help-wilderness lodge

[Lesleyluvdisney]

Hi can anyone give me any advice regarding staying at Wilderness Lodge - stayed at budget hotels (All stars) and moderate (port orleans), but want to know - is there much difference between resorts regarding service, room type etc, as there is about £2500 ($4000) difference in package price. it is our honeymoon next september - just like to know? thanks in advance!

 

[Tiffany]

Hi can anyone give me any advice regarding staying at Wilderness Lodge - stayed at budget hotels (All stars) and moderate (port orleans), but want to know - is there much difference between resorts regarding service, room type etc, as there is about £2500 ($4000) difference in package price. it is our honeymoon next september - just like to know? thanks in advance!

Hi,

The differances between the moderates and WL are as follows:

1. In door walk ways. WL is a hotel Port Orleans is set up as a motel.
2. The rooms at the WL are larger then the rooms at PO.
3. WL location to the MK is very good. You can take a boat. Transportation from PO was all by bus besides the boat to DTD.
4. WL offers full room service and valet parking.

I look at it this way. If the extra $4K is not going to over extend you from a financial point of view then go with the WL. If not go with POFQ. We spent our Honeymoon at POFQ back in Aug of 1993. We enjoyed ourselves very much.

 

[Lesleyluvdisney]

thanks for replying!

Is the service any better?

We will be taking our 5 year old, shes been twice to ASM Resort - Loved it!!

When you get on transportation bus at parks does the wilderness lodge bus take you to WL or transportation centre?

 

[Tiffany]

thanks for replying!

Is the service any better?

We will be taking our 5 year old, shes been twice to ASM Resort - Loved it!!

When you get on transportation bus at parks does the wilderness lodge bus take you to WL or transportation centre?

Service from the point of view of housekeeping and checkin I would say it is no better or worse. The extra services you have at the deluxe are the valet parking and the full room service.

I do not believe any of the resort buses stop at the TTC any longer.

 

[Lesleyluvdisney]

thanks again tiffany,

cant justify the extra $4000 dollars for WL - but wanted something different for honeymoon!

Would love to go more often ,but our flights are over $2900 just to get there!!! being 9 1/2 hours / 5000 miles away makes it difficult!!!

good to talk to you!

 

[Tiffany]

thanks again tiffany,

cant justify the extra $4000 dollars for WL - but wanted something different for honeymoon!

Would love to go more often ,but our flights are over $2900 just to get there!!! being 9 1/2 hours / 5000 miles away makes it difficult!!!

good to talk to you!

Good to talk to you also. Go with POFQ if a moderate fits better in your buget. It is a very nice resort.

 

[jimmytammy]

The park buses take you directly to your resort.

We own DVC at WL and we love it. The theming is wonderful. I would say for a honeymoon it is a very romantic place. Sitting by the fireplace at night in the Lodge sipping hot chocolate listening to the Lodge music is very romantic. Taking nightly strolls around the grounds, while the crickets chirp and the candlelights flicker, thats quite romantic.

Good luck on your decision.

 

[campinggal]

I've stayed at both POFQ and WL.

I enjoy the Lodge a tad more- I love the lobby and proximity to the Magic Kingdom.

I think the pool area at POFQ is more festive- brightly colored with Mardi Gras characters and a big dragon (not scary) that is a slide.

Given the price difference, I'd stay at POFQ and opt to do some interesting dinners or tours with the savings. A $4000 difference is pretty huge- you can do lots of fun dinners or tours with that!! Family Magic Tour in the MK would be a fun one to do as a family with your 5 year old. DD (age 7) and I did it last year and it was good fun.

I thought the service was similar between POFQ and WL. Transportation was good at both. POFQ is pretty centrally located so the parks seemed only 10 minutes away by bus.

You could visit the Lodge and have a romantic dinner at Artist Point while your daughter had fun at their Cub's Den.

Lots of options- you can't go wrong with either of them.

Happy planning!

 

[lpizzuro123]

We stayed at the WL last November for 4 nights right before Thanksgiving. We had a courtyard view (directly in the center of the resort) on the 5th floor. We loved this room - we had a king bed - I can't remember if we had a walk in shower or bath but I think it was a bath - so this was not a handicap room. We loved this room. The best was the balcony. It was November so the weather was wonderful and we were able to go to sleep with the sliding glass door open to a cool breeze. I really loved sitting out there overlooking the pool, waterfall, the geyser and the lake. We had a non-smoking room. The only problem we ran into was the last night someone was smoking out on their deck right next to ours. As this was our last night and it was late and we were tired we did not say anything but I am not sure if you are allowed to smoke outside in a non-smoking room.

Last May we stayed in Coronado Springs for 3 nights. While it was a very nice, clean, wonderful resort I really missed our balcony. I really think for a special occasion I would much rather a resort with a balcony. It doesn't seem like a big deal but it definately adds to the whole experience.

Linda

 

[Gary M]

Keep an eye on www.mousesavers.com and there is a good chance a room discount may become available. The WL has standard rooms available for early Feb. for $121 per night including tax. This is a BRP rate. One of you might consider buying an AP and get the discount if it becomes available. The WL would be very nice for your trip.

 

[LordAthens]

Keep an eye on www.mousesavers.com and there is a good chance a room discount may become available. The WL has standard rooms available for early Feb. for $121 per night including tax. This is a BRP rate. One of you might consider buying an AP and get the discount if it becomes available. The WL would be very nice for your trip.

Not to derail the topic, but where exactly did you find that rate? I've looked all over mousesavers and some other places but can't find that.

