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

[ocalla]

I know every time we leave resorts on DME, we have to be at bus stop 3 hours before flight time.

When landing at MCO, I always allow at least 1-1/2 hours to arrive at resort. (example: land at 10:00, expect to be at resort no sooner than 11:30)

 

[Holly Quinlan]

just wanted to see my ticker 20 days I still have so much left to finish.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Grumble... may I vent here? I consider this to be my "home" thread on the boards. United changed up my reservations a bit and now I arrive 1/2 hour later on the 11th (still hoping we'll make our 5:30 ADR at Rainforest Cafe) and depart 1 hour earlier on the 17th, which I think messes up our last morning breakfast ADR at Whispering Canyon. Anyone know how much time DME allows to/from MCO to the resort? Our returning flight is now at 12:15 PM instead of 1:15 and we have an 8 AM ADR at Whispering Canyon, which I'm thinking we'll have to cancel to make it.

The ME picks up resort guests three hours before their departure time. We ate at WCC on our last day and it was relatively quick , about 45 minutes , since the restaurant was almost empty. If you really want to eat breakfast there then I am sure they can seat you early.

The only question would be if you can pack up and check your bags in time. If you are using the airline bag check option you have to have your bags down there more than three hours ahead of time or they won't take them.

I hate when airlines change flights.

 

[sweetnjmom]

I know every time we leave resorts on DME, we have to be at bus stop 3 hours before flight time.

When landing at MCO, I always allow at least 1-1/2 hours to arrive at resort. (example: land at 10:00, expect to be at resort no sooner than 11:30)

Thanks for the info. I *think* we'll be OK on the 11th--arriving at 2:33 and dinner ADR at 5:30. That's 3 hours. I'll just hope for the best.

And I'm going to see if I can make our breakfast ADR earlier on the 17th, or maybe I'll just cancel, because I'm guessing we'll have to be at the bus stop by 9 AM or so for a 12:15 PM flight. I hate that you can't edit times on Disney's site.

The ME picks up resort guests three hours before their departure time. We ate at WCC on our last day and it was relatively quick , about 45 minutes , since the restaurant was almost empty. If you really want to eat breakfast there then I am sure they can seat you early.

The only question would be if you can pack up and check your bags in time. If you are using the airline bag check option you have to have your bags down there more than three hours ahead of time or they won't take them.

I hate when airlines change flights.

Not sure if we'll be able to pack up and check our bags in time. But I changed the ADR to 7:30 AM (earliest I can get) and if I feel like we'll be cutting things too close, I'll cancel a few days before while at WL. Hopefully the early time will allow us to eat there and be finished in 45 minutes so we'll be at the bus stop on time.

 

[pas130]

I see a scheme here... If you can get DS to want more dad time at DW, you will just have to give in and quietly follow along!

I am sure being apart from his nutty younger sisters (and little bro) will make him plenty happy

Dancing is on hold right now. Last week DH was furloughed and unpaid, this week he's back to work and may still be unpaid. Prudence dictates putting Christmas on the back burner again.

Sorry Thought of your DH when the shutdown started Hope the paychecks start rolling in soon...RIDICULOUS to work and not get paid

Hi! I just booked our first WL trip yesterday! This trip has already changed a lot in the one week since discounts were announced... went from CR to POR and finally changed to a split stay with AoA and WL!!! I'm so excited! It's the best of both worlds for me, hubby and the kids! (of course, I'd prefer all week at the WL, but the trip is for the kids!) We're staying Feb. 5-8 in a WVBB room!

Very cool split...AoA looks like fun too!

The ME picks up resort guests three hours before their departure time. We ate at WCC on our last day and it was relatively quick , about 45 minutes , since the restaurant was almost empty. If you really want to eat breakfast there then I am sure they can seat you early.

We had a breakfast ADR around 9a, but woke up super early so we stopped by and were seated right away. And it was a quick breakfast too!

Thanks for the info. I *think* we'll be OK on the 11th--arriving at 2:33 and dinner ADR at 5:30. That's 3 hours. I'll just hope for the best.

I think it will all work out. Plus the bus stop is right there, so all good!!

 

[BwoZoo22]

Woods view - Standard wasnt available... We plan on spending so much time in the parks that I just cant justify paying more for a view...

I love the woods view rooms! Fits so well with the WL theme and provides a quiet, calming atmosphere to the room!

Grumble... may I vent here? I consider this to be my "home" thread on the boards. United changed up my reservations a bit and now I arrive 1/2 hour later on the 11th (still hoping we'll make our 5:30 ADR at Rainforest Cafe) and depart 1 hour earlier on the 17th, which I think messes up our last morning breakfast ADR at Whispering Canyon.

