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

[Minnie&Nana]

I'll have to blame you for my new obsession; since my new Orange Bird Pin is on its way to me. Got the one on the lounge chair ... thought it would be most appropriate for The BC & Poly. I am completely clueless about Pin Trading. Methinks I'll just get a Halloween lanyard and let the kidlet don the goodies.

YEAH! Did you find it on line? I definitely must order one...or two.... I'll not be trading these for sure!!

 

[Kona65]

Any ideas on how to make sure you get a room over looking the lobby? I would just love walking out of my room during Christmas and seeing the lobby all decked out in its Christmas splender.

 

[Nermel9]

Hi everyone! I love the new thread!

I have a question about making a room request...I'll be staying in a courtyard view room this year, and I'm afraid if I'm too close to the pool, it's going to be really noisy.

I was thinking, maybe a room here (where I've circled in purple)

won't be so noisy. Has anyone here stayed in one of those rooms? Are they pretty quiet?

And how would I go about requesting a room there? Would I say "inner courtyard"?

Should I not bother with a room request and just take my chances? I actually wanted a woods view, but they were booked!

TIA!

 

[disneywatcher]

2012? As in one year from now? I've never been one to be patient, but if you can wait, then I can wait. Thanks! I look forward to seeing them

Yep, that's all we can afford to do is once a year (until I win the Lottery *begins to pray Dear God let me win the lottery to feed my Wilderness Lodge and Disney Addiction 4 times a year for the rest of my long days). I promise I will take good pictures for you and even zoom in on every little detail (even if I have to keep my kids out of the room for a while to do it...or I could do video of the room with our new camcorder/picture taker that's in layaway

Hi everyone! I love the new thread!

I have a question about making a room request...I'll be staying in a courtyard view room this year, and I'm afraid if I'm too close to the pool, it's going to be really noisy.

I was thinking, maybe a room here (where I've circled in purple)

won't be so noisy. Has anyone here stayed in one of those rooms? Are they pretty quiet?

And how would I go about requesting a room there? Would I say "inner courtyard"?

Should I not bother with a room request and just take my chances? I actually wanted a woods view, but they were booked!

TIA!

I have actually stayed in the rooms that are in the "arms" of the bear on the 4th floor. I hardly heard any noise really at that height. The ONLY time I could hear what was going on in the pool area was when the sliding door was open. Besides after the life guards go home for the night at 10, everyone who is in the pool quiets down greatly.

 

[RobinHoodGirl]

Hi everyone! I love the new thread!

I have a question about making a room request...I'll be staying in a courtyard view room this year, and I'm afraid if I'm too close to the pool, it's going to be really noisy.

I was thinking, maybe a room here (where I've circled in purple)

won't be so noisy. Has anyone here stayed in one of those rooms? Are they pretty quiet?

And how would I go about requesting a room there? Would I say "inner courtyard"?

Should I not bother with a room request and just take my chances? I actually wanted a woods view, but they were booked!

TIA!

I stayed in one of those rooms in May 2008 and had no complaints about noise at all. My mom and I loved the room location and it was nice to walk out the door and look down on the lobby every morning.

We were on the same side as The Whispering Canyon Cafe and did not hear anything... then again we were mostly out of the room during their busy times.

 

[sjs314]

That's terrific Sheila. I know this trip will be bittersweet for both of you, so I am SO glad you are both getting excited

My DH has NEVER been so happy to go to Disney! He's even excited about the GF! I am really hoping that DH is changing over to a Disney lover, and I think WL will seal the deal

I haven't done the Tiki room since I was 12 I think, but I can sing the song verbatim (thanks to a Disneyland record I wore out as a kid)

I am glad your DH is excited about this trip and staying at GF. My DH never wanted to go until I booked our first trip with my two DS's minus one husband. This was back in 1989. He came home the next day from work saying he had the week off and wanted to go and has actually always wanted to go back since then.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Christine -

You sold me on the villas, who knows if a studio becomes available, the bug has bit me to switch now.

Oh, no! What have I done?!

 

[WDWKOOK]

I'll have to blame you for my new obsession; since my new Orange Bird Pin is on its way to me. Got the one on the lounge chair ... thought it would be most appropriate for The BC & Poly. I am completely clueless about Pin Trading. Methinks I'll just get a Halloween lanyard and let the kidlet don the goodies.

Blame away! I have your soon-to-be pin with the hidden Mickey and I think that's perfect for the BC and Poly.

Can we both be clueless together?

