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

[DisMom829]

I hope you're not as heartbroken now with the tentative start date of after Labor Day and potentially only a nighttime closure.

Things are definitely looking up!! Thank you for all the hard work. It is appreciated more than you know! Now I can relax and start my list of must try adult beverages. I've already added the Long Island tea. Any other recommendations are appreciated I have a day at each park, 2 at MK & the illuminations sparkling dessert party.

 

[annaaidan99]

Chorizo hominy was excellent, and the two salads went so well together I could have been happy with just that.

 

[allboyhouse]

Where is the best place to watch the Electric Water Pageant? Beach?? I've never been able to watch it and it's on my list for our arrival night. Also, we want to do a carriage ride but I want to do it at night because I read that there are a lot of Christmas decorations up in Fort Wilderness. Anybody have any idea what time it gets dark the week before Christmas?? TIA!!

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

Oops

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

Oh, put your sorrys in a sack. There will be none of that on this thread. Messengers will never be shot around here...

I LOVE our Wilderness Lodge Family! I really do.

 

[disney meema]

Chorizo hominy and crab rangoons, tomato caprese salad and a fantastic potato salad tonight.

Tomato caprese is one of my favorite salads ... And the CL Yummy offerings continue for you : )

 

[Koh1977]

Definitely making sure we are at the resort to try the appetizers!!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[kittyx3]

New to this thread. Thanks all for the updates on the pool. We are celebrating our DD 5th birthday, and the idea that the pool would be closed gutted us. We are super excited because we have been planning this trip for her since we found out she was joining our little family!! Can't believe the time is almost here. It seems like just yesterday that the statement "you know where baby is going for their 5th birthday" was uttered.

We are booked for Sept 30-Oct 11. I see WDW refer to a list? May inquire what the list is?

We are also looking for suggestions to make the big surprise trip even more special. She is booked for many exciting adventures, but to make sure we didn't miss anything, any special suggestions?

Thank you again and love this board. It has been lovely to learn and plan with all of you.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Where is the best place to watch the Electric Water Pageant? Beach?? I've never been able to watch it and it's on my list for our arrival night. Also, we want to do a carriage ride but I want to do it at night because I read that there are a lot of Christmas decorations up in Fort Wilderness. Anybody have any idea what time it gets dark the week before Christmas?? TIA!!

The best place to watch the Electric Water Pageant is the beach. I think the time of it is 9:35pm every night. Sometimes, depending on the Wishes schedule, you can watch the fireworks and the pageant at the same time. Some resort rooms will have a view of it, too. And it is certainly loud enough for just about all of the rooms to hear the music.

Sunset in Orlando the week before Christmas is approximately 5:33pm, according the the internet.

 

[allboyhouse]

Thanks for the info!!

 

[Autumnslight]

We just had night two of our woods view stay, and we haven't had much chance to really explore the lodge yet. We haven't even used the pool yet! We got in late the first night, and went right to bed.

Yesterday, we headed out early for breakfast and the Magic Kingdom. It wound up thunderstorming all afternoon, and into the evening, so the pool was closed, and instead of swimming, we relaxed in our rooms, and wandered around the lodge just a bit. Right when the rain cleared up, we went to a late dinner at California Grill, then over to Magic Kingdom again, where we closed down the park. It was great!

Random observations:

I had the turkey sandwich from the cooler at Roaring Forks yesterday, and it was awesome! It was kind of like the holiday sandwich at Earl of Sandwich. Cranberry mayo, stuffing, really soft bread - delicious!

We're in a woods view bunk bed room, facing the villas. I'm slightly disappointed that we didn't get the otter creek side, but it's not bad. We actually have a view of the VWL pool, so I was surprised this was considered woods view.

We saw the closed bridge in the lobby, and the waterfall outside is enclosed in beige walls/tarps. I haven't gotten too close to that yet, but I'll try o grab some photos later.

 

[martinmont]

Do you guys think all the constructions will be done by mid december?

 

[mcconnellfam96]

Do you guys think all the constructions will be done by mid december?

Based on the information that has been provided on this thread, I would say it probably will be.

