CR vs. WL

[iluvtink]

BUMP: (is this how you bump?)

Hi,

I posted this earlier and only got two responses... and thanks to you both for your opinions!!! Anyone else have further comments?

My sister and her DH are taking their first trip in early August to WDW. They have 2 DD's who will be age 9 and age 4. She is trying to decide between the CR and the WL. It's the classic dilemma, WL is a few hundred dollars cheaper, but it's not on the monorail.

I've stayed at CR and Poly, and I place a high value on the monorail. But, in all fairness, I've never stayed at WL so I don't know how long the boat ride is, how often they pick people up, how crowded the boats are to and from WL. I am assuming that they are strictly tendering people from WL to MK, unlike boats from BC to MGM, which stop at the Swan, etc. on the way. Since they will probably spend a lot of time at MK and not much at Epcot, I don't know if being on the monorail is worth the cost, if the WL boat ride is a short and pleasant one! What do y'all think?

Thanks for the help!

Kim

 

[Geoff_M]

We love WL, and I'd recommend it over the CR for the theming. To us, the CR seems very "sterile". The architecture is pretty dated, but it some ways it's a retro throw-back to the 60's. But being right next to MK and having the monorail is a big plus.

As for transportation... The boats at WL are not as convenient as the monorail.... but this doesn't mean they are bad. The monorails run a lot more frequently and hold a lot more people. WL does share a boat with FW. In the mornings the route goes MK-FW-WL-MK and mid-afternoon it switches to MK-WL-FW-MK. I believe the interval between boats is around 20 minutes. Due to the fact that in the AM the boat loads first at FW, at busier times and on MK EE days, it's often a better bet to take the smaller WL-CR launch boat (that starts running before the MK boats) and either walk to MK from the CR or if you really want the monorail treatment, hop it there. The CR-WL boat trip is about 5 minutes and they just basically shuttle back and forth.

All things considered, I'd pick WL over the CR... unless you had a tower room at the CR that overlooks MK.

 

[Kimberle]

Hi,
I've stayed at both. I would pick WL over CR for a family with young children. The resort is smaller, and more child friendly. I found the transportation much better than CR. My dd loved the boat. (There are 2 boats, one goes WL//FW?ML, the 2nd smaller goes WL/CR/FW.) I'd say the trip to MK takes maybe 5 minutes more than CR. The bus to Epcot is so much better than the monorail from CR. You just get on and you're there. From CR you have to monorail to TTC, walk all the way down the long ramp, all the way back up, get the 2nd monorail to Epcot.

Now, I love both CR & WL. They are my 2 fav resorts. If money is not an issue, I'd say look at the themeing that most appeals to you. But if money is a consideration, WL wins hands down.

Go to the WL faq thread & read the first couple of pages, lots of good info.

 

[iluvtink]

Well, I tried editing my message with a bump, and it didn't work. So now I'm trying a new message to bump my old message up? Is that the ticket?

Bump Challenged Kim

 

[minniegidget]

ok we are staying at pop sept 14 - 19 2 rooms 6 adults. should i stay in the 2 rooms at pop or try to stay all 6 of us in one room. what kind of things are there to do at WL. pools resturants. We will have a car so transportion not an issue. At lease I dont not think it will be a issue. Any help well do.

 

[clutter]

I've stayed at both WL and CR, and I prefer CR. I liked being able to walk to MK, and the rooms were a LOT bigger and brighter. Having the daybed/sofa made a huge difference.

 

[Kimberle]

Originally posted by minniegidget
ok we are staying at pop sept 14 - 19 2 rooms 6 adults. should i stay in the 2 rooms at pop or try to stay all 6 of us in one room. what kind of things are there to do at WL. pools resturants. We will have a car so transportion not an issue. At lease I dont not think it will be a issue. Any help well do.

Hi, regular rooms at WL are limited to 4. You would have to either book a deluxe room which is around the price of 2 regular rooms or just book 2 rooms.

If you'd like more details on the Lodge, please check the WL faq thread, part 4. The first couple of pages are loaded with lots of info and great info!!

WL is great! We love it!

 

[beattyfamily]

I'd choose the CR!!!! I know many do not like the 'theming' of the CR but that doesn't bother me in the least.

I LOVE that it's on the monorail, that the monorail goes through it, that it has Chef Mickey's.

I love how LARGE the rooms are. I LOVE that you can walk to MK!!!! That is a huge benefit when you leave MK at park closing and want to avoid the bus, boat and monorail crowds.

They also have a great game room off the food court.

I know many many people love the theming of the WL and it's their favorite resort, but I don't agree. I do like their pool though.

