First Time at Wilderness Lodge

[moonshadow]

My wife and I were originally booked at the Beach Club (9/9 - 9/14). It's our favorite resort. The DP came out and the best discount for us was the Wilderness Lodge. We're all booked and now are patiently waiting for September.

We have always thought it was a beautiful resort but have never stayed there. We do prefer the Epcot location. Still very excited!!!

Anybody have some good experiences there?

Thanks.

 

[johnsonet]

I've stayed there two or three times over the years and it is a great resort. I think you'll appreciate the boat to MK and the difference in ambiance from BC. Take a walk through the trails behind the resort - you won't believe you're at WDW
Have fun

 

[Cshel85]

My DH, DS 15 and DS 11 stayed at WL last July for our first time and we LOVED it. Fantastic resort and we had a wonderful time. My DH and I are coming back the end of this month for an adult only stay and are staying at the BWI but part of me longs to go back to the WL

 

[Mousemommy1]

The WL is our most favorite resort!!!!

It is so peaceful and beautiful. We truly felt the Disney "magic" at the WL.

I hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[Wood Nymph]

My wife and I were originally booked at the Beach Club (9/9 - 9/14). It's our favorite resort. The DP came out and the best discount for us was the Wilderness Lodge. We're all booked and now are patiently waiting for September.

We have always thought it was a beautiful resort but have never stayed there. We do prefer the Epcot location. Still very excited!!!

Anybody have some good experiences there?

Thanks.

The Beach Club is our favorite and we have stayed there for years. But we decided to try the WL in February, and we loved it. The best part for us was having a real counter service restaurant option. The rooms are a little smaller, but just as nice. We really enjoyed the boat to MK and the north-woodsy setting. We are going again for Christmas, and then back to our beloved Beach Club for the Flower and Garden Show next spring.

But we did miss not being able to walk into Epcot at night.

 

[fla4fun]

I usually alternate between the Epcot resort area and the MK resort area and I have stayed at both BC and WL. I will actually be at WL during your dates.

At least you won't have to worry about requesting a full balcony! The rooms at WL have good size balconies. Be aware that the rooms on the top floor (some are club level, some not) have enclosed balconies - meaning that there are solid walls about 3-4 feet high, so you can only see out if you stand up. I prefer those for the privacy, but if you want to sit and look out, request an open balcony.

There isn't one location that is convenient to everything. The north "wing" is closer to the CS restaurant and boat transportation to MK. The south "wing" is closer to the bus stop for the other parks. The pool is between the two wings and is convenient to both.

Technically the rooms are smaller than BC, but there are some odd sized rooms at BC and since I typically go on solo trips, I get those smaller rooms a lot. So you may feel the room is similar in size if you have also experienced some of those smaller BC rooms.

I typically book a woods view because my experience has been that the rooms overlooking the pool are not as quiet during the day, and they have very bright lights around the pool for swimming after dark which I find annoying. However, if the noise isn't an issue for you, the view can't be beat.

One thing you will miss at WL if you are used to the Epcot resorts area is the convenience of walking to two parks, and especially the convenience of just popping into Epcot for a meal. Epcot is my favorite park, and I do not visit it nearly as much when I stay at WL as I do when I'm at BC. It's quite a hike from the gate at Epcot to the WL bus stop. You do have the option of taking the monorail back and then coming back from MK or CR on boat transport, but it takes time because of the TTC stop. You could also (if you're at the back of Epcot) walk to BC, catch an MK bus, and then transfer to the WL bus or boat at MK. I've done that a few times since I'm typically in WS when I'm ready to head back to the resort.

Transportation isn't any worse or better from WL to AK and DHS than it is from BC to MK and AK. So that's kind of a wash on the pro/con list.

If you have visited the resort and liked the look and feel, then I think you will really enjoy it. You are near the action, but the resort feels laid back and tranquil. It's one of my favorites because I can feel like I've left Florida behind, and still be only 20 minutes from home!

 

[mickeynut1]

My wife and I were originally booked at the Beach Club (9/9 - 9/14). It's our favorite resort. The DP came out and the best discount for us was the Wilderness Lodge. We're all booked and now are patiently waiting for September.

We have always thought it was a beautiful resort but have never stayed there. We do prefer the Epcot location. Still very excited!!!

Anybody have some good experiences there?

Thanks.

The WL is a beautiful resort......I'm sure you're going to love it. We've stayed at the BC and while we liked it, the MK area is our favorite, with the WL being one of our favorite resorts (second to the Poly).

 

[slimplaw]

Take time to do the WL tour. It is done in the morning on certain mornings. The front desk can tell you which days and the exact time.

 

[bowbat]

WL is an amazing, beautiful, peaceful resort. If possible, plan some downtime just to relax and enjoy the resort. There are lots of comfortable nooks for people-watching, be sure to see the geyser erupt, walk or surrey-bike over to Ft. Wilderness, and get a drink & a light bite at the Territory Lounge. I'm sure you'll love it -- enjoy!

 

[Sue M]

WL! We prefer inner courtyard view. North wing. Do the tour, and ask at check in if there is availability to be a flag family. We enjoy walking the nature trail along the lake over to FW. Last time we saw deer. Some have reported armadillo sightings!
I dislike the solid balcony, so I request open balcony upper floor.
We also like watching the Electric Water Parade on the beach or from balcony if we get a good view!

 

[sazzifrazz]

My DH and I stayed at WL this past October and I fell in love with it. This fall we are going and bringing my mom who will use a scooter. We wanted to stay at WL again because we loved it so much but decided to go with BC for the simplicity of walking to epcot. I am a little sad that we won't do WL again. It was so calm and peaceful and just very convenient. its a good size, not too big.

 

[MICKFan]

WL! We prefer inner courtyard view. North wing. Do the tour, and ask at check in if there is availability to be a flag family. We enjoy walking the nature trail along the lake over to FW. Last time we saw deer. Some have reported armadillo sightings!
I dislike the solid balcony, so I request open balcony upper floor.
We also like watching the Electric Water Parade on the beach or from balcony if we get a good view!

I could have written this.....However I did not know about the tour. I had an inner courtyard room with a solid balcony.....disliked! If I ever go back (and I hope I do) I'll request an open balcony. LOVED sitting on the beach and watching Electric Water Parade!!