Disney's WILDERNESS LODGE Information & Questions

[kmorlock]

Seems as though pool hopping is a problem everywhere. If they would do the same "scan before admittance" procedure they do at SAB, this would alleviate the masses that don't belong there. Really, it boils down to a security. Disney knows every move those with magic bands make but, locals, and pool hoppers cannot be accounted for. It's one thing if you are allowed by DVC to pool hop or visit if local. If not staying at a resort, or DVC, you are trespassing and should be removed swiftly and possible fined.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I wonder if they thought the fence would be enough to prevent pool hopping this year and decided they could skip the bands?

 

[MrsSkellington]

I had just decided to stick with WL, after much waffling. Again. And now, with work starting right before I get there? I don't know. Granted, my son doesn't sleep until after 7 at the earliest, but I'm not sure if we'll need mid-day breaks in the hotel. Sigh.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Well, our onsite detective, Heather/@hstrickland, didn't get any south wing ground floor spy photos tonight. She did snap a photo of the scaffolding though…




This is the North Wing Standard View area without the scaffolding:

 

[WDWKOOK]

First post from a long time follower. Just returned from the lodge after a long and relaxing trip at the lodge. 4th trip in four years. These are some observations from our trip.

* The rooms on the ground floor facing the villas were totally blocked out. I did my best, but could not see a thing. It appeared that work was still going on.

* The scaffolding is not a problem at all. You can only see a very small amount of it if you are really looking for it. My wife never noticed it until I pointed it out after about a week. You could hear some occasional grinding every once in awhile if you were at the pool.
* Buses and boats were very efficient most of the time. The bus to Epcot was frustrating to say the least. Many people woke up early for the extra hour only to wait at the bus stop. We got to the bus stop for 7:20 and did not get into the park until 8:50. It seemed like we made many more stops at Fort Wilderness compared to other years. No problems at all returning from Epcot.

* The pool was my biggest area of frustration. The new splash pad is great. The pool area seems to have fewer chairs. The new patio area around the pool is darker and obviously much hotter. You really need shoes when you are walking around. Many guests were splashing water from the pool onto the deck for the kids during the pool party. The hosts had a jug of water they were using to help cool it off. It looks great, but I heard many guests complaining about it.

* Getting to the hot tubs is confusing. You can go through the splash pad or around by the Trout Pass Bar. Most people ended up confused or just climbed over the rocks. There is no easy way to get to them from the pool.

* Pool hopping is a real big problem. In years past lifeguards checked bands and gave you an additional band to wear around the 4th of July. I witnessed many people being removed in other years. You could not get a chair unless you went down right when the pool opened. I watched families getting off the bus from Fort Wilderness with huge coolers and wheeling them down to the pool. I overheard people in the pool talking about how they would like to stay there some day. Another group of 8 lovely people were in the hot tub. The woman told me she had not stayed at the lodge in 10 years. I assumed she was in the villas. I asked her how they were. She said that she was not staying there. Her husband looked like he was going to kill her. I asked the front desk why they were not checking bands this year. The girl was aware that pool hopping is a problem and did not know why bands were not being checked this year. She said she was going to speak to someone about it.

* Overall this was another excellent trip to the lodge. All of the staff are outstanding. The lodge is beautiful and relaxing. I would return again without hesitation. We have visited many other resorts, but we always end up staying at the lodge.

to the DIS and the WL/VWL thread! We're honored to have your first post here and we hope it won't be your last.

Thank you for posting about your stay - helpful information for everyone. There's really no excuse to allow pool hopping once every pool has a fence. But, even before the fencing, Poly was able to reduce the incidence with wrist bands during holidays, so there's really no excuse on the part of Disney Resorts for not restricting access to booked guests and DVC members who have access to other pools. I hope you get to book your next stay soon

I wonder if they thought the fence would be enough to prevent pool hopping this year and decided they could skip the bands?

They don't even really need the bands. At Poly, they have a band/card reader which opens the gate only to registered guests:

I had just decided to stick with WL, after much waffling. Again. And now, with work starting right before I get there? I don't know. Granted, my son doesn't sleep until after 7 at the earliest, but I'm not sure if we'll need mid-day breaks in the hotel. Sigh.

Waffling can be a very normal part of the resort-choosing process and all this uncertainty can make it worse. Feel free to waffle all you want around here, we understand.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Seems as though pool hopping is a problem everywhere. If they would do the same "scan before admittance" procedure they do at SAB, this would alleviate the masses that don't belong there. Really, it boils down to a security. Disney knows every move those with magic bands make but, locals, and pool hoppers cannot be accounted for. It's one thing if you are allowed by DVC to pool hop or visit if local. If not staying at a resort, or DVC, you are trespassing and should be removed swiftly and possible fined.

