(CLOSED) Disney's WILDERNESS LODGE and VILLAS Information Thread ~2012~

[lsumommaof4]

We will be staying in a deluxe room. I know that ALL of them have connecting doors. But do they normally put another guest in that connecting room? That is going to make my husband crazy!

 

[TaraPA]

We will be staying in a deluxe room. I know that ALL of them have connecting doors. But do they normally put another guest in that connecting room? That is going to make my husband crazy!

I don't know the answer to your question (other than that we've had connecting door rooms at other resorts & villas & yes the room next door was occupied)...but you lucky duck! I'd love to stay in Deluxe Room but since they're never discounted, I can't justify the cost!

Also I did email IPO again regarding the bunk bed CL request & Denise replied this morning that it was taken care of. I must have confused the IPO in my previous request, maybe I didn't specify that I was staying at WL, and since Poly IPO handles WL CL, I had them all mixed up with the bunk bed request!

Thanks everyone for your helpful replies!

 

[lsumommaof4]

I don't know the answer to your question (other than that we've had connecting door rooms at other resorts & villas & yes the room next door was occupied)...but you lucky duck! I'd love to stay in Deluxe Room but since they're never discounted, I can't justify the cost!

Also I did email IPO again regarding the bunk bed CL request & Denise replied this morning that it was taken care of. I must have confused the IPO in my previous request, maybe I didn't specify that I was staying at WL, and since Poly IPO handles WL CL, I had them all mixed up with the bunk bed request!

Thanks everyone for your helpful replies!

We have 5 kids (the youngest is an infant) so we have no choice. I am jealous of the families who can stay in "normal" hotel rooms!

 

[WDWKOOK]

We're currently booked CL at the GF (Sugarloaf) next month but are concerned about noise, etc. from all the construction going on there.

So..... we're considering switching to CL at WL. My DW is thinking it may be loud on the 7th floor because it is open to the lobby below. We've stayed at the WL before, but not CL.

Anyone care to comment on the noise? Can you hear any noise while in your room?

Thanks.

ETA - do any of the CL rooms overlook the loading dock/dumpster area? I don't think so, just want to make sure.

Welcome! I believe the only two that would be above the service area would be the two Honeymoon rooms on the North Side, but they would also have a Wishes view

I'm really noise sensitive and have never been bothered by any noise while staying CL or in the lounge. The only noise I was aware of was from the afternoon pool party and with the sliding glass door closed, it's not too bad. If you don't have an inner courtyard view, you won't hear it.

Let us know if you have any other questions!

I am trying to try all my avenues - I really need a bunk bed room but I, personally, want CL. CL doesn't guarantee bunk bed rooms, can I book a bunk bed room and then when I check in pay the difference to receive the CL privileges?

Paying the difference would mean not applying discounts (paying rack rate) and you would then have to be re-booked into a CL room. You can't book a non-CL room and add CL. However, if you really need bunks beds and you book CL, request the bunk beds in your reservation and if you don't get one, you could then ask a CL concierge or the CL manager if you can be in a non-CL room with bunk beds and CL access.

If you want a room overlooking the lobby, what category is that?

Welcome to the thread, WINTER.

Actually it can be any of the three categories, Standard, Woods, or Courtyard. You can add it as a request with something like "overlooking lobby".

Looking at the room location map here the far left of the map are the lobby rooms, and the lower floors of both wings are standard view and the higher floors are woods view. Then arguably some of the nicest rooms on property are the ones to the East of the lobby which are courtyard view as well, and there are referred to as "Bear Face" rooms.

We stayed in a sixth floor room above the registration desk overlooking the lobby and loved it. We got that room after booking standard view, but it is considered woods view. We were surprised at how much we liked having the open hallways and view of the beautiful lobby.

Thanks for the thorough response

We will be staying in a deluxe room. I know that ALL of them have connecting doors. But do they normally put another guest in that connecting room? That is going to make my husband crazy!

I really don't think anyone could answer that, not even the room assignor. But, I can appreciate your concern. Having a room without a connecting door is always a room request of mine no matter where I stay, with the exception of BLT and a FW cabin!

When you check-in, you can ask if there is anyone currently in the connecting room and if there is, you could ask if there is a possibility you could be put in a Deluxe room without a guest currently next door.

