(CLOSED) Disney's WILDERNESS LODGE and VILLAS Information Thread ~2012~

[cmjohannes]

Hi All,
I currently have reservations Sept 14-20 at POFQ. Since it looks like free dining will be available during our stay, we are planning to upgrade to WL instead (it will be our first time staying at WL).
So my question: does WL typically fill up quickly during FD promotions? I'm wondering if it will be difficult to get a standard view room (not sure my budget will allow for a woods view).
Any advice or guidance is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Wood Nymph]

Hi All,
I currently have reservations Sept 14-20 at POFQ. Since it looks like free dining will be available during our stay, we are planning to upgrade to WL instead (it will be our first time staying at WL).
So my question: does WL typically fill up quickly during FD promotions? I'm wondering if it will be difficult to get a standard view room (not sure my budget will allow for a woods view).
Any advice or guidance is appreciated. Thanks!

I went to the Disney website, put your dates in, and there appears to be availability for a standard view room right now. Who knows what will happen when free dining opens up. I think it is more likely that you'll have the POFQ fill up for FD before WL, just because that resort tends to be so popular that it gets less discounts than the other moderate resorts.

 

[GrandCalifornian]

Hi All,
I currently have reservations Sept 14-20 at POFQ. Since it looks like free dining will be available during our stay, we are planning to upgrade to WL instead (it will be our first time staying at WL).
So my question: does WL typically fill up quickly during FD promotions? I'm wondering if it will be difficult to get a standard view room (not sure my budget will allow for a woods view).
Any advice or guidance is appreciated. Thanks!

Last year we were able to change our Standard View WL room that we had booked with the dining plan to Free Dining without any problem. We didn't even do it in the first couple of days of promotion. This year might be a little harder with the pent up demand for free dining, but you should be good if you get in early.

WL Standard view, Free Dining, and $$$ in your pocket. Sounds like a deal to us!

 

[cove61]

Well my once in a lifetime trip has turned into our return visit. This time we going to try the wilderness lodge. So excited now all I have to do is dream away untill October

 

[lovingeire]

Hi All,
I currently have reservations Sept 14-20 at POFQ. Since it looks like free dining will be available during our stay, we are planning to upgrade to WL instead (it will be our first time staying at WL).
So my question: does WL typically fill up quickly during FD promotions? I'm wondering if it will be difficult to get a standard view room (not sure my budget will allow for a woods view).
Any advice or guidance is appreciated. Thanks!

You can always switch over prior to the discount coming out and then just have the discount applied when it's released.

 

[cmjohannes]

You can always switch over prior to the discount coming out and then just have the discount applied when it's released.

Will this actually reserve the room? I was under the impression that even if I had a standard view room reserved, there are a certain number of room set aside for free dining, and I would still need to hope for availability. That's why I haven't changed it to WL yet. Do you think I have a better chance of getting the room that I want if I change the reservation before the FD comes out?

 

[WDWKOOK]

Everything you've wanted to know about being a Mousekeeper at VWL! You'll even learn what a bed wedge is!

https://disneycasting.net/kenexa/hourly/role_posts/wdw_hskp.html

 

[DetTigsGal]

I will freely admit to not having read this entire thread, so maybe this has been asked and answered. If so, I'm sorry.

Does anyone know when the Christmas decorations go up at WL? We are looking at Nov 8-22 in 2014. This will be our second trip to WDW and last time we stayed at WL and loved it. I was thinking we should stay somewhere else, but I think from photos that WL is the best decorated deluxe for Christmas, and totally our style. I think I'd regret being elsewhere if Christmas decorations are up.

This past T'giving we arrived the Sunday before the holiday and it was all decorated, but this year Thanksgiving is very late so it's difficult to say for certain if it will be up before the 22nd.

 

[Anna114]

Everything you've wanted to know about being a Mousekeeper at VWL! You'll even learn what a bed wedge is!

https://disneycasting.net/kenexa/hourly/role_posts/wdw_hskp.html

Thanks for the link. Chris is a bit of a geek but good video.

 

[lovingeire]

Will this actually reserve the room? I was under the impression that even if I had a standard view room reserved, there are a certain number of room set aside for free dining, and I would still need to hope for availability. That's why I haven't changed it to WL yet. Do you think I have a better chance of getting the room that I want if I change the reservation before the FD comes out?

It will reserve the room, it's just a matter of having the discount applied. Each hotel only has a certain number of each room type for the discount, you're correct, but is think your chances are good!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Hope everyone is having a good start to the week. Since we were buried at the bottom of page two, I'll regale you with my latest Resort Addition

Added 3 more nights up front to our Sea Raycer Split Stay of CR and WL (so now it's a trifecta split Sea Raycer stay). Booked 3 nights Poly CL/LV using the military rate. We've stayed a couple of times there, but never CL, (I always chicken out and cancel). Since I didn't have to shorten CR or WL, I'm not as apprehensive about booking and keeping Poly this time. DH joked that we'll have to pretend we're from the UK since we're staying 15 nights. Cheerio!

