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

[CuteAsMinnie]

Me too Kook!!!,

 

[PamelaKay]

They had individual blueberry ones when I we were there yummy !!!! Apple is my favorite



My favorite so far has been the peach berry one. I really want to try the blueberry.

How did they serve the individual ones?

 

[DetTigsGal]

Kook- was in Indiana helping ds get settled back in his dorm, missed your leaving day. Have enjoyed your updates...can't wait to see WL OFC for myself in November. Laughed out loud with the South of the Border comment... we always have something to say as we drive by there. It never looks like there is anyone around...how do they stay in business?

Anyway, hope your stay continues on it's magical way. Looking forward to hearing more about it

 

[WDWKOOK]

Yummm. I haven't had the blueberry cobbler. I have had apple, peach and peach berry. Hope they have blueberry in October when I am there.

Kook, Thanks so much for the picture!

You're welcome, Pamela. I think the blueberry is seasonal, although last August they didn't have it (or spring break). I hope they have it when you're here, it's delicious. We've been here since Tuesday and so far they haven't had the peach/strawberry cobbler they usually have. The served an 'experimental' cranberry apple cobbler the other night that I thought was awful - even DH couldn't eat it. When I told Jason the concierge about it he said, "They served that to you?". Guess it was supposed to be a 'test cobbler' and IMHO, it should remain that way - it was very bitter.

..... and counting and we will be at the Wilderness Lodge! (God .... and Isaac, willing). Our flight leaves nice and early at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday morning and we'll hopefully arrive at the Lodge before our 1:15 p.m. ADR at WCC! If not, that's okay, too ---- we are looking forward to a truly relaxing, hardly-any-plans trip.

I've ordered my water from Walmart and it has arrived at the WL. I sent a small box of breakfast and snacky items down and it has arrived as well. I've got my list of ADRs (one per day at a variety of old-favorites as well as new restaurants, and as always, subject to change at any time). I'll pack tomorrow, then will glance at the DIS boards to verify the soft opening times for each park, plus take a quick lok at the entertainment schedule from Steve Soares' site (sp?), and then probably sleep oh, 2-3 hours on Saturday night before we leave the house at 5:00 a.m.

Any thing else that should be on my To-Do List?

Are you here now? PM me when you get a chance.

Uummm ..... has anyone been at WL when the weather has been potentially wild like it is predicted with Isaac? I'm reading reports that Monday may be very windy and rainy - who knows what it will actually be like, but in the past, what has occurred at WL, if anything, during such times? I'm reading anything from "wear a poncho and enjoy the low lines at the rides" to "stay inside, buy extra food at the resort store, don't venture out." Any insight? Thanks!

We both are now

We'll be fine, just either plan on staying put or getting very wet in the parks. If there isn't lightening, the pools will remain open and if it isn't super windy, the marina may even be open, though right now it seems like it's going to get pretty windy. The resorts will want all the guests to feel safe and happy so I'm sure we're all going to have a great time tomorrow no matter what.

Howdy Folks,

I stumbled across these boards and this thread today. So, I've got a bit of reading to do, but all of your posts and pictures are making me antsy, in a good way. (Thanks to all for such great info!)

We're driving from GA to stay at WL from 10/3 to 10/9. We booked a Courtyard view (the theory was it'd give mom and dad something to look at during nap time ).

Disney was part of our engagement and part of our honeymoon, but we haven't been back in over 10 years, so we're really excited about this trip.

We'll be celebrating our first *real* family vacation, our 15th wedding anniversary (10/4), and an early celebration of our little one's 3rd birthday (she's a Halloween baby).

I skimmed through OCI info in other posts and had a question.. actually a few related ones:
- Are there any benefits to OCI -- is it just intended as a time saver?
- Since we're driving, we can be pretty flexible on arrival time, so is there a best time-range to arrive so we could forego OCI?
- Are some courtyard rooms better than others? and if so, would checking in online or in person give us a chance to get a better view (again, for nap time ).

