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

[CuteAsMinnie]

We have arrived safely at Wilderness Lodge. It really is as lovely as you all say it is. We are delighted to have been upgraded to courtyard view. We had dinner tonight at Whispering Canyon and I am stuffed! It has been a long day I've now been up for over 22.5 hours. So hoping the beds are super comfy.

Have a wonderful trip!!!!

Just to let you know that there have been no problems with fridge. It is available as usual.

Yay! Thanks for the info!

I've just received an update on the WL mini fridges. Apparently, there was a certain model of mini fridge that is being recalled for safety reasons. WL only has a few of the recalled models so the removal and replacement should be completed by the end of this week. The four month fridge replacement estimate is for the larger resorts like All Stars.

Soooo close! You can almost taste the cobbler!

Kook, you are a wealth of information!

Hello cobbler!!!!!

 

[kristainohio]

So excited to be coming back to our beloved WL 9/14-9/21. We got a GREAT AP rate on CL so we are going to be staying CL for the first time ever! I am SO excited! We did drop DDP since with CL we will be covering at least breakfasts and sometimes dinner/snacks so when I priced out the meals that we absolutely wanted to do it was cheaper to go out of pocket. (Someone tell me I made the right decision?? ) Our daughters are 2 and 5 so we do still have naptime and CL will be great during that time!!

One question: does CL have plastic water bottles that can be taken back to the room or to the park? I was just curious since I thought it might save us hauling bottled water in.

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

So excited to be coming back to our beloved WL 9/14-9/21. We got a GREAT AP rate on CL so we are going to be staying CL for the first time ever! I am SO excited! We did drop DDP since with CL we will be covering at least breakfasts and sometimes dinner/snacks so when I priced out the meals that we absolutely wanted to do it was cheaper to go out of pocket. (Someone tell me I made the right decision?? ) Our daughters are 2 and 5 so we do still have naptime and CL will be great during that time!!

One question: does CL have plastic water bottles that can be taken back to the room or to the park? I was just curious since I thought it might save us hauling bottled water in.

OMGosh you made the right choice!. Although our kids were older during our first CL stay (17 & 14 I think) I can't even begin to tell you the $$$ we saved doing CL. We almost always had breakfast in the room anyway so being able to walk down the hall was priceless, especially for DS for whom food is sooo important (teenager + XC runner = lots of healthy food). Your daughters will love investigating the breakfast (mini muffins and fruit, among other things) and the snacks (see first page of this thread for lists and pics of food offerings!). You and DH can enjoy a glass of wine or beer and the night time offerings are wonderful! And the cobbler!!!

We always have, and still do, share meals because the portions are so huge and we are not big ADR folks (we do not like the pressure of having to be anywhere at a certain time while on vacation. We all have enough of that during the year). This helps keep the costs down and the pounds off.

This trip the "kids" are 17 and 20 and we fondly remember our first trip to WL when they were the same age as your girls (not CL tho). DS has 'refused' to stay anywhere else. He was in heaven when he saw the Old Faithful Club. We are lucky they want to go back to WDW 'one last time while they are kids.'

So, yes you made the right choice. You will never look back!

They do not offer water bottles to take back to your room. You can always have a case delivered to the resort/your room or fill up your own bottles and bring them back or to the parks.

Enjoy! And enjoy the kids while they are little. It is sooo true they grow soooo quickly.

P.s. DH saw your post and told me to be sure to respond quickly before someone suggest you 'needed' the dining plan.

 

[kristainohio]

OMGosh you made the right choice!. Although our kids were older during our first CL stay (17 & 14 I think) I can't even begin to tell you the $$$ we saved doing CL. We almost always had breakfast in the room anyway so being able to walk down the hall was priceless, especially for DS for whom food is sooo important (teenager + XC runner = lots of healthy food). Your daughters will love investigating the breakfast (mini muffins and fruit, among other things) and the snacks (see first page of this thread for lists and pics of food offerings!). You and DH can enjoy a glass of wine or beer and the night time offerings are wonderful! And the cobbler!!!

We always have, and still do, share meals because the portions are so huge and we are not big ADR folks (we do not like the pressure of having to be anywhere at a certain time while on vacation. We all have enough of that during the year). This helps keep the costs down and the pounds off.

This trip the "kids" are 17 and 20 and we fondly remember our first trip to WL when they were the same age as your girls (not CL tho). DS has 'refused' to stay anywhere else. He was in heaven when he saw the Old Faithful Club. We are lucky they want to go back to WDW 'one last time while they are kids.'

So, yes you made the right choice. You will never look back!

They do not offer water bottles to take back to your room. You can always have a case delivered to the resort/your room or fill up your own bottles and bring them back or to the parks.

Enjoy! And enjoy the kids while they are little. It is sooo true they grow soooo quickly.

P.s. DH saw your post and told me to be sure to respond quickly before someone suggest you 'needed' the dining plan.

