Need help deciding on resort

mrtoad

mrtoad

Well-Known Member
We are in the process of getting ready to book our next WDW trip with Pam at Kingdom Konsultants and just wanted to get some opinions to help us choose.

This will be the 6th trip for me and my wife together and 2nd with our daughter. We have stayed at either Port Orleans French Qtr or Dixie Landings/POR on every trip. We have always loved staying there but on our last trip which was in Jan/Feb of this year we had a little trouble with the bus travel with our daughter. She would get to fidgity waiting and frankly it was a sore spot on our trip.

Because of this we have decided to stay at either one of the monorail resorts or the Wilderness Lodge on our next trip. We know that we will spend 65 to 70% of our time at the MK so the rest of the bus travel we will deal with.

We are staying 9 nights and had a few choices we are thinking of and would like some input.

We were thinking of one of the following scenarios:

6 nights Wilderness Lodge 3 nights Polynesian Resort with a lagoon view
9 nights Contemporary Resort
9 nights Wilderness Lodge (this last one we only thought about for the whole trip after reading the latest Disney magazine to find it was voted in the people's choice awards as their favorite resort on the property).

As a child I always stayed at the Polynesian with a castle view so I would really want to do that but I am open to other ideas.

If it were you what would you do?

Thanks for your advice.
 
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Kingdom Konsultant

Kingdom Konsultant

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Premium Member
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mrtoad said:
Hello. We have decided and booked 9 nights in the Polynesian with a garden view. I would prefer to stay in a lagoon view but I can't swing it. Turns out my wife really does not want to stay in the Contemporary because the resort just doesn't do anything for her. I am glad she finally told me, I don't want to have her not enjoy it. Though I am sure she would, but not worth the risk.

Does anyone know if when you get there, if they have lagoon view rooms available if they would do a free upgrade? Just a thought.

No matter what, I am super excited! :D
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Usually that is what Disney does. I have received many upgrades when the better rooms were available. I will talk to you about it.

Pam
 
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ClemsonTigger

ClemsonTigger

Naturally Grumpy
Big Sigh

MrToad
Glad you got over the hard part and can now get on to the fun planning. Glad the Mrs. finally came forward with her preference...always tougher finding out after the arrangements have been made.

It's been my experience (like Pam's) that you can often get moved around or upgraded if it isn't too busy and if the CM takes a liking to you.

Check out a map of the Poly complex and identify some preferred buildings, then ask as to their availability. You can always play up on wanting the kids to wake up and see the castle or fireworks as you did when you were younger, etc. It never hurts to ask.

It also depends on what time of year...I don't remember you saying, but of course off times make this a lot more probable.
 
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maelstrom

maelstrom

Well-Known Member
I would imagine that a room in Fiji facing the marina or a room in Samoa facing the pool would be very nice. Those are what I requested, but ended up with a Fiji room on the other side which wasn't as nice, considering half of my view was of the Tuvalu construction. :\
 
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mrtoad

mrtoad

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
ClemsonTigger said:
MrToad
Glad you got over the hard part and can now get on to the fun planning. Glad the Mrs. finally came forward with her preference...always tougher finding out after the arrangements have been made.

It's been my experience (like Pam's) that you can often get moved around or upgraded if it isn't too busy and if the CM takes a liking to you.

Check out a map of the Poly complex and identify some preferred buildings, then ask as to their availability. You can always play up on wanting the kids to wake up and see the castle or fireworks as you did when you were younger, etc. It never hurts to ask.

It also depends on what time of year...I don't remember you saying, but of course off times make this a lot more probable.
Click to expand...

That is the plan. I am going to have my daughter put on her cutest face possible and hope for the best. I really would love a castle view but either way I am happy with the decision of where to stay. I love that resort.

We are going in late January so it is an off time. The issue I think that could come up though is we are arring on a Thursday and I would think those rooms would be booked.

Either way, I am happy (but castle view would make me really happy). :)
 
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Woody13

Woody13

New Member
Late January is still the value season so you should be able to book a Lagoon View room at the Polynesian (with discounts) for a little under $200.00 (plus tax). Unfortunately, the rack rate for a Lagoon View room will go up $15.00 in 2005 (from $385.00 to $400.00) but if the current low WDW visitation trends continue (almost certain), discounts will abound!

WDW resorts have been playing rather close to the vest with discounts this year and giving very short notice. They are cutting back on the AAA and travel agent discounts and are now going direct to the public to save some dollars.

Have a great trip!:wave:
 
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C

CubbieMan

New Member
I was going to make a suggestion Mr. Toad..but apparently you have already found your answer...and you could not have found a more perfect resoulution.

