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

[Flossbolna]

Thanks everyone for the barbecue suggestions!! Flame Tree is already on my must do list for every trip to WDW...

I have also heard good things about the ribs at House of Blues. And I never thought about Big River Grill, somehow I alway forget about this restaurant. Oh, and if I manage to get a reservation at VWL, I already have plans for Hoop Dee Doo and Trails End, it just seems so convenient to do those when staying at WL as transportation appears to be much easier then.

 

[LuvGoldens]

The food really doesn't look appetizing at all and certainly not worth anywhere near 32.99 WCC is a wonderful space just off a majestic lobby of WL and it is being wasted, IMHO

It was good but not great, and yes, I agree not worth $32.99

YUM! That looks great. We have not been to WCC yet. May have to make a trip over there during our next trip. Thanks for posting the pics.

You're welcome

Thank you for being the new platter beta tester, LuvGoldens! You've answered my question as to why it's no longer a skillet

Was that a portion for more than one person? I'm not a big eater, but that amount seems about right for one (vacationing) person. The desserts look much better than I imagined. Is that a strawberry shortcake in the glass? Did you try the strip loin or see what it looks like? Wondering if in any way it's an adequate substitute for the yummy brisket.

I love veggies, but those 'farm fresh veggies' look more Asian inspired than farm inspired. I agree that TE is a much better value, even without all the fun CM antics and I'm glad you tried both. What will you be reviewing tonight?

Happy to have been the beta testers for the new platter Kook! That was a serving for two. Then they brought out our seconds in smaller crock like bowls. It was interesting that our server commented that her biggest problem with the change to the platter was that they were heavy to carry.

The strip loin was pretty fatty. I didn't care for it and would have much preferred brisket

In the glass was a jalapeno-lime cheesecake, it was kind of an odd combintion of tastes, wasn't really a fan.

Tonight's dinner is at 'Ohana

I would agree based on the old menu as well, and even on the dining plan where the cost was equal we preferred Trail's End. I miss those ribs. .

I'm glad that you got to experience both and had a couple yummy meals. Thanks for sharing.

We'd pick TE over WCC no question after now having done both, much better value and selection. We loved the walk over from WL and came across a family of about 4 deer that had a young fawn.

 

[LuvGoldens]

So glad the PP showed us the new platter pic! Thank you!

You're welcome!

 

[Deb & Bill]

...In the glass was a jalapeno-lime cheesecake, it was kind of an odd combintion of tastes, wasn't really a fan.....

Sounds like someone having a big joke on the guests. Or someone that Chef Ramsey would ask what were they thinking with that combination.

 

[Kathymford]

From the sounds of it, I'm glad we got to have WCC dinner before the change. That platter is of no interest to us: too much food/expense.

So we just landed back in Cali this am, and we're already on our way to DL. not really planned, but its a dinner celebration for DBFs father, grandmother, and sister!!

When is a girl supposed to plan her next trip?' Lol

 

[PamelaKay]

Now I just need to see breakfast pictures of the new WCC menu.

 

[donna6635]

Look at the disney food blog.... lots of pictures and updated menus

 

[Crazy Kanga]

Just decided to return to WL in May! We did a quick trip over Labor Day weekend at Pop and while it was fine...it just wasn't The Lodge which is our families favorite! May 26th can't get here soon enough. Til then I will be hangin out here a lot to get my WL fix!

 

[bancytu]

Hi everyone! I've been lurking for a while and reading up on everything Disney in hopes that we will have a wonderful 1st family trip to Disney!! We are arriving the 2nd week in December. It will be myself, DH, DS 4and 5, my mom, dad, and sister. We have rented a 2 bedroom Villa! I can't wait. I have always wanted to stay at the lodge. It looks so beautiful!

Just a quick question. Does the lodge have a marshmallow roast and outdoor movies in Dec? Does Fort Wilderness still do Chip and Dales roast and am outdoor movie in Dec?

I'd like to do Chip and Dales with my kids but if the lodge has one too it will be an added bonus!

Yes I know the fort and the lodge are different places. I stayed in a cabin the last time I went to Disney with my sister and parents. That's why we are staying at the lodge this time!!!

Thanks for your help and I cannot wait to see the giant Christmas tree!!!

 

[Minnie]

does anyone know why WL was excluded from the fall discounts? I'm really hoping that does not happen if they ever release discounts for January!!!

It's been a terrible 5% most of the year - I was told this was due to the renovations resulting in low room inventory. If this is right or not though who knows...

We lucked into a BB deal from our June trip BB/CY view was the only option but we are very happy to have it!

 

[StEpHandMiKe<3Disney]

6 more sleeps!!!!!! Can't wait to walk into the WL!!!!

 

[GrandCalifornian]

6 more sleeps!!!!!! Can't wait to walk into the WL!!!!

