Disney's WILDERNESS LODGE Information & Questions

[TaraPA]

Just back from a quick ladies trip - it was s split stay between BWV, VWL & Poly - hard to get DVC in Dec. last minute - anyway WOW PIXIE DUST! We had booked a studio at VWL & upon check in got upgraded to a 2BR villa! Plus there were construction trading pins and a stuffed Mickey with balloons in the room for us. You would have though we won the lottery, especially when we realized that the 1BR villa we thought we had, was actually a 2BR! We were like kids on Christmas morning! The VWL are HUGE - the largest DVC I've been in (ok maybe not as large as OKW) - and it was so nice for 3 adult ladies to spread out. There was construction off our balcony (facing Bay Lake) but it wasn't noisy. It will be so nice once the villas pool area is back up & running. We had good food at Roaring Forks, and enjoyed the hot tub at the main pool. The lodge holiday decor was as gorgeous as ever, and we really enjoyed the lobby & side room at the villas. The villas lobby is so serene & peaceful, we rarely saw other guests there.

We were almost afraid to check out & go to the Poly studios, afraid of being disappointed after our awesome VWL stay!

 

[Wood Nymph]

Just back from a quick ladies trip - it was s split stay between BWV, VWL & Poly - hard to get DVC in Dec. last minute - anyway WOW PIXIE DUST! We had booked a studio at VWL & upon check in got upgraded to a 2BR villa! Plus there were construction trading pins and a stuffed Mickey with balloons in the room for us. You would have though we won the lottery, especially when we realized that the 1BR villa we thought we had, was actually a 2BR! We were like kids on Christmas morning! The VWL are HUGE - the largest DVC I've been in (ok maybe not as large as OKW) - and it was so nice for 3 adult ladies to spread out. There was construction off our balcony (facing Bay Lake) but it wasn't noisy. It will be so nice once the villas pool area is back up & running. We had good food at Roaring Forks, and enjoyed the hot tub at the main pool. The lodge holiday decor was as gorgeous as ever, and we really enjoyed the lobby & side room at the villas. The villas lobby is so serene & peaceful, we rarely saw other guests there.

We were almost afraid to check out & go to the Poly studios, afraid of being disappointed after our awesome VWL stay!

That is an amazing upgrade. I'm glad you had such a nice time at VWL.

Did you happen to see what they were working on while you were there?

 

[kcpinwdw]

upon check in got upgraded to a 2BR villa! P

How exciting! Sounds like a great trip!

 

[TaraPA]

That is an amazing upgrade. I'm glad you had such a nice time at VWL.

Did you happen to see what they were working on while you were there?

We didn't hear any construction noise. Our villa faced Bay Lake, and the woods right in front of us had a fence around it. Beyond that on the beach of Bay Lake was where the construction was, but no structures yet. The old villas pool was completely gone & looked prepped & ready for something new.

 

[bluecastle]

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! I may not post very often, but this is the one thread on the Dis that I am always caught up on. I love reading all the trip reports and news. Thank you to Kook and everyone who posts here!!

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

Was wondering if the construction pins were only being offered to guests staying at the villas?

 

[Starwind]

Was wondering if the construction pins were only being offered to guests staying at the villas?

No. We stayed at WL in a courtyard view room (north side, facing the pool) Dec 8-10 and received three construction pins.

SW

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

No. We stayed at WL in a courtyard view room (north side, facing the pool) Dec 8-10 and received three construction pins.

SW

Cool! I hope I'll get a set when I go in April.

 

[Blondie Wolf]

So excited to stay at WL pre- and post wedding. Getting married at epcot and staying at WL May 1-10. Getting married May 6 2016.

 

[schwaa]

So excited to stay at WL pre- and post wedding. Getting married at epcot and staying at WL May 1-10. Getting married May 6 2016.

Congratulations!

