It is now after 3:30 and we have checked into the Wilderness Lodge. Check in went really quick and of course by this time of the day, our room was ready. I had completed some information on line at our DVC site regarding what are you celebrating. I mentioned that the trip was for our anniversary even though the actual date was not until May. Since BW did not mention this at check in, I was not expecting anything at WL. However, our check-in CM did note it and gave us anniversary buttons. Nice touch.
So we set off for the Villa area at WL. It was a short walk down a wooden walk way and the entire way was covered. When first entering the villas, there is a large room with a fireplace, lounge chairs, rocking chairs, and gathering/game room area. The exercise room (Sturdy Branches) was there also. It was a very impressive and large area and still quite dark. We saw very few people actually using this space while we were there. Our room happened to be the last one on the left side of the endless hall. (and I thought the BW hallways were long!) I think the difference is
at the BW, the hall has a little bend to it. At WL, it is just straight, so you can see from one end to the other. Therefore, it appears longer.
Endless Hallway
Our Room #
Inside our room
Some details of the carpets in the hall. In sticking with the woodsy theme, the carpet has lots of pine cones and pine needles.
Here is our view out of the patio. Very pretty wooded area.
Since we were on the first floor, our patio was just there on the ground surrounded by foliage. Not as nice as an upper floor balcony. And since we were at the end of the building, there was no foot traffic back there. One day we did see a grounds keeper walk through. So it was a very quiet and private area. But because of the on ground patio and its location, we did not sit out there at all. Directly to the right of the patio was a maintenance area. It was pretty well hidden behind tall wooden gates.
We got settled in, took a short rest, and left the room about 5:30 to catch the boat to MK.
At MK we will transfer to the resort mono-rail to get to the Poly. We have an ADR at Ohana. The walk to the boat dock took us past the villa pool, the main pool and a beach area. All of them were very nice. At the boat dock, there are two lines. One side with blue flagged boats going to Fort Wilderness. The other side with the red flagged boats going to MK. We got in the red flag line. We noticed that every other boat was a large one that seated lots of people and then a smaller one that sat maybe only 25-30 people. The large one you could wheel on strollers, wheel chairs and ECVs. The small one you had to fold up the strollers and did not accommodate wheel chairs/ECVs at all. The boats arrived about every 15-20 minutes. After experiencing it for a few days, it seems like a really efficient system.
Large boat
Small open boat
Our view of the MK approching by boat
Since our ADR was not until 7:40, we thought we might go into the MK for a while. However, when we got there we did not feel like going inside, so we just got on the mono-rail. Maybe Ohana would take us early? If not, we would be happy to wait in the lounge. We were about an hour early. We found some chairs in the lounge area and DH ordered one of his special drinks again. I just had my same old standby, ice water. We only waited about 15 minutes for our table. Our table was right on the edge of the dining room by the walkway that goes around the room. That means were in a direct line for the maraca parade and limbo parade. In fact the limbo sticks were right by our table.
But since they got us in early, I wasnt going to complain. There sure were a lot of kids in the restaurant that night! I know some people are not fond of the ukulele lady and she can be a little annoying. But you have to give her credit, she put her heart into it and she is very sweet to everyone.
Once again, we were served up this bad meal of shrimp shells and chicken bones. Why do we keep coming back here????
Seriously, it was very good and so was the service. We will be back.
There was a very upsetting incident across the way from us. There was a large table of about 12 people with several children/babies. A small child at the end of the table had a bout of gagging/vomiting. The poor people at the table next to them got in the way of this. I felt so bad for everyone involved. The child was ok after, but the poor mom was very upset and crying. Stuff happens!!!!
I see from my receipt we paid for this meal with our Disney Rewards Card. We had managed to accumulate 158 points since our last visit. This card paid for our Ohana dinner and a couple of other ones as well. Gotta love the Disney Visa card.
We made it back to the MK by about 8:00. Our mono-rail ride was in the front. We shared the front with another couple. Our driver was very friendly. (I have heard stories of some drivers not being very nice).
We did Laugh Floor Comedy, Buzz and Haunted Mansion. We watched the end of the parade in Liberty Square only because we were unable to get past it. With the construction boards around the Hall of Presidents we were trapped there until the parade was done. After the parade, we went to Main Street to get a spot for Wishes. The wait time for Wishes was about 20 minutes. We were half way through the trip and this was our first viewing of Wishes up close. (Remember we did see it from the Contemporary on Sunday.) A trip to WDW is not complete until I see this fire works show. DH is not as enthused about it.
We left with the masses and got in the huge line at the boat dock. After a 15 minute wait a large boat arrived and it started loading. We kept moving up in the line. But of course we were the cut off. (just like the ME bus back on Saturday). At this point we were thinking
.next time take the bus! So we waited another 15 minutes for the next boat. That one was a small one, but since we were first in line, we had no worries about getting on it. It was a little chilly on the small open boat.
Back to the WL about 11:15. Watched TV and read a little. To bed by midnight
. AGAIN.