And it makes your vacation an hour and a half shorter! Always hated that! So glad I'm in a SW Air hub city now; our direct flight to MCO has had the same schedule for eight years now. We love the Red Eye, no wasting vacation time on travel!

 

[rhondakg]

Oh, gosh I'm 58 days away from our first WDW vaca and to boot we get to stay at WL - I just need my MB/FP + to appear so that I can take a vaca from planning before the trip begins, I'm tired ....this is taking its tole (sp?) on me
I have been stalking Tusker House for months to get a 8:15 a.m. reservation and I finally got it yesterday - OH MAGIC BANDS WHEN will you become available???

THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING (reading) TO ME

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Grumble... may I vent here? I consider this to be my "home" thread on the boards. United changed up my reservations a bit and now I arrive 1/2 hour later on the 11th (still hoping we'll make our 5:30 ADR at Rainforest Cafe) and depart 1 hour earlier on the 17th, which I think messes up our last morning breakfast ADR at Whispering Canyon. Anyone know how much time DME allows to/from MCO to the resort? Our returning flight is now at 12:15 PM instead of 1:15 and we have an 8 AM ADR at Whispering Canyon, which I'm thinking we'll have to cancel to make it.

The Magical Express will pick you up 3 hours before your flight. No time for breakfast !

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Grumble... may I vent here? I consider this to be my "home" thread on the boards. United changed up my reservations a bit and now I arrive 1/2 hour later on the 11th (still hoping we'll make our 5:30 ADR at Rainforest Cafe) and depart 1 hour earlier on the 17th, which I think messes up our last morning breakfast ADR at Whispering Canyon.

Anyone know how much time DME allows to/from MCO to the resort? Our returning flight is now at 12:15 PM instead of 1:15 and we have an 8 AM ADR at Whispering Canyon, which I'm thinking we'll have to cancel to make it.

I would go to the lobby concierge the night before ( or even the desk at WCC) and ask if you can come early.. I don't think it will be too big of a problem

 

[ocalla]

I love the woods view rooms! Fits so well with the WL theme and provides a quiet, calming atmosphere to the room!



And it makes your vacation an hour and a half shorter! Always hated that! So glad I'm in a SW Air hub city now; our direct flight to MCO has had the same schedule for eight years now. We love the Red Eye, no wasting vacation time on travel!

I keep sending SW emails BEGGING them to find a way into our city!!! I love SW, but the 2 hour drive to get to NOLA is a bit of a hassle. Thinking of either Delta or United for the next trip.

 

[katmg]

Hadn't even thought about having to be there 3 hours early for Magical Express to take us to the airport! I just changed my Chef Mickey reservation to 7:00 am.

Can I leave from the Contemporary on ME or will we have to go back to WL? I'd be happy to take our luggage with me to the Contemporary if that's easier.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Hadn't even thought about having to be there 3 hours early for Magical Express to take us to the airport! I just changed my Chef Mickey reservation to 7:00 am.

Can I leave from the Contemporary on ME or will we have to go back to WL? I'd be happy to take our luggage with me to the Contemporary if that's easier.

Unfortunately, they will only pick you up at your resort. But the boat ride to and from the Contemporary is really quick, which will help.

If your airline participates in the ME baggage handling service then you can check in your bags before going to CM.

 

[MinnieRx85]

Thanks for the info, I'm not sure if the system has been updated or not, but I've read online that because the salute tickets are vouchers that affects the FastPass+. Since you link the vouchers with your app and schedule your FastPass+ but when you turn in the vouched to activate them you'll be given a RFDI ticket/card with a different number code than your vouched, therefore your FastPass+ schedule will be connected to your vouched but not your actual hard ticket (possibly making your FastPass+ selections null and void). Maybe they will transfer over your FastPass+ selections to your new hard ticket when you arrive and activate your tickets, but I'm not sure about that.

I do hope it works though cause I want to link my tickets to the app so I can start making my FastPass selections. I might try to link our vouchers (thanks for letting me know how to do that!) and hope that it won't be effected negatively when we activate the tickets at the gate.

Thanks again for the help, I really appreciate it!

I just called Disney to ask them about this and they said they used to have that issue but know how to remedy that now. I hope it doesn't make them null and void either I planned everything out to a tee! haha

Anyways my trip is early NOV for the Wine and Dine Half Marathon so when it is all said and done I will let you know how it went!

