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

[kittyx3]

Just following up on a previous post regarding an e-mail I sent to Disney inquiring about the pool rehab dates. This was sent before the official notice\dates were known. (When the e-mail was sent that is).

I was pleasantly surprised yesterday when my cell phone rang and it was
Emily from the Walt Disney World resort. She had called to inform me that my e-mail was received, and to let me know about the September 3rd start date for the WL pool rehab. While the dates do not conflict with our August trip, I thought receiving a direct phone call was a very pleasant surprise.

Once again, Disney comes through for me with a level of customer service I didn't expect.

When did you send the e-mail, if you don't mind me asking? We sent one on 6/16 and received the "11 days" form letter. So far nothing. Starting to grow concerned about our choices again and the fact that no letters have come through and no one has responded to our e-mail, I worry we may have fallen through the customer service cracks and this is what is to be expected for our stay. Hmmm.

 

[rotlex]

When did you send the e-mail, if you don't mind me asking? We sent one on 6/16 and received the "11 days" form letter. So far nothing. Starting to grow concerned about our choices again and the fact that no letters have come through and no one has responded to our e-mail, I worry we may have fallen through the customer service cracks and this is what is to be expected for our stay. Hmmm.

I sent them an e-mail back on the 14th, so more than 11 days to get a response, but I already had my answer from the forums anyway. My dates are August 17th through the 29th so no conflict luckily.

As far as level of service from the WL during your stay? I guess things can be different, but there is a reason this is another return trip for us. We love it there, and have had nothing but excellent stays each time. The hotel itself is amazing, and the staff even more so. We have had more pixie dust and just general great experiences at the Wilderness Lodge than any other Disney hotel, and we have stayed at nearly all of them over the years.

 

[kittyx3]

I sent them an e-mail back on the 14th, so more than 11 days to get a response, but I already had my answer from the forums anyway. My dates are August 17th through the 29th so no conflict luckily.

As far as level of service from the WL during your stay? I guess things can be different, but there is a reason this is another return trip for us. We love it there, and have had nothing but excellent stays each time. The hotel itself is amazing, and the staff even more so. We have had more pixie dust and just general great experiences at the Wilderness Lodge than any other Disney hotel, and we have stayed at nearly all of them over the years.

Thank you for boosting my confidence again. This has been a planning that has taken 5 years and 5 months. It is a big surprise and it seems we keep hitting bumps. I have total faith in the Mouse and all of his Pixie dusty happy, but the bumps keep concerning me. You know how you want everything to be perfect, but totally accept that bumps will happen, but the bumps start before you are even out the door and it makes you titch nervous? Yup, me, party of one.

Embracing, loving and excited about all things WL, but the spidey senses on the back of my neck are worried about the bumps.

Now DH is considering losing the 1 bedroom Villa and returning to the CYR. Figures if it is all going to go barney, then it won't be so bad if the costs are a bit lower.

Happy thoughts, happy thoughts!!

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Hello, Lodgers
​

~Those with reservations will be offered a one-day water park pass in addition to transportation and use of the CR and FW pools.[/CENTER]

Water park pass as in TL/BB???

 

[mom4graceandlogan]

Well we are jumping ship from the Beach Club and changing our reservation to WL for September. Initially was worried about the construction, but there has been scaffolding and construction probably every other trip for us since we travel in off season. The pool is a big deal to us, but we will work around it. One big reason to change was that our inlaws are coming now. We will put them in a CL room and we will do a deluxe club level. Hoping a WL villa opens up by then and we will switch to it for us, but leave inlaws club level. Either way it will be fun. WL is our favorite resort. Many of our trips are not even listed in our signature. My inlaws are in their 80's. they need the WL club level, lobby, ease of boat transportation and ability to get around without walking in rain(which it always does in september.) We were looking at GF but you have to walk a long distance, possibly in rain, unless you splurge for main building CL and Contemporary has no availability. Thanks Kook for the updates. Everyone please keep posting pics. Hoping to see the walls come down around the waterfall. Kook are you in a deluxe room at the very end of the building or center courtyard? All pictures of deluxe view, room etc. appreciated.

 

[WDWKOOK]

I am THRILLED and so EXCITED that today we booked a Christmas stay at WL. I was jumping up and down like a kid, not a teenage kid, but a younger kid


There is a new "guest enhancement" that started today at WCC. Guests may choose to opt in or opt out of all the high-jinks and hilarity by simply choosing the green side of a coaster or the red side. Guess which side we chose?






