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

[katiemely]

Just finished reading the whole thread! Whew! Now even more excited for our trip the 19-29 of sept! Can't wait!

[Mousemommy1]

Originally Posted by WDWKOOK

I apologize for not multi-quoting right now, but THANK YOU all for your lovely comments and well wishes. We are so happy to be back at WL. While the one bedroom was so roomy and beautiful at BLT, the CMs at WL are so friendly and fun and the new room is so nice and the theming and ambience is just the best - but I'm preaching to the choir...

We checked in by 0915. The drive from BLT was 4 minutes door to door for those of you wondering. The CL runner was waiting with a big smile and wave. Our room was ready after we stored our luggage. We were in our favorite room by about 0945

Pre-breakfast breakfast was a big hit with DH who had his two servings of pineapple followed by the gravy chaser down at WCC. DD and I tried the egg white omelette with spinach and goat cheese - delicious. Plenty of breakfast antics made for a fun-filled post pre-breakfast breakfast.

Enjoyed a resort day today taking many photos, unpacking (one hour flat - with no help - goes faster that way), enjoyed the lounge. The room is fresh and new and you will all love it.

Had a disappointing dinner at Artist Point. We felt the menu selection was rather limited, and the service not up to a restaurant in this price range. DH and I had the buffalo and each of ours had inedible parts. To the server's credit, she noticed we left some, admonished us for not telling her and then she announced that she had comped one appetizer. She then brought us a serving of berry cobbler which DH loved. But she didn't ask us if we wanted to order any dessert so DD, who doesn't like cobbler, didn't have any until we got up to the lounge - no biggie. Blueberry cobbler in the lounge saved the night and a so-so meal at WDW is certainly better than an OK meal back home. DHS tomorrow with Sci. Fi. for lunch.

Kook so glad you are home!!!! Sorry about your dinner at AP....we had a great meal!!

I kind of wish we hadn't done OCI for our WL stay because our check in was rather slow and tedious.

I'm not going to do OCI for our April trip though.

Glad you are having a wonderful time!!

[pas130]

Originally Posted by WDWKOOK

I apologize for not multi-quoting right now, but THANK YOU all for your lovely comments and well wishes. We are so happy to be back at WL. While the one bedroom was so roomy and beautiful at BLT, the CMs at WL are so friendly and fun and the new room is so nice and the theming and ambience is just the best - but I'm preaching to the choir...

We checked in by 0915. The drive from BLT was 4 minutes door to door for those of you wondering. The CL runner was waiting with a big smile and wave. Our room was ready after we stored our luggage. We were in our favorite room by about 0945

Pre-breakfast breakfast was a big hit with DH who had his two servings of pineapple followed by the gravy chaser down at WCC. DD and I tried the egg white omelette with spinach and goat cheese - delicious. Plenty of breakfast antics made for a fun-filled post pre-breakfast breakfast.

Enjoyed a resort day today taking many photos, unpacking (one hour flat - with no help - goes faster that way), enjoyed the lounge. The room is fresh and new and you will all love it.

Had a disappointing dinner at Artist Point. We felt the menu selection was rather limited, and the service not up to a restaurant in this price range. DH and I had the buffalo and each of ours had inedible parts. To the server's credit, she noticed we left some, admonished us for not telling her and then she announced that she had comped one appetizer. She then brought us a serving of berry cobbler which DH loved. But she didn't ask us if we wanted to order any dessert so DD, who doesn't like cobbler, didn't have any until we got up to the lounge - no biggie. Blueberry cobbler in the lounge saved the night and a so-so meal at WDW is certainly better than an OK meal back home. DHS tomorrow with Sci. Fi. for lunch.

Sorry about Artist Point......

but glad you made it "home" ENJOY!!!!

[PamelaKay]

Originally Posted by WDWKOOK

I apologize for not multi-quoting right now, but THANK YOU all for your lovely comments and well wishes. We are so happy to be back at WL. While the one bedroom was so roomy and beautiful at BLT, the CMs at WL are so friendly and fun and the new room is so nice and the theming and ambience is just the best - but I'm preaching to the choir...

We checked in by 0915. The drive from BLT was 4 minutes door to door for those of you wondering. The CL runner was waiting with a big smile and wave. Our room was ready after we stored our luggage. We were in our favorite room by about 0945

Pre-breakfast breakfast was a big hit with DH who had his two servings of pineapple followed by the gravy chaser down at WCC. DD and I tried the egg white omelette with spinach and goat cheese - delicious. Plenty of breakfast antics made for a fun-filled post pre-breakfast breakfast.

