(CLOSED) Disney's WILDERNESS LODGE and VILLAS INFORMATION THREAD ~2014~

[Gracie0423]

If you can afford it, book the woods view. There will most likely be promotions to come, and your TA can try to apply a discount. Standard rooms at WL are very limited, and often hard to get if you wait. Worst case, check back from now until the 45 day mark which is cancellation time for packages. You might have a std come open. Also, they hold blocks of rooms for Expedia and Orbitz, so those are worth a look too.


Thank you SO much for your reply! I booked a woods view today with the Visa discount and saved a decent amt- would have preferred a standard view but I've heard woods view is worth the extra cost- I don't care so much about the "view" as I care about a quiet location (son has sleep issues) and closer to bus stops but really we can walk any distance doesn't bother us- quiet is top priority will be back to ask more questions- going back and reading this entire thread- on pg 22 so far!! Great info on here so thankful!! Grace

 

[BlueFairy]

If you can afford it, book the woods view. There will most likely be promotions to come, and your TA can try to apply a discount. Standard rooms at WL are very limited, and often hard to get if you wait. Worst case, check back from now until the 45 day mark which is cancellation time for packages. You might have a std come open. Also, they hold blocks of rooms for Expedia and Orbitz, so those are worth a look too.

Thank you SO much for your reply! I booked a woods view today with the Visa discount and saved a decent amt- would have preferred a standard view but I've heard woods view is worth the extra cost- I don't care so much about the "view" as I care about a quiet location (son has sleep issues) and closer to bus stops but really we can walk any distance doesn't bother us- quiet is top priority will be back to ask more questions- going back and reading this entire thread- on pg 22 so far!! Great info on here so thankful!! Grace

You are quite welcome! Since you are concerned about noise, let me throw in my 2 cents. We had a "woods" view lobby room that was very convenient to the buses, but this wasn't exactly quiet. Tolerable and a lovely location, certainly, but enough noise to have bothered me if I was battling sleep. Alternatively there are many north wing woods views away from the lobby, but they are farther from buses.

For the most quiet area in that category that is also convenient to buses, you might word your room request to include "upper south wing." Or "away from lobby, south wing." For the quietest woods view, "north wing" will get you facing away from all traffic, with the possible exception of hearing the boat horns.

Either way, we find the walking at WL to be no problem with everything relatively compact.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

I'm coming back!!!! I booked our trip today when the disney visa offer was released. My mom and I are staying February 7th - 11th in a courtyard room! This will be her first time at the lodge and she is so excited we had the chance to upgrade.

 

[Wood Nymph]

We booked a return to the lodge in January with the Visa offer, too! I hadn't even realized that the Visa discount came out today until I checked the Dis around lunch time.

The new dates are Jan 25th to 29th - CV.

 

[BridgetR3]

I saw scooters on the larger boats to the MK in September. They didn't even have to use the ramp, the door on the boat was level with the dock.

Thank you!! She may like taking the boat to Magic Kingdom one day.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Thank you!! She may like taking the boat to Magic Kingdom one day.

We were waiting for the boat to MK one morning when the big launch arrived. It also went to pick up passengers at FW.

 

[ElsaColon]

This isn't a question, just a testament to how amazing this hotel is (as if there was any question!)

So Sept 8-13 was my very FIRST time visiting Wilderness Lodge and it was literally the most amazing hotel experience my husband and I ever experienced and to date our best trip to WDW. I've been a cast member for quite some time and have stayed at most (if all) Disney resorts. But I was completely blown away by WL. Everything about our experience was perfect. We had a room on the 6th floor facing towards magi Kingdom and to our right, Bay Lake. Every evening we were in our room we were treated to a Wishes (and Hallow-Wishes) along with the water parade. Stepping out on our balcony and seeing the magic right from our room made it for a trip we would never forget. Artist point was on point (pun intended). We would even hang out in the lobby in front of the fire place sipping hot chocolate or outside enjoying the creek with a Roaring Forks burger in hand. The staff was some of the best I've seen at any resort. Because of the pool closure we were given BB tickets and $50 off my already 50% off. Whoever is running this hotel knows what they are doing.

Anyway, a few months ago I found out i was being laid off from Radio Disney along with 225 other employees.

I thought that was my last big trip to Disney and probably the last time in a long time I would be staying at a deluxe resort. But instead, by the grace of God we will be staying again at the end of the week!

Long story short, the company kept me on staff to do a a few extra events for Radio Disney and informed me my discounts would continue through the month. However, this weekend was the ONLY weekend I could head up as I work every other weekend this month.

