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

[mevelandry]

Question: Do you think the pool refurbishment will officially be over by November 27th or is there a chance that it might open earlier?

I might upgrade resort (we're supposed to be at AoA but I have a credit in my file) for 1 night on November 21st and I was interested in WL... But without the pool, not so much. :/

 

[nogreenworld]

Be sure to check out the train room in VWL!

what is the train room?

 

[BandontheRun]

what is the train room?

The Carolwood Pacific AKA Iron Spike Lounge directly to the right as you enter the VWL from the walkway from the main lodge.
One of the original Walt train cars from his backyard is on display along with several other relics and pictures. Also a nice fireplace with large leather chairs, chess and checker boards.

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

what is the train room?

The Carolwood Pacific AKA Iron Spike Lounge directly to the right as you enter the VWL from the walkway from the main lodge.
One of the original Walt train cars from his backyard is on display along with several other relics and pictures. Also a nice fireplace with large leather chairs, chess and checker boards.

Check out Page 1, Post 20 for more info.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

Check out Page 1, Post 20 for more info.

And if that intrigues you, the "Behind the Steam Trains" tour is a must at the MK!!!

 

[whositsandwhatsits]

I am so excited! In just one week my family and I will be on a plane to the WL. This is my first stay at the lodge and I can't wait to try it out. We still haven't determined when and how to tell my 3 year old twin boys. This will be their first time flying, so I need to let them know at least the day before. Thanks for all the amazing information and pictures found on this board! I can't wait to put it all to great use!

We surprised our kids last November. We had already been to Disney once last year so it wasn't on the radar. Our boys were 1.5 and 3.5. We told the oldest we had a big surprise...his first plane ride (we usually drive). We landed at MCO and he figured it out once he saw the DME busses. He was pretty stoked.

Have a wonderful trip!!!!

 

[puffinp51]

So excited to be going to the WL in September to celebrate! We'll be there from the 12th - 19th! Pixie dust to all traveling to Disney Let the magic begin!

M.K.

 

[BlueFairy]

Can't wait for 4 days of no , no cooking and no .

Hoping for lots of , , , a little , and maybe some

Have a great weekend Lodgers!

 

[SquirmansWife]

Can't wait for 4 days of no , no cooking and no . Hoping for lots of , , , a little , and maybe some Have a great weekend Lodgers!

Love this and thinking the same about our upcoming trip. Have a fantastic time!!

 

[SquirmansWife]

So excited to be going to the WL in September to celebrate! We'll be there from the 12th - 19th! Pixie dust to all traveling to Disney Let the magic begin! M.K.

What a great way to celebrate!!

 

[bluecastle]

I have tried to click on the link on post 2 to get the current movie schedule, but no luck. Does anyone know another way to find out the movies for August? Not even sure we are going to have time to do that, but it might be a fun thing to do if we want to end an evening early and just hang out at the lodge. About what time do they start at this time of year?

 

[bluecastle]

I have tried to click on the link on post 2 to get the current movie schedule, but no luck. Does anyone know another way to find out the movies for August? Not even sure we are going to have time to do that, but it might be a fun thing to do if we want to end an evening early and just hang out at the lodge. About what time do they start at this time of year?

Yes, I know it's odd to quote myself, but right after I posted this I did a little search and found this:

Movie at 8:30 PM

Sundays - The Game Plan
Mondays - The AristoCats
Tuesdays - Robin Hood
Wednesdays - The Apple Dumpling Gang
Thursdays - Mulan
Fridays - Wall-E
Saturdays - Frozen

 

[Starwind]

That sounds great!!! Do they do that every night or only certain nights? Thank you!

I THINK it is every night but hopefully someone else can confirm that.

-SW

 

[TMEF23]

This will be my boys third trip, but first time flying. I am nervous about getting through the airport with our double stroller. My one son also gets car sick, so I am praying it doesn't turn into plane sick. They still are talking about the hotel with the monorail ( we stayed contemporary last year). I have tried for years to get my mom to stay at the lodge. I had no idea having grand kids was all it would take! They love trains ( we play WDW Railroad), so I plan on taking them to the train room. We actually have no set plans on our first day, so we might check it out then. Started planning out their outfits yesterday, so I have a feeling they will realize very soon we are going on vacation. Although we just sold/bought a house, so they are familiar with crazy packing going on everywhere. We are spending 7 nights at WL and them 2 nights at POP. This is also the first trip we didn't get a park hopper, so my scheduling plans are different than the previous trips.