Thank you for giving feedback...that's exactly what I was hoping for!! We are so excited!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Thanks. in Magic Kingdom this morning. Had early breakfast at Crystal Palace. Can hear the thunder now. Woke up at 3 am - body thought was 8am. Bed comfy though. it's great to be back in Disney.

Hope you're more acclimated today. I booked the first ADR of the day at CP. We've actually never done a pre-park opening ADR before and DD thought it would be a great photo op.

Does anyone know how soon before the first ADR of the day you can get into MK (Main Street)?

Just to let you know that there have been no problems with fridge. It is available as usual.

Thanks for letting everyone know

Kook, you are a wealth of information!

Hello cobbler!!!!!

You only have 6 days until...............


It's cobbler time!!!!!!

So excited to be coming back to our beloved WL 9/14-9/21. We got a GREAT AP rate on CL so we are going to be staying CL for the first time ever! I am SO excited! We did drop DDP since with CL we will be covering at least breakfasts and sometimes dinner/snacks so when I priced out the meals that we absolutely wanted to do it was cheaper to go out of pocket. (Someone tell me I made the right decision?? ) Our daughters are 2 and 5 so we do still have naptime and CL will be great during that time!!

One question: does CL have plastic water bottles that can be taken back to the room or to the park? I was just curious since I thought it might save us hauling bottled water in.

Welcome back and I'll add you to our Lodgers' Log.

I agree with Minnie that it was a smart move dropping the DDP with CL, especially since you have an AP, you can purchase Tables in Wonderland for only $100, (it went up from $75, but it's still a great deal). We always use TiW with CL and save 20% on every TS meal, it even includes alcoholic beverages. You break even pretty quickly with just 5 TS meals of at least $100. After $500 of TS meals, it's pure savings that really add up in a years' time.

 

[mickeynut1]

So excited to be coming back to our beloved WL 9/14-9/21. We got a GREAT AP rate on CL so we are going to be staying CL for the first time ever! I am SO excited! We did drop DDP since with CL we will be covering at least breakfasts and sometimes dinner/snacks so when I priced out the meals that we absolutely wanted to do it was cheaper to go out of pocket. (Someone tell me I made the right decision?? ) Our daughters are 2 and 5 so we do still have naptime and CL will be great during that time!!

Congrats on getting a great rate on CL......you're going to love it . Since you have stayed at the WL before you already know how great the resort is, so CL will just make it that much more magical .

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

Hope you're more acclimated today. I booked the first ADR of the day at CP. We've actually never done a pre-park opening ADR before and DD thought it would be a great photo op.

Does anyone know how soon before the first ADR of the day you can get into MK (Main Street)?



You only have 6 days until...........

It's cobbler time!!!!!!

You, of all people, have never done CP.... Pre-park opening?

Be at the turnstile by 7:45 (I'm assuming your ADR is at 8:10). Enjoy the early morning peacefulness of MK. It is something that can not be duplicated.

(I do feel honored that I answered your question!)


Cobbler!!! We're almost there!!,

 

[goofy4prez]

For the past few months I kept thinking about the WL. The day after Christmas I booked our upcoming trip to WDW and ended up booking the CSR. Well I should have known better. Thursday I finally gave into temptation, called WDW and changed my resort from the CSR to my favorite resort in WDW... Yepper, that would be the WL.

Our dates are 11/29 - 12/5. This is going to be the first time we will not have concierge but did book it with a courtyard view. We are also going to be on the DxDP for the first time and looking forward to that. I cannot wait to see the WL again with all the Christmas decorations.

 

[mickeynut1]

For the past few months I kept thinking about the WL. The day after Christmas I booked our upcoming trip to WDW and ended up booking the CSR. Well I should have known better. Thursday I finally gave into temptation, called WDW and changed my resort from the CSR to my favorite resort in WDW... Yepper, that would be the WL.

Our dates are 11/29 - 12/5. This is going to be the first time we will not have concierge but did book it with a courtyard view. We are also going to be on the DxDP for the first time and looking forward to that. I cannot wait to see the WL again with all the Christmas decorations.

Congrats on the switch . The WL is amazing anytime of year, but especially so during the holidays .

 

[Wood Nymph]

For the past few months I kept thinking about the WL. The day after Christmas I booked our upcoming trip to WDW and ended up booking the CSR. Well I should have known better. Thursday I finally gave into temptation, called WDW and changed my resort from the CSR to my favorite resort in WDW... Yepper, that would be the WL.

Our dates are 11/29 - 12/5. This is going to be the first time we will not have concierge but did book it with a courtyard view. We are also going to be on the DxDP for the first time and looking forward to that. I cannot wait to see the WL again with all the Christmas decorations.

We'll be there at almost the same time, Nov 30th to Dec 5th. I can't wait to be there when it is all decorated for Christmas.

