WL review...just got back...it was OK

[anniebell]

We just returned from our stay at WL. Thank you to all who helped us with questions and gave advice!

The resort is everything you all said it would be...but I don't think we will be back. The lobby is beautiful...all done up for the holidays.

Upon checking in, we were given the 6th floor with bunkbeds. We didn't want bunkbeds (and did not request them)...our kids are too little and would not stay in them....I assumed bunkbeds were something you had to request...and never thought of NOT requesting them!! LOL

100% full is what we were told, but when we told them that we simply couldn't use bunkbeds, the CM got on the phone and found us a room on the 5th floor. We were right next to the elevator, which was ok...but we had a corner room...which meant no privacy...we could see right in the neighboring corner's room...oh well! Plus, they were smokers...it came right in our room...and we had a guaranteed non-smoking room because of our son with asthma...I know the WL can't control what people do in their rooms...it wasn't their fault...it just stunk (literally...LOL) for us!!

Our room was pretty run down. When I had read reviews before about guests complaining of peeling wallpaper and such...I would think to myself...how minor! But, I guess, once you are in the room, and you take a look around and your hubby says...."how much was this room?" ha ha...you get to thinking!! I know you pay for more than a room...it's the whole resort and convenience thing.....

We had NO fridge...I had heard you could request them...but we didn't really need one, so we didn't. All around the room the walls were scuffed black, probably from suitcases against the walls, or shoes being tossed around...it was pretty ugly.

Our closet doors (both sliders were completely off the hinges and leaning on each other...and when we pulled out 3 of the clothing drawers, they fell, meaning, the tracks were well worn down.

Those beds are weird, too. We didn't like the wooden frame that they sit in...we could see why they were all beat up...from being kicked so much!! LOL I know it's just the "theme" of the room and resort...

Everything else was beautiful....our view was nice....courtyard. We couldn't see the geyser erupt or the creek flowing...we were on the wing, not the lobby. But, we loved the view.

The pool was fun for the kids. Transportation was a breeze. The WCC was a lot of fun and a lot of noise! Good food. Roaring Forks was nice to have.

Aside from the rickety room...the resort is very pretty...that's what you are paying for after all...but we didn't spend much time in the lobby anyway..with two little kids, it's the last place they wanted to be!

I hope this little review helps some of you...it was NOT meant to steer you away from WL...it is a must see...we are glad we did, but next time we are going to stay at the Beach Club...we went over there for dinner one night and asked the front desk to show us a room....we loved it there...the pool looks amazing!

Thanks again for everyone's great advice!!! Enjoy your upcoming trips!!!

 

[Merriwind]

Sorry WL wasn't all you expected. We were there last month--definitely thought the rooms could use some sprucing up. It was a convenient spot, but I think we'll be sticking to the Epcot resorts for a while too. Glad you enjoyed despite the room.

 

[PlaneJoy1]

Thanks for your review. How old are your kids? Ours will be 3 and 9, and we are considering the WL. Maybe I'll look into the Beach Club as well.

Thanks, again!

 

[anniebell]

WL...in and of itself was everything we expected...it was beautiful...it was just the rooms that were in need of refurbishment, in my opinion, and in my room, of course...LOL we didn't see any other rooms!

Our boys LOVED the WL....I think most kids could care less (young kids anyway). They just want a pool to swim in! But that pool over at the BC made their little jaws drop!!

 

[pooh2001]

I am so sorry to hear about the condition of your room.
I hope WL is refurbishing the rooms - or at least a bit fixing up - like the closet doors (my DH would have asked maintenace for a screwdriver and fixed it himself).
Walls and bed posts dirty yick.
And bunkbeds for little ones ? The ages of children are listed on the reservations - I would have thought someone would have the sense that little ones do not fair well with bunk beds.

I am glad you made the best out of your vacation.
I hope the Parks were fun for your family.

 

[Houston_Disney_Fan]

Sorry to hear about your bad experience. We were there last month, and everyhting was perfect, including the room. I wonder if some rooms are just in better shape than others.
The convinience of the Epcot resorts really is hard to beat, though.

 

[robinb]

And bunkbeds for little ones ? The ages of children are listed on the reservations - I would have thought someone would have the sense that little ones do not fair well with bunk beds.

Her kids are not what I would call "little ones", they are 5 and 7. My (then) 5 year old DD *loved* the bunk bed at AKL and slept on the top bunk. My guess is the staff thought a 7 year old would also love a top bunk.

 

[anniebell]

Her kids are not what I would call "little ones", they are 5 and 7. My (then) 5 year old DD *loved* the bunk bed at AKL and slept on the top bunk. My guess is the staff thought a 7 year old would also love a top bunk.

The fact that you knew the ages of my children and decided to answer for me is plain scary!

