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

[klacey1]

One week till we drop anchor at the YC Some monorail news: Beginning 6/22/14: The monorail will have a different operating schedule than normal as an automation upgrade takes place. An automated monorail will allow for faster switching times, more frequent dispatching of trains, and accurate arrival information. Additional buses and watercraft will be available during this time. This schedule will be in place for a few months, but no specific end date has been set. The schedule will be: 
Epcot - 9:00am-11:00pm
 Resort monorail - 9:30am-11:30pm
 Express monorail - 8:30am-midnight. Outside of these hours, alternate watercraft and bus transportation is available. http://www.wdwinfo.com/transportation/monorail.htm#schedule

Is this a new PERMANENT schedule or just for a month or so as they fix things?? We were considering switching to the GF, but not worth it if we can't get to MK or Epcot for rope drop via the monorail. (Our dates are 9/16-9/22)

 

[klacey1]

Is this a new PERMANENT schedule or just for a month or so as they fix things?? We were considering switching to the GF, but not worth it if we can't get to MK or Epcot for rope drop via the monorail. (Our dates are 9/16-9/22)

Sorry, clearly I didn't read the whole thing! Grr what does "a few months" means?? So conflicted now about taking a chance and switching to GF...

 

[XtraEdGe]

I apologize if I have missed it but where did you read/see it was after Labor day? We will be there 8/28-8/31. I can't find this anywhere else

Here's WDWKOOK on the pool closure:

THIS JUST IN FROM DETECTIVE HEATHER/hstrickland!​

A reliable WL source, whom I know, has confirmed that the work that is to be done does NOT involve the pool itself. The current WL children's pool is going to be replaced with a kid's splash area like at the other Deluxes. The start date remains "sometime after Labor Day."

I have (nicely) asked Heather to re-confirm that the closure would only be after 7 PM and I will offer to share my congratulatory Long Island Iced Tea with her

CAHarwell: I still want to know what the pool contractor tells you so we can compare notes for "our travel group."

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

Has anyone heard anything re: the pool?

 

[nyrebecca]

Hope everyone is having fun planning , or enjoying their vacations!

Kook, if you get a chance can you remove us from the August list. We are still going, but downsized to save some $$ and will be trying out CSR. We did end up going business class which means we have access to their mini club lounge. Should be interesting.

We are still set to go to the WL OFC in November. THAT WILL NOT CHANGE. I have made sure of that.

 

[attain]

We check out of WL yesterday for our first of many future stays! DS5 said as we backed out of the parking spot "I miss the hotel!" I think that sums up all our feelings! We had some really heavy afternoon showers that didn't want to stop, so we spent one morning at the pool to fulfill my promise to DS5 the he could go down the water slide if he learned to swim during his lessons all year. We also requested a late checkout yesterday & enjoyed the pool one last time. I did appreciate the geyser since it was our "alarm" for when we wanted to get out of the pool!

We also really loved Roaring Forks & ended up ordering & bringing to our room 4 times in our 6 days! The children's pasta was a hit with DD22months, when she rarely eats even at home. We also rented a double stroller and only had to collapse it a couple times for boat rides. The larger boat made traveling with kids and all the stuff that goes with them so much easier!

We were in room 6061, which is considered a courtyard view, although it was more of a roof/gutter view. Next time, I will specifically request a better view. My son was disappointed the bridge over the spring was roped off and as he had been looking forward to walking on it. Hopefully, he will have that chance on our next trip (fingers crossed next year!)

Thank you to everyone on this thread who have contributed with pictures and answering questions! It was definitely worth me calling daily for nearly 2 months until a room became available!

 

[attain]

I also wanted to mention that we saw a Disney photographer taking family pictures of a group during our stay. I thought it was a beautiful location and I'm sure even better when the creek is running! If anyone is thinking of taking family pictures (yourself or with a Disney photographer) WL would be a wonderful location!

 

[princessesintraining]

We check out of WL yesterday for our first of many future stays! DS5 said as we backed out of the parking spot "I miss the hotel!" I think that sums up all our feelings! We had some really heavy afternoon showers that didn't want to stop, so we spent one morning at the pool to fulfill my promise to DS5 the he could go down the water slide if he learned to swim during his lessons all year. We also requested a late checkout yesterday & enjoyed the pool one last time. I did appreciate the geyser since it was our "alarm" for when we wanted to get out of the pool!

We also really loved Roaring Forks & ended up ordering & bringing to our room 4 times in our 6 days! The children's pasta was a hit with DD22months, when she rarely eats even at home. We also rented a double stroller and only had to collapse it a couple times for boat rides. The larger boat made traveling with kids and all the stuff that goes with them so much easier!

We were in room 6061, which is considered a courtyard view, although it was more of a roof/gutter view. Next time, I will specifically request a better view. My son was disappointed the bridge over the spring was roped off and as he had been looking forward to walking on it. Hopefully, he will have that chance on our next trip (fingers crossed next year!)

Thank you to everyone on this thread who have contributed with pictures and answering questions! It was definitely worth me calling daily for nearly 2 months until a room became available!

We checked out yesterday too. We were in room 6052. Standard view of the loading docks, but we had a view of wishes every night. My girls loved it. We definitely spent more time in the room this trip due to all the afternoon rain, but it was still a great trip.

