Disney's WILDERNESS LODGE Information & Questions

[Wallflower]

There may be hope. I called asking about the tree probably about 5 times in the last month. It's possible the guest service woman finally just said no to get me to stop calling. I was surprised to get a yes or no answer this time. If Tink was told the week before thanksgiving, it's possible who I talked to could've been wrong and it will go up before the 20th. It's hard to know just what they mean by the week before Thanksgiving.

 

[rcraw45425]

I'm glad I booked March with the passholder discount when I did!

Thanks for the input "tink"!

same Trish! We're coming March 18-21

 

[trishadono]

Ah man...we've wanted to stay at WL since our first trip, finally do it, and the tree won't be up?? Hope it magically appears one morning while we're there. Otherwise I'm back to the drawing board for my Christmas card pic

I go so many times in November I can tell you there is no way to predict when the trees go up in the resorts.

There has been Disney CMs you insist they know etc but in the end it seems to always follow a pattern different than what was posted.

You may just get lucky! I was at poly CL 11/14 the tree went up in the lounge overnight to the delight of my Mom. It wasn't supposed to be Polys turn.

Sometimes I get lucky others not. I do enjoy the trees in the parks and take time to see them(not rush past).

I also visit some resorts that are decorated. The gingerbread house is always up first and a picture there might be nice too?

My fingers are crossed for WL to be first since it is my favorite tree. I won't be there but will enjoy some of you posting pix of it

 

[tinkwings]

Oh I assumed he meant THAT week of Thanksgiving, but yes its a poof....overnight its all up thingy. Think I saw a bit of décor like lights in the display cases outside the store...otherwise MK was full blast and AK had its big tree up outside entrance. Saw nothing at Epcot and did not do DHS.

As for the jackhammering, I asked the cashier at the Roaring Fork how she had endured that racket and she said it was only day 2 so not so bad. I would assume that its a rip out and that noisiest part should be done quickly. You get a good view of the outbuildings when you ride the boat. Odd parts of the lobby access on each floor are blocked off, some I can't figure why but it doesn't detract from your enjoyment of the lobby especially if you face North! First day we got a phone call that they would be turning off the POWER between 4-6AM for some construction related thing, and it was nice of them to call but I did sleep through it..... OH and I so did appreciate the newer wait time board for the bus arrivals....

 

[tinkwings]

Oh yes and when I wrote to the IPO they forwarded my requests to the CO MANAGERS of leadership of the Club level...they seem to share an iphone. Jay and Clare. And I just rechecked my email and they stated "closer to Thanksgiving" for the tree being up....vs someone telling me week before otherwise.

 

[rcraw45425]

We were CL there 11/09 checking out the day before Thanksgiving and everything was decorated then. The year before we were at the GF and they had always had the gingerbread house up early early November. Well that year they decided to wait and we saw them starting when we checked out Truly is a crap shoot on decorations. We were at AKL beginning 1/2/13 and everything was still up throughout or stay but other places, poof, gone overnight

 

[tinkwings]

Was at WL beginning 1/2/13 and actually its décor was up until the morning of the 4th. Because I remember eating breakfast and googling at it at least one day....might have to check my pics to see if it was even up on the 4th....MK was still quite decorated all week.

 

[Cluelyss]

Hi all!! Question for the WL vets.....

We are booked for 3 nights at POFQ in December. Always wanted to stay at WL during the holidays, but there were no discounts available during our dates. Now, however, there is a PH rate on a CL room for our arrival night, only. As we are arriving early in the day and will be doing MVMCP that night, thinking the club would be the perfect place to relax if our room is not ready when we check in.

I also thought the boat would be a better option for getting to MK than the bus from POFQ (or driving to TTC). But I've read a few things here that make me think otherwise....so looking for honest opinions on the boat transportation to MK, particularly on party nights? Any better if we were to boat to CR and walk?

My 2 concerns about arrival day are the kids getting a nap before the party and ease of transportation to the party....so hopeful I can accomplish both here....and I can also get my WL Christmas fix!

Thanks so much!!

 

[alliecat523]

We've purposefully stayed at WL during the Christmas party just to have the boat access. It's a great perk and you don't feel like you're in the crush of people trying to leave the parks at the end of the night.

 

[Cluelyss]

We've purposefully stayed at WL during the Christmas party just to have the boat access. It's a great perk and you don't feel like you're in the crush of people trying to leave the parks at the end of the night.

Thank you - this is great to hear!!

 

[Wallflower]

Does anybody know if the microwaves at Roaring Fork are available even if the store is closed? I can't remember if they have doors that they close to the restaurant after hours or not. Also, do the fridgerators in the room have a little freezer compartment?

 

[Wood Nymph]

I also thought the boat would be a better option for getting to MK than the bus from POFQ (or driving to TTC). But I've read a few things here that make me think otherwise....so looking for honest opinions on the boat transportation to MK, particularly on party nights? Any better if we were to boat to CR and walk?

We stayed at the WL for a MNNSHP and the boat service was great. It is also good at park closing on regular nights. We love the boat service.

Does anybody know if the microwaves at Roaring Fork are available even if the store is closed? I can't remember if they have doors that they close to the restaurant after hours or not. Also, do the fridgerators in the room have a little freezer compartment?

I know that the food service area of Roaring Forks has doors that close. But I can't remember if the dining room section is closed during off hours.

The refrigerators in the rooms do not have freezer compartments. As far as I know the only resort rooms that have refrigerators with freezers are DVC units.

 

[danc18]

Hi all!! Question for the WL vets.....

