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

[RobinHoodGirl]

Maybe I'm just not looking hard enough but are there King sized beds available for the Courtyard View rooms?

I know a lot of hotels have a limited number of King beds (if offered) and even if I request one it's not guaranteed I'll get one, but I'd hope I can at least try to get one to help accommodate my BF. (he's on the tall side and while he can sleep comfortably in a Queen I think it'd be nice for us to come back after a long day to a King where he can get a little extra room)

 

[cathy0124]

Oh good Lord, all of those mickey waffles look amazing....I'm normally a picky eater, but when it comes to breakfast, I love almost anything...including those waffles. I almost fainted at the chocolate ones in the upper left corner.

We just got back on Sunday from a week at the lodge. The Strawberry Waffles with orange whipped cream were fabulous! Also the hubby and I ate at the Territory Lounge one night. We discovered that you could order any of the apps and deserts from Artist Point in the lounge. Also the flatbreads on the lounge menu are all made from Artist Point kitchen, and they are $ 1.00 cheaper than the flatbreads in Roaring Forks...

We had a wonderful time and definately fell in love with the lodge - Can't wait to go back!

Cathy

 

[StephyDee]

We just got back on Sunday from a week at the lodge. The Strawberry Waffles with orange whipped cream were fabulous! Also the hubby and I ate at the Territory Lounge one night. We discovered that you could order any of the apps and deserts from Artist Point in the lounge. Also the flatbreads on the lounge menu are all made from Artist Point kitchen, and they are $ 1.00 cheaper than the flatbreads in Roaring Forks...

We had a wonderful time and definately fell in love with the lodge - Can't wait to go back!

Cathy

You mean to tell me that is ORANGE whipped cream?! I think that one is my favorite now. Forget the choco-whatever it was, I want that strawberry one with the orange whipped cream!

Oh that is great about the Territory Lounge! I might seriously consider stopping here when my family and I go a year from now. My dad might even like that, since I see him wandering around the whole resort to see how it looks and all. He loves doing things like that. Plus, since he's currently a non-WDW-fanatic (for unfair reasons, mind you ), these little gems might help him be a bit converted.

Gah, exactly one year from now, I'll be in WDW! Now I just got giddy again!

 

[nathanyell]

Maybe I'm just not looking hard enough but are there King sized beds available for the Courtyard View rooms?

I know a lot of hotels have a limited number of King beds (if offered) and even if I request one it's not guaranteed I'll get one, but I'd hope I can at least try to get one to help accommodate my BF. (he's on the tall side and while he can sleep comfortably in a Queen I think it'd be nice for us to come back after a long day to a King where he can get a little extra room)

I've stayed in 2 CY view rooms with King beds. So they are there. If you request it and it's available at check in it should not be an issue. I did have to wait once til almost 4 for the room to be ready.

Brian

 

[nathanyell]

I am a bit confused. I have seen a lot of information about "best" rooms, but I think that it has all been for WL, not the Villas. What are the views like from the Villas? Is there any "better" view or location that I should request?

I think there are a few rooms that have a view of the pool area. Other than that the rest all all woods view. I have not stayed here personally.

 

[janabananas]

I just came back from my quick Christmas trip. I wanted to check out the hotels and Wishes/Osbourne lights.

I have to say I was much more impressed with the WL Christmas decor than the GF. Other than the Gingerbread house, I wasn't all that impressed by the GF, but I was WOW'd at the WL. It felt like home. I cannot wait to go back for our anniversary next month!!

 

[Sue M]

We just got back on Sunday from a week at the lodge. The Strawberry Waffles with orange whipped cream were fabulous! Also the hubby and I ate at the Territory Lounge one night. We discovered that you could order any of the apps and deserts from Artist Point in the lounge. Also the flatbreads on the lounge menu are all made from Artist Point kitchen, and they are $ 1.00 cheaper than the flatbreads in Roaring Forks...

We had a wonderful time and definately fell in love with the lodge - Can't wait to go back!

Cathy

That's good to know about the lounge.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

My husband and I stayed at the WL for two nights Sept 4 - 6 to start our honeymoon. (We followed the stay with 5 nights at an off-site property as I have Marriott Points up the wahzoo.) We had never stayed at a Disney Property before, despite the fact that I have gone to WDW a bunch of times. We had a great stay.

