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

[Wood Nymph]

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.

Those pictures are great. They are a great tool to use when trying to describe where things are at the WL. You can see that the deluxe rooms in the south wing have a great view of Bay Lake, whereas the deluxe rooms in the north wing look at nothing but trees.

 

[WDWKOOK]

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!

Welcome and thank you for your sweet comment. Bunks are the way to go and it is such a unique feature to have on such a civilized vacation. All the planning can be stressful, but it's planning and worrying that you won't have to do after you arrive. You'll arrive knowing that everything is booked and ready for you and your family to enjoy. Have you made a massage appointment yet at Sturdy Branches?

You can get the cobbler in the Territory Lounge, too.

Also, like Wood Nymph said, they also serve tea and the cobbler in Territory Lounge.

Sorry I repeated what you both had already posted

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!

What great information.

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!

What a great upgrade - the OFC is fantastic. If you request and get an INNER Courtyard View room, you'll be able to watch and listen to the EWP nightly from your balcony. This is the view from one of the OFC lounge windows:

And, from an INNER or WL CV CL room:

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!

Neat-O! Looks like we'll both be there in June - I expect you to arrange for no rain

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!!

I REALLY hope you get the bunks and what a sweet post

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?

Yes, it still shares and congratulations on booking! I'll log your dates

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!

Let us now that you got there safely. Sorry to hear you were delayed.

 

[elaw]

...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?...

WDWKOOK
I think the OFC opened in 2005 .... we stayed CL a couple times pre OFC back when they had all of the offerings on barrels and tables ... Where the 3 tables that look out at the pool area and the floor below are now. Also they didn't have the upstairs check in back then either.

 

[allboyhouse]

Thanks for the helpful info everybody!! Gonna keep checking the most updated menu for Artist Point and will definitely be buying our champagne in the mercantile! Lol

 

[RookieLady]

Thanks for the photos. Wow, that inner courtyard view is beautiful. I cant wait. I prefer bunk beds and have requested the same on my club ressie. Would adding an inner courtyard view request reduce my chance at a bunk bed? I would certainly prefer both, but the bunk beds are more preferred with my crew.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

WDWKOOK
I think the OFC opened in 2003 or 2004.... we stayed CL a couple times pre OFC back when they had all of the offerings on barrels and tables ... Where the 3 tables that look out at the pool area and the floor below are now. Also they didn't have the upstairs check in back then either.

I was just thinking about this.. I went up to CL back in 2004 or so with a friend and this was the setup. Is the current OFC lounge once a room?

 

[WDWKOOK]

WDWKOOK
I think the OFC opened in 2003 or 2004.... we stayed CL a couple times pre OFC back when they had all of the offerings on barrels and tables ... Where the 3 tables that look out at the pool area and the floor below are now. Also they didn't have the upstairs check in back then either.

Love the vintage photos! Thank you for posting them, elaw. That explains why she didn't cover the OFC. That is so neat that you stayed pre-OFC. Do you have any "lounge" photos? I just love vintage WDW photos and yours are the first I've seen of the original 7th floor. It looks like they're from '95? Were you also there when it opened in '94? Where was the seating pre-OFC? What were the CL amenities?

Thanks for the photos. Wow, that inner courtyard view is beautiful. I cant wait. I prefer bunk beds and have requested the same on my club ressie. Would adding an inner courtyard view request reduce my chance at a bunk bed? I would certainly prefer both, but the bunk beds are more preferred with my crew.

You can email the IPO and have them add INNER CV and you can mention that bunks are your primary request.

 

[MomofDisneyLoversx3]

Kook-
I did price out 2 standard rooms as well as 2 CL rooms. Unfortunately, the AP rates have not been released and there was no availability in the OFC. . Standard rooms (no discount) without CL would have been the same as the deluxe rooms.
So I changed to 2 rooms CL at the Poly. But then double thought due to construction issues. So I booked an executive suite at the dolphin! But I haven't canceled the Poly rooms! I'm planning as though we are staying at the Dolphin, but the Poly reservation is RO. That gives me until 8/5 to cancel. So if the pool will be open then I will cancel at the dolphin!

I'm so confused!
I may have to take the kids down for a long weekend in October before our APs expire to do the OFC.

Heather.