 

[Susieo]

Well - after I was able to save $1,000 on our existing VWL ressie for September, we will definitely be coming home! Can't wait - this will be our fourth time staying here - my husband even has his own theme music (The theme song to the commercial "Beef - it's whats for dinner!)

Can't wait!

 

[vicki_c]

Well - after I was able to save $1,000 on our existing VWL ressie for September, we will definitely be coming home! Can't wait - this will be our fourth time staying here - my husband even has his own theme music (The theme song to the commercial "Beef - it's whats for dinner!)

Can't wait!

That's one of the songs they play in the lobby. There's a whole playlist out there for the WL (it's probably linked in this thread somewhere). I had it in iTunes and now have it in Spotify or Rdio.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Well - after I was able to save $1,000 on our existing VWL ressie for September, we will definitely be coming home! Can't wait - this will be our fourth time staying here - my husband even has his own theme music (The theme song to the commercial "Beef - it's whats for dinner!)

Can't wait!

Congratulations on the nice chunk of change savings. I have a link below for your DH.

That's one of the songs they play in the lobby. There's a whole playlist out there for the WL (it's probably linked in this thread somewhere). I had it in iTunes and now have it in Spotify or Rdio.

That's Hoedown by Aaron Copland which is on the Appalachian Spring album. Here is the link from the first page to the WL iTunes music via MouseSavers:

 

[goofynut41]

To: WDWKOOK..
So you have a Tri-Stay Booked
That sounds awesome!!!!!! So Happy for ya..

 

[DizFanSLD]

I am staying at WL May 24th - June 2nd, and I last stayed there in 1999 and this issue never came up for us. I was hoping that someone could help me, as I can't seem to find a clear answer elsewhere. We are planning to go from WL to Fort Wilderness at least twice during our stay. We have ressies for Hoop Dee Doo, and my DD really wants to try the Archery experience. We will have our car, so we could go that way, but I really prefer not to do that, as it seems silly when the two look like they are so close together.

I can't seem to figure out if there is regular Boat transportation between the two resorts. Also, I know that there is a walking trail, but can anyone tell me how long a walk it is? Knowing if it is a 5-10 min walk versus a 30 minute trek will help us decide how to proceed.

Any help is appreciated!

 

[WDWKOOK]

To: WDWKOOK..
So you have a Tri-Stay Booked
That sounds awesome!!!!!! So Happy for ya..

Thank you. This split exceeds our usual bi-stay

I am staying at WL May 24th - June 2nd, and I last stayed there in 1999 and this issue never came up for us. I was hoping that someone could help me, as I can't seem to find a clear answer elsewhere. We are planning to go from WL to Fort Wilderness at least twice during our stay. We have ressies for Hoop Dee Doo, and my DD really wants to try the Archery experience. We will have our car, so we could go that way, but I really prefer not to do that, as it seems silly when the two look like they are so close together.

I can't seem to figure out if there is regular Boat transportation between the two resorts. Also, I know that there is a walking trail, but can anyone tell me how long a walk it is? Knowing if it is a 5-10 min walk versus a 30 minute trek will help us decide how to proceed.

Any help is appreciated!

Welcome and congratulations on booking. The Blue Flag boat goes to FW about every 20 mins. There is also a FW bus or you can walk and then take an internal FW bus to the Archery Experience. The walk to HDDR or TE is about 20 mins. The AE is further away and you probably wouldn't want to walk there from WL.

 

[mommy2twingles]

Changed over to 2 Club level rooms from the deluxe. Figured 2 bathrooms would be better with 6 people. Now just hoping for some type of room discount to come out to give my bank account a little break

Got my email today from IPO so we should be all set. November can't get here soon enough.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Changed over to 2 Club level rooms from the deluxe. Figured 2 bathrooms would be better with 6 people. Now just hoping for some type of room discount to come out to give my bank account a little break

Got my email today from IPO so we should be all set. November can't get here soon enough.

That sounds like a great plan for 6 and you can even request a bunk room now, if you'd like. Just email the IPO if you have any room requests such as connecting rooms. Hope you get to apply a discount soon!

Happy planning

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

To: WDWKOOK..
So you have a Tri-Stay Booked
That sounds awesome!!!!!! So Happy for ya..

Thank you. This split exceeds our usual bi-stay


.

What!!!! Geez I blink and this major change happened?!?!

Kook, next time please put out an all-points-bulletin!!! ...unless I missed that too!

It should be a great stay for you! Already looking forward to your reviews!