Allegro
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2007
- Messages
- 357
Hello all. Just back from a week at the Wilderness lodge and thought I would return the favour of those that helped me out by sharing my impressions. We had a great trip btw. The weather wasnt bad cool at first and then gloriously hot. 
Wilderness Lodge lived up to everything good we heard about it before leaving. It may have even held a few surprises.
It truly is a beautiful hotel. The grounds, the lobby, the views. There is literally nothing to complain about there. We arrived mid afternoon and check-in was quick and efficient. The CM who checked us in was friendly and bright and laughed at my jokes so all good there. Surprisingly despite my charm she didnt offer to upgrade me to concierge at the Grand Floridian.
We had had cell phones shipped to the hotel for our use (its a Canadian thing) and they were ready and waiting for us and offered up promptly. We were given a room on the same floor as the lobby (2nd) and I tempered my disappointment at not being higher up with the knowledge that we would not have to use elevators and off we went.
The room, 2144, was a disappointment. Actually the room was fine; it was the view that was the disappointment. I requested an inner courtyard view when I made my reservation and I had to argue with the CM at the time that all views were not created equal. We got the unequal view: a view of the quiet pool and the villas. I was going to live with it, I really was. Then, I walked through the courtyard on the way to borrow a pair of scissors from the front desk. I went back to the room and asked an annoyed to be bothered DH to walk with me and tell me if we should change rooms. He stepped into the courtyard and told me to go right to the front desk. Changin rooms wasnt a problem at all. It took five minutes and we had a new room assignment. They were VERY helpful. Still no upgrade to say concierge at the Polynesian I was very confused now.
Our new room 5145 had the exact view I had hoped for.
The room itself was all right but ironically the room we left was in better shape. The tub in our new room had a huge patch of enamel that had peeled off and the bathrobe hook in the bathroom was absent. Ah well. We could deal and did. We had no other problems and enjoyed the hotel room. Wonderful water pressure and terrific rainhead showerheads. I liked the two sinks outside the main bathroom. It was a convenient place to huddle that first night when the kids needed to sleep and DH and I didn't want to sit in the dark while they fell asleep (it was a cool night so the balcony not a great option).
The kids LOVED the bunk beds. As did we. By temporarily hanging a blanket over the top railing while waiting for my youngest (so easily distracted by anything) to fall asleep each evening it was almost like giving him his own room). And seperating the kids visually ended the before sleep hijinks that they tend to get up to if they can see each other. Surprisingly my little one, my daredevil, heeded my rule that he wasnt allowed up on the top bunk (we let him climb up there for an initial experience when we got to the room and not again). There are nice well secured (locked actually) side rails on the upper bunk and my daughter (5) was quite comfortable and safe up top. Both kids thought it really neat that they had their own little light.
Weve heard complaints that the rooms are on the dark side but didnt find this the case at all. They arent gloriously sunny but on the whole they werent that bad once you had opened up the curtains. Our room was also very quiet. The courtyard can be noisy once the sliding door was open it was quite noisy in the room but closed it did a good job of keeping the pool noise out of the room. We did hear the boat whistles quite regularly and the Electrical Water Pageant (which we could see from our balcony but never watched but a few minutes of) was very loud. Still they werent a big deal and easy to tune out. In most hotels I have stayed at the noise of people doing their ablutions in the morning was like and alarm clock not so at the Wilderness Lodge. I either had very dirty neighbours or the soundproofing is that good. I did hear the yells and shouts of other peoples kids on occasion but as annoying as that was Im sure people also heard my children on those occasions when I didnt get their gags and bindings in place quick enough.
Mousekeeping was good. Nothing obviously bad about the room and we received towel animals 3 times in a 6 night stay. We tipped 5 times in a six-night stay (once we didnt have any small change) and the first day we didnt get a towel animal was that day we didnt tip DH thinks it's related. I think not.
DHs only complaint was that the room was a little on the small side. Laying at home on our return it occurred to me that my own bedroom was about twice the size of the room I had shared with my two kids for a week. It was less of a big deal for me then it was for DH but this is the only factor that would keep me from returning.
Transportation was great. We stood on a bus once on the way back from Animal Kingdom. It was a bus we ran to catch and probably should just have let go. It was an awful ride because there was an accident between a Park bus and a Mears bus that blocked our way and a long detour etc. etc. etc. Some nice man gave my kids his seat though so at least I didnt have to worry about them tumbling over. We waited longer than 15 minutes for a bus (a bus to MK) only once as well. In general the buses came on average inside a 10 15 minute window. The boats were quicker wait wise but took longer to get to MK than the bus did so it depended on our mood how we traveled. A couple of times we took the boat to the Contemporary and then hopped the monorail. I went expecting to have annoying transportation problems and was pleasantly surprised. Not once did I regret not having a car at my disposal. And I met the nicest people either on the bus or while waiting.
We had a bunch of ADRs for breakfast at the WCC to give us an option in the morning. We only used one and cancelled the ones we werent going to use the night before although the morning we did eat there it was pretty quiet and I doubt anyone would have a problem just walking up. It was a nice breakfast and it runs only slightly more expensive than eating at the Roaring Forks. Having discovered that, I would probably opt to eat breakie at the WCC more often although cereal in our room did the trick most mornings since we really wanted to save time. We had a lunch and a breakfast at Roaring Forks and that too was fine. Easy to find a table. Good food. Friendly and helpful cast members.
The pool was nice. DD enjoyed the slide and DS the kiddie pool. The spas were funny - one was quite comfortable. The other was so hot you were in danger of being boiled alive. You could only stay in in a few moments and then you needed a break. It was a nice way to end a day though.
I cant think of anything else to mention but if anyone has any questions Id be glad to help.