Enjoyed a resort day today taking many photos, unpacking (one hour flat - with no help - goes faster that way), enjoyed the lounge. The room is fresh and new and you will all love it.

Had a disappointing dinner at Artist Point. We felt the menu selection was rather limited, and the service not up to a restaurant in this price range. DH and I had the buffalo and each of ours had inedible parts. To the server's credit, she noticed we left some, admonished us for not telling her and then she announced that she had comped one appetizer. She then brought us a serving of berry cobbler which DH loved. But she didn't ask us if we wanted to order any dessert so DD, who doesn't like cobbler, didn't have any until we got up to the lounge - no biggie. Blueberry cobbler in the lounge saved the night and a so-so meal at WDW is certainly better than an OK meal back home. DHS tomorrow with Sci. Fi. for lunch.

So glad you are happily unpacked in the most wonderful place at Disney WL/CL. I am so counting the days (65) until my trip. I can't wait to see the new rooms. You may have already mentioned this, but was there any rennovation to the OFC?

Sorry to hear about AP. I had a bad buffalo steak there once and they offered me a new entree. I have been watching the seasonal menu changes in the signatures and was sad to see my favorite chocolate dessert was no longer on the AP menu.

I cannot believe that I am going to squeeze 3 WL/CL trips into one year... I feel like I have an addiction and may need a support group.

Hope you have an awesome day at DHS.

[StEpHandMiKe<3Disney]

Kook, I'm glad you are having a great time. I love the feeling walking into the WL. It's so magical!!!!! Have a great trip!!!!

[pas130]

Originally Posted by katiemely

Just finished reading the whole thread! Whew! Now even more excited for our trip the 19-29 of sept! Can't wait!

WOW!!!! Good job! You will LOVE WL...and you'll be there soon

[tarak]

Originally Posted by pepe of ohio

Hey to Tarak..... We're in northeast Ohio and have done the drive and flown (flown only 2 times) so out of 47 trips to WDW we've driven about half and used Amtrak the other half....

Yeah, I hate the drive home too 18-20 hours but the last bunch of trips on the train have been wonderful...lie back, relax and let the train lull you to sleep.... About the same price as driving but unlike a car .... It keeps moving when your eyes ate closed....cost us for the 2of us, round trip = 450.00. Pretty decent for the ride and seeing the country outside your window is alot better than seeing nothing out an airplane window plus no TSA checks or body scans ..

I hear you on the security checks. My youngest daughter has a pacemaker, and it's a huge pain now to go through security. TSA won't do pat downs for children under a certain age unless they have approval from a supervisor and they just have no clue what to do. I flew with her in June and it was just silly. She was three months old at the time, weighed about ten pounds, and they swiped her palms to check for metal debris. They had my stuff go through the scanners and then rifled through it. I had to hold her out so they could inspect her from all sides, then they patted me down. I have four kids and a full time job. If I had time to build a bomb my house would be a lot cleaner than it is.

The upside is I can book non-stop flights for all of us for about $940 (five tickets and the baby sits on a lap). I really want to do the train one trip. I've taken it from Harrisburg to Philly several times for work and it really is soothing. And I think my kids would love it.

Originally Posted by bluecastle

I called my school district before I made reservations for next summer, just to be sure that they were not going to suddenly change the school calendar to start earlier like many of the districts around here already do.

This year school is starting about a week later than they normally do (usually two weeks before labor day). I'm not sure why they made the change - I'd guess it's because some of the schools don't have any air conditioning and it can get brutally hot at the end of August some years (they had to close the schools a year or so ago because it was over 100 for several days and, with no AC, it was just awful). I'll ask if they have any idea when it will start next year, but I might have to wait until January when the school board officially adopts the calendar.

Kook - I'm sorry about your meal at AP. We ate there years ago and it was really good, but I can't remember at all what I ate (end of trip exhaustion, I think). That's fantastic that you could check into WL so early, though.

[Jungle Cruiser]

Hi KOOK . Sounds like this trip is working out well in terms of resorts. You struggled a bit (thank goodness you aren't stroking the fire and priming the pump at FW)and seemed to have found a great split stay, BLuT, then your beloved CL WL! Hope the cobbler is delicious, the view gorgeous and that you are having a wonderful time!

