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

[Bisoubird]

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.

Just wanted to say hi, Bizer! We are staying at WL 11/24-12/1 with our 2 year old DD too! Maybe we'll run into each other! Are you in the Nov FB group?

 

[PamelaKay]

I am so excited! I am packing today! I have Disney movies on and I can't wait to begin. I'm just a little excited, can y'all tell ?

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Again...thank you so much!!! I am definatly going to look into this. is the DV rental store the same as Davids rental store?

Thanks again!!!

DV Rental store is different from David's, but I assume the provide the same service? I rented points for our January trip from David's. So far, it's been hassle free. We really couldn't have afforded to take a trip in January if we hadn't gone the DVC route. Well - we could have, but we wouldn't have been spending it at AKL or WL. Since the resort we stay at is as important to us as anything else, I was really happy to find a way to go.

The DVC Rental Store is not David's. It is the same in that both rent points, but Paul (owner of The DVC Rental Store) does not require any prepayment for checking to see if your dates are available, he will check as many dates as needed and he will also set up a payment plan. I find his customer service far superior to David's - and I know David from another board...nice guy, don't get me wrong...but when I asked him if he could handle special needs requests, he said no, that I should do a cash reservation (meaning making a resort reservation through Disney). When I asked Paul the same question, he said he would find an owner willing to help with whatever we needed. Paul also charges less.

Paul has been outstanding in customer service! He has a FB page as well.

 

[jeffrey66]

I will be staying at VWL for three nights after a cruise on the dream in may of 2013. I rented the points through Davids and it was a pretty easy process. The best part is having that part of the trip paid for in full already. Two years ago my son and i did an rv trip with a stay at FWC and stopped at WL as we were traveling by boat to the campground after a day at MK. We must have spent almost two hours at the WL walking around and checking out everything there. It is very exciting to be counting down the days till we actually stay at this increadible resort.

 

[PamelaKay]

Bump

And woo hoo, trip was paid in full today!

 

[tarak]

The DVC Rental Store is not David's. It is the same in that both rent points, but Paul (owner of The DVC Rental Store) does not require any prepayment for checking to see if your dates are available, he will check as many dates as needed and he will also set up a payment plan. I find his customer service far superior to David's - and I know David from another board...nice guy, don't get me wrong...but when I asked him if he could handle special needs requests, he said no, that I should do a cash reservation (meaning making a resort reservation through Disney). When I asked Paul the same question, he said he would find an owner willing to help with whatever we needed. Paul also charges less.

Paul has been outstanding in customer service! He has a FB page as well.

I'll have to keep him in mind the next time I rent points. We don't have any special needs at this point, but you never know when that can change. My family adores AKL, and the only way it's affordable with a party of six is to rent DVC points. I'm not sure we'd stay in a villa at WL, since we can fit in a deluxe room. I don't think it's astronomically more expensive because we'd have to get a 2 BR villa at WL if we rented points. I'd have to weigh that cost versus CL and cobbler, I think.

dlhvac, I'm sorry your trip wasn't all you wanted it to be. A poorly cleaned room can happen at any resort (a friend of mine had a pretty nasty experience at BCV last year). You did the right thing by reporting.

Really just bumping this because it fell off the first page.

LOL PamelaKay had the same thought.

 

[TaraPA]

Even though I'm no longer an active guest of WL, I remembered that I told you I'd remind you when the Undercover Boss episode was on featuring Yankee Candle. It's tonight at 8pm on CBS. It follows 3 stories, ours is the last with "Dan."

 

[AndreaA]

Hi everyone! I have a question.

We are currently booked into a one bedroom villa. We have the two kiddos mentioned in my siggie who will be in packnplays. I just discovered that a deluxe club level room is very close to the same price, provides a separate sleeping area for us, and just lacks a kitchen and big bathroom, but has all the free food/drink, etc..

Which would you choose??

 

[tarak]

Hi everyone! I have a question.

We are currently booked into a one bedroom villa. We have the two kiddos mentioned in my siggie who will be in packnplays. I just discovered that a deluxe club level room is very close to the same price, provides a separate sleeping area for us, and just lacks a kitchen and big bathroom, but has all the free food/drink, etc..

Which would you choose??

