Just back today from Disney Wilderness Lodge

[Bustersmom]

If anyone has any questions they think I might answer please ask away-this board was so very helpful to me in my planning and getting questions answered-we ate at a lot of different places-the DME was truly Magical!! Used the airline check in desk-amazing-family member planned a lot of fast passes and dealing with crowds. I will say this one negative-we spent one day at Universal, at those prices Disney has them beat in every way. From entertainment, cleanliness, (we were there on the 23rd) and layout-I guess the big draw is Harry Potter.

 

[crazy4wdw]

I stayed at the WL from 12/9 through 12/13. First time I've stayed there in about 10 years and first time I've stayed there near the holidays. I enjoyed my stay there so much I booked another trip for next December.

Just wondering what your experience was with bus transportation? It was really horrible during my trip. No matter if I was going to a park or was heading back to the Lodge, the waits for buses were long.

 

[Bustersmom]

We were prepared for the worst since it was Christmas week but actually were pleasantly pleased. We used the boat to and from Magic Kingdom with little or no waits and also the bus to and from Epcot-again little or no waits-perhaps our timing as we went early to epcot arriving around 8:30 and left around 8pm. We were at Hollywood Studios on actual Christmas Day and were with others in their car so no experience there.

 

[mlayman7]

We just did a universal and disney combined trip. I would bet a lot that if you stayed at Universal and had express passes for rides or went when express passes arent needed, you would think differently about the parks. We love Disney more but Universal is also fantastic, less waiting, less walking, less planning, just as friendly cast members, love their shows (hollywood horror make up show is hilarious, and just as important not needing dining reservations. So many pluses to universal and itll even get better with their next park.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

We just got back from WL as well. Agreed that the buses were slow and inconsistent, the worst waits being for AK and MK because we didn’t even try and Ubered to Epcot and HS. The boats were great though. Loved Storybook Dining and the general Christmas atmosphere. Would definitely stay there again if we went at Xmas time.

 

[Sue M]

We just did a universal and disney combined trip. I would bet a lot that if you stayed at Universal and had express passes for rides or went when express passes arent needed, you would think differently about the parks. We love Disney more but Universal is also fantastic, less waiting, less walking, less planning, just as friendly cast members, love their shows (hollywood horror make up show is hilarious, and just as important not needing dining reservations. So many pluses to universal and itll even get better with their next park.

I have to agree. I was sick of WDW prices so got a Universal AP which was cheaper than a WDW 10 day hopper. We had 2 trips, this year. May & Sept. stayed at a Universal deluxe for less than a WDW moderate. So I don’t understand why OP thinks Universal is more expensive. I found dining to be less as well. Uni parks were very clean. And not have to plan ahead every minute of the trip, so nice to just be able to wake up and do what you feel like.

 

[Bustersmom]

I have to agree. I was sick of WDW prices so got a Universal AP which was cheaper than a WDW 10 day hopper. We had 2 trips, this year. May & Sept. stayed at a Universal deluxe for less than a WDW moderate. So I don’t understand why OP thinks Universal is more expensive. I found dining to be less as well. Uni parks were very clean. And not have to plan ahead every minute of the trip, so nice to just be able to wake up and do what you feel like.

I think first the ticket for Dec 23 for two people and two parks at Universal was $200 per person so $400 for one day for us both and I did not look into to but someone in my party did and said FP cost extra at Universal? Not sure that is fact but that was my experience. We only have this one trip planned. I am truly not a seasoned DW traveler or Universal for sure.

 

[Sue M]

I think first the ticket for Dec 23 for two people and two parks at Universal was $200 per person so $400 for one day for us both and I did not look into to but someone in my party did and said FP cost extra at Universal? Not sure that is fact but that was my experience. We only have this one trip planned. I am truly not a seasoned DW traveler or Universal for sure.

Indeed, a 1 day ticket is the most expensive at Universal ($174), or WDW ($219+ tax). But a 5 day 3 park Universal ticket currently is only $265!
And the highest tier Universal 2park AP is $560. Or $305 for the lowest tier AP. At Universal you have a choice of which AP to buy. At wdw if you aren’t a Florida resident you must purchase the highest tier AP.

At Universal if you stay at their Deluxe hotels you get unlimited Express Pass included for free. The highest tier AP includes express pass after 4:00 or yes, there is a paid option. We have stayed at their deluxe hotels for less than the price of a WDW moderate.

 

[Bustersmom]

That is good to know! I realize same with disney, the more days you buy the better the price, but we only had one day to spend there and of course seasonal prices are going to be high. Thanks for the info!!

