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

[MaggiesMomNJ]

I don't think that updates ever overtake a thread! I love updates and the pool closure updates are still located in POST 2, along with the hyperlink to the thread you referred to for those who would like to vent any pool closure frustrations and anger


Thank you for posting more about your stay, Lynne. Love the FW horses and that's neat that you got to see such a "famous" one.

While the Standard View rooms are the least expensive, the North Wing ones have their pluses and minuses. The higher rooms have a partial MKV for the price of a SV, but you are right above the loading dock and Smokehouse. The South Wing SV rooms are much quieter and peaceful, but don't offer the possibility of a MKV.




Well, isn't that an understatement?! I hope they at least placed a letter in your room or gave you notification at check-in? If you get a chance, I would be so appreciative if you could post the pool closure notification letter or any written notice you see, like the sign in the background that I can't make out. Thank you for posting the pool closure photo - it's going on the update page with thanks to you

I feel bad for everyone stuck during the the closure! I am too checking for updates even though we moved our dates to avoid it.

 

[lovingeire]

What's it take to get towel characters? We tipped everyday and not once did we get one except for the first day we arrived!

We had this issue, and very disappointed kids, on our last visit too. Especially considering past stays at other resorts we'd always gotten them each day. In all honestly, we forgot to leave our tip out for Mousekeeping one morning and when we returned there was a towel animal waiting for us. After that we put our tip on/in the towel animal and we seemed to keep getting them. So, it was a happy accident I guess!

The best towel animals we had were at Art of Animation. And we were able to collect them up all week which the kids loved!

 

[tofubeast]

Have we gotten any official confirmation on possible BB passes due to pool closure?

 

[Ginny Favers]

I just got back from a stay at WL last Saturday and it was another wonderful trip. I do think the pool refurbishment is needed, though... the pool area was so crowded. I'm not sure if they will have the room to make the pool bigger but it's a good idea. Maybe I'm spoiled after a stay at the GF where the two pools are much bigger, but while I was swimming I was constantly getting in other people's business!

Anyway, great resort, and one of our better trips down to the world. I have been dreaming about WCC's quinoa cakes and RF's Roast Beef & Bleu sandwich since I returned.

 

[BwoZoo22]

We had this issue, and very disappointed kids, on our last visit too. Especially considering past stays at other resorts we'd always gotten them each day. In all honestly, we forgot to leave our tip out for Mousekeeping one morning and when we returned there was a towel animal waiting for us. After that we put our tip on/in the towel animal and we seemed to keep getting them. So, it was a happy accident I guess!

The best towel animals we had were at Art of Animation. And we were able to collect them up all week which the kids loved!

We've started leaving towel animal requests when we leave the room each morning (for the past several years). I think a lot depends on your Mousekeeper for the day; some are much better at it than others!

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

We had this issue, and very disappointed kids, on our last visit too. Especially considering past stays at other resorts we'd always gotten them each day. In all honestly, we forgot to leave our tip out for Mousekeeping one morning and when we returned there was a towel animal waiting for us. After that we put our tip on/in the towel animal and we seemed to keep getting them. So, it was a happy accident I guess!

The best towel animals we had were at Art of Animation. And we were able to collect them up all week which the kids loved!

We only got one the first night as well but since we are two grown adults we didn't say anything LOL.

 

[kastoney]

Have we gotten any official confirmation on possible BB passes due to pool closure?

I was told by guest services one day BB would be given to all guests

 

[lovingeire]

We've started leaving towel animal requests when we leave the room each morning (for the past several years). I think a lot depends on your Mousekeeper for the day; some are much better at it than others!

Do you leave written requests for towel animals? Because ours was accidental in all honesty last time, but I'd rather please my kids and mousekeeping at the same time!

 

[MissNurse]

I was told by guest services one day BB would be given to all guests

I was under the impression that the BB passes were for the Poly guests, and WL guests were allowed access to the pool at the Contemporary and Fort Wilderness. That's what my letter said, anyway.

 

[Deb & Bill]

So excited to be returning to DW January 1-11, 2015! We will have a split stay - 2 nights at POR (standard) - 4 nights at WLV (studio) - and 4 nights at Saratoga Springs (1 bedroom). Was hoping to book entire stay at the WL Villas but we are renting DVC points (1st time doing so) and that was all that was available. Still, we are soooo excited to have at least part of our stay there! Would be interested to hear of anyone else's experience of renting points/studio stay at WL Villas....also, I may have missed this, but is room service available at the Villas? This is an awesome thread - can't wait to be at DW and especially the Wilderness Lodge!

When a DVC resort is connected to a hotel, you usually can get room service at that DVC resort. So SSR and OKW (at WDW) don't have it, but the others do.

 

[BandMom1]

Thanks for the info! It's always nice after a long day at the parks to be able to order room service for dinner!

 

[kastoney]

I was under the impression that the BB passes were for the Poly guests, and WL guests were allowed access to the pool at the Contemporary and Fort Wilderness. That's what my letter said, anyway.

I didn't get a letter or any communications from disney which is why I called. I didn't ask about BB but was told a one day pass would be given to all guests by the rep.

