Hi. Dropping in to say hello. I'm mostly a lurker here, but stay connected over on the WL FAQ on the Resorts board.
We are finishing up 3 nights at the WL. I'm happy to report that everything is picture perfect! We walked over and took a look around the Carolwood Pacific room today and DD6 fell in love. Such a cozy place.
The construction is non-existent for now. I did ask at Concierge about the plans. They plan to be down from "September to November" with a pool closure. No details on specifics, except to say they are adding an enclosure. He suggested that details from higher up are sketchy and contractors won't be pinned down. He would not confirm that August construction is out of the question, but did say the closure is scheduled for September. Reassuring, but not exactly concrete. Anyway, that's the latest. The Resort board Lodgers wanted to know. Thought it might help someone here.
Thanks for the report and welcome, BlueFairy! My observations echo yours.
Eliza, I'll try to get you some pics. Perhaps I can get some loaded this p.m. We're busy in the parks most of the day then resting up in the evenings before hitting another park at night. So far, we've been to MK three times, DHS twice, and Epcot & AK both just once in our 3.5 days. We're headed back to MK again this evening for our FPs: SDMT, SM, BTMR. The parks are crowded to be sure, but nothing unusual for summer, and as per every time we go, hitting any EMH or rope drop in the morning allows us great opportunities to hit the major rides before the masses show up. We rode EE today three times straight, and it was still 15 minutes before non-EMHers were allowed in. We headed straight over to Khali Rapids where the line was already out to the primary walkway in Asia since the ride didn't open until 9. They opened the ride a little early, so by 9:15 we were soaking wet. After that, we walked through the Jungle Trek, hopped on Safari, and did Primeval Whirl before heading to Yak & Yeti for lunch. We were there by 10:50. After that, the crowds were too large and the weather too hot, so back to the room for a break. By the way, It's a Bug's Life is currently closed with a wall surrounding the Tree of Life, so no good photo ops, either. Plus, it makes the walkways more condensed ergo crowded.
More on BLT: We love the convenience factor and have liked the room layout and the friendliness of the staff--they've been superb. We will definitely stay here again in the future. However, as my DD14 said yesterday when we visited the Lodge, "next time we come, I want to stay here." It's the only place she's known, and it holds a special emotional attachment for her as it does for luv and me. Of course, I say that and for our trip in Sept, luv and I will be staying at VGF and one night at BCV.
Well, we want to see them all eventually. One of the nicer features of BLT is that they have a
DVC sales center in the lobby which came in handy today. We used our DVC card for 10% off at Yak & Yeti but the server failed to return my card, and I forgot to get it back. When I bought an item at a CR shop, I didn't have my card (luv had hers, thankfully), and we were told they could print one on the premises at the sales center. Five minutes later I had a new card in hand.
In other news, the DVC reps at BLT said that they couldn't say much about when sales for Poly would begin but hinted it would be opening in 2015 with sales also beginning in 2015, so we're figuring the timing would be much like with VGF when sales started in late spring/early summer and the resort opened in October. Just a guess, though. They didn't seem to think the new DVC rooms at WL were an actual item on the agenda at this point, joking about them hearing rumors on various non-official Disney forums via bus drivers, etc.
I took some pics of the work at Poly, and they do seem to have quite a bit to do as yet. Lots of construction walls, unfinished lagoon suites, and the like. The lobby is shrunken due to reworking the main fountain, and even the Poly sign in front of the resort is covered. I wouldn't want to be staying there right now.
Off to the pool for some rays and a nap.
For us Hawaii is about the same as heading to WDW. 
but you know that!