 

[XtraEdGe]

60 days! Just did our on-line check-in. Requested for early check-in and highest floor.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Well, I mentioned yesterday that "for fun," I emailed the IPO about the Silver Creek rehab and the WL pool rehab. (The "IPO" is the Itinerary Planning Office. They are your POC prior to your booked Club Level stay.) I received a much appreciated friendly response today, albeit with an aloha! and mahalo. I think she even spelled her own name wrong. Her response does seem to re-confirm that in fact some pool work is going to be done late summer. I wouldn't panic about her August estimate. I still feel that our reliable sources' prediction of an after Labor Day start date is more precise and makes more sense than August, but that is just my feeling and not based on anything I've seen in writing. When asked yesterday by Heather, one of our WL sources was unaware of a set completion date.



FROM THE WL IPO:

Aloha!
Thank you for your email.

At this time, Silver Creek is scheduled to be up and running by July 4th, 2014, however, this is just an estimated time frame and could change at anytime.

Silver Creek Springs pool is not scheduled for refurbishment until August 2014. At this time we have no time frame how long it will be unoperatable.

I hope this was very informative for you, please let us know if we can assist you with anything more.

Hope you have a Magical Day!

Mahalo,
Glennna

Walt Disney World Itinerary Planning Office
Phone: (407) 824-2466
Fax: (407) 824-3174
Polynesian.Itinerary.Planning@disneyworld.com


MY MESSAGE TO THE IPO:

Howdy,

I understand that Silver Creek at WL has work being done on it. It has been dry for sometime and the indoor lobby bridge is closed off. Do you have an estimate as to when the creek repairs will be completed and the water added?

Also, I understand that some pool area work will be starting at WL most likely after Labor Day. Do you have any details on this and do you have an estimate as to when the work will be completed?

 

[disneygirl2785]

Hey Y'all! Thank you for all the info here! DH, DD13mo now, and I, as well as my mom and dad will be splitting our stay in January 2015 between AKL-KV and VWL! We will have a 2 BR Savanna View at KV where we will all stay together from Jan 7-11 and then Jan 11-15 move to our own 2 studios at VWL. By that time, we will definitely need our own space! Anyway, does anyone have any experience with rooms 1501 and 1502 in the Villas? This will be our first experience staying at VWL! I like that they are next to each other so that we can hang out together on the patios. I like the ground floor so we can have a second entrance during nap time for then 21mo. I like that they are centrally located to the pool and the buses. And I like the potential for people watching during down times! However, how do you think the noise level is on the ground level and pretty close to a walkway in that area? From what I remember its pretty quiet over there, but we were there later at night. Wha-cha think? Thanks in advance for your insight!

 

[BandontheRun]

Where is the best place to watch the Electric Water Pageant? Beach?? I've never been able to watch it and it's on my list for our arrival night. Also, we want to do a carriage ride but I want to do it at night because I read that there are a lot of Christmas decorations up in Fort Wilderness. Anybody have any idea what time it gets dark the week before Christmas?? TIA!!

Yes water pageant from the beach. I have often smoked a good cigar (away from people) while watching the water pageant. Brings back great memories for me as someone who has been going to WDE since the 1970s.

 

[lucas]

What are the options to get from the Wilderness Lodge to the Polynesian?

 

[BandontheRun]

What are the options to get from the Wilderness Lodge to the Polynesian?

Take the boat to the Contemporary and ride the monorail to the Polynesian.

 

[4disneygenerations]

WDWKOOK, First of all thank you for all your help. After reading the IPO you sent I again became very concerned It seems to me what they are saying is that the pool rehab will be in August and not after Labor Day. So I took a page from you. I have two reservations, one for myself, daughter and granddaughter in a courtyard view room and one for my son and his family in a club level room. Both these reservation are on me. As I said before I was going to go for the Poly but after all the construction news I went for the WL and was able to give my son's family the club level.

Since he has not received any welcome letter from the OFC I took it upon myself to send a letter letting them know of my son's family arrival, celebrations and room requests. I also mentioned my concern for the lack of a main pool. Lets see what there response will be. I am not trying to stir up trouble but this is a big deal as we spend a lot of down time at the resorts we stay at, and I am trying to give my son's family a special gift. I have been to the WL before, loved it. but don't think the quiet pool can handle the heat of August vacationers.

But again thank you and all other diser's for the information you have supplied. Wishing you a magical vacation