Disney's WILDERNESS LODGE Information & Questions

[cruisingmom1977]

Hi all!! We are in the very early planning stages of a trip for end of April/early May of next year. We will be staying in the VWL in a 2 bedroom suite on my parents points (yea!! for us lol). Here is my question... last Sept we booked in a 2 bdrm suite and ended up with what I think was a 2 bedroom lock-off (we could access the studio side from the connecting door (which we had to be careful to leave open when we weren't wearing our magic bands) or the hallway. We really LOVED it. I was initially disappointed that the second bedroom only had a sofa and q queen size bed until I discovered the "secret table bed". My daughter was IN LOVE with her "secret bed" and I'm pretty sure it was the highlight of the trip for her. I see now that the dedicated 2 bedroom units have 2 queen beds in them. I also think they don't have the little kitchenette that we had in addition to our normal kitchen. Am I right? When my father books when his window opens, should I have him request a 2 bedroom lock-off? Of course I also want a woods view towards the lake and the highest possible floor but the lock-off would be my number one priority. Can he request it that way or do we have to call and puth that request in later? Thanks for any/all input!! I'm loving reading all of the messages. Also, the main pool was closed when we were there last and my kids are DYING to try the new splash pad...LOL

PS- I know requests are just that...requests but does putting my request in earlier give me any better odds of getting it? Kind of like booking the HDDR at 180 days in order to get the closest possible table to the stage? ;-)

 

[cakebaker]

We finally got a summer discount for the 2nd half of our stay! That's the good news. The bad news is they did not have courtyard view available at a discount. We had an ap discount for the first 3 days with courtyard view for the entire trip. We had to switch to a woodsview with bunks for the discount and there were no AP discounts for that view still available. Soooo....we'll have to definitely change rooms on a split stay. Not looking forward to that, but for the $1000 we saved, it's worth it. I'm hoping the AP will have woods view on it so at least we get a chance of not having to switch.

We've never switched rooms before and we have 2 rooms! Is it as big a pain as I'm imagining? I wonder how long we'll actually have to be room-less?I'm also guessing there's no way we're getting adjoining or connecting rooms at this point with them both being bunks. Sigh....

At any rate, at least we saved a lot of money!

 

[StephandDick]

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.


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




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



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.

Cool video!! Thanks

 

[merdie]

We just booked our stay at WL from 8/1-8/8. I am very excited, the resort looks beautiful!!

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

Kook!!!!!!
After much thought, we are going to our other home away from home in June. Very excited because it is most spectacular!!!!

But...... Please change our dates on the LOG to Sept 2-6!!! This will be the first trip just the DH and I since pre-kids and we can barely contain our excitement. We will get a blessing from DS we're sure, but the other one.... LOL she'll live. So for now, it's just between us!


DH encouraged me to choose any resort "I" wanted. When I told him I kept WL/CL for now and just switched the dates for now, he was trilled and happy to finally be able to walk to Trail's End for an early breakfast (something we never got to do). So, it looks like here we will stay!

We'll also be enjoying pizza and a bottle of wine at Via Napoli, lunch with a bottle of wine at Chefs de France, never did make it to Territory Loinge.... See where this trip is going!!!!

 

[mrsap]

Hey Kook! We have decided to extend our whole trip, and added a day to our WL stay. So can you please change my dates to Nov. 28-Dec. 5? Thanks so much!!!!!

 

[Nicnic]

Are there any new pictures of the pool? What is the fence like around it? can't see it in the pictures on post 19. or is it not very visible. Trying to get DH to try WL over going back to the BC and the pool is one of the things hes not sure on. Thanks.

 

[brood of belles]

Question: are there any standard view rooms that are connecting? I am having a hard time finding any on the room finder on touring plans. Me, my husband, and our children are traveling with my parents, and we would love to have connecting rooms, but I'm not seeing anything! I know you can't get a guarantee, but I'd like to know if it's even a possibility!

