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

[BlueFairy]

Just curious- in the photo it seems like the splash pad area is directly adjacent to the hot tub area. I wasn't sure if that was just how it appears in the photo or if they are, in fact, really close. I am thinking that might make the villas hot tub a more relaxing choice.

The hot tubs appear to be in the same location as before. YES - they are right in the middle of the action - squished between the geyser, a boardwalk, the pool and the kiddie area. They've never struck me as relaxing, and almost always have small children in them.

We arrived today. I'm pretty unhappy. Our room location is awful and we are stuck with it. I'd maybe overlook it if it weren't for the refurbishment. No pool slide, no hot tub, loud room, no double sink. We could have stayed at Pop and saved the money. :/

No double sink? That is so unusual. I thought ALL WL rooms had a double sink. Did you offer to spend a night or 2 in your room and tell them you'd be willing to move for a better location? Often they will work with you if you ask.

 

[capttigger]

don't buy them all I want one and will be there in 9 days!

They had sold out of the pillows when we were there but got more in. that was right before thanksgiving...

 

[sotoalf]

On our way to dinner at Citricos I'd never see queues at the hotel monorail stations like last night. At the CR it practically went to the end of the platform; at the Polynesian it went into the lobby almost to Kona. The MK's closing at 1 a.m. helped.

 

[MaleficentRN]

The hot tubs appear to be in the same location as before. YES - they are right in the middle of the action - squished between the geyser, a boardwalk, the pool and the kiddie area. They've never struck me as relaxing, and almost always have small children in them.
.

I was just coming to remark on this! I left there yesterday and it appears they are finishing up the sprayground. Working on painting and what not. A CM told us another week.
I could not help but notice the poor placement of the hot tubs. Not only from a relaxation perspective, but a safety one.

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Checking in today for one night! I have to admit, it will be hard leaving our surprise upgraded water view room at YC but looking forward to the
Christmas feel of WL and based on the looks of outside, we won't be using the pool a whole lot before MVMCP anyways!

 

[Divaofdisney]

I was able to speak with someone directly at Wilderness Lodge and was told that the hot tubs i.e. construction will all be completed by the 13th with slated opening on 12/14/14 which is just 2 days before our arrival!! I sure hope this is true but did come as some welcome news for me this morning. I was considering changing resorts but all the deluxes would have been more $$$ which I just can't afford after all this. Would love to continue hearing from those actually onsite to see and hear more updates.

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Checked in this morning. We were upgraded to a courtyard from a standard but it's right next to construction haha you can't hear it from the 6th floor with the door closed. Hot tubs for sure don't look like they will open until the spalsh pad is done which is a shame! Villas pool was not busy at all but it's also a cloudy 65 degree day! It's fine for is for one night but we might have considered another deluxe had it been a longer trip

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

Does anyone know what time the villa hot tub closes? Here now and would like to use it tonight if possible.

I'm in a bunk courtyard room. Checked in Wednesday and asked to be switched to Queen room. I didn't realize my agent booked bunks. Was told completely booked and none available. There is some scaffolding near our room and you can hear the construction in the room. This is my 2nd time staying at WL and I'm not as happy this time. Worst is the ancient safe. Barely fits an iPad, my laptop doesn't even come close to fitting inside. It isn't even electronic, it's the old key style! Have had to hide the laptop in my suitcase and kept the privacy sign up all week so no maid service at all! Such a pain!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Does anyone know what time the villa hot tub closes? Here now and would like to use it tonight if possible.

I'm in a bunk courtyard room. Checked in Wednesday and asked to be switched to Queen room. I didn't realize my agent booked bunks. Was told completely booked and none available. There is some scaffolding near our room and you can hear the construction in the room. This is my 2nd time staying at WL and I'm not as happy this time. Worst is the ancient safe. Barely fits an iPad, my laptop doesn't even come close to fitting inside. It isn't even electronic, it's the old key style! Have had to hide the laptop in my suitcase and kept the privacy sign up all week so no maid service at all! Such a pain!

The posted closure is 11, but they won't kick you out if you're quiet. Only the monorail resorts have the larger floor safes, all the other Deluxe resorts have the wall safe. Can you lock your luggage with the laptop in it?

 

[MichellelovesMickey]

We arrive Thursday for 2 nights....what I hate is that I paid for a nice Courtyard View and I am not going to get that. Wishing I would have upgraded to Contemporary or just went to POFQ to save the money. Oh well guess I won't be in the room much and too late to change now.
How bad is it? Walked through a few weeks ago and the lobby was beautiful but outside was horrible.

 

[allboyhouse]

Can anybody tell me if the beach is open? I arrive in 1 week!

 

[scrappymel]

I'm so excited to join this thread. Just booked WL for September. I was thinking Summer, but DH and DD want a cruise then, so fall again for us.... very excited either way! Looking forward to reading all the great info here.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

The posted closure is 11, but they won't kick you out if you're quiet. Only the monorail resorts have the larger floor safes, all the other Deluxe resorts have the wall safe. Can you lock your luggage with the laptop in it?

Thanks, it started to rain around 10 so no hot tubbing for us!

