Disney's WILDERNESS LODGE Information & Questions

[Wood Nymph]

We stopped by the WL yesterday to check out the construction and there wasn't much going on yet. The beach was still open. The fire pit was blocked off, though, and the nature trail that starts behind the marina building was closed, but everything else was open yesterday. Except for a few walls in place, there aren't any signs that heavy construction will start tomorrow. We took a walk to Fort Wilderness along the jogging path and saw that they had installed some new electrical transformers that weren't there last time we were there. I have a few pre-construction pictures that I'll post after we get home tomorrow.

The main pool looked crowded. The kids were having a great time in the new splash area, though. The rest of the lodge looked great. We are looking forward to returning in January.

 

[mommd]

Just arrived home from 2 weeks at the lodge. Our room was amazing. 6016 so with an enclosed balcony (a bonus with our kids) and a ringside view of wishes due to a hole in the tree line!! I requested it through touring plans and got the exact room.
I literally can't fault anything there. There was some scaffolding around the north tower but but it was very quiet where we were which was handy for the pool, boat dock, roaring forks, elevators and laundry.
Googling who might want to buy my kidney to fund the return trip!!!

So glad to hear that the touring plans room request worked! I'm trying it for our trip in 3 weeks

 

[WDWKOOK]

Just arrived home from 2 weeks at the lodge. Our room was amazing. 6016 so with an enclosed balcony (a bonus with our kids) and a ringside view of wishes due to a hole in the tree line!! I requested it through touring plans and got the exact room.
I literally can't fault anything there. There was some scaffolding around the north tower but but it was very quiet where we were which was handy for the pool, boat dock, roaring forks, elevators and laundry.
Googling who might want to buy my kidney to fund the return trip!!!

Thank you for posting about your great stay and room, but hold on to that kidney, there's bound to be some good deals coming up for your return trip…hopefully.

We stopped by the WL yesterday to check out the construction and there wasn't much going on yet. The beach was still open. The fire pit was blocked off, though, and the nature trail that starts behind the marina building was closed, but everything else was open yesterday. Except for a few walls in place, there aren't any signs that heavy construction will start tomorrow. We took a walk to Fort Wilderness along the jogging path and saw that they had installed some new electrical transformers that weren't there last time we were there. I have a few pre-construction pictures that I'll post after we get home tomorrow.

The main pool looked crowded. The kids were having a great time in the new splash area, though. The rest of the lodge looked great. We are looking forward to returning in January.

Thank you so much for going over to check things out on the very first day of construction-related closures. I'm going to cross-post over to the Expansion thread. Hope you're having a great vacation and enjoying F&W

 

[funkydelia]

Random question... Do they sell a room spray that smells like the lobby?

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

Random question... Do they sell a room spray that smells like the lobby?

When you find one, could you please let the rest of us know? mind as well throw in the candle scent too!

Some come close, but no cigar yet.

 

[kmorlock]

I've tried, Fireside from Bath & Body (not marshmallow fireside - too sweet/perfume), it's close. Mountain Lodge from Yankee, is ok but too musky. I'm going to bet it's a blend of scents because lots of contenders but no exact matches.

 

[kmorlock]

Anyone there now who can post pics of construction areas?

 

[Disneygirl1984]

We are so excited to be staying at the Lodge for the first time next week. I was planning on faxing my room recommendations for our courtyard view room. Any suggestions? Hoping to be as far from construction as possible due to our 2 year old napping midday. Thanks!

 

[ellecg]

We just returned from an amazing weeklong trip and stayed at WL for the very first time. Overall, we were impressed with the amenities at WL but we were incredibly disappointed in our room. We had booked a "woods view" room. We were given a room in the 1150s. When we booked rooms we were hoping for a quiet woodsy view (for napping kids), but our view was a small lawn, the sidewalk that leads from the beach area, passes the Villas, and ends at the bus stop. People were walking back and forth and then the poles/fencing/barrier for the construction went up. I was convinced (based on maps online of the room numbers assigned for woods view room) that we were given the wrong room, so I went to the lobby in an attempt to switch rooms and was told that these rooms were recently reclassified as Woods View. They could switch rooms the next day--but it would mess up our ADR/naps/plans, so we declined. And the little "balcony" was terrible. No lighting, wobbly table, filthy chairs, and beer caps in the mulch.