 

[Hummingbird]

Hi! I'm spending the day reading over this thread because I booked a last minute stay for this weekend (3/20-3/23) for myself and my 6 year old nephew. He's had a really rough 6 months (health wise) and we were talking and he asked if I could take him to Disney this weekend (he's only ever been to MVMCP once, but I go alot because I have an AP) so I said yes. I let him look at all the resorts online and he picked WL. The kid has good taste and loves going to our family cabin at the lake so fitting he would choose this one lol. I'm so excited because my family never lets me choose WL for our family trips lol because they want a different feel then being at the cabin lol. But I've been dying to stay here and he just gave me the greatest excuse. I know I could have paid less if I would have planned earlier but I did get an AP rate so I saved a little. But I mean hey, we aren't promised tomorrow and I don't want to miss this opportunity to bond with him this way in case his health starts to decline again.

I'll try to post some pictures next week!

 

[MammerJammer]

Hello! I'm looking into a Studio Villa for our first time stay at WDW. We are a family of five with really small children (8, 5 and 3) so I'm wondering if the studio is large enough for five? I don't imagine we'll be spending a tonne of time in the room. Thanks!

 

[VbChristy]

question deleted because I found the info in the beginning, thanks Kook

 

[cruisingmom1977]

How long is the bus trip to the park these days? Does it make any other stops? How about the boat- is it direct? Do you always have to fold the stroller? Thanks.

We took the bus in Sept 2014 and MK was the only stop we made. I don't know if it picked up at any other resorts before us. The trip took about 5 minutes. When going to Epcot/AK and DHS we shared a bus with Fort Wilderness and Grand Floridian. You have to fold the stroller for the bus. As far as the boat goes, it is direct and dedicated to the Wilderness Lodge. When we went in Sept (slow period AND the main pool was closed so the resort was really empty) they rotated the small boat and the big boat all day, every day. There was a boat every 10-15 minutes. If you get the small boat you have to fold the stroller but you can just push it onto the big boat. On one occasion, my son had fallen asleep in the stroller and the small boat came so I opted to just sit down and wait for the big boat so I didn't have to take him (and all of my stuff) out of the stroller. Also, I have a citi mini double and had no issues getting it on or off the big boat without folding. The boat takes about 10 minutes. We prefer the boat to the bus.

 

[WDWKOOK]

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.

I don't think you'll regret switching and I'll log your dates

Hi all!! We are in the very early planning stages of a trip for end of April/early May of next year. We will be staying in the VWL in a 2 bedroom suite on my parents points (yea!! for us lol).

Here is my question... last Sept we booked in a 2 bdrm suite and ended up with what I think was a 2 bedroom lock-off (we could access the studio side from the connecting door (which we had to be careful to leave open when we weren't wearing our magic bands) or the hallway. We really LOVED it. I was initially disappointed that the second bedroom only had a sofa and q queen size bed until I discovered the "secret table bed". My daughter was IN LOVE with her "secret bed" and I'm pretty sure it was the highlight of the trip for her. I see now that the dedicated 2 bedroom units have 2 queen beds in them. I also think they don't have the little kitchenette that we had in addition to our normal kitchen. Am I right?

When my father books when his window opens, should I have him request a 2 bedroom lock-off? Of course I also want a woods view towards the lake and the highest possible floor but the lock-off would be my number one priority. Can he request it that way or do we have to call and puth that request in later? Thanks for any/all input!! I'm loving reading all of the messages. Also, the main pool was closed when we were there last and my kids are DYING to try the new splash pad...LOL

PS- I know requests are just that...requests but does putting my request in earlier give me any better odds of getting it? Kind of like booking the HDDR at 180 days in order to get the closest possible table to the stage? ;-)

Hopefully one of our VWL/DVC experts will chime in, but I think the answer to your question is yes, he'll need to request a lock-off. If's he's using his own points he'll have to make requests through DVC/MS or if he's renting, the owner will have to make the requests for him. Putting a room request in earlier than about a week doesn't increase your chances that the request will be granted. The Room Assignor won't see the request until about 3-5 days prior to arrival when the reservation is actually dropped into WL's system. It's not like HDDR and the DVCs don't have unlimited adult beverages either

We finally got a summer discount for the 2nd half of our stay! That's the good news. The bad news is they did not have courtyard view available at a discount. We had an ap discount for the first 3 days with courtyard view for the entire trip. We had to switch to a woodsview with bunks for the discount and there were no AP discounts for that view still available. Soooo....we'll have to definitely change rooms on a split stay. Not looking forward to that, but for the $1000 we saved, it's worth it. I'm hoping the AP will have woods view on it so at least we get a chance of not having to switch.

