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

[troynkasey]

Thank you, troynkasey. WL was our first Deluxe resort back in '96. You must have visited right after it opened? I hope your parents treat you to a trip soon

Yes, if memory serves me correctly (that was a long time ago) we went because they were offering a great deal on a new resort. We actually did the same with CSR. We were there 2 weeks after it opened. We didn't care for it and haven't been back yet, but then again...what can compete with WL???

 

[Nermel9]

I knew what you meant and I hope you don't think I was being difficult. So were you booked at BC? Are you a resort changer? Check-out my signature if you (or anyone else) would like to join the RC thread

You're correct that you wouldn't want to actually request a "Bear Face" room. The room assignor might not know what you mean. Those rooms that are in the "upper courtyard" as you call it, that aren't Bear Face rooms, that don't look directly out at Bay Lake/Geyser, are actually Courtyard View rooms, floors two and up that face the Upper Silver Creek Springs. If you'd like one of those rooms, you could request:

"INNER COURTYARD VIEW OF UPPER SILVER CREEK SPRINGS"

LOL, no, I didn't think you were being difficult at all, I thought maybe I circled too many rooms, when I was just trying to point out the inner courtyard rooms!

I don't think I've planned a WDW trip without changing resorts at least once, I've lurked on that thread a couple of times! Originally I was booked at AKL, then I changed to BC for about a week, then I switched to WL, which is our favorite resort right now! I don't think we will be changing again for this trip, but who knows what will happen with the next trip! I'm definitely a resort changer!

Thank you for all of your advice with room requests! I called yesterday and just requested a room on the 4th or 5th floor and left it at that. I'm hoping maybe if we're up high enough, the noise won't be an issue, and even if it is, we'll just ask to change rooms! I don't want to get too specific with the room requests, because I'm HOPING our room will be ready early! We'll see, 43 more days!!

 

[ladybugmum]

So glad I found this thread! We are going to DW this fall (November 7 - 12) and we are staying at the Wilderness Lodge! THis is only our second time to Disney. Last year, when our week started, there were still Halloween decorations (Nov. 1- 7) but by the last day..Christmas was almost done in the Magic Kingdom. Since our daughter are 10 and 8, and the years of 'believing' are almost at an end..I wanted to come back to Disney during Christmas.

But..since we live in Jersey..I chose the infamous Jersey week again. I figured the decorations would be up in MK...but will they be up in WL so soon? We are going to the Christmas Party one night in the Magic Kingdom..so we will have that..but I guess I should have planned it a bit closer to the holidays.

Anyone know about when the decorations will be up in the WL?

Thank you for any information!

All the best..
Melissa in NJ

 

[Minnie&Nana]

So glad I found this thread! We are going to DW this fall (November 7 - 12) and we are staying at the Wilderness Lodge! THis is only our second time to Disney. Last year, when our week started, there were still Halloween decorations (Nov. 1- 7) but by the last day..Christmas was almost done in the Magic Kingdom. Since our daughter are 10 and 8, and the years of 'believing' are almost at an end..I wanted to come back to Disney during Christmas.

But..since we live in Jersey..I chose the infamous Jersey week again. I figured the decorations would be up in MK...but will they be up in WL so soon? We are going to the Christmas Party one night in the Magic Kingdom..so we will have that..but I guess I should have planned it a bit closer to the holidays.

Anyone know about when the decorations will be up in the WL?

Thank you for any information!

All the best..
Melissa in NJ

Melissa!
We arrived on Thursday, Nov 18 last yr and decorations were up Friday morning, the 19th. A manager told us decorations usually go up at the Lodge on the Wed (overnight) the week before Thanksgiving (which would have been Nov 17th last yr), but it was delayed by 2 days.

MK decorations go up to be ready for MVMCP, which is why those are done earlier.

I'm sorry the Lodge will not be decorated for your visit - it is truly lovely and so Christmasy.

Have a wonderful visit!

 

[CAJUNWDWFAN]

So glad I found this thread! We are going to DW this fall (November 7 - 12) and we are staying at the Wilderness Lodge! THis is only our second time to Disney. Last year, when our week started, there were still Halloween decorations (Nov. 1- 7) but by the last day..Christmas was almost done in the Magic Kingdom. Since our daughter are 10 and 8, and the years of 'believing' are almost at an end..I wanted to come back to Disney during Christmas.

But..since we live in Jersey..I chose the infamous Jersey week again. I figured the decorations would be up in MK...but will they be up in WL so soon? We are going to the Christmas Party one night in the Magic Kingdom..so we will have that..but I guess I should have planned it a bit closer to the holidays.

Anyone know about when the decorations will be up in the WL?

Thank you for any information!