We booked a standard room and that's what we got, even though we were hoping for an upgrade for our honeymoon. We were not EXPECTING an upgrade, just hoping for one. The room we got was just fine--our view was of a smokehouse, dumpster and building cranes...but at night we could see the Wishes fireworks! The room was smaller and older than I was expecting (I spent 70 nights on the road this year, so I've seen a lot of hotels) but it was fine.

We loved the different voicemails we got from Mickey and Minnie. We loved being a boat ride away from the MK.

On our first night there we had a late ressie at Whispering Canyon. We tried to get seated early but the restaurant was packed and they could not accommodate that request. We did not have a good experience at the Territory Lounge. We got a table, but there were literally TWO women working the entire bar--one making drinks and one working as a waitress. Service was SLOW and the waitress was not nice (probably due to the stress!). Our meal at Whispering Canyon was good--my husband got the skillet and they brought us a champagne toast for our honeymoon.

Our second night we took the boat to the Contemporary for dinner then took the monorail to GF to check out the resort and to watch Wishes from the dock. We just loved using the Disney transportation to get around and view the other resorts.

We enjoyed the pool at the resort. Nothing too special but we had fun watching the game they had for the kids where if a kid hit a target, another kid would get a water balloon dumped on their head.

Not sure if we would stay at the WL again, but we definitely know we will want to stay on-site again...especially when we have kids.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Maybe I'm just not looking hard enough but are there King sized beds available for the Courtyard View rooms?

I know a lot of hotels have a limited number of King beds (if offered) and even if I request one it's not guaranteed I'll get one, but I'd hope I can at least try to get one to help accommodate my BF. (he's on the tall side and while he can sleep comfortably in a Queen I think it'd be nice for us to come back after a long day to a King where he can get a little extra room)

That's ironic - I have the opposite problem at WL. I would love a double bed room with queens but can't get it!

Robinhoodgirl, fortunately you probably won't have too much trouble getting a king! I have traveled solo to WL 3 times, and each time got a king bed without asking. I think WL almost always tries to put solos or couples in king beds so the double bed rooms can be used on families with more people. One time, I had a 6th floor inner courtyard view king bed room, so they do exist! I think I only got that awesome room was because I was staying with other family members and our reservations were linked to get adjoining rooms.

My 2 other trips to WL, though, I was placed in a king bed room on the ground floor with a patio and a terrible view. Most king bed room are also handicapped-assessible, and many are ground floor for safety reasons. So I have the opposite problem of the OP - I prefer a double bed room just so I can get better locations and views and a prized balcony! But nope - I seem to only get king beds on the ground floor, in terrible locations (next to dumpsters or next to well-used entrances, so you feel like you are on display with zero privacy). Sigh.

I am staying at WL in February, and I expect the worst room possible, since I paid for a standard. But I am mentally prepared for it, so it will be fine!

 

[stephgles]

We will be checking in on December 17 for my 30th birthday (which is the 18th). Our home-town college is in a bowl game on the 17th for the first time in 40 years. Do the rooms have ESPN?
Thanks for all the great info on this thread. I've been reading it for months in anticipation of our trip. It's our first stay at deluxe (and Wilderness) and I am so excited!

We are normally there doing Football season. I want to say that my dh has had ESPN on. Remember Disney/ABC/ESPN are all one family

 

[janabananas]

We are normally there doing Football season. I want to say that my dh has had ESPN on. Remember Disney/ABC/ESPN are all one family

I was just on property Monday and was watching Monday Night Football on ESPN.

 

[bgenew1]

I was going to upgrade myself for my bday trip from POFQ to WL. When I checked Wed night online there was availablity for Courtyard View (my favorite) but I stupidly waited to call Thursday morning. Now of course it is not available except with bunk beds, no thanks. I know better.

Woods view is still available and I am considering booking it to be sure and have a room and then continue to check for Courtyard. We did have a Woods view once that looked at the Villas. It was fine and very quiet.

If I booked the Woods how would I request to be looking at the lake toward the Contemp but far enough down from the parking lot and the otter pond?

 

[MMrules]

I called yesterday to give my flight informations for Magical Express!!!!....now I just have the long wait of 2 months. I can't believe it is coming soon!!!

 

[Sue M]

I called yesterday to give my flight informations for Magical Express!!!!....now I just have the long wait of 2 months. I can't believe it is coming soon!!!