- T

and howdy Stumbler! I think your parents will love nap time at WL. They can also go to many rocking chairs or fireplaces to relax when they don't want to be in the room. Have them visit VWL to see the Carolwood Pacific train room.

OCI is only intended as a time saver and it doesn't always even live up to that expectation. I've been told that most guests check in in the evening and check outs are before 11. I think the front desk would be least crowded from probably late morning to early afternoon.

Checking in online is not a substitute for having all your requests in your reservation. You are very limited in OCI requests. They are pre-set and there isn't the ability to submit additional requests; always have them added to your reservation.

Make sure that you request an INNER or WL courtyard View room. If you don't, you could be given a courtyard view of VWL.

There are 4 on the seventh floor...very beautiful...imho

That's right - two are in the North Wing and two are in the South Wing. I'm sitting in front of the North Wing rooms right now

We are taking our first trip to Disney this fall and decided to upgrade from POR to the Wilderness for our stay from 11/22 to 12/1. What route do you recommend to Epcot? Take the bus or boat to CR and then monorail to Epcot? I would guess the bus is faster but the boat/ferry is more scenic? We have two girls ages 8 & 2.

The bus from WL to Epcot is quickest and easiest.

Does anyone know what the dimensions of the safes are in the rooms? DH and I are both bringing iPads to use on the flights and mine has an Otterbox case on it which makes it bulkier than normal. I think they'll both fit but just want to be sure.

Two iPads might fit. The lock mechanism takes up some room inside the safe so it depends how thick your cases are:

bump

Thinking of you KOOK and hope you and your family are having a wonderful time!!!

Your trip is coming up soon! I'm so excited for you. k&a&c'smom (the wonderful GF thread hostess) is getting your beloved GF all ready for you

Me too, KOOK!!

We are having a great time.

Me too Kook!!!

Thank you. Everything is wonderful at WL

How did they serve the individual ones?

I'm going to butt in and answer that I assume they were served like the cobbler in Artist Point which is in an individual little crock

Kook- was in Indiana helping ds get settled back in his dorm, missed your leaving day. Have enjoyed your updates...can't wait to see WL OFC for myself in November. Laughed out loud with the South of the Border comment... we always have something to say as we drive by there. It never looks like there is anyone around...how do they stay in business?

Anyway, hope your stay continues on it's magical way. Looking forward to hearing more about it

He isn't going to IU is he?

Which is scarier, SotB or River Country (RIP)

 

[WDWKOOK]

Oh, Kook!! Thank you, really, for the unexpected tear that just came to my eye! Beautiful!!! Have a blessed day!

Awww, that was so nice to read

Just trying to check on Ms.Kook....

My kids are definitely on board for a WL stay after seeing the latest pics!!!!!

That frog is adorable...I spoke with a guest who also was surprised by a frog..he was like we are an the 6th floor... crazy...lol

And the no bear feet sign....perfect!!! The need one at Roaring Forks too....IMHO

Yes, the sign WAS perfect. Mike is working on getting it back to where it belongs.

Speaking of lounge etiquette, the past several days, we have been subjected to dining with, get this, a teenage boy (maybe 15?) who wears a black, penguin, long-sleeved zippered PJ with yellow penguin feet footies attached. He has dined in this get up everyday, while his family wear appropriate attire. He receives many mortified looks from other guests, but that doesn't seem to register with him or his family.

KOOK- Love the early morning pictures!! Were you on your way to your morning exercise or just anxious to start your day? I forgot to ask you, where did you stay in GA?

Adding frogs to the wildlife list at WL! My DD would have wanted to invite it in also, and give it a name.

You're welcome and funny you should ask because the answer is both. I'm excited to get the day started and we go to they gym every morning.

Thank you for remembering to ask about GA. We have (finally) found the most wonderful hotel on our way down. It's an almost new Hampton Inn and Suites in Brunswick right off of 95. I booked a Studio Suite for the same price as a regular room - it was so roomy and beautiful and clean. The staff were very friendly, efficient and welcoming. And, it's just steps away from a new Logan's Roadhouse right next door which was great. I highly recommend it!

