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

[MaggiesMomNJ]

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.

I hope you still enjoy your trip!

 

[ToyStory3]

We are staying at the beach club resort in a couple of weeks. I've always wanted to tour the wilderness Lodge. We have dinner reservations at trails end on our Magic Kingdom day. I thought about taking the boat to the wilderness Lodge, touring it for a while, and then walking to trails end for dinner. How long is the walk from the wilderness Lodge to trails end? Thanks!

 

[PhillyGirlInNaples]

I just got off the phone with Disney and I am so upset right now that I am considering canceling my trip altogether. Let me start off by saying that I loathe poor customer service and find that bad service can ruin things. I am by no means a snob or picky, just, having spent over 15 years in customer service I have little tolerance when someone offers no help to remedy a situation, or even acknowledge my concern. It's truly amazing how far a "let me see if I can help" will go.

I called Disney to simply ask questions about the pool refurb that will be going on during my stay. After reading on here that the geyser, waterfall, beach and spring in the lobby are closed, I needed to get additional info. I'm not really concerned about swimming because it's a short stay. However, I specifically choose this resort because of the geyser, the spring in the lobby and the waterfall. I was lead to believe when I booked my stay (directly with Disney) that it would be a simple pool refurb and those features would be unaffected.

This is not the case. In fact, the first person I talked to today had no idea that these were closed. She didn't believe me. Said that there will be no construction noise at all and only the pool and nothing else was closed. When I told her that I just literally saw photos of these closed features on Disboards from guests currently staying there, she put me on hold. A few minutes later a manager got on the line and did in fact confirm that every one of these features is in fact closed and will not re-open until the end of November.

I told her that this was never explained when I booked the room and that I am pretty upset about not being told this so I could be better informed when selecting a resort. Her only response was that "you are more then welcome to cancel your trip." She seemed genuinely pissed off that I found out this info on disboards. She just kept reiterating that I can cancel. Did not offer me any alternatives, an apology or a "how can I help?".

I was nothing but nice to this woman, I simply just wanted information on whether or not I should consider changing resorts. I am astonished by her reaction. She didn't not care at all or offer any sort of help to me. Unfortunately, I feel like this trip is now tainted and I should cancel altogether.


What are your thoughts?

 

[Robinw0506]

I'm confused as it was posted that the geyser was still erupting, the waterfall was closed earlier but is working again (same win spring inside) The walls do look like they block some views but it is working. So I am confused that you were told those things were closed?

 

[TheLodgeLady]

I hope you still enjoy your trip!

I'm not going until December . We stay in the Epcot Resorts during the Food and Wine festival as we like to just walk over and not have to worry about transportation.

Thanks for thinking of me!!

 

[mmouse09]

Checked in this morning. Upgraded from standard room to 5th floor pool view with bunk beds. Had to ask about Blizzard Beach tickets but once we did, they were added to all of our magic bands at no charge and we spent a fabulous day there!!! Hope the pixie dust continues...

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I'm confused as it was posted that the geyser was still erupting, the waterfall was closed earlier but is working again (same win spring inside) The walls do look like they block some views but it is working. So I am confused that you were told those things were closed?

This, I was under the impression all this was working as well? hmmmm But thinking about it, how could the spring be working if the pool is empty, same as the geyser? But that was not explained in the letter I received, just mentioned the pool closure. Im hoping it goes quick and I will ride it out, I don't check in until 11/21, cant find a room anywhere else, but will complain upon arrival as I would have thought twice about switching if I was told it was more than "just the pool".

 

[mevelandry]

Checked in this morning. Upgraded from standard room to 5th floor pool view with bunk beds. Had to ask about Blizzard Beach tickets but once we did, they were added to all of our magic bands at no charge and we spent a fabulous day there!!! Hope the pixie dust continues...

Thanks for the confirmation about Blizzard Beach. Good to know.

