Disney's WILDERNESS LODGE Information & Questions

[sdsatl]

Thanks for the info! I haven't been on the boards long and haven't looked at the discounts section. I've looked into renting points a little but not in depth. Are you staying in the villas then? We are aiming for a September trip next year or maybe once the new Avatar land opens in 2017. The WL is our favorite followed closely by the AKL. I also would like to stay at the Beach Club. Anyway, all of this planning has me wanting to go for a shorter trip - maybe to check out the Flower and Garden Festival in Epcot. That and there is so much snow here that I really just want to get away - ha! That's how my April search started.

Hope you have a great trip! We would also like to check out MNSSHP!

We're in a standard room; we didn't rent points for this trip. The AKL is actually the reason I started researching DVC and rentals. The first time I walked in, I was like, I want to live here! I didn't even consider myself a Disney person. I'm new to the boards, too, and they enabled me into booking this trip. Epcot in spring would be so magical... I hope your snow starts melting soon.

 

[dmetcalfrn]

Please change our dates to April 3 - 8, 2015. We could not wait to get back to WL again. My brother and his family are joining for their first visit at WL .

 

[roydavid7771]

We're heading back to VWL this summer! Please add us to the list, August 16-22 at VWL in a 2 BR villa. While I'm at it? has anyone stayed in the 2 BR's that, for lack of a better term, are on the "diagonal" of the villas? Namely, I'm looking at 2519 or 3519. Thanks!

 

[ClareH37]

The bus to Epcot generally takes a little over 20 minutes total, including the stop to pick up at FW. It is usually the quickest way to get there, but we found it to be more fun to catch the boat to CR, then Monorail to TTC and monorail to Epcot. This took longer, but was fun and we got to stop at CR on the way. On the way back to WL the bus was also shared with FW, but WL was the first stop.

Compared to staying at an Epcot resort these options both get you to the front side of Epcot, so another option is to take the Bus to HS and then walk or take the boat to the International Gateway side of Epcot. Again it isn't as fast, but can be fun if you want to explore along the way.

Thank you - I'm having a tough time trying to decide between BC and WL, love love love WL but also love the proximity of BC to Epcot and HS. The rate I've been quoted (by my UK agent) is more for WL CL than BC CL so I have to make sure I'm really 100% on this.

 

[Newsies]

My family literally just booked our first Wilderness Lodge stay!!! Very exciting!!!

 

[mrsap]

We are officially booked!!!! We'll be at The Lodge November 29 - December 5th CL!!! We are so excited to be going back!!!!! Kook, would you please add us?

Congrats to everyone else who just booked!!! SO exciting!!!!!!!

 

[hill6]

Looked at the list and realized we are not on it. VWL May 10-15. DH has always wanted to here. Now we are using our DVC to do so.

 

[Trekkie]

We are officially booked!!!! We'll be at The Lodge November 29 - December 5th CL!!! We are so excited to be going back!!!!!

Lodge at Christmas! That's pretty much as good as it gets.

 

[eeyore45]

We went to Wilderness Lodge in 2006... we think its time to revisit!

Packing up for a June 16-20 trip to the Lodge, we're going to try CL

 

[ErinC]

We're heading back to VWL this summer! Please add us to the list, August 16-22 at VWL in a 2 BR villa. While I'm at it? has anyone stayed in the 2 BR's that, for lack of a better term, are on the "diagonal" of the villas? Namely, I'm looking at 2519 or 3519. Thanks!

We were lucky enough to get 5519/5521 for our Christmas trip several years ago. I put our Christmas tree in the corner window. Was there something specific you wanted to know about it? Totally different configuration in the one bedroom portion. The studio(5521) was the regular configuration.

 

[roydavid7771]

We were lucky enough to get 5519/5521 for our Christmas trip several years ago. I put our Christmas tree in the corner window. Was there something specific you wanted to know about it? Totally different configuration in the one bedroom portion. The studio(5521) was the regular configuration.

That's what I was wondering, I thought that it was a dedicated 2 BR, not a lock off??

 

[jen7233]

My family literally just booked our first Wilderness Lodge stay!!! Very exciting!!!

Very exciting!

 

[jen7233]

We went to Wilderness Lodge in 2006... we think its time to revisit!

Packing up for a June 16-20 trip to the Lodge, we're going to try CL

Fun! We are going the week after.

 

[mrsap]

Lodge at Christmas! That's pretty much as good as it gets.

It was SO beautiful when we went in November!!!! The tree and decorations are amazing! Honestly we are hooked!!!!!!!

 

[Meredith23]

I just wanted to say thank you so much for all the great info in this thread, it was a great resource for our trip! We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge for the first time in January and absolutely loved it!

 

[ErinC]

That's what I was wondering, I thought that it was a dedicated 2 BR, not a lock off??

