Disney's WILDERNESS LODGE Information & Questions

[Starwind]

Our dates are in December and we received the email letter today.

At all of the Moderates and Deluxe resorts, sticks and marshmallows are provided. Unfortunately, at the Fort you have to purchase both. If I can remember correctly, the s'mores kit included the sticks. My DH is saying we paid around $.50... maybe we did. Not sure why the Fort charges for marshmallows??? Perhaps it's because you're getting a "free" show plus a Chip n' Dale meet and greet. Who knows?! If you get there early, the kids can actually play with Chip n' Dale.





My kids never had character interaction like they did at the Campfire Sing-Along! It's really quite nice. And the boat ride from the WL is a short trip!

Thanks for the info. We will be sure to get there early.

Were you able to get sticks separate from the smores kit ? We cannot do the smores kit due to allergies / (Perhaps I will write to special diets and ask for their assistance; I can do the Kraft Jet marshmallows they use at WL; but a smores kit is a no go)

SW

 

[Wood Nymph]

I've watched the progress of the scaffolding around the main WL building since the first reports of it late last August. It was up for two of our trips, Oct 2015 and Jan 2015, and we never heard any significant noise from it. Given its current location on the north side of the lobby, it looks as if the exterior work is almost finished. The scaffolding has already gone around the south wing, the inner courtyard and the north wing closest to the lake. So my guess is that it would be finished soon, since it has already been around the rest of the lodge.

The construction on the ground floor of the south wing is more of a mystery, since no one at the WL seems to want to acknowledge that it exists.

 

[WDWKOOK]

At all of the Moderates and Deluxe resorts, sticks and marshmallows are provided. Unfortunately, at the Fort you have to purchase both. If I can remember correctly, the s'mores kit included the sticks. My DH is saying we paid around $.50... maybe we did. Not sure why the Fort charges for marshmallows??? Perhaps it's because you're getting a "free" show plus a Chip n' Dale meet and greet. Who knows?! If you get there early, the kids can actually play with Chip n' Dale.

My kids never had character interaction like they did at the Campfire Sing-Along! It's really quite nice. And the boat ride from the WL is a short trip!

Hi all

We received the e-mail yesterday from Disney regarding the construction etc which prompted me to scavenge the internet for more information where I came across this thread and read through most of the 107 pages last night!

We are travelling on 16th Sept for 14 nights so as I understand it, the major construction won't start until the 2nd Oct and major closures of things is from the 26th October.

However, I have seen a video somewhere (potentially this thread?) of someone there within the last month showing scaffolding and loud hammering noises. Does anybody know if this is part of the prep work for the major project commencing in October and hence ongoing throughout or unrelated and therefore be finished by September?

We are travelling for our Honeymoon and (like everyone I imagine) will be after a relaxing, quiet time when we are not in the parks so if we know now that there is to be loud noises during the day we will then explore our options - of which this thread has highlighted a few!

Thanks

to the thread and the DIS! Congratulations on your Disneymoon

The major work and closures don't start until 26 October. We have a WL DVC Expansion thread dedicated to this discussion with more details. The link is at the beginning of POST 1.

The scaffolding has been up around the resort for a long time (see Wood Nymph's post) and it is for repairs and painting of WL. The jackhammering was in the South Wing to some ground floor rooms. WL has been reluctant to say anything about this work. It is speculated that they are converting some rooms into DVC villas as they just did at Poly. There has also been rumors of another CL lounge being added. That work was supposed to end when the DVC expansion work begins. At least that's what a WL CM told a guest a couple of months ago.

The construction on the ground floor of the south wing is more of a mystery, since no one at the WL seems to want to acknowledge that it exists.

What did you say? I can't hear your over all the jackhammering hehe. I wonder what the current status on that work is? No one has posted about it for a while. I won't be able to check it out for another 6 weeks.

 

[tkmking]

Thanks all for your replies and kind words.

I have spoken to Disney from their UK number and have confirmed that for our stay we will in no way be affected (16th Sept for 14 nights). Closures and heavy construction start on the 26th October as stated, however there may be some noise and preliminary work from 2nd October.

Emails have been sent out to everybody booked in and on MDE for between now and when it's completed - a blanket email if you will!

Good to know also that the current scaffolding is for painting!

Thanks

 

[Daisy62]

WL is offering a discount for the construction going on. Call guest service and ask. I got a 30% off for our room in December because I heard it was but they said it will be a little lower. It was honored anyway for me. I would call and ask.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Emails have been sent out to everybody booked in and on MDE for between now and when it's completed - a blanket email if you will!