Good luck!

 

[Micca]

I would choose WL. I like CR, but WL has superior theming. For us, the boat ride was fun(we aren't on a boat often). You can ride the monorail to get to Epcot, or you can just get on and tour the resorts. Do stop by CR for shopping, and superior dining

 

[Jordan's MOM]

We love the WL! It is so much quiter and it's like escaping each night. We find transportaiton to be very good. A boat to the MK or to the CR is never more that a few minutes away. At the CR you can catch the monorail. The pool at the WL is very nice as are the hot tubs. We had an excelent view of the lake. There are three resturants, all differnt but good in thier own right. Both places are good, WL is just our choice.


Jordans' mom

 

[Parrothd]

Well, I've stayed in both (a free Wilderness Lodge upgrade from a Caribbean Beach reservation AND then, on a different trip, in the Contemporary Tower building). The Wilderness Lodge is much "nicer" in my opinion, BUT, there's a LOT to be said about the convenience of the monorail over the boats/busses......not to mention you can (most often) walk to the Magic Kingdom from the Contemporary quicker than you can ride the monorail

So, it all comes down to what's more important to you and your family (or your sister and her family -- whatever the case may be).

 

[jarestel]

Either resort will be great, but if the main draw for them at the CR is the monrail, a few hundred $$ is a bit pricey for a few monorail rides. If saving money is an important issue, go with WL. Otherwise, try CR this time and WL next. You really can't go wrong either way.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

I just love Wilderness Lodge and below are just two reasons why.
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<center>Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Villas Resort</center>
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[woody5]

When you are considering the CR is the price you are looking at a tower room or a wing room? If you are in a wing room it is still a hike to catch the monorail. Also when you visit parks other than the MK you will still mostly use a bus. I have visited CR but not stayed here. I did stay at the WL and it is beautiful and peaceful. The boat ride was prompt and nice to the MK. We truly enjoyed our stay here. I think the two kids would love this resort and it would be quieter in the evening if the kids need to turn in early.

 

[rpbear]

We have stayed at both resorts and my family of 4 would vote for the Contemporary. We love the large rooms at the Contemporary, they are more comfortable for a family of 4 then the WL. My DD who was 8 the last time we stayed at the Contemporary loved the slide at the pool and likes the arcade by the food court. The monorail is still my youngest DD favorite ride so the Contemporary gets another vote for the that reason. The WL is beautiful resort but the Contemporary is just my favorite. One note about the WL, in my 12 trips to Disneyworld, the WL had the worst bus service of any resort we have stayed at. One night we waited 45 minutes for a bus to Downtown Disney and one mid morning we waited 35 minutes for a bus to MGM. But the truth of the matter, but resorts are at Disney, so they are both great.

 

[sotoalf]

Apart from the bus issue - whcih I understand has improved in recent years - there's no qualitative difference between the CR and WL. I prefer the CR for reasons that nothing to do with beauty or convenience: nostalgia. It was the first resort hotel in WDW, the first I remember visiting, and the hotel at which my parents spent their honeymoon in 1972 ($35 a night!). It's an ugly, corny, sterile hotel, really, but Walt Disney had a hand in designing it, and for some this is enough.

As for the superiority of the WL's common areas and lobby - no argument from me. At least a motor launch connects both resorts, so you can visit the other at your leisure.

 

[susy]

The CR looks like an airport. The pool has a concrete theme going going on. I don't care if the monorail picks me up at my room, I won't stay there... Okay enough about the CR...


The WL is beautiful. We stayed over Thanskgiving. The transportation to the MK was easy as pie. The whole resort has excellent theming. The WC is great for kids. We did AP one night and our DS was in the Cub's Den. He didn't want to leave. We had to come back for him. The resort is very compact. It wasn't a real far walk anywhere. The pool area is so much fun and the rooms are not THAT small. The kids would get a kick out of the bunk beds. We did take the boat over to CR for dinner at Chef Mickey's. Wow!I could not believe how much nicer the WL is. another thing we did was rent a surrey bike and go over to FW-what fun!!!! Ds loved the free petting zoo and the pony rides were $3. WL is a very good value.

 

[jaysue]

I want to say up front that we have stayed at both CR and WL and either way both resorts are excellent choices for the group that is going

I do not recall you stating for how long they are going, but how about a split stay between the two resorts?

At WL stay, focus on non-MK areas of WDW including Fort Wilderness (for example) and at CR, focus on MK since it is so close

If they only wanted to stay in one resort, it would be a very difficult choice in my opinion since both have many positive attributes.

My vote is for a split stay with different focus so it might even feel like two vacations

thanks
jaysue