Although my own preference is wilderness Lodge..with a kid I think the polynesian is the better choice. It will be wonderful being on the monrail...plus I agree with your wife about the poly doing more for me then the Contemporary...I agree with Pam on the Chef Mickey as a reason to stay there....but it is still only a hop, skip, and a jump away via the monorail.
 
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mrtoad

mrtoad

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
CubbieMan said:
I was going to make a suggestion Mr. Toad..but apparently you have already found your answer...and you could not have found a more perfect resoulution.

Although my own preference is wilderness Lodge..with a kid I think the polynesian is the better choice. It will be wonderful being on the monrail...plus I agree with your wife about the poly doing more for me then the Contemporary...I agree with Pam on the Chef Mickey as a reason to stay there....but it is still only a hop, skip, and a jump away via the monorail.
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The monorail is a big seller with a small child. The whole bus thing last time was very tough. We have never had a problem with them before but when you have a tired 3 year old it makes it tough. Funny thing was on our last trip our daughter did not like going on the monorail. I think it had more to do with the fact that she wanted to go back to the MK. I think though for travel to it being so quick it will change her mind.

And yes, Chef Mickey's will get at least one visit. We tried last time but the times that were available were not good ones for us. We waited too long to book them. The last time my wife and I ate at Chef Mickey's was on our honeymoon back when it was at the Marketplace. It was our last meal there, so it is a vivid memory from the trip. We can't wait to try the new (not so new) location. :)
 
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HauntedPirate

HauntedPirate

Park nostalgist
Premium Member
All I ask is that if you have dinner at Chef Mickey's, please have a LARGE helping of parmesean mashed potatoes for my wife and I. :wave: We could make a meal out of those silly things, they are SO good. :sohappy:
 
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mrtoad

mrtoad

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
HauntedPirate said:
All I ask is that if you have dinner at Chef Mickey's, please have a LARGE helping of parmesean mashed potatoes for my wife and I. :wave: We could make a meal out of those silly things, they are SO good. :sohappy:
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I will be sure to. I love mashed potatoes! If you ever go to Tony's Town Square and they have the Gorgonzola Mashed Potatoes you have to try them. They are the best I have ever had. Last time they were not on the menu. :cry:
 
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ClemsonTigger

ClemsonTigger

Naturally Grumpy
Omens

Aren't you glad you didn't choose Contemporary now? Your timing was great as I'm sure there is going to be a lot of short term redirecting to Poly and others now. That may make your's and my chances for upgrades smaller, but at least we have rooms.

Guess you could take the "water event" as an omen. (Then again, I only recognize good omens).
 
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M

Michael C

Member
mrtoad said:
We have always loved staying there but on our last trip which was in Jan/Feb of this year we had a little trouble with the bus travel with our daughter. She would get to fidgity waiting and frankly it was a sore spot on our trip.
Click to expand...

One of the reasons my wife and I chose to stay at the All-Star resorts instead of Port Orleans for our honeymoon in 2002 is that the "Unofficial Guide", which did a lot of studies on the transportation service, said that the All-Star places had the best, most frequent bus service of any resort.

We certainly wouldn't disagree with them on that. There was only one time when we had to wait more than a few minutes at the resort for a bus, and we hardly waited at all for a bus from a theme park to the resort. We haven't been able to get back since then, so I'm not sure if anything has changed. Best of luck to you. :wave:
 
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surfsupdon

surfsupdon

Well-Known Member
wannabeBelle said:
I am so happy for you!!! That is awesome!! Make a PS for O'hanas for dinner one night. it is something to see!! Oh and make sure you go there VERY hungry because the "cousins" will feed you well!!!!! Belle
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I can honestly not say that enough!

Get a PS at Ohana's, it's superb, and now a never miss.
 
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mrtoad

mrtoad

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
ClemsonTigger said:
Aren't you glad you didn't choose Contemporary now? Your timing was great as I'm sure there is going to be a lot of short term redirecting to Poly and others now. That may make your's and my chances for upgrades smaller, but at least we have rooms.

Guess you could take the "water event" as an omen. (Then again, I only recognize good omens).
Click to expand...

What omen, did I miss something? :veryconfu
 
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mrtoad

mrtoad

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
disneybuff100 said:
I love the polynesian idea, wow you guys must have alot of money
Click to expand...

Not really, we just are being cheap in every other aspect of our lives so we can do this. We rarely go out to eat and don't buy anything fancy. Vacation is our one time to live it up I guess.
 
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