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

[diskids2]

UGH! I need to vent! I called to place room requests on my courtyard view room on Sunday. Everything appeared to go smoothly. I received a followup email and I just had the chance to look at it last night.

The room requests (notes) are the same as before. Ok, no problem. So I call in again last night. The first CM says she doesn't know how to change room requests (we had previously booked BWI and obviously EPCOT view needed to be changed!). So I ask for "a supervisor" which I know will get me to Guest Services.

The Guest Services CM changes my room requests and I am now happy again....until this morning when I receive my email and look at it and the room requests are still not changed.

So now I call again. This time, grumpy old me, simply asks for a supervisor, after attempts by the CM to try to get me to let her take care of it (I wasn't having it), she transfers me to Guest Services. Now I get a Guest Services CM who again makes the request changes. She tells me that there are two areas that need to be changed and one area was not changed. Ok sure I'm game...I'll try it again. Then she tells me that she wants to put my mind at ease because courtyard view rooms only overlook the main pool area. I tell her that I was under the impression that courtyard rooms also overlook the villas. She says "oh no, those are woods view". I tell her that I am talking about the part of the block "V" that overlooks the villa side. She says again, "no those are all wood view" I give up.

Now, the nice part of my story is that I received my email confirmation and the correct requests are now in the notes.

Does it really have to be this hard Vent over. I feel better already. I knew you would all understand.

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

Hope everyone is having a good start to the week. Since we were buried at the bottom of page two, I'll regale you with my latest Resort Addition

Added 3 more nights up front to our Sea Raycer Split Stay of CR and WL (so now it's a trifecta split Sea Raycer stay). Booked 3 nights Poly CL/LV using the military rate. We've stayed a couple of times there, but never CL, (I always chicken out and cancel). Since I didn't have to shorten CR or WL, I'm not as apprehensive about booking and keeping Poly this time. DH joked that we'll have to pretend we're from the UK since we're staying 15 nights. Cheerio!

Yep, I missed it....

 

[TaraPA]

Hope everyone is having a good start to the week. Since we were buried at the bottom of page two, I'll regale you with my latest Resort Addition

Added 3 more nights up front to our Sea Raycer Split Stay of CR and WL (so now it's a trifecta split Sea Raycer stay). Booked 3 nights Poly CL/LV using the military rate. We've stayed a couple of times there, but never CL, (I always chicken out and cancel). Since I didn't have to shorten CR or WL, I'm not as apprehensive about booking and keeping Poly this time. DH joked that we'll have to pretend we're from the UK since we're staying 15 nights. Cheerio!

OMG a trifecta

We've talked about it before but have never had the guts (or the energy!) do go through with it. Can't wait to hear all about it. Poly is at the top of my favorites list, I hope you love CL there!

 

[skylizard]

Checking in this saturday!

 

[Anna114]

UGH! I need to vent! I called to place room requests on my courtyard view room on Sunday. Everything appeared to go smoothly. I received a followup email and I just had the chance to look at it last night.

The room requests (notes) are the same as before. Ok, no problem. So I call in again last night. The first CM says she doesn't know how to change room requests (we had previously booked BWI and obviously EPCOT view needed to be changed!). So I ask for "a supervisor" which I know will get me to Guest Services.

The Guest Services CM changes my room requests and I am now happy again....until this morning when I receive my email and look at it and the room requests are still not changed.

So now I call again. This time, grumpy old me, simply asks for a supervisor, after attempts by the CM to try to get me to let her take care of it (I wasn't having it), she transfers me to Guest Services. Now I get a Guest Services CM who again makes the request changes. She tells me that there are two areas that need to be changed and one area was not changed. Ok sure I'm game...I'll try it again. Then she tells me that she wants to put my mind at ease because courtyard view rooms only overlook the main pool area. I tell her that I was under the impression that courtyard rooms also overlook the villas. She says "oh no, those are woods view". I tell her that I am talking about the part of the block "V" that overlooks the villa side. She says again, "no those are all wood view" I give up.

