(CLOSED) Disney's WILDERNESS LODGE and VILLAS INFORMATION THREAD ~11/13 - 6/14~

[TheLodgeLady]

My hubby and I are traveling to WL in December for our 20th anniversary----first trip without kids!! Trying to decide between Artist Point and a romantic dinner in our room....I'm a very picky eater and am a little worried about booking Artist point. What would you all recommend?? We are also wanting some champagne and maybe strawberries or custom cake in our room....where is the best place to get the champagne...room service or ???? TIA for your help!!

Wow, strawberries and champagne - a great combination! Room service will take care of the strawberries but if you wanted to save a little money go to the Mercantile and buy your champagne. They have it in the refrigerator and it is nice and cold! We love the Ironhorse Fairy Tale Cuvee and I think it is around $30 or so. They also have a few others. I think you can also ask room service if they can bring up two champagne glasses with the strawberries, itis worth a try. Or, the Mercantile sells them and that could be a wonderful keepsake.

As for Artist Point - We love the restaurant. I would give it a try even for a picky eater. You can always ask to have the sauce on the side and you can ask for a different side to go with your meal if that doesn't appeal to you. They will have filet and chicken on the menu. Enjoy!

 

[mmbl]

Our last two dinners at Artist Point were outrageously good. I wouldn't say either of us are picky, per se, but my wife won't eat anything raw, spicy, or unusual animals. (Meanwhile, I had the boar, bison and venison trio! ) But she had a scallop and risotto dish that was her favorite entree of the whole trip. Their menu changes fairly often, so use any online menu as a guideline, but it is helpful to get an idea of the type of items they have.

Artist Point was great!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

I had a solo trip earlier this month. I had the portabella mushroom soup, Filet and crème brûlée for dessert! It was amazing and my first trip to AP

 

[RookieLady]

So excited to be returning to the lodge this summer. We have upgraded to Club. Can you see the electrical water parade from the Club lounge? What about the pool? Since we are staying club, we are going to hang around the hotel more, and my son loves the water parade, so I want to make sure we are in the right place for it.

Thanks!

 

[fla4fun]

Happy 20th Anniversary Wilderness Lodge : )

We stayed there opening day. I still have the pins they handed out that day. It doesn't seem possible it's been that long ago. It's still one of my favorites after all these years. I can't wait to go back next month!

 

[pas130]

Happy 20th Anniversary Wilderness Lodge!! Looking forward to seeing you in August!!

BFF you snuck a RC in on me !!! LOVE IT!!

So excited to be returning to the lodge this summer. We have upgraded to Club. Can you see the electrical water parade from the Club lounge? What about the pool? Since we are staying club, we are going to hang around the hotel more, and my son loves the water parade, so I want to make sure we are in the right place for it.

Thanks!

We were able to see EWP from the lounge while eating some cobbler...YUM! The beach is a way better view with the music..so you can do both! It might be obstructed from the pool though, I am not sure. But you can always hop out and run over to the beach! You will LOVE the lodge!!

 

[pas130]

You can add me to the list...6/15 to 6/23. First time at WL...woods view with bunk beds. Trying to avoid the boys fighting about the bed. We will probably flip a coin for top bunk and then alternate every other night. Lol!

I've had a hard time getting excited for this trip because of the added stress of planning with FP+, but now the magic bands are here and we are less than 3 weeks out I am definitely getting excited.

This thread is awesome!

My girls will do the same, I am hoping for bunks (on club level only a request)

And I agree this thread is awesome, it is the Queen Kook who sets such a good tone WL is as amazing as its fans!!

 

[OfTheWind]

I booked a 1 bedroom for November 16-23! I stayed in a 1 bedroom 4 years ago and I'm so excited to see the brand new rooms in person. I'm also going to the Christmas party for the first time. Does the resort still share with the Grand when going to AK and Downtown Disney?

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

Either location can be romantic as long as the two of you are together.

I've never ordered room service there, but I have eaten at Artist Point four times, and have loved every meal. But I'm not a picky eater.

There should be some menus online some where...try allears, they might have the current menu available.

The room service is incredible! We ordered dinner twice and breakfast twice while on our honeymoon....

