(CLOSED) Disney's WILDERNESS LODGE and VILLAS INFORMATION THREAD ~2013~

[Kathymford]

I was sort of concerned about adding that extra night after hearing someone else say they had an issue. Luckily I was able to call today and add that day without a problem. Now we are set to arrive 9/25 for five nights.

Yet another question... Does anyone have any insights about transportation to (gasp! ) Universal for a day? An old friend of mine now works there and I think we might luck into some comped tickets. I was planning to just drive over for a day, but now that we are flying I will need to arrange transportation. Is there a shuttle from anywhere on WDW property or is a cab my best bet? Any ideas about cost of either option?

That universal thread helped me tremendously for my first universal trip. We've used the Mears shuttle twice and plan o do it again for Sea World side trip in Dec. easy, convenient, and inexpensive or us. $18 RT each.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Still have to finish packing

Josh posted a new entry about a visit to the Lodge and WCC lunch. A lot of good pics.

http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorize...e-whispering-canyon-lunch-not-new-merch-61113

Ps -- if you've never read his site before, he has a very snarky unique view on things (that might seem insulting if you're not used to it), but he is very much a big Disney fan!!

Thanks for the link - Josh is a hoot and I love that he doesn't portray everything at WDW as perfect all the time.

Well, I changed my reservations, again!

We're talking no YC CL at all! Going to the WL CL directly! LOL!
After reading all about the Murphy's fiasco plus my yearning to go back to WDW's best kept CL "secret" , I HAD to make the change. But then again, you all understand, right?

A little Orange Bird whispered this to me yesterday, but I'm a day late here in saying YIPPEE!!!

I've never done club level at any resort, but from what I've read, WL looks like the best CL to get. As much as I love the BC/YC resorts, I would still pick CL at WL over their CLs.

There are a couple of CLs I've not yet tried, but thus far, the OFC has been the overall best CL

Where do you find out about the CL amenities? Thanks!

Let us know if you have more questions.

Hi all! I have not had the time to read the whole thread, but I am seriously considering a change in resorts, and I would appreciate your input. We're booked at CSR for July. Although we've enjoyed this resort in the past, and experienced great bus service, I've been reading many negative reports about very long transportation delays at CSR, etc. With that said, I'm getting that dreadful...'I think I made a big mistake' feeling in the pit of my stomach. For those of you who have stayed at WL recently, can you enlighten me about the transportation situation, or any other must knows about this resort.
Thanks in advance!

You sound like you might become an official Resort Changer. Just adding to Wood Nymph that you can also walk to FW where there are horses and more recreation or you can rent bikes at WL and bike around there, too. Also, there isn't a surcharge at Roaring Fork

I am so sorry, but we added a day to our stay, so we are now at the WL from July 3 to July 7th.

Laura

Don't be sorry! That's great and I updated the Log.

A quick, silly little question for you all. We are staying in a 1BR villa - will it be very inconvenient to go to Roaring Fork to use a refillable mug if coming to and from the villas? I'm doing some number crunching in regards to the dining plan (which comes with the mug). But if it's a big hassle to get to the restaurant then we will probably not end up using the mug much, you know?

There's a covered walkway from VWL to WL and from there it's a direct path into WL through the gorgeous lobby, then a turn right past Artist Point down a ramp right to RF. Once you're to the covered walkway that connects the two resorts, I'd say it's only about a 3 minute walk to RF. It's about like going from BLT to CR, but like BLT, the timing depends on where you're located within VWL.

I am considering WL for our next trip because it looks so cozy! I have a question about room categories. I see in the room description that standard rooms are either 2 Queens, 1 King or 1 Queen and bunk. But then in the booking area, it says all standard rooms have 2 Queen beds. Does anyone have any info on how many standard rooms (if any) have 1 Queen and a bunk and any info about the view? I know it will be a parking lot view (doesn't bother me since we're going in the winter), but some of the standard views have dumpster views which are not very attractive. Trying to decide if to pay an extra $532 if we're probably not going to be out on the balcony much (at all?).

 

[snausman]

WDWKOOK. thank you so much for changing it. Love this thread and love WL!

Laura

 

[capegirl]

Wood Nymph[/B] that you can also walk to FW where there are horses and more recreation or you can rent bikes at WL and bike around there, too. Also, there isn't a surcharge at Roaring Fork

Yes, I'm about to take the resort changer plunge! This is good advice; never realized you could walk over to FW....and no surcharge at RF! Thanks so much!

 

[reagansdaddy]

We are just 10 days from our arrival at WL OFC! My kids enjoy mini-golf, and I was thinking about maybe going for a round on our non-park day. So, I've got a couple of questions.....

1. Has anyone golfed at Fantasia Gardens? If so, did you like it? My kids are 9 and 5. Would it be age appropriate for them?

