Disney's WILDERNESS LODGE Information & Questions

[MaggiesMomNJ]

The majority of the construction is on the beach where they are building the new restaurant or whatever it is. Disney does a good job of blocking the view of the construction from the public so most of the work can only be viewed from the villas building rooms that face the lake. We need to have some of those guests reporting back here.

I would stay somewhere else in December. I imagine the cabin construction to be in full swing by then, although I could be wrong. On the other hand, if you are the type of guest who plans to stay in the parks during construction hours, then I don't think you'll hear any noise from it.

It really all depends on what kind of vacation you are looking for.

We love the resort and spent more time there than at the park last time... Maybe we will stick to gf but ouch on the price...

 

[AngiTN]

We made it and love our room
We got 6004, so a long way from the lobby but with having to use the side elevators it seems fine

Got a great view of the castle and there is lone tree left that blocks the construction from view. Not that I'm one to be concerned about seeing a little construction, I'm not. It doesn't take away any magic for me at all

One thing though, something that never occurred to me in regards to the construction, the workers have quite the potty mouths. They were letting the curse words fly, enough to make a sailor's toes curl. Maybe it was a rare thing, no idea. Having grown up the daughter of a contractor I was around a lot of them and know it's pretty normal conversational words for them. Just not sure it's normal, or well received at a Disney property

Anyway, it is something to be aware of I guess

 

[kansasdisneygal]

Can any one confirm if the boat to MK is running or not? Just checking for a friend that has a reservation at whispering canyon and planned to ride the boat from MK. Thanks!

 

[bjscheel]

The boats were running yesterday and the day before. I think the only day they didn't run was Wednesday.

 

[AngiTN]

Can any one confirm if the boat to MK is running or not? Just checking for a friend that has a reservation at whispering canyon and planned to ride the boat from MK. Thanks!

Yep, we took it back from the park about an hour ago

 

[momofmikey]

Hi, I posted a separate question, but thought I'd have better luck with the experts here. We are a family of five currently booked at Yacht Club. A friend suggested I look into the studio at WL because we spend a lot of time at MK. What is the size of the pullout sofa? My boys are 15 and 13 and very tall. There is no way they could sleep together on a double bed which is what it says online. Disney told me that the bed is a queen size though. Can anyone confim what size it really is?

 

[Ellie Badge]

Hi everyone, I'm checking in in a few weeks and it looks like I may have to spend a few hours one morning of our trip working remotely. I searched the forums for information on wifi speeds but most results were a few years out of date. If anyone is staying there currently, would you be so kind as to run an internet speed test (just go to www.speedtest.net) and let me know what the present upload and download speeds are at the Lodge? That will help me plan my day and see if I'm able to work from the room or if I'll have to figure out a plan B, perhaps find a Starbucks or something nearby. THANK you!!

 

[ErinC]

Hi, I posted a separate question, but thought I'd have better luck with the experts here. We are a family of five currently booked at Yacht Club. A friend suggested I look into the studio at WL because we spend a lot of time at MK. What is the size of the pullout sofa? My boys are 15 and 13 and very tall. There is no way they could sleep together on a double bed which is what it says online. Disney told me that the bed is a queen size though. Can anyone confim what size it really is?

The pullout is a full size, not a queen and then you will have the pull down twin. Not going to lie, when all the beds are in use, the room is tight, but I'm not sure how the square footage compares to a yacht club room. During the day, the sofa and tv pullout can be put up. You would have the kitchenette which is nice if you desire having a fridge and microwave. I don't cook, but we like to have a quick breakfast in the room and then be on our way. You will have to decide if it's just too cramped for you. We are a family of 5 and we have done it for a few days. My girls are 19, 16, and 13. I'm fine with it, but DH feels a little too much estrogen in the room!

 

[Wood Nymph]

Hi, I posted a separate question, but thought I'd have better luck with the experts here. We are a family of five currently booked at Yacht Club. A friend suggested I look into the studio at WL because we spend a lot of time at MK. What is the size of the pullout sofa? My boys are 15 and 13 and very tall. There is no way they could sleep together on a double bed which is what it says online. Disney told me that the bed is a queen size though. Can anyone confim what size it really is?