We've never switched rooms before and we have 2 rooms! Is it as big a pain as I'm imagining? I wonder how long we'll actually have to be room-less?I'm also guessing there's no way we're getting adjoining or connecting rooms at this point with them both being bunks. Sigh....

At any rate, at least we saved a lot of money!

Saving money is great and don't worry much about the split stay. Have it noted in your reservation that you have a "continuing reservation." The Bellman can come get your stuff and quickly move you to your new room or you may have to store your luggage if it isn't ready by 11:00. Even the worse case isn't anything to fret over since you're saving some money and you're still staying at WL

Cool video!! Thanks

I have to admit it choked me up a little. DH is USAF RET and those flyovers always choke me up, but especially over the MK.

We just booked our stay at WL from 8/1-8/8. I am very excited, the resort looks beautiful!!

It's even more beautiful in person and welcome to the thread! I'll log your dates.

Kook!!!!!!
After much thought, we are going to our other home away from home in June. Very excited because it is most spectacular!!!!

But...... Please change our dates on the LOG to Sept 2-6!!! This will be the first trip just the DH and I since pre-kids and we can barely contain our excitement. We will get a blessing from DS we're sure, but the other one.... LOL she'll live. So for now, it's just between us!


DH encouraged me to choose any resort "I" wanted. When I told him I kept WL/CL for now and just switched the dates for now, he was trilled and happy to finally be able to walk to Trail's End for an early breakfast (something we never got to do). So, it looks like here we will stay!

We'll also be enjoying pizza and a bottle of wine at Via Napoli, lunch with a bottle of wine at Chefs de France, never did make it to Territory Loinge.... See where this trip is going!!!!

This parents-only trip is long overdo and I see a theme emerging and why in the world have you not been to TL yet? Well, this must be corrected. You might end up there almost every evening like us, between CL apps. and cobbler is the sweet spot

Hey Kook! We have decided to extend our whole trip, and added a day to our WL stay. So can you please change my dates to Nov. 28-Dec. 5? Thanks so much!!!!!

Love the Add-a-Day!

Are there any new pictures of the pool? What is the fence like around it? can't see it in the pictures on post 19. or is it not very visible. Trying to get DH to try WL over going back to the BC and the pool is one of the things hes not sure on. Thanks.

All the photos in POST 19 are from January, but I will take some new ones at the end of March. The new pool and splash pad re-opened in December. If those photos don't help you, I also have links to more photos at the beginning of POST 19 HERE. You can see the fence in the foreground:

Question: are there any standard view rooms that are connecting? I am having a hard time finding any on the room finder on touring plans. Me, my husband, and our children are traveling with my parents, and we would love to have connecting rooms, but I'm not seeing anything! I know you can't get a guarantee, but I'd like to know if it's even a possibility!

There must be some. There are SVs in both wings so add your request and make sure to have your reservations linked.

Hi! I'm spending the day reading over this thread because I booked a last minute stay for this weekend (3/20-3/23) for myself and my 6 year old nephew. He's had a really rough 6 months (health wise) and we were talking and he asked if I could take him to Disney this weekend (he's only ever been to MVMCP once, but I go alot because I have an AP) so I said yes. I let him look at all the resorts online and he picked WL. The kid has good taste and loves going to our family cabin at the lake so fitting he would choose this one lol. I'm so excited because my family never lets me choose WL for our family trips lol because they want a different feel then being at the cabin lol. But I've been dying to stay here and he just gave me the greatest excuse. I know I could have paid less if I would have planned earlier but I did get an AP rate so I saved a little. But I mean hey, we aren't promised tomorrow and I don't want to miss this opportunity to bond with him this way in case his health starts to decline again.

