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

[bookgirl]

Hello Lodgers!
I've been lurking for a while, reading up on the resort that I've decided to return to after 17 years. Since the lodge was the last place I stayed all those years ago, I hesitated, but the beauty of the resort won out. I am so appreciative for all the tips and the updates, and looking forward to seeing pics of the completed pool!
Boyfriend and I will be staying Jan 24-Feb 1, courtyard view. I've got a conference Jan 29-31, which is what took us to Orlando. As soon as BF heard I was going to Orlando, he wanted to go to WDW.
So on those days, we plan on just having a late dinner in in either Magic Kingdom or EPCOT. Has anyone here rented a car for a few days?

I've rented cars for my whole trip or just a day or two. Thrifty has usually had the best prices and I've never had a problem. In fact on my July visit thrifty was out of my size car and borrowed one from another company. Well three days in it became a Dashboard Christmas light display. Thrifty had a replacement to me within 90 minutes in the rain no fees no problem. I even rented my car in Tampa but was in Orlando when it went kaput.

When doing partial rentals I've picked up a car at MCO at National and returned at the Dolphin. I chose national because I can get a $40 coupon through my Discover card. As well as no charge for picking up at one location and dropping at another. Since the Dolphin is on property it was very easy to drop off then get back to my resort. I then used DME to get back to the airport.

 

[BlondeBelle]

I've rented cars for my whole trip or just a day or two. Thrifty has usually had the best prices and I've never had a problem. In fact on my July visit thrifty was out of my size car and borrowed one from another company. Well three days in it became a Dashboard Christmas light display. Thrifty had a replacement to me within 90 minutes in the rain no fees no problem. I even rented my car in Tampa but was in Orlando when it went kaput.

When doing partial rentals I've picked up a car at MCO at National and returned at the Dolphin. I chose national because I can get a $40 coupon through my Discover card. As well as no charge for picking up at one location and dropping at another. Since the Dolphin is on property it was very easy to drop off then get back to my resort. I then used DME to get back to the airport.

Awesome, I'll check in with Thrifty. I did a little pricing a few weeks back, and it was high. I think I just checked National. I hope the prices go down closer!

 

[hill6]

Just booked five nights in a studio at the Villas in May. So excited. DH has said he always wanted to stay here. Now he will.

 

[Lacoccinelle]

We have ordered from GG multiple times at WL, and they drop your order off with Bell Services. If it arrives when you are not there they will hold the order for you, and will keep cold items refrigerated. When you arrive at the room and are ready to have the items delivered, you just call Bell Services and they will send everything up to you. Then at that point you can tip the bell person for bringing them up.

We have never notified WL ahead of time, and usually have the order delivered the day we arrive before we check in. It really works great.

Thanks! I had seen on their website to arrange it, but read you did not need to.

 

[bookgirl]

Awesome, I'll check in with Thrifty. I did a little pricing a few weeks back, and it was high. I think I just checked National. I hope the prices go down closer!

I've been checking pretty much weekly and this is as low as they've been. 2 to 3 weeks seems to be the sweet spot.

 

[BlondeBelle]

I've been checking pretty much weekly and this is as low as they've been. 2 to 3 weeks seems to be the sweet spot.

awesome scoop! thanks for sharing!

 

[Divaofdisney]

Does anyone know how long it takes to get to WL from MCO via ME? We get in around 9:30 AM (very early flight) not a morning person- thinking of changing it to later one- Heard that WL is actually last stop on MK hotels- is this true? thanks in advance. getting excited. 7 days to go till FP+ night- praying hard I get what I am looking for.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Does anyone know how long it takes to get to WL from MCO via ME? We get in around 9:30 AM (very early flight) not a morning person- thinking of changing it to later one- Heard that WL is actually last stop on MK hotels- is this true? thanks in advance. getting excited. 7 days to go till FP+ night- praying hard I get what I am looking for.

I kept notes on our travel times. In January we had a flight that landed around 9:45am. We got on the bus at 10:00am but it didn't pull out of the airport until 10:10am. It stopped at the Polynesian, then Grand Floridian and then Wilderness Lodge. It got to the WL just about 11am. All of our trips to the WL had the same route, the Poly, then GF, then WL, and they all took about an hour. The drive from the airport to the first resort is about 35 minutes. Once at WDW, the time it took to get to the WL depended on how many passengers we had getting off at the first stops. One time we sat for about five minutes at the GF, waiting for another ME to clear out of the way. As far as I know, the Contemporary is the last stop, but I know that at night those routes can change.

