Convince me that we will love WL....

[birdiesunshine]

It was between AKL and WL and we decided on WL due to the fact we can take the ferry to the MK and since we spend a lot of time there we figured this would be the way to go. How's the restaurant's? Pool? waterslide? playground etc..... We have a 2.5 yr old that has no fear and we are hoping the slide at the pool is fun for her but not like the Keister Coaster at BWV that one is too scary for me. Anyway, there's nothing Disney that I don't like but I'm always scared to stay somewhere for the first time. Tell me what you love about this resort.

Thanks,
Birdie

 

[randyl]

Everything. Just look down below this sentence to see how many times we have stayed there. It is always our first choice. I could go on and on about this place. It has the best theming, the monorail is a 5 minute boat ride away, the CM's are the best, etc. You will love it.

 

[Chicago262]

My family also really enjoys it. I keep thinking on our next trip we should try somewhere else, but the family insists that we shouldn't mess with perfection.

 

[sleepydog25]

Here's a starting list:
1) Beauty - Perhaps the most gorgeous resort on property
2) Tranquility - Though only a short boat ride to MK or bus ride anywhere, WL seems like its own little community.
3) Pool - Plenty big, and the slide is very basic. It might not enrapture your 2.5 yr old but should at least satisfy and not scare you.
4) Whispering Canyon - Personally, I'm not a fan as we've been twice and not had a good server either time; HOWEVER, many people love this place and if you get a good server, it appears as if you could have a great time while eating. Be sure to ask for catsup.
5) Roaring Forks - This grill and snack bar is open until midnight or so (I'm sure someone will tell us after my post), and for my money, is a better value with better food than WC. It's right near the pool, so quite convenient.
6) Artist Point - Perhaps the finest on property restaurant around--wonderful ambience, great food, good wine list, and topnotch service. It's a bit pricey, but you can drop kids at the Cub's Den (PS recommended), then you and DH head over to AP just across the lobby, and you can have a romantic meal followed by a nice romantic stroll along the trail.
7) The Lobby - It's huge; it's awe-inspiring; it's gorgeous.
8) Proximity - Yes, a short boat ride to MK is the ticket. If you need to take a bus, the wait is rarely more than 10-15 mins.
9) Music - It's a small thing, but the piped in music is inspirational with classics from a few Westerns and classical music by Aaron Copland thrown in.
10) Magic - It just feels like a home away from home for us. Some may find it not "busy" enough, but we love the relative solitude after an all day affair at a theme park. Close enough to get to any restaurant you want fairly quickly, but set apart enough to be cozy.
Hope this helps.

 

[Jasminetigger]

Our family just loves Wilderness Lodge. The lobby is simply breathtaking. I am still amazed each time I walk into it. The boat ride to MK is very relaxing. My DD's (6 and 11) love the pool. The slide is just the right speed for them. Whispering Canyon has to be done at least once. The CM's have always been terrific there. You do feel like you are miles away from everything, which is very nice. Fort Wilderness is just a boat ride away and there are so many activities to do there. I have looked into staying somewhere else, just to do something different, but I always get voted down. Family wants to stay at WL. I think you made the right choice.

 

[birdiesunshine]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm so excited to go again even though we just came back from our last trip to the world in March

 

[DebIreland]

5) Roaring Forks - This grill and snack bar is open until midnight or so (I'm sure someone will tell us after my post), and for my money, is a better value with better food than WC. It's right near the pool, so quite convenient.

I'm so glad to hear this! We're staying at WL for the first time in June (first trip to WDW too). I feel my children are too shy for the antics at Whispering Canyon and I hadn't heard a lot about Roaring Forks. Glad to hear good things about it!

 

[Gary M]

We have stayed at WDW resorts 32 times and at the WL 19 of those times. We have also stayed at GF, BWI, AKL, Poly and DL, but the WL is the only place we want to stay now.

 

[Terk-1]

The Wilderness Lodge is my FAVORITE resort on property!! The pool is alot of fun and the slide is pretty tame. Whispering Canyon Cafe is a great place to dine and Roaring Forks is fast and good. I'd go ahead and pick up a free refill mug. Below are some pics of the resort, plus pics of the room I had.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I love the posts and the pics! We are headed to WL in October and I can't wait. I much prefer a resort hotel which is all under one roof, and while the GF looks so nice from a distance, the decor in the rooms seems a bit frilly to me. The CR looked better than the GF, but almost too sterile. Poly seems nice but I'm not big on all the separate buildings, and after living in Hawaii for 8 years I would spend my time noticing the authenticity, or lack thereof.

In any case, the WL was our pick! The magnificence of the decor is breathtaking even in the photos, I can only imagine how awestruck we will be when we arrive in person!

Have a great trip!!!!

 

[Troy08]

[ 9) Music - It's a small thing, but the piped in music is inspirational with classics from a few Westerns and classical music by Aaron Copland thrown in.
>>>>>>I remember the first time I stayed at WL. I was totally enraptured by the wonderful music that plays in the lobby, especially the theme from the Magnificent Seven(one of the greatest themes ever written for a film) I commented to a CM at the front desk how much I loved it and he said "well you don' have to listen to it 24 hours a day, he then turned slightly red and said rather sheepishly, but we are VERY happy that you enjoy it because we want our guests to be HAPPY. I alwways make it a point to go down to the lobby late at night to unwind a little and just listen to the music.

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

WL is our favorite resort! I totally agree with everyone who's already posted and will reiterate one thing: it's all under one roof. That makes a HUGE difference in you're staying when it's cold, or when it's rainy, you don't have to go outside to get to the restaraunts or lobby, just take the elevator downstairs. Don't worry, you're gonna love it!

 

[DoomBuggyBabe]

9) Music - It's a small thing, but the piped in music is inspirational with classics from a few Westerns and classical music by Aaron Copland thrown in.

Had to laugh when I read this. In 2003, I took SkipperBubba for his first visit to the WL. It was our first WDW trip together, and we were staying at ASM, but I knew he HAD to eat at Artist Point. Anyway, we walked through the front door into that gorgeous lobby just as a giant swell of Copeland was beginning. The look on his face was priceless. He just turned to me and said, "We're staying here next year." We did, on our honeymoon.
Naturally, we'll be staying there this December as well. We truly love the place. It's difficult to describe the sense of wonder and peace it instills in both of us. There's just something about it.
Cheers,
Q