Disney's WILDERNESS LODGE Information & Questions

[Poola]

Can anyone tell me the best way into WL if we are heading south on I-75? The WDW website says take exit 64 off of I-4, but MapQuest says we should be coming in on FL-429. If it makes any difference, we will be arriving in Orlando about noon on Saturday.

 

[danc18]

Yes, all standard club level rooms are located on the 7th floor and have solid balconies. For me, it's one of the downsides to the CL level stay are those solid balconies! Right now, they have a row of court yard view rooms and a row of wood view rooms (on the opposite side of the hallway, overlooks the construction). We had a courtyard view in April. While it's nice to see the court yard, you can see straight through the hotel rooms on the other side that they are doing construction on! More then just a refurb, I have to say!

They have turned a suite into a lounge. It does have nice views overlooking the lake. However, you have to ask for some of the drinks like sodas which are now located behind this little area that only CMs can get too along with the espresso machine instead of being out in mini fridge that guests have access to. The coffee and tea are in the hallway on a counter (to go cups inside of drawers!) and they have two tables in the room, one with food offerings and one with more beverages like milk, juice, and water. I didn't find their food offerings lacking at all. They were similar to our previous visits in the regular lounge. In other lounges, people are complaining about the wine/beer being served. Try standing there waiting for a can of soda! lol If the CM is having a conversation w/someone and you're standing there waiting, it can be annoying. But really, most of the time everyone was very attentive. In April we did a split stay between YCCL and WLCL, and the WL won out this visit! The staff was so much nicer, the food was better. We got the welcoming chocolate totem pole and our construction pins. We didn't even get the welcome beverage at the YC. Another visitor had a gluten allergy and the staff was bending over backwards to accommodate her. They were super nice about everything.

What is meant by 'solid balcony'? What's the down side to it? Can you sit out on it? We currently have have a standard CL for us and deluxe CL for my sons family. Does this mean we will have to be on different floors?

 

[Lisann]

What is meant by 'solid balcony'? What's the down side to it? Can you sit out on it? We currently have have a standard CL for us and deluxe CL for my sons family. Does this mean we will have to be on different floors?

Yes, you can sit out on it. But when you are seated, you can't see out, because the front part is solid wood, not wood slats (or whatever it's made of). That's all. You would have to stand up to see over it, for the most part.

 

[Wood Nymph]

What is meant by 'solid balcony'? What's the down side to it? Can you sit out on it?

This is a room with a solid balcony. You can sit out on it but you face the interior bedroom.



And this is a room with an open balcony.

We currently have have a standard CL for us and deluxe CL for my sons family. Does this mean we will have to be on different floors?

Your son will be on a different floor than you will be since the standard club level rooms are all on the seventh floor and the deluxe rooms will be on either the ground floor, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th floors.

Here is what the balconies look like from the outside. I took this picture from our 7th floor balcony. The 7th floor rooms all have dormer balconies, as you can see from the picture. The top floor of rooms in this picture are all club level rooms.

 

[danc18]

This is a room with a solid balcony. You can sit out on it but you face the interior bedroom.

And this is a room with an open balcony.

Your son will be on a different floor than you will be since the standard club level rooms are all on the seventh floor and the deluxe rooms will be on either the ground floor, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th floors.

Here is what the balconies look like from the outside. I took this picture from our 7th floor balcony. The 7th floor rooms all have dormer balconies, as you can see from the picture. The top floor of rooms in this picture are all club level rooms.

Very helpful. Thanks. I think I need to chosen to all deluxe so we're not separated.

 

[WhoDatDisney]

Can anyone tell me the best way into WL if we are heading south on I-75? The WDW website says take exit 64 off of I-4, but MapQuest says we should be coming in on FL-429. If it makes any difference, we will be arriving in Orlando about noon on Saturday.

I have driven a couple of times and have found the best way is to take I -75 south and exit onto the Turnpike(91) and head all the way down to FL-429 exit. Take 429 to western way and you are there. You'll come out by Coronado springs and turn left and go onto world drive and head to WL. IIRC there are 3 tolls with a total amount spent under 10 bucks.

It's a clear shot with no red lights or stopping except for tolls. We used to take the turnpike to 27 and get off on 192 but all of the red lights drove me crazy.

 

[DLBDS]

I believe I heard a CM telling another guest in the lounge that the renovations on the lounge wouldn't be done until 2017.

Thanks for the reply. Sounds like a crazy long time to do the work to me but I really don't know what all is involved. Hope it's complete by June '17 as that's when I hope to be there. Booking a Standard for now but am hoping to upgrade to CL when the discounts are released. It's been awhile since we've stayed CL and since this will be a special occasion am hoping everything is finished and operating smoothly.

 

[Poola]

I have driven a couple of times and have found the best way is to take I -75 south and exit onto the Turnpike(91) and head all the way down to FL-429 exit. Take 429 to western way and you are there. You'll come out by Coronado springs and turn left and go onto world drive and head to WL. IIRC there are 3 tolls with a total amount spent under 10 bucks.

This looks great! Thank you!

 

[moremouse]

We're not checking in until September, but I got the email yesterday from WDW that explains the construction that's ongoing. It was a pretty long email.

You pretty much can't book it anywhere that doesn't tell you about the construction, at least from the places I looked before I actually booked.

I'm sooooo excited though!

 

[Grumpy247365]

I just switched from POR to Wilderness Lodge standard view. I love WL and just had to do it! Check in on Friday!!!

 

[aimes0105]

Very helpful. Thanks. I think I need to chosen to all deluxe so we're not separated.