Again, we were fortunate to have a wonderful trip despite this, I just wanted to throw this info out there to those hoping to stay in a Woods View room. Those ground level rooms in the 1100s facing the Villas are now considered Woods View.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

We just returned from an amazing weeklong trip and stayed at WL for the very first time. Overall, we were impressed with the amenities at WL but we were incredibly disappointed in our room. We had booked a "woods view" room. We were given a room in the 1150s. When we booked rooms we were hoping for a quiet woodsy view (for napping kids), but our view was a small lawn, the sidewalk that leads from the beach area, passes the Villas, and ends at the bus stop. People were walking back and forth and then the poles/fencing/barrier for the construction went up. I was convinced (based on maps online of the room numbers assigned for woods view room) that we were given the wrong room, so I went to the lobby in an attempt to switch rooms and was told that these rooms were recently reclassified as Woods View. They could switch rooms the next day--but it would mess up our ADR/naps/plans, so we declined. And the little "balcony" was terrible. No lighting, wobbly table, filthy chairs, and beer caps in the mulch.

Again, we were fortunate to have a wonderful trip despite this, I just wanted to throw this info out there to those hoping to stay in a Woods View room. Those ground level rooms in the 1100s facing the Villas are now considered Woods View.

That's just wrong. There is no way those rooms are "Woods views!" Just because you can see a tree (for now) doesn't make that Woods View.

I'm sorry that happened to you.

 

[MinnieMeep]

Oh my goodness.. I think we've officially lost our minds.. so earlier today I made a comment to DH how I wish we could go see the Osbourne Lights at DHS one more time (which I've said a few times now), and imagine my surprise when this time he said, "Yes, that's a good idea!" ?!?!!!! I spent the afternoon looking up dates and resorts, to not spend too too much money. We bought annual passes today as well (new DVC members) and after a lot of back and forth looking at pass holder rates, we settled on 11/18-11/21, WL CY BB room! I keep hoping a non bunk bed room will open up, but we'll see! This will be our 3rd trip this year, and first visit to WL, and we wanted to keep the cost as "low" as possible. This is an anniversary present, as our actual 1st anniversary of our Disney wedding is 11/17. (DH doesn't know that last night I booked a 3-night DCL for the end of our May AKV trip though for his anniversary gift, hehe!) I know there's lots of construction starting, but I hope it won't be a bother as we will be gone most of the days at the parks. I'm hoping that a CY room will isolate us from it?? Sooo excited!!

 

[goopysolelady]

Oh my goodness.. I think we've officially lost our minds.. so earlier today I made a comment to DH how I wish we could go see the Osbourne Lights at DHS one more time (which I've said a few times now), and imagine my surprise when this time he said, "Yes, that's a good idea!" ?!?!!!! I spent the afternoon looking up dates and resorts, to not spend too too much money. We bought annual passes today as well (new DVC members) and after a lot of back and forth looking at pass holder rates, we settled on 11/18-11/21, WL CY BB room! I keep hoping a non bunk bed room will open up, but we'll see! This will be our 3rd trip this year, and first visit to WL, and we wanted to keep the cost as "low" as possible. This is an anniversary present, as our actual 1st anniversary of our Disney wedding is 11/17. (DH doesn't know that last night I booked a 3-night DCL for the end of our May AKV trip though for his anniversary gift, hehe!) I know there's lots of construction starting, but I hope it won't be a bother as we will be gone most of the days at the parks. I'm hoping that a CY room will isolate us from it?? Sooo excited!!

Maybe we'll see you! We're arriving the 19th and DD and I have a bunk bed room booked also...long story on the "why" we needed BB's but we're hoping for an opening for 2 queen beds. Wishing you a super trip!

 

[MinnieMeep]

Maybe we'll see you! We're arriving the 19th and DD and I have a bunk bed room booked also...long story on the "why" we needed BB's but we're hoping for an opening for 2 queen beds. Wishing you a super trip!

Thank you! And same to you- I hope you have a wonderful trip! Here's hoping we both get the rooms we prefer. Maybe we will see you there!

