6/16-6/23 TR: It's Hot, Hot, Hot: Update 7/27 Top 10 Lists

[mommytothreeboys]

Woo-Hoo!! Checking in says vacation to me!

Stink that the Yeti was broken. We had heard that before we left too, but it was working fine when we were there. EE is still a great ride...Yeti or no Yeti!

Nice picture of DeVine! She really is amazing, isn't she?

Can't wait to see how the room situation works out!

 

[Planning fanatic mom]

I thought it best to split this into 2 posts because there are a lot more pics to come.

We got back to WL. DH walked down and got the van while the girls and I walked up to the lodge. OK here is the part that shows what hicks we are. We have never stayed in a hotel as nice as WL. Therefore, we are not used to the whole bell service thing. As DH was bringing the van up there were 2 young men waiting in the unloading area. They directed him to pull up to a certain spot. As DH got out of the van, one of the young men asked me if we would like help? I asked if we could borrow one of the carts. He then went on to explain how he can't lend them out, only he could use them. By then my DH is listening and figures out that this man is supposed to help us. SO, DH says, "Sure, you can help us." As this young man is unloading our stuff, he is making small talk and such. DH and I both assume that this is the man that will bring the luggage to the room. It is only after tipping him $15.00 did DH realize that someone else would be bringing our luggage to our room. The young man was very grateful for the tip and told us to have a magical day.

DH went off to park the van. My daughters and I went into the lodge, and I asked someone the quickest way to room 4002. I was given great directions. I left DD16 in the lobby to wait for DH and direct him to the room. Well, room 4002 is all the way at the very end of the lodge. The way the man gave me directions to the room was the long way. We walked past practically every other room on the 4th floor to get to our room. Don't worry we found shortcuts once we got the lay of the land, and it wasn't so bad after that. I want to add here that I had requested a room in the North Wing, (which we got) but I wanted it to face MK. (It did not) However, as you will see, the view was not so bad. We made it to the room and tipped the next Bellman $10.00. Needless to say, we carried our own bags to the car when we departed.

Here are some pics of the room and the view.

Here's the view from our room. That is Bay Lake and if you look at the bottom right had corner that is the path to the boat dock.

The girls and DH went to the pool so that I could unpack. They really liked the pool. This is the only pic I have of the pool.

Up next: Dinner and the skies open UP!!!

 

[mommytothreeboys]

I'm glad you liked your room. The view is very nice!

The tipping story is funny! We do Magical Express so we don't end up tipping the person who brings our bags to the room...mainly because they get dropped off when we aren't there. We take our own bags to the lobby to check out too. The only baggage people we end up tipping are the bell services folk who hold our bags while we wait to go to the airport or when we first arrive before our room is ready. (we don't stay in nice hotels either...only at Disney!)

Looking forward to more!

 

[MinnieNurse]

We stayed at WL in December 2008. It is such a beautiful place. Cant wait to hear more.

 

[Planning fanatic mom]

Woo-Hoo!! Checking in says vacation to me!

Stink that the Yeti was broken. We had heard that before we left too, but it was working fine when we were there. EE is still a great ride...Yeti or no Yeti!

Nice picture of DeVine! She really is amazing, isn't she?

Can't wait to see how the room situation works out!

We were a little disappointed about the Yeti but it didn't stop us from going on several more times during this trip.
Thanks for your help with the Links. I think it worked.

I'm glad you liked your room. The view is very nice!

The tipping story is funny! We do Magical Express so we don't end up tipping the person who brings our bags to the room...mainly because they get dropped off when we aren't there. We take our own bags to the lobby to check out too. The only baggage people we end up tipping are the bell services folk who hold our bags while we wait to go to the airport or when we first arrive before our room is ready. (we don't stay in nice hotels either...only at Disney!)

Looking forward to more!

Although now we know, we would be more careful next time.

We stayed at WL in December 2008. It is such a beautiful place. Cant wait to hear more.

LOVE THE WILDERNESS LODGE!!!
Thanks for reading.

 

[janloz]

Subscribing. We are styaing at WL next Sept and looking forward to any info you can give about WL, the buses, and dining. TR is great so far.

