Just Back from Wilderness Lodge

[ZebraDomeCrazy]

Hello Everyone! Just got home a few hours ago. Had another wonderful Disney vacation. So just a quick rundown on our week.

This was our first stay a Wilderness Lodge - We booked standard view. Our CM was pleasant, didn't say much though, processed our paperwork and gave us our room and booklet. We got to the room (2157), and it turns out she upgraded us to a courtyard bunkbed room!!! We were right near the pool. The room and its location was fantastic - no elevators needed - easy access to the pool and buses. Just Perfect!!

Ok, so we are AKL people, and always here people on the boards comparing the two resorts which is why we decided to finally try for ourselves. So, here goes my now informed opinion;

1. I wandered around the lobby at WL. There are neat staircases to take you all the way to the 6th floor - and on each level there are nooks with fireplaces and couches and tables and rocking chairs. There are several outdoor balconies, both front and back with beautiful views.

2. We spent a little time at the Territory Lounge and had excellent service. The bartenders - both here and at the pool bar - are exceptionally nice and friendly. We had really nice conversations with them. One bartender was actually going on his vacation to NYC during our trip, and we gave him some advice, and when he got back he told us all about his trip, and was able to use some of our tips!

3. Roaring Forks food court was just so-so at best. Very limited offerings, both for breakfast and lunch/dinner. There seemed to even be much less in the refridgerated pre-made section. I know this is a DVC, but so is AKL and Mara has triple the offerings of pre-made and cooked selections.

4. The pool area was very pretty, but very small. It was really crowded in the pool everytime. I'm not sure if this is reality or not, but it seemed to me that there were many more children here than at AKL. It was so loud and crowded at the pool. Not enough lounge chairs, and there was no shade, other than a few umbrellas they put up. Even the hot tubs were out in the open. (why are they right next to eachother?) Anyone who has stayed at AKL will understand when I say how relaxing the pool area is there. Their lounge chairs are so spread out, there are plenty of shade trees, and even the hot tubs are secluded. I did absolutely love, love, love, the beach! My DH and I even fell asleep on lounge chairs one day. And at night they showed movies on the beach, and we watched the electric water parade and roasted marshmellows at the fire, which was really nice.

5. Now for the real deal breaker for us; The buses! I was so surprised, as most people on the Boards always slam AKL buses for how far removed the resort is from the parks - but I must say that other than MK and Epot, every trip was long!! And we had to share with Grand Floridian and /or Fort Wilderness on every single trip!!! So even for Epcot, the trip took a long time. At least at AKL, you get on the bus and go right to the park. I really felt like we wasted so much time traveling this trip, which is funny, because I really never even notice the buses, and always find it strange how many people complain about Disney transportation. Even the bus stop at WL wasn't as nice as at AKL. There is only one covered spot with two benches, which was always crowded, with the heat and the rain. The boat to MK was very nice and beautiful.

Overall, we had a wonderful time, but I think we will go back to AKL next time. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask! Jane

 

[wdwnut61]

Welcome Back

Thanks for posting enjoyed your review

 

[Belle83]

Thanks for the review! Wilderness Lodge is where we hope to stay for our next trip.

What was your experience like with the boat to/from Magic Kingdom?

 

[kerri0616]

We've stayed twice at AKL and just cannot bring ourselves to try WL! Just love the savannahs!

We have visited WL and I must admit that the lobby is gorgeous!

Glad you enjoyed your vacation.

K

 

[ZebraDomeCrazy]

Thanks for the review! Wilderness Lodge is where we hope to stay for our next trip.

What was your experience like with the boat to/from Magic Kingdom?

The boats are very convenient and lovely. One morning we went to the dock to go to MK early. A CM told us that the boat to MK doesn't start running until 1/2 hour before park opening, so we took the resort boat to the Contemporary and then walked the path to MK. There is a second set of boats that goes between the resorts, including Fort Wilderness.

It was really nice at the end of the night not having to fight the bus crowds, and just hop on the boat back to the resort. Very relaxing.

 

[ZebraDomeCrazy]

We've stayed twice at AKL and just cannot bring ourselves to try WL! Just love the savannahs!

We have visited WL and I must admit that the lobby is gorgeous!

Glad you enjoyed your vacation.

K

Kerry, I agree! AKL is home! We ate at Boma this trip, and just walking into the lobby, we all just sighed and wished we had stayed there again. Not that we didn't enjoy WL, we did. There is just something so special at AKL, that cannot be compared.

 

[HubbDave]

Good review!
We are staying for a week at WL Aug 1-7 and have not stayed at AKL. That was my next choice, but the WL was a bit less $$$ this time. I really want to try both.

Did you request the upgrade or did it just "happen"?

Interesting wrt the pool, since some other reviews I had read called it quiet (and yes, small). We plan on mostly using the boats where possible and sometimes combining it with the monorail. Good to know about how it is a long trip on the busses.

I had also heard what you reported about the FC

What was your overall impression of the rooms/decor/theming vs AKL?

 

[ZebraDomeCrazy]

Good review!
We are staying for a week at WL Aug 1-7 and have not stayed at AKL. That was my next choice, but the WL was a bit less $$$ this time. I really want to try both.

Did you request the upgrade or did it just "happen"?

Interesting wrt the pool, since some other reviews I had read called it quiet (and yes, small). We plan on mostly using the boats where possible and sometimes combining it with the monorail. Good to know about how it is a long trip on the busses.

I had also heard what you reported about the FC

What was your overall impression of the rooms/decor/theming vs AKL?