Now, the nice part of my story is that I received my email confirmation and the correct requests are now in the notes.

Does it really have to be this hard Vent over. I feel better already. I knew you would all understand.

You are correct. I had a courtyard view in 2006. The room did overlook the pool. The problem... it was a corner room and I couldn't see over the rock wall, I am too short So they moved our room the next day to a view over the Villas. At first I was really pissed, as the week went along we were so happy. We sit on our balcony a lot. It was so quite and the view was nice. In the end it became a true blessing, we now own 203 points at VWL. I'm not sure we would have purchased had we not gotten that room. I love the quiet laid back feeling of the Villas.

 

[rdsx28]

My daughter is doing a school project on WL. Would anyone know if they use Solar panels in the hotel at all? Thanks so much for any help you can offer .

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

Checking in this saturday!

 

[diskids2]

Checking in this saturday!

Jealous!

 

[Mkbnoc]

Checking in this Saturday!

So are we, enjoy your trip!!

 

[Plaid Sheep]

Everything you've wanted to know about being a Mousekeeper at VWL! You'll even learn what a bed wedge is!

https://disneycasting.net/kenexa/hourly/role_posts/wdw_hskp.html

OMG, THAT'S CHRIS!!!!! I worked with him back I the 90's!!!

 

[goofynut41]

Yep, I missed it....

I caught the Poly On her ticker Is how I first noticed it...
Man 15 days at Disney that will be awesome!!!!

 

[Figment104]

Just had to say that we're checking in this Saturday too!!! Also, my parents were originally supposed to be staying with us at WL for part of the week and offsite for part of the week. Well it now turns out that they'll be staying at WL the whole week, and we have either adjoining rooms or rooms right next door to each other. My dad has been working with a dedicated person at Disney do to a big issue they had the last time they stayed there (he had organized a conference and there were some major issues on Disney's side for most of the guests). So when he called up the person on Monday to let her know that they were keeping their original reservation of the entire week and wanted to be close to us, she looked up our reservation, saw that our room had been assigned and assigned them to the room next door!

I had no idea that was even possible.

Also, what does IPO stand for ( I always read it as initial public offering lol )?

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

Just had to say that we're checking in this Saturday too!!! Also, my parents were originally supposed to be staying with us at WL for part of the week and offsite for part of the week. Well it now turns out that they'll be staying at WL the whole week, and we have either adjoining rooms or rooms right next door to each other. My dad has been working with a dedicated person at Disney do to a big issue they had the last time they stayed there (he had organized a conference and there were some major issues on Disney's side for most of the guests). So when he called up the person on Monday to let her know that they were keeping their original reservation of the entire week and wanted to be close to us, she looked up our reservation, saw that our room had been assigned and assigned them to the room next door!

I had no idea that was even possible.

Also, what does IPO stand for ( I always read it as initial public offering lol )?

Lol yes, that too!

At Disney it's Itinerary Planning Office. If your staying Club Level, they can make all your dining (and any other) reservations for you, answer any questions you may have. Basically your personal concierge just an email or phone call away.

How nice you have connections rooms! Have a magical vacation!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Thanks for the link. Chris is a bit of a geek but good video.

I think geek translates to enthusiastic when it involves Disney - at least I hope so

What!!!! Geez I blink and this major change happened?!?!

Kook, next time please put out an all-points-bulletin!!! ...unless I missed that too!

It should be a great stay for you! Already looking forward to your reviews!

No more blinking and thank you! (My DD would have used a witty Dr. Who reference about not blinking).

UGH! I need to vent! I called to place room requests on my courtyard view room on Sunday. Everything appeared to go smoothly. I received a followup email and I just had the chance to look at it last night.

The room requests (notes) are the same as before. Ok, no problem. So I call in again last night. The first CM says she doesn't know how to change room requests (we had previously booked BWI and obviously EPCOT view needed to be changed!). So I ask for "a supervisor" which I know will get me to Guest Services.