We had one hilariously fun late lunch at WCC today. I managed to down TWO vanilla milk shakes and order the skillet. The first skillet we received had no ribs, but the second did, so if it's missing, just ask. We thought they weren't included with lunch anymore, but they are. Remember to also ask for your all-you-can-drink milk shakes without whipped cream so as to increase your ice cream consumption

David was our server and he was perfectly sarcastic and funny. We were his last guests before he departs later today for home to be with his family over the Fourth. He just accepted a position with DCL which he is very happy about. Exciting times lay ahead, but he will be missed at WCC.

I want to clarify something I posted earlier regarding our Deluxe room. I did not mean to imply that STD or Deluxe rooms on floors other than the 7th are not cleaned to the same high standard. I should have explained that our particular Deluxe room is on a floor that supposedly has a shortage of Lodgekeepers and they are claiming that they can't provide the usual CL services due to the shortage and a different Lodgekeeper is cleaning the room each day due to the shortage. I've been told that this is not the case on other floors for other Deluxe rooms. The Deluxe rooms are managed differently from the STD Rooms on the 7th floor. I wanted to clarify this so no one thinks that STD room upkeep on floors 1-6 are sub-standard in any way, they are not. This just seems to be an anomaly for this particular room only.

DH reports that tonight's cobbler was apple. From 5-7 the Shepherd's Pie (pictured) made a CL appearance. (No shepherds were harmed in the serving of the pie.)

Water park pass as in TL/BB???

Yes, I believe it will be for BB. This is the same offer made to Poly guests affected by the Nanea pool closure later this month through 2015. (See, it could be worse).

 

[WDWKOOK]

Well we are jumping ship from the Beach Club and changing our reservation to WL for September. Initially was worried about the construction, but there has been scaffolding and construction probably every other trip for us since we travel in off season. The pool is a big deal to us, but we will work around it. One big reason to change was that our inlaws are coming now. We will put them in a CL room and we will do a deluxe club level. Hoping a WL villa opens up by then and we will switch to it for us, but leave inlaws club level. Either way it will be fun. WL is our favorite resort. Many of our trips are not even listed in our signature. My inlaws are in their 80's. they need the WL club level, lobby, ease of boat transportation and ability to get around without walking in rain(which it always does in september.) We were looking at GF but you have to walk a long distance, possibly in rain, unless you splurge for main building CL and Contemporary has no availability. Thanks Kook for the updates. Everyone please keep posting pics. Hoping to see the walls come down around the waterfall. Kook are you in a deluxe room at the very end of the building or center courtyard? All pictures of deluxe view, room etc. appreciated.

Congratulations on booking WL. We're in a mid-wing Deluxe room and not at the end of the wing. I have photos I'll post from home. But, I can tell you that the North Wing Deluxe rooms at the end of the wing have very obstructed views of the dock area. All other Deluxe rooms have unobstructed views of either the CY with Bay Lake beyond or Bay Lake/beach.

 

[bluecastle]

I am THRILLED and so EXCITED that today we booked a Christmas stay at WL. I was jumping up and down like a kid, not a teenage kid, but a younger kid

woo hoo!!!! I would be too!

There is a new "guest enhancement" that started today at WCC. Guests may choose to opt in or opt out of all the high-jinks and hilarity by simply choosing the green side of a coaster or the red side. Guess which side we chose?

What a great idea! We didn't make an ADR for this. We have had good luck here as walk-ups for either an early or late lunch. Did you have an ADR?

We had one hilariously fun late lunch at WCC today. I managed to down TWO vanilla milk shakes and order the skillet. The first skillet we received had no ribs, but the second did, so if it's missing, just ask. We thought they weren't included with lunch anymore, but they are. Remember to also ask for your all-you-can-drink milk shakes without whipped cream so as to increase your ice cream consumption

I will take this under advisement. I like the idea of greater ice cream consumption, but giving up whipped cream might be a challenge. I love to swirl it all together.
Thanks for all these updates!

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

woo hoo!!!! I would be too!




What a great idea! We didn't make an ADR for this. We have had good luck here as walk-ups for either an early or late lunch. Did you have an ADR?



I will take this under advisement. I like the idea of greater ice cream consumption, but giving up whipped cream might be a challenge. I love to swirl it all together.
Thanks for all these updates!

Oh NO! Reading all of this has really made me torn. We are still not sure what to do.

 

[juliehoey]

I sent them an e-mail back on the 14th, so more than 11 days to get a response, but I already had my answer from the forums anyway. My dates are August 17th through the 29th so no conflict luckily.

As far as level of service from the WL during your stay? I guess things can be different, but there is a reason this is another return trip for us. We love it there, and have had nothing but excellent stays each time. The hotel itself is amazing, and the staff even more so. We have had more pixie dust and just general great experiences at the Wilderness Lodge than any other Disney hotel, and we have stayed at nearly all of them over the years.