5 now! Congratulations and have a great trip. (And back to page 1 for the thread!)

 

[auprincess]

Our next trip is too far away (sometime in 2014) ~ but being the planner I am, and to help with my disney withdrawels, I'm trying to decide where we should stay! We stayed at WL in 2010 and all loved it ~ DH was a little put off by the size of the rooms, but I didn't mind a bit. We would all love to stay again on our next trip, BUT, more than likely, by the time we go, we will be an official Disney family of 5. What are our options for WL? A suite? Is that just CL? I know everyone's opinion on if the money is "worth" it is subjective, but in your opinion, will the extra money be worth it? What all do you get for club level? Are the rooms a decent size? It will be me, DH, and our 3 DDs (who at the time of our trip will be around 9, 5, and 3). Thanks!

 

[Wood Nymph]

We will be staying at the WL for the first time in February and are super-excited. I'm curious about the transportation system. How is the bus service to the other parks? Is the boat launch convenient? How would we get to the Grand Floridian where we have a dinner reservation?

Is there a website for all the transportation information?

Thanks.

 

[twinmom108]

Just wanted to pop in and say hi. We are 67 days out from our first stay at WL. This has long been on my bucket list and our 27th anniversary seemed the perfect occasion. Now my worry is that we will be forever spoiled and never want to go back to our old favorite POR.

VERY excited - it can't get here soon enough

We're from Colorado too, & will be at WL during the same time. Sent you a PM.

 

[Kathymford]

First day back at work.

DBF posted his photos already on Flickr (show off). Here is the link if anyone is interested. Lots of WL photos and some others. If I didn't have work to do (silly job), I would post them directly in the thread. I will do that later if anyone wants me to.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevedupuy/sets/72157631608251406/

Enjoy!

 

[GrandCalifornian]

We will be staying at the WL for the first time in February and are super-excited. I'm curious about the transportation system. How is the bus service to the other parks? Is the boat launch convenient? How would we get to the Grand Floridian where we have a dinner reservation?

Is there a website for all the transportation information?

Thanks.

We recently got back from WL and chose it in part based on the transportation options. I love having the option of the boats to MK and Fort Wilderness. During our recent stay (which was during a very low crowd time in September) we frequently rode the boats to MK, FW, and the Contemporary. While they are a fun and beautiful option, they were usually not any faster than busses would have been. It usually took about 30-40 min to get from the room to the front of MK, including approximately a 10 minute wait for a boat. The MK bus ride was only 5 minutes, and it didn't seem the waits for those busses were too bad.

The Contemporary was about a 5 minute ride away after waiting for a boat to arrive, and from there you can go into the lobby and up to the Monorail, which is how we went to Epcot (by transferring monorails at the TTC).

To get to the Grand Floridian, two options are boat to Contemporary and then Monorail to GF, or boat to MK and then another boat to GF. Either way you probably want to allow yourself 45 minutes to an hour.

For Fort Wilderness, it is about a 10 minute boat ride compared to a 5 minute bus ride. We did both and preferred the boat just because it was prettier and more fun.

The busses everywhere else were fine for us. We sometimes had to wait up to 25 minutes for a bus to show up but when it did we got right on and it was usually only shared with one other resort (usually the Grand Floridian) for DTD, AK or HS. Having the option of the bus to/from Epcot was nice, which the monorail resorts do not have. We usually tended to go to Epcot via the boat and monorail, but would return home via the bus which was about a 15 minute trip with WL as the first stop, then continuing on to FW.

Overall we enjoyed having all the options, and used the boats a lot, but the busses were probably the quicker option.

 

[Broncobilly83]

Quick question for those in the know. Last time we stayed at WL in 2010, we had a nice North Side room on the 6th floor that gave us a great view of the MK and the fireworks at night from the balcony. We are looking for the same type of view, but this time we are "Club Level" so I guess we are 7th floor now. What room numbers should I request to get the best view of just being able to stand on the balcony and see the fireworks on the nights we are not out at the parks?

 

[WDWKOOK]

We checked in Thursday and were upgraded from standard to woods view with bunk beds! The kids are so happy. Plus we can see the castle and Wishes from our balcony!! We are in room 4020. We couldn't be happier here! I am sad to move to Boardwalk tomorrow. We have such an awesome room here!

Can you just stay at WL? We did that once - loved it so much we canceled our Poly split. Are you already at BWI? What view do you have?

Josh over at EasyWDW posted a wallkthrough of the WL yesterday with some really lovely photographs.

Is it December yet?

Nope, not December, but thank you so much for the link - great photos, but now I'm hungry

I'm back! Booked WL FD in a Woods view BB room! First time at WDW during the Christmas season, and probably last time until the kids are in college, so we are going all out! Got the high school to promise not to send us to truancy court for the kids to be out for 3 days. Doing one day at IOA for HP (I know, I know, but it has to be done), MVMCP on Dec 13, EMH every day. Can't wait!

