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

[Capang]

I have an ADR for Whispering Canyon in the beginning of June. Will Disney notify me of a refurbishment? Will the refurbishment impact any other services such as room service (do they even have room service)? I was so looking forward to our dinner there.

 

[sotoalf]

Pretty sure the restaurant shuts down, not the kitchen.

 

[Syndrome]

Besides the main pool heat not working , it's also quite cloudy . Can't see the steps underwater even . It is open though. No one swimming in it today ....... Everyone is jammed in the villa pool . Main hot tubs still closed , but look like fine to use . I think because they are sort of hooked to the splash pad walkway, they are closed still . Probably the splash pad and hot tubs will open together

 

[WDWKOOK]

Thanks to everyone who posts LIVE reports for those with upcoming stays​

I love following this thread. I always get the best info here! And just over all... enjoy the excitement about the WL.

Our next trip "home" isn't until Nov. 29th - Dec 5th, 2015. It will be our 4th time staying at the WL and our first time staying CL. (I am so excited about this!!) DH and I do not even consider any other resorts now. The feeling we get when we first walk through those front doors is just unexplainable.

Have a great day ya'll.

Welcome back to WL! You're going to love the OFC and I'll log your dates

Today's the day...

See you soon WL!

I hope you're having a magical vacation.

I just booked an anniversary trip for my husband and I to Wilderness Lodge for this weekend! Kind of last minute for us. But leaving the kids home with grandma this time. Hoping they get the hot tubs going or some pool heat before we get there. I can't wait to see the resort decorated for Christmas!

How exciting! Have a great adult's-only weekend.

Returned from four-night five-day WL vacation. On our third stay the resort was as beautiful as ever, and cast members, as I posted once before, unctuously polite, even chirping "Have a magical day!" after every sentence. A ticket problem was solved without a peep.

The scaffolding encompasses the north side of the resort facing Bay Lake. You would not notice it unless you're used to exiting through those doors (now closed) or standing at the foot of the rock bridge and faced south. Because the weather was miserable on Monday, we saw no one in the pool, but yesterday at checkout a few hardy souls braved the 41-degree weather and stiff wind. At least it gave lifeguards something to do.

My parents, who ordered room service every morning, were struck by one curious and unattractive development: three times they got no plates with their muffins and fruit. On the second day Dad made a point of mentioning it. He received an apology but no plate the third day. It's inexplicable. Is Disney trying to cut corners? How does one eat muffins with jam and butter off napkins?

So the muffins were underneath the silver-domed plate or just on napkins? Usually they have a couple of small saucer-like plates piled up on the tray. Considering you even asked for the plates, that's ridiculous that the 3rd day he didn't have plates again. No excuse for that.

Fortunately not nearly as controversial as a pool closing, but I just read that Whispering Canyon Cafe is closing for rehab on March 15th for about 3 months

Any news on this beyond whats on the DIS site: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/rehab.htm

Is this just a rehab? ...or is something else...... Hope they do something to keep their top of line servers.....that's what makes this restaurant so cool!



Doug

Thank you for posting the closure information, Doug. I don't know anything about this, but I'll try to get more information when I'm there, but that won't be for several months. I'm sure someone will enlighten us in the interim

Does anyone think this will impact the club level at all with regard to the food that is served? I only ask because I thought I had read that the restaurants in the hotel were the ones that supplied the food to the lounge?

Artist Point and Roaring Fork should still be open and certainly the kitchen would remain open, so no worries.

Hello, we are arriving in 3 days and my husband asked a question about the sauna in the Sturdy Branches fitness center and I don't know the answer. Does anyone happen to know if there is only one sauna (and therefore co-ed) or is there one in each locker room (preferred!)? Thanks in advance!

There are only lockers and a shower in the Sturdy Branches/VWL showers. The sauna is located next to the massage rooms, before you get to the bathrooms. There is only one so it would have to be coed:

Just booked my 1st CL stay at WL. Just me and dd19. Anything I need to know or expect?

I have stayed at gf,cr and poly CL and looking forward to WL

I think for January it will be great.

Congratulations, Trish! You're no longer tickerless. MLK weekend will be crowded in the parks, but CL should be a welcome respite. We love requesting one of two rooms that directly face Bay Lake/Courtyard. 7127 is next to the Presidential Suite and 7035 is in the North Wing near the VP Suite.

I have an ADR for Whispering Canyon in the beginning of June. Will Disney notify me of a refurbishment? Will the refurbishment impact any other services such as room service (do they even have room service)? I was so looking forward to our dinner there.

If your ADR is canceled, you will be notified. The kitchen for Artist Point and Roaring Fork will remain open so room service shouldn't be impacted. All the Deluxes have room service and the menu is at the end of the DINING chapter of the thread.

 

[jpw442]

The main pool was not open yesterday evening because of cloudy water. It looked open, there were people in the chairs and the lifeguards were there, but when my daughter tried to get in, they said it was closed. I asked about it at the desk and they said they are really trying to get it open today. Very disappointing

 

[wollydoodle]

Thank you for the info and the picture too!

 

[morrismhs]

Just returned from a quick weekend and booked our bounceback for July 23-Aug 2. Could you add us to the log?

