Just back from WL my thoughts.

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

We just got back from an 8 day grand gathering at the WL. My family of 4 stayed in a deluxe room (junior suite). Room number was 3169. We were facing the beach and could see the water parade from our balcony and mickey head they made in the sand every morning. The CL access was included with our room. We arrived on 11/13 Tuesday and they put up the Christmas tree and decorations on Wednesday night. We woke up Thursday to a fully decked out lodge. The resort was very pretty and very festive for the holidays. The selections at the lounge were good;just not as varied as AKL lounge. The staff was efficient but not overly friendly. The seating area was a huge and had more room than AKL lounge. They did have one of the wonderful latte machines. Mmmmm. The bus service was bad and it only took us 2 days to realize we had to use the car or we would be spending way to much time on the bus. One day it took 55 minutes to get to Epcot and over an hour to DTD. So we just used the rental car from day 3 on. The boat to MK was quick and easy to use. The pool was great and heated to the perfect temperature for night time swimming. I found the layout of pool, CS and laundry to be very user friendly. We could have some lunch and swim while I threw in a few loads of laundry. Mousekeeping was wonderful and left us towel animals 3 days of our stay. They were cute and the kids loved them. We had turn down service every night with alot of little chocolates left out. My sister turned 50 and they had ballons with a card, and a big 50 sign put up that I had sent to IPO prior to arrival. (no charge for the ballons and card) It was a very cute touch. Overall I liked the Wilderness Lodge but prefer the AKL over the WL. I probably would not choose to return unless I got a great deal. Not due to service or the lodge itself but due to the bus service and how removed we felt. It is a bit strange but I felt more far removed here than I did at AKL. I think we will either try out CR next trip or go back to AKL. Our trip was great and I have no complaints about service or the lodge itself. Just not my cup of tea as they say. WCC was a hoot and we will return to the restaurant, I posted a review of this in the restaurants board.

Some pics of the lodge:

Christmas decorations

View from room 3169

Towel animal

Half our gang

View from lounge

I will try to answer any questions you may have. Thanks for looking.

 

[alldiz]

Sounds like a great trip.....

Just curious....what do you like about AKL better....

I'm thinking about buying some points at AKV.....but I think because
the savannah takes up most of the property....there won't be much
to do....
What are your favorite things about AKL and their activities.
Thanks
Kerri

 

[John's Mom]

Liz,

Glad you had such a good time at the WL. My DD and I visited the WL right before Christmas 2005. We took the boat to the WL and then took a bus to the MK. The resort was beautifully decorated but could not compare to the AKL. I know what you mean about the Concierge Level at the AKL. Hopefully, in Dec. 2008, we are going to try the CL at the Poly and then go home to the CL at the AKL.

Kathy

 

[Stinky_Pete]

Not due to service or the lodge itself but due to the bus service and how removed we felt.

It's funny you say that. I love the WL and have often thought of trying AKL because it seems easier to get a good discount there but felt I would feel too isolated at AKL. I like being able to take the boat from WL over to the CR and the monorail from there to the other monorail resorts.

 

[branv]

Wow, that was a weird moment.

I saw the picture of your group..and thought, "wait..."

Looked down, and realized I'm wearing the same shirt your group is. I wore it to sleep in last night

Thanks for the deja vu!

And thanks for the review, just confirms my plans for our first stay at WL next May -- we'll be taking WDW transp for trips to MK, and use our car for everything else.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

Glad to read you enjoyed your trip. We're thinking of booking a deluxe room in 2009, how did you like your room? Did you have plenty of space? We're a family of 5 so to stay at the WL we'll need to book the deluxe room. Curious about AKV now that you mentioned it in your review. I"ll have to research that as well. Maybe they'll be done w/the construction by the time we're there in 2009.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

alldiz - I felt the CL staff at AKL were much more in tune to their guests. The CM's would talk with you every morning and ask your plans for the day. One day they even handed us a schedule of special things going on that day at MGM that was not posted to the public as of yet. It just felt as though your were their special guests not someone doing their job. If that makes any sense at all. The lodge itself is laid out similar but the transportation was much better (dedicated buses and never more than a 10min wait). MK was a breeze from the lodge but Epcot was a boat to CR than a monorail to the TTC then another monorail to Epcot. I felt like I was in some crazy movie like planes trains and automobiles. Not just hop on a bus and you are there in 10 minutes. I hope that helps.

JJ&JSMOM - The deluxe room felt roomy to us. My sister slept on the pull out queen couch. The pullout was comfy and had a temperpedic type of mattress. You did have to put the bed away everyday or you could not get to the balcony. The room was seperated from the sitting area by glass french doors and seemed to be a standard room with extra windows. My husband and I had one queen bed and the kids the other bed. My only complaint would be the deluxe rooms are at the ends of the halls and quite a hike to the main lobby. My sister hade knee surgery and this was no fun for her every day. I did feel like we had alot room and storage space. I closet, 2 dressers (one large and one small) and a armoire that was huge. HTH.

 

[dburg30]

Well, that would've been cool as heck to go to sleep, and get up the next morning to a fully decorated tree and lodge...

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

alldiz - I felt the CL staff at AKL were much more in tune to their guests. The CM's would talk with you every morning and ask your plans for the day. One day they even handed us a schedule of special things going on that day at MGM that was not posted to the public as of yet. It just felt as though your were their special guests not someone doing their job. If that makes any sense at all. The lodge itself is laid out similar but the transportation was much better (dedicated buses and never more than a 10min wait). MK was a breeze from the lodge but Epcot was a boat to CR than a monorail to the TTC then another monorail to Epcot. I felt like I was in some crazy movie like planes trains and automobiles. Not just hop on a bus and you are there in 10 minutes. I hope that helps.

JJ&JSMOM - The deluxe room felt roomy to us. My sister slept on the pull out queen couch. The pullout was comfy and had a temperpedic type of mattress. You did have to put the bed away everyday or you could not get to the balcony. The room was seperated from the sitting area by glass french doors and seemed to be a standard room with extra windows. My husband and I had one queen bed and the kids the other bed. My only complaint would be the deluxe rooms are at the ends of the halls and quite a hike to the main lobby. My sister hade knee surgery and this was no fun for her every day. I did feel like we had alot room and storage space. I closet, 2 dressers (one large and one small) and a armoire that was huge. HTH.

Thanks for the info - I appreciate it.