 

[The_Banking_Scot]

Hi,

Apologies for the late posting but have had computer problems since returning from WDW

I stayed in a WL CL room (view of the Magic Kingdom castle) and got three construction pins. You heard the occasional construction noise during the day ( if at the bus stop or waiting at the boat dock ) and some vehicle movements but it was not bad at all.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Back from vacation and I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas/Hanukah
​

We just returned from a long weekend trip. We had a woods view which was really just a construction view. We didn't mind though as we weren't there to spend an excessive amount of time in the room. Since it was the weekend, there was never any construction noise. When we were packing up yesterday we could hear everything firing up around 9am, but it still wasn't terrible.

We could see/hear the fireworks from our balcony but didn't "shake the windows" as some others experienced.

The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive. Everything was exceptionally clean and well maintained. Roaring Forks was a little slow on the service, but the food was good. We also enjoyed Whispering Canyon. We were very happy with our experience (our first time staying here).

Thank you for posting about your recent stay. It sounds like it won't be your first and only stay

We have been home for 28 days and are headed back in 172 days LOL. June 4-11. I was able to get a bounce back for a woods view, but we really want a standard (and the chatter about some of the woods views makes me nervous, as I don't want to pay to look at construction when there are such gems in the standard room category). Thinking I'm just going to drop the bounce back if I can get a RO discount on a standard view. I'm so curious what it will be like by next summer. It's my six year old's favorite place lol!

The North Wing will be the least impacted by the VWL-area construction, but I don't know yet when the cabin construction will begin.

Just wanted to let you all know that I've started to post my trip report. It's in the trip report area under From The Tropics To The Wilderness. It includes our lunch at the Skipper Canteen yesterday. Which,by the way,was a fun way to spend lunch. We just did appetizers,but they were quite good and everyone who works there is extremely friendly and happy and funny and just all around really nice.. We have three days left,leaving Sat morning. All I can think about is making sure we pick dates to come back before we leave. Is it possible to miss a place while you're still there??

I'll have to check out your TR now that I'm back from vacation

We just booked three studios at the villas for Thanksgiving week 2016, November 19th-26th. The whole family is going!!!

We did this a few years ago and just loved it. WL quickly became our favorite resort so we decided even with the construction it is still where we want to stay.

I'm looking forward to following this thread and the construction thread as our trip gets closer. Thank you WDWKOOK and everyone for your great information, updates, and photos.

That sounds like so much fun and I'll add your dates to the Lodgers' Log.

So my oldest pretty much just asked for a trip to Disney for Christmas. Well daddy gave in and we are booked for August 14-21,2016. We booked a standard room. Hoping to get a north wing upper level room. My girls only want to stay here, so hoping the construction isn't too bad. Might celebrate my 40th a little early.

That's one smart dad. I'll log your dates.

Just back from a quick ladies trip - it was s split stay between BWV, VWL & Poly - hard to get DVC in Dec. last minute - anyway WOW PIXIE DUST! We had booked a studio at VWL & upon check in got upgraded to a 2BR villa! Plus there were construction trading pins and a stuffed Mickey with balloons in the room for us. You would have though we won the lottery, especially when we realized that the 1BR villa we thought we had, was actually a 2BR! We were like kids on Christmas morning! The VWL are HUGE - the largest DVC I've been in (ok maybe not as large as OKW) - and it was so nice for 3 adult ladies to spread out. There was construction off our balcony (facing Bay Lake) but it wasn't noisy. It will be so nice once the villas pool area is back up & running. We had good food at Roaring Forks, and enjoyed the hot tub at the main pool. The lodge holiday decor was as gorgeous as ever, and we really enjoyed the lobby & side room at the villas. The villas lobby is so serene & peaceful, we rarely saw other guests there.

We were almost afraid to check out & go to the Poly studios, afraid of being disappointed after our awesome VWL stay!

That's a super-great upgrade! Sounds like you had a fun vacation. Did you have a favorite amongst your split?

