Category — w. Most Recent Stuff
Caribbean Beach Renovations Begin in Martinique
Crack friend of the site Shannon let me know this morning that the windows in Building 21 in Martinique are now marked up for refurb.
(This means a floor plan has been stuck on the window to show the trades what to do in each room–see the image, of an accessible five person room.)
She also notes that work continues in Barbados 14, 15 and 16, and is done in Barbados 11, 12, and 13.
Shannon’s news answers one question–would the refurb begin in the preferred-price areas at CB before the holiday season, or be deferred until the lower-demand period after the new year?
But we still don’t know when 5 person rooms will be bookable. I’ve speculated that such will happen only after preferred five person rooms are available–as otherwise Disney is leaving money on the table–so this may be soon.
So here’s the current status
- Jamaica and Aruba are complete
- Barbados is more than half done, and likely will be complete this month
- Some refurbed rooms in Martinique will be assigned beginning later this month, and–if construction continues through the holiday season–Martinique will likely be done sometime in December.
Meanwhile, Josh has a great review the resort and one of the re-furbed rooms here, with lots of great photos!!
My complete review of Caribbean Beach begins here. More to come after my re-visit to a Pirate Room next week…
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November 1, 2014 4 Comments
Coming Soon
October 31, 2014 2 Comments
Next Week (November 1 Through November 9, 2014) at Walt Disney World
DISNEY WORLD NEXT WEEK: NOVEMBER 1 TO NOVEMBER 9, 2014
The material below details operating hours, Extra Magic Hours, parades, and fireworks.
The same stuff is in the image, but organized by park, not by topic. For more on October 2014 at Walt Disney World, click here.
Note that typos happen, and schedules change! If something seems odd, or if you want to double check, use the calendar links near the bottom to get the latest official Disney World scoop.
OPERATING HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 11/1-11/9/2014
The Magic Kingdom will be open 9a-12Mn 11/1, 9a-10p 11/2 through 11/6, 9a-7p 11/7, and 9a-11p 11/8 and 11/9
Epcot will be open from 9a-10p 11/1, 9a-9p 11/2 through 11/6, 9a-10p 10/31, 9a-9p 11/8, and 9a-10pp 11/9
Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be open 9a-8.30p 11/1, 9a-7.30p 11/2 through 11/4, 9a-7p 11/5 and 11/6, and 9a-8p 11/7 through 11/9
Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open 9a-6p 11/1, 9a-8p 11/2, 9a-6p 11/3 through 11/5, 9a-7p 11/6, and 9a-8p 11/7 through 11/9
EXTRA MAGIC HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 11/1-11/9/2014
Saturday 11/1 Morning: Hollywood Studios Evening: Magic Kingdom
Sunday 11/2 Morning: none Evening: Hollywood Studios
Monday 11/3 Morning: Animal Kingdom Evening: none
Tuesday 11/4 Morning: Epcot Evening: none
Wednesday 11/5 Morning: none Evening: Epcot
Thursday 11/6 Morning: Magic Kingdom Evening: none
Friday 11/7 Morning: Animal Kingdom Evening: none
Saturday 11/8 Morning: Hollywood Studios Evening: Magic Kingdom
Sunday 11/9 Morning: Animal Kingdom Evening: none
PARADES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 11/1-11/9/2014
The Magic Kingdom:
- Afternoon Festival of Fantasy Parade: 3p every day
- Evening Main Street Electrical Parade: 9 and 11p 11/1; 8 and 10p 11/2 and 11/3; 8 and 10p 11/6; 9a and 11p 11/8 and 11/9
FIREWORKS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 11/1-11/9/2014
Wishes at the Magic Kingdom: 10p 11/1; 9p 11/2 through 11/6; 10p 11/8 and 11/9
Illuminations at Epcot: 10p 11/1; 9p 11/2 through 11/6; 10p 11/7; 9p 11/8; 10p 11/9
Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 7.30 and 9p 11/1; 6.30 and 8p 11/2; 6.30p 11/3 through 11/6; 6.30 and 8p 11/7 through 11/9
SHOW SCHEDULES FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD 11/1-11/9/2014
See Steve Soares’ site here. Click the park names at its top for show schedules.
