Wilderness Lodge Mess

[Danielle1971]

Is anyone coming in August & decided to change resorts?

 

[ElenaJane]

We were given a $500.00 discount after calling the number on the paper mailed to us. We didn't have the FD option, but we did have the room discount option. We were also offered an upgrade to the Grand Floridian and they would cover half the cost of the upgrade but opted for the 500 instead.

Thanks for the info! We are booked for a September trip. Out of curiosity, was it easy to get the $500 off offer? Did you have to go through a few managers? Was it a flat $500 off or was that from a discount per night (so ~$75 a night over 7 nights)? I want to call and try it, but want to be prepared! TIA!!

 

[jess1662]

What extra discount?

We were given a $500 discount

 

[disney meema]

I never thought I would love Animal Kingdom Lodge but decided to do a split stay between AKL and Poly because my son loves animals, especially zebras. Well, I absolutely loved AKL, I felt like I was on an exotic, luxury vacation. We were actually disappointed once we got to Poly. We'd stayed at Poly in the past and built it up so much it didn't live up to our expectations. We loved AKL so much we are now DVC members and ANimal Kingdom is our "home" resort.

Yeah! Several people telling me today they loved AKL ... Not one but several!! Thank you so much for your reply it's a good day : ) You are now DVC members there too so major thumbs up from you so it must be fabulous!

 

[Marlyn]

Is anyone coming in August & decided to change resorts?

I'll be there in August! The pool is open for us so I don't see any reason to switch...and they certainly wouldn't offer any incentive for us to switch since pool closure isn't until sept 3.

 

[Figments Father]

When we received the letter, we called the number on it and spoke to a travel agent. He transferred me to Guest Services. The first person I spoke to offered the upgrade or cash back offer. Good luck!

 

[Dallas_Lady]

We booked our room through UK Expedia. We paid in full (though we can cancel) and got great rate for Thanksgiving week. But we haven't gotten any letter about the pool closing. Could that be because of how we booked? Or that the pool is supposed to be back open towards the end of our stay? I am thinking about calling just to see what we can get. We really weren't planning pool time in November, but an upgrade from our standard room would be nice!

 

[twinnybelles]

We were given a $500.00 discount after calling the number on the paper mailed to us. We didn't have the FD option, but we did have the room discount option. We were also offered an upgrade to the Grand Floridian and they would cover half the cost of the upgrade but opted for the 500 instead.

If you don't mind me asking, how long was your stay that they offered the $500 for?

 

[tanyaandallie]

Is anyone coming in August & decided to change resorts?

I just read this today and am so disappointed. I had no idea WL was under construction right now. We are going in August and while the pool is still open, we would have chosen a different resort if we had known WL was under construction. At this point I don't think I could get a decent rate anywhere else so we will likely stay. I'm going to start researching tomorrow. I passed up an AMAZING Orbitz deal on CSR for WL because the rate for WL was very good as well. But not so great that I would want to stay even with construction.

 

[Marlyn]

I just read this today and am so disappointed. I had no idea WL was under construction right now. We are going in August and while the pool is still open, we would have chosen a different resort if we had known WL was under construction. At this point I don't think I could get a decent rate anywhere else so we will likely stay. I'm going to start researching tomorrow. I passed up an AMAZING Orbitz deal on CSR for WL because the rate for WL was very good as well. But not so great that I would want to stay even with construction.

It's possible the waterfall construction will be completed before you arrive. Like you, I'm also concerned about being there with construction going on. When in August are you going? I'll be there August 2-16. Crossing fingers that things will be up and running.
I also got a great deal and don't really want to go elsewhere. Luckily I booked Woods View room so maybe I won't even notice construction. And with pool open it should be ok.

 

[jrt1176]

We were given a $500.00 discount after calling the number on the paper mailed to us. We didn't have the FD option, but we did have the room discount option. We were also offered an upgrade to the Grand Floridian and they would cover half the cost of the upgrade but opted for the 500 instead.

Did you have a room discount for WL before they offered you the $500 discount?

No discount is offered for my Fall dates yet, but I wondering if I could switch hotels and then possibly get a discount if one comes out for the Fall.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Danielle1971]

It's possible the waterfall construction will be completed before you arrive. Like you, I'm also concerned about being there with construction going on. When in August are you going? I'll be there August 2-16. Crossing fingers that things will be up and running. I also got a great deal and don't really want to go elsewhere. Luckily I booked Woods View room so maybe I won't even notice construction. And with pool open it should be ok.

I will be there August 18-27! I'm aware of the construction but have a woods view also, I researched other resorts but wasn't going to pay $1000 more and to downgrade it wasn't much of a savings! If the pool was closed I would of changed but since it's open we will make the most of our stay!