I love the early morning pictures too!! The lobby looks so peaceful.

It is so quiet indoors and out, except for the live frogs and cricket soundtrack

KOOK, I presume the early morning lobby pictures (which are wonderful by the way) mean you were up and out, on your way for a WDW run?! I hope it isn't that you were just getting back from EMH

Have fun, the KOOKster's must be in heaven being at the WL!

We did one MK PM EMH this trip and we were all in bed my midnight.

You'd be proud of me staying up till 11 at WDW instead of my usual 10 - now, if I could just learn to sleep in on vacation

KOOK, love the photos - hoping we get to stay here in January.

We loved Trail's End for breakfast, but have not been in many years, so like anything, could have changed. We still enjoy dinner there. Hope your breakfast was delicious and enjoyable - I love the water shuttle, so that alone is worth the trip to FW!

Have a delightful day!

We love Trail's End and it's a new favorite of ours.

Kook-
Yup...painful rack rate. But it's Christmas so unless a miracle happens, I'll just save and save.

KOOK -- I hope you're having a perfectly magical vacation. Please keep posting photos for those of us who still have many long months before we're there.

Have you been affected by Isaac? In-laws in Boca Raton have had torrential rain already. How is your new house?

Photo of the day that has nothing to do with WL (but I have it uploaded) and is of the Main Street candy shop where they make the gorgeous dipped apples. This one was dipped first in white chocolate:

 

[WDWKOOK]

I have photos of the Trail's End breakfast buffet and the dessert we had at lunch there today, but I haven't uploaded them to PB yet. Someone remind me if I forget

We had only previously tried the TE dinner buffet which is very good. Friday, we tried breakfast and if was wonderful, too. The best buffet dish (IMHO) is the pulled pork BBQ Eggs Benedict - wow! It was so yummy that DH doesn't care to go back to Kona for their pulled pork hash dish (The Somoan). They had Mickey Waffles, but no pancakes. They also have fresh fruit, quiche dishes, breads, eggs, meats, gravy and biscuits... I have photos of everything I'll post soon.

Since we thought today might be a wash-out, we planned to skip the parks and rent Sea Raycers and go to lunch at TE before the storm hit. The August activity schedule shows that the marina opens at 0900, but in fact, it opens at 10 so we were an hour early. We went back in and sat in the lobby till 10. I never get a chance to do that so it was a nice change of pace to view all the lobby activity at eye level. At 10, we rented 3 Sea Raycers, got to the end of the pier and it started pouring - 3 minutes later it stopped so off we went, putt-putt-putt... We love the Sea Raycers and had a great time with intermittent rain showers, no sun and cool temps - lovely!

Later, we walked to Trail's End. Lunch was great! I had the catfish which was lightly breaded and pan cooked with 3 large, fluffy (not those hard, crunchy kind) hushpuppies, a great spicy remoulade sauce and cole slaw that was warm-ish. DD and DH had the Johnny Cake BLT with a side of Hoppin' John and turnip greens, (not DD, she had the homemade chips).

Dessert was a big hit. I had the Sticky Bun Sundae: Butter pecan ice cream with caramel sauce, pecans, whipped cream and a small sticky bun in the middle - served in a jar! DH liked, but wasn't crazy about, his pecan pie with a Jack Daniels whipped cream, but DD loved her S'mores dessert made with chocolate mousse. Now you all know why I go to the gym everyday

Speaking of food - it's appetizer time

 

[DetTigsGal]

Kook- no he goes to Valparaiso. He loves it there

 

[LuvGoldens]

Thanks for the photo of the safe Kook. I think they'll both fit as DH doesn't have a case on his, just the Apple magnetic cover.

Hope the weather doesn't affect things there for you too much and that your in-laws fare ok. Being land locked here in the middle of Canada hurricanes are not something we ever have to worry about.

