Disney's WILDERNESS LODGE Information & Questions

[MomOTwins]

Hello all! First time on this thread! We are thinking of staying here for our first time! It’s so beautiful and I can’t get over how much it looks like the lodge at Yellowstone which we were at in 2018.

Anyway, we would be flying down for 10 days in mid June and would do 2.5 days at the beginning of the trip at Universal and then head over to Disney for a week.

If we took an Uber over from our Universal hotel to Wilderness Lodge early in the morning...can we leave our luggage at the front desk and go to the park?

I wasn’t sure if they were still offering this type of service with the covid restrictions?

Yes, only difference is they won’t put it in your room without you there any more, so you’ll need to stop by bell service again when you return to the resort after the parks.

 

[april8986]

Good Morning! Planning on staying at The Wilderness Lodge for the first time January of 2022 with adult daughter. Any recommendations on choosing a room type? Is there a big difference in the different categories? Just got back from a theme park view at the Contemporary, and it was wonderful!

 

[GrandCalifornian]

Good Morning! Planning on staying at The Wilderness Lodge for the first time January of 2022 with adult daughter. Any recommendations on choosing a room type? Is there a big difference in the different categories? Just got back from a theme park view at the Contemporary, and it was wonderful!

For the different bookable view categories at WL the rooms are absolutely identical. Because of this, we tend to book the lowest cost available. Be aware that the lower cost ones tend to fill quickly. The Deluxe rooms are located at the end of the wing and are actually larger rooms and include Club Level access.
For completeness, you also have options of Copper Creek Villas in the same building as the WL hotel rooms, and Boulder Ridge villas in the connected building next door. These have studios and 1,2,and 3 bedroom rooms available through Disney for cash reservations, at a price.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Speaking of Deluxe Rooms. C’MON DISNEY, let us book them. I’m good with no CL, I just want to see what they’ve done with those rooms!

 

[Wood Nymph]

Good Morning! Planning on staying at The Wilderness Lodge for the first time January of 2022 with adult daughter. Any recommendations on choosing a room type? Is there a big difference in the different categories? Just got back from a theme park view at the Contemporary, and it was wonderful!

There are basically two views at WL. One side of the resort faces the courtyard and the other side faces Bay Lake. All of the room types that are NOT courtyard view will be on the lake side of the resort. Standard view rooms will be above the service area, but some of these rooms will have a partial view of fireworks from MK. The nature view rooms can be located above the lobby but do not have a good fireworks view. You see mostly trees from these rooms. Nature view rooms are also located in the north wing, which is the section of the resort closest to the boat dock. Many of these rooms have a great view of fireworks. Just ask for a high floor. Deluxe rooms face Bay Lake and most don't have a view of fireworks.

We always book a nature view room and request a nice view when we book the room. I also have them list a request for an open balcony because I do not like the dormer balconies that the rooms on the top floor have.

 

[april8986]

Thank you for all of your help!

 

[1GoldenSun]

I just want to make sure--WL does have pack and plays available, correct, they're just not already in the rooms? Is there a cost?

I was going to just bring one but I'd rather not use up the space in the car. I'm meeting my brother's family there and they're riding back to Tampa with me; with two car seats space will be limited!

I have another question: do they have the First Visit buttons at the resorts? If not, is there any place other than the parks to pick those up? I'd love to have those ready for my nieces when they arrive.

And one more question: if I bring milk for the toddler and the room isn't ready when I arrive, can they store it in a refrigerator for me? I was once asked if I had anything that needed to be refrigerated when I left my bags for a while on check-out day at Boardwalk, but I didn't know if all the resorts can do this any time.

 

[Best Aunt]

I just want to make sure--(1) WL does have pack and plays available, correct, they're just not already in the rooms? Is there a cost?

I was going to just bring one but I'd rather not use up the space in the car. I'm meeting my brother's family there and they're riding back to Tampa with me; with two car seats space will be limited!