We're booked at VWL October 17-24 on a cash reservation (not DVC) and haven't received an email.

 

[tkmking]

We have booked a woods view room through Thomson holidays (UK) but had signed up to MDE - that was the reason suggested as to why we have received the e-mail...?

 

[rachdd]

I am booked through a TA but have a MDE account and I have not received an email.

 

[izzylovesmickey]

1 more week! Very excited to arrive!

 

[feet1]

Emails have been sent out to everybody booked in and on MDE for between now and when it's completed - a blanket email if you will!

We are at WL Sept 15-25 and haven't gotten an email either. I've been getting emails about all of our payments going through, so I know they have my email address right...wonder why some people are getting an email and some are not.

 

[michael's mom]

It's so interesting to me, yet not surprising as it seems pretty commonplace from reports on this thread, that we are being told different things when we call. The CM on the phone did tell me that I would be hearing some of the preliminary noises and we're arriving in 12 days. You would think that they'd be sure to have the CMs up to speed on what they are to be telling us.

 

[michael's mom]

Oh...on a completely separate note, does anyone see a reason for me to print up copies of all of my reservation confirmations if they all appear in MDE? I'd hate to waste the paper if there is no reason to do so. I have already taken care of my non-Disney travel paperwork, but am holding off on the hotel and dining confirmations.

 

[Shamsky100]

We are at WL Sept 15-25 and haven't gotten an email either. I've been getting emails about all of our payments going through, so I know they have my email address right...wonder why some people are getting an email and some are not.

We are going to be there between Sept 12 - 19 and I haven't received an email either.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Oh...on a completely separate note, does anyone see a reason for me to print up copies of all of my reservation confirmations if they all appear in MDE? I'd hate to waste the paper if there is no reason to do so. I have already taken care of my non-Disney travel paperwork, but am holding off on the hotel and dining confirmations.

We haven't had to prove that we had a reservation since the very early days of MDE, and then they believed us anyway.

I just keep all my email confirmations in a folder in my email account. And I also make a screen print on my iPhone of the ADR as it appears in my MDE account. The screenprint feature is a neat way to keep track of my fastpasses without having to go to the website. I just look at the picture.

 

[michael's mom]

We haven't had to prove that we had a reservation since the very early days of MDE, and then they believed us anyway.

I just keep all my email confirmations in a folder in my email account. And I also make a screen print on my iPhone of the ADR as it appears in my MDE account. The screenprint feature is a neat way to keep track of my fastpasses without having to go to the website. I just look at the picture.

Great idea! Thank you!

 

[Mygirls00]

I talked to Guest Experience today.. as a matter of fact, 3 different people called me about 1 voicemail I left. All 3 of them told me that the only work that would be going on prior to Oct 2nd was painting and redoing the roofing near the entryway. They said on the week of October 2nd the walls would be going up and then it would start from there. I specifically asked about the trail to Ft. Wilderness and was assured that it would be open. They apologized for the blanket email that should have only started going out to guests staying in October and beyond.

I guess we will see when I check in. I did ask for a fifth floor inner courtyard room.. come on Disney Magic!!

 

[hstrickland]

Thanks for the info. We will be sure to get there early.

Were you able to get sticks separate from the smores kit ? We cannot do the smores kit due to allergies / (Perhaps I will write to special diets and ask for their assistance; I can do the Kraft Jet marshmallows they use at WL; but a smores kit is a no go)

SW

My DH is fairly certain that you can buy just the sticks....and I believe you can buy the marshmallows separately, too.

Notice I have smilies again!!!

 

[cornflkgrl]

Following this thread. We are going in mid-August and didn't get this email.

 

[aVASTGrl]

Cross-posting from the WL Construction thread:

ok, so I asked my TA to check into what Disney would offer me (my trip starts 10/27, the day after construction starts) and she said they offered either free memory maker or a water parks and more upgrade. I did tell her to mention the $100 offer given to others, but the person she spoke with didn't bite. I haven't taken either of their "offers" yet, I might call myself and see if a different CM will do better. I'd much rather take the discount as I don't take pictures with myself in them, and I have no plans to visit a water park.

I find it very frustrating that everyone is being offered different things.

 

[Starwind]

My DH is fairly certain that you can buy just the sticks....and I believe you can buy the marshmallows separately, too.

awesome, thank you !