[RedfromNL]

Originally Posted by tarak

I really want to do the train one trip. I've taken it from Harrisburg to Philly several times for work and it really is soothing. And I think my kids would love it.

We always take trains whenever we can, it's so much nicer a way to travel. Sometimes you just can't of course.

Our first visit to WDW we took the train from orlando to new york. Nice! At least that way you get to see something of the country instead of just flying over it. I loved seeing that in a town along the way they actually had build a podium with rocking chairs and all for the trainspotters!!

Our next visit (pleasepleas hopefully) in may next year we plan to take the train from orlando to new york.

Arriving by train is far far far far more restfull than arriving by plain. Not always cheaper, often actually more expensive, but well, just nicer.

[Viking_53]

Are there any "Wilderness Lodge" items in the mercantile this year? I got a great (and soft) t-shirt there 3 years ago.

We've been to other resorts the last couple of years, but we didn't see any "resort specific" items at any of the resorts we were at. We are heading there in 2 weeks.

Thanks!

[bluecastle]

Originally Posted by colbran

We've been to Disney twice, this will be our third, with 14 and 17-y/o boys. Youngest will beat us down there with "band" from his high school and staying at a different resort. Looking to extend his trip with us though, and I've checked out the beginning of this thread and all the pics. Without sounding incredibly stupid, where do I even start to check into prices for this place and discounts, etc.? Just joined this website today, so go easy on me!!

Welcome!

You are going to love this thread. Everyone is very helpful and Kook is the best moderator ever. (IMHO)
Anyhow, for prices and other WDW info I always go to allearsnet.com
(sorry, I don't know how to do links)
mousesavers.com is a good resource for discounts. Both sites have free email newsletters that you can subscribe to that are also good sources for updates and news.
At least that's a start. Happy Planning!

[TheLodgeLady]

Originally Posted by WDWKOOK

We arrived at BLT on Saturday for our first-ever stay in a villa and we've been very happy and pleasantly surprised with the one bedroom villa. We've been spoiled by its size (1000 SF) and the two bathrooms, a W/D a view of Bay Lake and a whirlpool tub and king bed. I've taken many photos that I'll post in a TR next month. The only problem with BLT is that it isn't WL. But, we'll be checking-in to WL tomorrow in time for breakfast in the lounge

We've been constantly on the go since arriving, but I think we'll slow down a bit when we check-in to WL. There's just something about the wilderness that's so calming and those cozy leather chairs just beckon you.

Oh, right after checking-in to BLT on Saturday, we had the pleasure of meeting TheLodgeLady herself! (Thank you for coming over to the CR). Since meeting her, I've renamed her TheLovelyLodgeLady





It wasn't as of April. You might be thinking of the Poly?


I would be happy to give you an update on Tuesday after we check-in. Any other 'tidbits' you'd like to know about?

I know JUST what you mean about the drive. We often vacation within 2-3 hours from our home, and the drive to WDW is almost 14 hours for us. We took two days down, but we drive home non-stop and just the 9 hours we did on Thursday was PLENTY. But, once you get to WDW/WL, you'll feel much better (especially after a good night's rest and some cobbler).


WOWZA! Whatanupgrade. We rode IASW last night during EMH since there was no wait at all. Have you been watching the EWP from your room?


Your trip is almost here! You'll be at HH and WL so soon


Congratulations on upgrading to WL. What a great time of year to go to WL and WDW. I hope you have a wonderful vacation!

Thank you! You make me feel very special. It was wonderful meeting you and your beautiful family also! Wish we had more time to chat.

Next time! Even if we are not staying, we will come up.

[TheLodgeLady]

Originally Posted by pas130

I second that change...which makes it official

[TheLodgeLady]

Originally Posted by Viking_53

Are there any "Wilderness Lodge" items in the mercantile this year? I got a great (and soft) t-shirt there 3 years ago.

We've been to other resorts the last couple of years, but we didn't see any "resort specific" items at any of the resorts we were at. We are heading there in 2 weeks.

Thanks!

Hi there. I don't have any photos but YES they are starting to get in more "resort specific" items. Lots of t-shirts. There was a really nice one for men and a v-neck for women that had the totem with Humphrey on it! They also had lots of DVC items.

Maybe KOOK can get some photos for us (hint).

[Grumpy Grandma]

kook so glad that you are at our beloved WL. Have a wonderful vacation .... can't wait to see some pictures!