Early planning days...thoughts on Wilderness Lodge vs Beach Club?

[Farro]

We would be going during late April, 2023.

Been to both Yacht/Beach a few times. Love it. Love the walk to Epcot.

Wilderness Lodge is where my guy has been wanting to stay forever and with the new rooms (sorry!) I'm actually considering. And it's so very, very Disney which we missed a lot when staying at Gran Destino. We would book a courtyard view.

Now I know we'd lose that walk to 2 parks, but any reasons why WL wins with you personally? Or vice-versa?

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Normally, BC and EPCOT convenience would win us over in your situation. But we also enjoy the new experiences and trying new resorts sometimes. If you have someone who has wished to stay there, I'd say go for it and enjoy the WL. It's beautiful. The dining options at WL and pretty good. We really enjoyed eating outdoors at Geyser Point last year - beautiful views and good food. If you spend time at MK, it's an easy boat ride. If you're doing the other parks, you just have to account for transportation time - but you'll get to enjoy the resort itself! Good luck with your decision.

 

[Farro]

Normally, BC and EPCOT convenience would win us over in your situation. But we also enjoy the new experiences and trying new resorts sometimes. If you have someone who has wished to stay there, I'd say go for it and enjoy the WL. It's beautiful. The dining options at WL and pretty good. We really enjoyed eating outdoors at Geyser Point last year - beautiful views and good food. If you spend time at MK, it's an easy boat ride. If you're doing the other parks, you just have to account for transportation time - but you'll get to enjoy the resort itself! Good luck with your decision.

Thank you! He is undecided too!
Such a hard decision! I don't want to regret not staying at Beach Club. Argh.

 

[Marthasor]

We've stayed at WL and CCV a few times and it's really lovely - beautiful lobby, good dining options, nice boat ride to MK. My only complaints are the rooms are smaller than BC and some of the rooms facing the main pool at WL can be very loud, IMHO. We've also had kind of bad luck with bus transportation from WL - just seemed very slow. We've had the chance to stay at every deluxe and, our go-to, is typically the EP area - for us, convenience to parks just beats everything else at this point. I also really enjoyed staying at WL when we could boat and/or walk to Ft. W and enjoy all of the things that resort has to offer - we would always book HDDR when staying at WL and spend some time doing other activities at the fort. If you go often or you know you will go back, maybe give WL a try? I find, lately, though, when I search resort rates, the WL rooms price out almost as high as BWI/BC/YC and, if that turns out to be the case for your trip, I would probably stick with BC. The room size, small pool and lack of proximity to parks just doesn't put WL in the same league as BC, IMHO.

 

[Farro]

We've stayed at WL and CCV a few times and it's really lovely - beautiful lobby, good dining options, nice boat ride to MK. My only complaints are the rooms are smaller than BC and some of the rooms facing the main pool at WL can be very loud, IMHO. We've also had kind of bad luck with bus transportation from WL - just seemed very slow. We've had the chance to stay at every deluxe and, our go-to, is typically the EP area - for us, convenience to parks just beats everything else at this point. I also really enjoyed staying at WL when we could boat and/or walk to Ft. W and enjoy all of the things that resort has to offer - we would always book HDDR when staying at WL and spend some time doing other activities at the port. If you go often or you know you will go back, maybe give WL a try? I find, lately, though, when I search resort rates, the WL rooms price out almost as high as BWI/BC/YC and, if that turns out to be the case for your trip, I would probably stick with BC. The room size, small pool and lack of proximity to parks just doesn't put WL in the same league as BC, IMHO.

Very helpful, thanks!

 

[gottalovepluto]

I vote split it. MK/EP resort splits are the best. Beach is lovely due to being able to enter EP right there at international gateway, WL is nice with the fast MK access and it’s removed enough from the hustle & bustle of the Magic Kingdom it feels like a tranquil paradise.

If you only do one I’d look at the cost difference. If they aren’t charging a big Premium for BC over WL I’d do BC. If there is a noticeable premium (which there used to be bit sounds like not so much now) I’d go WL.

The other thing is very different room types. BC was the last of the old school remodels so no under bed storage, carpet floors. WL was just finished so raised beds for luggage storage might make the room feel more spacious, that’s a feature I particularly like.

 

[Lisa_lvspplmvr]

I agree with the split stay. It’s the best of both worlds . Have an amazing trip !