LONG RANGE WEATHER FORECAST FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD 11/1-11/9/2014
See this for forecasts.
DISCLAIMER
Everything is subject to change and typos! Check the Disney Calendars for updates and official schedules. These calendars can be found by clicking the following links:
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October 31, 2014 No Comments
Large Family Deluxe Options at Walt Disney World
OVERVIEW: LARGE FAMILIES LOOKING FOR DELUXE ROOMS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
This page recommends Walt Disney World accommodations for large families seeking deluxe accommodations, sorted by family size.
(Click here for an introduction to Large Families at Walt Disney World.)
Click the image to see the recommendations below in chart form.
As always, when more than one similar option is available, recommendations are made based on appeal to kids and transportation convenience.
All prices are for the 2015 Fall price season. See this for when to go to Walt Disney World.
Prices will be higher during most other parts of the year, but in similar proportions. See this for price seasons at Walt Disney World.
DISNEY WORLD DELUXE ROOM OPTIONS FOR LARGE FAMILIES
Basic Recommendation for families of up to 5 people: Disney’s Polynesian Resort. Cost/ Person/ Night: $107, for families of 5.
6 people: Your best bet is a Deluxe Room at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
These concierge service rooms hold 6 in a mini-suite, with two queens in the bedroom and a queen sized sleeper sofa in a sitting room. Cost is $171/ person/ night. For a review of these rooms, click here.
Another great option, a little easier to reserve (as there are a few more such to choose from) is a Two Bedroom Villa at the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) property the Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
If you reserve through the WDW website, this will cost $173/ person/ night (but see below for renting points).
The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge are not as convenient as the Polynesian, but are even more kid appealing. A Two Bedroom Villa provides one bedroom with a king bed that sleeps two, and one with two queens that sleeps 4. In addition, you get a kitchen/dining/living room combination with a sleeper sofa that sleeps two more.
The least expensive way to get a 2 Bedroom Villa at the Wilderness Lodge is to rent points from a DVC member. If you are successful at this, you will pay $87-101/person/ night. See this for details on how to do so.
7 people: The Two Bedroom villas at the Wilderness Lodge don’t hold 7 (or 8) well.
A better choice for parties of these sizes is a Two Bedroom Villa at Kidani Village.
Cost of Two Bedroom Villa at Kidani Village: via Disney Website, $157/person/night; via renting points, $80-92/person/night.
8 people: Same approach as “7 people” above. Two Bedroom Villa at Kidani Village: via Disney Website, $137/person/night; via renting points, $70-81/person/night.
9 people: Same approach as “7 people” above. Two Bedroom Villa at Kidani Village: via Disney Website, $122/person/night; via renting points, $62-72/person/night.
10 People: If the group must all be in the same space only a Grand Villa will work. Grand Villas at Jambo House are the best choice for first time family visitors.
A Grand Villa has three distinct bedrooms—two sleeping 4 each in two queens, and one sleeping two in a king. Two more sleeping spaces are available in sofa-beds in the common rooms.
A Grand Villa at Jambo House will cost about $236/person/night for 10 people if your reserve though the WDW website; if you can manage to rent points, the cost drops to $108-124/person/night.
Another less expensive option for a group this size is to have most of the group together but up to 4 or 5 in a nearby but not in connected space.
There are some families or parties for which this might actually be a benefit. For example, they may want to group the littlest children and their parents into an 8 person space, and reserve a 4-5 person space for childless couples, grandparents, and/or teenagers, all of which may either benefit from the privacy and/or contribute to the peace of mind of the party of up to 8 by being in a separate space.
If this describes your group, then your best bet is both a 2 Bedroom Villa and a separate Studio at the Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
This gives 4 bays, not 6 as in a Grand Villa, and of course one of the bays will not be connected to the rest. But the price will be much lower than a Grand Villa.
This same option works for families that don’t necessarily want this separation of part of their party, but are willing to accept it because it is cheaper than a grand villa.
In cash, renting both a Two Bedroom and a Studio at the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge will be in total $149/person per night for 10 people; if you can rent points, the cost drops to $72-83/person/night.
11 People: Your basic options are a Grand Villa at Jambo House or a Studio and a Two Bedroom Villa at Kidani Village.
A Grand Villa will cost $214/person per night if you reserve through the website, and $98-113/person/night if you rent points.