No, it is a lockoff, at least on the 5th floor anyway.

 

[WDWKOOK]

We're booked at the WL for our first stay! We're very excited. This thread has been immensely helpful.

Congratulations! I'm so glad that you've found the thread helpful in your planning. We're fortunate to have many helpful posters

So to clarify, you can take a boat from Hollywood Studios to the back of Epcot, where the countries are located? Thanks!

Yes, you can take the Friendship boat to/from DHS and to/from Epcot's International Gateway area (and also to BWI, Swolphin and YC/BC). This puts you nearest UK (left) and France (right). You can also walk to/from DHS.

Please change our dates to April 3 - 8, 2015. We could not wait to get back to WL again. My brother and his family are joining for their first visit at WL .

Yippee! Your brother and his family are going to love the Lodge.

We're heading back to VWL this summer! Please add us to the list, August 16-22 at VWL in a 2 BR villa. While I'm at it? has anyone stayed in the 2 BR's that, for lack of a better term, are on the "diagonal" of the villas? Namely, I'm looking at 2519 or 3519. Thanks!

Congratulations on booking VWL, and you're already in the Log

Thank you - I'm having a tough time trying to decide between BC and WL, love love love WL but also love the proximity of BC to Epcot and HS. The rate I've been quoted (by my UK agent) is more for WL CL than BC CL so I have to make sure I'm really 100% on this.

How about doing a split stay? We most recently did a YC-CL/WL-CL and we've also done a BWI-CL/WL-CL split. It's nice to be able to be so close to Epcot and DHS and then moving over to WL gives you the best of both worlds.

My family literally just booked our first Wilderness Lodge stay!!! Very exciting!!!

Welcome - how exciting! Your family is going to love staying at WL.

We are officially booked!!!! We'll be at The Lodge November 29 - December 5th CL!!! We are so excited to be going back!!!!! Kook, would you please add us?

Congrats to everyone else who just booked!!! SO exciting!!!!!!!

So happy for you that it's official!!

Looked at the list and realized we are not on it. VWL May 10-15. DH has always wanted to here. Now we are using our DVC to do so.

Well that is unacceptable - to the Lodgers' Log you go!

Lodge at Christmas! That's pretty much as good as it gets.

We went to Wilderness Lodge in 2006... we think its time to revisit!

Packing up for a June 16-20 trip to the Lodge, we're going to try CL

You are long overdo. You're already packing? We arrive a month from today and you've made me feel pretty guilty. I did get my list-making done though.

I just wanted to say thank you so much for all the great info in this thread, it was a great resource for our trip! We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge for the first time in January and absolutely loved it!

Thanks so much for the positive feedback and I hope you get to plan another trip to WDW soon!

 

[ErinC]

http://s1299.photobucket.com/user/chupek5/slideshow/VWL Christmas 2008


Here are the pics from room 5519/5521. This was in 2008, so obviously before the refurb. Best Christmas ever! Felt like we had pixie dust sprinkled on us getting this incredible room.

Forgive the fact that several of these pictures are in here twice. I thought they didn't upload the first time and now for the love, I cannot figure out how to delete them! Sorry

 

[farmermom]

Just booked a Studio for our 2nd trip. First time at WL and sooooo excited! Nov. 26 - Dec. 5, so first time for Christmas stuff too!

 

[GreyStr0ke]

Just returned home from my first stay at the Lodge. There were four of us staying in a Deluxe room with with club access. We arrived Friday morning around 10am and checked in on level 7. The room wasn't ready but we were told they would try and expedite the cleaning of it and text us when it was ready. We received a tour of OFC and grabbed a few items to eat. Our room was ready at about 4pm which was kind of annoying but oh well, it was a great room and location and was worth the wait. We had room 5169 which was on the 5th floor. The room was in great shape and exceeded my expectations. There was plenty of room and we had a great view. It's gonna be hard to stay in a regular room again.















We went to the Club level very often and it was a nice amenity to have. I'm actually really missing it right now. There was always plenty of seating and it was never crowded. The drinks were all self serve which was nice too. Turn down service only came one night but not a huge deal as we really only wanted the chocolates. We rented a movie from Club Level and had them change the time of our reservation at Artists Point so that was helpful as well.

It was too cold on Friday and rained all day Saturday so we didn't get to use the main pool or Trouts Pass.

There was some construction going on but it wasn't bothersome at all.





We dined at Artists Point and Roaring Forks. None of us were fans of either. The service at Artists was great but the food was meh. Especially for the prices. Between the four of us we had the filet, the Cornish game hen and the Salmon (x2). They do have a good drink selection, including beers.

Buses were as usual... completely unpredictable. I don't blame the resorts for that though.

The only real issue we had was the sound of the boat horns going off non stop very early every morning

I really enjoyed it here and will definitely be coming back. If anyone has any questions I can try to answer them.