update on SoG construction

[suevee]

SoG will not be opened until March 2004 instead of December 2003. I have a reservation for SoG for February 2004. I made these reservations at the end of last Feb., 2003. Today I spoke to a SoG employee to see what the status was. She was not able to give me much information. There are letters going out this week to everyone who has a reservation. She did not know all the particulars.

All she knows is apparantly they were able to keep the North Wing at the CR until March, but she did not know if that included the busy Christmas season. The existing reservations will go through a first come/first serve process. The first 290+ rooms at the CR will go to the first ones to have made reservations the earliest, after that people will be offered alternative resorts on the WDW property. (The original SoG had under 300 rooms, the new SoG has just under 600. They have booked over 300 reservations at this time.) It is up to each person to decide to keep the reservations at the new WDW hotel offered or to rebook at a new time. However, as they have already started to book for March through August 2004, I think rebooking would really be a mess! What are they going to do - toss out existing reservations to make room for the rebooking ones? A lot of people are going to be upset.

 

[kimmie]

suevee,

Does this mean that they will not be finished by February of 2004? We have a reservation for April 2004. Are letters being sent to people that far out? Should we re-think and try for another resort?

 

[suevee]

They are planning to be open on March 2004. So you should be okay.

 

[kimmie]

Thanks suevee! Our dream would be to get the Polynesian! How do you go about it? Do we wait until SOG is full and ask for an overflow rate? Since we already have a room at SOG, I don't want to *hog* things! What would you suggest? Can you call now and ask for Poly? TIA!

 

[suevee]

It is one or the other, you can't have a reservation at SoG AND be on the overflow. It is my understanding that when SoG is being renovated you can get overflow much more easily than when it is completed. While it is being renovated you have a choice between reservations at CR or taking an overflow room. This is because SoG make more money on the overflow during the renovations. Once SoG is up and running, then the overflows are only available AFTER Sog is full.

If you really want overflow, I would look into getting an AP (Annual Passes which is sold at SoG as well as at the WDW stores) These are cost effective if you are using the parks for more than 8 days or planning 2 trips in one year. BUT there is no guarantee that AP rates will be available when you are looking. You do not have to have the AP pass when you book, just when you arrive at the hotel. So if you see a good AP rate at the Poly, book it and then buy the AP at Sog when you arrive.

 

[kimmie]

Thanks for the explanation! I have been confused, but your explanation was perfect!!

 

[mog]

However, as they have already started to book for March through August 2004, I think rebooking would really be a mess!

I thought they only booked a year in advance - how can they be booking for August 2004 already?? We were going to call next week to try to get the dates we wanted for July 2004!! Should we have already called?

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by mog
I thought they only booked a year in advance - how can they be booking for August 2004 already?? We were going to call next week to try to get the dates we wanted for July 2004!! Should we have already called?

SoG books 53 weeks in advance or, more specifically, every Sun, another full week (through that Sat night) is added to the resv calendar. At this point, you should be able to book through Jul 13 04 (give or take a night). On Sun, you would be able to book through Jul 20 04, even through Sun is the 11th (it used to be very helpful when I did email on the weekends, but now, I don't believe any one is doing email on the weekends so, those people are stuck trying to get those busy times just like every one else).

As to whether you should have all ready called....if it encompasses Jul 4 or the few days before or prior, yes, you should have as that date, as does dates around ANY busy holiday, sells out quickly. However, it usually took 3-4 weeks to sell out the 4th and, with doubling the size of the hotel, it should take a little longer. But, I wouldn't wait too long.

 

[nasmith]

FirstNo- I called last week about booking rooms in October - they said they no longer have a wait list... In your opinion- when would be the best time to call back to try for a cancellation? Does SOG get alot of cancellations? I know that with booking 53 weeks in advance,and Military never having a set schedule until the last minute (at least with my Husband)- there must be some cancellations. Thanks for your opinions! Jill

 

[LeapYear Debbie]

I hope this is the last delay. We have reservations in April 2004 and booked the trip specifically to stay at SOG. Has anyone heard if there is a possibility for further delays?