Emily called me too! I was really surprised but concerned she was calling personally to say there may be construction starting early. I just did not like the phrase "subject to change"

 

[rotlex]

Emily called me too! I was really surprised but concerned she was calling personally to say there may be construction starting early. I just did not like the phrase "subject to change"

Cool on getting a direct call too. Not too worried here on the subject to change statement; she also said the dates were pretty much set, and at this point, with all the info here, I'm pretty comfortable with it.

On a side note, I can't believe I just flipped the calendar to July 1st! Man, time is FLYING, and as much as I want this next trip to get here, summer needs to slow down a bit! I don't want it to be over either!!!!

 

[mystery222184]

I am THRILLED and so EXCITED that today we booked a Christmas stay at WL. I was jumping up and down like a kid, not a teenage kid, but a younger kid .

That's fantastic congrats!! I'm sure we will still love the WL in Oct/Nov but I already miss our Christmas trip from last year. That's what hooked us on the WL

We also got our WL letter yesterday from the GM regarding pool construction and stating the availability of CR & FW pools.

 

[TheLodgeLady]

I am THRILLED and so EXCITED that today we booked a Christmas stay at WL. I was jumping up and down like a kid, not a teenage kid, but a younger kid

Yay is right!! I have always wanted to go over Christmas.

 

[BlueFairy]

Thanks Kook for the cute plush pictures. My little nature lovers will like either of those little guys.

It's past-time for me to do online checkin!

So - we booked standard view. Assuming they might want to sprinkle some upgrade pixie dust, I was just planning to ask for a lobby view room, knowing that this is limited to the 4th floor. I hate to say upper floor and then end up over the service court, although I realize that is more likely than not. We've had that view before, so it's nothing we can't handle.

My question is - how do we get there from here? If our room is south of the lobby, obviously we can go down the elevators, across the lobby and down the AP hall to RF or exit toward the boats. However, we always see people trekking across the upper courtyard, but I can't quite find my own way. What is the route to outside through the upper courtyard? Would we follow the hall to the south wing elevators, exit at ground floor (what level is that?) and take the mid-wing sidewalk across the upper courtyard to get to RF?

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

Cool on getting a direct call too. Not too worried here on the subject to change statement; she also said the dates were pretty much set, and at this point, with all the info here, I'm pretty comfortable with it.

On a side note, I can't believe I just flipped the calendar to July 1st! Man, time is FLYING, and as much as I want this next trip to get here, summer needs to slow down a bit! I don't want it to be over either!!!!

Any rumors it might finish early? We check in on Nov 14 (to the 20th)

 

[GrandCalifornian]

So - we booked standard view. Assuming they might want to sprinkle some upgrade pixie dust, I was just planning to ask for a lobby view room, knowing that this is limited to the 4th floor. I hate to say upper floor and then end up over the service court, although I realize that is more likely than not. We've had that view before, so it's nothing we can't handle.

My question is - how do we get there from here? If our room is south of the lobby, obviously we can go down the elevators, across the lobby and down the AP hall to RF or exit toward the boats. However, we always see people trekking across the upper courtyard, but I can't quite find my own way. What is the route to outside through the upper courtyard? Would we follow the hall to the south wing elevators, exit at ground floor (what level is that?) and take the mid-wing sidewalk across the upper courtyard to get to RF?

We request "high floor, open to lobby" after booking Standard view and have been lucky enough to be given Woods view rooms on the 6th floor that opened to the lobby and we just loved them.

Oh fun, a floorplan question! I love those. On the fourth floor or above the hallways for the wings connect to the hallways in the lobby on the same floor, so you can walk to any of the three sets of elevators. To get to Roaring fork, for example, you can walk to the north Wing on floor 4 or above, then go East to the mid-wing elevator and take it to floor 1, and it lets you out on the pool level right next to Roaring Fork. (This also works great for getting to the laundry facilities without dragging clothes through the lobby.) You also could take the lobby elevator down to floor 2 (which is the lobby level), then walk down the ramp next to AP to RF, just as you mentioned. Finally, from the South wing you can take the mid-wing elevators to floor 1 and then exit the building and go across the pool courtyard (construction permitting) towards RF.

After re-reading your question, I wanted to add that you can go outside to the upper courtyard area at the top of the ramp by AP, then there are paths that go through the upper Silver creek falls area and down some stairs to get down to the pool level (which is floor 1). While this is a pretty walk we usually don't do it much because it is outside and longer than just going down the ramp.

 

[BlueFairy]

We request "high floor, open to lobby" after booking Standard view and have been lucky enough to be given Woods view rooms on the 6th floor that opened to the lobby and we just loved.

That's what I'm hoping we'll get. Just trying to balance our hopes for an upgrade vs. the likelihood that we'll end up in the north wing. I think I'll try your wording and hope for the best.