We love the WL and it is a great resort but you might want to consider keeping your reservation at YC since you have a family of five. The room at the Yacht Club would be bigger than the studio at VWL and you would get a daybed there, which is much bigger then the Murphy bed in the studio. Our son used to sleep in the daybed and he is 6'4". The pool at the YC/BC is lots of fun and the slide is much bigger then the small slide at WL. Being able to walk to two parks, Epcot and DHS, is much nicer than having to take buses to these parks. The bus to MK from the YC only makes one stop, at the BC, then has a fifteen minute ride to MK. It isn't as quick as traveling to and from the MK from VWL, but it isn't bad.

 

[NightAngelX]

Can anyone help me convince my husband to stay at Wilderness lodge?

So far we've only ever stayed AKL and Pop (he hated Pop). This upcoming trip will be a big trip with his entire family. His parents are very traveled and only deluxe will be acceptable to them (even though they claim to be happy anywhere, I honestly think they should be club level too but DH and I don't need that). DH really wants to stay at the contemporary because of the monorail. He rides an ECV when we are at Disney due to his severe arthritis, however, he's also a big guy and he feels judged when he is getting loaded onto the buses before others. I've offered that we can take the boat to MK or Contemporary to catch the monorail, but that doesn't seem to help. He also knows that we will still have to take buses to AK and DHS regardless. Originally my idea was an Epcot hotel so we could walk/boat to Epcot and DHS easily, but he does not like any of those resorts either. He likes the theme of WL and he loved AKL but he hated the buses. So at least I have that working for me. He would probably be okay with any of the monorail hotels but Contemporary is his favorite. If this post isn't appropriate here please let me know, I just thought you all would be the experts on the many good things about WL. I've searched online and visited the unofficial website and I've skimmed through some of your 194 pages. Personally I feel it is the perfect mix of deluxe, location and price.
Oh I should mention price is an issue to me. DH wouldn't hesitate to pay for the contemporary but I do.

Thank you in advance!

 

[AngiTN]

Could you compromise with the CR Garden rooms? They are not as high as the tower but not as low as WL standard.
Another option would be Poly, which is also less than the tower rooms at CR (I think)

The boat issue to be aware of is he will only be able to use half the boats (roughly) since they often alternate boats and only the enclosed ones can take an ECV. It may become a PITA if you plan to take them not only to MK but to CR too.

 

[NightAngelX]

Could you compromise with the CR Garden rooms? They are not as high as the tower but not as low as WL standard.
Another option would be Poly, which is also less than the tower rooms at CR (I think)

The boat issue to be aware of is he will only be able to use half the boats (roughly) since they often alternate boats and only the enclosed ones can take an ECV. It may become a PITA if you plan to take them not only to MK but to CR too.

Oh no, I didn't know he could only use half the boats. Videos made it look like either the Epcot boats or the really big one that goes out of MK (I forget where it goes but we road it once lol, it was 2 stories and huge!). I may have to rethink our options. Thanks for the info!

 

[racefans44]

Just booked today. May 6 - 12, 2017. Standard room. Tammy and Cole

 

[AngiTN]

Oh no, I didn't know he could only use half the boats. Videos made it look like either the Epcot boats or the really big one that goes out of MK (I forget where it goes but we road it once lol, it was 2 stories and huge!). I may have to rethink our options. Thanks for the info!

The boat options are linked in the first post of this thread. You'll find pictures of the 2 types of boats that go to the MK resorts.
The ferry doesn't go to WL (or any resort) at all, just TTC and MK.
The boats that serve the Epcot resorts are different from the MK boats

 

[Ndusmama]

Oh no, I didn't know he could only use half the boats. Videos made it look like either the Epcot boats or the really big one that goes out of MK (I forget where it goes but we road it once lol, it was 2 stories and huge!). I may have to rethink our options. Thanks for the info!

Have you considered the poly. I think it's the best of MK resorts for transportation. Not necessarily my type of theme. Prices are similar to WL.