 

[Divaofdisney]

I kept notes on our travel times. In January we had a flight that landed around 9:45am. We got on the bus at 10:00am but it didn't pull out of the airport until 10:10am. It stopped at the Polynesian, then Grand Floridian and then Wilderness Lodge. It got to the WL just about 11am. All of our trips to the WL had the same route, the Poly, then GF, then WL, and they all took about an hour. The drive from the airport to the first resort is about 35 minutes. Once at WDW, the time it took to get to the WL depended on how many passengers we had getting off at the first stops. One time we sat for about five minutes at the GF, waiting for another ME to clear out of the way. As far as I know, the Contemporary is the last stop, but I know that at night those routes can change.

Ok thanks very much. I went ahead and changed our flights to arrive at 12:30 PM instead of 10 AM- It will give me a little more time in the morning to get up and have my normal cup of tea- I love the Twinings Irish Breakfast tea- it helps calm my tummy- and gets me awake at same time. We are flying Southwest and change was easy to make- no cost to change and no cost to change flight either. I will be flying with my youngest daughter and meeting my husband and other daughter and boyfriend who will be driving from Pensacola- about 7 hours- do you think if they left my 6 AM they would be there by 1 or 2? I am sure they will make a stop of 2 to use restroom on way down.

 

[kittycruize]

Hi Everyone! We are coming down on December 11, and staying at the Wilderness for the first time! I have always wanted to stay there, so am very excited! Also have never been to Dis at Christmas time! Tomorrow is my online checkin date. Can anyone tell me what the selections are? We have a courtyard view. What options will we have to select from, and what is your best advice for what I should select? We will have 11 people with us, including 5 children-so 3 rooms total!

 

[disneydreaming2]

Do the Christmas decorations come down right away after New Years? Our arrival day is Sunday, Jan 4.

 

[jd65]

I would just like to say I love and miss the WL... didn't stay there this year, stayed at OKW 2 weeks ago and it was not as pleasant as the lovely WL. That boat ride to MK is short but sweet and the scenery on the WL grounds are amazing. Hopefully next year after the rehab...

 

[Wood Nymph]

Hi Everyone! We are coming down on December 11, and staying at the Wilderness for the first time! I have always wanted to stay there, so am very excited! Also have never been to Dis at Christmas time! Tomorrow is my online checkin date. Can anyone tell me what the selections are? We have a courtyard view. What options will we have to select from, and what is your best advice for what I should select? We will have 11 people with us, including 5 children-so 3 rooms total!

The options are:
- ground floor
- second floor
- fourth floor
- fifth floor
- sixth floor
- highest floor
- near elevator

A courtyard view room can be a view of either the inner courtyard, which would include a view of Bay Lake, or the villas courtyard, which doesn't have a view of the lake. If you would prefer one of those views, then you could call and have them add the request to your reservation. Unfortunately, that isn't one of the options in the online list.

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

Does anyone have any updates on the progress of the construction?

Thanks!

 

[tofubeast]

Just checking in. Are people (still?) being offered BB passes during WL pool closure? Thanks.

 

[bookgirl]

Remember when I said my ADR's and FP+ were set.

Then I said I over think before hand.


I totally changed the planned park days and 3 days of FP's.


Good thing it's a trip geared more towards my mom, she doesn't like the big ticket rides so easy to change them only 2 weeks out.

The one day I changed that I am going to the park alone I also hadn't really FP'ed any big rides (going to rope drop at MK) just did FP for some favorites.

 

[mevelandry]

Just checking in. Are people (still?) being offered BB passes during WL pool closure? Thanks.

You have to ask for them because they don't offer it right away.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Heading back to WL for our first MVMCP. So excited. Sad to not have gotten CL there but we got a woods view bunk bed so it is all good

If you still want CL, keep checking daily. People cancel/change all the time. You can even inquire at check-in about upgrading.

We found it on the WCC menu. The girls were too tired to stay for dessert, so I asked for it to go. The waiter said "we don't usually do that to go" but reconsidered when I said it would be fine without the ice cream. I'm sure it was better WITH the ice cream, but it was delicious as a bed time treat after I got through digesting my giant WCC meal. In August it was blueberry peach and was served in individual crockery.

That's good to know because the cobbler isn't listed on the WCC menu.

So excited to be spending Christmas at the WL! I'm really starting to get even more excited now that it's almost time to choose our fastpasses. I'd love to be added to the log, we are 12/19-12/26 on CL. This will be our first time away from home on Christmas, the kids are hoping Santa can find us! Would love to meet any other DISers who will be there.