 

[FidFam]

Well sadly we waited too long and upon calling back this morning here are no longer discounted standard view rooms available at the BeachClub - and the pool view is just too expensive for our short 4day/3night stay (Sept 10-13).

So it's down to staying put at the WL or moving to the AKL for the same price, or just dropping down to a Moderate Resort and staying at CS or something similar. GS has been helpful both times we've talked, but certainly haven't gone out of their way as I would have expected given the short notice of this planned refurbishment...

 

[spritna]

we dropped down to a moderate, almost had no choice (poly is under construction-same dilemma, and the GF...well it reminds us of a big giant tea party-no way, the cm said no to the CR,YC-BC full and had BW cl. open. nothing was ever said about $ refund (but i never asked) i basically expressed feelings about wl pool and said your leaving guests with very little options-i said "I can stay with hardhats or at a place that reminds me of a grandmas house." when talked about mod they would only give me CBR. long story short we ended up at POFQ. i went thru 4 cm on 3 different calls...they all gave alot of resistance. it seemed like alot of work on my part for something i didnt ask for. which reminds me at one point they asked me if id switch dates? REALLY? like they dont understand people have to get vacation approved, airlines already bought, adrs made! i was under the impression disney pushes the idea of "booking and planning your vacation well inadvanced so you know exactly what your doing" and you ask to switch dates 3 months out?

 

[Figments Father]

If you don't mind me asking, how long was your stay that they offered the $500 for?

We are staying 10 days. Regardless of what is happening, we are super excited about it.

 

[Figments Father]

Did you have a room discount for WL before they offered you the $500 discount?

No discount is offered for my Fall dates yet, but I wondering if I could switch hotels and then possibly get a discount if one comes out for the Fall.

Thanks in advance!

We did have the room discount before being offered the $500.

 

[DisneyFan2013]

We did have the room discount before being offered the $500.

That's awesome. I wonder if they'd still offer the discount to people willing to switch over to WL...like me! lol

 

[hawkdss]

we dropped down to a moderate, almost had no choice (poly is under construction-same dilemma, and the GF...well it reminds us of a big giant tea party-no way, the cm said no to the CR,YC-BC full and had BW cl. open. nothing was ever said about $ refund (but i never asked) i basically expressed feelings about wl pool and said your leaving guests with very little options-i said "I can stay with hardhats or at a place that reminds me of a grandmas house." when talked about mod they would only give me CBR. long story short we ended up at POFQ. i went thru 4 cm on 3 different calls...they all gave alot of resistance. it seemed like alot of work on my part for something i didnt ask for. which reminds me at one point they asked me if id switch dates? REALLY? like they dont understand people have to get vacation approved, airlines already bought, adrs made! i was under the impression disney pushes the idea of "booking and planning your vacation well inadvanced so you know exactly what your doing" and you ask to switch dates 3 months out?

Did you get transferred to guest services? When I called in, I had already switched my reservation to a much more expensive resort. I told them that when I ran this by my wife, she said no way it's too much just cancel. And now I have a heartbroken 5 year old. I was transferred to guest services. I told them the same story and that I couldn't believe the only options were two resorts that are torn up or pay twice as much. The cm was hard selling the GF and put me on hold to see if they could help with the difference between WL and GF. When she came back on talking about garden view outside building rooms at GF, I stuck to my guns about the resort I had already switch over to. She put me on hold again. It took about an hour all said and done, but I am extremely happy about the deal they offered. Maybe it was because I told them I was cancelling.

I would try calling back. Good luck.

 

[dkrauss]

Did you get transferred to guest services? When I called in, I had already switched my reservation to a much more expensive resort. I told them that when I ran this by my wife, she said no way it's too much just cancel. And now I have a heartbroken 5 year old. I was transferred to guest services. I told them the same story and that I couldn't believe the only options were two resorts that are torn up or pay twice as much. The cm was hard selling the GF and put me on hold to see if they could help with the difference between WL and GF. When she came back on talking about garden view outside building rooms at GF, I stuck to my guns about the resort I had already switch over to. She put me on hold again. It took about an hour all said and done, but I am extremely happy about the deal they offered. Maybe it was because I told them I was cancelling.

I would try calling back. Good luck.

Good for you.

Glad it worked for you, I imagine you kept your cool while standing firm. Nice but firm is always better than ranting and raving...........To be real, you probably shouldn't have had to work as hard as you did but your persistence got it done. I'm guess this WL pool thing is biting them more then they anticipated it would.

Doug

 

[missbeckd]

My biggest issue right now is that I still haven't been notified from Disney about the pool closure and my 60 day mark is this Sunday. I called our AAA agent who booked for us and she had no idea. I would call guest services but I'm sure they won't help me because I booked through an agent. We would have most likely been blindsided by the pool closure upon arrival if it weren't for this board. So even if it's bad news.... I really appreciate all of you.