A Studio and a Two Bedroom at the Villas at Kidani Village will cost (in total) $149/person/night if you reserve over the website, and $71-81/person/night if you rent DVC points.
12 People: Your basic options are a Grand Villa at Jambo House or a Studio and a Two Bedroom Villa at Kidani Village.
A Grand Villa will cost $197/person per night if you reserve through the website, and $90-103/person/night if you rent points.
A Studio and a Two Bedroom at the Villas at Kidani will cost (in total) $137/person/night if you reserve over the website, and $65-75/person/night if you rent DVC points.
MORE ON WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD
- For where to stay, see this
- For your next best choices, in order, see this
- For picking your resort based on appeal to kids, see this
- For picking your resort based on convenience, see this
- For where not to stay, see this
- For what you get in each resort price category, see this
- For Walt Disney World resort price seasons, see this
- For resort reviews, see this
- For the value resorts, see this
- For the moderate resorts, see this
- For the deluxe resorts, see this
- For suites at the deluxe resorts, see this
- For the Disney Vacation Club (“DVC”) Resorts, see this
- For a (geeky) overview of comparative room size, see this
- Military/DOD families should look at this
- Families seeking the most comfortable place to stay should see this
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October 28, 2014 6 Comments
Large Family Lower-Priced Options at Walt Disney World
OVERVIEW: LARGE FAMILIES LOOKING FOR DISNEY WORLD VALUE PRICING
This page recommends Walt Disney World accommodations for large families seeking lower prices, sorted by family size.
See this page for an introduction to Large Families at Walt Disney World.
(For staying off-site, see this.)
The chart also includes additional information—for example, number of bathrooms, nature of any kitchen facilities, and total square feet.
As always, with one exception, when more than one similar option is available, recommendations are made based on appeal to kids and transportation convenience. The exception is advice regarding Old Key West–which is not the most kid appealing of the DVC resorts, but is the least expensive!
All prices are for the 2015 Fall price season. See this for when to go to Walt Disney World. Prices will be higher during most other parts of the year, but in similar proportions. See this for price seasons at Walt Disney World.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LARGE FAMILIES SEEKING VALUE PRICING
Basic Recommendation: Families with 4 people or fewer: Standard (Little Mermaid) room at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. For 4 people, you will pay $38 per person per night.
5 people: Best choice= Art of Animation Family Suite, $68/person/night.
You get two baths, a private bedroom with a queen-sized bed, a microwave and mini-fridge, and a couple of living areas with couches and tables that convert into sleeping space for 4 more people.
The next best choice is one of the new five person rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, which hold four in two queen beds plus a fifth person in a small (~64 inch by ~30 inch) fold-down bed, for $42/person/night. This option is not recommended for first-time visitors, as while Caribbean Beach has the highest kid appeal among the moderates, it is not as kid-appealing as Art of Animation, and is inconvenient.
The next best choice is the Alligator Bayou section of Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort, which hold four in two queen beds plus a fifth person in a small (~66 inch by ~31 inch) fold-down bed, for $42/person/night. This option is not recommended for first-time visitors, as the resort not nearly as kid-appealing as Art of Animation. The resort is less kid-appealing than Caribbean Beach, and Caribbean Beach rooms have a better arrangement of drawer space.
The final option is a 6-person Cabin at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground and Resort. This option is not recommended for first-time visitors, as it is very inconvenient, and not nearly as kid-appealing as Art of Animation. The cost is $76/person/night. You get a full kitchen and two sleeping spaces. One sleeps 4 in a full bed and bunk beds–the bunk beds are 70″ long. The second sleeping space is in the combined living room/dining room/kitchen, where a full bed folds down from the wall.
6 people: Best Choice: Art of Animation Family Suite $57/person/night. See above for details.
Next best choice–a cabin at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, for $63/person/per night. See above–not recommended for first time visitors.
7 people: there are no good options for value pricing at this family or party size—or for 8 people either. You can try for connecting Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation, with no guarantees. Your cost for these will be $43/person/night.
Your best choice to guarantee you will all be in the same space is harder to pull off.
