(CLOSED) Disney's WILDERNESS LODGE and VILLAS Information Thread

[twinkles]

My hubby - who NEVER eats breakfast - got this back when we stayed for One More Disney Day and fell in LOVE with it! It's a HUGE croissant, stuffed to overflowing with eggs, bacon and cheese. He said it was very filling and left him with lots of energy for the Disney day ahead. I had a bite and it was realllllly good (but I had a Bounty Platter that I was attempting to demolish).

We just got back from VWL about 3 hours ago! I must say I was deliciously surprised how good the croissant sandwich was. I'm not a big breakfast eater, usually just yogurt but That was really tasty.

 

[family3indisney]

sorry if this has been asked... we will be staying at VWL for the first time in Aug. We are so very excited, just curious what kind of views there are for the villas. We plan on being at the resort a lot to take breaks from the heat. So very excited and reading this forum just fuels my excitement.

 

[jak07]

Sorry for asking, but where are the photos of the refurb located? I didn't want to scroll through 170+ pages.
Also, has the whole resort been refurbished, or what floors are left?

Thank you!

ETA--Found the photos on pg 148-150ish, but what floors are done?

 

[Mousemommy1]

Sorry for asking, but where are the photos of the refurb located? I didn't want to scroll through 170+ pages.
Also, has the whole resort been refurbished, or what floors are left?

Thank you!

Link to photos is on page 1. Or, you can go directly to page 148 and 150.

The north wing is currently being rennovated. The south wing will get started in July.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

sorry if this has been asked... we will be staying at VWL for the first time in Aug. We are so very excited, just curious what kind of views there are for the villas. We plan on being at the resort a lot to take breaks from the heat. So very excited and reading this forum just fuels my excitement.

You will love the Lodge and Villas!!

The Villas are not known for the views - most face pine trees, a few overlook the Villa pool and the quiet side of the Lodge...some over look the walkway between the lodge and Villas... I would suggest requesting 1.upper floor 2. pool view.

Happy planning!!

 

[TinkPirateMom]

You're welcome. About one week before your trip, you can email the IPO and ask them to verify that your bunk bed request is in your reservation. When you check-in, ask if you have a bunk and if for some reason you don't, the CL concierge will do all they can to find a bunk for you.

Great, thanks again! I have already heard back from the IPO. I'm sure they will do all they can. I got so excited reading their response just because it began with "Howdy" which I thought was cute (put a smile on my face).

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

You will love the Lodge and Villas!!

The Villas are not known for the views - most face pine trees, a few overlook the Villa pool and the quiet side of the Lodge...some over look the walkway between the lodge and Villas... I would suggest requesting 1.upper floor 2. pool view.

Happy planning!!

I agree. My last trip I didn't request a view ... I got an upper floor but on the other side of the building overlooking a service road ... not such a great view. It didn't spoil my vacation .... I just looked out, not down and I saw trees.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

I agree. My last trip I didn't request a view ... I got an upper floor but on the other side of the building overlooking a service road ... not such a great view. It didn't spoil my vacation .... I just looked out, not down and I saw trees.

That's the other view I couldn't think of when answering!

I've learned the hard way about Disney views - if I don't request something it's pretty much a sure thing the view will be of a wall or trash.

 

[WDWKOOK]

My hubby - who NEVER eats breakfast - got this back when we stayed for One More Disney Day and fell in LOVE with it! It's a HUGE croissant, stuffed to overflowing with eggs, bacon and cheese. He said it was very filling and left him with lots of energy for the Disney day ahead. I had a bite and it was realllllly good (but I had a Bounty Platter that I was attempting to demolish).

I remember having it when we went in 2008...also at allears.net menu it shows it being 5.99 it WAS deliciously good

I'm convinced - we're going to have to try it! Since we usually stay CL, we don't eat any QS breakfasts, but I know DD and DH would love that croissant and I would be happy to help DD with hers

We just got back from VWL about 3 hours ago! I must say I was deliciously surprised how good the croissant sandwich was. I'm not a big breakfast eater, usually just yogurt but That was really tasty.

DETAILS! We need DETAILS! How did you like your VWL room? What view did you have? Would you book it again? Will you be posting any photos? (Hmmm.... If I book it for a few days prior to WL, that would be a great excuse to eat at RF for breakfast)


Welcome back home!

sorry if this has been asked... we will be staying at VWL for the first time in Aug. We are so very excited, just curious what kind of views there are for the villas. We plan on being at the resort a lot to take breaks from the heat. So very excited and reading this forum just fuels my excitement.

Here is a VWL room map from the first page that TheLodgeLady provided that shows the views:

Sorry for asking, but where are the photos of the refurb located? I didn't want to scroll through 170+ pages.
Also, has the whole resort been refurbished, or what floors are left?

