Disney's WILDERNESS LODGE Information & Questions

[wifey]

The work here today is very noisy, I kinda feel for the guys working on the roof it's been baking hot the last few days. Lots of power sawing drilling hammering and the like up on the roof today but it's necessary since it needs maintenance regularly just like any home believe me when it leaks in here it really does pour in through the building. Thankfully we are at the end of our stay and it has not inconvenienced us, definitely glad we didn't request a standard view room in the south wing over the Mercantile and the games room since that's where most of the work is ongoing. No ground breaking for Octobers construction though.
We got soaked yesterday after riding Kali River Rapids the heavens opened and it was like a monsoon there full thunder and lightning and everything flooded for 40 minutes standing water of 3-4 inches in places but the bus service back to the resort was on time and wonderfully quick. Could have done without the AC on full blast...you girls know what I mean

 

[Leeba]

Does anyone know where the "fast forward" button is? Please???!! Leaving on Saturday morning, can't friggin wait! My 4yo said this morning at breakfast, "mommy are we going to disney today or tomorrow?" So clearly I'm not the only impatient one.

Reading this thread today, I learned from a previous post that the WL rooms have ceiling fans. This is a huge plus, and something I hadn't noticed in all the pics I've seen. We all sleep with fans on in our rooms just for the white noise, so I was really happy to read that.

 

[wifey]

Bring earplugs even with the AC on continually you will still hear all the toilets in your wing flushing all night especially when the " extra magic hour " fans come staggering back home. I think I have heard me share despite using earplugs I couldn't get them to stay in but when they were in they helped a lot.

 

[lilluv117]

Hi everyone!! I leave today for my 2 day stay at Wilderness Lodge before my weekend cruise. Then back to WDW for a stay at Poly/Beach Club! I'm so excited. We have dinner reservations at Whispering Canyon tonight & tomorrow plan on doing EMH's at MK, then Pool in the afternoon, then back to MK for BOG dinner & fireworks afterward. I'll try to post some live updates while there!

 

[pmaurer74]

We passed ROFR, now I have to get Moosie on my signature! Planning a WLV trip Thanksgiving week or week before Christmas 2016... I hope most of the construction will be done by then? Planning BCW or BWV for June hopefully but will be getting my points right at the 7 month mark.

 

[wifey]

We could head the "maintainance work" this morning all the way from the bottom of the jogging trail down at FW, hammering around the roofline and the scaffolding is all over the west end as you approach from the road. They seem a little behind schedule to get done probably due to the storms and the gutters needed clearing again. Had a lovely delicious breakfast at Trails End this morning after a pleasant boat ride with CM Joe over the lake. The fairly pleasant walk back was in partial shade but still quite warm. Loved listening to the cicadas in the tree canopies as we made our way back up to the lodge for the final time.
Oh they never did find our Magic Bands! No ideas as to where they ended up probably in a recycling bin by now. Such a shame, got to check out very soon.

 

[marymac123]

I may have missed it here, but was curious if anyone has had the opportunity to raise the flags at WL (aka Flag Family)? If you have, feel free to tell me about your experience. I am very interested in having a chance to do this during our stay in early January. My only real concern will be walking back down the stairs afterwards because I am running the marathon that weekend. Walking up stairs post marathon isn't to bad, walking down them makes me look like a fool.

We have been Flag Family 4 times and have even seen MK Fireworks on the roof at night. It is a long way up and down but worth it. There are hand railings so that might help.

 

[lilluv117]

Bring earplugs even with the AC on continually you will still hear all the toilets in your wing flushing all night especially when the " extra magic hour " fans come staggering back home. I think I have heard me share despite using earplugs I couldn't get them to stay in but when they were in they helped a lot.

You know I just learned how to use earplugs recently! I could never get them to stay in! If they're like most earplugs, you twist them between two fingers and they squish up nice and skinny, then you stick them in your ear & they expand on their own until they "plug" your ears. You won't hear a thing once they're properly in!