 

[butiflfeet]

I've always loved Wilderness Lodge! I can't wait to hear more about your trip

 

[khertz]

Man, would I love to stay at the WL! It looks so beautiful in pictures, I can't wait to see it in person, even though we will just be passing through. lol

We are EE junkies too. Stinks that the Yeti hardly ever works, but it is still an awesome ride! Looks like y'all were off to a great start!

 

[Planning fanatic mom]

Subscribing. We are styaing at WL next Sept and looking forward to any info you can give about WL, the buses, and dining. TR is great so far.

Hello and welcome. I will do my best to give you lots of information. If I forget something, feel free to ask a question anytime.

I've always loved Wilderness Lodge! I can't wait to hear more about your trip

This was our first stay. Our favorite part was the fact that everything was under one roof. You didn't need to worry about rain or heat going to the store, arcade, or roaring fork.

Man, would I love to stay at the WL! It looks so beautiful in pictures, I can't wait to see it in person, even though we will just be passing through. lol

We are EE junkies too. Stinks that the Yeti hardly ever works, but it is still an awesome ride! Looks like y'all were off to a great start!

I just hope that I don't have a scheduled trip when they decide to fix her. I have heard that it would have to be a lengthy fix.

 

[jmommy]

Subscribing. We were there the same dates as you, so interested in reading your take on heat and crowds. Thanks!

 

[cjackearl]

Man, I was sure I had replied to this post. Anyhow, the WL looks gorgeous! What a treat. I remember that downpour!! We were on our way home from dinner.

 

[Planning fanatic mom]

Subscribing. We were there the same dates as you, so interested in reading your take on heat and crowds. Thanks!

Take a look at my pics as well and see if you are in any. I think that would be so neat to see myself in someone else's pics. As you can tell by my TR title I thought it was very hot, but I didn't think the crowds were bad at all. I figure everyone was at the water parks. We did not go to the water parks. Where did you stay?

Man, I was sure I had replied to this post. Anyhow, the WL looks gorgeous! What a treat. I remember that downpour!! We were on our way home from dinner.

You did because you told me you went to Waffle House too. We are probably going to get ourselves so mixed up by reading each other's reports at the same time. Oh, well, it will be fun.

I will post the next installment tomorrow. It is a cleaning day around here, and I will need a break.

 

[Sunset Cliffs]

Hi there! I saw the dates in your title and realized we were there at the same time as you. The words "Hot, Hot, Hot" are just the beginning of how hot it was! I will be following to see if our paths overlap at all. That rain storm was a doozy! We were leaving the AKL when it hit and had to drive quite a distance in it.

BTW - we walked right past your room at the WL when we visited. I remember saying that the people in those rooms probably had amazing views. Great start to your report!

 

[Planning fanatic mom]

Hi there! I saw the dates in your title and realized we were there at the same time as you. The words "Hot, Hot, Hot" are just the beginning of how hot it was! I will be following to see if our paths overlap at all. That rain storm was a doozy! We were leaving the AKL when it hit and had to drive quite a distance in it.

BTW - we walked right past your room at the WL when we visited. I remember saying that the people in those rooms probably had amazing views. Great start to your report!

Welcome. Please let me know if we crossed paths. The view was amazing and very private. More to come about our special nightly treat!!

 

[Planning fanatic mom]

When last we left each other, the girls and DH were swimming in the pool, and I was unpacking. Let me say this about the WL, I know this is the smallest of the Deluxe Rooms, but there was plenty for room for us. The sink area with the shelves was plenty of room. I really used the large closet to store stuff. There was a spot for the cooler and drying rack. There was a table and large area on the dresser to put stuff and there was a whole shelf above the TV. The beds were also very comfy

When I went out on the balcony to take in the view again, I heard the pool party starting. I knew my family would be back soon because they are not pool party people. While they showered I went exploring. This is when I realized that the geyser was not working. I was very disappointed. I kept hoping that it would be working before we left, but alas, it did not. I walked to the beach and saw where they show the nightly movies. I saw the quiet pool by the villas. Sorry, no pics. I had forgotten the camera in the room.