The Guest Services CM changes my room requests and I am now happy again....until this morning when I receive my email and look at it and the room requests are still not changed.

So now I call again. This time, grumpy old me, simply asks for a supervisor, after attempts by the CM to try to get me to let her take care of it (I wasn't having it), she transfers me to Guest Services. Now I get a Guest Services CM who again makes the request changes. She tells me that there are two areas that need to be changed and one area was not changed. Ok sure I'm game...I'll try it again. Then she tells me that she wants to put my mind at ease because courtyard view rooms only overlook the main pool area. I tell her that I was under the impression that courtyard rooms also overlook the villas. She says "oh no, those are woods view". I tell her that I am talking about the part of the block "V" that overlooks the villa side. She says again, "no those are all wood view" I give up.

Now, the nice part of my story is that I received my email confirmation and the correct requests are now in the notes.

Does it really have to be this hard Vent over. I feel better already. I knew you would all understand.

We do understand and I think sometimes we may know more than some CMs - we're also a bit obsessed with all these details. It's all good but can lead to some confusion. I still haven't had a WDTC CM know why I request an odd numbered room at CR, but I tell them why and now some know

So the confusion here seems to be with Inner and VWL Courtyard, and yes, as Anna confirmed, there are both. If you want to request a view of the WL courtyard, just request an INNER or WL Courtyard View room. It may not appear on your confirmation, so for peace of mind, just call back about a week before your arrival and ask the WDTC CM to tell you what request is in your reservation. When you check-in just ask again to confirm. Requests can't be guaranteed, but the WL Room Assignor does a wonderful job.

Yep, I missed it....

I'll have to PM you next time or you can just check the Lodgers' Log on a daily basis

OMG a trifecta

We've talked about it before but have never had the guts (or the energy!) do go through with it. Can't wait to hear all about it. Poly is at the top of my favorites list, I hope you love CL there!

Guts? So that's what this split takes? I never thought of looking at it as a challenge - I kind of like that

Checking in this saturday!

That's great! Will you be able to report back to us live?

You are correct. I had a courtyard view in 2006. The room did overlook the pool. The problem... it was a corner room and I couldn't see over the rock wall, I am too short So they moved our room the next day to a view over the Villas. At first I was really pissed, as the week went along we were so happy. We sit on our balcony a lot. It was so quite and the view was nice. In the end it became a true blessing, we now own 203 points at VWL. I'm not sure we would have purchased had we not gotten that room. I love the quiet laid back feeling of the Villas.

I like your VWL story.

My daughter is doing a school project on WL. Would anyone know if they use Solar panels in the hotel at all? Thanks so much for any help you can offer .

What a neat project! I've never noticed any on the roof, but could they be elsewhere? Disney does such a great job of camouflaging everything, maybe I missed them? Maybe someone has noticed them. I will try to look at more photos later today and see if I spot any.

So are we, enjoy your trip!!

Enjoy yours!

OMG, THAT'S CHRIS!!!!! I worked with him back I the 90's!!!

Really?! Where did you guys work in the 90s? Was he this enthusiastic about making beds and cleaning back then?

I caught the Poly On her ticker Is how I first noticed it...
Man 15 days at Disney that will be awesome!!!!

Just had to say that we're checking in this Saturday too!!! Also, my parents were originally supposed to be staying with us at WL for part of the week and offsite for part of the week. Well it now turns out that they'll be staying at WL the whole week, and we have either adjoining rooms or rooms right next door to each other. My dad has been working with a dedicated person at Disney do to a big issue they had the last time they stayed there (he had organized a conference and there were some major issues on Disney's side for most of the guests). So when he called up the person on Monday to let her know that they were keeping their original reservation of the entire week and wanted to be close to us, she looked up our reservation, saw that our room had been assigned and assigned them to the room next door!

I had no idea that was even possible.

Also, what does IPO stand for ( I always read it as initial public offering lol )?

That's great news. Just in case others don't know, adjoining rooms are next to each other and connecting rooms are also next to each other, but have a door between them.