 

[ldymcbth]

We just returned from our first stay at WL and we loved the resort. Love the vibe there - very laid back. The rooms were very similar to Beach Club (in terms of structure/layout), but I enjoyed this more than Beach Club. Construction did not impact us much except for not being able to do smores at the fire pit. We loved the pool area and thought the QS was the very good - much better than at Contemporary.

We were CL because I booked so late that it was the only thing available. I was really looking forward to CL, but was very disappointed in it. The CL CMs were at best disinterested and at most unhelpful, which was a real departure from what I would expect from CL at a Disney resort. (This was our first CL experience at Disney but we have stayed CL/Concierge at many other hotels and on Disney cruises.) We were really unimpressed with the breakfast offerings - any bread product tasted like it had been sitting out for days - stale and dry. I was really counting on the lounge to be our breakfast, but it was just very blah. To be honest, we've had better breakfasts at Hampton Inn! The kids loved the desserts in the evening, though.

Anyway, we will definitely consider WL again - it's just beautiful and we loved the proximity to MK but the secluded nature of the resort.

 

[Wood Nymph]

These pictures were taken on Saturday, Oct 24th, which is two days before the official construction was scheduled to begin. The first two pictures are of the maintenance of the lodge on the south wing. You can tell that they are working on the siding here.



These walls were put up between the south wing rooms and the villas quiet pool. At the time we were there the villas pool was open and had people using it.








The picture above is the wall in front of the playground, beach and fire pit.



The beach was open when we were there. The marina was open, too.


This was the beginning of the nature trail, right behind the marina building, by the bike rack.

We walked down the jogging path to Fort Wilderness and there was another one of these signs located where the nature path meets the road to Ft Wilderness. We didn't see any signs of construction equipment when we were there.

 

[WDWKOOK]

We are so excited to be staying at the Lodge for the first time next week. I was planning on faxing my room recommendations for our courtyard view room. Any suggestions? Hoping to be as far from construction as possible due to our 2 year old napping midday. Thanks!

For a CYV room that's furthest from the current construction, I would recommend a North Wing room. For the best chance of getting your request, you'll need to have your requests added to your reservation NLT about 5 days prior to arrival, that's when the reservation is dropped into the resort's system and then the room assignor assigns your room a few days prior to arrival.

We just returned from an amazing weeklong trip and stayed at WL for the very first time. Overall, we were impressed with the amenities at WL but we were incredibly disappointed in our room. We had booked a "woods view" room. We were given a room in the 1150s. When we booked rooms we were hoping for a quiet woodsy view (for napping kids), but our view was a small lawn, the sidewalk that leads from the beach area, passes the Villas, and ends at the bus stop. People were walking back and forth and then the poles/fencing/barrier for the construction went up. I was convinced (based on maps online of the room numbers assigned for woods view room) that we were given the wrong room, so I went to the lobby in an attempt to switch rooms and was told that these rooms were recently reclassified as Woods View. They could switch rooms the next day--but it would mess up our ADR/naps/plans, so we declined. And the little "balcony" was terrible. No lighting, wobbly table, filthy chairs, and beer caps in the mulch.

Again, we were fortunate to have a wonderful trip despite this, I just wanted to throw this info out there to those hoping to stay in a Woods View room. Those ground level rooms in the 1100s facing the Villas are now considered Woods View.

Thank you for posting about your stay. It's my understanding that the 1150's have always been Courtyard View rooms and in fact, face the CY not the VWL. Are you sure you weren't in an even-numbered 1100s room? Those have always been classified as Woods View and match the description you give of being near the sidewalk to the marina/beach and bus stop.

Oh my goodness.. I think we've officially lost our minds.. so earlier today I made a comment to DH how I wish we could go see the Osbourne Lights at DHS one more time (which I've said a few times now), and imagine my surprise when this time he said, "Yes, that's a good idea!" ?!?!!!! I spent the afternoon looking up dates and resorts, to not spend too too much money. We bought annual passes today as well (new DVC members) and after a lot of back and forth looking at pass holder rates, we settled on 11/18-11/21, WL CY BB room! I keep hoping a non bunk bed room will open up, but we'll see! This will be our 3rd trip this year, and first visit to WL, and we wanted to keep the cost as "low" as possible. This is an anniversary present, as our actual 1st anniversary of our Disney wedding is 11/17. (DH doesn't know that last night I booked a 3-night DCL for the end of our May AKV trip though for his anniversary gift, hehe!) I know there's lots of construction starting, but I hope it won't be a bother as we will be gone most of the days at the parks. I'm hoping that a CY room will isolate us from it?? Sooo excited!!