 

[kastoney]

This will be my boys third trip, but first time flying. I am nervous about getting through the airport with our double stroller. My one son also gets car sick, so I am praying it doesn't turn into plane sick. They still are talking about the hotel with the monorail ( we stayed contemporary last year). I have tried for years to get my mom to stay at the lodge. I had no idea having grand kids was all it would take! They love trains ( we play WDW Railroad), so I plan on taking them to the train room. We actually have no set plans on our first day, so we might check it out then. Started planning out their outfits yesterday, so I have a feeling they will realize very soon we are going on vacation. Although we just sold/bought a house, so they are familiar with crazy packing going on everywhere. We are spending 7 nights at WL and them 2 nights at POP. This is also the first trip we didn't get a park hopper, so my scheduling plans are different than the previous trips.

Enjoy your trip. On our last visit we moved on a Friday and left for disney the following Friday so my poor kid didn't know which way was up. We didn't tell her we were going until she woke up from her nap and it was time to go. Excited doesn't begin to describe her feeling.

Gotta ask, what is the train room? Mine loves trains too.

 

[BlueFairy]

Yes, I know it's odd to quote myself, but right after I posted this I did a little search and found this:

Movie at 8:30 PM

Sundays - The Game Plan
Mondays - The AristoCats
Tuesdays - Robin Hood
Wednesdays - The Apple Dumpling Gang
Thursdays - Mulan
Fridays - Wall-E
Saturdays - Frozen

For those who want more detail, here is the online August Activities calendar for the Lodge. It changes every month.

Wilderness Lodge August Recreation Calendar

And for those who need variety, here is the calendar for Fort Wilderness, right next door.

Fort Wilderness August Recreation Calendar

I THINK it is every night but hopefully someone else can confirm that.

-SW

The above calendar lists "Campfire" as beginning nightly at 6:45pm.

 

[disneyquilter]

Hello!!! We just booked a Courtyard View room with bunk beds for the last 2 weeks of June in 2015 at WL. I know it may be a long shot, but I would love to request a Bear-Face room (or at least a view of the bay), does anyone have any recommendations on how to do this, how I should word the request? I have never put a request in for a particular room set before, but I thought I would give it a try. Thanks, in advance, for any and all help.

 

[minniegirl19]

Does anyone know the number to contact the front desk? Instead of going through 407 w disney?

 

[ClarabelleCow]

What is a "bear faced" room??

 

[WDWKOOK]

You will all think I'm crazy, but my favorite drink from the Territory Lounge was the Coconut Elixir! I know, its non alcoholic but it really helped with the heat in July (and the slight hangover from Flying Fish Wine Tasting dinner!)

DH and I had them each time we stumbled in from the heat of the day during our stay last week! Wish I had a picture of one.

Liz

Not crazy at all and thank you for mentioning an alcohol-free alternative. My teen loves to order fancy fruity drinks on vacation and this is one I'm going to suggest to her for our next visit.

My countdown is 2 days now!!!

I am so excited. This is our first stay at WL and I can't wait to get there! This thread has me so excited to get there! I've booked Woods view, requested 6th floor, North Wing. We are staying 2 weeks. I need a vacation so bad!!

Last day of work today, tomorrow is my last minute, get ready to go, day....the. We are off! Fly into MCO at 4:45 pm and have dinner booked at WCC for 7:45!!

The nest 2 days better go by quickly....

I will post some updates while I'm there.

Are you there yet? Are you there yet? Did you get any of your requests?

Kook- thanks for the beautiful photos that made me feel like I was there and making this upcoming trip seem even more real. Just keep the pixie dust coming that my back holds out until I get there- and maybe even for the entire trip! I don't know how you keep up with this place and get ready for your trips. I am impressed! OK- back to my lists.