Well little did I know it was Columbus Day Weekend! I searched the cast website for a discounted room and found NOTHING was available. Well there was the Poly for $600 a night (and that was with 50% off!) for some sort of suite with MK view but that is WAY out of my price range! I checked over and over and even called with no luck. Well I told myself and my husband, "Lets just book through the regular site without our discount and stay at a value." Well when I went to the regular website for bookings there was nothing available again! Except for of course a contemporary room for $1,000 a night! So we couldn't even book through the regular site meaning all hotels are completely booked up for this holiday weekend.

I lost all hope but I continued to refresh the cast member booking page anyway. After about 30 minutes of this a stay at WL came up with my cast discount! I booked it as quickly as I could! So not only am I able to experience one last trip to Disney as a cast member, I am doing so at the most amazing resort on property.

Sorry for this long story, I just wanted to share how excited I am! WL here we come!

 

[AngiTN]

This isn't a question, just a testament to how amazing this hotel is (as if there was any question!)

So Sept 8-13 was my very FIRST time visiting Wilderness Lodge and it was literally the most amazing hotel experience my husband and I ever experienced and to date our best trip to WDW. I've been a cast member for quite some time and have stayed at most (if all) Disney resorts. But I was completely blown away by WL. Everything about our experience was perfect. We had a room on the 6th floor facing towards magi Kingdom and to our right, Bay Lake. Every evening we were in our room we were treated to a Wishes (and Hallow-Wishes) along with the water parade. Stepping out on our balcony and seeing the magic right from our room made it for a trip we would never forget. Artist point was on point (pun intended). We would even hang out in the lobby in front of the fire place sipping hot chocolate or outside enjoying the creek with a Roaring Forks burger in hand. The staff was some of the best I've seen at any resort. Because of the pool closure we were given BB tickets and $50 off my already 50% off. Whoever is running this hotel knows what they are doing.

Anyway, a few months ago I found out i was being laid off from Radio Disney along with 225 other employees.

I thought that was my last big trip to Disney and probably the last time in a long time I would be staying at a deluxe resort. But instead, by the grace of God we will be staying again at the end of the week!

Long story short, the company kept me on staff to do a a few extra events for Radio Disney and informed me my discounts would continue through the month. However, this weekend was the ONLY weekend I could head up as I work every other weekend this month.

Well little did I know it was Columbus Day Weekend! I searched the cast website for a discounted room and found NOTHING was available. Well there was the Poly for $600 a night (and that was with 50% off!) for some sort of suite with MK view but that is WAY out of my price range! I checked over and over and even called with no luck. Well I told myself and my husband, "Lets just book through the regular site without our discount and stay at a value." Well when I went to the regular website for bookings there was nothing available again! Except for of course a contemporary room for $1,000 a night! So we couldn't even book through the regular site meaning all hotels are completely booked up for this holiday weekend.

I lost all hope but I continued to refresh the cast member booking page anyway. After about 30 minutes of this a stay at WL came up with my cast discount! I booked it as quickly as I could! So not only am I able to experience one last trip to Disney as a cast member, I am doing so at the most amazing resort on property.

Sorry for this long story, I just wanted to share how excited I am! WL here we come!

What a wonderful story. So glad you get to return one more time. Sorry about your job though. Hopefully something else is going to open up for you. Enjoy your trip.

 

[ElsaColon]

What a wonderful story. So glad you get to return one more time. Sorry about your job though. Hopefully something else is going to open up for you. Enjoy your trip.

Thank you <3 I spent so many great years of my youth working for the best company in the world. I am leaving this experience thankful and I know the skills I learned as CM will help me with all other endeavors in life!

 

[MrsJobba1]

Ok I have a question - what is your favourite food to get from roaring forks? Or what is your favourite drink / snack from territory lounge ?

 

[ElsaColon]

Ok I have a question - what is your favourite food to get from roaring forks? Or what is your favourite drink / snack from territory lounge ?

OMG The berry cobbler from the lounge (also served in artist point) is AMAZING! I ask for it with vanilla and 2 scoops of it rather than one. My husband and I got it practically every night when we were there. My other favorite snack from the lounge would be the portobello soup! I only had it at Artist Point but I know it is sold in the lounge as well.

My favorite Roaring Forks food is the pulled pork sandwhich! SO delish.

 

[MrsJobba1]

OMG The berry cobbler from the lounge (also served in artist point) is AMAZING! I ask for it with vanilla and 2 scoops of it rather than one. My husband and I got it practically every night when we were there. My other favorite snack from the lounge would be the portobello soup! I only had it at Artist Point but I know it is sold in the lounge as well.

My favorite Roaring Forks food is the pulled pork sandwhich! SO delish.

Mmm I'm curious about the cobbler - (I'm from the uk) - is it like a crumble or does it have a sponge top? I've seen it on many of the menus.