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

Pros and Cons of CL? We are about 5.5 months away did not pick CL because my husband likes to be on the 2nd floor. He is actually legally blind so it's easier for him to have quick access to the lobby, Roaring Fork, etc.

We did talk about it briefly but have a BB courtyard view room booked...not even sure if there are any BB CL rooms left.

Anyone know if they can someone also get you in BOG if you stay CL?

 

[elaw]

Love the vintage photos! Thank you for posting them, elaw. That explains why she didn't cover the OFC. That is so neat that you stayed pre-OFC. Do you have any "lounge" photos? I just love vintage WDW photos and yours are the first I've seen of the original 7th floor. It looks like they're from '95? Were you also there when it opened in '94? Where was the seating pre-OFC? What were the CL amenities?

1995 was our first stay (non-CL) room 6127 (I think) .. I think the photos are from 2002 or 2003. (my memory/details are a little hazy) There really wasn't a "lounge" per-se back then, just the side seating areas as it is now (facing the Registration desk and Whispering Canyon Cafe). as you can see, there wasn't any seating along the main walkway like there is now.

 

[elaw]

I was just thinking about this.. I went up to CL back in 2004 or so with a friend and this was the setup. Is the current OFC lounge once a room?

From what I understand, no, it wasnt a room. I was told it was just an unused walled in "hidden" section of the building that was just there and that one of the maintenance guys "discovered".

 

[GrandCalifornian]

From what I understand, no, it wasnt a room. I was told it was just an unused walled in "hidden" section of the building that was just there and that one of the maintenance guys "discovered".

Fascinating stuff, thanks for sharing and posting the pics.

 

[GrandCalifornian]

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.

I missed the original video post, but your stills intrigued me. That is a great video! I also checked on Amazon, and DJI Phantom 2 quadcopters are available with the camera mounts from about $1000. Hmm, I want one too...

 

[TheLodgeLady]

From what I understand, no, it wasnt a room. I was told it was just an unused walled in "hidden" section of the building that was just there and that one of the maintenance guys "discovered".

That's what I heard also. Just unused space.

Thanks for all the fun photos and info! I just love it.

 

[TheLodgeLady]

I missed the original video post, but your stills intrigued me. That is a great video! I also checked on Amazon, and DJI Phantom 2 quadcopters are available with the camera mounts from about $1000. Hmm, I want one too...

Wow that is cool! There is a show I have been watching "Emeril's Florida" and they use the drones to video lots of footage.

Don't show this to my husband, lol.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

From what I understand, no, it wasnt a room. I was told it was just an unused walled in "hidden" section of the building that was just there and that one of the maintenance guys "discovered".

Haha.. The contractor in my ries BS.. But I guess it could happen. It would be very obvious to the architect and builder.. But maybe it wasn't big enough for a room and they just drywalled it in

 

[turningleaf]

Happy Memorial Day, fellow lodgers!

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

When we were there last week the pool opened at 9am.

 

[elaw]

Haha.. The contractor in my ries BS.. But I guess it could happen. It would be very obvious to the architect and builder.. But maybe it wasn't big enough for a room and they just drywalled it in

I believe the Old Faithful Club was built in 2005 which is 11 years after the lodge was completed. I think it might've been possible ... but if nothing else, it makes a great story. If memory serves me correctly, I heard the story from a CM in 2005 I think (could have been 2006 too). We were there at the time of construction but not its completion and asked what they were building there.

 

[ElsaColon]

I currently have a Woods room reserved for Sept. What is my best bet to see the castle/fireworks with this option? Can anyone suggest any specific room numbers? I have never stayed at this resort and the map is confusing for me. I read somewhere that the north end is where I'll want to stay to see fireworks/castle. What is the highest I can be without paying more for a club level room?

 

[Wood Nymph]

I currently have a Woods room reserved for Sept. What is my best bet to see the castle/fireworks with this option? Can anyone suggest any specific room numbers? I have never stayed at this resort and the map is confusing for me. I read somewhere that the north end is where I'll want to stay to see fireworks/castle. What is the highest I can be without paying more for a club level room?

My daughter and her family were in room 6010 and they had a perfect, unobstructed view of the fireworks. The room had a dormer balcony, though, and you had to stand to see out. I would think that there would be a similar view in room 5010. In general, a high floor in the north wing has the best chances of a view of the fireworks. The sixth floor is the highest non-club level floor.