 

[WDWKOOK]

We have 5 kids (the youngest is an infant) so we have no choice. I am jealous of the families who can stay in "normal" hotel rooms!

So you didn't want a new screen name?. I guess you'll have to think about a villa soon?

 

[lsumommaof4]

So you didn't want a new screen name?. I guess you'll have to think about a villa soon?

I am waiting on Disney to consider her a "child" before she is added!

 

[brerdawg]

Is there a headless horseman ride at the W'Lodge?

 

[softballmom3]

Hi All! We are fortunate enough to be staying in 2 studios in June and I have a question for anyone in the know. Has anyone here been able to check in early when staying DVC? We will be arriving around 8:30 and didn't know. We checked in at POR @ 9 am Thanksgivng week 2011 and I didn't know if same protocol could happen with DVC also. Thanks for anyone that knows or has experience with this .

We are planning on MK that day so no big deal if we can't, it would just have been nice .

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

Hi All! We are fortunate enough to be staying in 2 studios in June and I have a question for anyone in the know. Has anyone here been able to check in early when staying DVC? We will be arriving around 8:30 and didn't know. We checked in at POR @ 9 am Thanksgivng week 2011 and I didn't know if same protocol could happen with DVC also. Thanks for anyone that knows or has experience with this .

We are planning on MK that day so no big deal if we can't, it would just have been nice .

I've had my room ready early several times staying on DVC points.

 

[softballmom3]

I've had my room ready early several times staying on DVC points.

Thanks! That's great! We are travelling with my in-laws and they may not want to hit the parks like we immediately will. I didn't make any room requests aat all, so I will be hoping....even if only one of the studios is ready early .

 

[Deb & Bill]

Is there a headless horseman ride at the W'Lodge?

Nope, no rides a the Wilderness Lodge.

Hi All! We are fortunate enough to be staying in 2 studios in June and I have a question for anyone in the know. Has anyone here been able to check in early when staying DVC? We will be arriving around 8:30 and didn't know. We checked in at POR @ 9 am Thanksgivng week 2011 and I didn't know if same protocol could happen with DVC also. Thanks for anyone that knows or has experience with this .

We are planning on MK that day so no big deal if we can't, it would just have been nice .

If you can't check in early, you can always have a seat in the Carolwood Railroad room in the VWL lobby area. Or hit the pool.

 

[pas130]

We have 5 kids (the youngest is an infant) so we have no choice. I am jealous of the families who can stay in "normal" hotel rooms!

Being a family of seven is fun, crazy...but expensive at Disney...enjoy being an "official" family of 6!!! My youngest is now 4

So you didn't want a new screen name?. I guess you'll have to think about a villa soon?

Perhaps on Bay Lake.....

OK, get out your RC Lodgers Log pencil.....the Pas family is coming on down!

August 4-10th Club level!

Hoping for a great AP rate! For now Deluxe Room with 5% off and CY room (hopefully connecting...if not OK we'll be fine) with a 20% discount~I think. Apparently I had a PIN It was cheaper than 2 rack rate CL rooms. There weren't any CL available with the discount...so the room configuration may change. And IPO said no problem having all of us in the Lounge...poor DH is the only one NOT technically in the Deluxe room....I wonder if he will want his own room

And I checked BLT...only studios and 1 BR available with the PIN...no 2BR

 

[cmdg]

Being a family of seven is fun, crazy...but expensive at Disney...enjoy being an "official" family of 6!!! My youngest is now 4

Perhaps on Bay Lake.....

OK, get out your RC Lodgers Log pencil.....the Pas family is coming on down!

August 4-10th Club level!

Hoping for a great AP rate! For now Deluxe Room with 5% off and CY room (hopefully connecting...if not OK we'll be fine) with a 20% discount~I think. Apparently I had a PIN It was cheaper than 2 rack rate CL rooms. There weren't any CL available with the discount...so the room configuration may change. And IPO said no problem having all of us in the Lounge...poor DH is the only one NOT technically in the Deluxe room....I wonder if he will want his own room

And I checked BLT...only studios and 1 BR available with the PIN...no 2BR

I didn't know pins counted for deluxe rooms... exciting! (now my fingers are crossed for a July pin)

 

[bluecastle]

OK, get out your RC Lodgers Log pencil.....the Pas family is coming on down!