Sounds yummy

 

[ElsaColon]

Mmm I'm curious about the cobbler - (I'm from the uk) - is it like a crumble or does it have a sponge top? I've seen it on many of the menus.

Sounds yummy

I would described it more of a crispy top with some sponge. It comes with berry ice cream but we preferred much more with the vanilla. The berry cobbler + berry ice cream was too much berry. The vanilla gives it a perfect taste! I highly recommend trying it.

 

[MrsJobba1]

I would described it more of a crispy top with some sponge. It comes with berry ice cream but we preferred much more with the vanilla. The berry cobbler + berry ice cream was too much berry. The vanilla gives it a perfect taste! I highly recommend trying it.

Mmm will do!

 

[bookgirl]

Mmm I'm curious about the cobbler - (I'm from the uk) - is it like a crumble or does it have a sponge top? I've seen it on many of the menus.

Sounds yummy

In general it's basically a fruit pie but the crust is crumbled or patterned as lattice on top. I don't think the topping is quite as chunky as a crumble.

The lounge pics look more like it has sweet dough lumped on top. kinda like what we call biscuits or dumplins but the filling is still going to be cooked fruit to a thick consistency.

 

[ttkc]

Tell me if I am asking this on the wrong thread. I am still learning to navigate. Anyway, we booked a 2br at the Villas. How do room requests work there? Any good resources on which rooms I would want to request? Thoughts on a dedicated two bedroom vs. a lockoff 2 bedroom? Opinions wanted!! Thanks!

 

[AngiTN]

Ok I have a question - what is your favourite food to get from roaring forks? Or what is your favourite drink / snack from territory lounge ?

I'll be honest, we were not fans of Roaring Forks. Food is avg. Nothing was outstanding. The flatbreads were ok. Soup was good. Burger not at all. McDonalds is better. At least the ones we ate. We ended up eating there more than we liked due to weather problems.

And every single day we walked past it I thanked God we were staying CL so I didn't have to fight that crowd for breakfast. It is horribly undersized for the Resort size and it was always elbow to elbow during early breakfast times. It turned out cold on our trip so no one wanted to eat outside and it was packed in the seating area.

We are not staying CL on our next trip (sadly) but we are having breakfast foods shipped so we can avoid fighting that mess downthere.

 

[WDWKOOK]

All this cobbler talk

​

I tried! Every time I got to around 3 pictures, went back to photobucket for the next one, and came back here, the DIS had kicked me off, the post was gone, and I was back at the log-in page. It was very frustrating, so I decided to post them separately. I have no idea why that was happening. It wasn't the first time I did this on my iPad, so I can't blame that.
Sorry I made extra work for you! Glad you enjoyed them.

No problem at all, just didn't know if you knew about the limit. Love the photos! I'll just link to the page with your photos rather than to each photo. I forgot that I've maxed the 25 photo limit so I can't copy/paste them into the update page.

Lisa P has a great update on construction, pool activity, plans for the finished product, and photos over on the VWL Groupies thread. Posts 1589 and 1590.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3242976&page=106

Thank you for posting the link. For those who haven't made it over to her post yet, here is the "update" part of Lisa P's post:

"During our 9:00AM Wonders of Wilderness Lodge free tour (an hour well-spent!), we asked about the planned changes. The plain kiddie pool is gone, dirt heaps abound, and much of the surrounding patio has been removed, as well as a little landscaping around the old kiddie pool site. Water pipes are being laid for the new, themed splash zone with drenching water bucket. All pool linings and patios within 4 feet of any pool water are being resurfaced with the newer no-slip material that currently lines the Villas pool. The feature pool will have the same footprint and water volume but the patio will be slightly expanded and the path between the geyser and the Trout Pass Pool Bar will be accessible. The roof of Trout Pass Pool Bar is mostly gone now so they much be doing a bit of renovation there as well."

Kook-hey how are you? I'll try my best to post live. We will be pretty busy that week, since we'll be at the parks every day, but I'll do my best!! I'll be sure to try and get a cobbler picture for you! LOL

Have a wonderful vacation!

Thank you SO much for your reply! I booked a woods view today with the Visa discount and saved a decent amt- would have preferred a standard view but I've heard woods view is worth the extra cost- I don't care so much about the "view" as I care about a quiet location (son has sleep issues) and closer to bus stops but really we can walk any distance doesn't bother us- quiet is top priority will be back to ask more questions- going back and reading this entire thread- on pg 22 so far!! Great info on here so thankful!! Grace

Welcome, Grace. Let us know if you have more questions and congratulations on booking!

I'm coming back!!!! I booked our trip today when the disney visa offer was released. My mom and I are staying February 7th - 11th in a courtyard room! This will be her first time at the lodge and she is so excited we had the chance to upgrade.