WOOHOO! I'll add your dates to the Log and I'll keep quiet about the cruise. To be as far as possible from the construction, I would request a North Wing room. Don't give up on trying to get a non-bunk room

We just returned from our first stay at WL and we loved the resort. Love the vibe there - very laid back. The rooms were very similar to Beach Club (in terms of structure/layout), but I enjoyed this more than Beach Club. Construction did not impact us much except for not being able to do smores at the fire pit. We loved the pool area and thought the QS was the very good - much better than at Contemporary.

We were CL because I booked so late that it was the only thing available. I was really looking forward to CL, but was very disappointed in it. The CL CMs were at best disinterested and at most unhelpful, which was a real departure from what I would expect from CL at a Disney resort. (This was our first CL experience at Disney but we have stayed CL/Concierge at many other hotels and on Disney cruises.) We were really unimpressed with the breakfast offerings - any bread product tasted like it had been sitting out for days - stale and dry. I was really counting on the lounge to be our breakfast, but it was just very blah. To be honest, we've had better breakfasts at Hampton Inn! The kids loved the desserts in the evening, though.

Anyway, we will definitely consider WL again - it's just beautiful and we loved the proximity to MK but the secluded nature of the resort.

Thank you for reporting back to us about your CL stay. It does sound like it was lackluster and disappointing. It might be worth mentioning in an email or survey your disappointment, especially when compared with other CL experiences.

These pictures were taken on Saturday, Oct 24th, which is two days before the official construction was scheduled to begin. The first two pictures are of the maintenance of the lodge on the south wing. You can tell that they are working on the siding here.



These walls were put up between the south wing rooms and the villas quiet pool. At the time we were there the villas pool was open and had people using it.


The picture above is the wall in front of the playground, beach and fire pit.

The beach was open when we were there. The marina was open, too.


This was the beginning of the nature trail, right behind the marina building, by the bike rack.

We walked down the jogging path to Fort Wilderness and there was another one of these signs located where the nature path meets the road to Ft Wilderness. We didn't see any signs of construction equipment when we were there.

Thank you so much, @Wood Nymph!! These are great photos and I'm going to cross-post them to the Expansion thread. We need to have you permanently located there to keep us updated on the progress

 

[Wood Nymph]

We need to have you permanently located there to keep us updated on the progress

DH would love that.

But you only have to wait until Jan before we are back again.

 

[WDWKOOK]

New Refillable Mugs Rolling Out Across Walt Disney World Resorts

Still not a resort-specific mug like in the good ol' days, but at least this new mug references some resorts and has some resorts pictured on it!​

 

[aVASTGrl]

Here now, and the beach is officially closed. There are walls up around the Hidden Springs Pool, but it's still open, yay! Going for a swim there in a few hours. There's some scaffolding up on the Lodge rooms that face HS Pool, but construction noise seems to be minimal, and I haven't heard a peep from my southside inner courtyard room.

I'm staying CL, but have had the complete opposite experience from PP. All of the CL CM's I've encountered have been warm and friendly, and very helpful! I'm not a big breakfast eater, so the fresh fruit and the juice and coffee suit me just fine. I'm really enjoying my stay! PP, sorry to hear that your experience hasn't been great

 

[Wood Nymph]

Thanks for the update. I figured that it wouldn't be long before they closed things up to move equipment into the work area. Enjoy the Hidden Springs pool while you can. We love that pool and hope they bring back the bubbling springs when they rebuild it.

I'm staying CL, but have had the complete opposite experience from PP. All of the CL CM's I've encountered have been warm and friendly, and very helpful! I'm not a big breakfast eater, so the fresh fruit and the juice and coffee suit me just fine. I'm really enjoying my stay! PP, sorry to hear that your experience hasn't been great

I'm glad to hear that you've had a good club level experience. We are trying club level for the first time in January and can't wait to see what it is like. I have a feeling that I will miss bacon, though.