2. How can I get from WL to Fantasia Gardens using Disney transportation? How long of a trip is it?

Thanks!

 

[disd55]

Hi all! I have not had the time to read the whole thread, but I am seriously considering a change in resorts, and I would appreciate your input. We're booked at CSR for July. Although we've enjoyed this resort in the past, and experienced great bus service, I've been reading many negative reports about very long transportation delays at CSR, etc. With that said, I'm getting that dreadful...'I think I made a big mistake' feeling in the pit of my stomach. For those of you who have stayed at WL recently, can you enlighten me about the transportation situation, or any other must knows about this resort.
Thanks in advance!

I would just like to say I have stayed at both of those resorts and WL was so much better in every way. We hate walking, and on those hot and humid August days, CSR was not a fun place to be. At WL everything is compact and it's very quaint. We never had bad bus service and only rarely shared a bus with other resorts, once with GF and maybe once with FW, otherwise it was direct to the park, maybe because they don't share during mornings and evenings. At CSR, we have experienced waiting 30-45 minutes for a bus. Any bus. They rarely came. You either love CSR or hate it. Also the boat at WL is so lovely and convenient.

 

[Wood Nymph]

We are just 10 days from our arrival at WL OFC! My kids enjoy mini-golf, and I was thinking about maybe going for a round on our non-park day. So, I've got a couple of questions.....

1. Has anyone golfed at Fantasia Gardens? If so, did you like it? My kids are 9 and 5. Would it be age appropriate for them?

2. How can I get from WL to Fantasia Gardens using Disney transportation? How long of a trip is it?

Thanks!

Fantasia Gardens very close to the Swan and Dolphin resort. The only way I know to do it using WDW transportation would be to take the bus to Hollywood Studios and then the boat to the Swan and Dolphin resort. The S/D is the first stop on the boat ride, about a five minute ride once the boat leaves the dock. I would think that the whole trip from WL to the miniature golf course would take forty minutes, including waiting on buses and boats.

I suppose you could also take the bus from WL to MK, then the bus to Swan/Dolphin.

 

[vinotinto]

Most standards views will have 2 queen beds. If you would like a king bed or a queen with bunk beds, then that would be a request. I don't know if there is any information on how many rooms have each type of bed arrangement.

Thank you! I was able to find another thread where it seems that the website is not accurate and that the standard rooms are all queens. So, I'm going to book standard while I muse over the room type. My mom is joining us for most of the trip and she will have her own room for herself, so maybe we can send one of the kids over there for some of the time and request connecting.

 

[capegirl]

I would just like to say I have stayed at both of those resorts and WL was so much better in every way. We hate walking, and on those hot and humid August days, CSR was not a fun place to be. At WL everything is compact and it's very quaint. We never had bad bus service and only rarely shared a bus with other resorts, once with GF and maybe once with FW, otherwise it was direct to the park, maybe because they don't share during mornings and evenings. At CSR, we have experienced waiting 30-45 minutes for a bus. Any bus. They rarely came. You either love CSR or hate it. Also the boat at WL is so lovely and convenient.

Thanks...appreciate your thoughts.

 

[danceteachermom]

Thanks...appreciate your thoughts.

I have stayed at both too. I prefer WL for the deluxe amenities and the vacation club accommodations available. However, CSR is a great resort. In my seven stays there I rarely had any transportation problems. The pool is much nicer at CSR and the option for a meal at the pool is great. The rooms are fabulous and while they have a small food court like area, we have enjoyed the pepper market there. The grounds at CSR are gorgeous. However the resort is very large and the distance from your room to the pool and/or the restaurant can be frustrations in bad weather. You simply can't beat the price.

If cost was not an issue, I'd pick WL but CSR is a great choice too. We are debating between the two for our next trip. I think the 1 bedroom villa will pull us back. There is something to be said for having a closing master bedroom door and privacy while on vacation.

 

[capegirl]

I have stayed at both too. I prefer WL for the deluxe amenities and the vacation club accommodations available. However, CSR is a great resort. In my seven stays there I rarely had any transportation problems. The pool is much nicer at CSR and the option for a meal at the pool is great. The rooms are fabulous and while they have a small food court like area, we have enjoyed the pepper market there. The grounds at CSR are gorgeous. However the resort is very large and the distance from your room to the pool and/or the restaurant can be frustrations in bad weather. You simply can't beat the price.

If cost was not an issue, I'd pick WL but CSR is a great choice too. We are debating between the two for our next trip. I think the 1 bedroom villa will pull us back. There is something to be said for having a closing master bedroom door and privacy while on vacation.

Decisions, Decisions.....I'm driving myself bonkers! Thanks for your input!