Hands down, I'd choose the deluxe room. I don't know how much your kids eat, but at that age, mine were more than satisfied by the breakfast offerings CL and the evening appetizers were also sufficient. I haven't stayed CL at the WL. I've only stayed CL at AKL. But I loved the lounge. Being able to let the kids eat cereal and watch the cartoons while I had coffee and oatmeal was lovely. It was nice to meet other families staying at the lodge, too (we frequently ran into the same people in the mornings and evenings). I think that's what I'll miss the most this next trip, since we're renting DVC points instead of staying CL.

 

[nyrebecca]

Much to my chagrin I have been working so much overtime that I have basically no free time to surf the boards.

For everyone who just came back, I hope you had a great time!

For everyone about to leave, I hope you have a wonderful vacation!

Kook - can you change our vacation dates? We were going in October but due to a family situation we have had to push it back to 11/11 - 11/17 , still at the OFC thankfully !!

 

[PamelaKay]

Hi everyone! I have a question.

We are currently booked into a one bedroom villa. We have the two kiddos mentioned in my siggie who will be in packnplays. I just discovered that a deluxe club level room is very close to the same price, provides a separate sleeping area for us, and just lacks a kitchen and big bathroom, but has all the free food/drink, etc..

Which would you choose??

I would choose the deluxe room club level. The morning offerings are plenty of breakfast and the evening offerings are often enough for a meal. The club level staff at WL is the best in all of WDW. Kook has pictures of the food on the first page of this thread and who really wants to cook on vacation.

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

^^ 100% agree! You will be very happy with WL Deluxe

 

[CaliKT]

The problem with this thread is that now I am dying, I tell you, DYING to stay CL on our stay this December!

 

[tarak]

I would choose the deluxe room club level. The morning offerings are plenty of breakfast and the evening offerings are often enough for a meal. The club level staff at WL is the best in all of WDW. Kook has pictures of the food on the first page of this thread and who really wants to cook on vacation.

I agree with the bolded. When we stay at AKV, I'll pick up some cereal and other breakfast stuff. But other than bacon, I highly doubt I'll be cooking much of anything.

The problem with this thread is that now I am dying, I tell you, DYING to stay CL on our stay this December!

Me, too. I'm plotting a return trip around Thanksgiving next year. Probably only two days at WL, but it will definitely be CL. Can't wait to see what it looks like at the holidays!

 

[WDWKOOK]

I'm not caught up on the thread and haven't posted in days, but I just wanted everyone to know that we returned last night from a lovely two weeks at WDW.

I have many photos to upload to photobucket that I'll be posting and updating the first page with. DD starts high school next week so I'll have more time then and this weekend, hopefully. When I can't take folding more laundry and need a good excuse to not mow the grass, I'll check back in

If you haven't gotten a response to a question, don't give-up on me just yet - I promise I'll get to you soon. (Your post is very important to us and will be answered in the order it was received)

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

I'm not caught up on the thread and haven't posted in days, but I just wanted everyone to know that we returned last night from a lovely two weeks at WDW.

I have many photos to upload to photobucket that I'll be posting and updating the first page with. DD starts high school next week so I'll have more time then and this weekend, hopefully. When I can't take folding more laundry and need a good excuse to not mow the grass, I'll check back in

If you haven't gotten a response to a question, don't give-up on me just yet - I promise I'll get to you soon. (Your post is very important to us and will be answered in the order it was received)

Sorry your vacation is over but so glad to have you back here on your thread!!!

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

Two weeks have gone by already?

Hope your trip was all you hoped and can't wait to read your TR.

Good luck sending your DD off to HS. The years will pass too quickly

 

[Mousemommy1]

I'm not caught up on the thread and haven't posted in days, but I just wanted everyone to know that we returned last night from a lovely two weeks at WDW.

I have many photos to upload to photobucket that I'll be posting and updating the first page with. DD starts high school next week so I'll have more time then and this weekend, hopefully. When I can't take folding more laundry and need a good excuse to not mow the grass, I'll check back in

If you haven't gotten a response to a question, don't give-up on me just yet - I promise I'll get to you soon. (Your post is very important to us and will be answered in the order it was received)

Welcome back!!! Can't wait for your TR and pictures!!!

 

[DetTigsGal]

Hi all- where did I see the times for the food offerings in the lounge? I know the first page has the pics, but looking for the time frames. Thanks.

 

[DetTigsGal]

Welcome back kook- we've missed you