Missed your post in my multi-quote. I feel as you do that it's a form of stealing anytime unregistered guests use free resort amenities such as pools, hot tubs, etc… With resorts more and more crowded each time we visit and more expensive, Disney really needs to make it much more difficult for un-registered guests to use free resort amenities, DVC-approved pool hopping excluded.

 

[Wood Nymph]

First post from a long time follower. Just returned from the lodge after a long and relaxing trip at the lodge. 4th trip in four years. These are some observations from our trip.

* The rooms on the ground floor facing the villas were totally blocked out. I did my best, but could not see a thing. It appeared that work was still going on.

Thank you for the detailed update. You answered my question about the ground floor of the south wing.

I'm sorry to hear about the pool hopping. I really wish Disney would do something about it. Maybe all the people who could no longer crash the Poly pool have come over to the WL instead.

 

[Mrdski]

Hate the pool hoppers. In June sitting by the pool and a girl turns to her mom and asks what pool they are going to next. On another note following Humphreys Wilderness Lodge on Facebook and they are reporting October 26th for construction to start. Quiet pool closed. Was hoping they would do that last.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Hate the pool hoppers. In June sitting by the pool and a girl turns to her mom and asks what pool they are going to next. On another note following Humphreys Wilderness Lodge on Facebook and they are reporting October 26th for construction to start. Quiet pool closed. Was hoping they would do that last.

I think you may have missed some pertinent posts here today

 

[Daddy10]

Thank you for the detailed update. You answered my question about the ground floor of the south wing.

I'm sorry to hear about the pool hopping. I really wish Disney would do something about it. Maybe all the people who could no longer crash the Poly pool have come over to the WL instead.

We have spent the last 4 years at the lodge during the 4th of July. The lodge is always nearly fully booked during this time. The amount of people using the pool seemed to be almost twice the usual amount during the peak period of the day. The only real difference from year to year is that the lifeguards were not checking magic bands. They usually checked July 2 -4. I even looked back at pictures from previous years to see if I was cracking up! Very difficult to get a chair and longer lines at the slide for the kids this year. I really believe that many of the guests from Fort Wilderness are coming up to use the pool. Maybe they think that this is allowed?

 

[Mrdski]

So

I think you may have missed some pertinent posts here today

Sorry, I just go to last page and miss some stuff apparently.

 

[merdie]

Well, our onsite detective, Heather/@hstrickland, didn't get any south wing ground floor spy photos tonight. She did snap a photo of the scaffolding though…

View attachment 109204


This is the North Wing Standard View area without the scaffolding:

We are booked standard view and I requested a high floor. Is this the only area for standard view? Will our room be behind scaffolding or are those rooms not in use? We arrive in three weeks. I'd hate to be behind some scaffolding

 

[Mrdski]

The scaffolding moves every few days/weeks as they finish up the area they are working on so it is hard to say if it will still be in that location. June 10-16 it moved twice during our visit but it was hardly noticeable until it moved to outside the lobby at the ground floor.

 

[WDWKOOK]

So

Sorry, I just go to last page and miss some stuff apparently.

No apology needed, just wanted to make sure you saw all the breaking news from yesterday.

We are booked standard view and I requested a high floor. Is this the only area for standard view? Will our room be behind scaffolding or are those rooms not in use? We arrive in three weeks. I'd hate to be behind some scaffolding

Standard Views are in both wings. They never place guests in rooms behind the scaffolding

 

[merdie]

No apology needed, just wanted to make sure you saw all the breaking news from yesterday.



Standard Views are in both wings. They never place guests in rooms behind the scaffolding

That's good to know! I was hoping to avoid the South Wing due to the reported construction noise (is that where it is?!) Three weeks is still a little bit a way, so I suppose the scaffolding could be moved by then.