 

[Disneychick75]

Does anyone have a direct number to the Wilderness Lodge? We were supposed to arrive at 9am but the weather in NOLA was bad so we decided to drive instead of fly. We won't arrive until 8 or 9 tonight and I want to let them know we're still coming. Thanks!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

does anyone have a direct number to the wilderness lodge? We were supposed to arrive at 9am but the weather in nola was bad so we decided to drive instead of fly. We won't arrive until 8 or 9 tonight and i want to let them know we're still coming. Thanks!

(407) 824-3200

 

[pas130]

(407) 824-3200

I totally forgot to thank you for your wonderful WL pics Stinks the waterfall was dry, but still beautiful!

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

We stayed there opening day. I still have the pins they handed out that day. It doesn't seem possible it's been that long ago. It's still one of my favorites after all these years. I can't wait to go back next month!

How awesome!!!!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

I totally forgot to thank you for your wonderful WL pics Stinks the waterfall was dry, but still beautiful!

it was! All the rocks were cleaner than when we were there in November so I am thinking they either replaced them or powerwashed them.

I never noticed the skulls and driftwood in the stream..anyone know if that is just because it was dry or have I missed it all these years

 

[WDWKOOK]

Hi all,

Loving this thread, checking in in 11 days and Im out of my mind excited! I was browsing WL videos on youtube and came across one I wanted to share...its the lodge from the air at sunrise...pretty cool!

http://youtu.be/0cexGy_4o8Q

Very cool! Thank you for posting the link. I really enjoyed the aerial footage of Wilderness Lodge and Bay Lake at sunrise. I would love to have one of those Phantom camera drones. That is so neat! I thought some of the footage would look good as stills so I screen-grabbed some. Video credits go to NowSeeItMyWay.












Did anyone else notice the "emergency response" near the loading dock and smokehouse?

 

[mcconnellfam96]

it was! All the rocks were cleaner than when we were there in November so I am thinking they either replaced them or powerwashed them.

I never noticed the skulls and driftwood in the stream..anyone know if that is just because it was dry or have I missed it all these years

Anyone know when the stream will be flowing again?

 

[WDWKOOK]

Going page by page with the multi-quote starting with 166

Hmm we would have tried BWI CL but now...

You simply must do a trip report on YC\CL.

If course you'll be the first to know!

There's nothing wrong with trying all the Club Levels. Think of it as a learning experience so you can know which one is your favorite

Cool. We also have to try and get over to ride the "new" ride.

I think it would be neat to not only ride during the day but at night!

Good point about trying it at night. I think it gives you a completely different perspective on both the ride and the park. I love the way Astro Orbiter looks at night.


ETA: Just read this comment by Len Testa in TouringPlans:

Finally, it’s surprising that the ride experience is worse at night. While you get glimpses of the lighting effects at other Fantasyland attractions from various points around the ride, most of the area inside the ride boundary at night is just inky blackness. The queue lighting is vastly better and more nuanced, so perhaps the outdoor lighting isn’t yet finished? But for now, the nighttime visual experience is more more like Space Mountain (which is indoors, and in the dark), than Big Thunder or Splash Mountain.

Can anyone tell me the hours of the pool at Wilderness Lodge?? Thank you!

The activity calendar doesn't list the current time (it changes seasonally), but I think it may be 10-10

This is for you!

Thank so much for posting your photos, CuteAsMinnie.

The final itinerary was revealed tonight around the dinner table Only 5 pages long but not bad for a 12 day trip. This will be our 3rd WL stay but 1st time at the OFC. My parents have never been to the Lodge...so it's a first for them.

No parks, though, while at FW...basically doing NOTHING but relaxing (I think...I don't relax well )

Why yes I do I might even post while I'm there The TR is still up in the air...we'll see how motivated I am when we return from this adventure. As Scarlett says..."I'll think about that tomorrow."

I think it's great that you're experiencing the OFC for the first time with your parents who have never stayed there.

You really expect me to believe you're doing "nothing" at FW? No pool? No Chip 'N Dale? No HDDR? No driving around in that golf cart exploring every nook and cranny? No peeking through the fence at River Country. You're just going to sit out on the porch and read a good book. Maybe you could get started on that TR you HAVE to do.