I have just a little more then a month

 

[starousse]

5 days till I'm there

 

[nathanyell]

We check in one week from today.

 

[2girlsR2good]

and we check in Friday !

Anyone know this year's holiday schedule for characters in the resort lobby yet? Based on last years, someone (who??) will appear before we leave on the 21st, but I can't be sure.

 

[WLSILVERCREEKSPRINGS]

We'll be checking in next Friday for our first Christmas trip and heading over the MVMCP

 

[goofy4prez]

We check in one week from today.

I'm Jealous

 

[WDWKOOK]

A little something to get you all into the Christmas spirit:

​

I just came back from my quick Christmas trip. I wanted to check out the hotels and Wishes/Osbourne lights.

I have to say I was much more impressed with the WL Christmas decor than the GF. Other than the Gingerbread house, I wasn't all that impressed by the GF, but I was WOW'd at the WL. It felt like home. I cannot wait to go back for our anniversary next month!!

It's so cozy, isn't it? I hope you have a magical anniversary trip next month!

My husband and I stayed at the WL for two nights Sept 4 - 6 to start our honeymoon. (We followed the stay with 5 nights at an off-site property as I have Marriott Points up the wahzoo.) We had never stayed at a Disney Property before, despite the fact that I have gone to WDW a bunch of times. We had a great stay.

We booked a standard room and that's what we got, even though we were hoping for an upgrade for our honeymoon. We were not EXPECTING an upgrade, just hoping for one. The room we got was just fine--our view was of a smokehouse, dumpster and building cranes...but at night we could see the Wishes fireworks! The room was smaller and older than I was expecting (I spent 70 nights on the road this year, so I've seen a lot of hotels) but it was fine.

We loved the different voicemails we got from Mickey and Minnie. We loved being a boat ride away from the MK.

On our first night there we had a late ressie at Whispering Canyon. We tried to get seated early but the restaurant was packed and they could not accommodate that request. We did not have a good experience at the Territory Lounge. We got a table, but there were literally TWO women working the entire bar--one making drinks and one working as a waitress. Service was SLOW and the waitress was not nice (probably due to the stress!). Our meal at Whispering Canyon was good--my husband got the skillet and they brought us a champagne toast for our honeymoon.

Our second night we took the boat to the Contemporary for dinner then took the monorail to GF to check out the resort and to watch Wishes from the dock. We just loved using the Disney transportation to get around and view the other resorts.

We enjoyed the pool at the resort. Nothing too special but we had fun watching the game they had for the kids where if a kid hit a target, another kid would get a water balloon dumped on their head.

Not sure if we would stay at the WL again, but we definitely know we will want to stay on-site again...especially when we have kids.

Thank you for your TR. Just curious, was it in your reservation that you were celebrating your honeymoon? Could it be that the upgraded rooms were fully booked? Congratulations on your marriage!

I was going to upgrade myself for my bday trip from POFQ to WL. When I checked Wed night online there was availablity for Courtyard View (my favorite) but I stupidly waited to call Thursday morning. Now of course it is not available except with bunk beds, no thanks. I know better.

Woods view is still available and I am considering booking it to be sure and have a room and then continue to check for Courtyard. We did have a Woods view once that looked at the Villas. It was fine and very quiet.

If I booked the Woods how would I request to be looking at the lake toward the Contemp but far enough down from the parking lot and the otter pond?

Sounds like you would like to be in the "north wing, close to the marina."

Don't give-up trying to upgrade. You still have over 5 months and I'm very confident a CV will open up by then for you.

I called yesterday to give my flight informations for Magical Express!!!!....now I just have the long wait of 2 months. I can't believe it is coming soon!!!

That's exciting and it won't be long now!

I have just a little more then a month

You'll be there before you know it, Sue!

5 days till I'm there

WOW - only 4 days now

We check in one week from today.

Only 6 days now

and we check in Friday !

Anyone know this year's holiday schedule for characters in the resort lobby yet? Based on last years, someone (who??) will appear before we leave on the 21st, but I can't be sure.

I've never seen a schedule with which characters appear. It wasn't posted on last years' December activities flyer:

We'll be checking in next Friday for our first Christmas trip and heading over the MVMCP

You're going to have a wonderful time - take lots of pictures