All the best..
Melissa in NJ

The Christmas decorations usually start going up in early to mid-November resort wide. All the Christmas decorations are completely up by the Friday after Thanksgiving. That's when Holidays around the world and other special events start. sometimes the Osbourne lights star a week before Thanksgiving.

 

[ladybugmum]

Sigh....Thank you for confirming it. But hey..we ARE going again..so I am just happy about that.

 

[Kathymford]

So I've been searching the boards for an answer to my question, and some of the info seems outdated, so I thought I would just find a thread and ask a question. And boy do you guys love your lodge!! LOVE IT.

I am planning my first EVER WDW trip. On my planned DHS day, I have booked the Haunted Carriage Ride at the campsite (I think that's where it is?). So my question is this: how long will it take me to get to the WL Campgrounds? We have the 9pm carriage ride booked, and was trying to squeeze in dinner at DHS before hand, but I wasn't sure how much time I needed. Right now I have an ADR at Sci-Fi for 640pm (the park closes at 7 that night).

Thoughts? Suggestions? Comments? I hope it was ok that I posted this question here. We own DVC at VGC in Cali and I can't wait to see WL and see if it really is as similar as it seems.

 

[WDWKOOK]

So I've been searching the boards for an answer to my question, and some of the info seems outdated, so I thought I would just find a thread and ask a question. And boy do you guys love your lodge!! LOVE IT.

I am planning my first EVER WDW trip. On my planned DHS day, I have booked the Haunted Carriage Ride at the campsite (I think that's where it is?). So my question is this: how long will it take me to get to the WL Campgrounds? We have the 9pm carriage ride booked, and was trying to squeeze in dinner at DHS before hand, but I wasn't sure how much time I needed. Right now I have an ADR at Sci-Fi for 640pm (the park closes at 7 that night).

Thoughts? Suggestions? Comments? I hope it was ok that I posted this question here. We own DVC at VGC in Cali and I can't wait to see WL and see if it really is as similar as it seems.

I have no personal experience in getting from DHS to FTW, but I would think you would need to catch the bus at least one hour prior to when you need to be at the carriage ride (8:45?). So I would be at the bus stop NLT 7:45.

Hope others will chime in and have a great first trip to WDW - you'll love it! Oh, and feel free to post here anytime!

 

[scotty s]

I miss the WL. We stayed there for 10 nights back in June 2008. Thus far it has been our favorite resort. We WILL stay there again but right now we are on a mission to stay all the resorts. In Oct we will be at CSR and that will complete the Mod's.
Funny story about our stay at WL. We arrived in Orlando 2 days before our check-in date at resort. We were gonna stay at a Super 8 and chill out after the drive. That 1st evening we decided to drive over and see if we could just walk around the resort. We pulled up and walked into that Lobby and just stood there speechless for a second. I looked at my wife and kids and said, "I don't care how much it cost, if they have a room available...to heck with Super 8". Sure enough they had a room!! We went back to Super 8. The wife and kids loaded up the car while I checked us out at front desk (lost 1 night room cost) and we started our Disney vacation 2 nights early!! Great memories!! I just love this picture.

 

[BLTLDZ]

We are DVC owners at BLT, and last year, for four nights of our december honeymoon, we were able to get a one bedroom villa on the fourth floor, woods view...it was AMAZING!!! We did not want to leave!!

We are going back this october for a week, and bringing along my Dad...We struck gold again!
We were staying in a one BR at SSR, so I called a few days ago, and they had the first four nights available at VWL instead! Of course I jumped on it!
My dad is going to LOVE this resort.

The last four nights we are there we are staying at the BWV's. It is the best of both worlds, especially for a first timer (my dad).

Four nights at a MK resort, four nights at an Epcot resort...
Thanks for this thread! I am getting more & more excited!

 

[troynkasey]

So I've been searching the boards for an answer to my question, and some of the info seems outdated, so I thought I would just find a thread and ask a question. And boy do you guys love your lodge!! LOVE IT.

I am planning my first EVER WDW trip. On my planned DHS day, I have booked the Haunted Carriage Ride at the campsite (I think that's where it is?). So my question is this: how long will it take me to get to the WL Campgrounds? We have the 9pm carriage ride booked, and was trying to squeeze in dinner at DHS before hand, but I wasn't sure how much time I needed. Right now I have an ADR at Sci-Fi for 640pm (the park closes at 7 that night).

Thoughts? Suggestions? Comments? I hope it was ok that I posted this question here. We own DVC at VGC in Cali and I can't wait to see WL and see if it really is as similar as it seems.