August 4-10th Club level!

Hoping for a great AP rate! For now Deluxe Room with 5% off and CY room (hopefully connecting...if not OK we'll be fine) with a 20% discount~I think. Apparently I had a PIN It was cheaper than 2 rack rate CL rooms. There weren't any CL available with the discount...so the room configuration may change. And IPO said no problem having all of us in the Lounge...poor DH is the only one NOT technically in the Deluxe room....I wonder if he will want his own room

And I checked BLT...only studios and 1 BR available with the PIN...no 2BR

Our trips overlap!

Please excuse the question but I am 2 weeks away from my ADR date and haven't done any real planning! I figured I would just use the ones from our postponed trip as a guide, but Be Our Guest was not open then, and now I have to be more aware of getting my request in as soon as I am eligible. My question is this: if I do it online, what is the earliest I can get into the system? My ADR date is Feb. 3rd. Is it 6 am or 12:01 am?
I also think I forgot to mention my requests for top floor, facing lake, when I modified back to a 2BR villa. Does it really matter if I do that soon, or is OK to wait until the trip is closer?
Happy 3 day weekend! More time for WDW planning!!

 

[Cinbride]

Checking in the 28th. Is it too late to add room request? Also, can I fax them a request straight to WL?

 

[bluecastle]

KOOK, could you delay our arrival on the Lodgers log with a few days? We'll be arriving may the 6th.

DH really wants to stay in St Augustine for a bit. So we will

I only need to decide on accomodation there and rent a car, everything else is BOOKED!

It will be a great trip:
first fly from Rotterdam to London Heatrow, stay there 1 night, go to a play in Shakespeare's globe.
Then we will be picked up by a car to take us to Southampton (which is actually cheaper than 2 single 2nd class traintickets...)
Get on the Queen Mary II which will take us to New York in a week.
From New York we take the train down to Jacksonville. Get a car there and drive to St Augustine.
Stay there for the weekend and then calmly drive to Orlando.
And then we have almost two weeks at WDW!

I'm not excited or anything...

What a trip! A few words about St. Augustine. We went there back in 1997 and were most excited about seeing anything that was really old and historic. We saw America's oldest schoolhouse, which was interesting, but it had an audioanimatronic- type show that was kind of laughable. The old buildings were surrounded by tacky tourist shops. There was a nice church. I think we went to a place called Alligator Land? We also went to the Ripley's Believe it Or Not Museum. (more for my DH than myself) Our overall impression was that maybe it had once been a nice destination, but the tackiness and tourist-trap aspects took away from all that. I am not saying not to go, but to plan what you want to do carefully and research it online so you can focus on what is important for you to experience. Happy Planning!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Hi All! We are fortunate enough to be staying in 2 studios in June and I have a question for anyone in the know. Has anyone here been able to check in early when staying DVC? We will be arriving around 8:30 and didn't know. We checked in at POR @ 9 am Thanksgivng week 2011 and I didn't know if same protocol could happen with DVC also. Thanks for anyone that knows or has experience with this .

We are planning on MK that day so no big deal if we can't, it would just have been nice .

You can check-in as early as 0600 to all WDW Resorts (I believe that's still the time that the reservation system changes over for the day). You can get your KTTW with charging, tickets and DDP (if applicable). However, obviously your room might not be ready. If it isn't, they will text or call you when it is.

Thanks! That's great! We are travelling with my in-laws and they may not want to hit the parks like we immediately will. I didn't make any room requests aat all, so I will be hoping....even if only one of the studios is ready early .

Like Deb & Bill said, the VWL lobby is a great place to hang-out. And, of course they can hang-out at WL. Maybe they could even take the free Lodge tour while they wait.

OK, get out your RC Lodgers Log pencil.....the Pas family is coming on down!

August 4-10th Club level!

Hoping for a great AP rate! For now Deluxe Room with 5% off and CY room (hopefully connecting...if not OK we'll be fine) with a 20% discount~I think. Apparently I had a PIN It was cheaper than 2 rack rate CL rooms. There weren't any CL available with the discount...so the room configuration may change. And IPO said no problem having all of us in the Lounge...poor DH is the only one NOT technically in the Deluxe room....I wonder if he will want his own room

And I checked BLT...only studios and 1 BR available with the PIN...no 2BR

So you really got 5% off a Deluxe room? Well, it's something!