YEAH! Did you find it on line? I definitely must order one...or two.... I'll not be trading these for sure!!

THAT'S my problem. I finally got a few pins because I love the character and I have no intention of trading them! But the two minutes of trading I did for the OB pin was lots of fun. I was told that I should put the ones I don't want to trade on a separate lanyard.

Anyone know all about pin trading etiquette? I would love to know!

Any ideas on how to make sure you get a room over looking the lobby? I would just love walking out of my room during Christmas and seeing the lobby all decked out in its Christmas splender.

You would need to book a Courtyard View and request the following:

"INNER COURTYARD VIEW ROOM OFF THE LOBBY, PLEASE." These rooms are on the 4th and 5th floors and the lobby is right outside the room door. They are odd numbered from 4067-4079 and 5067-5069, but don't request a specific room number. When you check-in, even if your room isn't ready, ask to see the location of your room on the resort map. If it's not one of the rooms mentioned above, ask again if you can be located in one.

Good luck!

Hi everyone! I love the new thread!

I have a question about making a room request...I'll be staying in a courtyard view room this year, and I'm afraid if I'm too close to the pool, it's going to be really noisy.

I was thinking, maybe a room here (where I've circled in purple)

won't be so noisy. Has anyone here stayed in one of those rooms? Are they pretty quiet?

And how would I go about requesting a room there? Would I say "inner courtyard"?

Should I not bother with a room request and just take my chances? I actually wanted a woods view, but they were booked!

TIA!

I have found the Courtyard View rooms to only be noisy when the sliding glass door is open or if I'm on the balcony and ONLY during the pool party in the afternoon because of the loud music.

The inner courtyard views all face into the courtyard/pool/geyser area. Some of what you have circled is actually "outer courtyard," (just made that term up) which is actually a Woods View, which is what you would prefer.

If you really want a Woods View, keep checking the WDW booking site, especially 45 and 5 days prior to arrival. Many people cancel packages and room-only bookings at that time so something might open-up for you and you'd even save a little money

Yep, that's all we can afford to do is once a year (until I win the Lottery *begins to pray Dear God let me win the lottery to feed my Wilderness Lodge and Disney Addiction 4 times a year for the rest of my long days). I promise I will take good pictures for you and even zoom in on every little detail (even if I have to keep my kids out of the room for a while to do it...or I could do video of the room with our new camcorder/picture taker that's in layaway


I have actually stayed in the rooms that are in the "arms" of the bear on the 4th floor. I hardly heard any noise really at that height. The ONLY time I could hear what was going on in the pool area was when the sliding door was open. Besides after the life guards go home for the night at 10, everyone who is in the pool quiets down greatly.

Yes! The lottery! But, I'd be moving to Golden Oak if I win the lottery (But, maybe after a whirlwind stay at the resorts while the house is being built)

You're right about the noise not being an issue. I am very noise sensitive and I have never found the pool to be an issue, even at night. Unlike some resort pools, I'd say the Silver Creek pool has pretty quiet guests.

Now, when you take those photos, don't zoom in too closely on all the dust

 

[pas130]

I am glad your DH is excited about this trip and staying at GF. My DH never wanted to go until I booked our first trip with my two DS's minus one husband. This was back in 1989. He came home the next day from work saying he had the week off and wanted to go and has actually always wanted to go back since then.

DH always complains "Disney again" But he knows how happy I get, and when he realized I was planning a trip without him.....then things changed.Last night he was saying, we should do this every year And I overheard DD and DH talking about a trip next year for all of us

Oh, no! What have I done?!

disneywatcher That looks wonderful!

 

[Gipperland]

WDWkook, you did an outstanding job on this thread! I am just sad that I didn't get to read before our trip.
We just returned from 6 nights CL at the WL and I am now hooked everything was just perfect. The people that work the CL are outstanding!
My husband made arrangements for me and him to view Wishes from the roof, as an early 50th birthday celebration. It was a total surprise and it is not easy to surprise me... It was one of the coolest things ever!
My husband took our cell phones swimming one afternoon. When we returned to our room and asked if there was anyway to get a bowl of uncooked rice, it was in our room in 5 minutes.
I could go on and on, but the bottom line is, everything was just perfect, every wish, request, and want was granted.
One of the CMs told us that the WL had begun renovations and they should be completed sometime next year. Very excited that everything will be new whenever our next stay is...
Again, kudos to WDWkook for doing such a great job!

 

[shmoogrrrl]

We check in four days from now!

So very excited!