I haven't had the experience of going from DHS to the campground, however the general rule is to plan for an hour of transport (WDWKook said it as well). Obviously, this is a conservative and very likely NOT reality, but you have to think buses run at least every 20 minutes. If you get to the bus stop right after it leaves, you'll wait 20 minutes and then have a 15 minute drive. Once at the campground, you will have to ride an internal bus to get to the area where the carriage ride is (I believe it is near Pioneer Hall). The thing that may impact your plans is your dinner at Sci-Fi. We've never gotten out before an hour. It's pretty much ran 1 hour and 15 minutes when we go as a family of 4 or 6 depending on who is dining with us.

If your ADR is for 6:40, you should be able to squeeze everything in....if Sci-Fi is on time and has a table ready for you. So is it possible? Sure. But you may run the risk of being late to the carriage ride.

 

[RobinHoodGirl]

So glad I found this thread! We are going to DW this fall (November 7 - 12) and we are staying at the Wilderness Lodge! THis is only our second time to Disney. Last year, when our week started, there were still Halloween decorations (Nov. 1- 7) but by the last day..Christmas was almost done in the Magic Kingdom. Since our daughter are 10 and 8, and the years of 'believing' are almost at an end..I wanted to come back to Disney during Christmas.

But..since we live in Jersey..I chose the infamous Jersey week again. I figured the decorations would be up in MK...but will they be up in WL so soon? We are going to the Christmas Party one night in the Magic Kingdom..so we will have that..but I guess I should have planned it a bit closer to the holidays.

Anyone know about when the decorations will be up in the WL?

Thank you for any information!

All the best..
Melissa in NJ

I can comment on WL decorations but I went to WDW last year from Nov 10-16 and went to the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party on November 11th and MK was decorated. Also Osborn Lights were up and around Epcot there were some (very limited though) Christmas decorations up.

You might also be able to stop by the Grand Floridian to see their gingerbread house in progress...

 

[nathanyell]

I haven't had the experience of going from DHS to the campground, however the general rule is to plan for an hour of transport (WDWKook said it as well). Obviously, this is a conservative and very likely NOT reality, but you have to think buses run at least every 20 minutes. If you get to the bus stop right after it leaves, you'll wait 20 minutes and then have a 15 minute drive. Once at the campground, you will have to ride an internal bus to get to the area where the carriage ride is (I believe it is near Pioneer Hall). The thing that may impact your plans is your dinner at Sci-Fi. We've never gotten out before an hour. It's pretty much ran 1 hour and 15 minutes when we go as a family of 4 or 6 depending on who is dining with us.

If your ADR is for 6:40, you should be able to squeeze everything in....if Sci-Fi is on time and has a table ready for you. So is it possible? Sure. But you may run the risk of being late to the carriage ride.

I'd show up early for your ADR just to be on the safe side. They will take you up to 30 minutes early and try to get you in.

I'm not sure if the bus from HS shares with another hotel. But you will most likely get dropped off at the outpost station. From there you would need to catch any of the internal buses (Purple, Orange, Yellow) to the Settlement where the carriage ride is. So because of the switch it may take a bit longer than a normal bus ride to a hotel.

Brian

 

[nathanyell]

We are DVC owners at BLT, and last year, for four nights of our december honeymoon, we were able to get a one bedroom villa on the fourth floor, woods view...it was AMAZING!!! We did not want to leave!!

We are going back this october for a week, and bringing along my Dad...We struck gold again!
We were staying in a one BR at SSR, so I called a few days ago, and they had the first four nights available at VWL instead! Of course I jumped on it!
My dad is going to LOVE this resort.

The last four nights we are there we are staying at the BWV's. It is the best of both worlds, especially for a first timer (my dad).

Four nights at a MK resort, four nights at an Epcot resort...
Thanks for this thread! I am getting more & more excited!

That is so awesome. Sounds like the perfect trip!!!!

Brian

 

[disadventurer]

So excited we are staying at WL for DH58 bday on 10/27 , will participate in MNSSHP on that evening, and doing the spooky carriage ride on 10/31. Here's my question....Is the path between WL and Fort Wilderness open in the evening? Is it lit? Has it been decorated in the past?

Thanks so much for any information

 

[Kathymford]

I'd show up early for your ADR just to be on the safe side. They will take you up to 30 minutes early and try to get you in.

I'm not sure if the bus from HS shares with another hotel. But you will most likely get dropped off at the outpost station. From there you would need to catch any of the internal buses (Purple, Orange, Yellow) to the Settlement where the carriage ride is. So because of the switch it may take a bit longer than a normal bus ride to a hotel.

Brian

Thanks everyone for your input! I think I may see if they have an earlier reservation, or go early as suggested. When I booked it, I totally forgot about my carriage ride reservation until I went to put it on my spreadsheet (planning freak!).

Thanks again!