I'll post your dates to the Lodgers' Log. Your mom is going to love it at the Lodge!

We booked a return to the lodge in January with the Visa offer, too! I hadn't even realized that the Visa discount came out today until I checked the Dis around lunch time.

The new dates are Jan 25th to 29th - CV.

I'll update the log

This isn't a question, just a testament to how amazing this hotel is (as if there was any question!)

So Sept 8-13 was my very FIRST time visiting Wilderness Lodge and it was literally the most amazing hotel experience my husband and I ever experienced and to date our best trip to WDW. I've been a cast member for quite some time and have stayed at most (if all) Disney resorts. But I was completely blown away by WL. Everything about our experience was perfect. We had a room on the 6th floor facing towards magi Kingdom and to our right, Bay Lake. Every evening we were in our room we were treated to a Wishes (and Hallow-Wishes) along with the water parade. Stepping out on our balcony and seeing the magic right from our room made it for a trip we would never forget. Artist point was on point (pun intended). We would even hang out in the lobby in front of the fire place sipping hot chocolate or outside enjoying the creek with a Roaring Forks burger in hand. The staff was some of the best I've seen at any resort. Because of the pool closure we were given BB tickets and $50 off my already 50% off. Whoever is running this hotel knows what they are doing.

Anyway, a few months ago I found out i was being laid off from Radio Disney along with 225 other employees.

I thought that was my last big trip to Disney and probably the last time in a long time I would be staying at a deluxe resort. But instead, by the grace of God we will be staying again at the end of the week!

Long story short, the company kept me on staff to do a a few extra events for Radio Disney and informed me my discounts would continue through the month. However, this weekend was the ONLY weekend I could head up as I work every other weekend this month.

Well little did I know it was Columbus Day Weekend! I searched the cast website for a discounted room and found NOTHING was available. Well there was the Poly for $600 a night (and that was with 50% off!) for some sort of suite with MK view but that is WAY out of my price range! I checked over and over and even called with no luck. Well I told myself and my husband, "Lets just book through the regular site without our discount and stay at a value." Well when I went to the regular website for bookings there was nothing available again! Except for of course a contemporary room for $1,000 a night! So we couldn't even book through the regular site meaning all hotels are completely booked up for this holiday weekend.

I lost all hope but I continued to refresh the cast member booking page anyway. After about 30 minutes of this a stay at WL came up with my cast discount! I booked it as quickly as I could! So not only am I able to experience one last trip to Disney as a cast member, I am doing so at the most amazing resort on property.

Sorry for this long story, I just wanted to share how excited I am! WL here we come!

What a great post and story - love it! And, what a cute photo to go along with it. I think your thoughts would be greatly appreciated by Disney. They'll forward your comments on to WL and a manager will share it with staff at their weekly meetings. I know it would make everyone smile.

I'm sorry about Radio Disney and I hope that something bigger and better comes along soon for you. Are you hoping to someday be a CM again perhaps at WDW?

Ok I have a question - what is your favourite food to get from roaring forks? Or what is your favourite drink / snack from territory lounge ?

RF: Wilderness Salad.

TL: Habanero Margarita and anything but the Cornish Game Hen from the AP menu. From the TL menu, the Buffalo Nachos or the Fondue and the Portobello Mushroom Soup:







Now I'm hungry...

Tell me if I am asking this on the wrong thread. I am still learning to navigate. Anyway, we booked a 2br at the Villas. How do room requests work there? Any good resources on which rooms I would want to request? Thoughts on a dedicated two bedroom vs. a lockoff 2 bedroom? Opinions wanted!! Thanks!

Welcome! Did you book a cash reservation? If so, you can add room location requests to your reservation anytime after booking. Just call the WDTC/CRO and they will add them.

There is a villa map located HERE in the VWL section of the thread. It shows the location of all the villas. I can't answer your lock-off Vs. dedicated question.

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

Ok I have a question - what is your favourite food to get from roaring forks? Or what is your favourite drink / snack from territory lounge ?

Mickey waffles or chicken nuggets LOL...

But from the room service menu, the penne with chicken is amazing!

 

[BlueFairy]

Ok I have a question - what is your favourite food to get from roaring forks? Or what is your favourite drink / snack from territory lounge ?

RF: roast beef sandwich - blue Cleese mayo, caramelized onions .... Yum.
TL: charcuterie platter and habanero margarita.

A note for kids: chicken tenders at TL and AP are all breast meat . At RF they appeared to be pressed nuggets, at least on the kids meal. And the kids pizza at RF is a flatbread. In our book that's a step above the standard Disney personal pizza.