NEW (and IMPROVED, if THAT's possible!)Wilderness Lodge FAQ

[MassMom94]

Originally posted by loubelou
Okay, I need to fax in my room request on Thursday. We have a standard room booked and we will be checking in sometime after 7pm on Saturday.

I've heard upgrades to courtyard have been happening quite frequently lately. Do I have a better chance of an upgrade if I don't make a request at all? Or is it better to request?

Opinions please......

Based on my experience, I'd definitely make a request! I booked a standard room and forgot to fax in my request. I wound up in standard room #6058 - in the north wing right over the service area. It was noisy in the room and smelly (truck fumes) on the balcony.

My story has a happy ending, though. I went back down to registration and said while I knew I booked a standard (I too was there on the Fairytale package), I was really unhappy with my room. I was upgraded (no charge) to a woods view room off the lobby - #6094. We were really happy with that location. It was not noisy and very convenient to the elevators. We were over the registration area and not Whispering Canyon, though - that side might be noisier. I also loved being able to walk out my door and look down on the lobby. Breathtaking.

So, based on my experience, I'd recommend requesting a lobby room. If you get upgraded, that will be nice, but don't leave your standard room to chance alone.

 

[FloridaCat]

Originally posted by loubelou
Okay, I need to fax in my room request on Thursday. We have a standard room booked and we will be checking in sometime after 7pm on Saturday.

Which standard rooms are best? Is being over the lobby a good or bad thing? Part of me thinks we'd love being over the lobby, but then I worry about the noise. If I do request a lobby room should I request the WCC side or the check-in desk side?

I've heard upgrades to courtyard have been happening quite frequently lately. Do I have a better chance of an upgrade if I don't make a request at all? Or is it better to request?

Opinions please......

Ratpack had standard room 6060, PM him and get his take on it. Standard to Courtyard may be a reach.

Fax to confirm your current booking and at check in ask what upgrades are available.
Have a great trip, hope we bumb into each other to say hi!

 

[FloridaCat]

Originally posted by Sandi
What an informative (and long) thread. It's much appreciated for our upcoming trip.

My question is: Are there rooms that are just not acceptable? We have a Woods View booked for 10/24 - 11/1 and it will be our first stay at WL.

From all the great info here, I know to fax in a request to the room assigner and will be requesting a nonsmoking room in the north wing as we'd love to view the otter pond. Since I've no idea what rooms are good and what are bad, any room they say at check in will sound fine to me.

Does my question make sense? Can you guys help me?

Thanks

In July we had room 5028. It was right over the Otter Pond. We had a very good view of the Castle and fireworks. It hadtwo queen beds.

For me a closet would work as long as it was in WL. LOL

 

[mommary]

I have a few questions about faxing room requests.
We are staying at WL Oct 22-26 and when I made the reservation was told it was a woods view.
Is this ok? If I want a king bed ( no children with us) do I ask for it before? I keep reading about noise at the hotel, should I be concerned and what is a good area? When and to who do I fax too?
Any advise would be helpful.

 

[kimmar067]

Where's Day Three??

 

[FloridaCat]

Originally posted by mommary
I have a few questions about faxing room requests.
We are staying at WL Oct 22-26 and when I made the reservation was told it was a woods view.
Is this ok? If I want a king bed ( no children with us) do I ask for it before? I keep reading about noise at the hotel, should I be concerned and what is a good area? When and to who do I fax too?
Any advise would be helpful.

You should have no problem with noise in a woodsview. We were in room 5028 and it was very nice. That side of the Lodge is very relaxing and good access to Rf and the pool area.

Fax your request 4 days before your check in date. fax it to the attention of the ROOM ASSIGNER, 407-824-3232

Enjoy your stay and let the PD cover you with excitement.

 

[FloridaCat]

Down to the nitty grittiy for some of us, Sooooooo

Just whistle while you PACK <whistle>
Put on that grin and start right in to whistle loud and long
Just hum a merry tune <hum>
Just do your best and take a rest and sing your self a song

When there's too much to do
Don't let it bother you, forget your troubles,
Try to be just like a cheerful chick-a-dee

And whistle while you PACK <whistle>
Come on get smart, tune up and start
to whistle while you PACK

 

[Liv2CdWorld]

FloridaCat - quite a catchy tune. I'll be here singing it for you!

Also, I'm pretty sure I've stayed in 5028 during one of my stays! I think it may have been the first one in 1999.

Speaking of my first trip, was anyone there for WL's 5 yr anniversary? It was on May 28, 1999. We were there. They had a small celebration. That night when we got back from the parks, there were nice wood like pens with the WL Logo, name and anniversary date enscribed on them.

That was our first trip to the lodge......

 

[loubelou]

Well, after reading FloridaCat's post about faxing 4 days prior I decided I better go ahead and do so since I'm 4 days away from my trip. I requested a non-smoking room overlooking the lobby with 2 queen beds. We had bunk beds last time and even though the boys enjoyed them, we wanted to be able to spread out a little more and two beds will allow us to do that.

