We will be staying at the WAO over the Labor day weekend (9/1/11-9/5/11). After some research, we decided on the Waldorf package. Here is a list of the available packages and the prices for a standard King:
Advance Purchase
$161.00
Best of Waldorf Astoria
$189.00
Disney Ticket Offer
$209.00
Bed and Breakfast
$209.00
Resort Credit
$249.00
Exquisite Spa
$309.00
Unlimited Golf
$229.00
Do Not Disturb
$289.00
Florida Resident
$170.00
Senior
$170.00
Here is a link to the various packages:
http://www.waldorfastoriaorlando.com/packages
The Best of Astoria package is a better value when compared to the Advance Purchase price since it comes with a $50 daily resort credit. This represents a base price of $139 for the standard King. The Resort Credit package comes with a $100 a day credit, so the base price for the same room is $149.
The other packages that seem like good values are the Do Not Disturb and the Exquisite Spa. The DND package comes with champagne and chocolates on arrival, breakfast in bed, and a pool cabana. If you consider that the daily cabana rate is $200, and that the breakfast and champagne would be about $75, you could see the value here. The only problem is that you are obligated to a specific activities beforehand, and we don't like to do that.
I was going to book the DND package on the day of our arrival, and book the BOWA package for the remaining days. I was told by a reservations agent that the cabana would have to be used on the date of the DND reservation, and that it would be for an after 4 o'clock rental. The rental price for an after 4 o'clock rental is $100. The agent had to put me on hold to get an answer, so I'm not fully sure that this is the correct info.
The Exquisite Spa package comes with a facial and a massage. These treatments cost $150 each, so it's easy to see the value here. But once again, my wife and I hate to commit to anything when we go on our vacations.
Living in South Florida, we go to Orlando often. The last several times we have stayed at the Ritz, and we really like it. We mainly go to Orlando looking for a romantic, relaxing time, and we haven't been to the Disney parks in years.
We still have a few days left on a 7 day pass that we bought on our first vacation together 25 years ago. We have agreed to never use the last day of the pass and keep it forever as a symbol of our love, so no matter what happens we will always have another vacation to dream of.
Enough of the corniness, and back to the reservation: When booking through the hotel, at the end of the checkout process, you can choose to preselect several different upgrade options. These are not guaranteed upgrades, but if you request them, you are committed to pay for them if they are available when you arrive. They treat it like a separate reservation. You won't know if you get an upgrade until you check in. Here are the upgrade request options I was given:
Golf View
$9.00
High Floor (8th or above)
$15.00
Disney View
$20.00
Deluxe Suite
$60.00
Deluxe Suite Disney View
$80.00
Luxury Suite
$110.00
Waldorf Suite
$145.00
Link to room descriptions:
http://www.waldorfastoriaorlando.com/resort/rooms/
I selected the Deluxe Suite, the Luxury Suite, and the Waldorf Suite options. I'm net really expecting to get anything because of the holiday weekend, but to reserve a deluxe suite would be $160 more per night, so the upgrade is a good value for us. The luxury suite is $461 more and the Waldorf suite is $2,011 more (good luck with that one).
Like I said, we play everything by ear, but it doesn't mean I don't research the available amenities beforehand. I am bringing my golf clubs. Maybe one afternoon we will go out on the course. My wife would be just a passenger, but she enjoys to ride along with me.
Golf rates are around $65 in September, which includes use of the practice facility. The place looks superb, so I'm sure this would be an enjoyable afternoon well spent. If not going out on the course, you can use the practice area for $25. If you have to rent clubs, it is $75.
The WAO website does not list the prices on their restauran menus, which can be a little scary, but I was able to find the menu prices for their two main restaurants, the Bull and Bear, and Oscars. I was relieved to see that their prices are reasonable. We can not wait to try the Bull and Bear.
Here is the link to the Bull and Bear menu:
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Bull-and-Bear-Menu.jpg
And the review that it came from:
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2010/11/17/review-bull-and-bear-steakhouse-at-waldorf-astoria-orlando/
Here is the link to Oscars lunch menu:
http://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/content/ORLHHHH/media/pdf/ORLHHHH_oscars_lunchmenu.pdf
Oscars breakfast menu:
http://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/content/ORLHHHH/media/pdf/ORLHHHH_oscars_breakfastmenu.pdf
From the Hilton site listing all available dining options between the HBC and the WAO:
http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/ORLHHHH-Hilton-Orlando-Bonnet-Creek-Florida/dining.do
Another thing we like to do is the arrive a day early thing. We make the 2 ½ 3 hour drive up to Orlando, stay at a cheap hotel, and get over to our nice hotel the first thing the next morning. We usually get a room right away, but are prepared to wait if we have to.
This year we are staying at the Hilton Orlando the day before. The rate is $100. This hotel is highly rated on Tripadvisor so we are anxious to check it out.
There is no resort fee at the WAO, which always makes you feel better. Doesn't everybody hate those? It's like the service fee that Ticketmaster charges. So the $35 ticket is $55 dollars. I'm not stupid. That's a $55 ticket!
I am fine with the $20 mandatory valet parking. I am also fine that Internet access and wi-fi is not free as I will be leaving my laptop at home. We might be able to survive in the wilderness with only a blackberry for 4 or 5 days.
Anyways, I hope to be able to write some sort of review after our stay. We will see if our high expectations are in order.