We have a standard room booked and my only request is that we not be on the first floor. I am going to ask to be put on the list for the flag family, but I bet that it is going to be crowded. If we were chosen, what time do you have to be there, and when is it done?

Thanks! We can't WAIT! Well, my daughter can wait...She doesn't even know that we are going.

 

[rotlex]

We check in four days from now!

So very excited!

We have a standard room booked and my only request is that we not be on the first floor. I am going to ask to be put on the list for the flag family, but I bet that it is going to be crowded. If we were chosen, what time do you have to be there, and when is it done?

Thanks! We can't WAIT! Well, my daughter can wait...She doesn't even know that we are going.

We did this too, regarding a room request. I'm hoping we wind up on an upper floor, as we booked standard view as well, but I also hope a request doesn't bump us out of a possible upgrade to another view, LOL.

This is our first Wl stay, and we are VERY excited about it! I can't believe we are leaving in just 4 days!

 

[Kricketnp]

I'm officially 10 days away from my first stay at WL...Do you guys recommend doing online check-in for the WL or is it better to check-in in person?

 

[disneywatcher]

I'm officially 10 days away from my first stay at WL...Do you guys recommend doing online check-in for the WL or is it better to check-in in person?

I've done both but it really makes no difference. Some say that it's best to do it in person, other's say it's best to do it online. In the end it's a personal decision to be made by you.

 

[Missoutandabout]

Blame away! I have your soon-to-be pin with the hidden Mickey and I think that's perfect for the BC and Poly.

Can we both be clueless together?



THAT'S my problem. I finally got a few pins because I love the character and I have no intention of trading them! But the two minutes of trading I did for the OB pin was lots of fun. I was told that I should put the ones I don't want to trade on a separate lanyard.

Anyone know all about pin trading etiquette? I would love to know!

It's so funny you mention pin trading etiquette... we can be "not so clueless" now! Found this yesterday after I ordered the OB ... Disney's Official Pin Trading Etiquette Guide. (Also a good one at The Laughing Place.) I can see my kiddo throwing a fit already; at 4 years old, the concept of freely giving something of hers up even for something in return is a foreign one.

 

[troynkasey]

FANTASTIC job on the new thread. I love WL. It was the first resort we visited back in the winter of 1994 I believe it was. Then again in 1998 at Thanksgiving. We visited again around 2004 or 2005 and then this June. We've stayed value two years (never again), POFQ twice (loved it, but miss the deluxe), CSR (didn't care for it), and AKL in 2010 (loved it, but in a category of it's own). With all that said, WL is my preference. My parents bought in to DVC two years ago, so I forsee us visiting more often since they like to treat the grandkids, my wife, and me.

 

[troynkasey]

I'm officially 10 days away from my first stay at WL...Do you guys recommend doing online check-in for the WL or is it better to check-in in person?

If you're hoping for an upgrade, then I would check-in when you get there. I have heard of people getting upgraded in person, but not when using online check-in. We are always happy with our reservation and book what we want, so we do online check-in to simplify things and get it finished that much faster. But like PP said...it's all what you're comfortable with.

 

[shmoogrrrl]

We did this too, regarding a room request. I'm hoping we wind up on an upper floor, as we booked standard view as well, but I also hope a request doesn't bump us out of a possible upgrade to another view, LOL.

This is our first Wl stay, and we are VERY excited about it! I can't believe we are leaving in just 4 days!

Well, if you see a family running around after an insane little blonde boy, say Hi!

The Standards are completely booked. I wonder if that means the hotel will be crowded?

 

[rotlex]

Well, if you see a family running around after an insane little blonde boy, say Hi!

The Standards are completely booked. I wonder if that means the hotel will be crowded?

Hey, that could be us too, LOL. We have an almost 3 year old "insane little blonde boy" too. (And don't mind the partially insane 9 year old little blonde girl that he goes with, or the parents)

We'll be there from August 22nd through September 1st! Man it's getting close!!!!

 

[bjgrazi]

If you're hoping for an upgrade, then I would check-in when you get there. I have heard of people getting upgraded in person, but not when using online check-in. We are always happy with our reservation and book what we want, so we do online check-in to simplify things and get it finished that much faster. But like PP said...it's all what you're comfortable with.

My husband just read this and asked, will they upgrade us to the main lodge (we're staying Villa's) I told him the villa's are an upgrade. He said "OH, they seem so far away". I had to tell him last night where we were staying. It was going to be a surprise.

He's not a huge Disney fan. He goes, because I love it and we have a 5 year old who's a Disney nut.