I've added your dates to the Lodgers' Log. WL at Christmas is magical and you'll be in the Christmas spirit the minute you arrive and walk into the lobby

We're home!!!

Are you still there now? How is the rehab coming along?

Hello Lodgers!
I've been lurking for a while, reading up on the resort that I've decided to return to after 17 years. Since the lodge was the last place I stayed all those years ago, I hesitated, but the beauty of the resort won out. I am so appreciative for all the tips and the updates, and looking forward to seeing pics of the completed pool!

Boyfriend and I will be staying Jan 24-Feb 1, courtyard view. I've got a conference Jan 29-31, which is what took us to Orlando. As soon as BF heard I was going to Orlando, he wanted to go to WDW.
So on those days, we plan on just having a late dinner in in either Magic Kingdom or EPCOT. Has anyone here rented a car for a few days?

17 years? It hasn't changed a bit. I'll add your dates to the Log in POST 2 and I hope you have a great visit.

Just booked five nights in a studio at the Villas in May. So excited. DH has said he always wanted to stay here. Now he will.

Congratulations on booking! DH will love it and he'll want to come back

I kept notes on our travel times. In January we had a flight that landed around 9:45am. We got on the bus at 10:00am but it didn't pull out of the airport until 10:10am. It stopped at the Polynesian, then Grand Floridian and then Wilderness Lodge. It got to the WL just about 11am. All of our trips to the WL had the same route, the Poly, then GF, then WL, and they all took about an hour. The drive from the airport to the first resort is about 35 minutes. Once at WDW, the time it took to get to the WL depended on how many passengers we had getting off at the first stops. One time we sat for about five minutes at the GF, waiting for another ME to clear out of the way. As far as I know, the Contemporary is the last stop, but I know that at night those routes can change.

Great info. which I'm going to add to the TRANSPORTATION chapter of the thread.

ETA: Just realized I already have this great info. in the DME section of the the thread

Hi Everyone! We are coming down on December 11, and staying at the Wilderness for the first time! I have always wanted to stay there, so am very excited! Also have never been to Dis at Christmas time! Tomorrow is my online checkin date. Can anyone tell me what the selections are? We have a courtyard view. What options will we have to select from, and what is your best advice for what I should select? We will have 11 people with us, including 5 children-so 3 rooms total!

If you want your rooms to be close to each other, it's best to make sure that the reservations are "linked" by calling the WDTC/CRO. Also, OCI room location choices are quite limited, so if there's something not listed, don't hesitate to call and have your requests added to your reservations. The Room Assignor sees both your called-in requests and your OCI requests. Just make sure the requests don't contradict each other.

Do the Christmas decorations come down right away after New Years? Our arrival day is Sunday, Jan 4.

I've heard that they come down a couple of days after NYD so I'm pretty sure that by 1/4 they'll be down. On the plus side, you should have super low crowd levels and lovely weather

I would just like to say I love and miss the WL... didn't stay there this year, stayed at OKW 2 weeks ago and it was not as pleasant as the lovely WL. That boat ride to MK is short but sweet and the scenery on the WL grounds are amazing. Hopefully next year after the rehab...

I hope you get to book WL soon

Remember when I said my ADR's and FP+ were set.

Then I said I over think before hand.


I totally changed the planned park days and 3 days of FP's.


Good thing it's a trip geared more towards my mom, she doesn't like the big ticket rides so easy to change them only 2 weeks out.

The one day I changed that I am going to the park alone I also hadn't really FP'ed any big rides (going to rope drop at MK) just did FP for some favorites.

Nothing wrong with a little tweaking to get the trip just right. It's nice being able to make changes so easily, even a couple of hours before a FP+

 

[WDWKOOK]

The Magic Kingdom hotels will be testing a new bus route from 10/12-10/25/14. The bus will run between the Contemporary Resort, Grand Floridian Resort, the Polynesian and Typhoon Lagoon. This will fix the problem of all Typhoon Lagoon guests having to transfer at Epcot after 2:00pm.
~DIS Updates

 

[AngiTN]

The Magic Kingdom hotels will be testing a new bus route from 10/12-10/25/14. The bus will run between the Contemporary Resort, Grand Floridian Resort, the Polynesian and Typhoon Lagoon. This will fix the problem of all Typhoon Lagoon guests having to transfer at Epcot after 2:00pm.
~DIS Updates

Gosh, it's about time. It was ridiculous that they had the folks transferring all summer. Why would they take this long to come up with a solution?