Wilderness Lodge lived up to everything good we heard about it before leaving. It may have even held a few surprises.
It truly is a beautiful hotel. The grounds, the lobby, the views. There is literally nothing to complain about there. We arrived mid afternoon and check-in was quick and efficient. The CM who checked us in was friendly and bright and laughed at my jokes so all good there. Surprisingly despite my charm she didnt offer to upgrade me to concierge at the Grand Floridian.
We had had cell phones shipped to the hotel for our use (its a Canadian thing) and they were ready and waiting for us and offered up promptly. We were given a room on the same floor as the lobby (2nd) and I tempered my disappointment at not being higher up with the knowledge that we would not have to use elevators and off we went.The room, 2144, was a disappointment. Actually the room was fine; it was the view that was the disappointment. I requested an inner courtyard view when I made my reservation and I had to argue with the CM at the time that all views were not created equal. We got the unequal view: a view of the quiet pool and the villas. I was going to live with it, I really was. Then, I walked through the courtyard on the way to borrow a pair of scissors from the front desk. I went back to the room and asked an annoyed to be bothered DH to walk with me and tell me if we should change rooms. He stepped into the courtyard and told me to go right to the front desk. Changin rooms wasnt a problem at all. It took five minutes and we had a new room assignment. They were VERY helpful. Still no upgrade to say concierge at the Polynesian I was very confused now.
Our new room 5145 had the exact view I had hoped for.
The room itself was all right but ironically the room we left was in better shape. The tub in our new room had a huge patch of enamel that had peeled off and the bathrobe hook in the bathroom was absent. Ah well. We could deal and did. We had no other problems and enjoyed the hotel room. Wonderful water pressure and terrific rainhead showerheads. I liked the two sinks outside the main bathroom. It was a convenient place to huddle that first night when the kids needed to sleep and DH and I didn't want to sit in the dark while they fell asleep (it was a cool night so the balcony not a great option).
The kids LOVED the bunk beds. As did we. By temporarily hanging a blanket over the top railing while waiting for my youngest (so easily distracted by anything) to fall asleep each evening it was almost like giving him his own room). And seperating the kids visually ended the before sleep hijinks that they tend to get up to if they can see each other. Surprisingly my little one, my daredevil, heeded my rule that he wasnt allowed up on the top bunk (we let him climb up there for an initial experience when we got to the room and not again). There are nice well secured (locked actually) side rails on the upper bunk and my daughter (5) was quite comfortable and safe up top. Both kids thought it really neat that they had their own little light.
Weve heard complaints that the rooms are on the dark side but didnt find this the case at all. They arent gloriously sunny but on the whole they werent that bad once you had opened up the curtains. Our room was also very quiet. The courtyard can be noisy once the sliding door was open it was quite noisy in the room but closed it did a good job of keeping the pool noise out of the room. We did hear the boat whistles quite regularly and the Electrical Water Pageant (which we could see from our balcony but never watched but a few minutes of) was very loud. Still they werent a big deal and easy to tune out. In most hotels I have stayed at the noise of people doing their ablutions in the morning was like and alarm clock not so at the Wilderness Lodge. I either had very dirty neighbours or the soundproofing is that good. I did hear the yells and shouts of other peoples kids on occasion but as annoying as that was Im sure people also heard my children on those occasions when I didnt get their gags and bindings in place quick enough.
Mousekeeping was good. Nothing obviously bad about the room and we received towel animals 3 times in a 6 night stay. We tipped 5 times in a six-night stay (once we didnt have any small change) and the first day we didnt get a towel animal was that day we didnt tip DH thinks it's related. I think not.
DHs only complaint was that the room was a little on the small side. Laying at home on our return it occurred to me that my own bedroom was about twice the size of the room I had shared with my two kids for a week. It was less of a big deal for me then it was for DH but this is the only factor that would keep me from returning.
Transportation was great. We stood on a bus once on the way back from Animal Kingdom. It was a bus we ran to catch and probably should just have let go. It was an awful ride because there was an accident between a Park bus and a Mears bus that blocked our way and a long detour etc. etc. etc. Some nice man gave my kids his seat though so at least I didnt have to worry about them tumbling over. We waited longer than 15 minutes for a bus (a bus to MK) only once as well. In general the buses came on average inside a 10 15 minute window. The boats were quicker wait wise but took longer to get to MK than the bus did so it depended on our mood how we traveled. A couple of times we took the boat to the Contemporary and then hopped the monorail. I went expecting to have annoying transportation problems and was pleasantly surprised. Not once did I regret not having a car at my disposal. And I met the nicest people either on the bus or while waiting.
We had a bunch of ADRs for breakfast at the WCC to give us an option in the morning. We only used one and cancelled the ones we werent going to use the night before although the morning we did eat there it was pretty quiet and I doubt anyone would have a problem just walking up. It was a nice breakfast and it runs only slightly more expensive than eating at the Roaring Forks. Having discovered that, I would probably opt to eat breakie at the WCC more often although cereal in our room did the trick most mornings since we really wanted to save time. We had a lunch and a breakfast at Roaring Forks and that too was fine. Easy to find a table. Good food. Friendly and helpful cast members.
The pool was nice. DD enjoyed the slide and DS the kiddie pool. The spas were funny - one was quite comfortable. The other was so hot you were in danger of being boiled alive. You could only stay in in a few moments and then you needed a break. It was a nice way to end a day though.
I cant think of anything else to mention but if anyone has any questions Id be glad to help.
The rooms really are on the small side - for four of us to eat comfortably in the room would have been difficult. In general the kids would sit at the table and have cereal in the morning and when they were done DH and I would eat. This worked well for cereal, fruit and yogurt but I wouldn't want to lay out for room service charges to eat like I was camping. 
