Just Back from WL-I loved it! *Long*

[LeahA]

I cannot describe to those of you who have not been there, how beautiful this hotel is. From the moment you drive up and see the hotel through the towering pine trees, it looks magestic.

The lobby is breathtaking and enormous!

We booked a woods view room with a queen and the bunk beds. However when we checked in the bunk bed/woods view rooms were gone. My husband said that his kids would be so disappointed that they could not get the bunk beds, so, we were upgraded for no charge to a courtyard view room.

The view from our balcony was of the courtyard, pool, and the lake. We were in room 5069 which I believe is over the lobby. The room itself was an average size hotel room. The bunk beds should be up against the wall, it would give a couple extra feet of space. There were 5 of us, my dh and I, and our 3 boys, 1-4-7. I guess the only downside to the room is that there was not enough drawer space for all of us.

We ate at the Whispering Canyon Cafe, food was fine, the entertainment of the waiters and the pony rides for the kids was fun. We also had some snack and meals at the Roaring Forks, food was fine and the refillable mugs were great!

My kids the 4 and 7 year old went to the Cubs Den 1 night and had a great time, they made some friends and had dinner, while my dh and I took the baby and went out for dinner.

We enjoyed the pool area, the waterfall, geyser and landscaping were very pretty. My 1 and 4 year old spent time in the kiddie pool, while the 7 year old played in the bigger pool.

Transportation by boat to the MK or FW, was good, never had to wait too long. Transportation by bus to other areas was a little longer, but not horrible.

My son and I rented bikes and rode to FW which was nice. My dh and the boys went out on the little boats, and they had a blast!

Every night we could see the Electric Water Pagaent from our balcony!

This was my first onsite experience and I have to say what I like the best about it, was at the end of the day, when we were stressed out, hot and tired. We could return to the resort and you would be immediatley relaxed in the tranquil setting. You would forget that you were at DW and even forget you were in Florida. I definitely would stay there again and I would reccommend this hotel to anyone.

 

[cra-z-4-dizney]

I am so glad you posted this...we are staying there for the first time in 35 days...wooohooo I can't wait!!!

 

[tubachick]

sounds like fun. Glad everything but the bunk beds worked out. Thanks for sharing.

 

[zdad]

What time did you check in ??

Our plans are very similar. Woods view & bunk beds. Also asked if we could overlook the Otter Pond. We are going June 19-25.

Sounds exactly like what we are hoping to find when we get to WL. Tranquil, an oasis in the middle of the vacation. Now for us, it will be all degrees of good, and we won't get upset if we don't get a particular room, or all (or any) of our preferences. It will still be a magical Disney week no matter what.

Thanks for the update.

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Thanks for a great review. We are staying at VWL with DD (nearly 2) in May. Cannot wait!!!!

Mandy

 

[ROBIN4NY]

This beautiful resort is very addicting Once you try it you might not want to try another.And if you do you probably come back to it.( or at least thats what happens to my family anyway!!!) I am glad you loved it and had a great vacation.Its always nice when,after all that planning, things work out.Thanks for telling us about your trip.(I will be there in 2 wks,4 days, 6 hrs, 22 min--well, you get the point)Have a great day

 

[Honeibee]

It IS stunning.....and that is why we are getting married there!

 

[luvthatduck]

Could you expound a little bit on the transportation? As you can see from my sig, we will be going to the VWL in June. You say the boat launch to the MK was good, did you share it with Fort Wilderness campers? If you took the bus to the MK, did it really take you to the front gate?

Thanks, glad you had a great time at the WL! We intend to also!

 

[Jasminetigger]

LeahA,

I am so glad you had a great time on your trip. We love the Wilderness Lodge. Going back for our third time in 80 days! You are right though, it is hard to really explain the beauty of the Lodge to someone who has not been there. I don't think words can do enough to describe the beauty. It is just something you have to experience on your own to truly appreciate it. I am sure you will be returning there, now that you have stayed there. It is hard not to want to go back! I remember the first time I walked into the lobby, I turned to my DH and said "I am never staying anywhere else but here from now on." It is truly an awesome and breathtaking place, especially the lobby.

 

[my3boys]

We had 5069, too!!!!! We love, love the Wilderness Lodge, but now with our baby not a baby anymore, we can't fit 5 in the room.