The GF and I are looking to book a trip come early Feb and that would certainly be nice!

 

[Skroops]

Hi, another way to stay at the WL is to rent points from a DVC owner and rent a studio in the Wilderness Lodge Villas. It is all connected, and very beautiful. A stay during the week is significantly less this way. You can find out more about it on the DVC forum. We did this, and it worked out great.
Good luck, and congratulations!

 

[Tiffany]

Not to derail the topic, but where exactly did you find that rate? I've looked all over mousesavers and some other places but can't find that.

The GF and I are looking to book a trip come early Feb and that would certainly be nice!

He probaly found this under the Annual Pass discount section. BRP stands for Best Rate Program. It replaced the old way of booking a room with an Annual Pass Discount.

If you have an annual pass go to the Disney sit and sign in and you can check the prices.

 

[Gary M]

This is the rate for our trip of Jan. 31 to Feb. 7. To find it you need to have an AP. Below is a quote from that site. http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/index?bhcp=1




Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort Resort Total: $121.54†



Take the Virtual Tour Arriving on 01/31/06 for 1 night
1 Adult

Venture into America's Northwest in this rustic Resort retreat where the Great Outdoors is in harmony with Disney hospitality and comfort. Enjoy the majesty of towering totems, Mission-style decor and the beauty of the natural elements.


Elaborately Themed Pools and Slides
World Class Restaurants
Room Service
Valet Parking
Babysitting
Concierge Available


Resort Category: Deluxe
Room Type: Standard View Room
Special Rate Type: Passholder Best Rate Program
Ticket Type: None
Package Type: None

Includes Disney's Magical Express!

 

[slimplaw]

Another difference between the value/moderates and deluxe resorts is that the deluxe resorts have queen size beds and value/moderates have double size beds. I agree that you might check the DVC rental board and see if you could rent a unit from a member. You could have a studio or even a 1 bedroom unit. The 1 bedroom would give you a living area with a pull out sofabed, full kitchen, washer/dryer, master bedroom with king size bed, jacuzzi tub and a separate shower. You would then need to buy your park tickets separate and you would not be eligible for free dining if they happen to offer it then.

 

[iliketoby]

Here's why I pick "deluxe" hotels over the others:

Valet Parking. I love driving right up to the door and walking into the air conditioning. Also I like having the car waiting at the door when I exit. The WL valet people are pretty good, very nice but a little on the slow side.

Bellmen. You arrive and they get the luggage out of the car. When you get into the room, you call them and they get it up there usually in about 5 minutes.

Bigger rooms. Every little bit helps in a hotel room. Disney "deluxe" rooms are smaller than regular "luxury" hotel rooms, and I think the WL rooms are even a little smaller than others.

Restaurants/Room Service. When I leave the parks, I'm tired of being around other people's children, and hate those food courts. Plus it is nice to be waited on. Whispering Canyon is a fun experience. We go even if we're not staying there. The fast-food spot at WL, Roaring Forks, is fine. In the better hotels, you can order your breakfast the night before and tell them what time to deliver it. They're really good about this.

Then there is all the little stuff. The lobby is almost majestic, as is the beautiful cowboy-movie type music in the lobby. The doors to the hotel open automatically. The gift shops are better. If you're in concierge, they deliver the packages to your room, even if you're out - they'll be waiting in the room for you. The grounds at WL are gorgeous. They geyser is much fun. I love sitting in the rocking chairs out back and watching the world go by.

Dunno if this makes it worth the extra $ to you, but hope it helps. Have a great trip!

 

[Ruth B]

thanks again tiffany,

cant justify the extra $4000 dollars for WL - but wanted something different for honeymoon!

Would love to go more often ,but our flights are over $2900 just to get there!!! being 9 1/2 hours / 5000 miles away makes it difficult!!!

good to talk to you!

Hi Lesley,
i have just began reading this thred( so sorry if someone else has already suggested this) but have you looked into renting DVC points for WL villas from a DVC member( rent/trade thread on this borad) it would work out cheaper than booking a room directly.
There is risk( on both side) but there is lots of info on the board and when i have looked into renting points DVC memebr have been very helpful.
I have rented points for 4 ngihts at BWV for next summer and the memebr was great to deal with and made the transation very easy( it was really nice to have a 'real person' to talk to about the booking and get excited with......... i know CM are 'real people' but with DVC memebr they have invested into disney and so really enjoy the holiday expereince) it has made me look into the poss of becoming a DVC member,
good luck
Ruth

 

[Jon99]

$4000 difference to stay at WL instead of POFQ???? Unless you are staying for 30 days, this seems VERY high based on prices we have been quoted over the years..

 

[melomouse]

We have stayed at both WL several times as well as POFQ and POR. All of the other posters have brought up good points, comparing the two.
I never ordered room service at WL, and there is "bell" service at POFQ - they deliver your luggage in the little golf cart. While the beds are different sizes, the sq. ft. in the rooms is not( you maybe get another 20-30 sq. feet at WL, plus there's the balcony...), as originally WL was supposed to be a moderate, not a deluxe.
I ADORE WL and would stay there every trip if I could. Our last trip early October had WL at $2500 more than 9 nites in a gorgeous pool home literally 10 minutes away.This was a no brainer for our family. That 4K in your case buys lots and lots of special meals, events, tours and souvenirs - AND you are still on property!!!
POFQ is small, cozy, has atmosphere, music, beignets... you will love it!!

And good luck on your upcoming marriage and planning!!!

melomouse