Disney's WILDERNESS LODGE Information & Questions

[WDWKOOK]

Our first stay at WL is booked for 9/4 to 9/8 and I am getting more and more excited; if we really like it, we're probably booking again in 2018 when we head down with the whole family. This thread is full of great info; thanks a million to everyone posting!

Welcome to the thread and thank you! I'll log your dates in POST 1 and happy planning

 

[annekreel]

Welcome to the thread and congratulations on booking. It's best not to request specific room numbers because if that room/villa is unavailable, the Room Assignor won't know why you were requesting that room and that will make it hard for them to find a similar room. It's best to make more general requests like proximity to something, floor or view, if you have a preference. The VWL room map in the VWL chapter of the thread and the VWL/DVC Room Finder that's hyperlinked at the beginning of that chapter should be helpful. Let us know if you have any other questions.

Are all 2 BR units in the DVC area or are some located by the main pool?

 

[WDWKOOK]

Are all 2 BR units in the DVC area or are some located by the main pool?

The villas has its own "quiet" pool and the feature/main pool is located next door at WL. There aren't any DVC villas located at WL, they are all located at VWL.

 

[MrsSkellington]

4 days and counting down before we check in to the Wilderness Lodge!! If anyone would like me to check anything out, let me know. We're spending some down time at the resort to enjoy all the amenities. Really looking forward to the Territory Lounge and hoping it is warm enough to spend some time lounging at the pool. We're also going to explore Fort Wilderness - a first for us. And maybe even rent the sea racers - it's been on my Disney wish list for a long time. Got my fingers crossed that the weather cooperates!!

Ooh! I'm not going until October, so I know things can change, but can you see what they have for WL-themed merchandise in the gift shop? T-shirts, etc. Thanks!

 

[jekomo]

Just wanted to say hi and thank you for an awesome thread. My husband and I are staying at the WL June 5-11. It's his first time at Disney and our fifth anniversary. So excited to plan and read everything I can.

 

[ttfn3]

Ooh! I'm not going until October, so I know things can change, but can you see what they have for WL-themed merchandise in the gift shop? T-shirts, etc. Thanks!

Sure will! I plan to check out the gift shops while we are there.

 

[csmolu]

What is the best way to make room requests when you don't book with Disney (Orbitz)? Do I call Orbitz and ask them to call Disney? Or Do I call a different number?? TIA! Only 45 days until we arrive

 

[hill6]

If the MK opens at 8am that morning there will be a bit of a crowd waiting for the bus. So I would get there no later than 7:30am. But if the MK opens at 9am, then you can probably get to the bus a little later.

The boat will be running by then. You could take the bus and walk to CR, too, but I would not drive. Either of the other two options would be better.

Thanks so much. I know DH would not want to drive unless he really had to. Will find out boat schedule when we get there.

 

[maryandtyson]

Hello! Just became Annual Passholders. Taking our girls (13 and 10) on a surprise trip (shhh!). Dates are April 11-15. Did I mention this is totally last minute and kind of crazy, not our style, and unplanned? Thanks for all the great info. It's been about 5 years since our last stay at WL. So excited!

 

[alhurricane]

What is the best way to make room requests when you don't book with Disney (Orbitz)? Do I call Orbitz and ask them to call Disney? Or Do I call a different number?? TIA! Only 45 days until we arrive

I booked through Orbitz and just tried calling Disney direct to add a room request. They told me I have to go through Orbitz. Since Disney's phone system is closed for the night now, I will have to wait until tomorrow to contact Orbitz. It seems a bit silly just for a room request, but it is what it is.

 

[rdw]

Thinking about adding 3 days at WL onto the bed of our trip after 5 nights at YC. Stayed there in 2011 and loved it.

Wondering what the changes have been? How has the pool changed?

And excited that I can request bunk beds for a standard view room! I also booked through orbitz so I guess I'll be calling them. 3 nights at the end of May for $240/night, SV. I think this is a good rate do I grabbed it - but is it?

Also, Are there any SV that might see fireworks? Is there anywhere at the resort good for fireworks viewing?

 

[dansdad]

Thinking about adding 3 days at WL onto the bed of our trip after 5 nights at YC. Stayed there in 2011 and loved it.

Wondering what the changes have been? How has the pool changed?

And excited that I can request bunk beds for a standard view room! InLso booked through orbitz so I guess I'll be calling them. 3 nights at the end of May for $240/night, SV. I think this is a good rate do I grabbed it - but is it?

