Desert Willow Questions

[Tfziggs]

Heading to WDW at end of march for an 8 night stay. On the hub site it lists the sidewinder waterslide and onsite restaurant as closed. Anyone been recently that may have talked to staff about if/when they may re-open these?

This is our first time staying on property. Traveling w/ 3 kids (10, 8, 5), any building recommendations? Would like to be close to main pool w/ a golf course view. Looking at the map seems like building 1 & 2 would be best - but would appreciate the perspective of those that have been before. Also, do owners get a discount on golf at the adjacent desert willow course? Thanks.

 

[rad.travel.dad]

I haven't been recent enough to say whether or not the sidewinder waterslide is open but I do have some recommendations regarding the best buildings and units with kids!

Your kids are older than mine but the two pools I would recommend are the Palo Verde pool and the Ironwood Pool (the one with the sidewinder waterslide). Both of these are much closer to the units than the main pool and don't require crossing the main driveway to the entire resort so it's quieter and safer for kids. When we stayed, we had a ground floor unit in building 17 that was great since we have a stroller, we could literally just roll right out to the Palo Verde pool with no elevator needed.

The preferred building for the Palo Verde pool would be building 17 or for Ironwood pool would be building 15 as your rooms in these buildings would face the golf course but still be steps away from the pool. Building 16 is equidistant between both pools and has golf course views from the rooms as well.

If none of those three buildings are available, then buildings 4 or 18 would be my next choices as they are right around the Palo Verde pool but the rooms are pool facing.

 

[jlp879]

I would definitely call the resort directly and get the update on the water slides. Sometimes the web sites lag reality. Especially with kids the age of years, I think that would be really important for them to know. Crazy to think they'd have slides closed with Spring Break time right around the corner.

 

[Tfziggs]

@rad.travel.dad thanks for the building recommendations. I didn't think about crossing over the main entry road to get to and from the pool. I'm going to request either 15 or 17, both look like good options.
@jlp879 I talked to someone at the front desk ~2 weeks ago. She said the restaurant and sidewinder slide were both closed (the Jimmy Jammer slide at the main pool is open). She said they were "working on getting them reopened," so was curious to see if anyone knew more who'd been on-property recently. Seems like there would be more urgency to get both amenities open for peak spring break/snowbird season.

 

[BJRSanDiego]

Heading to WDW at end of march for an 8 night stay. On the hub site it lists the sidewinder waterslide and onsite restaurant as closed. Anyone been recently that may have talked to staff about if/when they may re-open these?

This is our first time staying on property. Traveling w/ 3 kids (10, 8, 5), any building recommendations? Would like to be close to main pool w/ a golf course view. Looking at the map seems like building 1 & 2 would be best - but would appreciate the perspective of those that have been before. Also, do owners get a discount on golf at the adjacent desert willow course? Thanks.

My SIL and husband stayed there in January as our guests on an exchange that I had made. He said that he got some great discounts on golf at the Desert Willow course. He also remarked that the course was beautiful and one of the best that he had ever played on.

 

[MarineBlue]

We checked out this past Sunday. The big restaurant is still closed but the bar by the main pool is open til 4pm, I believe, with a limited menu. There is a small 'marketplace' with muffins, etc. and Starbucks coffee inside the lobby. There is a nice grocery store on Country Club Dr. & Cook Dr. Very easy to get to. Lots of restaurants in the area are now very busy inside & out, with delays in the main meal being brought to the table. Be patient! You'll need reservations at most places. We did take-out a couple of times. The TV in the units has limited channels. Bring your roku or something similar. We were able to stream from our laptop as there was an additional hdmi cord attached to the living room TV (but not the bedroom TV). There are two tennis courts and one court has a temporary pickelball net that can be set up, if you're so inclined. Try to hike into Indian-Palm Canyon (in Palm Springs) a little ways. Easy for kids and the huge date palm trees and stream are beautiful. We go to WDW every year for the big tennis tournament in Indian Wells (going on right now). We love it!

 

[daviator]

Will be there again next month, but when we were last there (November) there was one water slide open each day, but not both. Most days it was the slide at the main pool near the entrance, but one day that slide was closed and they opened the one at the Ironwood pool instead. I suspect the issue is staffing, mainly. The availability of servers at the two pools that traditionally offer such service was also very limited.