 

[Starwind]

Can anyone help me convince my husband to stay at Wilderness lodge?

So far we've only ever stayed AKL and Pop (he hated Pop). This upcoming trip will be a big trip with his entire family. His parents are very traveled and only deluxe will be acceptable to them (even though they claim to be happy anywhere, I honestly think they should be club level too but DH and I don't need that). DH really wants to stay at the contemporary because of the monorail. He rides an ECV when we are at Disney due to his severe arthritis, however, he's also a big guy and he feels judged when he is getting loaded onto the buses before others. I've offered that we can take the boat to MK or Contemporary to catch the monorail, but that doesn't seem to help. He also knows that we will still have to take buses to AK and DHS regardless. Originally my idea was an Epcot hotel so we could walk/boat to Epcot and DHS easily, but he does not like any of those resorts either. He likes the theme of WL and he loved AKL but he hated the buses. So at least I have that working for me. He would probably be okay with any of the monorail hotels but Contemporary is his favorite. If this post isn't appropriate here please let me know, I just thought you all would be the experts on the many good things about WL. I've searched online and visited the unofficial website and I've skimmed through some of your 194 pages. Personally I feel it is the perfect mix of deluxe, location and price.

I also use an ECV if I will be going to the parks.

One thing I found at WL: many people use the boat to get to MK. To be honest, I prefer it too -- nice and relaxing !! But that means that the BUS to MK (which is a short ~5 minute trip) doesn't have a lot of people on it much of the time, at least going to MK.

I try to not overthink what others may or may not be thinking about me - for one thing, I don't like having people attribute thing to my supposed thinking when they are wrong, so why would I want to do the same to others ? Also, I remind myself that even when there is a big line for a bus, the ECVs and wheelchairs are loaded on first for EVERYBODY's SAFETY -- mine and the other passengers. It isn't possible to load an ECV onto a full bus. Also, I have experienced many times where there are several ECVs in line. The first couple get loaded but then the rest have to wait for another bus. I have watched while all the walking people in line were able to get on that first bus. Once, I had to wait until the third bus to actually get loaded. So, I would say it probably "evens out" over the long haul. Its as simple as changing one's mindset/thinking, but also as difficult as that.

SW

 

[Starwind]

ot sure if this has been mentioned yet or not...

Last night I was pricing out our hotels, including a night at WL or WLV, for December 2017. As part of that I did a lot of looking at WL pricing in 2016 and 2017. It quickly became clear that "Woods View" is no longer a bookable option for 2016 or 2017.

SW

 

[AngiTN]

ot sure if this has been mentioned yet or not...

Last night I was pricing out our hotels, including a night at WL or WLV, for December 2017. As part of that I did a lot of looking at WL pricing in 2016 and 2017. It quickly became clear that "Woods View" is no longer a bookable option for 2016 or 2017.

SW

Yeah, it's been off for this year

 

[bjscheel]

The front desk told us at check-in last week that we'd been upgraded to "woods view", though I knew that didn't mean much this year. It was a great location anyhow.

We've been back home for a few days and I've been thinking I may want to always stay at WL in the future. I'm really happy we made the switch from POR, partly because DD14 had just returned from a choir trip to New Orleans and she was totally over having any more of that theme. Well worth the extra $38 to stay here.

I had been concerned about Roaring Forks' limited menu, but it was enough choices for the number of times we ate there. We are plain eaters, and honestly, most of my favorite meals were at RF. And as long as they have a kids pasta, DD14 is good to go any day of the week. I had it too on our departure day!

I do wonder how much different it would have been if it was at full capacity, it was nice that there weren't crowds at the pool, bus, boat, or dining.

 

[Dave006]

...I do wonder how much different it would have been if it was at full capacity, it was nice that there weren't crowds at the pool, bus, boat, or dining.

Well while you were there about 50% of the lodge rooms were closed for construction. So your next visit will seem busy compared to your recent experience. Roaring Fork and WCC are both very busy when the resort is at capacity.

Dave