It requires renting enough points (NOT reserving this villa from the WDW website—this will cost MUCH more) from a current Disney Vacation Club owner to get a Two Bedroom Villa at Disney’s Old Key West Resort. You can rent points from Disney Vacation Club members on websites like SellMyTimeshareNOW.com, a sponsor of this site. See this page for how to do so.
Success will get you a great space for $62-72/person/night. Disney’s Old Key West Resort is neither kid appealing nor convenient, but is the cheapest of the DVC resorts, and thus, when paid for using rented points, the only one that comes even close to the Value pricing range.
For your money you will get two bedrooms, one with a king that sleeps two, and one with two queens that sleeps 4. In addition, you get a huge (compared to other DVC resorts) kitchen/dining/living room combination with a sleeper sofa that sleeps two more and a fold-out chair that sleeps a ninth person.
8 people: See “7 people.” Two (perhaps) connecting Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation: $38/person/per night. Rented points for a Two Bedroom Villa at Old Key West: $54-63/person/night
9 people: Rented points for a Two Bedroom Villa at Old Key West: $48-56/person/night.
Otherwise, your only choices are rooms that don’t connect. One option is to rent two Family Suites at Art of Animation. These may be a hike apart–even if they are in the same section. Two suites will cost $75/person/night for a party of 9.
Less expensive, but possibly leading to some family jealousy, is renting both a Family Suite and a regular Little Mermaid room at Art of Animation. (The Lion King suites are closest to the Little Mermaid section.) Both together will cost $54 per person per night.
10 people: No value-priced options guarantee you will all be in the same space. Two Family Suites at Art of Animation will cost $68/person/night. A Family Suite and a regular Little Mermaid room at Art of Animation will cost $49/person/night.
11 people: No good options that put your party all in one room at value pricing. Your best bet is to rent two Family Suites at Art of Animation. Cost $62/person/night
12 People: As in 11 people, rent two Family Suites at Art of Animation. $57/person/night.
MORE ON WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD
- For where to stay, see this
- For your next best choices, in order, see this
- For picking your resort based on appeal to kids, see this
- For picking your resort based on convenience, see this
- For where not to stay, see this
- For what you get in each resort price category, see this
- For Walt Disney World resort price seasons, see this
- For resort reviews, see this
- For the value resorts, see this
- For the moderate resorts, see this
- For the deluxe resorts, see this
- For suites at the deluxe resorts, see this
- For the Disney Vacation Club (“DVC”) Resorts, see this
- For a (geeky) overview of comparative room size, see this
- Military/DOD families should look at this
- Families seeking the most comfortable place to stay should see this
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October 27, 2014 10 Comments
Sleeping Space Options and Bed Types at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
WALT DISNEY WORLD BEDS AND SLEEPING SPACES
Larger families simply seeking the best Walt Disney World resort option for their family size should see
- Large Families Looking for Value Pricing at Walt Disney World
- Large Families Looking for Deluxe Accommodations at Walt Disney World or
- The Most Comfortable Place to Stay at Walt Disney World (for suites)
However, many families figuring out where to stay at Walt Disney World are concerned not only with the capacity of rooms but also bed sizes, and how beds are distributed among rooms.
This way, Aunt Eileen isn’t forced to sleep in a bunk bed, in the same room as her nephew…unless that’s the plan going in!
Click the graphic for details on beds and sleeping spaces in the various larger room options at the Walt Disney World Resort. The details include room type, price class, and descriptions of each sleeping area. (“DVC” means Disney Vacation Club Resort–see this for more on the DVC resorts.)
Note that more data about room types–such as baths, kitchens, and square footage–is available in the links for large families above, and reviews with even more can be found from the links on this page.
Example floor plans tied to the details in the graphic are below.
EXAMPLE WALT DISNEY WORLD FLOOR PLANS
Four person DVC Studio floor plan.
BoardWalk Villas example.
One sleeping area. A queen and a pull-out couch all in one space. Similar Studios are at the Beach Club and Saratoga Springs. Bay Lake Tower Studios sleep 4 on similar beds in much less space. Four person Studios at Old Key West have two queens, no couch, more space.
Four person DVC One Bedroom Villa floor plan.
Beach Club Villas example.