 

[LeahA]

zdad-We checked in around 6:00p.m.

luvthatduck-One boat goes to the MK/FW/WL the other boat goes over to CR/FW/WL they just keep going in a circle..We took the bus everywhere else..AK we picked up at GF and Blizzard Beach..Epcot and MGM we picked up at FW

 

[timandlesley]

Thank you so very much for posting this, we are going to stay at WL for the first time in June (4th-10th) and can't wait. Your review made us look even more forward to our stay. The tranquil setting sounds great. What room area were you in that you could see the water pageant. We requested woods view with bunkbeds too for our four year old (we have a 4 year old and 20 month old). Do you know if any woodsview rooms face the waterpageant area? Was the bus system super slow? Any advice in this area?

Lesley

 

[ROBIN4NY]

If you go on the Wilderness Lodge FAQ and Info thread they do a great job describing the woods view and where they are.I will try to decribe where I think the ones that you want are.
If you are at the lodge and you are looking out facing the lake the wings of the resort are in the shape of a U.The left side is called the northwing.The inner rooms of that side is a courtyard view.The outerside of that left wing is woods view.However,at the end of the U on the upper floors there are rooms that face out toward the lake and you can see the water pagent.There 4 rooms on the end.The 2 corner rooms are deluxe but the 2 in between are a woods view room.
For example someone just posted on the WL report before this one that they were in room 5001 and saw the ELP from there balcony.(and it was a woods view room)That is the 5th floor rm 01.I would imagine that 5002, 6001 and 6002 would have that view as well but I'm not 100% positive.I hope I did'nt confuse you.I hope this helps

 

[dreamer423]

Thanks so much for gt. review. Going to WL for 1st time with DS3 in 2 Days! Can't hardly wait!!!

 

[timandlesley]

If you go on the Wilderness Lodge FAQ and Info thread they do a great job describing the woods view and where they are.I will try to decribe where I think the ones that you want are.
If you are at the lodge and you are looking out facing the lake the wings of the resort are in the shape of a U.The left side is called the northwing.The inner rooms of that side is a courtyard view.The outerside of that left wing is woods view.However,at the end of the U on the upper floors there are rooms that face out toward the lake and you can see the water pagent.There 4 rooms on the end.The 2 corner rooms are deluxe but the 2 in between are a woods view room.
For example someone just posted on the WL report before this one that they were in room 5001 and saw the ELP from there balcony.(and it was a woods view room)That is the 5th floor rm 01.I would imagine that 5002, 6001 and 6002 would have that view as well but I'm not 100% positive.I hope I did'nt confuse you.I hope this helps

Thanks Robin,
That does help. Maybe we will get lucky and our request at check in will be granted. Should we put something that specific on a ressie request or just see what happens?
Lesley

 

[SomePixiedust]

Thanks for sharing It's like getting a quick WL fix while we await our summer trip!

:thewave:

 

[Lindamary123]

I'm glad you had such a great stay. We are staying at WL June 21-July 2 and have two woods view rooms booked. My children are 14,18 and 21 so we needed more space. I have been worried that I wouldn't like this hotel, I don't know why, I have been reading great reviews like yours. My first choice was Polynesian but it was just too much money for two rooms.
Your post makes me feel better, I'm sure we will just love it, thanks!

Linda

 

[mickeyluv]

THanks for your wonderful report about WL. We will be there May 20th - 25th. We can't wait!!! Looking more forward to it now since reading your report!!!

 

[Oobiesmom]

I am so glad to read your *GREAT* review. We stayed at Poly last year, but because of the $$$ we can't afford to do THAT kind of vacation again this year, LOL! We are also bringing my parents and our 3 kids (4,7 & 9) so we have two rooms booked. My biggest worry is over the bus transportation....I hate to sit on buses with small kids. I know it will be busy in June ( 6/24 thru7/1) so we are prepared for the crowds & I will take some of the advice here about the room view explaination in case we want to attempt a request.
Glad you had a wonderful vacation!!!!!

 

[caroline]

We had 5069, too!!!!! We love, love the Wilderness Lodge, but now with our baby not a baby anymore, we can't fit 5 in the room.

Have you stayed in a junior suite for up to 6 people?
We are staying in one in July.
Does anyone know whether you can see the fireworks in MK from a junior suite, and if so, which one?!