 

[mamabunny]

30 DAYS!!! Start the countdown! Get the suitcases out! Mama is ready to go Wilderness Lodge!!!

 

[feet1]

I just read on the POFQ thread that you can now by a case of bottled water for $6.38 in the Port Orleand gift shops. Can anyone that is there now or recently been there confirm whether bottled water cases are at WL mercantile too? I was going to order two cases and have them shipped, but if j can just buy them there I'd rather do that.

 

[dobirdsmommy]

Well it's official the construction has moved into the courtyard view and the area from the lobby to the buses was all filled with drilling and fake view sheets this am.

 

[TinkerBellLiz]

Im not admitting to a Disney trip less than 3 weeks after my last one, but if I did make one and just happened to walk through the Lodge gift shop, I might have seen this!



It is nice to see resort themed items coming back!

Happy planning!

Liz

 

[Wood Nymph]

It is nice to see resort themed items coming back!

My favorite is the WL themed sweatshirt. I think the Mercantile has the best themed clothing of any of the resort gift shops. I mostly hate to shop and avoid gift shops but the Mercantile is my one shop that I never miss.

We'll be at Artist Point for dinner this Monday, rain or shine - hurricane or no hurricane. And I have a feeling we are going to wish we were staying in the nice cozy WL lodge that night, too, instead of heading back to POR.

 

[bjck99]

Well it's official the construction has moved into the courtyard view and the area from the lobby to the buses was all filled with drilling and fake view sheets this am.

Ugh. We arrive in little over a week. When I called yesterday and asked to be placed away from construction views, she said "it's only minor construction right now. The major construction isn't starting until October." That doesn't sounds like minor to me. Yuck.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Howdy!

Apologies for not multi-quoting, but I do have some photos and a bit of an update. We arrived at Poly on
Friday and moved over to GF on Sunday, (more on that is in the GF thread). DD and I are having a wonderful vacation. We're off to Narcoossees tonight.

Here are some photos taken this week. My account may be flagged now as I actually tried my MB on one of the doors to the new villa models...it didn't work. No reverse peephole either so I've got nothing but sad door photos. I was told that CMs have to sign a non-disclosure agreement if they do see the interior and management has not been forthcoming with much information. It was reported by a PP earlier that the South Wing conversions would include all but Grand Villas. However, it seems there actually will be some Grand Villas. It's possible they may be Deluxe Room conversions, but this hasn't been verified.

As far as the current, non-DVC (scaffolding) work, I was told that it's expected to continue another 4-6 months and will overlap with the DVC expansion. The work I saw was at times very noisy and scaffolding was up in two areas: South Wing over the entrance by The Mercantile and in the WL Courtyard by the 7th floor CL window where they're replacing the logs.



Taken from CL lounge window:

 

[WDWKOOK]

Mercantile resort-branded merchandise:

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

Thanks for the update KOOK

Ya know, DH were, yep were scheduled to arrive 9/2 for our very first, very special trip without the kiddies, umm young adults. We kept going back and forth, hemming and hawing and even after a lengthy convo with a wonderful Guest Services CM, specifically put on assignment to handle the WL construction calls swore up, down, inside out and sideways, promised everything In the WDWorld that NOTHING in the way of construction, scaffolding, hammering, noise, NOTHING would be going on during our 9/2-5 stay. Well, we went with out gut and cancelled last week. Our room request is right in the middle of that mess of a pic you posted and you know us, it's that room location or bust. That is just how it is. Our beloved WL will still be there, as will WDW when we decide to venture back. Maybe the Poly for just DH and I when that mess is completely finished. We don't get to WDW often and now that we have more flexibility, we will find the right time for us. It's just not now.

Enjoy the mom/DD trip. You will cherish it always!!!

 

[dobirdsmommy]

Ugh. We arrive in little over a week. When I called yesterday and asked to be placed away from construction views, she said "it's only minor construction right now. The major construction isn't starting until October." That doesn't sounds like minor to me. Yuck.

 

[dobirdsmommy]

Yeah it's not minor. I don't know who they are kidding. Maybe in a couple of years I will try this resort again but not anytime soon.

 

[dobirdsmommy]

Pics as of this moment