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! I may not post very often, but this is the one thread on the Dis that I am always caught up on. I love reading all the trip reports and news. Thank you to Kook and everyone who posts here!!

It always brings a smile when you post. Enjoy your last week off.

So excited to stay at WL pre- and post wedding. Getting married at epcot and staying at WL May 1-10. Getting married May 6 2016.

Congratulations and welcome to the thread! I know we'd all love a wedding/Disneymoon photo if you get a chance

Hi,

Apologies for the late posting but have had computer problems since returning from WDW

I stayed in a WL CL room (view of the Magic Kingdom castle) and got three construction pins. You heard the occasional construction noise during the day ( if at the bus stop or waiting at the boat dock ) and some vehicle movements but it was not bad at all.

Thank you for following up on your stay and I hope you get to plan a return trip soon.

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

Kook,
Hope you had a fab vacation and wonderful Christmas!!!!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Kook,
Hope you had a fab vacation and wonderful Christmas!!!!

Alleghenies, not Smokies. Did you go to The Smokies?

 

[Parker Clan]

We are thinking of staying here in Aug 2016. How much will the construction effect our stay? During the afternoon will the pool be packed? How easy is the boat service to and from MK? We've stayed at CBR for the last five summers and we are looking to switch it up this year for our honeymoon but want to know how/if construction will impact our stay? Thanks!

 

[Wood Nymph]

I stayed in a WL CL room (view of the Magic Kingdom castle) and got three construction pins. You heard the occasional construction noise during the day ( if at the bus stop or waiting at the boat dock ) and some vehicle movements but it was not bad at all.

Thanks for the update. We will be staying club level in less than two weeks and I want a construction pin.

How easy is the boat service to and from MK?

The boat service has always been one of the best things about staying at WL. It takes about 12 minutes to get to or from MK from the WL and the ride is really nice. The boat comes approximately every twenty minutes. There is also a bus to MK that is a five minute ride.

 

[schwaa]

Hi Everyone. I just booked Aug 20-26 Courtyard View BB.

There were no woods views available at that time. The website only showed standard and courtyard, and when I called to change my Bounceback reservation to Wilderness Lodge, the CM said they only had Courtyard rooms. I'm wondering if all outside facing rooms have been taken out of inventory at that time. Maybe they anticipate the north cabins to be started by then?

I"m really excited to stay at WL; I've never stayed there before. The only concern I have is the loss of amenities, but we could just boat over to Ft Wilderness to ride bikes, (or do the other stuff over there: archery experience, horse riding, seaways, etc). It might even be fun to spend a night the contemporary for the campfire and then fireworks from the 4th floor overlook! I feel more confident now!!! I'm totally psyched for the Wilderness Lodge!!!

 

[Wood Nymph]

The website only showed standard and courtyard, and when I called to change my Bounceback reservation to Wilderness Lodge, the CM said they only had Courtyard rooms. I'm wondering if all outside facing rooms have been taken out of inventory at that time. Maybe they anticipate the north cabins to be started by then?

I've heard that they reclassified the courtyard rooms that faced the villas pool to be woods view now.

When they were working on the main pool last year they took the lower floors out of inventory, but the upper floors had guests staying in them. Maybe they will do that this time, too.

 

[schwaa]

I've heard that they reclassified the courtyard rooms that faced the villas pool to be woods view now.

When they were working on the main pool last year they took the lower floors out of inventory, but the upper floors had guests staying in them. Maybe they will do that this time, too.

I never understood how those rooms were courtyard views if they looked at the area around the outside edge the building

 

[pixarmom]

I've heard that they reclassified the courtyard rooms that faced the villas pool to be woods view now.

When they were working on the main pool last year they took the lower floors out of inventory, but the upper floors had guests staying in them. Maybe they will do that this time, too.

Thanks for reporting this! I asked a phone CM to add a request for "inner courtyard view" to our reservation. He said there was no need for the request, and that we would have an inner courtyard view because we booked courtyard. He put the request on our reservation anyway - just in case.