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

[RedfromNL]

OK, so I was drooling over some pics of the WL because we are sort of planning a return next year. I made the mistake of showed husband some pictures of the WL and he absolutely loved the idea of going when christmas decorations are up...

Now I have some idea as to the look of the WL and it would be gorgeous. I have no real idea about how busy it might be. I mean it is supposed to be quieter for a period after thanksgiving and before christmas, not to sure on how far from these events you need to be though. I have been once in January (after the busy weekends) and once in early may.
How do crowds compare?? Both in the reort and the parks.

The date of our trip will also depend on some external factors which we won't now for some time yet, but I always feel it never hurts to plan ahead....

 

[Mousemommy1]

You'll be there tomorrow. Those CMs are too funny - they're always the last to know. Don't forget to ask at check-in is you're on a rehabbed floor. Keep us posted if you can and have a safe trip


I've noticed many happy DISers today reporting air fares decreasing. I like your new itinerary and more time at WDW and a NS flight home makes perfect sense to me. Have you spent the $80 yet?

LOL, technically, yes it's spent!!! It's just being held as a credit towards future travel...so, when I purchase airfare for our April trip.....

 

[WDWKOOK]

LOL, technically, yes it's spent!!! It's just being held as a credit towards future travel...so, when I purchase airfare for our April trip.....

Yeah! Where are you scheming to stay for spring break?

 

[bowbat]

OK, so I was drooling over some pics of the WL because we are sort of planning a return next year. I made the mistake of showed husband some pictures of the WL and he absolutely loved the idea of going when christmas decorations are up...

Now I have some idea as to the look of the WL and it would be gorgeous. I have no real idea about how busy it might be. I mean it is supposed to be quieter for a period after thanksgiving and before christmas, not to sure on how far from these events you need to be though. I have been once in January (after the busy weekends) and once in early may.
How do crowds compare?? Both in the reort and the parks.

The date of our trip will also depend on some external factors which we won't now for some time yet, but I always feel it never hurts to plan ahead....

I can tell you that we've gone to Disney the week after Thanksgiving the last two years, and both times it has been fabulous. Low crowds, beautiful weather, all the Christmas decorations up. We absolutely love it then and will be going back again this year. The one caveat is that, yes, the resort lobbies can get quite busy in the evenings with people coming through to see the decorations. Other than that, though, the resorts aren't at all crowded. It's a great time to go.

 

[Kathy Z]

OK, so I was drooling over some pics of the WL because we are sort of planning a return next year. I made the mistake of showed husband some pictures of the WL and he absolutely loved the idea of going when christmas decorations are up...

Now I have some idea as to the look of the WL and it would be gorgeous. I have no real idea about how busy it might be. I mean it is supposed to be quieter for a period after thanksgiving and before christmas, not to sure on how far from these events you need to be though. I have been once in January (after the busy weekends) and once in early may.
How do crowds compare?? Both in the reort and the parks.

The date of our trip will also depend on some external factors which we won't now for some time yet, but I always feel it never hurts to plan ahead....

In addition to the last week in November, as mentioned in the reply above, the second week of December is a fairly good time to go. By the middle of the third week in December the Christmas crowds begin to arrive. The first week of December is usually blacked out to most room discounts as the resorts fill up due to Pop Warner Football week. I copied the following from **************.net:

RECOMMENDED 2012 WEEKS, RANKED IN ORDER

The recommended weeks that follow are wonderful weeks to visit Walt Disney World in 2012.

The first three are almost interchangeable: low prices, low crowds, and wonderful Christmas programs and decorations.
1: 12/8/12. Lowest crowds and prices of these three weeks.
2: 11/24/12. Tail end of Thanksgiving week makes the first Saturday and Sunday of this week more crowded than week #1. The rest of this week is terrific. A great week to visit. Could easily be ranked #1.
3: 12/1/12. A great week, but a little more crowded than the other two, and a week that because of Pop Warner football demand for resort rooms is rarely discounted beyond its already low prices. Those intending to stay at Pop Century or other values should consider avoiding this week, as Pop Warner may make the value resorts crowded and boisterous this week

Any of these weeks will probably have more crowds than your January visit but could possibly be less crowded than your May visit.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Yeah! Where are you scheming to stay for spring break?

Ha!! Not 100% sure yet. We are coming back 4/19-4/29 and are bringing DFIL for his first trip. We are footing the majority of the bill (DFIL is putting up $2000) so I am thinking POFQ, that's what DFIL picked when we showed him pics...but we'll see...if we can get a good discount and swing WL ( which is another reason we bought the APs) we'll be here.