 

[oneprincessjo]

Just booked my stay at Wilderness Lodge for October 19th-24th 2014, club level!!!! It will be my 6th trip and 3rd time staying at WL. Just can't stay away!! It will be my dd's first time staying in WL, she will be 3 by the time we go. Can't wait to do the story time in front of the big fireplace with her . It will also be the first time we are there for Halloween. So excited to do Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

Edit: oops!! Just realized this is a 2013 thread. Still excited nonetheless. Haha

 

[diskids2]

We are getting ready to leave for our first stay at the WL. Many thanks to all of you for the advice. This will be our 5th summer trip in a row, and too many others to count, but I still get excited just like my very first time at WDW!

 

[mickeynut1]

Just booked my stay at Wilderness Lodge for October 19th-24th 2014, club level!!!! It will be my 6th trip and 3rd time staying at WL. Just can't stay away!! It will be my dd's first time staying in WL, she will be 3 by the time we go. Can't wait to do the story time in front of the big fireplace with her . It will also be the first time we are there for Halloween. So excited to do Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

Edit: oops!! Just realized this is a 2013 thread. Still excited nonetheless. Haha

Halloween is a great time to go. We've done the Halloween party 3 times, with our first time actually on October 31st. Our 3rd time to the party was just as exciting as the first. Your DD is going to love the party .

We are getting ready to leave for our first stay at the WL. Many thanks to all of you for the advice. This will be our 5th summer trip in a row, and too many others to count, but I still get excited just like my very first time at WDW!

Have a great trip

 

[oneprincessjo]

Halloween is a great time to go. We've done the Halloween party 3 times, with our first time actually on October 31st. Our 3rd time to the party was just as exciting as the first. Your DD is going to love the party .

Have a great trip

Awesome!!! We have done the Christmas party twice before, so I am certain we will love the Halloween party. Now I have a bit over a year to decide what our costumes will be. So exciting!!! Do they do trick or treating at the party?? I think this will be a safe alternative for her. DD was only 3 months old for her first Halloween and she was a preemie so we stayed inside for the night, her second Halloween hurricane Sandy came through and we were without electricity for the week so our township canceled trick or treating... So this year will be her first official trick or treating (she will be 2) assuming nothing prevents it again.

 

[mickeynut1]

Awesome!!! We have done the Christmas party twice before, so I am certain we will love the Halloween party. Now I have a bit over a year to decide what our costumes will be. So exciting!!! Do they do trick or treating at the party?? I think this will be a safe alternative for her. DD was only 3 months old for her first Halloween and she was a preemie so we stayed inside for the night, her second Halloween hurricane Sandy came through and we were without electricity for the week so our township canceled trick or treating... So this year will be her first official trick or treating (she will be 2) assuming nothing prevents it again.

We've also done the Christmas party twice and had an awesome time at those as well . Have fun deciding on costumes.....that's always fun. Yes, there is trick or treating at the Halloween party. You will be given a wristband and a trick or treat bag when you enter MK. There are trick or treat stations throughout the park.....it really is a lot of fun.....your DD is going to have a blast .

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

We are getting ready to leave for our first stay at the WL. Many thanks to all of you for the advice. This will be our 5th summer trip in a row, and too many others to count, but I still get excited just like my very first time at WDW!

Enjoy!!!!

 

[princessesintraining]

What time is the storytelling in front of the fireplace? I don't recall seeing/hearing about this the last time we were there. Going Sept 14-21.

 

[oneprincessjo]

What time is the storytelling in front of the fireplace? I don't recall seeing/hearing about this the last time we were there. Going Sept 14-21.

I believe it was around 8:30pm. I would definitely ask for a schedule when you check in since times most likely change depending on seasons. I hope they still have it, please let me know when you get back if they still offer it!!

 

[Letterhead]

I'm heading in 16 days for my Honeymoon. The last 2 weeks of the trip we will be at WL. I was a bit hesitant at first due to the lack of theme park access (compared to the BWI, the first resort of our stay), that is, until I saw how quick the WL Ferry was compared to the T&T centre ferry.

Is the ferry regular or is there 20 minute waiting times? As it seems quick enough that getting the ferry followed by the monorail seems like a reasonable way to get to Epcot.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I'm heading in 16 days for my Honeymoon. The last 2 weeks of the trip we will be at WL. I was a bit hesitant at first due to the lack of theme park access (compared to the BWI, the first resort of our stay), that is, until I saw how quick the WL Ferry was compared to the T&T centre ferry.

Is the ferry regular or is there 20 minute waiting times? As it seems quick enough that getting the ferry followed by the monorail seems like a reasonable way to get to Epcot.

It will be faster to take the bus, most likely, since the boat to CR could be a wait of 15 minutes. And then you could wait up to 15 minutes for the resort monorail to take you to the TTC to catch the Epcot monorail. Or you could take the bus to MK, a five minute ride, and catch the monorails from that point.

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