The upgrade just happened, we didn't ask. The CM didn't even tell us she did it. We didn't know until we got to the room, which was exciting. The pool was so loud and crowded. It is nice that the beach is right there, so that is where we found ourselves. The beach and lake views are so lovely and relaxing. That's probably the only thing WL has over AKL. I understand that the same architect designed both resorts, so they are very similiar. The rooms are identical in size and layout. They both have amazing lobbies. AKL has the animals and WL has the lake and views. the entire pool and surrounding area at AKL is much better. The pool is huge at AKL and has a zero entry side. They both have slides and two hot tubs, but like I said, WL's are right next to eachother in the blazing sun! They each have nice lounges and lobbies, with lots of quiet nooks for sitting and relaxing.

The only thing I can guess, is that many people with small children want to be near MK, and given the price differences between WL and the monorail resorts, they choose WL. There just seemed to be ALOT more little kids at WL.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thanks for posting that great detailed review.

 

[HubbDave]

lol... yeah, we have 2 younger (well, 10 and 4) kids and the proximity to MK was a big deal.

I hope we luck out with an upgrade, too. AKL is next on my list

 

[Sue M]

Thanks for your review. We love WL and also enjoyed our stay at AKL too. Both are amazing resorts. As you say, each has something to offer.
What I missed when staying at AKL was the lake, marina, beach, watching the electric water parade & the movies on the beach.

I have to agree, AKL does have a better pool area, and the hot tubs are secluded, feels like you're in your own little grotto! The hot tubs are together at WL, I think? because one is hot, and the lower one is only luke warmish for the kids. So maybe the parents can be in the hot one, and still watch the kids in the less hot one. Not sure, but a possibility! At WL you do have the option of going to the quiet pool on the villa side, just a short walk around the south wing. And there is another hot tub there.

And the bus pick up area at AKL is huge, yes.

AKL & Kidani do share busses, but yes, if you're at AKL, you're picked up last, so you wouldn't notice. At WL if it shares with Ft W, I think when we were there WL was last to be picked up, so we went directly to the park. Sometimes they switch the routes possibly. But in general we felt WL transportation to be good.

 

[ZebraDomeCrazy]

lol... yeah, we have 2 younger (well, 10 and 4) kids and the proximity to MK was a big deal.

I hope we luck out with an upgrade, too. AKL is next on my list

I am sure you will have a great time! They had a hour or two every afternoon at the pool with games for the kids, also. Trivia and treasure hunt type games, and pool games and music, too. Our kids are older, and "much too cool" to participate, although I caught one doing the cha cha slide on the side by herself in the pool, lol.

I have heard alot of people say they get upgrades at this resort, and we didn't even ask, so I sure hope you get lucky too! Have fun! Jane

 

[ciera321]

Nice review! I agree about the buses. We've stayed at WL twice and AKL twice and can never figure out why all the complaints about how "far out" AKL is. When staying at WL the amount of time to pick up/drop off at the Poly, CR and GF was considerable. I do love WL, but my favorite is AKL during busier times.

 

[pao62]

WL and AKL are my favs. I'm pretty sure that they took what didn't work at WL (food court and pool) and fixed it with the design at AKL. But AKL can't touch WL for proximity to MK, or get a boat ride anywhere! And besides the ducks in the pool, WL is lacking in animals.

For me, it comes down to the theme. They both are gorgeous and I enjoy both equally for different reasons. And that's why I'm doing a split stay in September.

 

[disney newb]

What time did you guys check in? Also, was the room ready or did you guys have to wait?

 

[ADisneygirl]

Thanks for your great review. Sounds like you had a good time.

We've stayed at both AKL and WL. We love both for different reasons. Both have fabulous lobbies and places to discover. But I will agree wholeheartedly about the smallness of the pool at WL. It is a pretty pool, but too small for the size of the resort. One day we were in the pool guests from the campground section were there at the pool too. We heard them talking about taking the boat back. I thought "just what this pool needs -- more guests!" lol

 

[si-am]

Thanks for your great review. Sounds like you had a good time.

We've stayed at both AKL and WL. We love both for different reasons. Both have fabulous lobbies and places to discover. But I will agree wholeheartedly about the smallness of the pool at WL. It is a pretty pool, but too small for the size of the resort. One day we were in the pool guests from the campground section were there at the pool too. We heard them talking about taking the boat back. I thought "just what this pool needs -- more guests!" lol

We had a problem finding two chairs together at the WL pool last August. It's definitely too small and especially too crowded considering the DVC guests from the villas and also FW guests like to use it.

 

[ZebraDomeCrazy]

What time did you guys check in? Also, was the room ready or did you guys have to wait?

We checked in right before 11:00 a.m. and yes, the room was ready.

 

[danceintherain]

Thanks for such a detailed review! I especially appreciate the comparison between WL and AKL, as AKL is the only Deluxe we've stayed at thus far. The lobby at AKL really is so relaxing to walk into!

The Wilderness Lodge is next on our list. I think we may prefer it to AKL, because of the pathways. We felt AKL was too contained. You couldn't really "get lost" on the grounds. I guess we shall see!

 

[goodferry]

We were there at the beginning of the month and had a great stay too. The pool situation is getting ridiculous, they really need to start monitoring the FW guests that are coming over to use it. I have seen CMs ask people to leave before, but definitely not enough. The quiet pool is usually pretty empty, if we aren't in the mood for the noise and commotion we head over there. I am afraid all the resorts are going to have to go to the wristband system before the problem goes away.