 

[patty57]

We are home after a VWL stay of Dec. 1-7. I wish I could report that the construction didn't bother us on our trip, but it did. Too many small things closed added up to a larger impact. The hot tubs were closed, the main pool opened, closed, and opened again with no heat, and I'm hearing the slide wasn't working? The seating area off the lobby was closed because the scaffolding and tarp covered it, the look-out area was closed, the nature trail was closed, the geyser wasn't functioning, the beach was very much impacted with huge construction walls and equipment, and of course, the splash pad wasn't finished. There were a lot of construction workers on the splash pad and the lobby exterior, construction equipment, and it was noisy. When I first heard about the pool rehab, I was afraid of this, and unfortunately, it came to pass. It was supposed to be completed the prior week, but wasn't.
Maybe I would feel differently if WL were my go-to resort for trips. I think it's easier to forgive these things if you've had great stays at other times, but this was a first and only for us. The lobby was beautiful, as was the villas lobby. The studio was too, but the exterior was a pretty big turn-off for us. We would go back to the Epcot resorts when we visit again.

 

[sotoalf]

As a Miamian it's hard to imagine anyone using the pool during 40-degree weather and rain (as we saw earlier this week), so the inconvenience wasn't a bother. The pool was open every day from Dec. 5 through Dec. 9, staffed by bored and wet lifeguards, by the way.

The scaffolding really isn't an eyesore. The main building has so many exits to the pool/geyser area that I forgot those main doors were closed.

 

[xlsm]

I keep forgetting to post, but we're headed back to WL again this summer. July 14 - 21. No one wanted to try anywhere else, lol.

 

[ttfn3]

Gosh - I am getting really concerned with all the construction and closing of areas at the WL. I sure hope it's finished by March. I'm planning a special trip with my son - may be our last trip together before he heads off to college. We have never stayed at WL and I was really looking forward it it. I will say with the rates that I am paying I will be VERY unhappy if the pool isn't up and functioning properly, the beach is closed, the geyser isn't working and there is scaffolding cover areas and making them not accessible etc. It's making me second guess my choice.

 

[reddog]

Looking at photos of Wilderness Lodge rooms it appears there are no sitting/armchairs. Is it possible to get one and if so, how would one request that? I'm asking because my husband tore some abdominal muscles that are taking forever to heal (might be a six month thingy). Sitting up on a bed is incredibly uncomfortable. Regular chairs are o.k. but don't allow him to quite stretch the muscle area properly.

Just thought I'd ask about opinions on if it might even be possible. I realize it would make for tight quarters, but I think it would help my husband out.

Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

We are home after a VWL stay of Dec. 1-7. I wish I could report that the construction didn't bother us on our trip, but it did. Too many small things closed added up to a larger impact. The hot tubs were closed, the main pool opened, closed, and opened again with no heat, and I'm hearing the slide wasn't working? The seating area off the lobby was closed because the scaffolding and tarp covered it, the look-out area was closed, the nature trail was closed, the geyser wasn't functioning, the beach was very much impacted with huge construction walls and equipment, and of course, the splash pad wasn't finished. There were a lot of construction workers on the splash pad and the lobby exterior, construction equipment, and it was noisy. When I first heard about the pool rehab, I was afraid of this, and unfortunately, it came to pass. It was supposed to be completed the prior week, but wasn't. Maybe I would feel differently if WL were my go-to resort for trips. I think it's easier to forgive these things if you've had great stays at other times, but this was a first and only for us. The lobby was beautiful, as was the villas lobby. The studio was too, but the exterior was a pretty big turn-off for us. We would go back to the Epcot resorts when we visit again.

This is really freaking me out!!!!!

 

[patty57]

This is really freaking me out!!!!!

I think it will probably all be finished soon. It just wasn't for my trip.

 

[dkrauss]

I'm not sure that is right since I was able to make a dinner reservation there on April 18th.

I saw the information on the DIS Boards rehab list......which is why I included the link.............

I love The Whispering Canyon.........so I hope it is an error......so those at WDW and WL during that time get to enjoy the food and the fun

Doug

 

[Miffy]

Hi, fellow WL lovers,

I made my upcoming reservation through Orbitz, because I couldn't resist the extra 15% off, which was quite a significant savings. But I'm missing being able to call WDW directly regarding my reservation.

I called Orbitz this morning and made my room location requests and they said they called WDW and that my requests would be "confirmed on check-in," whatever that means. I'm guessing the Orbitz agent I spoke with was reading from a script, so perhaps there's no hidden meaning, and my room location requests are on my reservation the same as they would be had I booked directly through CRO.

At any rate, can I still call WL directly maybe 5 or 10 days before check-in to confirm my room location requests? (And, of course, I know they are only requests and that they don't necessarily have to be honored, etc., but WL has always given us a great room, and usually in the location I requested--or an even better one!)

Thanks so much for any info you might have. I'm new to the Orbitz thing and it's making me a little uncomfortable.

 

[SnowChaser]

What type of to-go items does Roaring Forks usually have for breakfast? In particular I'm interested to know if they have yogurt.

It's an essential item for us & I'm wondering if we can find it in the resort, or if I should make a grocery order.

 

[JnKinVA]

What type of to-go items does Roaring Forks usually have for breakfast? In particular I'm interested to know if they have yogurt.

It's an essential item for us & I'm wondering if we can find it in the resort, or if I should make a grocery order.

You can definitely get yogurt at Roaring Forks. It is located in the coolers in the corner between the two hot ordering stations.
I believe it is available at all times, not just for breakfast.

 

[SnowChaser]

That's great news, thanks! I'm sure it's pricey, but I bet it comes out close to the premium we'd pay on a full grocery delivery. Plus, there's the convenience of not have to do the grocery order.

 

[Miffy]

That's great news, thanks! I'm sure it's pricey, but I bet it comes out close to the premium we'd pay on a full grocery delivery. Plus, there's the convenience of not have to do the grocery order.

Just be aware that they may not stock the brand or even the flavors you like. I don't remember exactly what they had when I was last there, although I do remember a preponderance of strawberry, but I remember the selection was quite limited and didn't change from day to day.