 

[WDWKOOK]

I am sure many of you have already seen this, but for those of you who haven't.....

The Travel Channel's Samantha Brown filmed an episode of Great Hotels at Wilderness Lodge. Loved it! Check it out....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_QvlSFcU0Y

If I had seen it, I forgot all about it. Thank you for posting the link! Even though it's from 2002, it was great "being back at the Lodge." I did wonder why she didn't review the Club Level lounge, etc… since she was staying in a Deluxe room, but maybe she never figured out where it was. She gave her bag to the bellman (who followed her with it) and then she checked-in at the front desk and not upstairs. I thought the OFC was open in 2002, but maybe she filmed before its opening? But, I thought the Deluxe rooms were called Jr. Suites before the OFC opened? Anyone know?

Very sad. My sister just backed out of our trip. I can't afford two deluxe rooms at WL with a third of our party not present

 

[WDWKOOK]

Of course I'm way behind Kook on this one, but the official WDW Twitter also tweeted the happy 20th birthday!

https://twitter.com/waltdisneyworld/status/471685083481374721

Love the nighttime photo!

I'm so excited I get to re-join here!! We originally booked our trip back at WL back in March, but had to change our dates and no rooms at WL were available for our new dates. I have been calling daily (at least!) since April 5th and today a room became available! It will be DH, DS5, DD1, and me June 10-15th. We have a Courtyard view! I requested to be able to see the pool for DS. Thanks for the positive comments from you guys and from the castmembers when I was calling. I would have probably given up long ago if you hadn't told me your past experiences!

We have our Mickey countdown chain going (similar to this one) and only have 12 days until we leave!

Yippee! Your persistence paid off. I'll add your dates to the Lodgers' Log. Make sure that you request an INNER or WL CV if you want to see the WL pool, Bay Lake, geyser. There are some CV rooms that face the VWL pool, but I think your DS wants to face the WL pool?

So excited to join you all..we will be headed to WL on July 21-27..this is our first time staying deluxe!!! So what do I need to know..we have a courtyard view room

Welcome to the thread. Once you stay at a Deluxe (and WL) there's no going back!

Happy 20th Birthday, Wilderness Lodge!!
See you soon!!!

Hey, that's the tweeted photo from the link psac posted

We are staying at the Wilderness Lodge for the first time with my husband, my 1 yr old and my mom from Nov 9-16th of this year! We are so excited to stay there! It is also our first time going during Christmas events!!!

Welcome and I'll add your dates, too. Did you see on PAGE 2/POST 21 the VWL/WL Christmas photos? You're going to have a wonderful time, but the Lodge might not be decorated yet. Last year, the tree went up on 11/19.

I never got back here to post pictures from my solo trip on May 9-11th.
Room 2135..Perfect!! Love how close it is to Bus and across from RF and boat dock

Thank you for posting more of your photos. A solo trip sounds

I so hope it will be up next week!

Would you mind letting everyone know? And, while you're at it, we'd love to know how your vacation is going!

Happy 20th Anniversary Wilderness Lodge!! Looking forward to seeing you in August!!

Another Poly Bailer? Well, howdy! You have made a fine resort change. Are you staying CL with Jeanette? If you post your dates, I'll put them in the LL

Either location can be romantic as long as the two of you are together.

There should be some menus online some where...try allears, they might have the current menu available.

I love your bolded comment. I have all the menus hyperlinked in the DINING section of the thread - POST 12 and they are mostly from AllEars.

We have ten ADR's booked for our July trip, but weren't able to work Artist point in to the schedule. Would it be worth it to book a late night ADR for just hubby and I for dessert and tea? The cobbler on the menu is calling my name.

Giving a shout out to the wonderful Territory Lounge where they serve cobbler and a great variety of drinks. They also serve many of the entrees from AP. Just ask for the AP menu and you don't even need an ADR to eat there. We love TL and it's nice and cozy.

 

[annaaidan99]

Anyone know when the stream will be flowing again?

I will let you know if it's running when I get there next Thursday. I was hoping someone could tell us before then, but if not I will do it.