Thank you!

ETA--Found the photos on pg 148-150ish, but what floors are done?

Glad you found them and that Mousemommy1 also directed you to the first page/post #1 rehab update.

They should be starting the North Wing's 5th floor now. Each floor is taking about 3 weeks. The South Wing's 7th floor will be started in the beginning of July. All the rooms should be completed by the end of September and they are leaving the floor beneath the rehabbing floor vacant.

Great, thanks again! I have already heard back from the IPO. I'm sure they will do all they can. I got so excited reading their response just because it began with "Howdy" which I thought was cute (put a smile on my face).

Once, my email came back with ALOHA! The WL IPO is actually located at the Poly and they are the same IPs so I guess they just got a little confused.

That's the other view I couldn't think of when answering!

I've learned the hard way about Disney views - if I don't request something it's pretty much a sure thing the view will be of a wall or trash.

Well, as far as the MK area Deluxes are concerned, you can at least book a water view to avoid walls and trash cans - a CV at WL, a Bay Lake View Tower room at the CR, a LV/TPV at the Poly and a TPV at the GF don't have any walls or trash cans. BUT, some rooms might just have a nice, big palm tree near the balcony?

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Well, as far as the MK area Deluxes are concerned, you can at least book a water view to avoid walls and trash cans - a CV at WL, a Bay Lake View Tower room at the CR, a LV/TPV at the Poly and a TPV at the GF don't have any walls or trash cans. BUT, some rooms might just have a nice, big palm tree near the balcony?

Very true, but I'd hazard a guess that the average guest does not have a budget for those views.

WL CV is still one of the best views for the cost (in Disney cost terms, of course.), but the trade off is the small room size. Our only WDW stays were CR and Poly so we were well spoiled long before the first moderate (CBR) or WL opened - which, as you know, have the same size rooms. I do love WL, but the rooms feel a little claustrophobic. Nevertheless, can hardly wait to stay in a refurbed room...hopefully in January.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Very true, but I'd hazard a guess that the average guest does not have a budget for those views.

WL CV is still one of the best views for the cost (in Disney cost terms, of course.), but the trade off is the small room size. Our only WDW stays were CR and Poly so we were well spoiled long before the first moderate (CBR) or WL opened - which, as you know, have the same size rooms. I do love WL, but the rooms feel a little claustrophobic. Nevertheless, can hardly wait to stay in a refurbed room...hopefully in January.

I really hope you do get to go in January. Though I understand there will be many challenges coordinating a Resort Changers' DISmeet!

Aren't the Moderate rooms about 314 SF? The WL and AKL rooms are 344 SF, but the layout of the rooms does make a big difference in making a room "seem" larger or smaller. This is a CBR quote taken from the website I link to below:




While many, many websites and books (but not all) claim that its (CBR) rooms have 340 square feet, compared to the other moderates’s 314 square feet, every room I have measured at the Caribbean Beach has come out at 314 square feet.




This is a great site that explains the square footage of WDW rooms and bedrooms and how they are configured to maximize (or not) available space:

http://**************.net/planning-...tegory/how-many-square-feet-in-a-square-foot/

 

[TinkPirateMom]

What do all the WL lovers think of WCC dinner? I'm considering changing a Kona dinner to WCC just for the convenience of being at our resort (I had Ohana B and D and Kona D booked because we were originally staying at Poly and now I don't think I want to keep all of them).

 

[WDWKOOK]

What do all the WL lovers think of WCC dinner? I'm considering changing a Kona dinner to WCC just for the convenience of being at our resort (I had Ohana B and D and Kona D booked because we were originally staying at Poly and now I don't think I want to keep all of them).

I've eaten at both many times and they are quite different experiences. In fact, last month when we ate at Kona for lunch, I declared it was our last visit. We eat there every vacation at least once, but the service and sometimes the food just keeps going downhill. We do love the menu selection, but we've found that Kona is just too inconsistent for us to bother eating there anymore - which is sad.

WCC is lots of fun and predictable with tasty food and we've found the food and service to be consistent visit to visit. Sometimes food refills can take a while, but overall, I would recommend it over Kona. It's always lots of fun to eat at your resort and convenient, too. Also, WCC is a lot more fun for kids - they have stick pony races and Lincoln Logs!

