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

[Shoshana]

Since you are staying CL, I would recommend emailing or calling the WL IPO (Itinerary Planning Office, located at Poly) to ask them this question. They will be able to give you an "official" answer.

Thank you, WDWKOOK, I'll do that!

 

[mevelandry]

I couldn't resist... We had originally booked the caribbean beach for three nights... While looking at the prices I noticed there was the Wilderness for only 15$ more on the first night. So I made the CBR packaged a 2 nights package instead...

I am PRAYING for the pool to be done by November 24th-25th!!!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Due to the pool rehab, Movies Under the Stars (Roof?) have been relocated from the beach to the Carolwood Pacific Train Room at VWL. This is the location that used to be used during inclement weather. The movies currently begin at 7:00 and the current schedule is hyperlinked in POST 2.

Also, the children's activities, now called "Pavilion Activities," have been relocated to just outside the Cub's Den. This month's activities begin at 1:00 and conclude with "Giant Games" starting at 3:30.



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[MaggiesMomNJ]

Due to the pool rehab, Movies Under the Stars (Roof?) have been relocated from the beach to the Carolwood Pacific Train Room at VWL. This is the location that used to be used during inclement weather. The movies currently begin at 7:00 and the current schedule is hyperlinked in POST 2.

Also, the children's activities, now called "Pavilion Activities," have been relocated to just outside the Cub's Den. This month's activities begin at 1:00 and conclude with "Giant Games" starting at 3:30.



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At least they are still showing them! Any idea if the schedule will be the same in Dec?

 

[gratefulfred]

If the beach is closed is the electric water pageant going to be skipping the lodge?

 

[kribarry]

Good evening-

We are staying in a 2br villa Nov 15-22 and I am getting concerned looking at these photos.

Can anyone clarify two things for me:
1. What is the villa pool/hot tub like now that the entire resort has to use it for recreation without taking a boat/bus to another pool? Is it unusable crowded or loud (our villa is usually near the pool)? We normally use just this pool/tub on a daily basis during our trips.

2. How will we need to go to get to the boat dock? It seems our leisurely dock walk days are over and we will need to go through the Lodge lobby and out by Roaring Fork to get there now??

Thanks for the help all!

 

[WDWKOOK]

At least they are still showing them! Any idea if the schedule will be the same in Dec?

The movie schedule changes monthly.

If the beach is closed is the electric water pageant going to be skipping the lodge?

I'm just speculating here, but part of the beach between Bay Lake and the playground, looks like it's still open since they have all the chairs still out there. The EWP is still listed on the Sep. Activity Calendar and should also be able to be viewed from the boat dock, the CL lounge and the area near the marina/beach. Hopefully, someone who is there now will be able to more accurately answer your question.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Good evening-

We are staying in a 2br villa Nov 15-22 and I am getting concerned looking at these photos.

Can anyone clarify two things for me:
1. What is the villa pool/hot tub like now that the entire resort has to use it for recreation without taking a boat/bus to another pool? Is it unusable crowded or loud (our villa is usually near the pool)? We normally use just this pool/tub on a daily basis during our trips.

2. How will we need to go to get to the boat dock? It seems our leisurely dock walk days are over and we will need to go through the Lodge lobby and out by Roaring Fork to get there now??

Thanks for the help all!

Welcome to the thread!

 

[kribarry]

Welcome to the thread!

Thank you!!

 

[DisneyDre]

Current progress on the wall around the pool. This is on the north side of the pool and almost to the patio outside of Roaring Forks. http://s65.photobucket.com/user/gojop/media/imagejpg1-3.jpg.html This is how the beach looks standing on the path to the boat rental dock. It looks accessible, but bike and boat rental CM said she didn't think it was open. Bike and boat rentals are open. http://s65.photobucket.com/user/gojop/media/imagejpg3-1.jpg.html Stacks of partitions on the south side of pool deck. http://s65.photobucket.com/user/gojop/media/imagejpg2-2.jpg.html The geyser is still erupting.

Thank you for the updates! We will be arriving in just a few days, happy to see some of the beach is accessible .

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[mevelandry]

Ok so... We'll be staying at WL for the first time, 1 night on Nov 24th.

I know there is no guarantee that the pool will be open before Nov 27.

If it's not ready yet... What are the options offered in compensation? (Using other resorts pools? Waterpark ticket?)

And in your opinion, which option would be the best?

Thanks in advance.

P.s.: will the jacuzzis be closed as well?

 

[Diznotyzed]

It's my pleasure to be sharing some pictures with all of you, and I'm glad if it's been helpful to anyone. It's the kind of thing I like to see when looking forward to a trip. My husband and I have been taking a lot of time to just relax on this trip, and it's been fun wandering around.

Lots more progress in putting up the wall today.

Coming back from the Boat Dock, looking along the path at the lake side of the pool, towards the geyser.



The patio outside of Roaring Forks.



Along the path from the Boat Dock nearing Roaring Forks patio.



Coming down the center path in the courtyard almost to the Lodge side of the entry to the pool - door into hallway by Roaring Forks on left.