There are only deluxe rooms in the corners of each floor from what I understand so if you're saying you're going to switch from one standard club and one deluxe to two deluxe rooms to be together, I don't think the chances that you'll be close, or even on the same floor is all that good.

 

[danc18]

Interesting. So I'm not sure how I get rooms together and at least one with separate sleeping area?

 

[aimes0105]

Interesting. So I'm not sure how I get rooms together and at least one with separate sleeping area?

You have a better chance at being close together with one Deluxe and one standard (non-club level) room. There are some deluxe/standard connecting rooms even and while they won't guarantee connecting it would be easier to be close or at least on the same floor with that room configuration. Though only the Deluxe room would have access to the club of course. Or if its really important to you to be together you might consider the villa side to book a 2BR and request the side not facing the lake. You mentioned a few pages back not considering that because of construction, I know, but I suppose it depends which is your biggest priority- being close/connecting or avoiding construction. Plus, who knows what stage construction will be in by your trip, its possible you could end up facing construction on the cabins from your rooms in the main hotel anyway.

 

[GrandCalifornian]

Interesting. So I'm not sure how I get rooms together and at least one with separate sleeping area?

It is an interesting situation. The Deluxe rooms that are currently in use are at the far end of the North Wing (top right of the room location map here). There are two of these rooms on each floor, 1-6, so you could have two deluxe rooms and be on the same floor, but there would be two standard rooms between you. You could book a standard room and a Deluxe room as PP suggested and have a better chance at being right next door to each other, but it would still be a pretty restrictive request. The villas might be a good option too.
Construction complicates things too, as these standard rooms between the Deluxe rooms used to be considered Woods view, but for now they have removed that category from being bookable during the construction project. These rooms still are in use, but there isn't a way to guarantee you'd get one (although you'd think paying for a Deluxe room as well would help your case). Another factor to consider is that these rooms are the very closest to the transportation boat dock, so you may hear boat horns from about 6:30 AM on. You likely won't see a whole lot of construction from here as the Cabins will be further along the shoreline and the transportation dock is unaffected.
It will come down to what is most important to you. Good luck with your choice.

 

[AngiTN]

Can anyone tell me the best way into WL if we are heading south on I-75? The WDW website says take exit 64 off of I-4, but MapQuest says we should be coming in on FL-429. If it makes any difference, we will be arriving in Orlando about noon on Saturday.

The one time we drove and stayed at WL our GPS brought us in the "back way". Which is past the employee areas, and where the maintenance area for the monorail is. So we came up on the back side of WDW and turned left in to the road WL. It was kinda need to see the back areas. No idea why the GPS brought us that way or if it's normal.

I just switched from POR to Wilderness Lodge standard view. I love WL and just had to do it! Check in on Friday!!!

Funny, I'm thinking of doing the same exact thing for our trip in mid June. I know it's under crazy construction but DH is really missing WL. We were at POR a couple weeks ago and are back there again in July. I think June should be something different. WL stands to be in the lead for our other choices.

 

[danc18]

You have a better chance at being close together with one Deluxe and one standard (non-club level) room. There are some deluxe/standard connecting rooms even and while they won't guarantee connecting it would be easier to be close or at least on the same floor with that room configuration. Though only the Deluxe room would have access to the club of course. Or if its really important to you to be together you might consider the villa side to book a 2BR and request the side not facing the lake. You mentioned a few pages back not considering that because of construction, I know, but I suppose it depends which is your biggest priority- being close/connecting or avoiding construction. Plus, who knows what stage construction will be in by your trip, its possible you could end up facing construction on the cabins from your rooms in the main hotel anyway.

It's great having access to all this info. I'll likely rebook my new schedule tomorrow. I wasn't keyed on getting adjoining rooms as much as somewhat near/on same floor. I prob need both rooms CL as that's where we will grab a breakfast bite and want the whole family together. I think I'm over the construction issue based on many comments on the forum. The reason we don't book a villa us that it's separated from the restaurants, lobby etc. seems like a pain to walk to another building every time you want something (with a 4 yo and 8 month old). Villa would be much cheaper actually. Pics of the villas look a little older, more dated too. True?

 

[aimes0105]

It's great having access to all this info. I'll likely rebook my new schedule tomorrow. I wasn't keyed on getting adjoining rooms as much as somewhat near/on same floor. I prob need both rooms CL as that's where we will grab a breakfast bite and want the whole family together. I think I'm over the construction issue based on many comments on the forum. The reason we don't book a villa us that it's separated from the restaurants, lobby etc. seems like a pain to walk to another building every time you want something (with a 4 yo and 8 month old). Villa would be much cheaper actually. Pics of the villas look a little older, more dated too. True?

You can't book club level for a villa, but you'll have a kitchen and could get some groceries for easy breakfasts if you went that way. If you're looking at dated pics of the villas I'm guessing you're seeing pre-refurb pictures. They were redone in 2014 and I wouldn't call them dated at all now. We did not think the walk between the main building and the villas was a problem when we were there with my then 2 year old but that's obviously subjective.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

Just read on one of the Disney blog's I subscribe to, that Disney has announced that the existing Villa's at WL are being re named Boulder Ridge Villa's at WL.

A change in name is in the works for the Hidden Springs Pool as well. All part of the re imagining of the Lodge to expand on it's "story"

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

Here now - so strange to see so much of the lodge closed off. Guess I didn't pay attention to what was going on. Just sitting here on our patio watching the critters scoot by. Got pixie dusted to a courtyard from a standard view but we are only here tonight. Trying to decide if we want to book here for the fall. Everyone have a great Friday!

 

[Lisann]

So there will be two names? The existing and the new will both get new names?