Once we were all cleaned up, we headed down to WCC for our first table service meal on the dining plan. We had eaten here before, so we knew what to expect and not to ask for ketchup. I checked in, and we were seated in just a few minutes. We were not seated in the main dining area. We were seated on the "porch". Which if you have ever been to WL is right next to the hallway to go down to Roaring Forks. At first I was going to request a different table, but my DD13 said that we should sit there because the little kids should get to sit in the main area. I thought that she was being very thoughtful, and I decided not to make a fuss. We all had the canyon skillet and ate way too much. I still dream about the mashed potatoes. The girls were not that hungry for dessert, so they took their dessert to go and went and explored the resort. DH and I enjoyed wonderful apple pie and talked about what to do next. We had planned on heading out to MK for the evening, but as our dessert was being delivered, the skies opened up. There was tons of thunder and lightening.
We also noticed that there was a photopass photographer in the lobby taking pics. We decided to get our pic taken without the girls. I don't know about you all but we have very few pics of just us as a couple. They came out great, and I even ordered a 5x7.
We headed up to the room to wait out the storm. Well it didn't stop. That storm lasted hours. The girls and DH decided to check out the arcade. (If you have kids, this one is pretty good. They have a guitar hero.) While they were gone, there was a thunder clap that shook the entire hotel. AND this is one big hotel. We did not lose power in our room, but apparently part of the Lodge did lose power.
It was still raining at 9:00, so we decide to call it a night and get ready for bed. THEN.... at 9:35 it arrived, yes, you guessed it, THE ELECTRIC WATER PAGAENT!!!!
I heard the music and jumped up. Now I had heard about this but had never seen it. The rest of my family had no idea that it even existed. Well, from our balcony we had a great view and could hear everything. This is the only decent pic that turned out.

Although we thought this was cute, we find it hard to believe that they do this everynight. And I am hear to tell you they do this EVERY NIGHT!!! Has it always been the same??? Anyway we got to see it and listened to it. By the way it had just stopped raining when it came through.

We settled down for the night and heard the MK fireworks going off at 11:00. They were sheduled for 10:00, but I guess because for the storm, they had to push it back an hour.

Next UP!! Magic Kingdom

 

[Planning fanatic mom]

While I was posting the last update, I got the phone call that all parents of teenagers dread. My DD16 passed her driving test. and I am so happy for her, but I am scared to death of her driving on her own. If you have survived this, please, please give me some advice.

Thanks.

 

[jmommy]

We were at POFQ from 6/15-6/22...stayed one night (6/14) at Buena Vista Palace before checking in. The heat was horrible...and we are from NC and pretty used to heat and humidity. We were at the parks everyday at rope drop and usually back to resort for swim/rest by 2pm. We have never been the type to go back to the resort midday so this was a first for us. Also, this was our first official summer time visit. Our oldest daughter is in middle school so there is no pulling her out for vacations anymore. I didn't find the crowds as bad as I had anticipated...avoided any EMH park and used FP so felt like we were able to do everything multiple times. We did go to BB one day and the morning hours were great, but crowd increased by lunchtime. Luckily by then we had done all of the slides and were just chilling in the wave pool...so all was good in our world. All in all, we had a great visit. I find it interesting how our visits to Disney are different each time according to the ages of our kids...at first it was all about characters, etc....now at 14 and almost 11, it is all about the rides!! Fun times!! We also did Universal for 3 days after our time at Disney. Stayed at Hard Rock. Was really glad to be home...atleast for a few days, now I am ready to head back. Why does everything seems so much easier to handle when you are in Disney???

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Sounds like you had a nice, relaxing evening. It's probably good you were able to do that on your first night. Now you can be well rested and ready for the next day!

We've never eaten at WCC but it's on my list of places I'd like to try.

Cool that you could see the water pageant from your room.

Here's hoping the rain goes away!

 

[topdog]

Great update!! Damn! I missed WL. I wish there was thunder storm when I was there. It must be awesome inside WL while thunder and lighting outside. I would've hang around the 4th floor balcony looking at the lagoon.

We ate at the WCC porch dining room once. I thought it was very nice. Much more quiet and private than the main dining room. I hope you get to eat at Artist Point too. That's a must for us.

 

[cjackearl]

You could see the Electric Water Pageant from your room? That is awesome!

How sweet of your DD to want to save the main dining room for the little ones. I've seen pictures of the skillet and it looks delicious.

Tell your DD congratulationson the driving test.

Yea that you got a picture of you and hubby that you like.