Now, the last time I added/removed/added/removed you from the Log, the trip didn't take. If I add you again, will it take? BTW: I added you anyway

Our trips overlap!

Please excuse the question but I am 2 weeks away from my ADR date and haven't done any real planning! I figured I would just use the ones from our postponed trip as a guide, but Be Our Guest was not open then, and now I have to be more aware of getting my request in as soon as I am eligible. My question is this: if I do it online, what is the earliest I can get into the system? My ADR date is Feb. 3rd. Is it 6 am or 12:01 am?
I also think I forgot to mention my requests for top floor, facing lake, when I modified back to a 2BR villa. Does it really matter if I do that soon, or is OK to wait until the trip is closer?
Happy 3 day weekend! More time for WDW planning!!

I think the ADRs switch over around 0600 and not after midnight. You can wait on the room location request. As long as it's in your reservation at least 5 days prior, the room assignor will see it.

BTW, BOG has limited dinner hours so I couldn't even get it for March. But, at lunch, you don't need an ADR so I hope lunch will be a great way to try the restaurant.

Checking in the 28th. Is it too late to add room request? Also, can I fax them a request straight to WL?

WDW Resorts no longer accept faxed requests (for several years now). Just call the WDTC (or your TA) and have them add your request - there's plenty of time. As long as you do it at least 5 days prior to arrival, the room assignor will see it. Have a great trip!

What a trip! A few words about St. Augustine. We went there back in 1997 and were most excited about seeing anything that was really old and historic. We saw America's oldest schoolhouse, which was interesting, but it had an audioanimatronic- type show that was kind of laughable. The old buildings were surrounded by tacky tourist shops. There was a nice church. I think we went to a place called Alligator Land? We also went to the Ripley's Believe it Or Not Museum. (more for my DH than myself) Our overall impression was that maybe it had once been a nice destination, but the tackiness and tourist-trap aspects took away from all that. I am not saying not to go, but to plan what you want to do carefully and research it online so you can focus on what is important for you to experience. Happy Planning!

I posted my comments, too about our stop in St. Augustine in 2010 and I pretty much felt the same way as you, (though you did more than we did). I wouldn't spend more than half a day there, especially if I were heading down to WDW next!

 

[DetTigsGal]

Note on Be Our Guest...we went for lunch both at Thanksgiving and on Dec 30...we really liked it. You get the atmosphere and the desserts are the same as dinner. You do have to pay attention though as the line can get long. We were there on the Saturday after T'giving, got there at. 10:30 and made it to our table a little after 11. On Dec 30, we got in line at 11:15, was told it was about a 45 minute wait and it was. Will be back in June!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Note on Be Our Guest...we went for lunch both at Thanksgiving and on Dec 30...we really liked it. You get the atmosphere and the desserts are the same as dinner. You do have to pay attention though as the line can get long. We were there on the Saturday after T'giving, got there at. 10:30 and made it to our table a little after 11. On Dec 30, we got in line at 11:15, was told it was about a 45 minute wait and it was. Will be back in June!

That's great to know. We're rather impatient, so waiting that long for a QS wouldn't be ideal, but I completely understand you wanting to try a newly opened MK restaurant. Your wait comments have made me think that I'm going to hold out for the dinner ADR instead, especially during spring break. Thanks.

 

[DetTigsGal]

You know, the line pretty much kept moving. Both times, the end of the line was a little bit down from where the menu is. When you get to the entrance, they split you into two lines and let so many in, then once you are in the castle there are menu boards as you walk. When you get to the register they ask how you are paying and that determines which kiosk you go to. After you order, you go pick a seat...the place is huge and this was not a problem. On Dec 30, we were a group of 5- one being our young, impatient band director. When he heard the wait was about 45 minutes, he wanted to go to Pinnochios- I said I was not standing in line for that and reminded him he really wanted to go to bog...needless to say, he was very happy he waited. I, personally, will only go at lunch...the dinner menu didn't really interest me.

Hope that helps a little more . I don't want to scare you away from lunch