(2) I have another question: do they have the First Visit buttons at the resorts? If not, is there any place other than the parks to pick those up? I'd love to have those ready for my nieces when they arrive.

(3) And one more question: if I bring milk for the toddler and the room isn't ready when I arrive, can they store it in a refrigerator for me? I was once asked if I had anything that needed to be refrigerated when I left my bags for a while on check-out day at Boardwalk, but I didn't know if all the resorts can do this any time.

I'll make the first attempt at responding (while I procrastinate). You may get better replies from other people.

(1) If you have a DVC room (Boulder Ridge Villas or Copper Creek Villas) - they used to have Pack and Plays in the closets of DVC rooms. Lately there have been reports from different resorts that they are not in the rooms. I assume you can request one but am not speaking from first-hand experience.

(2) Pre-Covid, buttons used to be available at the front desk of resorts and at Guest Services in the parks. The Guest Services lines could be slow because you were in the same line as people who had complicated issues. Once I was waiting in a Guest Services line in a park and a cast member came through with buttons so people did not have to wait. I have picked up "I'm Celebrating:" buttons where you use a Sharpie to fill in what you're celebrating. They might still have those if they no longer have the First Visit buttons. I don't know if shops have them behind the counter.

(3) Bell Services should have a refrigerator where they can store your milk if your room is not ready when you arrive.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

@1GoldenSun - during my last WL stay in November, they had the pins nicely set out at the front desk for you to grab on your own without CM assistance. Not sure if they are doing that all the time or what, but I suspect they are. Hope that helps.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Is the bus still running to MK?

 

[GrandCalifornian]

Is the bus still running to MK?

Absolutely, and it is as quick as ever. Not generally as much fun as the boats but a great option.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Is the bus still running to MK?

Yep - still running as usual. When we were there in November I actually started using it more than the boat (especially going to MK). It was always quick to arrive and never crowded.

 

[maryj11]

They are all "deluxe" studios at the CCV. They have two configurations the default aka Standard layout and the Alternate layout (8 units). The 8 Alternate layout Studios are in areas of the building that have corners. The sleeping area is offset from the main room flow.

Deluxe Alternate Studio locations: 6 on floors 2-7 (rooms ending in x115). Plus 2 more on the first floor at the end of the building (room numbers 1166 and 1168).

Dave

You don’t happen to have a picture of the alternate studio do you?

 

[mrsap]

You don’t happen to have a picture of the alternate studio do you?

Here’s a video of an alternate studio...

 

[maryj11]

Here’s a video of an alternate studio...

Thank you! If are booked just regular deluxe studio can we request one of these?

 

[mrsap]

Thank you!

You’re welcome

 

[GrandCalifornian]

Thank you! If are booked just regular deluxe studio can we request one of these?

Yes, but they make up a small percentage of the studios, so you might not get one but it is worth a try. Also make sure that you don’t book a studio with walk in shower, since these rooms have tubs. Also note that if you don’t get an alternate studio, you will likely be on the first floor.

 

[maryj11]

Yes, but they make up a small percentage of the studios, so you might not get one but it is worth a try. Also make sure that you don’t book a studio with walk in shower, since these rooms have tubs. Also note that if you don’t get an alternate studio, you will likely be on the first floor.

How would I word that in a request? Corner studio or alternate studio?

 

[GrandCalifornian]

How would I word that in a request? Corner studio or alternate studio?

“Alternate studio” or Alternate configuration should work, or you can request an x115 room number on the second floor or higher, or 1166 or 1168 on the first floor.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Good morning WL fans!

FYI, probably something I should have done months ago, but we have a new sticky here on the Resorts Board that is sort of a 'master list' of what is open (and perhaps more importantly, what is closed) at each of the WDW resorts so we can capture that info all in one place. Here now/just back reports are always helpful to ensure we have the latest info and can identify areas where Disney's website is either wrong or has incomplete info.

Here's the link: ***WDW Resorts Open/Closed Detail & FAQ Thread***

Thanks!