for you to post.

Beckie aw:

 

[Florida_Mom]

Florida_Mom

The Wilderness Lodge has a direct bus that runs between Magic Kingdom and the resort. This is what I'm planning on using for MNSSHP next month, however I read just the other day that the bus may not still be running so until I can verify or visit I'm not sure.

While noone enjoys standing in line waiting, the boat would still be your quickest transportant after MVMCP if the bus isn't available. I must also tell you that a 30 minute wait would be a minimal wait, in fact your wait time maybe 45-60 minutes.

If you drive to TTC before, the wait after would be longer riding the Monorail/TTC/Tram/Car then drive drive back to WL, if you do decide to take your car I wouldn't wait on the Monorail I would ride the Large Ferry back to TTC. The ferry can hold more passengers and most guest just don't think of it when leaving, they all head toward the Monorail.

I will be visiting in a few weeks so I will post any information I can about the BUS. Only one person posted that bus wasn't running and I would never say that the person was not correct...If anyone has just returned within the last week and in fact rode the bus to Magic Kingdom I would love for you to post.

Beckie aw:

Thanks, Beckie! I'll look forward to your report.

 

[Tink10]

I just booked the WL for January for my first solo trip at the yummy rate of $135 a night.

Because I'm going it alone, I really don't want a room with bunk beds or 2 queens.....I want a king. I'm also a smoker (I know, bad me).....Anyway, does anyone know if there are smoking rooms with king beds at the WL?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[NewlyWedsInMinnesota]

How the heck did you get a rate of $135 a night ??

Thanks,
Norma

 

[kimmar067]

...I'm ba-a-a-ack!!

 

[Tink10]

I got $135 a night by booking the Best Rate program for AP holders on Disneyworld.com. With tax it came to $150.53 per night.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

WELCOME BACK KIMMAR

Hope you had a great trip home.

Beckie aw:

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

I just booked the WL for January for my first solo trip at the yummy rate of $135 a night.....I want a king. I'm also a smoker (I know, bad me).....Anyway, does anyone know if there are smoking rooms with king beds at the WL?

Tink10

Great rate, but thats for a standard room right. Unfortunately the standard rooms aren't located the the smoking optional section. Nor are King size beds available in standard rooms. But ya never know Jan is a slow time maybe you'll receive a upgraded.

Beckie

 

[Artemus]

We are going during kids' Fall Break, first week of October. It is also my wife's first year as a Middle School Math teacher so she will be more than ready for Trout Pass. 7 nights at the Lodge. This is our third stay but we have not had a Courtyard View before. On the reservation I asked for non-smoking, bunk beds and central courtyard area....concerned that I want to make it clear we prefer not to be overlooking the Villas Pool. Can anyone recommend an area to request for a nice Courtyard view? Looks like there are not many rooms in the "Bear's Face". Might be nice to be close to the lobby, or pool for the kids. What are your favorite Courtyard recommendations? Floor? Anyone...anyone....Bueller?

Thanks! Artemus

 

[gottaluvPluto]

We are going during kids' Fall Break, first week of October. It is also my wife's first year as a Middle School Math teacher so she will be more than ready for Trout Pass. 7 nights at the Lodge. This is our third stay but we have not had a Courtyard View before. On the reservation I asked for non-smoking, bunk beds and central courtyard area....concerned that I want to make it clear we prefer not to be overlooking the Villas Pool. Can anyone recommend an area to request for a nice Courtyard view? Looks like there are not many rooms in the "Bear's Face". Might be nice to be close to the lobby, or pool for the kids. What are your favorite Courtyard recommendations? Floor? Anyone...anyone....Bueller?

Thanks! Artemus

Howdy neighbor!! I can't help you; I just wanted to say hi to someone in my neck of the woods. I hope you have a great vacation. We were going to go in the first week of October, but my DH couldn't get the time off. We are taking the kids out of school and going in the middle of October. Where does your DW teach???

 

[Majestic]

We will be in AKL on 9/29 to 10/4 then WL from 10/4 to 10/9.

"MY" Recommendations:

View: Main Courtyard View also known as Main Pool Courtyard View

Wing: I kinda prefer the south wing. Let's you see more of Bay Lake.

Floor: As high up as you can go.

Good luck!

Fred

Can anyone recommend an area to request for a nice Courtyard view? Floor? Anyone...anyone....Bueller?

Thanks! Artemus

 

[DisFan331]

We (DH, me, DSs8&4, DD6mo)are headed to WL 11/27-12/3. I would like to ack as light as possible with three kids! Can someone tell me what is in the room, hair dryer,soaps, shampoo, etc? We haven't been to the Lodge since our Disneymoon 10 years ago, nd all recent stays have been at ASMo. Thanks for the help.