 

[sweetnjmom]

I would go to the lobby concierge the night before ( or even the desk at WCC) and ask if you can come early.. I don't think it will be too big of a problem

I ended up making our breakfast ADR at Whispering Canyon at 7:30 AM. As long as it takes an hour or less, we should be OK as our departing flight is now 12:15 PM (so I'm guessing Magical Express will pick us up around 9 AM).

We've decided to tempt fate on arrival day, though. Hopefully 3 hours is enough time to depart the plane, get on the ME, check-in at WL and make it to Downtown Disney. If not... and we don't make our 5:30 ADR at Rainforest, then we'll just go to Wolfgang Puck Express or Earl of Sandwich. There wasn't a credit card guarantee so I'm not as anxious.

Getting pretty excited now. Made a countdown calendar for my DS to mark off. Tomorrow is 31 days... so I consider that to be 1 month!

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

Only 6 weeks until we are home at WL! This will be our 3rd stay (we haven't been since Dec 2010) and we are so very excited! We have a 15 hour drive so we are not too excited about that, but I am trying to come up with things to make the trip go by quickly!

 

[BabyFu18]

I just called Disney to ask them about this and they said they used to have that issue but know how to remedy that now. I hope it doesn't make them null and void either I planned everything out to a tee! haha Anyways my trip is early NOV for the Wine and Dine Half Marathon so when it is all said and done I will let you know how it went!

Awesome, have a wonderful time and I can't wait to hear how your trip goes!

Thanks for all your help, it's been great and since my MDE stuff is all linked up to now too I hope it'll all fall into place nicely!

 

[BwoZoo22]

I ended up making our breakfast ADR at Whispering Canyon at 7:30 AM. As long as it takes an hour or less, we should be OK as our departing flight is now 12:15 PM (so I'm guessing Magical Express will pick us up around 9 AM).

We've decided to tempt fate on arrival day, though. Hopefully 3 hours is enough time to depart the plane, get on the ME, check-in at WL and make it to Downtown Disney. If not... and we don't make our 5:30 ADR at Rainforest, then we'll just go to Wolfgang Puck Express or Earl of Sandwich. There wasn't a credit card guarantee so I'm not as anxious.

Getting pretty excited now. Made a countdown calendar for my DS to mark off. Tomorrow is 31 days... so I consider that to be 1 month!

I can understand your scheduling stress! We were going to stay in a cheap airport hotel our first night, because we land at midnight. But the logistics of checking in, checking out the next morning, getting to the WL in time to check in, leave our bags, and get to EP before our 10:30 special event, had way too many moving parts for me. I looked at finances and all the savings I was able to collect with this year's reservation, and determined a maximum amount I was willing to pay for an extra night at WL, to avoid the airport hotel step. Called reservations, and they quoted me a price under that amount! Based on the price for that one night, they must have applied the 30% discount I received in August.

Still not getting much sleep that night, but I will be less nervous about getting to EP in time for the fun to begin!

 

[sweetnjmom]

I can understand your scheduling stress! We were going to stay in a cheap airport hotel our first night, because we land at midnight. But the logistics of checking in, checking out the next morning, getting to the WL in time to check in, leave our bags, and get to EP before our 10:30 special event, had way too many moving parts for me. I looked at finances and all the savings I was able to collect with this year's reservation, and determined a maximum amount I was willing to pay for an extra night at WL, to avoid the airport hotel step. Called reservations, and they quoted me a price under that amount! Based on the price for that one night, they must have applied the 30% discount I received in August.

Still not getting much sleep that night, but I will be less nervous about getting to EP in time for the fun to begin!

Sounds great to me!!! Hope you have a fabulous time on your F&W trip.

 

[katmg]

Unfortunately, they will only pick you up at your resort. But the boat ride to and from the Contemporary is really quick, which will help.

If your airline participates in the ME baggage handling service them you can check in your bags before going to CM.

Thank you! I guess we can check in our bags and get everything ready to go so then we'll just need a quick boat ride back from the Contemporary after breakfast!

 

[danceteachermom]

Booked our spring break....please add us to the log. We will be at VWL April 4-12...already counting down the days. Starting making ADRs. Thinking of and planning for spring break is my stress relief.

Looking forward to some new experiences this trip and to old favorites. So far I have booked ADRs at Via Napoli, Artist Pointe, Maya Grill, Sci-Fi, and Kona. Looking forward to seeing how fast pass plus impacts our vacation. We are expecting it to mean that we will no longer have to do rope drop to get on our favorites. So for once a Disney vacation may mean sleeping in a few times.

Hoping the fence is not up around the pool yet in April....worried it will impact the ambiance.