Does where you live affect how much you enjoy WL?

[Minderbinder5]

I've been wondering this for a long time...

A lot of people say WL is their favorite resort at WDW. But is that affected by where you live? It seems to me that the theming of WL is much more magical if you come from a state that doesn't offer an abundance of places already like it. I live in Colorado, and I decided to stay at AKL because I didn't want to go to Florida just to stay in a hotel similar to what we have at home. I'm not knocking WL at all (it IS beautiful), I'm just wondering if the reason so many people like it is the same reason so many travellers like Colorado...it's not what they have at home.

 

[califred]

The WL has little appeal to me either b/c my inlaws live in the PNW so I can see places like that whenever I want to go visit.

That's what I love about DW, they have a hotel for everyone.

 

[Stitch Inside]

I've seen it posted many times. People from New Orleans don't want to stay at POFQ, people from the SW don't want to do CSR, and people from the south don't want POR. The CR is not contemporary. BWI and Y/BC are not as good as the hotels at "the Shore". Different strokes... Where do people from Florida not want to stay, considering they have every kind of hotel imaginable?

 

[AJKMOM]

Since I live in PA., and there is nothing to compare with Disney-go figure- I love to see all the resorts, especially the deluxe and moderates. However, I have read here that the resorts some can see at home- WL for westerners, Coronado Springs for Arizonians, POFQ and POR for New Orleans residents, hold no appeal. Ditto for New Englanders and BC/YC and BC.

Pennsylvanians with no theme like everything!

 

[oogieboogie]

I'm not an outdoorsy person by far. I hate camping and I don't get the whole PNW area. Too many trees. I don't like log cabins, etc.

BUT... I love WL!!!!! I like it because it feels homey, it's compact, it's near MK but not on a monorail line - you get a nice boat ride instead, the setting is beautiful, and every time I hear the lobby music, it energizes me and makes me want to go go go and do things.

I love the big roaring fire in the fireplace, the small fireplace in the gift shop. I love the pool because it's funky shaped, and I love the bunkbed rooms. I love the decor of the rooms and I love getting a chance to be Flag Family. I love Whispering Canyon too!

 

[MissTink]

I can see how this topic might come up. I've thought about it plenty of times myself. I definitely enjoy the experience at WL because I've never really been anywhere that looks like that. Coming from S. FL which is very much caribbean based, I don't ever get to see and be a part of such a beautiful environment. I have wondered at times how people feel staying at WL that live kind of in the 'wilderness' themselves. They must just feel right at home...

As for the rest of us, we get to experience something we would otherwise never get to be a part of ourselves.

 

[mommykds]

I kind of think that way. We live in NY & we have pine trees & that look here..I don't want to see pine trees in florida..I want to see palm trees because we don't have palm trees in NY, but hey, that's just me. WL looks like a beautiful warm resort but just not what I would like in a florida Disney vacation. I like the beachy, sandy, boardwalk theme. I also love Cape Cod so that may have something to do with it!

We are staying at the POR in Oct but I am not totally thrilled with that because again, it's not my kind of theming. I hear it is a lovely resort & I am sure we will have fun, but I don't want shady landscaping in FL..We are locked into the POR because we need affordble room for 5 & don't want to do 2 rooms at the all stars (kids are too little). Hoping for an good AP so we can switch to CR or BC

Anyway, Its up to the individual..that's whats so great about staying on Disney property..there is a wide variety of themed resorts made for everyones tastes...

 

[zalansky]

We live in Florida so we love the WL theming and stay there almost every time we visit.

 

[CamColt]

I was just having this conversation with my hairdresser last night. She recently came back from her first visit to WDW in years. She told me at 1 point her bus went to the WL and asked me what I thought of it because it looked nice.
IMO, its a very nice hotel, and I would love to stay there...if it were in Canada, or the mountains or some cold place. Living in New England, I would have a hard time going to Florida (the land of sunshine) and staying in a woodsy type cold weather feeling place. Like I said, I think its very nice, but I couldnt stay there in Florida. Give me palm trees and beaches!