 

[buzznina]

We just did a universal and disney combined trip. I would bet a lot that if you stayed at Universal and had express passes for rides or went when express passes arent needed, you would think differently about the parks. We love Disney more but Universal is also fantastic, less waiting, less walking, less planning, just as friendly cast members, love their shows (hollywood horror make up show is hilarious, and just as important not needing dining reservations. So many pluses to universal and itll even get better with their next park.

I also agree with your observation about US. WDW is our favorite, but US is catching up and is also great. We definitely think their "live" entertainment is on par with WDW, with the Horror show and the Christmas Grinch show was fantastic. We do fine the CM's at WDW to be better but I will say that we have noticed a slow continuing drop off of customer service, most likely due to the cutbacks.

Indeed, a 1 day ticket is the most expensive at Universal ($174), or WDW ($219+ tax). But a 5 day 3 park Universal ticket currently is only $265!
And the highest tier Universal 2park AP is $560. Or $305 for the lowest tier AP. At Universal you have a choice of which AP to buy. At wdw if you aren’t a Florida resident you must purchase the highest tier AP.

At Universal if you stay at their Deluxe hotels you get unlimited Express Pass included for free. The highest tier AP includes express pass after 4:00 or yes, there is a paid option. We have stayed at their deluxe hotels for less than the price of a WDW moderate.

Agree, their AP's are much less than WDW. We also liked their resorts and resort food better. Look at all the amenities that their "value" resort Cabana Bay has, a little bowling alley, StarBucks, giant swimming pool with a better lazy river than SAB, and a gym bigger then at any WDW resort, etc.
As much as we love WDW, there is "NO WAY" we would think their 1 day ticket was worth it and this is the same for US.

 

[disneyseniors]

We love US too. The AP that would work for us is a seasonal which is around 300 each? For the 2 of us just over $600. I think. That is much less than a stay at Disney. I'm convinced but am trying to convince my husband. He is firmly fixed on Disney at this point. I love Disney too, but also love the less planning aspect of US. It's so nice to ride an attraction over and over if you want, and to eat when and where you want without reservations. Both are great, but the US AP is a much better deal for us.

 

[buzznina]

OP - I forgot to ask, why was DME so Magical? We live 7 hours away so we drive and never take DME, so I was just curious. LOL

 

[Bustersmom]

In all the trips we had made, never used this service. So we arrived in Orlando around 6:30, got our bags as we did not want to wait on them, but understand within certain hours if you fly in they will provide you with special yellow tags that allow you to bypass baggage claim and just get on bus-signage at airport very good, got on bus around 6:45 and waited for some others til maybe 7. Then we had only one stop that night at the Poly I believe before being dropped at Wilderness Lodge. Bus pristine, driver helpful and delightful. So fast forward to departure day, the night before you leave, they leave instructions under your door as to your pickup time that next morning, based on your flt times, ours departure was 5:40am as we had a 8:45 am flt. That was fine with me as I knew there would be stops and as I stated I am THAT person who has to be at the airport super early. We went outside the doors of the lobby, checked in at the airline departure desk, they printed out our boarding passes, and took our bags checked thru to our home destination. Got on bus, made two maybe three stops, and we were at airport at 6:30 am. Right to security. I call that pretty magical during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. Ha!

 

[Sue M]

It is pretty nice to have airport check in desk so you don’t have to lug your bags thru the airport and wait on like to check them.
sadly if I’m flying home directly into Canada they don’t take your bags. But next trip I’m flying into a US airport so hopefully I get to use the service.

 

[Sue M]

I also agree with your observation about US. WDW is our favorite, but US is catching up and is also great. We definitely think their "live" entertainment is on par with WDW, with the Horror show and the Christmas Grinch show was fantastic. We do fine the CM's at WDW to be better but I will say that we have noticed a slow continuing drop off of customer service, most likely due to the cutbacks.




Agree, their AP's are much less than WDW. We also liked their resorts and resort food better. Look at all the amenities that their "value" resort Cabana Bay has, a little bowling alley, StarBucks, giant swimming pool with a better lazy river than SAB, and a gym bigger then at any WDW resort, etc.
As much as we love WDW, there is "NO WAY" we would think their 1 day ticket was worth it and this is the same for US.

We did the Horror Show for the first time in September! Don’t know why we never got to it before, loved it! I agree, the Universal hotels in every category are better than what WDW offers, and cheaper. I can’t believe I booked CBR for Aug, for more than I paid for any Universal deluxe

 

[mickeymom22]

Did you happen to see or try the campfire cupcake? It looks so cute...just wondering how it tastes...

 

[TheLunchBox]

How is the new pool bar? I haven't been there in a long time

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

How is the new pool bar? I haven't been there in a long time

If you mean Geyser Point, it was great if the service was a bit slow. Great use of a QS credit. I got fish and chips, my son got a Beyond burger, my friend got a bison burger and my mom got the salmon I think. All adults got alcholic drinks included too.