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

[twinkles]

Thank you so much everyone!!!! You really are a truly special group here

Me and hubby are looking forward to enjoying our
families, especially our grandsons who are super excited

I'll report back while we are there.

 

[bluecastle]

Going back to work has really interfered with me keeping up with this thread! So many trips happening or being planned. Isn't there someone in a 2BR villa now? I am sorry, I forget who it was. I hope they check in here soon because I have some questions. (actually, I hope they are having too much fun to post now!)
Anyhow, just wanted to say hi and I can't believe that my countdown is down to 2 1/2 months! (my original booking was done in June 2011) My back is not completely better yet, but that is not going to stop me!! scanne- I think we are going to be there at the same time.

 

[bluecastle]

Thank you so much everyone!!!! You really are a truly special group here

Me and hubby are looking forward to enjoying our
families, especially our grandsons who are super excited

I'll report back while we are there.

Have a wonderful time!!

 

[twinkles]

Going back to work has really interfered with me keeping up with this thread! So many trips happening or being planned. Isn't there someone in a 2BR villa now? I am sorry, I forget who it was. I hope they check in here soon because I have some questions. (actually, I hope they are having too much fun to post now!)
Anyhow, just wanted to say hi and I can't believe that my countdown is down to 2 1/2 months! (my original booking was done in June 2011) My back is not completely better yet, but that is not going to stop me!! scanne- I think we are going to be there at the same time.

Bluecastle. We will be leaving in about 3 hours for the airport to check into the 2 bedroom villa. I will take lots of pics and ask all the questions you would like

 

[nyrebecca]

Yes, that's the easiest thing to do since the IPO is at your service! Just email them that you would like "Rehabbed or North Wing room" added to your reservation and then they will email back a confirmation to you.

I wrote the WL IPO and told them we would LOVE a rehabbed room as it is my Mothers first trip back to the World since her knee replacement and she might be spending more time in the room then usual. Told them I knew it was just a request They wrote back in 10 minutes to tell me they put the request down with their room assigner.

 

[nyrebecca]

We booked WL as a bounceback when we were there in April for 9/29-10/5, we can't wait!!

Our October trip to WL CL is a bounceback. We were there last November and booked it for a courtyard view in November. Then decided we wanted CL so we ended up having to switch to Oct to get it. Now we get CL and get to do the MNSSHP for the first time !

 

[nyrebecca]

Leaving tomorrow wanted to thank everyone here for all the great info

Have a great time !!!

 

[kittycruize]

Hi everyone! We just booked our first Wilderness Lodge vacation! Having never stayed there before, we have just a couple of questions!
1. Is it worth it to upgrade to a courtyard view? We booked standard, and it would be about $200 more to upgrade.
2. What is the best route to Epcot-take the boat to CL, and then the monorail, or just take the bus?

We are so excited to stay there at Christmas time! We have always gone in the spring, so this will be quite a change. I hope the weather is nice, we are used to it being pretty hot while there! We are going with my 2 daughters and their family's, so a total of 11 people, including 5 little ones!

TIA!!!

 

[ssjones]

Checking in today for 6 nights then cruising on the Dream. Super excited!

 

[PamelaKay]

Hi everyone! We just booked our first Wilderness Lodge vacation! Having never stayed there before, we have just a couple of questions!
1. Is it worth it to upgrade to a courtyard view? We booked standard, and it would be about $200 more to upgrade.
2. What is the best route to Epcot-take the boat to CL, and then the monorail, or just take the bus?

We are so excited to stay there at Christmas time! We have always gone in the spring, so this will be quite a change. I hope the weather is nice, we are used to it being pretty hot while there! We are going with my 2 daughters and their family's, so a total of 11 people, including 5 little ones!

TIA!!!

I personally think the buses are quicker. It sounds like you will have strollers and I know some folks prefer the boat to monorail so they don't have to deal with strollers on the bus, you only have to deal with them on the boat.

Checking in today for 6 nights then cruising on the Dream. Super excited!

I am so jealous of all the folks that are going now.

 

[amykay9377]

I'm happy you've found the thread helpful and you've come out of lurkdom. But, I'm sorry that you couldn't get a CL room with the BB. Don't give-up trying, especially the closer it gets to your trip.

I got a CL!!!!!
I drove to work today thinking about it, and realized that since most people get paid on Fridays, maybe someone realized that they couldn't afford CL and downgraded, so I gave it a shot and got my CL! I'm so psyched .

What was the IPO email address again?

 

[Mousemommy1]

I got a CL!!!!!
I drove to work today thinking about it, and realized that since most people get paid on Fridays, maybe someone realized that they couldn't afford CL and downgraded, so I gave it a shot and got my CL! I'm so psyched .

What was the IPO email address again?

Yay!!! So excited for you!!!!! I can't wait to try CL for the 1st time in only 58 days!!!

Don't know the IPO email off the top of my head...suprisingly. But, it is listed on page 1 of this thread.

 

[amykay9377]

Yay!!! So excited for you!!!!! I can't wait to try CL for the 1st time in only 58 days!!!

Don't know the IPO email off the top of my head...suprisingly. But, it is listed on page 1 of this thread.

Thanks! (I should know to check the first page, but I was overwhelmed with yippee!)

 

[Mammaz]

ten days until check in!

