Just back from 10 nights at WL...my thoughts (with Photos)

[Mousemommy1]

Thanks for the pics! EWP from the lounge and the castle from your room...can't beat that. DS is only 5, but a very good swimmer and very adventurous. He was obsessed with the slide at AKL when he was 3. so I hope this will be enough "action" for him. May I ask again about the amount of food? Too much with DDP and CL?

Oh! Sorry. Yes, we found that it was too much food. We actually didn't even use about 3 or 4 CS meals for each of us. Because of the signature dining and character meals, we do feel we still got our value out of the DDP, but we have decided that if we do CL again, we won't do the DDP. We are AP holders so we'll probably just book a few TS meals and use the TIW card for it.

 

[Zanda]

Thank you so much for sharing your report and photos. Our excitement level just increased to a whole new high as we will be at the WL in just 12 days.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Thank you so much for sharing your report and photos. Our excitement level just increased to a whole new high as we will be at the WL in just 12 days.

Have a wonderful trip!!!!

 

[DisneyDre]

Love to hear good reviews about The Wilderness Lodge! It is our fave place! Also thank you for the pictures, only 40 days til we will be at the Wilderness Lodge Villas, so it got me excited!

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

Thank you so much for posting such a wonderful review of one of my very favorite Disney resorts!

Wilderness Lodge is definitely on my list for a trip in the near future. Wish we were staying there next month. Can't wait to be back home!

 

[emilyann415]

Quick question. Where is this viewing spot for the water parade? In relation to getting off the elevators?

 

[fla4fun]

I totally agree with you about the food reviews!! I would always book the places I want no matter what, but would still read the reviews. I just can't understand some of the bad reviews some of the places have! I guess for the prices maybe people expect more, but personally, I'm used to the Disney Tax!!

Great TR! I can't wait to go in 50 days!!

I have an idea regarding the food reviews - no restaurant has a great day every day. Things happen. On one trip I had two lunch reservations for Le Cellier one week apart at virtually the same time of day (I think there was a five minute difference in the ADR times). The first meal was the best meal of the trip. The second meal was the worst meal of the trip, and almost the worst meal I've ever had at WDW. Everything, from the food preparation to the service, was totally opposite on those two visits. If I had only had the first meal, I might have come back here with a glowing review. If I had only had the second meal, I might have come back here with a scathing review. But having a lot of friends in the restaurant industry, I know that there are just some days that everything that can go wrong, will go wrong - and the customers are caught in the cross-fire.

That's why I think it's so important to read lots of reviews, and from more than one site, so you can get a well rounded view of the restaurant. And even then, you sometimes just need to go with your gut and try it if you want to.

I'm glad the OP enjoyed WL. I had a 10 day stay there in May that was wonderful, and I almost wish I was going back there in September instead of going to BCV (but I will enjoy being close to Epcot!). It's such a relaxing resort that I sometimes book a long weekend and don't even go to the parks - and I still have a great time!

 

[magic kingdom park]

Love this place cant wait to see your pics

 

[Mousemommy1]

Quick question. Where is this viewing spot for the water parade? In relation to getting off the elevators?

It was in the CL lounge (7th floor), seats facing the pool/courtyard. When coming off the elevator and facing the "snack room", go right.

 

[pld5]

What a nice review of WL and CL. We are staying at WL for the 2nd time in February 2013 because we fell in love with it on our last trip. This will be our first time staying CL, so I am enjoying getting a preview.

A few questions if you don't mind. Did you request a particular room with IPO, or did you request "Theme Park View" or did you just take your chances (and ended up with a whole lotta pixie dust!)?

Also, did you have IPO help you with ADR's prior to your trip or while you were there, or both? The reason I ask is that I like to make them myself but if our moods change while we are there, I wondered if CL CM can offer some assistance.

Thank you for posting the picture of your spot in the lounge with your DDs watching the EWP. MY DS watched that 4 nights out of our 6 night stay in January and that was my only "fear" about our views and him having to possibly miss that experience.

 

[Mousemommy1]

What a nice review of WL and CL. We are staying at WL for the 2nd time in February 2013 because we fell in love with it on our last trip. This will be our first time staying CL, so I am enjoying getting a preview.

A few questions if you don't mind. Did you request a particular room with IPO, or did you request "Theme Park View" or did you just take your chances (and ended up with a whole lotta pixie dust!)?

Also, did you have IPO help you with ADR's prior to your trip or while you were there, or both? The reason I ask is that I like to make them myself but if our moods change while we are there, I wondered if CL CM can offer some assistance.

Thank you for posting the picture of your spot in the lounge with your DDs watching the EWP. MY DS watched that 4 nights out of our 6 night stay in January and that was my only "fear" about our views and him having to possibly miss that experience.

I actually only put in a request for north wing (in order to get a new room) and bunk beds. The view was pixie dusted, though I had thought about making the request. You can just request view of the castle and I'm sure they'd know what you were talking about.

I made most of my ADRs myself, ahead of time. I did have them change some times for me and book Pirates League for my girls. They were great and very responsive!

 

[pld5]

Thank you for the fast reply. Can't wait to see your other pictures.

 

[busymom11]

We stayed WL CL this last June. We too came from the values. I know your feeling, my family has decided that they no longer with to stay anywhere else but WL CL!!! Disney was not on out list for next year but it is now. We will be heading back to the lodge next June 2013, CL of course. As for DDP, we were on it but we have 2 teenagers with bottomless pits for stomachs. I loved reading about your experience and glad there are others out there that feel the same as our family. I hope you will be able to return to WL in the near future!!

 

[HubbDave]

I cannot believe their are detractors of the WL...heavens.

Glad your trip was full of awesomeness. Cant't wait to go back, although we are thinking of BCV next...

 

[ralove4444]

6 days and we will be at WL; unfortunately not CL. We've done values in the past and can't wait for our first experience with deluxe level.

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Thank you for the great review of WL CL. We are booked for Oct '13 @ WL in a Dlx CL room. I have heard so many wonderful things about WL.

 

[PrincessAlways]

Thanks for posting!! Glad you had such a positive experience at WL. My friends & I are planning an Oct girls trip & we're thinking of trying WL. I've always wanted to stay there, but it just never seemed to happen! Maybe October!!