Two sleeping areas. One king in a private bedroom, and a fold-out full couch in a second space, the shared living/dining/kitchen area. Similar spaces are at the BoardWalk Villas, the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge, and Saratoga Springs.
Five Person DVC Studio floor plan.
Villas at the Wilderness Lodge example.
One sleeping area. Queens, pull-out couch, and fold-down bed, all in one space. Similar sleeping arrangements are in the Studios at the Villas at the Grand Floridian.
Five person DVC One Bedroom Villa floor plan.
Animal Kingdom Villas Kidani Village example.
Two sleeping areas. As in 4-person villa above, but also with a fold-out chair added to the shared space. Note also the second bath.
(Available in Bay Lake Tower, most Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas, and in Old Key West villas. Grand Floridian Villas also sleep five, the fifth on a fold-down shorter bed)
Five person room, Port Orleans Riverside Alligator Bayou Section.
One sleeping area. Two queen beds and one 66″ x 31″ fold-down bed in one space.
Five person room, Caribbean Beach example.
One sleeping area. Two queen beds and one 64″ x 30″ fold-down bed in one space. Expected to be bookable for 5 soon.
Six person Family Suites at All-Star Music floor plan.
Two sleeping areas. One queen in a private room, one fold-out full couch, one fold out single chair, and one fold-out ottoman in another space. The ottoman bed is uncomfortable for taller or heavier kids.
Note the two baths.
Six Person Family Suites at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort floor plan.
Two sleeping areas. One queen in a private room, one full fold-out couch, and one near full Murphy bed.
Note the two baths.
Six person Cabin at Fort Wilderness Resort floor plan.
Two sleeping areas. One full and two 70″ bunk beds in a private room. One pull-down full “Murphy bed” in shared living/ dining/ kitchen space.
The couch in the shared space is long enough for most kids, and still usable as a bed when the Murphy bed is down, presenting the option of having three people in each of the sleeping spaces.
A few cabins have a pull-out full couch instead of the Murphy bed, eliminating this option.
Eight person DVC Two Bedroom Villa floor plan.
Villas at the Wilderness Lodge example.
Three sleeping areas: One king in a private space; two queens, or a queen and a fold-out full couch, in a second private space, and a fold-out full couch in the shared living/dining/kitchen space.
Nine person DVC Two Bedroom Villa floor plan.
Bay Lake Tower example.
Three sleeping areas: as in Eight Person Two-Bedroom above, but with a fold-out chair added to the shared space. Note also the third bathroom.
(Nine person spaces are also available in Bay Lake Tower, most Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas, and at Old Key West. Grand Floridian villas also sleep 9, but replace the chair bed with a shorter fold-down bed. Third bath only in BLT and AKL-Kidani Village )
Nine person DVC Saratoga Springs Treehouse Villa floor plan.
Four sleeping areas: One queen in a private space; another queen in a private space; two 70″ bunk beds in a private space; a fold-out full couch and a fold-out single chair in the shared living/dining/kitchen space.
Twelve person DVC Grand Villa floorplan.
Animal Kingdom Villas Jambo House example.
Four to five sleeping areas. One king in a private space; two queens in a private space; two queens in another private space; one or two fold-out full couches in shared living space. (At the Grand Floridian, the fold-out couch is in the media room, with its own door.)
Note that although you can sum to 14 sleeping spots in some Grand Villas, WDW will sell MagicBands, tickets, meal plans, and linens only for up to 12 people. Twelve person Grand Villas of various floor plans are at all the DVC resorts except Wilderness Lodge and the Beach Club.
See also Erin Foster’s post on TouringPlans.com.
MORE ON WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD
- For where to stay, see this
- For your next best choices, in order, see this
- For picking your resort based on appeal to kids, see this
- For picking your resort based on convenience, see this
- For where not to stay, see this
- For what you get in each resort price category, see this
- For Walt Disney World resort price seasons, see this
- For resort reviews, see this
- For the value resorts, see this
- For the moderate resorts, see this
- For the deluxe resorts, see this
- For suites at the deluxe resorts, see this
- For the Disney Vacation Club (“DVC”) Resorts, see this
- For a (geeky) overview of comparative room size, see this
- Military/DOD families should look at this
- Families seeking the most comfortable place to stay should see this
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October 26, 2014 2 Comments
