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

[WDWKOOK]

Thank you again!!

We already have our ADR's made for Artist Point & Rose and Crown, but I am hoping to get either a carriage ride, boat rental, or Safari booked. So they will be able to help with that!!

Yes, the IPO can take care of those reservations. If they haven't contacted you yet, just send them an Email with your reservation # in the subject heading. And, just so you know, the WL IPO is actually located at the Poly, and they aren't the same as the CMs who work on the CL floor at the WL.

We are 16 days away from our first WL stay...and while it's all decorated for Christmas!! I'm considering NOT using online check-in this time. I have in the past and it definitely expedited the process, but that was also a late January trip and in a FS at ASMU, so room location or availability wasn't an issue. This time we check-in (hopefully b/w 2P-3P) on Black Friday and I really would like a centrally located room...preferably a lobby room on an upper floor. My real question is...will having my requests met be a pipe dream given I'm checking in during the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving week? I'm envisioning a full hotel and a chuckling CM when I attempt to get anything other than an available room.

The room assignor will have already pre-assigned your room about 3 days prior to your arrival. If you aren't happy with the location, just ask if they have anything in your preferred location available, even if it hasn't been cleaned yet. Did you already put your room location request in your reservation? If you haven't, you should add something like, "High floor, off lobby, please."

We're staying here next year and have got the free DDP. How much extra is CL compared to a normal room?

It depends what time of the year it is and what non-CL room category you're comparing it with. Let's say you're comparing it to a Courtyard View room for October 1st, for example, CL would be $125 more per night.

Staying CL, you'll get the exact same room, but it will be on an exclusive floor which has keyed access, you'll have automatic nightly turn-down service, pre-arrival planning assistance from the Itinerary Planning Office, a lounge which serves breakfast, snacks, appetizers, desserts, beer, wine, cordials and non-alcoholic beverages, concierges available on the 7th floor who can provide personal assistance during your stay, and you're greeted upon arrival by a CL Runner who will escort you to the 7th floor for your check-in there.

 

[stoneyloon]

14 x $125 ($1,750 ) sounds an awful lot for breakfast snacks and a turned down duvet!

I think I'll give it a miss......

Even I can't drink that much beer in a day!

 

[Tbone17701]

The room assignor will have already pre-assigned your room about 3 days prior to your arrival. If you aren't happy with the location, just ask if they have anything in your preferred location available, even if it hasn't been cleaned yet. Did you already put your room location request in your reservation? If you haven't, you should add something like, "High floor, off lobby, please."

I requested upper floor, near RF in N. wing. Should I change that? If so, I will call central reservations now and also fax the resort about 4-6 days prior? Then I assume that I should NOT do online check-in?

 

[Alabama Minnie]

Do any of the WV rooms have a lake view? Booked a WV room. Never stayed here and not sure what to request. Do you need to book CV to have a chance of a lake view?

 

[janabananas]

14 x $125 ($1,750 ) sounds an awful lot for breakfast snacks and a turned down duvet!

I think I'll give it a miss......

Even I can't drink that much beer in a day!

I thought the same thing when I priced out our 5 day trip in Sept 2012. I thought staying CL was crazy insane and not even a possibility for us.

However, for the weekend getaway we are planning, no park time, no kids, & only hanging at the resort, I had to jump on the CL train. *choo-choo*

It came out to an extra $150 total, $75/night, to upgrade from WL courtyard view to CL. (yeah for AP discounts )

I figure that we will be able to munch throughout the day, so no paying for breakfast and lunch. (No, we will not take entire plate or platter to our room with us... ) And we can drink that much beer and wine ..... (but we won't). We have ADR's for R&C and AP so we won't be using the CL food as your only source. (I have seen other threads where people get kind of nasty about people eating too much or drinking too much of the CL offerings.)

Funny enough, dbf asked me when we were at the POP last week if when we stay at WL will we get treated like cattle like we did at POP, or as if we have names..... I will be able to surprise with this, yes they will know your name.

I am not saying we were treated poorly at POP at all, we had really great employee encounters, and will be staying there again with the kids in February, but there are so many folks there that it can be overwhelming, not complaining just a opinion. For our anniversary though, it will be nice to splurge.


I sent an email to WL IPO so I am sure I will hear from them soon.

 

[Smileybug]

CONGRATS!!!

The lounge is basically on the 7th floor almost directly over the mercantile on the lobby level. The CL is the entire 7th floor, but the rooms only go half way down each wing.