 

[Wood Nymph]

This is a really hard decision to make, especially if you don't go to WDW very often. We are big fans of the YC/BC and stay there most of the time. But we also love the Wilderness Lodge and stay there occasionally. We have stayed in the newly remodeled rooms and they are really nice except for the lack of a towel bar in the sink area. I agree with Marthasor when she said that she really enjoyed the boat to FW and how easy it was to go there from the WL. I think we might wait until they bring back the resort boats and HDDR before we stay at the WL again. We loved the walking path to FW which is currently closed. We love Geyser Point and I especially love watching the MK fireworks and Electric Water Pageant from the shore. We also love the boats. It is nice to take the WL boat to the resort after MK fireworks. The buses are usually pretty good for us, too.

I agree with others that a split stay would be perfect. I would do WL first and then an Epcot resort next. That way you can get your fill of MK before heading off to the Epcot resort area.

 

[Farro]

Thanks guys!

Split stay is out, I'm really not a fan.

I think we will probably stay with Beach Club if we can get a standard view or possibly garden if not too bad in price. But if water view is only available (which seems to happen a lot!) we will go with Wilderness Lodge courtyard view.

But still thinking about it as we have time!

 

[Brian Noble]

Now I know we'd lose that walk to 2 parks, but any reasons why WL wins with you personally?

Well, the first reason is that you've done BC/YC, but haven't done WL, and one of you wants to try it.

I have stayed at the DVC components of each, and I happen to like VWL more than BCV. I like my resort to be a bit of a respite from the parks, and also tend to take real breaks at the resort.

BCV is not much of an escape, as it still feels "busy" there. Crescent Lake is lovely, and the pool area is nice, but it still feels like I'm in the middle of the action somehow. BC's CS option leaves a lot to be desired, and the lounges are also only meh. I still loved staying there, because the access to Epcot dining helps an awful lot, but it's not at the top of my lst.

VWL on the other hand feels like it is a world away from the parks even though the Magic Kingdom and Seven Seas Lagoon is literally around the corner. The setting of the Lodge and the way it open up to Bay Lake makes the lake setting a natural extension of the Lodge experience. Sunrise from the top floor of VWL overlooking the lake is an awfully nice way to start the day. Territory Lounge might be my favorite lounge anywhere in WDW, and the CS location is solid. I'm not the biggest fan of Whispering Canyon, but Geyser Point is a good option when the weather is okay. The open air setting with views of the lake are awfully nice.

 

[meghanmione]

We are staying at BC in Feb but we were initially going to book WL. We were at the WL in Dec of 2018 and it was amazing. I grew up staying at the resort on family vacations so it always has a special place in my heart (and somehow the lobby still smells just the same )! We chose BC this time due to its location and since my boyfriend has never experienced it. It has a life about it that has always felt so welcoming, bubbly and alive and you really can't beat being steps away from Epcot or the boardwalk for that matter.

WL on the other hand feels more laid back & peaceful. The lobby always feels so homey and the location is beautiful. I agree that WL does feel very "disney" and really immerses you. The bus trip to MK was always ridiculously fast which is a big plus if you frequent that park. The hotel itself has so many amazing details and we had so much fun exploring. We would walk through the halls and stumble upon lit fireplaces or awesome windows to look out. We genuinely love this resort so much that even though we aren't staying there this trip we are for sure going to make a visit.

My vote would be WL if you haven't experienced it yet. There really is something so magical about that place that just stays with you. It isn't even in the pool, amenities, or restaurants specifically that have my heart there, but the atmosphere and energy is just awesome. I can't put it into words exactly.

 

[AliceIn]

If you rent DVC points, you could do a stay in a 1 bedroom villa at Copper Creak for about the same price as a regular room at Wilderness lodge.

 

[Farro]

If you rent DVC points, you could do a stay in a 1 bedroom villa at Copper Creak for about the same price as a regular room at Wilderness lodge.

We'd really only be interested in WL itself with a courtyard view, but thanks!

 

[AliceIn]

We'd really only be interested in WL itself with a courtyard view, but thanks!

I'm not sure if you know, but Copper Creek is part of the main building of the Wilderness lodge.

 

[AliceIn]

For reference, here is the map. The hotel side is the left side of the building, Copper Creek on the right. You can have Courtyard views for both.

 

[Farro]

I'm not sure if you know, but Copper Creek is part of the main building of the Wilderness lodge.

I didn't know that, thank you!