Trails End sounds interesting, we may just have to check it out! Oh and that Main Street candy shop, mmmm...I love it in there

stay safe and dry!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Tonight's apps were bacon-wrapped scallops and pulled pork BBQ with buns, a summer salad with veggies and chicken and my favorite tomato caprese. They always offer a selection of cheeses, bread, crackers, raw veggies and dips, hummus and PBJ shooters, wine, beer, soda, coffee water, tea and lemonade.

Kook- no he goes to Valparaiso. He loves it there

That's right, Valpo - you're too polite. I'm sure I've asked you that before - it's all coming back to me now

Thanks for the photo of the safe Kook. I think they'll both fit as DH doesn't have a case on his, just the Apple magnetic cover.

Hope the weather doesn't affect things there for you too much and that your in-laws fare ok. Being land locked here in the middle of Canada hurricanes are not something we ever have to worry about.

Trails End sounds interesting, we may just have to check it out! Oh and that Main Street candy shop, mmmm...I love it in there

stay safe and dry!

You're welcome. A rainy, stormy day at WDW is still better than a dry day at home! I think the weather up in NoVA where we live is sounding worse than it is here.

I think TE is overlooked - it wasn't very busy at lunch, the service was great and so was the food. I love being able to walk there in about 15 minutes or you can even take the boat or bus.

 

[DetTigsGal]

Kook- no problem. We usually get where's that? Northwest IN. That's so far ! Not really, family's all in MI, so it's us that are far away. And then the person just usually says... oh. Now he was also considering Roanoke and while it was only a day's drive, he would have been by himself and that would have been a different story.

Trails End...another dinner I can't wait for. Read about it a couple of trips ago as one of those hidden gems, booked it and now it's a must. Funny how we keep accumulating those and we never seem to get rid of anything

 

[eacosper]

Random cobbler question: I am highly allergic to peaches (and pineapple but that's less of a problem at the WL and more of one at the Poly). Do you think that they have leftover cobbler that I could have on Peach night?

 

[mwmom]

LuvGoldens, we had 2 ipads in the safe last year which each had a leather cover. It was tight, but they both fit, along with a small itouch.

 

[GrandCalifornian]

Does anyone know what the dimensions of the safes are in the rooms? DH and I are both bringing iPads to use on the flights and mine has an Otterbox case on it which makes it bulkier than normal. I think they'll both fit but just want to be sure.

It looks good, but we will be there on the 8th with two iPads, one of which is in the big Otter Box Defender case. In two weeks we'll let you know for sure. We will stick them in and take a picture. In general we won't be too worried about it though. We have left laptops out with no problem, but if they fit there's no reason not to stick them in the safe.

 

[Kathymford]

I have photos of the Trail's End breakfast buffet and the dessert we had at lunch there today, but I haven't uploaded them to PB yet. Someone remind me if I forget

We had only previously tried the TE dinner buffet which is very good. Friday, we tried breakfast and if was wonderful, too. The best buffet dish (IMHO) is the pulled pork BBQ Eggs Benedict - wow! It was so yummy that DH doesn't care to go back to Kona for their pulled pork hash dish (The Somoan). They had Mickey Waffles, but no pancakes. They also have fresh fruit, quiche dishes, breads, eggs, meats, gravy and biscuits... I have photos of everything I'll post soon.

Since we thought today might be a wash-out, we planned to skip the parks and rent Sea Raycers and go to lunch at TE before the storm hit. The August activity schedule shows that the marina opens at 0900, but in fact, it opens at 10 so we were an hour early. We went back in and sat in the lobby till 10. I never get a chance to do that so it was a nice change of pace to view all the lobby activity at eye level. At 10, we rented 3 Sea Raycers, got to the end of the pier and it started pouring - 3 minutes later it stopped so off we went, putt-putt-putt... We love the Sea Raycers and had a great time with intermittent rain showers, no sun and cool temps - lovely!

Later, we walked to Trail's End. Lunch was great! I had the catfish which was lightly breaded and pan cooked with 3 large, fluffy (not those hard, crunchy kind) hushpuppies, a great spicy remoulade sauce and cole slaw that was warm-ish. DD and DH had the Johnny Cake BLT with a side of Hoppin' John and turnip greens, (not DD, she had the homemade chips).