Congratulations on booking! Even missing 3 days, your kids sure get out early. They don't get out here in NoVA until 12/22

From the sounds of it, I'm glad we got to have WCC dinner before the change. That platter is of no interest to us: too much food/expense.

So we just landed back in Cali this am, and we're already on our way to DL. not really planned, but its a dinner celebration for DBFs father, grandmother, and sister!!

When is a girl supposed to plan her next trip?' Lol

That's the way to ease out of a WDW vacation - stop by DL on your way home

Just decided to return to WL in May! We did a quick trip over Labor Day weekend at Pop and while it was fine...it just wasn't The Lodge which is our families favorite! May 26th can't get here soon enough. Til then I will be hangin out here a lot to get my WL fix!

We're happy to have you hang out here with all the WL crazies, I mean fans.

Hi everyone! I've been lurking for a while and reading up on everything Disney in hopes that we will have a wonderful 1st family trip to Disney!! We are arriving the 2nd week in December. It will be myself, DH, DS 4and 5, my mom, dad, and sister. We have rented a 2 bedroom Villa! I can't wait. I have always wanted to stay at the lodge. It looks so beautiful!

Just a quick question. Does the lodge have a marshmallow roast and outdoor movies in Dec? Does Fort Wilderness still do Chip and Dales roast and am outdoor movie in Dec?

I'd like to do Chip and Dales with my kids but if the lodge has one too it will be an added bonus!

Yes I know the fort and the lodge are different places. I stayed in a cabin the last time I went to Disney with my sister and parents. That's why we are staying at the lodge this time!!!

Thanks for your help and I cannot wait to see the giant Christmas tree!!!

The beach movie and marshmallow roast at WL is held year 'round and is free. The campfire sing along at FW is held at 7 in the winter near the Meadow Trading post. It lasts about 40 minutes and is also free.

It's been a terrible 5% most of the year - I was told this was due to the renovations resulting in low room inventory. If this is right or not though who knows...

We lucked into a BB deal from our June trip BB/CY view was the only option but we are very happy to have it!

There is a 20% discount offer for the Fall/Winter for WL and a 40% discount for military through 9/13. I think these other offers must be booked by 9/29:

http://bookwdw.reservations.disney....mo&promotionCode=fy13q1room&market=fy13q1room

And a Free Dining offer for Fall/Winter:

http://bookwdw.reservations.disney....mo&promotionCode=fy13q1dine&market=fy13q1dine

Our next trip is too far away (sometime in 2014) ~ but being the planner I am, and to help with my disney withdrawels, I'm trying to decide where we should stay! We stayed at WL in 2010 and all loved it ~ DH was a little put off by the size of the rooms, but I didn't mind a bit. We would all love to stay again on our next trip, BUT, more than likely, by the time we go, we will be an official Disney family of 5. What are our options for WL? A suite? Is that just CL? I know everyone's opinion on if the money is "worth" it is subjective, but in your opinion, will the extra money be worth it? What all do you get for club level? Are the rooms a decent size? It will be me, DH, and our 3 DDs (who at the time of our trip will be around 9, 5, and 3). Thanks!

It's never too early to plan!

For 5 at WL/VWL you would need to book either a Villa or a Deluxe Club Level room. There are only two suites and they only have two beds - one king in the master bedroom and one queen sleeper in the living room.

The Deluxe rooms have two queen beds and one queen sofa in a separate parlor area. They aren't located on the CL floor, but there are 25 of them on floors 1-6 and they have full club level access and room amenities. The Deluxe rooms are about 500 SF. On the first page of the thread, there is a section all about the Old Faithful Club (POST 5 & 6) and about the Deluxe rooms, with photos (POST 2).

First day back at work.

DBF posted his photos already on Flickr (show off). Here is the link if anyone is interested. Lots of WL photos and some others. If I didn't have work to do (silly job), I would post them directly in the thread. I will do that later if anyone wants me to.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevedupuy/sets/72157631608251406/

Enjoy!

Thanks for the link. Sorry you had to return to reality

 

[WDWKOOK]

Quick question for those in the know. Last time we stayed at WL in 2010, we had a nice North Side room on the 6th floor that gave us a great view of the MK and the fireworks at night from the balcony. We are looking for the same type of view, but this time we are "Club Level" so I guess we are 7th floor now. What room numbers should I request to get the best view of just being able to stand on the balcony and see the fireworks on the nights we are not out at the parks?

Here is a map of the CL floor room numbers, courtesy of TheLodgeLady. The North Wing Woods View rooms are even-numbered 7044 - 7066. (7085 and 7086 are Honeymoon suites):