 

[attain]

We checked out yesterday too. We were in room 6052. Standard view of the loading docks, but we had a view of wishes every night. My girls loved it. We definitely spent more time in the room this trip due to all the afternoon rain, but it was still a great trip.

The interior rooms to WL made getting around, out of the room, and exploring the resort much easier, especially when raining!

 

[scmommy718]

I wanted to update our stay. We are now going Dec 19-24 (an extra day!) woohoo! I can't wait. We will probably just hang out in DTD that night we get there though bc I didn't get tickets for that day. I am so excited! Is it even warm enough there in Dec for the pool?? We are in South Carolina and I don't think it would be warm enough here in December, but I've only been to Disney once and it was during September (SOOO HOT). I am LOVING the pails! That would be such a cute surprise for the kids to have waiting. I am just so excited! I can do our ADR's on Sunday! Do I have to wait to book BBB at 180 days as well???

And just out of curiosity, DH and I might take a kid free trip early next year for a 1 year anniversary... Suggestions of a resort? Preferably deluxe Would you stick with WL or do something different?

 

[juliehoey]

Here's WDWKOOK on the pool closure:

THANKS! I had not seen this post update!

 

[mcconnellfam96]

That looks YUMMY.

 

[mcconnellfam96]

I wanted to update our stay. We are now going Dec 19-24 (an extra day!) woohoo! I can't wait. We will probably just hang out in DTD that night we get there though bc I didn't get tickets for that day. I am so excited! Is it even warm enough there in Dec for the pool?? We are in South Carolina and I don't think it would be warm enough here in December, but I've only been to Disney once and it was during September (SOOO HOT). I am LOVING the pails! That would be such a cute surprise for the kids to have waiting. I am just so excited! I can do our ADR's on Sunday! Do I have to wait to book BBB at 180 days as well??? And just out of curiosity, DH and I might take a kid free trip early next year for a 1 year anniversary... Suggestions of a resort? Preferably deluxe Would you stick with WL or do something different?

We have been to WDW once in December. While it definitely wasn't HOT (we would be in jeans and hoodies by evening in the parks) our kids did get a could of swims in while we were there. They are Michigan kids and are used to the cold, though. LOL Any of the deluxe hotels are great - we love the deluxes in the MK area. For something different I would try the Contemporary or the GF. I would wait a bit longer to try Poly, as the construction will still be in progress at the beginning of 2015.

 

[WishnDisney]

We checked in yesterday for our first stay. I had requested an upper floor north wing but we are on main floor facing the DVC pool. It's all good. Quiet and no waiting for elevators.

This place is amazing. CMs have been very nice. The current "construction" isn't a big deal. Would have loved to see the stream in the lobby but that's okay. This is definitely a great place to come back to spend our afternoons.

So far we have done MK. Had to take bus over because of storms but came back on the boat. So convenient AND fun.

Ate at Ohana last night. Way too much construction.

 

[maddiebee]

We checked out yesterday too. We were in room 6052. Standard view of the loading docks, but we had a view of wishes every night. My girls loved it. We definitely spent more time in the room this trip due to all the afternoon rain, but it was still a great trip.

So would you recommend requesting this room if getting a standard view room?

 

[GrandCalifornian]

We check out of WL yesterday for our first of many future stays! DS5 said as we backed out of the parking spot "I miss the hotel!" I think that sums up all our feelings!

We checked out yesterday too. We were in room 6052. Standard view of the loading docks, but we had a view of wishes every night. My girls loved it. We definitely spent more time in the room this trip due to all the afternoon rain, but it was still a great trip.

That's great that you both had great trips, and interesting that you were just across the hall and down a bit from each other. With the weather it sounds like being all under one roof was great, and I'm glad to hear you both enjoyed the lodge so much. It really is a wonderful place.

 

[Mfischee]

What construction is going on??

 

[princessesintraining]

So would you recommend requesting this room if getting a standard view room?

This was my second time booking standard. Both times I requested north wing, upper floor. First time we were on the 4 th floor. We were too low to see wishes. This time we got the 6 th floor and the view wAs great at night. You definitely see/ hear the loading dock, but we could lay on the bed at night and watch all the high fireworks, which my girls loved. We weren't bothered by the boat horns, or backup vehicle noises.

We truly don't spend lot of time in the room, so the view doesn't bother us and I would book/ request it again. It also saved me a little money from other views, so I could extend my trip.

 

[mcconnellfam96]

We checked in yesterday for our first stay. I had requested an upper floor north wing but we are on main floor facing the DVC pool. It's all good. Quiet and no waiting for elevators. This place is amazing. CMs have been very nice. The current "construction" isn't a big deal. Would have loved to see the stream in the lobby but that's okay. This is definitely a great place to come back to spend our afternoons. So far we have done MK. Had to take bus over because of storms but came back on the boat. So convenient AND fun. Ate at Ohana last night. Way too much construction.

Dinner at Ohana's sounds so good....wish I was there TONIGHT!

 

[maddiebee]

This was my second time booking standard. Both times I requested north wing, upper floor. First time we were on the 4 th floor. We were too low to see wishes. This time we got the 6 th floor and the view wAs great at night. You definitely see/ hear the loading dock, but we could lay on the bed at night and watch all the high fireworks, which my girls loved. We weren't bothered by the boat horns, or backup vehicle noises. We truly don't spend lot of time in the room, so the view doesn't bother us and I would book/ request it again. It also saved me a little money from other views, so I could extend my trip.

That sounds perfect! Thanks!