 

[BwoZoo22]

Do you leave written requests for towel animals? Because ours was accidental in all honesty last time, but I'd rather please my kids and mousekeeping at the same time!

Yes, we leave a handwritten note on WL stationary on the bathroom counter each morning, mentioning how much we love them and can they leave another for the day. They have always honored our request. Never realized it was basically a standard around WL and all other resorts!

 

[The Sasquatch]

I didn't get a letter or any communications from disney which is why I called. I didn't ask about BB but was told a one day pass would be given to all guests by the rep.

so they offered up that info without asking specifically about BB?

If this is the case, I am actually going to book WL. We are only staying 1 day before our cruise and wanted to go to BB. It might actually make more sense to stay there.

Any thoughts on how we get this confirmed? Seems kind of odd to check in and say "i was told we get free passes".

 

[skendrick]

Any updates on construction for today? Have they started yet?

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

89 days left for us! Wahoo!

 

[Diznotyzed]

Hello again everyone,
No picture currently, but the only thing different around the pool today is a few more sandwich board style "Pardon our Pixie Dust" and "Pool Temporarily Closed" signs.
Let me preface a couple of comments by saying we checked into The Lodge early on Aug 31, so a few days before the scheduled closure.
When we checked in we were asked if we had received notification of the closure. We told them we hadn't, but had read about it online. (We wouldn't have known except for the DIS.) There wasn't any other notification other than at check in, like a notice in our room. It was about 7am and our originally assigned room wasn't ready, so the clerk asked if we would like her to try and find us something immediately available. After taking a red eye, of course we said yes, and she made quite a big deal about finding us something "away from all the construction noise". When we were all set to go and she hadn't mentioned anything about a free Blizzard Beach pass, we asked about it. She said "Oh yeah, let me find out how to get that for you" and went in back to ask. She told us her mgr would make sure it was automatically added to our Magic Bands, and it showed up in our MDE account right away. We went to Blizzard Beach yesterday, the first day the pool was closed, and had no problems getting in. I mention all this so if the passes aren't offered everyone will know to ask, but I hope now that the pool is officially closed it will be standard to make guests aware of this compensation.
We're having a great time and are happy with our decision to stay at the Lodge. Everything has been as lovely as usual.

ETA: They have been erecting construction fencing in the past few days, starting down by the marina. See later post for pictures.

Also, we were not notified in any way about using the Contemporary or Ft. Wilderness pools.

 

[kastoney]

so they offered up that info without asking specifically about BB? If this is the case, I am actually going to book WL. We are only staying 1 day before our cruise and wanted to go to BB. It might actually make more sense to stay there. Any thoughts on how we get this confirmed? Seems kind of odd to check in and say "i was told we get free passes".

We booked before the pool closure was announced so I don't know if this is extended to anyone who books it knowingly. And yes they informed me of the BB pass and extended the $50 off without even asking. I was angling to be put in another monorail resort because of the noise concern with a napping toddler. but since we are booked in a deluxe club level they said there was nothing comparable without bearing additional cost on my end.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

So excited to be returning to DW January 1-11, 2015! We will have a split stay - 2 nights at POR (standard) - 4 nights at WLV (studio) - and 4 nights at Saratoga Springs (1 bedroom). Was hoping to book entire stay at the WL Villas but we are renting DVC points (1st time doing so) and that was all that was available. Still, we are soooo excited to have at least part of our stay there! Would be interested to hear of anyone else's experience of renting points/studio stay at WL Villas....also, I may have missed this, but is room service available at the Villas? This is an awesome thread - can't wait to be at DW and especially the Wilderness Lodge!

We've stayed in 1 bedrooms at VWL twice now. VWL is very, very quiet...for me, I like getting away from the hustle and bustle of the parks, so it's a great break. VWL is very close to the bus stop, but not close enough to make it noisy, if that makes sense. On our first trip we kept going to the boat to get to MK, but on our trip last year, we wised up and took the MK bus instead, and that was such a time saver. The waits for a bus were short (mere minutes) and you get to the park in under 5 minutes. There were a couple times we were walking into the park within 15 minutes of leaving our room...you can't beat that even when staying at BLT and have the ability to walk to the park!

You can get room service at VWL, but it's awfully expensive. A better option is just getting takeout from Roaring Fork, IMHO.

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

We've stayed in 1 bedrooms at VWL twice now. VWL is very, very quiet...for me, I like getting away from the hustle and bustle of the parks, so it's a great break. VWL is very close to the bus stop, but not close enough to make it noisy, if that makes sense. On our first trip we kept going to the boat to get to MK, but on our trip last year, we wised up and took the MK bus instead, and that was such a time saver. The waits for a bus were short (mere minutes) and you get to the park in under 5 minutes. There were a couple times we were walking into the park within 15 minutes of leaving our room...you can't beat that even when staying at BLT and have the ability to walk to the park!

You can get room service at VWL, but it's awfully expensive. A better option is just getting takeout from Roaring Fork, IMHO.

It is expensive but it's very good. We opted to use the meal plan for dinner and got two huge meals with enough for lunch the next day. It was well worth it.