No pre-trip limboing for you! Make sure you have everything you need to make your back comfortable and get out of the car a lot

Has anyone ever brought their child into Territory Lounge with them? DD will be 9. We want to check out any yummy snacks and she would never allow it without her

There are usually some kids in there. Some are just waiting for their AP ADR and some are just hanging out with their families. Any age will truly fit in there.

Thank you for the great information in this wonderful thread. I was just at BWI last week and now want to plan a trip for the late autumn with my mom. I'm thinking she would like the VWL and we would do fine in a studio. I always like getting the 5th floor at BWI, but I'm wondering whether the floor level matters as much at VWL. If anyone has any recommendations, I would love to hear them.

Also, based on one of Kook's posts, it looks like the Christmas decorations didn't go up until about November 18 in 2013. Is that pretty usual? I was hoping do to the trip in November -- late enough for Osborne, but before Thanksgiving. The WL decorations are so beautiful, I might need to adjust dates so that Mom can see them.

Thanks all!

Welcome over to Bay Lake, Sandi! I love that you're planning a trip with your mom and at such a nice time of the year. A lot of folks like the top floor at VWL, too. We always prefer a top floor wherever we stay so that no one is above us and we like the view higher up.

38 days to go. after a little Disney magic and some serious pixie dust we were upgraded to CL. its my first time on the CL. Not sure totally what to expect but it looks fabulous and we might have to adjust some adr's now. WE have had several stays at the lodge before which is by far my favorite resort. I will trade CL for the pool any day.

Can't wait

Wow? You already know that you've been upgraded? Congratulations. I, too would trade a pool for CL anytime. You're going to love it.

I am so excited! In just one week my family and I will be on a plane to the WL. This is my first stay at the lodge and I can't wait to try it out. We still haven't determined when and how to tell my 3 year old twin boys. This will be their first time flying, so I need to let them know at least the day before. Thanks for all the amazing information and pictures found on this board! I can't wait to put it all to great use!

Let us know how you broke the good news.

I thought she said November 18?? I hope so as we arrive 11/21!!! WDWKook, could you add us to the list - 11/21-11/26! So excited!

I sure will!

I know the health club is accessible 24 hrs but is there someone there monitoring the place?

There is an attendant from around 7-7:30 till early evening, maybe 6:00? I don't know exactly when they leave because I get there before the attendant arrives. They are mostly there to process guests who are getting massages.

Question: Do you think the pool refurbishment will officially be over by November 27th or is there a chance that it might open earlier?

I might upgrade resort (we're supposed to be at AoA but I have a credit in my file) for 1 night on November 21st and I was interested in WL... But without the pool, not so much. :/

There is no way anyone could answer that question right now. Unlike the park rehabs that tend to always go over, the resort rehabs tend to end on schedule. If they don't update the end date after Labor Day when the work begins, then that's probably a good sign that it'll end on time, but no one knows for sure right now.

So excited to be going to the WL in September to celebrate! We'll be there from the 12th - 19th! Pixie dust to all traveling to Disney Let the magic begin!

M.K.

I'll add your dates to the Lodgers' Log

Can't wait for 4 days of no , no cooking and no .

Hoping for lots of , , , a little , and maybe some

Have a great weekend Lodgers!

I have tried to click on the link on post 2 to get the current movie schedule, but no luck.

It's a pdf file so perhaps you aren't able to download pdfs? I tried the link now and it's working

Hello!!! We just booked a Courtyard View room with bunk beds for the last 2 weeks of June in 2015 at WL. I know it may be a long shot, but I would love to request a Bear-Face room (or at least a view of the bay), does anyone have any recommendations on how to do this, how I should word the request? I have never put a request in for a particular room set before, but I thought I would give it a try. Thanks, in advance, for any and all help.

I don't know which rooms have bunks, but if you booked a CYV room, you could request an inner CYV room that is not in a wing or a room that directly faces the CY or a Bear Face room. The Room Assignor would understand any of those requests.

Does anyone know the number to contact the front desk? Instead of going through 407 w disney?

Call 407-824-3200.