 

[Disneyjosh229]

Where from Michigan. I can think of 10 hotels off the top of my head around here that look EXACTLY like WL. Its a nice hotel and all, but i'd rather stay at GF or Poly! Much more unique

 

[kjs1976]

When I was a part of the WDWCP, we would go there to rock in the chairs by the fire place. I live in Mn and spent summers as a child at a a cabin up North in the wilderness. It helped with my homesickness and also was a great way to relax where you felt like you were out of the way and in a more secluded area.

 

[Mousemom]

I live in the PNW and love it. From what I have read the WL is designed after the lodges we have here, and we have stayed in on ski trips. In the past we have stayed at resorts that are completely different than what we have here but this December we are going to stay at the WL. I have read that it is really beautiful and have heard people from this area stay there and really like it. My eye doctor just got back from WDW and he stayed at the WL and loved it. I can't wait to see it decorated for Christmas. We wanted to take a Christmas trip but still get the feel of home so we feel like this will be the best of both.

 

[Mousemom]

I live in the PNW and love it. From what I have read the WL is designed after the lodges we have here, and we have stayed in on ski trips. In the past we have stayed at resorts that are completely different than what we have here but this December we are going to stay at the WL. I have read that it is really beautiful and have heard people from this area stay there and really like it. My eye doctor just got back from WDW and he stayed at the WL and loved it. I can't wait to see it decorated for Christmas. We wanted to take a Christmas trip but still get the feel of home so we feel like this will be the best of both.

 

[*Fantasia*]

I'm from Michigan. There's plenty of pine trees here. I am not a winter person. I am not a camper. I don't do ski and never stepped my foot in at any ski lodges here. I am a very exotic tropical kind of girl... with that said... I love WL!! This is the only wintery feeling and camping feeling I would want.
WL is just beautiful... just breathaking!! It is a very relaxing atmosphere.

Don't get me wrong... I love palm trees.. I love coconut trees.. I love exotic plants and fruits and flowers. I love warm weather. I love strolling along the shore. I am an islander kind of gal. But WL just blows me away!!

 

[lab_girl]

...I would have a hard time going to Florida (the land of sunshine) and staying in a woodsy type cold weather feeling place. Like I said, I think its very nice, but I couldnt stay there in Florida. Give me palm trees and beaches!

My sentiments EXACTLY!
I LIVE in the Wilderness up here....where's the beach???

 

[DisneyJen0504]

I think this plays into the resort we choose. We love CSR and would love to stay at the Polynesian or Boardwalk. POR/POFQ or WL arent appealing to us b/c when we think of WDW, we think of sunshine, palm trees, sand..you get the picture.
That is why it is so great that WDW has so many choices!

 

[septbride2002]

I have to agree with CamColt. The Wilderness Lodge reminds me of snowy slopes in Colorado - not warm and sunny Florida. Not to mention, I'm just not into the Native American Decor. It does nothing for me. I almost stayed at WL for our Christmas trip since everyone said it was the best - I am so glad I changed my mind. We did stop by the resort and took pictures but I just can't say I would have liked staying there.

That being said, I still want to try and eat at Artist Point and the outside courtyard is breathtaking.

I have stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge and LOVED it!

~Amanda

 

[chiconh]

We are from New Hampshire and absolutely love the WL. We do camp, but I don't think that has anything to do with it. The hotel is beautiful, easy to get around and has plenty to do. That being said, I hated Whispering Canyon. We tried it twice and was dissapointed both times. I guess I'm in the minority but that's why we are all different.

 

[Phrank40]

I live in mountains of North Carolina, trees and waterfalls all over the place, I can go to the Grove Park Inn resort and see all kind of rock and wood construction so one might think Wilderness Lodge would not be my favorite place. However, for whatever reason it is my favorite Disney resort. Just love the atmosphere and theming.

Phrank

 

[*Fantasia*]

I love WC! As long as the server doesn't bother us, we were fine. I guess the reason why the server didn't bother us is bcoz it was just me and my two children sitting right by the fireplace and it was nice and cozy and she probably didn't want to ruin that "serenity" for us.

The food was great!! I love the food. I forgot what I had, but I enjoyed it!

What I don't like about WC is that sometimes they get soooo LOUD!! Which I don't think it's funny anymore. We were sitting in the lobby and all I hear is NOISE! That just take that "peace and tranquilty" away from this beautiful breathaking lodge.