The back-up plan before The Plan - Best Western Lake Buena Vista

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Mon, 07/07/2014 - 14:45

Magic Mirror

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The back-up plan before The Plan - Best Western Lake Buena Vista

This will be the first time we will be in Disney for ten days
and such it is our Disneymoon, I am looking at adding additional $ items we haven't
done... bicycles, carriage ride, kayak rental, tours, etc.

Not knowing what the specials will be come January, I decided to reserve a room
at the Best Western Lake Buena Vista in Downtown Disney Springs. They had such a good
sale going it was hard to resist. I ended up with 9 nights, 10 days, Disney View room
with a free buffet breakfast for both of us for $1009.00 which includes all the taxes, resort
fees, etc. I like that there is a balcony where we can sit and look out over Disney &
see the fireworks from afar (if we are back in our room at that time).

We don't normally spend much time in our rooms if we are both feeling good...
I'm a go, go, go person and would rather be in the parks sunup to sundown...

Now this is a back up plan, as our hearts still belong to Port Orleans if it works out.
But I do feel better having this reserved in case it's needed. The rooms were recently
rehabbed and look nice, but being out of the bubble, ADR's, missing EMH & ME are certainly
things to consider.

I've read several of you have stayed here.... and I'm wondering about walking to
Downtown Disney...it says its .5 miles...but is there a designated walk way ?
well lit and "safe" (as safe as it can be anywhere that is) or are you jumping highways
and vehicle traffic?

Also, it looks like from the pictures there are little boats...can you rent one or pay for
a ferry across the lake?

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Mon, 07/07/2014 - 14:51

alicemouse

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It looks lovely, Angie! What a fantastic deal and a beautiful view! We've only ever stayed offsite once and it was a budget hotel in Kissimmee, so I can't provide e a lot of insight except to say tread carefully with a walk to DDT because even if a walkway did/does now exist, it might not by January! The construction is not very compartmentalized or well-contained at the moment and the area around DTD is quite chaotic at times. That being said, I think walking is the safest option after boating at the moment. Personally, I will not be driving to DTD until the parking garage is built.

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Mon, 07/07/2014 - 16:14

MrHub

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I think they will have a lot of the construction done by January Angie. Thats a nice view!

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Mon, 07/07/2014 - 20:48

RobynPrincess

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Ahhh we totally looked at that for our week that just went by, it's a gorgeous hotel! I agree though, disney it ain't but it's RIGHT there, it's spitting distance. I have a feeling that it will soon be changed to a disney hotel (it's your honeymoon after all, you should do what you want!) but if you do stay there I'm sure you will still have an amazing time! If any deals come out for the uk market I promise to let you know.

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Mon, 07/07/2014 - 21:14

Miss Mikki

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All of the hotels on Hotel Plaza Boulevard are walkable to DTD. There is a lovely walkway. Although I haven't stayed at the Best Western, we stayed at Guest Quarter Suites (now double trees) a few times when I was a child. That is the furthest hotel from DTD but we always walk to it now from DTD to pick up our hire car. You can also walk to crossroads from these hotels where there is a Goodings and some chain restaurants. One of the hotels on this strip used to have a wonderful bar at the top of the hotel with firework views. Most of the hotels on this strip have bars or restaurants that are worth checking out if you are staying in the area.

In the UK we generally walk alot. If you look at our Disney trip report we walked from OKW to DTD and then to Doubletrees having already done a 35min run round our resort. We are not super-fit, in fact we are a bit chubby and drink too many adult beverages! So it is all relative, we would consider the walk from Best Western to DTD very short and would probably do it everyday if we were staying there.

There always used to be complimentary buses to all the parks from these hotels. Not sure if there still are?

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Mon, 07/07/2014 - 21:22

Magic Mirror

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Yes, they have complimentary buses to the Parks...sounds like the Downtown Disney bus only runs in the evening...
We don't mind walking... and would prefer to walk to DD and then use Disney buses to get around. Thanks everyone!

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Fri, 07/18/2014 - 15:11

Magic Mirror

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I have to say I'm already not feeling the Disney magic and am disappointed with Best Western.

I read on another site that the Best Western website was having problems with their reservation button for indicating how many people were in a room. You had to manually pull it down and not just tab it in or it would end up wrong at the end of the reservation. I didn't realize this at the time I was making the reservation so I went back to check my reservation confirmation and sure enough, it was for one person instead of two.

I called Best Western at the number provided for making changes and told them what had happened.
They changed the room to add one more adult but it took away the rate I was booked in at and raised it. She also
said it would not allow her to add the second person for the free breakfast buffet.

The lady on the phone was very nice and agreed with me that none of this was my fault due to the computer glitch
at their end on their website, however she was unable to do anything about it. She did put me on hold to talk
to her supervisor but when she returned she said they could only offer what was listed as the current rates.

So by the time we got done, I used my govt. discount and I went from $1009 to $1090 and no free
buffet breakfast (a value of $200- 270 depending on where you read).

Excluding the buffet, I realize its only an $81 dollar raise in cost for 9 nights...but I just don't understand
how they couldn't keep my current reservation and add one person. There is no additional room charge
to go from 1 person to 2- and the buffet originally covered all the adults in your room at no additional cost.
In this age of computers it seems like hitting a button should not be so difficult.

So I kept the changed reservation for now..and am eagerly awaiting July 30th to see what Disney releases
for their rack rate prices..and of course for fall..when / if any specials might be announced.

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Fri, 07/18/2014 - 23:20

Spook

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I don't understand why they couldn't just add another person to the reservation
Hopefully you'll get a deal on Disney rooms

Sat, 07/19/2014 - 13:34

Kristen K.

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That makes absolutely no sense to me, they should have been able to do that for you, and without any sort of increased rate. I would have been livid! I've got my fingers crossed for you that Disney opens up some great discounts for your trip.

BTW - If you haven't yet, I would try calling talking to the general manager at the hotel you're booked at (vs. an 800 call center) be polite, explain what happened, you may get some satisfaction.

Sat, 07/19/2014 - 17:54

Magic Mirror

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Good Idea Kristen! I will call the hotel directly ~