 

[RedfromNL]

Bowbat, KathyZ: thanks you for the quick info

It sounds like the two weeks after thanksgiving would be good weeks to go That's good to know!

Again: thanks

 

[WDWKOOK]

New photos of Villas at Wilderness Lodge accessible room:
http://allears.net/acc/g_wlv-accessible.htm

 

[nyrebecca]

We leave for WDW on sat morning....after all these years and trips, why am I still so horrible at packing? It stresses me out more than anything.

 

[WDWKOOK]

We leave for WDW on sat morning....after all these years and trips, why am I still so horrible at packing? It stresses me out more than anything.

Are you working off a list? Packing is always stressful - so much to bring, but you can't bring it all. I've slowly been learning that less is more. I want to bring it all, but in reality, I never use probably 1/3 of what I bring so I've been bringing less and reminding myself that I always do laundry anyway, so I really don't need as much stuff. Can you do laundry at WL?

 

[Sue M]

I'm a horrible over-packer too! I know I don't wear half of what I bring, but I can't seem to help myself!! And I do laundry half way thru trip too!!
I'm really going to try this time to not pack so much!!

 

[Miffy]

Can you do laundry at WL?

Absolutely. I do the laundry at least once per trip.

 

[nyrebecca]

Oh I do laundry halfway thru. I have a list too. But I work off of "what ifs" ......what if I need this or what if I need that?

 

[mommadjones]

We are at exactly two months today!!!

This comes with mixed emotions. My husband was one of the first to lose his job when the Mortgage industry started to fail in 2007. He retained another position in January 2008 with a local mortgage company and although they were very good to him the pay scale just wasn't there. He just got a position with a different company that has a much better pay scale and more along the lines of his former wages. This is great news for us as a family but sadly he probably will be unable to come with us for our family vacation.

Hopefully he can come with us on our December trip

 

[Mama Moose]

When do they put the Christmas decorations up? We are moving our trip dates to be there Nov 4th-10th, so we are hoping we will get to see some.

 

[Little Bit]

I've been at WL since Saturday. We are in a refurbished room on the 6th floor. The room is nice, but the construction noise can get pretty loud. I have seen construction guys going in and out of rooms on this floor so they are evidently not done with all the rooms here, and we hear a lot of buzzing and hammering when we are here in the afternoons. It hasn't really bothered us but would definitely be a concern if we had little ones who needed a nap. They have also completely dry walled off the wing on the 1st floor right by the elevators down by Roaring Forks. Overall we are enjoying the resort. It's beautiful and the staff is wonderful.

 

[nyrebecca]

I've been at WL since Saturday. We are in a refurbished room on the 6th floor. The room is nice, but the construction noise can get pretty loud. I have seen construction guys going in and out of rooms on this floor so they are evidently not done with all the rooms here, and we hear a lot of buzzing and hammering when we are here in the afternoons. It hasn't really bothered us but would definitely be a concern if we had little ones who needed a nap. They have also completely dry walled off the wing on the 1st floor right by the elevators down by Roaring Forks. Overall we are enjoying the resort. It's beautiful and the staff is wonderful.

We arrive on Sunday and are staying CL. Hopefully we wont be hearing any noise. I personally like a nap in the afternoon.

Any chance you have some pics of the refurbed room? I know, I admit I am greedy.

 

[DisneyNDecember]

If you do automatic online check in, does it give you an area to ask for specifc room #/location?

Never mind, I found the info on the WDW site....


What information is collected online prior to arrival?


Information typically collected at the Disney Resort hotel front desk during the check-in process will be collected online, including:
•A credit card that you may use for incidental charges
•Arrival time
•Departure time
•Guest names
•Room requests (subject to availability)
•Address
•On-site phone number

 

[RedfromNL]

Oh I do laundry halfway thru. I have a list too. But I work off of "what ifs" ......what if I need this or what if I need that?

Ah, we always say: IF we forget something important: they do have shops around, we'll buy some.

We hardly ever need to.... Though I did need to buy a load of toiletries after leaving that bag on the table

The only stuff thats VITAL are: passports, tickets, credit and debitcards and a good mood.

But then, we are both extremely efficient packers, we can do it in about half an hour and be ready to go.

 

[nyrebecca]

But then, we are both extremely efficient packers, we can do it in about half an hour and be ready to go.

I need you to come here and pack for me !!

I will admit part of my problem is having a son with Autism. The last thing I want to do is be 1200 miles from home and having forgotten the ONE thing he wants.

With that said, I have the suitcases packed except for shirts, and I will get that all settled today after work.

Thank you all for listening to my packing woes.