Our request at the front desk to NOT have bunkbeds is no different than another family's request to HAVE bunkbeds...everyone has one request or another at check-in...I've read it here over and over again on the boards...and our request for NOT having them was granted immediately, and in the meantime probably made another family with kids who wanted them extremely happy It wasn't even an issue...I'm glad your 5 year old loved the bunkbeds, though!

And besides, my 5 and 7 year olds are "little ones" to us, maybe not to you...but there are some kids that simply wouldn't stay put in a bunkbed and would see them more as a playground....I hope I've cleared that up!

 

[robinb]

The fact that you knew the ages of my children and decided to answer for me is plain scary!

You posted the ages of your children on another thread. If you didn't want us to know the ages of your kids, then you shouldn't have made it public. As for "answering for you" ... give me a break! I didn't answer for you. I simply pointed out to pooh2001 that your kids were not "little ones" as most people define to the term to be toddlers or babies. It would be shocking if they placed a family with a 2 and 3 year old in a bunkbed room. It is not nearly as shocking for a family with a 5 and 7 year old.

but there are some kids that simply wouldn't stay put in a bunkbed and would see them more as a playground....I hope I've cleared that up!

I totally understand that the bunkbed arrangement was unsuitable for your particular kids and I am glad that they found a room that better suited your family. I am sorry that room was so run down. We always stay on the villas side which is newer and kept up quite well.

FWIW, I'm glad that you mentioned the bunkbed problem. At the very least this thread will give a heads up to other parents in the same situation to request NO BUNKBEDS on their reservation.

 

[nbodyhome]

All of the rooms should have the fridges in them automatically - that was done like a year ago. The resorts I've seen, they aren't terribly apparent, so you need to look.

Denise

 

[anniebell]

At the very least this thread will

At the very least? I am sorry you feel that way...it was not my intention to make this thread about bunkbeds...had it been, I would have stressed it much more...

This thread was a little description (like many many others do) about our fun Disney World vacation!

The fact that our room had some wear and tear and in spite of that had a wonderful time at the WL was the purpose for this thread...hoping it would shed some insight for other vacationers. I was hoping to help other posters like so many of you helped us make our decisions, that's it!

This was supposed to be an informative thread..sorry to all, it has gone downhill so quickly! LOL

 

[anniebell]

All of the rooms should have the fridges in them automatically - that was done like a year ago. The resorts I've seen, they aren't terribly apparent, so you need to look.

Denise

LOL Denise! There was a big open space where we think a fridge should have been! But, we knew we didn't need one, so didn't ask for one! We used the extra space for luggage and goodies!

The one at the BC was pretty well disguised! It looked like part of the drawers.

 

[Jackie H.]

Is it possible that this room wasn't meant to be used? I mean it sounds like it is really in need of repair (closet doors etc). When the OP originally asked to be moved, they said no rooms available. But then this room was.....

I don't know....I just wonder if when a room gets in really bad condition if the resort marks it as "do not rent" until some repairs can be made. But in the case of a family really needing to move they let you have the room? I have no idea...I'm not now, nor have I ever been in the hotel management profession. But obviously, the computer said nothing was available initially and I don't think they were saving this room for some important dignitary!

Still, it seems if this was the case then when another, better upkept room became available they would've offered to move you (and advised you before you took the room that this one was in need of some repair).

 

[anniebell]

It's so funny that you mention that..because, that is the first thing that my hubby said...about maybe this room wasn't meant to be used!

It was a convenient room, and the view was breath taking! Everything else was perfect!!

 

[skuttle]

Thanks for the review. We check in to the WL for the first time on the 16th. Hopefully our room is in better shape than yours sounds! I just emailed my DU agent to make sure we don't get bunkbeds!! We're going with our DS2 and my mom...they would not enjoy bunkbeds! Okay...maybe DS would, but he still sleeps in his crib so that would be interesting!


Jackie H. - That's a good point! I hope you're right!

 

[robinb]

This was supposed to be an informative thread..sorry to all, it has gone downhill so quickly! LOL

It wouldn't have gone downhill at all if you didn't jump all over me every time I said something. Especially when I *thought* I was saying something nice by saying that your thread will help others. Sheesh.

 

[jenjersnap]

All of the rooms should have the fridges in them automatically - that was done like a year ago. The resorts I've seen, they aren't terribly apparent, so you need to look.

Denise

Yeah, that was our assumption too, until we arrived at our room in WL and ... no fridge. It took 3 days to get one, during which all the things from our grocery stop had to stay with bell services. It was a royal pain.

 

[nbodyhome]

That is really odd - I've never had a guest (or a friend or anyone else I've known) go to any of the deluxes in the past year - or the moderates for that matter, and not get a fridge. They were installed quite some time ago. I wonder what happened in this case.

Denise

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

We're headed back for our third stay at the WL in 12 months! We love it there it's our favorite resort. I've never had a room like you described, let's hope that it's been fixed by now since the busy holiday season is starting soon! We're staying at the villas this time, hope they're just as nice as the lodge!

 

[nbodyhome]

IMHO, the villas are nicer!

Denise