Conference koolit::disney

Hello (and thanks in advance for your replies!)

Having been to WDW in Oct 94 and stayed off site we said that next time
we would only go back if we could stay on site at WDW.

Just lately I have been trying to book a trip which has to leave the 
UK on the 21/22 December 1996 (due to school committments) returning
two weeks later.  Not all the travel companies in the UK have 
advertised all their deals yet, but those that have seem expensive.

I guess what I'm looking for is any advice, guidance, (charity!) as
to the best way of booking this holiday on the dates stated.  Ideally
we would like to stay in the Polynesian, is this the best Disney 
accommodation or just the most expensive?  Where else should we consider?

By 'we' I mean, my two daughters aged 11 & 12, my wife and myself.

We are anticipating that at Christmas we will see DISNEY at its
very best....will we be dissapointed?

I look forward to hearing from you.


All the best


Terry

[Posted by WWW Notes gateway]

Terry,

The Polynesian is neither the "best" nor the "most expensive"...it just
seems that way because of the dates you are travelling.  You will get
Disney's highest rates because of the Holiday season.

To stay onsite for more reasonable rates, ask if there is availability at
the "middle" tier of resorts:
	Caribbean Beach Resort
	Dixie Landings (My favorite of these three)
	Port Orleans

The All-Star Sports and Music resorts are less expensive than the "middle"
tier, but people have mixed feelings about the accomodations.

The rest of the resorts will all be way up in the $200 or more per night
range.  There are other options, too...such as stay at a premium class
resort for a few nights, and a less expensive one (on or off disney property)
the other nights.

Good luck,
Bill A.

    
    i was very happy with the all-star music resort...it's not a first
    class place, but still enjoyed it.  since we were staying off-peak, we
    had really good rates, and it is on disney property, so you do get the
    benefits of that.
    
    but as bill said, christmas is a peak time and not only are rates going
    to be up, but availability might be down.  book soon!!
    
    -raquel
    
    

Hello All


I'm looking for some advice!!

We, my wife and two daughters aged 11 & 12, want to visit WDW in Florida at 
Christmas time this year.  We are limited as to when we can fly, ie. Sat 21 
December from Manchester, England, and we want to stay in a Disney hotel eg. 
The Boardwalk, Wilderness Hotel etc.

Which is the best way to book this kind of holiday?  Direct with Disney 
themselves or as a package deal from here in the UK?

Which is the best resort on the Disney site?

Should I book one weeks accommodation and take a chance on booking the second 
week when I arrive?

Any tips/advice will be gratefully received.

Many thanks


Terry


PS  We visited Disney Florida in October 1994 and decided then that the only 
place to stay if we go back is in a Disney resort!!!

    perhaps, the best deal, and how to will have to come from a fellow UKer
    
    the best resort will depend on a number of factors.  If you want
    eligance, perhaps you want the Grand Foridian.  If you want exoctic,
    then perhaps it's the Polly.  If you want rustic, then it's Its
    Wilderness Lodge.  A taste of the south, Dixie.  If you were to ask
    which one was everyone's favorite, you'd get several answers.
    
    as far as booking one week and chancing the next, perhaps your time
    period will work.  It's busiest during Christmas, but after new years
    it starts emptying out.
    
    There is an incentive to booking short and waiting for them to tempt
    you with a lower price.  Here's how I plan on doing it next time:
    Book one week under my name.  Book one week under my wife's name.
    at the end of the first week, I'd see if they were going to tempt me
    with a reduced rate.  If not, I have the security of having the second
    week booked.  If they do temp me with the reduced rate, then I cancell
    the wife's reservation.  The only down side I see is that it requires
    two deposites.  But the upside is that I've prepaid two nights.  The
    reason I'd book under two different names is I bet they cross check
    reservations.  ASM was not fully booked when we left, yet no offer to
    us to stay at a reduced rate.  
    
    I liked staying at two different resort hotels.  ASM and WL were very
    different, but with the same Disney quality.  There is not hassel with
    xfering luggage, they do it for you.

    don't know, I've never bought a package.  We get our airline res.
    (usually a super-saver deal), then go hotel shopping.  I'd book both
    weeks now, you can show up and change them when you check-in.
    
    Mark

>This is my third attempt to post this topic, I'm not sure what is going on!

Terry,

What happened is that your previous two notes both got posted as replies
to topic 29.  Perhaps another moderator moved them. (?)  In any case, I'll
move them and the replies pertaining to them to this topic, so that they're
all in one place...