 

[disadventurer]

Questions, questions, questions...does anyone happen to know if the Blessings of the Directions is still done and when it happens?? Not sure even if that is what it is called. TIA

 

[WDWKOOK]

I miss the WL. We stayed there for 10 nights back in June 2008. Thus far it has been our favorite resort. We WILL stay there again but right now we are on a mission to stay all the resorts. In Oct we will be at CSR and that will complete the Mod's.
Funny story about our stay at WL. We arrived in Orlando 2 days before our check-in date at resort. We were gonna stay at a Super 8 and chill out after the drive. That 1st evening we decided to drive over and see if we could just walk around the resort. We pulled up and walked into that Lobby and just stood there speechless for a second. I looked at my wife and kids and said, "I don't care how much it cost, if they have a room available...to heck with Super 8". Sure enough they had a room!! We went back to Super 8. The wife and kids loaded up the car while I checked us out at front desk (lost 1 night room cost) and we started our Disney vacation 2 nights early!! Great memories!! I just love this picture.

That is a GREAT story and thanks for sharing it. The WL made quite the impression on you. Don't forget that you can always do a split stay and stay at both a new resort AND the WL

We are DVC owners at BLT, and last year, for four nights of our december honeymoon, we were able to get a one bedroom villa on the fourth floor, woods view...it was AMAZING!!! We did not want to leave!!

We are going back this october for a week, and bringing along my Dad...We struck gold again!
We were staying in a one BR at SSR, so I called a few days ago, and they had the first four nights available at VWL instead! Of course I jumped on it!
My dad is going to LOVE this resort.

The last four nights we are there we are staying at the BWV's. It is the best of both worlds, especially for a first timer (my dad).

Four nights at a MK resort, four nights at an Epcot resort...
Thanks for this thread! I am getting more & more excited!

You're welcome and I know your dad is going to love it at the Lodge. I love split stays and think you made a great choice

I'd show up early for your ADR just to be on the safe side. They will take you up to 30 minutes early and try to get you in.

I'm not sure if the bus from HS shares with another hotel. But you will most likely get dropped off at the outpost station. From there you would need to catch any of the internal buses (Purple, Orange, Yellow) to the Settlement where the carriage ride is. So because of the switch it may take a bit longer than a normal bus ride to a hotel.

Brian

Good suggestion about going to the ADR early. I will add that on our last two trips (12-10 and 7/8-11), we showed-up early to almost every ADR. In fact, some ADRs we even showed-up more than two hours early and we were taken almost immediately every single time and this was at every park. I was so grateful that every restaurant took us (waaaaay) early

So excited we are staying at WL for DH58 bday on 10/27 , will participate in MNSSHP on that evening, and doing the spooky carriage ride on 10/31. Here's my question....Is the path between WL and Fort Wilderness open in the evening? Is it lit? Has it been decorated in the past?

Thanks so much for any information

The path is always open (as far as I know), but it's not decorated. I don't recall seeing lights on it, but I've only been on it during daylight hours.

Questions, questions, questions...does anyone happen to know if the Blessings of the Directions is still done and when it happens?? Not sure even if that is what it is called. TIA

I'm sorry, but I have no idea what that is

 

[Missyrose]

Quick question (and please no flames, I'm new to staying onsite). If I'm staying at WL can I bring guests to the pool with me? They're staying at another of the Disney hotels, but we wanted to spend an afternoon at the pool together.

Thanks for the help!

 

[saintstickets]

So I've been searching the boards for an answer to my question, and some of the info seems outdated, so I thought I would just find a thread and ask a question. And boy do you guys love your lodge!! LOVE IT.

I am planning my first EVER WDW trip. On my planned DHS day, I have booked the Haunted Carriage Ride at the campsite (I think that's where it is?). So my question is this: how long will it take me to get to the WL Campgrounds? We have the 9pm carriage ride booked, and was trying to squeeze in dinner at DHS before hand, but I wasn't sure how much time I needed. Right now I have an ADR at Sci-Fi for 640pm (the park closes at 7 that night).

Thoughts? Suggestions? Comments? I hope it was ok that I posted this question here. We own DVC at VGC in Cali and I can't wait to see WL and see if it really is as similar as it seems.

My handy dandy iPhone Trip Wizard says it will take 32-45 minutes from DHS to FTW. In both cases it says to take the bus from DHS to WL and then transfer to either a bus or a boat to FTW. Of course, then you have to walk to wherever the carriage ride is located. As PP's have stated, leave at LEAST an hour travel time to account for the inevitable delays when you need to be somewhere at a specific time. Is it possible to change your ADR at Sci-Fi for an earlier time to give yourself some wiggle room? Hope you have a fantastic time at WL!