Oh fun, a floorplan question! I love those. On the fourth floor or above the hallways for the wings connect to the hallways in the lobby on the same floor, so you can walk to any of the three sets of elevators. To get to Roaring fork, for example, you can walk to the north Wing, then go East to the mid-wing elevator and take it to floor1, and it lets you out on the pool level right next to Roaring Fork. (This also works great for getting to the laundry facilities without dragging clothes through the lobby.) You also could take the lobby elevator down to floor 2 (which is the lobby level), then walk down the ramp next to AP to RF, just as you mentioned. Finally, from the South wing you can take the mid-wing elevators to floor 1 and then exit the building and go across the pool courtyard (construction permitting) towards RF.

After re-reading your question, I wanted to add that you can go outside to the upper courtyard area at the top of the ramp by AP, then there are paths that go through the upper Silver creek falls area and down some stairs to get down to the pool level (which is floor 1). While this is a pretty walk we usually don't do it much because it is outside and longer than just going down the ramp.

Thank you! That clarifies things a lot. So we can go across the courtyard at pool level via the path you described through the south wing. However, I am confused by the satellite views of the courtyard. Is there another route outside from the south wing that puts you above the falls? I see sidewalks near the middle of the south wing that look like there is an exit, maybe on the 2nd floor (at lobby level). Looks like that would put you at the overlook and then you'd go north toward those stairs that you mentioned. We likely won't use these routes a lot, but with wet children we just might. I mainly just know they will want to go exploring.

 

[GrandCalifornian]

Thank you! That clarifies things a lot. So we can go across the courtyard at pool level via the path you described through the south wing. However, I am confused by the satellite views of the courtyard. Is there another route outside from the south wing that puts you above the falls? I see sidewalks near the middle of the south wing that look like there is an exit, maybe on the 2nd floor (at lobby level). Looks like that would put you at the overlook and then you'd go north toward those stairs that you mentioned. We likely won't use these routes a lot, but with wet children we just might. I mainly just know they will want to go exploring.

I think I know the location you are seeing, and I don't think you can access it. In the South wing, I believe the only guest access is on the first floor near the elevators. It looks like there is a path that goes to the building further up, near the waterfall, but I think this is a service entrance or something because you can't get to it from inside the building.

This is an excuse to use an image capture from NowSeeItMyWay's YouTube video of the courtyard.


While it looks like there might be a path connecting to the North side of the West end of the South wing, the only building access we found is further East on the first floor via a path that parallels the wing. You can follow the path in the picture diagonally down from the door near AP, and it gets close to the building near the waterfall, but I didn't think there is any building access there. (See below that there actually is.) Either way, it is a fun area to explore, and there is a nice overlook.

 

[DEDHead]

Actually, using the same picture, there are two routes from the South Wing over to Roaring Forks that go outside.



If you take the back elevator down to the 1st floor, just turn left out of the elevator and go outside and follow the path shown.

If you are on the 2nd floor, the hallway where you'd turn right to go to the back elevator, turn left and it goes outside. From there just follow the path down through the waterfall and you are right at Roaring Forks.

Both of those exterior doors are open from I believe 6am - 11pm, when locked just need your room key card or Magic Band to open, there's a reader on the door jamb.

We used the 2nd floor for the first day or so of our last trip (already 3 weeks ago! ) until a CM pointed out the 1st floor route which is quicker and you don't have to climb any stairs for those who have difficulty with stairs. There are a couple of stairs into the hallway on the corner of the building before Roaring Forks, but if you go around the corner you can go in the door right in front of Roaring Forks without any stairs.

 

[GrandCalifornian]

Actually, using the same picture, there are two routes from the South Wing over to Roaring Forks that go outside.



If you take the back elevator down to the 1st floor, just turn left out of the elevator and go outside and follow the path shown.

If you are on the 2nd floor, the hallway where you'd turn right to go to the back elevator, turn left and it goes outside. From there just follow the path down through the waterfall and you are right at Roaring Forks.

Both of those exterior doors are open from I believe 6am - 11pm, when locked just need your room key card or Magic Band to open, there's a reader on the door jamb.

We used the 2nd floor for the first day or so of our last trip (already 3 weeks ago! ) until a CM pointed out the 1st floor route which is quicker and you don't have to climb any stairs for those who have difficulty with stairs. There are a couple of stairs into the hallway on the corner of the building before Roaring Forks, but if you go around the corner you can go in the door right in front of Roaring Forks without any stairs.

Perfect, so there IS access there, and it goes to the 2nd floor. Thanks for clarifying it. We have stood there on the second floor and gone around to get in all the way up by AP. All the different pathways and stuff make WL so neat and unique.