I'm not talking about a floor safe, I'm talking about the wall safe with the keypad. I stayed here at the WL in a woods view room in Dec. 2012 and was able to put my laptop in the wall safe. Same at Port Orleans in 2012, and the regular room, not suite, at Art of Animation in 2013. The safe in this room is a kind I haven't seen in a hotel room in years! It's like they forgot to upgrade it when they renovated last. I did a search in this thread and saw pictures of the kind of safe I am talking about so I know they have them here in, I'm assuming, most rooms!

I didn't bring any luggage locks. I don't usually put anything of value in my checked luggage. Didn't think I'd need it here at the WL!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Can anybody tell me if the beach is open? I arrive in 1 week!

The part of the beach where the playground is and directly behind Trout Pass has been closed since the construction began to allow all the machinery to travel back and forth. The portion of the beach that directly fronts Bay Lake is still open:

9/6/14 photo courtesy of Diznotyzed

I'm so excited to join this thread. Just booked WL for September. I was thinking Summer, but DH and DD want a cruise then, so fall again for us.... very excited either way! Looking forward to reading all the great info here.

Welcome, scrappymel! You know, if you do a cruise for DD and DH, you could always add a land portion before/after

Thanks, it started to rain around 10 so no hot tubbing for us!

I'm not talking about a floor safe, I'm talking about the wall safe with the keypad. I stayed here at the WL in a woods view room in Dec. 2012 and was able to put my laptop in the wall safe. Same at Port Orleans in 2012, and the regular room, not suite, at Art of Animation in 2013. The safe in this room is a kind I haven't seen in a hotel room in years! It's like they forgot to upgrade it when they renovated last. I did a search in this thread and saw pictures of the kind of safe I am talking about so I know they have them here in, I'm assuming, most rooms!

I didn't bring any luggage locks. I don't usually put anything of value in my checked luggage. Didn't think I'd need it here at the WL!

We've always had a small wall safe with a key at WL. We usually stay in a room on the 7th floor so I just assumed that all the other rooms have the keyed safe, but it seems some have been converted to keypads and those are larger

 

[WDWKOOK]

Thank you to elaw for his recent updates and timely photos and to everyone who has provided LIVE updates​

Decided to take a drive and
Check out the hot tub situation. The one closest to the pool is filled and the one beside it looks almost full neither are open. You now have to
Go outside the gate to get to them Not sure if that will be the case when the spalsh pad opens or not. The sp looks weeks away from being done. I'd be shocked if it were open before Christmas. Going to talk to front desk cms when I'm done. I called the resort directly earlier and was also told the sp was not open but hot tubs were. I also have continuing reservation questions as well unrelated lol.

I love that you can just stop on by for a look-see

Hi Kook! We have had to move our dates de to unforeseen circumstances so we will be at the Lodge 5/29-6/5/2015. Hoping these stick! Flirted with moving to BC for the pool, but with the construction there decided to stay put at WL! Can't wait!

I'll update the Log, but I use a magical erasing quill so no worries if you have to change dates.

4 days Til check in at The Lodge!!

I can hardly contain my excitement...

Only a couple now! Your ticker is waaaaay off, so don't go by that

On our way to dinner at Citricos I'd never see queues at the hotel monorail stations like last night. At the CR it practically went to the end of the platform; at the Polynesian it went into the lobby almost to Kona. The MK's closing at 1 a.m. helped.

Wonder if a monorail was offline which created longer lines. Hopefully, it'll be better in March when we're staying at CR.

I was just coming to remark on this! I left there yesterday and it appears they are finishing up the sprayground. Working on painting and what not. A CM told us another week.
I could not help but notice the poor placement of the hot tubs. Not only from a relaxation perspective, but a safety one.

Love sprayground

I was able to speak with someone directly at Wilderness Lodge and was told that the hot tubs i.e. construction will all be completed by the 13th with slated opening on 12/14/14 which is just 2 days before our arrival!! I sure hope this is true but did come as some welcome news for me this morning. I was considering changing resorts but all the deluxes would have been more $$$ which I just can't afford after all this. Would love to continue hearing from those actually onsite to see and hear more updates.

Thank you for the update!

 

[OnceUponATime15]

Morning Kook!! I'd completely forgotten about the ticker for that trip! lol.. I booked the trip to the Lodge so last minute, I missed changing the ticker...

That trip is now this trip, new ticker says it all!

Another ticker/trip is in the works for next summer...

 

[sotoalf]

Wonder if a monorail was offline which created longer lines. Hopefully, it'll be better in March when we're staying at CR.

I don't think so. The MK was open till 1 a.m., and it was the dinner hour. Perfect storm.

 

[allboyhouse]

Thanks for the beach info. Wanting to watch ewp from the beach

 

[Antonia]

We'll be there Sunday 12/14. Is there a grill at VWL? Last time we were there it had been taken to be repaired and we had to gril our dinner at FW campground. It used to be behind the bicycle rental building.

 

[elaw]

Thank you to elaw for his recent updates and timely photos and to everyone who has provided LIVE updates​

I was happy to do it .... I know first hand how nice it is to get frequent updates when its regarding something may impact one's trip.