-- Nina (DISNEY co-mod)

    
    We have just returned from a nine day stay at the Disney Yacht & Beach
    Club resort. Five years ago my husband and I stayed at the Beach Club
    and this trip we stayed at the Yacht Club. We had wonderful stays both
    times. I've also recommended this resort to others and they were
    thrilled with it.
    
    Here's why:
    
              - the two hotels are connected together but have different
                themes (decorated differently) both are beautiful
              _ they are called part of the Epcot resorts (the others
                being the Dolphin and Swan hotels which are on Disney 
                property but managed by Westin I believe. There is a
                new Epcot resort opening this summer by Disney across
                the lake from the Y & B club called the Disney Boardwalk
                Inn. It's by the same architect as the Y & B club so it
                should be as good.
              - from the hotel you can:
                     o walk or take a boat to Epcot
                     o boat to MGM
                     o take a bus to other destinations (Magic Kingdom,
                       Disney Village Marketplace..etc)
              - there are three pools there:
                     o Stormalong Bay a free form pool (capacity 1,720
                       people!), sand on the botton, heated, waterfalls,
                       three hot tubs, water slide for adults, water
                       slide for kids. The slide is part of a wooden ship 
                       that looks as if it crashed on shore. Part of the pool 
                       is also for small children. Sand from the pool comes 
                       up to a sandy beach for kids to play, also a small 
                       peninsula of sand is in the pool for kids to play
                       in.
                       
                     o there are two standard pools with their own hot tubs
                       at each end of the hotel     
    
                 - food
                   The Beach CLub has a restaurant called the Galley which
                   has a character breakfast every day (Chip,Dale, Goofy,
                   Pluto - $16.95 per adult, Child ???. It's an all you
                   can each buffet). The Yacht Club has a breakfast buffet 
                   also but no characters  - $9.95 per adult.
       
                   Don't want a formal breakfast - try their 50's soda shop
                   called Beaches & Cream. It opens at 6:30 A.M. and serves
                   quick breakfasts - cereal, fruit, bagels, muffins,
                   danish. Eat it there, by the pool or back in your room.
    
                   There's always room service of course.
    
               - Located at the Y & B Club is  the Yachtman's Steak House
                 (our favorite - try the white chocolate macadamia nut
                  pie!), Ariels' - seafood, Yacht Club Galley, Beach Club
                  Galley - salads, pasta's, ribs, and other entrees,
                  Beaches & Cream burgers, hot dogs, ice cream sundaes,ice
                  cream soda, Hurricane Hannah's right by the pool which
                  serves sandwiches, drinks, etc.
     
                   Package deals offer food plans - someone I work with is
                   going to the Beach club in April and has a two meal a
                   day food plan. 
    
                   Close enought ot zip over to Epcot for dining at the
                   World Showcase.
    
     We would go to which ever park opened early, lunch or have lunch at
     the hotel, go in the pool, nap, they go back to the parks.
    
     The price range is in the premium category like the Poly and Grand
     Floridian but well worth the money. Service was impeccable too.
    
     In the U. S. we can order the Disney planning video which is free.
     Can you get that in the U.K.?
     
     Any questions let me know.
     

Many thanks everybody for your input so far....keep it coming.

As regard the free planning video mentioned in the last reply...does anyone 
know if we can get it in the UK or can anyone in the US arrange for one to be 
sent over to the UK??

Regards


Terry

    Terry,
    
    I'm not sure if it is the same thing, but there is a Disney promotional
    video available from the UK.  Its about 20 mins long and takes a tour
    of TMK, Epcot, DisneyMGM, plus the hotel.  We have a copy at home.
    
    They are adversiting this video widely on TV at the moment, again using
    a freephone number - unfortunately I don't have that on me, but I'll
    check the video over the weekend and try to remember it on Monday -
    unless of course you catch the ad yourself in the meantime.
    
    oh...we found it took about 1-2 weeks to arrive.
    
    Jackie
    

 In the US it's supposed to take 10 days. I called them wednesday and they said 
 I'd have the video in 10 days. Thanks to those who posted the information about
 the video.......

 mike

    Well, we looked at the information supplied with the video and of
    course the number is not listed.
    
    My partner thinks the number is 0990 000 000
    
    Jackie

Jackie

Your partner has a good memory...the 0900 000 000 is correct!

I ordered my video today.

Thanks for the help.

Regards


Terry