All the CL rooms are considered Standard rooms because they are the same size as the regular rooms. My reservation is for "Standard Room-Courtyard View". You need to request an inner CY view if that is what you want. You can do it by contacting the IPO.





They are completely different systems. If you go to the bridge right by the waterfall you can notice that the water does not "run" under the bridge. It's a good illusion though.

Brian

Thank you for explaining this. We are considering staying CL on the next trip. Usually stay Inner courtyard. But the "standard room" discription kept throwing me. The WL is just........Home.

 

[Sue M]

With the new pod machines do they still have the Nescafe coffee with it? Wish they could get Starbucks, who does pods. We had 1 night in the DTD Doubletree last Aug, and they had Starbuck pods. Hmmm, maybe we could go lurk in the Doubletree halls and raid the housekeeping carts for coffee

 

[nathanyell]

Thank you for explaining this. We are considering staying CL on the next trip. Usually stay Inner courtyard. But the "standard room" description kept throwing me. The WL is just........Home.

You're very welcome. It's something that has confused a lot of people.

Brian

 

[Smileybug]

What is the roof top firework viewing like? I didn't realize that this was an option.

 

[dvbrooks]

We have three rooms with six adults and five grandkids, how many can be in a Flag Family.

 

[WDWKOOK]

I (finally) booked our 25th anniversary trip for next summer. We are staying three nights WL/CL then moving over to BWI/CL for five nights and the grand finale is five nights in a Deluxe Queen Room at the GF's RPC. We've never stayed at either BWI or GF so this will be quite the adventure for us. After this trip, we will have stayed at every Deluxe, except BC, which we have no interest in. It will be great to be back at the Lodge

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. It feels like Sunday

I requested upper floor, near RF in N. wing. Should I change that? If so, I will call central reservations now and also fax the resort about 4-6 days prior? Then I assume that I should NOT do online check-in?

You don't need to change it or fax them. The rumor for a few years now has been that the room assignors at the resorts are not even looking at the faxes anymore, but this may be just at some of the resorts. It can't hurt to fax, but might not make any difference anymore. As long as it's in your reservation, that should suffice.

Do any of the WV rooms have a lake view? Booked a WV room. Never stayed here and not sure what to request. Do you need to book CV to have a chance of a lake view?

With an (INNER) COURTYARD VIEW, you will have a very good view of Bay Lake, the pool and the geyser. With a WOODS VIEW, you might be able to see some of Bay Lake off to the right, but I am not certain of this. You could request to be near the OTTER POND and then you would have a bit of a pond view.

With the new pod machines do they still have the Nescafe coffee with it? Wish they could get Starbucks, who does pods. We had 1 night in the DTD Doubletree last Aug, and they had Starbuck pods. Hmmm, maybe we could go lurk in the Doubletree halls and raid the housekeeping carts for coffee

I don't know. Hopefully someone else will be able to help you.

What is the roof top firework viewing like? I didn't realize that this was an option.

It is by-request only at check-in or through the concierge and is usually limited to special occasions. You meet around 9:45 and are escorted to the roof above the 7th floor where you watch Wishes until about 10:15.

We have three rooms with six adults and five grandkids, how many can be in a Flag Family.

Good question and hopefully someone will know

 

[mickeynut1]

I (finally) booked our 25th anniversary trip for next summer. We are staying three nights WL/CL then moving over to BWI/CL for five nights and the grand finale is five nights in a Deluxe Queen Room at the GF's RPC. We've never stayed at either BWI or GF so this will be quite the adventure for us. After this trip, we will have stayed at every Deluxe, except BC, which we have no interest in. It will be great to be back at the Lodge

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. It feels like Sunday

Hi KOOK .....I think you will have a fabulous anniversary at all 3 resorts . In addition to our July trip, I am contemplating a December 2012 trip as well and although I have BWI on the radar, my mind keeps taking me back to the WL . We love the lodge at Christmas time and we would stay CL if I chose that, but I was wondering about the refurb that is coming up for next year. Do have any insight as to what will happen to CL if they block off one entire floor at a time......will that not be available for booking the whole time they're redoing the 7th floor? TIA .

 

[WDWKOOK]

Hi KOOK .....I think you will have a fabulous anniversary at all 3 resorts . In addition to our July trip, I am contemplating a December 2012 trip as well and although I have BWI on the radar, my mind keeps taking me back to the WL . We love the lodge at Christmas time and we would stay CL if I chose that, but I was wondering about the refurb that is coming up for next year. Do have any insight as to what will happen to CL if they block off one entire floor at a time......will that not be available for booking the whole time they're redoing the 7th floor? TIA .

