You spoke to someone in a call center who had no idea as to particular info. They are not going to be able to advise you as to what you should do as far as resort choices go. Basically, they really don't much care if someone cancels a trip. There is no shortage of people that will book. It is ridiculously hard for people to get any idea as to what is going on in WDW. Those CM's that you reach when you call really aren't given the training, much less up to date info, that they need to have in order to really assist guests.
The geyser was up and spouting when we left on Friday. I heard it wasn't going to be impacted by the refurb.
You will walk down the ramp area from the lobby towards Roaring Forks and out the door in front of Roaring Forks. The path starts there...it will have boards up along its right side, where the pool is. It makes for a long walk for those staying in the villas though....we used to be able to walk past the DVC pool, behind the Lodge, and past the geyser to get to the dock....much shorter that way. Oh well.
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.
Thank you for answering my question on the villa pool being not crowded and how to get to the boats. Glad you had a great trip! I am quite annoyed at the incredibly long walk from the villas that this creates though!!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. 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!
Here is an aerial view of the Wilderness Lodge. The boat dock is on the lower right. The path runs along the inside of the courtyard to the right of the pool as you are looking at it from this angle. The dock on the left is the marina, where you can rent boats.
. Really disappointed that there will be no outdoor beach movies, playground, beach bar. And I'm guessing no marshmallow roasting. 
I'm having a hard time understanding why majority of the beach is closed by looking at this image if the pool isn't even that close to the beach. It's nice knowing ahead of time what to expect (thank you posters for posting the pictures) instead of getting there and being disappointed. So much more is blocked off and closed than I imagined.
Can someone draw lines on this image showing exactly how much is blocked off?
Based on the tracks in the sand, my guess is that the blocked off part of the beach is being used to move the equipment into the construction area. There is a road that runs somewhere behind the marina building. There is no other way to get the construction equipment into that area except through that access road.
This is just a guess. I'm sure about the north side, I'm just not sure if the exit door from the south wing is closed off or not. I know that you can't walk across the courtyard from the south wing to the north wing.
Based on the tracks in the sand, my guess is that the blocked off part of the beach is being used to move the equipment into the construction area. There is a road that runs somewhere behind the marina building. There is no other way to get the construction equipment into that area except through that access road.
This is just a guess. I'm sure about the north side, I'm just not sure if the exit door from the south wing is closed off or not. I know that you can't walk across the courtyard from the south wing to the north wing.
I'm glad to hear it is working out for you and that you're having a nice trip. That view isn't bad at all yet. Below is the IMG code for that image so it should show up inline: http://s16.photobucket.com/user/sonialovesanthony/media/imagejpg2_zps8364f1c6.jpg.html Thanks for sharing.
I'm trying real hard to stay positive.........but I just heard there's now a crane up at the castle in the MK............first the pool..........now a crane. What next?????
Doug
We've got MM..........maybe they've got a Magic Shot for it...........ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. Ok I feel better 
I'm trying real hard to stay positive.........but I just heard there's now a crane up at the castle in the MK............first the pool..........now a crane. What next?????
Doug
. It's DH's first trip at Christmas, my 2nd and both of our 2nd trip WL. We are staying Woods View, 12/7 to 12/12 