 

[TheLodgeLady]

This, I was under the impression all this was working as well? hmmmm But thinking about it, how could the spring be working if the pool is empty, same as the geyser? But that was not explained in the letter I received, just mentioned the pool closure. Im hoping it goes quick and I will ride it out, I don't check in until 11/21, cant find a room anywhere else, but will complain upon arrival as I would have thought twice about switching if I was told it was more than "just the pool".

The pool is it's own separate entity. It has nothing to do with the spring/waterfall. From what I know, the spring and waterfall should not be affected. Not sure about the geyser although that also has nothing to do with the pool. Hope this helps.

 

[Diznotyzed]

Just about ready to pass the baton to the next chronicler. We check out tomorrow. It's been a wonderful vacation, but we're not spring chickens anymore and can't take much more of this fun!

Really haven't heard a lot of noise from the wall going up. The area directly behind where the chairs are lined up on the beach is where the heavy vehicles and materials were moving through, so we could hear that when we were at the Villas pool. This afternoon was the only time we heard any noise in our CV room, and that was just a couple of bursts from a high powered screwdriver as they finished up the wall along the first floor south CV rooms.

This past week was low crowds, and the Villas pool was never crowded. One CM guesstimated about a 30% occupancy.

Now that the wall is completely surrounding the work area, I think you can only pass from one side of the Lodge to the other by going through the lobby or between the door at the courtyard side corner of the building near Roaring Forks, across the little bridge near the top of the waterfall and into a door in the south wing there.

The stream and waterfall are beautifully flowing along.

Checked in this morning. Upgraded from standard room to 5th floor pool view with bunk beds. Had to ask about Blizzard Beach tickets but once we did, they were added to all of our magic bands at no charge and we spent a fabulous day there!!! Hope the pixie dust continues...

So this now makes two of us who had to ask to get the Blizzard Beach tickets. Hope they start consistently offering this.

Off for some last minute fun!

 

[Wood Nymph]

We are staying at the beach club resort in a couple of weeks. I've always wanted to tour the wilderness Lodge. We have dinner reservations at trails end on our Magic Kingdom day. I thought about taking the boat to the wilderness Lodge, touring it for a while, and then walking to trails end for dinner. How long is the walk from the wilderness Lodge to trails end? Thanks!

We love walking from the WL to Trail's End. You walk right past the stable with the cute ponies. The walk is about 20 minutes. Just make sure it is still daylight, since there aren't any lights on the trail.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I just got off the phone with Disney and I am so upset right now that I am considering canceling my trip altogether. Let me start off by saying that I loathe poor customer service and find that bad service can ruin things. I am by no means a snob or picky, just, having spent over 15 years in customer service I have little tolerance when someone offers no help to remedy a situation, or even acknowledge my concern. It's truly amazing how far a "let me see if I can help" will go.

I called Disney to simply ask questions about the pool refurb that will be going on during my stay. After reading on here that the geyser, waterfall, beach and spring in the lobby are closed, I needed to get additional info. I'm not really concerned about swimming because it's a short stay. However, I specifically choose this resort because of the geyser, the spring in the lobby and the waterfall. I was lead to believe when I booked my stay (directly with Disney) that it would be a simple pool refurb and those features would be unaffected.

This is not the case. In fact, the first person I talked to today had no idea that these were closed. She didn't believe me. Said that there will be no construction noise at all and only the pool and nothing else was closed. When I told her that I just literally saw photos of these closed features on Disboards from guests currently staying there, she put me on hold. A few minutes later a manager got on the line and did in fact confirm that every one of these features is in fact closed and will not re-open until the end of November.

I told her that this was never explained when I booked the room and that I am pretty upset about not being told this so I could be better informed when selecting a resort. Her only response was that "you are more then welcome to cancel your trip." She seemed genuinely pissed off that I found out this info on disboards. She just kept reiterating that I can cancel. Did not offer me any alternatives, an apology or a "how can I help?".