Dessert was a big hit. I had the Sticky Bun Sundae: Butter pecan ice cream with caramel sauce, pecans, whipped cream and a small sticky bun in the middle - served in a jar! DH liked, but wasn't crazy about, his pecan pie with a Jack Daniels whipped cream, but DD loved her S'mores dessert made with chocolate mousse. Now you all know why I go to the gym everyday

Speaking of food - it's appetizer time

Pulled pork eggs Benedict. Omg. Ok, just another to add to my list. We plan to do the Sea Racers on our off day. You make it sound so fun!!

 

[CrabbyPatty]

Just a quick post to say that we arrived yesterday ...... and we love WL! Our flight was good, we arrived early, we waited maybe 10 minutes total at MCO to get into ME and leave, arrived at ML in about 35 minutes, got checked in right away, had a late lunch at WCC and hit the parks!

We did MK and Epcot and got back to WL in time to swim for a bit and refill our mugs at Roaring Forks.

Our room is on the 6th floor overlooking the Lobby (Woods View) which is an upgrade from the Standard View room I booked. DD wanted bunk beds, so she was excited to see the room which has a queen bed and the bunk beds! The room is comfortable and enough room for the three of us. I think we'll like it here!

 

[bowbat]

Have you been affected by Isaac? In-laws in Boca Raton have had torrential rain already. How is your new house?

We've gotten some wind and rain, but actually nowhere near as much as we did with Tropical Storm Debby. The storm bands seem to be impacting central FL and the east coast much more so than our area. Schools were cancelled today, though. My husband is disappointed, because he's supposed to fly out to Knoxville on business and was hoping his flight would be cancelled. No such luck so far. Hope things clear up there for you!

Our new house is great, thanks for asking! And in even better news, our old house is under contract. Think some good thoughts that it closes as scheduled. *ohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseohplease* Then we can go back to focusing on WDW.

 

[Kathy Z]

Kathy Z-

My favorite place!! Where on the Lake do you go? Wishing you a great time!

Just catching up on the disboards again. We got home last night. The house we rented was in New Buffalo (Berrien County). The shoreline in that area is down l-o-n-g flights of stairs (ours were 50 steps!) Rick only carried Hannah down those steps once. The other times someone always stayed back at the house with her or else we walked her in the neiborhood in her handicap stroller. It was only a 15 minute drive north to Warren Dunes State Park where there is a very long & deep beach with no stairs that we enjoyed. We didn't consider renting further north because our youngest special granddaughter is tube fed and requires naps but does not sleep in the car so we had to keep the drive for our son as short as possible. He had the furthest to travel, our daughter was only 30 minutes from home which made it doable for her because she is a doctor and had to attend a hospital meeting during her vacation week.

DH & I next go to WDW in Feb. I've booked POFQ for that short stay as an economy measure. I had been hoping to find a bounceback offer at that time (I know what number to call from my room just in case there isn't an offer left there) to book a trip for end of August at WL to take our grandson who will be 8 then. After this past week with him we're not sure that he is ready for that trip yet. We'll try to get a better idea by Christmas time. Maybe his trip will have to wait til 2014.

Kook & the others who are currently at WL, I'm relieved to hear that Isaac is not creating too much havic for you. Keep having a wonderful time!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Pulled pork eggs Benedict. Omg. ...

You're kidding, right? That sounds positively horrid and I adore Eggs Benedict. Maybe because I adore Eggs Benedict is why it sounds so horrid.

 

[PamelaKay]

Kook,

Sounded so yummy. Can't wait to see the breakfast pictures.

 

[Jungle Cruiser]

Kook, you are so right, a rainy day at WDW is better than a sunny day at home. However, it's raining here in NJ, has poured off and on all day so you are definitely in a better situation than we are here. It's always better to be in WDW!

I love sea raycers!!!

We have never tried Trails End, it sounds like we should add it to our list, it sounds yummy!