Also, Are there any SV that might see fireworks? Is there anywhere at the resort good for fireworks viewing?

Check out post #19 for pictures of the pool and kids splash area post refurb. And check out post #17 for details on where to view Wishes and the Electric Water Pageant. Lots of great and useful info on that first page.

 

[rdw]

Thanks! Believe it or not, I did start there. Should have waited longer for pictures to load and read captions more carefully

Any input on a good room rate for the end of May?

 

[TheLodgeLady]

If you are at the Magic Kingdom this morning, the Blue Angels Precision Air Team will be doing flyovers of Cinderella's Castle between 9:30am and 10am.

The beach or dock at the Lodge should be great viewing also!

 

[Wood Nymph]

Wondering what the changes have been? How has the pool changed?

The main pool now has a fence around it, but they don't lock the gates. They took out a lot of the trees on the north side of the pool, so now it is harder to find shade. They built a brand new and extremely awesome kids splash pad. And they built a nice patio in front of the Trout Pass bar. It all looks very nice.

Are there any SV that might see fireworks? Is there anywhere at the resort good for fireworks viewing?

Most of the standard view rooms face the Contemporary and some of those rooms will have a partial view of the fireworks, depending on whether you have trees in the way. The higher floors have better views, usually.

 

[crazy for the mouse]

A question on the MK boat. If it doesn't start running until 30 minutes before the MK opens, then it isn't a good option if you want to be there in plenty of time for rope drop right? Should we take the boat to the CR or take the bus?

 

[WDWKOOK]

Just wanted to say hi and thank you for an awesome thread. My husband and I are staying at the WL June 5-11. It's his first time at Disney and our fifth anniversary. So excited to plan and read everything I can.

Howdy and welcome! You picked a great resort for DH's first visit…it'll keep him comin' back. I'll log your dates in POST 1.

Hello! Just became Annual Passholders. Taking our girls (13 and 10) on a surprise trip (shhh!). Dates are April 11-15. Did I mention this is totally last minute and kind of crazy, not our style, and unplanned? Thanks for all the great info. It's been about 5 years since our last stay at WL. So excited!

Congratulations fellow Passholder. We'll keep your secret safe here in our Lodgers' Log

If you are at the Magic Kingdom this morning, the Blue Angels Precision Air Team will be doing flyovers of Cinderella's Castle between 9:30am and 10am.

The beach or dock at the Lodge should be great viewing also!

I think they had FastPasses...HERE'S THE AMAZING VIDEO.

A question on the MK boat. If it doesn't start running until 30 minutes before the MK opens, then it isn't a good option if you want to be there in plenty of time for rope drop right? Should we take the boat to the CR or take the bus?

There's also an early ADR bus that starts at 0630 if you have a pre-park opening ADR. I think the regular bus doesn't start until 30 mins. prior to park opening, but the ride is just a little over 5 mins. and is non-stop. The Blue Flag boat to CR starts running just before 0700 and then you can just walk right to the MK.

 

[alhurricane]

Well I am just not having luck adding a room request. Since I booked with Orbitz, Disney told me I have to go through Orbitz to add a room request. So I tried to do that today and Disney tells Orbitz that I have to wait until 7 days prior to check in to add a request. Has anybody else been told this? Oh well, I guess I will wait until a week out. Can't complain given the great deal I got on the room, but it still seems a little odd.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Well I am just not having luck adding a room request. Since I booked with Orbitz, Disney told me I have to go through Orbitz to add a room request. So I tried to do that today and Disney tells Orbitz that I have to wait until 7 days prior to check in to add a request. Has anybody else been told this? Oh well, I guess I will wait until a week out. Can't complain given the great deal I got on the room, but it still seems a little odd.

I wasn't able to make a room request through Orbitz, either. The Orbitz rep told me that requests had to be made at the time of booking and if I wanted to make a request then I had to cancel my reservation and book a new one. So I decided to just forget it for now. I have heard that Disney will talk to people with Orbitz reservations when they get close to their check in date, like within ten days or so of it. I might try that. The online check in gives you the same room request options whether you have an Orbitz reservation or a Disney one, which helps.

 

[eeyore986]

Hi! I just switched our CBR reservation to WL. We'll be staying for the first time June 18-25. We our celebrating our 10th anniversary and my daughter turns 8 on June 19 .
Looking forward to reading up about WL.