Debbie

 

[mog]

FirstNo - thanks for the info on how they book. So if I want to book reservations starting on July 30, 2004 I should call on or about July 20 this year?? Did I understand that correctly?
Thanks!

 

[ToriLammy]

Originally posted by LeapYear Debbie
I hope this is the last delay. We have reservations in April 2004 and booked the trip specifically to stay at SOG. Has anyone heard if there is a possibility for further delays?

Debbie

Debbie,

Besides the change from Dec 15 2003 to March 2004 for the opening I don't think anyone has any other info. I would keep in mind that originally the new hotel was supposed to open Sep 2003, it was then delayed 3 months to Dec 2003 and is now being delayed another 3 months until March 2004. I would not have my heart set on staying there in April 2004. If it happens GREAT, but if doesn't don't let it ruin your trip. Construction work can be a tricky business. The prime Hurricane/Tropical Storm season usually starts at the end of July and runs through the end of Oct. Weather forecasters are predicting a busy season this year and it could affect the WDW area (just never know). Weather could further delay the construction causing them to delay the opening even further, no one can really predict what is going to happen. If you really have your heart set on staying at SOG I would keep an active eye on the SOG website, watch the DIS board and be flexible. I hope it works out for you.

 

[maciec]

Can anyone tell me if the pools at SoG are themed? I haven't been able to find out.

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by nasmith
FirstNo- I called last week about booking rooms in October - they said they no longer have a wait list... In your opinion- when would be the best time to call back to try for a cancellation? Does SOG get alot of cancellations? I know that with booking 53 weeks in advance,and Military never having a set schedule until the last minute (at least with my Husband)- there must be some cancellations. Thanks for your opinions! Jill

Wow!!! I'm shocked. This is the first I've heard that. Are you sure it wasn't a misunderstanding? Not that they no longer have a wait list, but that the wait list is full (which happened ALL the time). If the list is just full, and Oct is 3 months out, it should be one of the months they're concentrating on (working the list hard). I would try back on Tuesdays and Thursdays. However, if they truly did tell you they no longer have a list period....well, I'm not really sure what to tell you! Yes, SoG gets cancellations all the time. At least 1/3 of them will come around the 30-35 day point as people who have waited until the last minute cancel and they do get quite a few w/in 30 days as well.

I'd recommend calling back and double checking on the list first and then take it from there.

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by maciec
Can anyone tell me if the pools at SoG are themed? I haven't been able to find out.

Neither of the pools are themed however the larger of the two is in the shape of Mickey.

 

[jpmom97]

I called the other day to find out what was going on with my Feb 2004 reservation and the girl told me letters are going out to us and we would have a choice between two hotels, the Contempoary or the Port Orleans. I am very dissapointed we are not staying at the SoG but it will be nice to experience a Disney hotel. Has anyone been told these choices will be different?

 

[tlcraw4d]

I received my letter on Saturday for my 1/23 - 1/25/04 stay.

The only hotel choice listed was for the Contemporary Resort.

 

[beatlebailey]

has anyone heard what they are ofering for Dec i have res for three room for the week of Dec 16. and i have not recieved a letter yet .

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

I have reservations for June 2004 for two rooms for my Girl Scouts ( one of the families is an air force family) because there are 10 of us. If we have to go with another hotel, don't the rest only hold 4 per room? We would have to get another room and it's so hard for the girls to fund raise what they already need. Am I correct that it is the only hotel on Disney Property that hold 5 per room?

 

[A1A1]

I am so disappointed. I have Christmas reservations. Two rooms. How on Earth are they going to accommodate everyone? I guess the military rate for SOG will not be in effect at other resorts, right? What a disappointment. This would have been my first time staying at the SOG.

I am having a little trouble following this. Should I try to reserve at another deluxe on an AP rate? I haven't yet gotten a letter from SOG.