I was nothing but nice to this woman, I simply just wanted information on whether or not I should consider changing resorts. I am astonished by her reaction. She didn't not care at all or offer any sort of help to me. Unfortunately, I feel like this trip is now tainted and I should cancel altogether.


What are your thoughts?

The problem with calling Disney or the resort is that you usually get a call center where the CM might not have all the information specifics.

We are staying at the beach club resort in a couple of weeks. I've always wanted to tour the wilderness Lodge. We have dinner reservations at trails end on our Magic Kingdom day. I thought about taking the boat to the wilderness Lodge, touring it for a while, and then walking to trails end for dinner. How long is the walk from the wilderness Lodge to trails end? Thanks!

It's about a mile by the paved road/walkway to walk from WL to Fort Wilderness and the path isn't lit. You could take the boat from WL to Fort Wilderness.

 

[The Sasquatch]

The pool is it's own separate entity. It has nothing to do with the spring/waterfall. From what I know, the spring and waterfall should not be affected. Not sure about the geyser although that also has nothing to do with the pool. Hope this helps.

Silver springs starts in the lobby, flows outside, turns into the "river" and waterfall and eventually runs right into the pool. It is all one thing so obviously they have to shut off the water.

With that said, it is beautiful but I wouldn't let it ruin my trip or make me cancel. The inside of the lodge speaks for itself.

 

[Cynister]

Does anyone know if the Old Faithful Club has bottle water you can get?

 

[Wood Nymph]

Silver springs starts in the lobby, flows outside, turns into the "river" and waterfall and eventually runs right into the pool. It is all one thing so obviously they have to shut off the water.

With that said, it is beautiful but I wouldn't let it ruin my trip or make me cancel. The inside of the lodge speaks for itself.

It isn't all one system, it just looks like it is. We took the lodge tour last January and learned that it is actually several independent water systems. The pool is completely separate from the others. The geyser is also separate. The water that flows through the lobby and down the creek is recirculated, so that it flows back to the lobby again.

 

[TheLodgeLady]

Silver springs starts in the lobby, flows outside, turns into the "river" and waterfall and eventually runs right into the pool. It is all one thing so obviously they have to shut off the water.

With that said, it is beautiful but I wouldn't let it ruin my trip or make me cancel. The inside of the lodge speaks for itself.

Silver Spring does start in the lobby but it stops at the bottom of the waterfall. It does not run into the pool. It is all an illusion, Disney magic as they say.

The pool is separate like I said. One of my husband's friends worked on the Lodge when it was being built and worked on the water areas and the pool.

So that being said, they will not have to shut off the water. The lobby and the waterfall will keep running. Don't worry.

Everything will be beautiful.

 

[TheLodgeLady]

It isn't all one system, it just looks like it is. We took the lodge tour last January and learned that it is actually several independent water systems. The pool is completely separate from the others. The geyser is also separate. The water that flows through the lobby and down the creek is recirculated, so that it flows back to the lobby again.

Sorry, I didn't see that you had answered before I posted.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Sorry, I didn't see that you had answered before I posted.

It is very reassuring to hear you confirm what I said. Do you happen to know if the geyser uses lake water or just regular water? I couldn't remember what the guide said.

 

[Fracfam4]

I have been looking at YouTube videos tonight. I am trying to picture where the path to the boat dock is. How do you get there? I am assuming it will remain open during the construction so that people can go back and forth to the MK and other resorts in the area.

Diznotyzed I just wanted to say thank you for your photo updates. Hope you had a wonderful vacation.

 

[Dumbo Mad]

We check in on Wednesday for 15 nights.
I'll hopefully be able to post some photos of what's going on with the refurb.
Thanks for all the updates and photos that have already been posted.

I hope part of the beach is still open, it's one question I explicitly asked when discussing moving to another resort and I was told that everything, I.e waterfall, geyser, beach etc will not be affected. That's why we choose to stay....