I'll try to post some pictures next week!

How sweet of you and hopefully, he'll feel well enough for a longer trip in the future. I hope you're having magical time.

Hello! I'm looking into a Studio Villa for our first time stay at WDW. We are a family of five with really small children (8, 5 and 3) so I'm wondering if the studio is large enough for five? I don't imagine we'll be spending a tonne of time in the room. Thanks!

IMHO, 5 is too many for any Studio or even a regular room that accommodates 5, but yes, you'll all "fit."

question deleted because I found the info in the beginning, thanks Kook

That made my job easy

 

[michael's mom]

Hi All! I'm so excited to be here. I just switched to WL from CBR with the Visa Cardholder room discount. I'm a CBR "semi-pro" but a newbie to WL. DH and I were originally going to stay WL for our honeymoon but for budget reasons we didn't.

We booked a Courtyard view room and I was hoping to get some input on room requests (I know it's not guaranteed). We are hoping to be far enough from the lobby to not have a ton of noise to deal with but not way off in Neverland either.

Thanks!

Edited to add our dates! 7/28-8/7

 

[MammerJammer]

Thanks! Although, I don think we can afford anything larger--unless it's a family suite at AOA.

 

[bluecastle]

Hi all!! We are in the very early planning stages of a trip for end of April/early May of next year. We will be staying in the VWL in a 2 bedroom suite on my parents points (yea!! for us lol). Here is my question... last Sept we booked in a 2 bdrm suite and ended up with what I think was a 2 bedroom lock-off (we could access the studio side from the connecting door (which we had to be careful to leave open when we weren't wearing our magic bands) or the hallway. We really LOVED it. I was initially disappointed that the second bedroom only had a sofa and q queen size bed until I discovered the "secret table bed". My daughter was IN LOVE with her "secret bed" and I'm pretty sure it was the highlight of the trip for her. I see now that the dedicated 2 bedroom units have 2 queen beds in them. I also think they don't have the little kitchenette that we had in addition to our normal kitchen. Am I right?

Yes, that is correct. For us, a group of 5 adults, it was a top priority to have the 2 queen beds in the 2nd BR, so when I made my reservation the first thing I requested was a dedicated 2BR, not a lock-off. I agree that lock-off should be your first request.
My 2nd request was top floor (I don't like having anyone upstairs from me- too many noisy upstairs neighbors in apartments when I was young!).
My last request was for lake side and in a quiet area.
I got everything except lake side, which didn't matter. That side is all trees anyhow. Plus, because I was willing to be far from the elevator, it was like we had our own section of the 5th floor. We hardly knew anyone else was there! (and this was in August)
Happy Planning!

 

[bluecastle]

Are there any new pictures of the pool? What is the fence like around it? can't see it in the pictures on post 19. or is it not very visible. Trying to get DH to try WL over going back to the BC and the pool is one of the things hes not sure on. Thanks.

As nice as the WL pool may be post-refurb, there is no pool on property like SAB. I love the WL for so many reasons, but if the pool is the determining factor, I would go with BC. I forgot to look for a ticker before I replied, but there is a big refurb going on at the BC this year that might also affect your decision.

 

[hill6]

We can do our online checkin now. We are at the Villas in a studio. Any thoughts on what I should request?

 

[cakebaker]

Saving money is great and don't worry much about the split stay. Have it noted in your reservation that you have a "continuing reservation." The Bellman can come get your stuff and quickly move you to your new room or you may have to store your luggage if it isn't ready by 11:00. Even the worse case isn't anything to fret over since you're saving some money and you're still staying at WL

That's exactly how we look at it! We've made many trips to WDW and have always lucked out with no complicated reservations, it was about time we experienced it! lol

 

[renes]

DH and I are staying at WL April 14-16 for a quick trip for F&G. Haven't stayed at WL for over a year. Anything new I should be aware of besides the pool?