 

[kmorlock]

Copied from the expansion link:
Ok, so I'm terribly indecisive and OCD too....WDWKOOK - sorry in advance for being a serious pain! Ha ha! So, after much debate last week re: Guest Service person who kinda had confirmation of construction but not really at liberty to say anything yet, offered us a move the Standard GW at Contemporary. Ok, CR has many fine points, DH ok'd it is text. Then came the uh oh, forgot to mention it's not tower in those texts. Long story short, GS said they would work on a transfer which could take a few days to show up. It did. So, we just became officially transferred back at WL on Thursday. So, what's an OCD girl to do but keep calling about construction stuff...here's how the call may go: Anyone who calls before getting a letter, you need to press the first line reservationists to let you speak to Guest Services. They may give you a hard time but be nice, patient, and firm. I just asked what options are out there for WL/VWL people. A move to another resort: they will give you options based on your room type and cost. Villas transfer to Villas, Deluxe to Deluxe, Standards to standards etc... The discount appears better than the pool. They said $100 per night (this could be based on room type and cost) too so it may vary. I currently have a room only and the discount would be off the already discounted rate. **people who used their travel agents...call them, not Disney first. So hope this helps...as many know from the past, it is subjective and may be based on your personal reservation, handled on a case by case basis.

Hmmmm.. So now what to do? Poly, BW, BC? Standard style rooms at early December/Christmas? Or take that nice chunk of change and stay put, take my chances?

 

[WDWKOOK]

That's good to know! I was hoping to avoid the South Wing due to the reported construction noise (is that where it is?!) Three weeks is still a little bit a way, so I suppose the scaffolding could be moved by then.

Yes, the current room gutting is on the ground floor of the south wing across from the VWL pool area.

Copied from the expansion link:
Ok, so I'm terribly indecisive and OCD too....WDWKOOK - sorry in advance for being a serious pain! Ha ha! So, after much debate last week re: Guest Service person who kinda had confirmation of construction but not really at liberty to say anything yet, offered us a move the Standard GW at Contemporary. Ok, CR has many fine points, DH ok'd it is text. Then came the uh oh, forgot to mention it's not tower in those texts. Long story short, GS said they would work on a transfer which could take a few days to show up. It did. So, we just became officially transferred back at WL on Thursday.

So, what's an OCD girl to do but keep calling about construction stuff...here's how the call may go: Anyone who calls before getting a letter, you need to press the first line reservationists to let you speak to Guest Services. They may give you a hard time but be nice, patient, and firm. I just asked what options are out there for WL/VWL people. A move to another resort: they will give you options based on your room type and cost. Villas transfer to Villas, Deluxe to Deluxe, Standards to standards etc... The discount appears better than the pool. They said $100 per night (this could be based on room type and cost) too so it may vary. I currently have a room only and the discount would be off the already discounted rate. **people who used their travel agents...call them, not Disney first. So hope this helps...as many know from the past, it is subjective and may be based on your personal reservation, handled on a case by case basis.

Hmmmm.. So now what to do? Poly, BW, BC? Standard style rooms at early December/Christmas? Or take that nice chunk of change and stay put, take my chances?

Thank you for posting this here, too so I didn't have to copy/paste. I know many are wondering about options/compensation. As we know from when the WL pool was closed and there was courtyard construction, guests' options and compensation varied and wasn't consistent and was usually based on what the guest specifically asked about/for. I appreciate you taking the time to let everyone know about your experience!

A $100/night reduction is significant, especially off of an already discounted rate. I'd almost be tempted by that and/or maybe do a split stay? If you want a very relaxing atmosphere, out of your choices, I highly recommend BWI. Feel free to join us on the thread anytime.

 

[kmorlock]

Yes, the current room gutting is on the ground floor of the south wing across from the VWL pool area.



Thank you for posting this here, too so I didn't have to copy/paste. I know many are wondering about options/compensation. As we know from when the WL pool was closed and there was courtyard construction, guests' options and compensation varied and wasn't consistent and was usually based on what the guest specifically asked about/for. I appreciate you taking the time to let everyone know about your experience!

A $100/night reduction is significant, especially off of an already discounted rate. I'd almost be tempted by that and/or maybe do a split stay? If you want a very relaxing atmosphere, out of your choices, I highly recommend BWI. Feel free to join us on the thread anytime.

Thanks WDWKOOK. Yes, it's going to be a tough decision....I'll join up on the respective thread once we decide. We've been to all 3 and hubby likes the Poly, but $800 is significant so, we shall see....

 

[Lillian Gracey]

I'm glad the construction won't impact our stay, but I'd be tempted by that discount to stay at the GF or CR if it did.

 

[stitchfan18]

Last November we went with my parents and they booked the rooms, so I'm not sure which view we had. We were off the lobby on the 5th floor (I think... Definitely a higher floor) and we had a great view of the higher fireworks from wishes! DH and I are planning our trip for next year and are planning on WL again. If we wanted a similar view again, although I know it isn't guaranteed, which view should we book? Since we'll have 2 little ones under 3 years old being able to watch some of the fireworks would be nice since we don't stay in the parks that late anymore.