Looking down from overlook towards Roaring Forks patio.



Courtyard View rooms on the south side of pool.

 

[kastoney]

It's my pleasure to be sharing some pictures with all of you, and I'm glad if it's been helpful to anyone. It's the kind of thing I like to see when looking forward to a trip./URL]

It's been exceptionally helpful thank you! With all the walls up looks like they should be ready to commence the jackhammering just in time for our Friday arrival ; )

 

[mevelandry]

O.k., so it doesn't look too bad. Still praying for them to be done earlier than predicted when we get there Nov 24-25...

 

[corvidae]

The construction looks about on par with what the Disneyland Hotel did a few years back when they redid their whole pool area. Inconvenient, but not that big a deal in the end for us.

We leave Tuesday morning for an 8 night stay at WL. First time at WDW.

Hm. Could be I should start packing today...

 

[WDWKOOK]

Ok so... We'll be staying at WL for the first time, 1 night on Nov 24th.

I know there is no guarantee that the pool will be open before Nov 27.

If it's not ready yet... What are the options offered in compensation? (Using other resorts pools? Waterpark ticket?)

And in your opinion, which option would be the best?

Thanks in advance.

P.s.: will the jacuzzis be closed as well?

The hot tubs at WL are closed, the VWL hot tub is open. You may use the FW and CR pools and you can have free BB tickets. Special transportation will be provided.

Please see POST 2 for more detailed pool rehab/compensation details.

It's my pleasure to be sharing some pictures with all of you, and I'm glad if it's been helpful to anyone. It's the kind of thing I like to see when looking forward to a trip. My husband and I have been taking a lot of time to just relax on this trip, and it's been fun wandering around.

Lots more progress in putting up the wall today.

Thank you so much for another great installment. It's so helpful having all your timely photos and descriptive/detailed comments. I've put them all up on PAGE 2.

It's interesting to see how closely the walls are following the boundaries in the plans I posted. When I saw that the boundary along the North Wing appeared to come right up against the patios, I couldn't fully picture the impact until you posted your photo of the wall right up against the patios. Those ground floor rooms certainly aren't a CYV anymore. I wonder if they will remain unoccupied throughout the rehab or revert to SV status?

We are really going to miss your updates. When do you have to check-out? Wish we could extend your stay

The construction looks about on par with what the Disneyland Hotel did a few years back when they redid their whole pool area. Inconvenient, but not that big a deal in the end for us.

We leave Tuesday morning for an 8 night stay at WL. First time at WDW.

Hm. Could be I should start packing today...

That's an interesting comparison. You might have to take over photography responsibilities when Diznotyzed departs. Have a great vacation!

 

[Wood Nymph]

It's my pleasure to be sharing some pictures with all of you, and I'm glad if it's been helpful to anyone. It's the kind of thing I like to see when looking forward to a trip. My husband and I have been taking a lot of time to just relax on this trip, and it's been fun wandering around.

Thanks for posting the photos. I think that I expected all those walls around the pool. I just didn't expect the beach to be closed off like that. I can't wait to check it out in a couple of weeks.

By the way, I certainly hope those first floor rooms have been taken out of inventory.

 

[TheLodgeLady]

It's my pleasure to be sharing some pictures with all of you, and I'm glad if it's been helpful to anyone. It's the kind of thing I like to see when looking forward to a trip. My husband and I have been taking a lot of time to just relax on this trip, and it's been fun wandering around.

Lots more progress in putting up the wall today.

Again, thanks for all the photos. The CMs I spoke with did say it was going to be a massive renovation. Sure looks like it.

Two questions if I may ask. Have you heard any construction noise? Jackhammering? Also, you mentioned going through the lodge itself to get to the boat dock. Do you have to walk down the hall where the rooms are?

Looks like just prep work going on now. They still have to drain the pool, etc. I didn't even think of this when they said that the jackhammering would take 2 to 3 weeks. I thought it would be from the starting date.

It looks like now it will be another week before they really get into the work. Which means that's when it will begin to get noisy.

One thing I wanted to say was that a couple of the managers I spoke with said it will be very loud. They mentioned that the lodge is laid out, the "U" shape. They said it will be loud, especially with the echo bouncing off the walls.

Please keep the updates coming.

 

[TheLodgeLady]

Thanks for posting the photos. I think that I expected all those walls around the pool. I just didn't expect the beach to be closed off like that. I can't wait to check it out in a couple of weeks.

By the way, I certainly hope those first floor rooms have been taken out of inventory.

Me too. I can't imagine them giving someone one of those first floor rooms. Even second floor.

 

[TheLodgeLady]

Due to the pool rehab, Movies Under the Stars (Roof?) have been relocated from the beach to the Carolwood Pacific Train Room at VWL. This is the location that used to be used during inclement weather. The movies currently begin at 7:00 and the current schedule is hyperlinked in POST 2.

Also, the children's activities, now called "Pavilion Activities," have been relocated to just outside the Cub's Den. This month's activities begin at 1:00 and conclude with "Giant Games" starting at 3:30.



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You are amazing how you get information for us so quickly!! Thank you.