 

[skylizard]

That's great! Will you be able to report back to us live?

I can. What do I ned to do? Just shoot me a pm and we can figure something out. I'll be bringing my laptop with me so I should be able to log in and check email (I'm assuming they have free wifi there).


Anyone also checking in on saturday want to do a dismeet?

I just checked the weather and it's supposed to be 90 this weekend A definite change from the 60s we've been enjoying in NC!

 

[GrandCalifornian]

Added 3 more nights up front to our Sea Raycer Split Stay of CR and WL (so now it's a trifecta split Sea Raycer stay). Booked 3 nights Poly CL/LV using the military rate. We've stayed a couple of times there, but never CL, (I always chicken out and cancel). Since I didn't have to shorten CR or WL, I'm not as apprehensive about booking and keeping Poly this time. DH joked that we'll have to pretend we're from the UK since we're staying 15 nights. Cheerio!

Sounds like fun. If you stay much longer you might have to upgrade to a pontoon for your transfers to move 15 days worth of stuff! It is great that you didn't have to shorten WL or CR, so extra Disney is all good.

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

Good Morning All!

I am celebrating this gorgeous day with my 1,000 post on the best thread on the DIS!

Have a Magical day everyone!

 

[diskids2]

We do understand and I think sometimes we may know more than some CMs - we're also a bit obsessed with all these details. It's all good but can lead to some confusion. I still haven't had a WDTC CM know why I request an odd numbered room at CR, but I tell them why and now some know

So the confusion here seems to be with Inner and VWL Courtyard, and yes, as Anna confirmed, there are both. If you want to request a view of the WL courtyard, just request an INNER or WL Courtyard View room. It may not appear on your confirmation, so for peace of mind, just call back about a week before your arrival and ask the WDTC CM to tell you what request is in your reservation. When you check-in just ask again to confirm. Requests can't be guaranteed, but the WL Room Assignor does a wonderful job.

Yes, the confusion is with Inner and VWL courtyard. But I am not confused CM's are!

Anyway I am happy now....it was noted correctly on my confirmation.

 

[Plaid Sheep]

I think geek translates to enthusiastic when it involves Disney - at least I hope so

Really?! Where did you guys work in the 90s? Was he this enthusiastic about making beds and cleaning back then?/QUOTE]

No, we were in Guest Relations together and he was a Tour Guide. Its been a few years, but it's got to be him!!
He left for a bit to do some acting, and I caught some commercials he did.
He was a really nice guy.

 

[psac]

Hope everyone is having a good start to the week. Since we were buried at the bottom of page two, I'll regale you with my latest Resort Addition

Added 3 more nights up front to our Sea Raycer Split Stay of CR and WL (so now it's a trifecta split Sea Raycer stay). Booked 3 nights Poly CL/LV using the military rate. We've stayed a couple of times there, but never CL, (I always chicken out and cancel). Since I didn't have to shorten CR or WL, I'm not as apprehensive about booking and keeping Poly this time. DH joked that we'll have to pretend we're from the UK since we're staying 15 nights. Cheerio!

Hey Kook, if you decide to add even more and do 3 more days, make sure to add the AKL Club to the mix.

So my wife is leaving her job and (amongst other things), she is looking into doing the whole Disney TA thing from home. One of the things she's missing is a Disney cruise. So we're looking at cancelling the September Poly trip, and doing the new Disney Fantasy instead, which overlaps the dates almost exactly. We do want to come down a day early to not have to rush to catch the boat, soooooo we have some extra DVC points laying around, and there is VWL studio availability.

Can anyone give a reason why WL wouldn't be a good choice for a one-night villa stay in late September? I know we won't REALLY be able to experience it as we should, but at least it will be a little taste of the Lodge! We can scratch it off our Deluxe bucket list. (But then we'll have to add the Poly back on!)

I might as well also ask now if there is any general room request that people suggest. It's surprising there is only one category for each room size. Of course for one night it probably doesn't make a big difference.

Thanks!