 

[bluecastle]

WDWKOOK: You asked a few pages back (just got caught up) whether our visits would overlap and I think we are checking out about 3 days before you arrive! (Aug. 10th) oh well. I can let you know about our hotel in GA if you decide not to drive down in one day.
Twinkles: I know you are busy from just getting back, but when you are ready I would love to hear about your 2BR villa experience. No pressure!
I noticed there were lots of posts about cost concerns. This is such an individual decision. Once upon a time I would never even consider paying rack rate and then I decided that staying where I wanted to stay was important and that I could economize in other areas. I will never forget the joy I felt being at WL during the holidays and getting to see the lobby and huge tree everyday. Sure we could have stayed somewhere else and saved lots of money, but how do you put a price tag on pure joy? And now we will also be paying too much for a 2BR villa during our August trip. However, my back is taking longer to heal than I thought it would, and I am so happy that I will have more than a room to go back to when I need it. I also think it makes a difference whether you are a WDW veteran or not. Yes, we have had the occasional annoyance when we have seen 3 DHS buses arrive while we have been waiting a long time for an Epcot bus. But we are so determined to not be stressed while we are in our WDW bubble, we just use that time to talk and people watch and sometimes help other visitors by explaining the different buses. (we once saved a family from going on the wrong bus because they thought the 2 destinations on the sign meant the bus went to both) Sorry to be such a Pollyanna (one of my favorite movies when I was a kid and wanted to BE Hayley Mills!).
Back to planning! I am beginning to get overwhelmed by all my notes!! (what shoes to buy, dresses or shorts?, ...too many categories!!)

 

[jak07]

Thank you for all of the information Mousemommy1 and wdwkook!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Thank you for all of the information Mousemommy1 and wdwkook!

You're welcome, jak07!

bluecastle, of course I'd be interested in your GA hotel info. We usually stay in Brunswick or Pooler, but I'm not so happy with Pooler anymore so I thought we'd go back to Brunswick. We're taking two days down from now on. We felt like zombies after getting up at 0230 so that we could be there by 5 pm (my brilliant idea). We always drive home in one day which is just fine because we leave at a civilized hour and are much more rested for the drive home.

I'm sorry your back recovery isn't going very well. Are you doing any physical therapy? Hopefully, you'll start to feel better before your August trip




I hope everyone is having a safe and relaxing Memorial Weekend and........

making some WDW/WL plans

 

[Alice28]

Is the Yosemite suite included in the rehab? I assume so, but wanted to ask... Thanks!

 

[twinkles]

Everyone!

We are back from a super vacation with our family and we all had a great time

Wilderness Lodge is beautiful. We stayed in the a 2 bedroom villa and we were really surprised how big and nice they were

The kitchen is a full size kitchen with room for 2/3 adults to maneuver around.
Theres a full size fridge, stove/oven and the washer/dryer are in there too.

The living room/dining room are one big room. Theres a full size table with 4 chairs and the living room has a couch and a chair. Me and hubby slept on the pull out queen bed in the living room (which was comfortable). Theres a small balacony off the living room.

We gave the girls and their families the rooms (since we are up at the crack of dawn). Bedroom 1 has 2 queen beds and a bathroom (with shower only).
Bedroom 2 has 1 king bed with separate vanity area (sink and huge jacuzzi tub). Off that room is the bathroom with a sink and shower.

Both rooms were very large with plenty of closet and drawer space.

Me and DH loved walking each morning to Fort Wilderness. We saw many deer, bunnies and armadillos. We enjoyed our morning coffee in front of the fire in the villas lobby in the big comfy chairs....AAH so peaceful

OUr weather was great! We had a downpour our first day there, however, this happened while we were eating and stopped by the time we were done.
The rest of the week glorious sunshine and not one drop of rain

Transportion: Super. We didn't have to wait longer than 5 minutes at any given time/day. We really enjoyed the convenience of the boat (way better than the bus)!

Crowds: Ugh! The weekend was out of control (to be expected) but we thought it would have thinned out during the week...not really it was very busy and the average wait time was about 40 minutes...the kids rides were
over an hour.

Food: Yum! We didn't have a bad meal this is where me and hubby ate:
WCC, Ohana, Yak & Yeti, Cape May, Via Napoli, Boma. Service and food
was great at all the above.

The villas and lodge were beautiful. We would sit at the beach every afternoon with a cold beer and just relax. The kids loved the pool (even though they have one at home

If anyone has any questions, please ask

I'm off to start planning our next vacation...Yellowstone here we come

 

[WDWKOOK]

Is the Yosemite suite included in the rehab? I assume so, but wanted to ask... Thanks!

Yes, every room, including suites, is being rehabbed. The North Wing's 7th floor is done, which means the Yosemite Suite has been rehabbed. The CL manager speculated that the lounge might be relocated to the Yosemite (VP) suite for a few weeks in July while the South Wing's 7th floor is being rehabbed. However, the rehab does not include the lounge.