We are booked for 3 nights at POFQ in December. Always wanted to stay at WL during the holidays, but there were no discounts available during our dates. Now, however, there is a PH rate on a CL room for our arrival night, only. As we are arriving early in the day and will be doing MVMCP that night, thinking the club would be the perfect place to relax if our room is not ready when we check in.

I also thought the boat would be a better option for getting to MK than the bus from POFQ (or driving to TTC). But I've read a few things here that make me think otherwise....so looking for honest opinions on the boat transportation to MK, particularly on party nights? Any better if we were to boat to CR and walk?

My 2 concerns about arrival day are the kids getting a nap before the party and ease of transportation to the party....so hopeful I can accomplish both here....and I can also get my WL Christmas fix!

Thanks so much!!

Just back from WL club level and I specifically chose this bc of the boat transportation with small kids. It was awesome. Because the hotel is half empty, daytime boats were nearly empty and ran often. I did see the night boat more full and the bustle in the hotel was much different at night. I think the boat is the way to go. Also, anyone having reservations about WL during construction, I can verify what many others have said. No noise, no impact at all , just the bonus of the empty hotel, uncrowded pool (on Sunday more lifeguards than swimmers) and noone in the OFC most of the time.

 

[wifeofjh]

What are the lines/waits like for the boat back to WL after MK closing?

 

[Cluelyss]

Just back from WL club level and I specifically chose this bc of the boat transportation with small kids. It was awesome. Because the hotel is half empty, daytime boats were nearly empty and ran often. I did see the night boat more full and the bustle in the hotel was much different at night. I think the boat is the way to go. Also, anyone having reservations about WL during construction, I can verify what many others have said. No noise, no impact at all , just the bonus of the empty hotel, uncrowded pool (on Sunday more lifeguards than swimmers) and noone in the OFC most of the time.

Thank you!! This is exactly the info I needed....and was hoping for!!!

 

[Wallflower]

Thanks for letting me know about the fridgerator/freezer. Does anybody have pictures of the construction that is going on outside the roaring fork that Tink talked about (ripping out concrete) ? I didn't know anything was being done there. It was a nice place to sit while you ate.

 

[alliecat523]

What are the lines/waits like for the boat back to WL after MK closing?

Not bad at all. We've never had to wait for a second boat due to the line (at any time). As previously mentioned, with the hotel half empty there are far fewer people waiting to get back that way. And after closing, it's just those staying there and really no other folks with ADRs, etc.

I'll also add that during my recent solo stay in October, I had one of the big boats entirely to myself!! This was mid afternoon going from the hotel to MK.

 

[tinkwings]

Thanks for letting me know about the fridgerator/freezer. Does anybody have pictures of the construction that is going on outside the roaring fork that Tink talked about (ripping out concrete) ? I didn't know anything was being done there. It was a nice place to sit while you ate.

It was completely walled off on all sides....I did peek into quickly when a guy opened the wall to come out....but could not see much. I am thinking they would repour and someone would see and take pics, but just maybe they were only jackhammering out areas for support beams for the overhead shelter.....had I been able to go out on the balcony of the OFC I could have seen down but no access was allowed. Darn.

And YES those boats have always been awesome, only once on way back did we have to wait a bit, I have found if you hang out at the park a good 15 minutes after fireworks and the mass exodus, its so much more pleasant to get out. They usually run the larger boats too in the evening. Years ago there was only one boat which stopped at Contemporary, the Fort Wilderness Campground....and once they separated those boats I have been so happy to zip over to my favorite park via boat....it's the ONLY way to go imho.

 

[goopysolelady]

Hi all!! Question for the WL vets.....

We are booked for 3 nights at POFQ in December. Always wanted to stay at WL during the holidays, but there were no discounts available during our dates. Now, however, there is a PH rate on a CL room for our arrival night, only. As we are arriving early in the day and will be doing MVMCP that night, thinking the club would be the perfect place to relax if our room is not ready when we check in.

I also thought the boat would be a better option for getting to MK than the bus from POFQ (or driving to TTC). But I've read a few things here that make me think otherwise....so looking for honest opinions on the boat transportation to MK, particularly on party nights? Any better if we were to boat to CR and walk?

My 2 concerns about arrival day are the kids getting a nap before the party and ease of transportation to the party....so hopeful I can accomplish both here....and I can also get my WL Christmas fix!

Thanks so much!!

It's a beautiful boat ride to the MK for the party. The CR tree was shining brightly and the twinkling lights from the MK put everyone in a festive mood. DD and I were talking about this earlier this evening...the eve of the morning we left for DW and WL last year.

What are the lines/waits like for the boat back to WL after MK closing?

Party night was a very short wait; 3 days later it took F-O-R-E-V-E-R. A sudden downpour and continued heavy rain emptied the MK rapidly. We decided to brave the rain for some "walk on" rides...until DD's and DGD's took me to the JINGLE CRUISE IN THE DOWNPOUR! We walked on...enjoyed the "cruise" and oldest DD and I headed for the exit while youngest DD took her niece's on the rides. It was cold~wet and we thought the boat would never come! My thought was the weather may have delayed it but we were quite miserable waiting...all we wanted was a hot shower and warm bed!

 

[jon18uk]

Does anybody know if the microwaves at Roaring Fork are available even if the store is closed? I can't remember if they have doors that they close to the restaurant after hours or not. Also, do the fridgerators in the room have a little freezer compartment?

I never walked past at night, there are doors that can be closed to the seating area, but given Roaring Fork is open 6am to midnight it was open whenever I walked past!