 

[goofynut41]

Was just looking at my comformation e-mail and it says
WILDERNESS LODGE B8J/MAGIC YOUR WAY DINE .. what does the B8J stand for?

 

[KNJWDW]

Thank you! I was able to find another thread where it seems that the website is not accurate and that the standard rooms are all queens. So, I'm going to book standard while I muse over the room type. My mom is joining us for most of the trip and she will have her own room for herself, so maybe we can send one of the kids over there for some of the time and request connecting.

Would you happen to have a link to that thread? My TA told me some standards do have bunk beds and put that request in for me.

Thanks!

 

[pigletto]

You can't request bunk beds. They are a separate booking category and cost more. So if you take a look at the website, you can book woods view bunk beds, or courtyard view bunkbeds. No bunks in the other categories. They cost quite a bit more than standard.

(I'd love them for my kids, but it was going to cost 350 more when I priced it out for our vacation in August. We ended up going with a mod anyway so solved that dilemma..no choice lol.)

 

[snausman]

I was searching for this thread and could not find it at all. Had to go to the 2 page and there it was. No way should this thread be on the second page so it is now back where it should be on the first page.

Laura

 

[mickeynut1]

My TA told me some standards do have bunk beds and put that request in for me.

The only category in which bunk beds can be requested is a standard CL room as bunk beds are not a bookable category in CL. Otherwise, as the pp stated, bunk beds are a bookable category (woods view or courtyard view).

 

[princesslover]

Hi WL fans!!

We are headed back to WL for our second time since Dec 2009 this December. We can't wait!

Last time we had courtyard view and had one of the "bear face" rooms overlooking the lobby and the beautiful tree. (By the way I totally got all this info from this very thread last time, including knowing where the bear face rooms were!! This thread was so helpful last time.)

This time we are considering woods view instead. However we really liked the spot we had overlooking the lobby from our room (don't ask me why!).

Are there any woods view rooms that overlook the lobby area? Or are those all courtyard view? What kinds of views do you get with wooded view?

Thanks for any info!

 

[GrandCalifornian]

Hi WL fans!! We are headed back to WL for our second time since Dec 2009 this December. We can't wait! Last time we had courtyard view and had one of the "bear face" rooms overlooking the lobby and the beautiful tree. (By the way I totally got all this info from this very thread last time, including knowing where the bear face rooms were!! This thread was so helpful last time.) This time we are considering woods view instead. However we really liked the spot we had overlooking the lobby from our room (don't ask me why!). Are there any woods view rooms that overlook the lobby area? Or are those all courtyard view? What kinds of views do you get with wooded view? Thanks for any info!

Congratulations on getting a Bear Face room last time, and on planning your return to WL. There are Woods View rooms that open to the lobby. According to the map on the third post of this thread, the ones on floor 5 and 6 above the registration desk are Woods View. We had one of these last time and loved it. Here is our balcony view:

The same location on the 4th floor is considered Standard View. There are also Woods View ones on the North side over WCC on the 4th floor or higher. The balcony views definitely aren't as cool as with a bear face room, but we love having the lobby view out the other end of the room.

 

[vinotinto]

Would you happen to have a link to that thread? My TA told me some standards do have bunk beds and put that request in for me.

Thanks!

The only category in which bunk beds can be requested is a standard CL room as bunk beds are not a bookable category in CL. Otherwise, as the pp stated, bunk beds are a bookable category (woods view or courtyard view).

Here is the thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=48194450
The thread says the same think mickeynut said. Apparently, it used to be a request back in the day, but at some point they made it a separate bookable category. I think they probably recategorized some rooms. BC used to have standard, water views, cl, and now they have standard, GV, WV, CL, etc. The thread also says that there are standard bunk bed rooms, but they are CL and for those CL Standard you can request bunk beds.

So it seems the website is wrong, but it is true that many things on the website are indeed wrong. I have stayed in a BC room that did not have a daybed, so I know that all the BC rooms don't have daybeds (unlike what the website says).

 

[bluecastle]

Hi all! It's been awhile since I posted and there are some disappointing developments to report. Some of you may remember that I had to postpone last summer's trip because of my back. Well, we have to postpone this summer's trip as well Luckily it is not my back this time. It is actually for a good reason- my DD is in the process of getting a teaching job and she has one last class to take and it conflicts with our dates. We can't go later either because she would need to be back here for a week-long training for new hires. So, I am thrilled for her, but sadly have to delay our first time in a villa. WDWKook- please remove me from the lodgers log for this August. You can put August 2014, since that is our plan! That way I can still see a trip in our future. My husband sees it as an opportunity for my back and my endurance for walking to be that much stronger than it is now. I intend to keep checking in here and surrounding myself with love for the WL! Please keep posting pictures and mini-trip reports so I can live vicariously until it is our turn.