Thank you for the vote of confidence in my trip planning

The Lodge is extra cozy during the holidays and I think that sounds like a great idea for a 2012 December trip. You can't plan too soon!

I last spoke to the CL manager in August and at that time he said that he had already viewed the model room and it was gorgeous and that the rehab. was originally to begin in 12-11, but had been moved to 2-12. He said that it was projected to take about two years and that, as you mentioned, one floor at a time would be blocked. I have no idea about CL though, but could they just block one wing at a time rather than the entire floor?

 

[mickeynut1]

Thank you for the vote of confidence in my trip planning

The Lodge is extra cozy during the holidays and I think that sounds like a great idea for a 2012 December trip. You can't plan too soon!

I last spoke to the CL manager in August and at that time he said that he had already viewed the model room and it was gorgeous and that the rehab. was originally to begin in 12-11, but had been moved to 2-12. He said that it was projected to take about two years and that, as you mentioned, one floor at a time would be blocked. I have no idea about CL though, but could they just block one wing at a time rather than the entire floor?

You did great planning your trip....and you couldn't have chosen better resorts . To check in and then move 2 more times would be some work, but since you're going for 2 weeks, I think that's plenty of time to do 3 resorts .

I think the lodge is awesome during the holidays.....in fact, it's our favorite resort that time of year. All of the resorts are beautifully decorated and have their own special touches, but the WL gives us that cozy, homey feel with the fireplace and rocking chairs .

Blocking just a portion of a floor at a time would be a good idea. I was wondering how they would block off entire floors, especially CL......that would mean no CL for however long it took to do the floor ......probably wouldn't make guests very happy as I'm sure WL CL is very popular, not to mention how very popular it is during Christmas time . Thanks for your input.....it looks like I have alot of thinking/decision making to do .

 

[Smileybug]

I (finally) booked our 25th anniversary trip for next summer. We are staying three nights WL/CL then moving over to BWI/CL for five nights and the grand finale is five nights in a Deluxe Queen Room at the GF's RPC. We've never stayed at either BWI or GF so this will be quite the adventure for us. After this trip, we will have stayed at every Deluxe, except BC, which we have no interest in. It will be great to be back at the Lodge

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. It feels like Sunday




You don't need to change it or fax them. The rumor for a few years now has been that the room assignors at the resorts are not even looking at the faxes anymore, but this may be just at some of the resorts. It can't hurt to fax, but might not make any difference anymore. As long as it's in your reservation, that should suffice.


With an (INNER) COURTYARD VIEW, you will have a very good view of Bay Lake, the pool and the geyser. With a WOODS VIEW, you might be able to see some of Bay Lake off to the right, but I am not certain of this. You could request to be near the OTTER POND and then you would have a bit of a pond view.

I don't know. Hopefully someone else will be able to help you.


It is by-request only at check-in or through the concierge and is usually limited to special occasions. You meet around 9:45 and are escorted to the roof above the 7th floor where you watch Wishes until about 10:15.


Good question and hopefully someone will know

Thank you for answering my question.

Wow, what an awesome trip you have planned.

 

[annmarieda]

How far in advance should I make sure to put in my room request?

 

[WDWKOOK]

Thank you for answering my question.

Wow, what an awesome trip you have planned.

You're welcome and I'm glad you think it sounds awesome

How far in advance should I make sure to put in my room request?

The room assignor usually begins assigning your room 3-5 days prior to your arrival, so anytime before that would be best.

 

[Sue M]

Wow! I never knew about roof top fireworks either, great info, I'll be sure to ask at check in, along with Flag Family. Not been lucky with that yet. Maybe third time is the charm?

 

[Sue M]

WDWKOOK Congrats on 25th! Sounds like a wonderful trip. We stayed at BC CL in Aug, and loved it! Funny we have no interest in BWI lol!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Wow! I never knew about roof top fireworks either, great info, I'll be sure to ask at check in, along with Flag Family. Not been lucky with that yet. Maybe third time is the charm?

On his last day at the WL, the manager of the WL, Bennett (he has since left to take another assignment) surprised us with making a RTV reservation for us. But, due to thunderstorms, it was canceled. He mentioned that it can be scheduled for special occasions, so I don't know how difficult it is to request it, but it's definitely worth asking at check-in!