 

[Mousemommy1]

ten days until check in!

Woohoo!!!!

 

[bluecastle]

Bluecastle. We will be leaving in about 3 hours for the airport to check into the 2 bedroom villa. I will take lots of pics and ask all the questions you would like

Hope your flight went well and you are already having fun! TIA for photos and info.!

 

[bluecastle]

Hi everyone! We just booked our first Wilderness Lodge vacation! Having never stayed there before, we have just a couple of questions!
1. Is it worth it to upgrade to a courtyard view? We booked standard, and it would be about $200 more to upgrade.
2. What is the best route to Epcot-take the boat to CL, and then the monorail, or just take the bus?

We are so excited to stay there at Christmas time! We have always gone in the spring, so this will be quite a change. I hope the weather is nice, we are used to it being pretty hot while there! We are going with my 2 daughters and their family's, so a total of 11 people, including 5 little ones!

TIA!!!

You are going to love being there at Christmas time!! One of my Disney dreams was to stay at the WL during the holidays and it finally came true in Dec. 2009. We had stayed there before but never at that time of year. I was past the point, or so I thought, of being wowed by the lobby, but when I walked in and saw the tree I cried. I took so many pictures that trip. I loved seeing that tree every morning when we set out and every time we came home. I also enjoyed the little trees and wreaths and garlands everywhere. As for the weather...it was pretty cold. On the plus side: it really felt like Christmas and when the fake snow on Main St. started I had to remind myself it wasn't real! The Osborne Lights and all the holiday happenings just seemed more Christmassy in the cold. My feet never hurt once-no sweating, no blisters or chafing anywhere! I didn't miss having to drink so much water or having a fan mister or be always dealing with the tiredness and crankiness that comes from the heat and humidity. No sunscreen. On the negative side- no real pool days, no trips to the water parks, the nights got almost uncomfortably chilly sometimes and we had to buy sweatshirts. (not a totally negative thing) I kind of missed the usual music at the WL (they replace it with an all holiday music loop) and also at the parks, but that just added to the holiday spirit. Make sure you visit some of the other resorts to see their decorations. I made ADRs at some of the resort restaurants just to make sure we saw the decorations, and on New Year's Eve we made the rounds of the monorail resorts to make sure we saw all of theirs. But, IMHO, there is no better place to stay at Christmas than the WL!!! p.s. As far as the weather is concerned YMMV. We just happened to hit a streak of unusually cold weather-even for December. You just have to be prepared for anything and keep an eye on the 10 day forecast online.

 

[rcsilverspring]

I recently made a reservation for our first stay at the WL!!! We will arrive Dec 14th for 5 nights & 6 days. It will be our first time to see the WDW Christmas decorations in person and first girls only trip with my 2 grown daughters!! I am beyond excited!! We have only stayed at the Polynesian Resort until now as DH loves the convenience of a monorail resort & being within walking distance of the TTC. Maybe after the 3 of us stay here he will want to try it, too!
The pictures I've seen look amazing and I've read that it is one of the best "themed" resorts in general and especially at Christmas. I will always love the Poly, but look forward to joining the WL family!

 

[bluecastle]

I recently made a reservation for our first stay at the WL!!! We will arrive Dec 14th for 5 night & 6 days. It will be our first time to see the WDW Christmas decorations in person and first girls only trip with my 2 grown daughters!! I am beyond excited!! We have only stayed at the Polynesian Resort until now as DH loves the convenience of a monorail resort & being within walking distance of the TTC. Maybe after the 3 of us stay here he will want to try it, too!
The pictures I've seen look amazing and I've read that it is one of the best "themed" resorts in general and especially at Christmas. I will always love the Poly, but look forward to joining the WL family!

I wonder how many of us who love the Polynesian also love the WL. There is a similarity in that you really feel like you are somewhere else, especially when you come "home" after a long day at the parks. I have to admit that it was the cost of staying at the Polynesian that originally made us switch from being a loyal Poly family, but after a few stays at the WL I think we have now come to love the WL for more than it's advantage in the budget department. And the Poly doesn't come close to the WL at Christmas! We did have a dream trip 10 years ago at the Poly-Tahiti, 3rd floor, birthday cake and anniversary rose when we checked in and a view of the fireworks from our room every night. I think your DH may appreciate being able to get coffee and snacks in the same building that you are staying in, especially if there is bad weather! I love them both, but for us, the Poly is more nostalgic, and the WL is more of what we love now. I am so excited for you and I hope your DH loves the WL! p.s. Re-read your post and realized that DH is not going on this trip! So I will amend what I have written to say that I hope when he hears about the trip from you and the girls and maybe sees some pictures, he will want to stay there on a future trip!!

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

I recently made a reservation for our first stay at the WL!!! We will arrive Dec 14th for 5 night & 6 days. It will be our first time to see the WDW Christmas decorations in person and first girls only trip with my 2 grown daughters!! I am beyond excited!! We have only stayed at the Polynesian Resort until now as DH loves the convenience of a monorail resort & being within walking distance of the TTC. Maybe after the 3 of us stay here he will want to try it, too!
The pictures I've seen look amazing and I've read that it is one of the best "themed" resorts in general and especially at Christmas. I will always love the Poly, but look forward to joining the WL family!

We welcome you with open arms!