If you book it, we'd LOVE some photos

Everyone!

We are back from a super vacation with our family and we all had a great time

Wilderness Lodge is beautiful. We stayed in the a 2 bedroom villa and we were really surprised how big and nice they were

The kitchen is a full size kitchen with room for 2/3 adults to maneuver around.
Theres a full size fridge, stove/oven and the washer/dryer are in there too.

The living room/dining room are one big room. Theres a full size table with 4 chairs and the living room has a couch and a chair. Me and hubby slept on the pull out queen bed in the living room (which was comfortable). Theres a small balacony off the living room.

We gave the girls and their families the rooms (since we are up at the crack of dawn). Bedroom 1 has 2 queen beds and a bathroom (with shower only).
Bedroom 2 has 1 king bed with separate vanity area (sink and huge jacuzzi tub). Off that room is the bathroom with a sink and shower.

Both rooms were very large with plenty of closet and drawer space.

Me and DH loved walking each morning to Fort Wilderness. We saw many deer, bunnies and armadillos. We enjoyed our morning coffee in front of the fire in the villas lobby in the big comfy chairs....AAH so peaceful

OUr weather was great! We had a downpour our first day there, however, this happened while we were eating and stopped by the time we were done.
The rest of the week glorious sunshine and not one drop of rain

Transportion: Super. We didn't have to wait longer than 5 minutes at any given time/day. We really enjoyed the convenience of the boat (way better than the bus)!

Crowds: Ugh! The weekend was out of control (to be expected) but we thought it would have thinned out during the week...not really it was very busy and the average wait time was about 40 minutes...the kids rides were
over an hour.

Food: Yum! We didn't have a bad meal this is where me and hubby ate:
WCC, Ohana, Yak & Yeti, Cape May, Via Napoli, Boma. Service and food
was great at all the above.

The villas and lodge were beautiful. We would sit at the beach every afternoon with a cold beer and just relax. The kids loved the pool (even though they have one at home

If anyone has any questions, please ask

I'm off to start planning our next vacation...Yellowstone here we come

Thanks for posting your VWL TR, twinkles! I'm glad you had a great trip and stay at VWL. Isn't that walk to FW so peaceful and relaxing? Have fun at Yellowstone!

 

[mickeynut1]

I hope everyone is having a safe and relaxing Memorial Weekend and........

making some WDW/WL plans

Hi KOOK . I hope you and your family have a great Memorial Day weekend as well . I am doing WDW planning in my head, but I am (im)patiently waiting for the 2013 rates to come out . I'm hoping they come out early like they did last year so I can offically book for next June .

Everyone!

We are back from a super vacation with our family and we all had a great time

Wilderness Lodge is beautiful. We stayed in the a 2 bedroom villa and we were really surprised how big and nice they were

The kitchen is a full size kitchen with room for 2/3 adults to maneuver around.
Theres a full size fridge, stove/oven and the washer/dryer are in there too.

The living room/dining room are one big room. Theres a full size table with 4 chairs and the living room has a couch and a chair. Me and hubby slept on the pull out queen bed in the living room (which was comfortable). Theres a small balacony off the living room.

We gave the girls and their families the rooms (since we are up at the crack of dawn). Bedroom 1 has 2 queen beds and a bathroom (with shower only).
Bedroom 2 has 1 king bed with separate vanity area (sink and huge jacuzzi tub). Off that room is the bathroom with a sink and shower.

Both rooms were very large with plenty of closet and drawer space.

Me and DH loved walking each morning to Fort Wilderness. We saw many deer, bunnies and armadillos. We enjoyed our morning coffee in front of the fire in the villas lobby in the big comfy chairs....AAH so peaceful

OUr weather was great! We had a downpour our first day there, however, this happened while we were eating and stopped by the time we were done.
The rest of the week glorious sunshine and not one drop of rain

Transportion: Super. We didn't have to wait longer than 5 minutes at any given time/day. We really enjoyed the convenience of the boat (way better than the bus)!

Crowds: Ugh! The weekend was out of control (to be expected) but we thought it would have thinned out during the week...not really it was very busy and the average wait time was about 40 minutes...the kids rides were
over an hour.

Food: Yum! We didn't have a bad meal this is where me and hubby ate:
WCC, Ohana, Yak & Yeti, Cape May, Via Napoli, Boma. Service and food
was great at all the above.

The villas and lodge were beautiful. We would sit at the beach every afternoon with a cold beer and just relax. The kids loved the pool (even though they have one at home

If anyone has any questions, please ask

I'm off to start planning our next vacation...Yellowstone here we come

Thanks for your review. Glad you had a great trip and enjoyed the 2 bedroom villa .