? for Wilderness Lodge LOVERS!

DS & I will also be spending a few nights "home" at the Wilderness Lodge this Aug
I want to try BCV, DS13 wants to return to the Lodge so we'll be there btwn our Pop & BCV stays
We first stayed at the lodge in 01 (originally booked 6nights and on our last day added on 3 more nights) and fell so much in love with it that we became DVCers w/VWL as our "home"
went for a day visit in 02, stayed there this past Oct and we're returning this Aug for a few nights
 
When we last visited WDW in July 2002 (stayed offsite :guilty: ) we explored (almost) all of the Deluxe resorts. We were most awed by the WL and vowed to stay there the next time we visited. And that time is almost here! We rented DVC points for the VWL! See the sig!
 
I love the feeling I get when I walk through those doors into that impressive lobby-- the music playing, the smells and sounds of the WCC coupled with the babbling brook, I can't explain it but it's magical.

My DDs are pin traders (each year they get more and more savvy about what to trade and what to keep) and Sandra (CM who staffs the pin cart sometimes) is so awesome. She remembers us year after year... and she treats my kids so well. She keeps her eyes open for the certain something to finish off DDs' collections and always surprises them during our stay. We love Sandra.

I think the boat ride to the MK is convenient and special.

I like the nature/bike trail to Ft Wilderness.

The fitness room (at VWL) is nice and the CMs are fun.

The Hidden Mickey hunt is great.

There are just a few... have a wonderful time!
 
Ah, the WL is what vacation was meant to be. It is often so easy to get caught up in the hustle-bustle of WDW and forget that you went on vacation to relax! (If you watched the new vacation planning DVD, you will know what I mean when I tell you that DW and I are most decidedly "Dave" types.) WL is a great place to actually "get away." Why rush to the bus or monorail to get somewhere in a hurry when you can stroll through the trees to the boat dock. Sure, it can take a little longer to get where you're going, but who cares? You're on vacation. Take your time and enjoy all the little details that set WDW apart from other vacation spots. The WL is full of opportunities to do just that.

Oh, and walk the trail over to FW for a nice diversion. It's amazing how peaceful and secluded it feels after banging elbows at a crowded theme park all day. :teeth:
 

I stayed at this resort during a "resort only" trip and it was wonderful! I chose to stay here despite negative things I read because they sounded like things that would not bother me and they didn't. The place is soooo amazing in person. The pictures do it no justice. You will not be disappointed!!! Like I said, we didn't do the parks and it was so nice to be at the WL all day long! Have a wonderful time!!!!
 
Like someone else said, I'm getting goosebumps just reading the posts. WL is our family's favorite. The lobby, the stream running thru and out to the pool, sitting by the fire after getting your coffee without leaving the building, walking down the trail to the boat dock to catch a ride to the MK or the Contemporary, waiting for the geyser to erupt... if I could only stay one place for the rest of our trips, it would be WL. Just returned from a split stay at CB/AKL, and AKL is a very close second (obvious that they were designed by the same guy), but WL will always be special.
 
blondemom said:
I really wanted to thank everyone for their posts. It is so wonderful to read them all and get goosebumps on my arms from the feeling behind the messages.

I'm so looking forward to our magical trip in August. It sounds perfect for my family!

:earboy2:

This will be our 3rd year there with our 8 and 7 DS's and we love the place! It's funny as I'm reading all of these posts and saying to myself "these folks are absolutely right, I couldn't express it better myself!" It really is such a "homey" atmosphere. I've read through all these posts and second them all!

And I thought I was the only one that like the piped-in music! :teeth:
 
I'd like to add my Amen to what everyone else has written.

I'd also like to add a couple of other items that might be of interest to the original poster. The WL is perfect for kids the age of yours and here is a couple of extra reasons why. The pool is themed wonderfully and the unusual shape enables you to never be too far away from your kids. Because it is not a huge round type pool no one is ever way too far out in the middle out of reach from help. The slide will be a blast for your 7-yr old and if your 2-yr old is adventuresome, he can do the slide in a life jacket (it is shallow at the bottom and you can stand just out of the way and catch him in your arms). The slide has a mini tunnel thingy that is pretty cool.

The boat transportation thrills the kids. My son loved just riding around on the launches. Good entertainment on a non-park day was riding the boat to the CR for an early PS at Chef Mickey's, then riding the monorail around to visit the other resorts. When we got back it was just in time to relax in the beauful pool. We never had to wait more than about 5 mins for a boat to anywhere to arrive. It was uncool to have to swing by FW when you were in a hurry though, especially since it seemed random as to which one they stopped at first.

Another highlight: Bunkbeds. I don't know what your kids are used to but sleeping on top of the bunk bed is one of the things my DS (4 at the time) remembers most about the trip. Plus the bunk beds free up some floor space making it easier to move around the room.

The onsite boat rentals were great too. Your 7-year old will love the mice rental, but I highly recommend a half hour pontoon rental too. That way you can take the whole family out at the same time - even the little one. 1/2 hours was enough time to buzz the beaches for the GF and Poly cruise around 7-seas and Bay Lake. The bow of the pontoon is a great place to pose for pictures right infront of MK, with the Train Station and Cindy's Castle in the background. This is another of the more fondly remembered parts of our trip by all of us.

Notice that everything I've said is all about the good things at the resort. I haven't even talked about the parks. You could almost have a full vacation at the WL without even having park tickets. One great thing about the WL is it's proximity to the MK. If you get to the park early and plan to return to the resort for a nap around lunch time (highly recommended for kids at your's age) the boat ride back is just the relaxing transition they will need to drift off to sleep.

I know I keep saying "the kids will love this...blah, blah, blah", but in reality you will love it too! :love: I know I did and I can't wait to go back.
 
The lobby, the lobby, the lobby......... :sunny: I could just sit in there and drink some hot chocolate and pretend I'm in a lodge up in the mountains, maybe a ski resort. :cloud9:

Love the attention to detail. It is everywhere. Love WC. Love the pool........the grounds are lovely..............I've never walked from the resort to the Campground.....would love to do that sometime.

But, my favorite is at Christmastime. The lodge was made for Christmas IMHO. It is out of this world. Can't wait to visit there while we are in Orlando for 2 weeks this next December. I'm DEFINATELY going to visit the gift shop. I have some serious fun in that place. :goodvibes
 
It just makes us smile and feel relaxed!!! Its the best. Going back in May!!!!!
 
reading what everyone has to say about the WL and what they love. They are basically the reason I decided on the WL for my Honeymoon. Both my FI & I love the mountains. The WL really reminded me of the lodge in Yellowstone and I thought it would be a great contrast with the hustle and bustle of WDW.

Since it is THE honeymoon, I know we'll want to take time to relax. I can hardly wait. Now if work would just stop getting in the way :rotfl: :Pinkbounc :bounce: :rolleyes1

Pam
 


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