 

[mommary]

Thanks floridacat for the helpful information.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

I'm whistling, while I pack...everthing is coming together at last.
Can't wait until Friday.


Kimmar067

Yeah!!! Fred is acting like his on vacation. This must mean they are having a great time. Hope the birds are staying away.



2 DAYS UNTIL WL

 

[MassMom94]

Originally posted by FloridaCat
Ratpack had standard room 6060, PM him and get his take on it. Standard to Courtyard may be a reach.

That room location would have been right next to mine (#6058), right? I recall him saying (many pages earlier on this FAQ!) that he thought his location was ok, he had a view of the fireworks, etc. Interesting, because I couldn't wait to get out of #6058!

And FC, have a great trip! I really have enjoyed your posts here (even though I don't post a lot), and your very detailed report on the Lodge was very helpful before we went on our trip (8/23 -8/30). My DD11 has definitely been bitten by the WL bug. We visited the GF, Poly, CR, and AKL during our stay, and she was not impressed by any of them! DS6 wants to try AKL next time, and I'd be willing to do that (or one of the Epcot resorts), but not DD. (DH can pretty much be talked into anything, but I think of all the resorts we visited, WL is most his style.)

I loved WL too, and envy those with active countdowns!

 

[FloridaCat]

You are to kind, but I am very glad that it helped you. The credit goes to Kimmar for getting this tread up and running and providing us the forum to help everyone know and enjoy the Great Lodge.
I just feel you enjoy your vacation more if you can have some information provided by those that have been there. Even differing opinions plays an important part. None of us like to go anywhere and act like we just fell off a turnip truck. LOL

 

[Majestic]

Your doing great! Close to going. I am sure you are excited. Congrats on single digits.

MLBooks, yes they are doing some work but it really doesn't take away TOO much from the look. They wrap the scafolding in brown tarp so it doesn't become too much of an eyesore. There is also some scafolding in the back on the courtyard side. Not sure what they are doing.

Beth, I took LOTS of pics of the cubs den for ya. Will have to wait for me to get back to upload em. Sorry. Slow connection down here.

Originally posted by rugratsmom66
Majestic – Sounds like you you’re off to a great vaca (other than the few minor incidents). I got POOPED on while staying at the Boardwark Villas – not once but twice when I was on the balcony. – YUCK – pretty disgusting.

 

[Majestic]

My inlaws are in 6014 as I write this from 7058 and I can tell you that you can see fireworks as well as the castle at night with no problem from either room. Also a great view of the otter pond from 6014. My father in law has seen them early in the AM a few times.

Originally posted by Mad4Mickey
I cant remember if I have asked this here before, but here goes it . I have asked and gotten info about where to stay on the 7th floor to see the fireworks. I need rooms on other floors since I have been told we just cant get the Conceirges. We have a special needs child traveling with us and he needs to be in the room getting meds in the evenings . Any help would be great

TIA
Wishing everyone a tagged night
Mishell

 

[TDERadulski]

Does anyone know if the resorts have DVD players int he rooms, or if any are available? We are headed to the WL in a few weeks, and I was wondering if I shoudl bring some of my son's favorites incase of bad weather or if he just needs them.

 

[Majestic]

Well, we are in 7058 as I have said in another reply and I can say you do have a GREAT view of the castle, CR, and fireworks BUT these rooms are over the service area and you will hear noises from work below. Every morning we hear trucks backing up and such but you may not hear it at all. Depends on how well you sleep. As long as you are looking OUT it is great but look BELOW and .... well it leaves much to be desired.

Corky is also down here and I believe she is a few rooms down from me and I think shares the same view I have. 7060 is right next door with a similar view. Liv2CDWorld (Beth) stayed in that one once.

Hope this helps.

Originally posted by inthemood
we will be staying at the lodge for the very first time , and I hear alot about noisy rooms... any suggestions for quiet concierge rooms with views of MK, and with bunkbeds. my two kids DS5, and DD4, are very light sleepers!!!

Any other info would be much appreciated...

Thanks

 

[Majestic]

Nope. Bring a laptop or portable DVD player. There is LOTS of Disney Channel stuff if that's your game. Aside from that...we use the DVD player on my laptop for those rare cases where we have nothing to do or are trying to put our DD to sleep.

Kimmar, sorry about no more trip reports. We had a pool day for day 3 and day 4 was Animal Kingdom and Epcot at night. Today was another pool day but we returned to Epcot to eat at LeCellier. Great dinner and AWSOME Maple Sugar Creme Bruelle.
We have been busy so I haven't had time for more trip reports. I will try to get around to some more if I can. Tomorrow we are going back to Epcot for a day trip and MAY do some more MK in the eve as long as the parks aren't busy.

Oh, got LOTS of great Cast Member only pins including one for Mission Space Day 1 Opening. Really cool if you're into pins.

Also, concierge has had some GREAT food offerings for our stay including those darn addictive PBJ sandwiches in the shape of a half moon with no crust. UhhH! a few of them with milk and I am happy. Soups have been Lobster Bisque, Cream of Mushroom, Beef Barley, and Tomato. Food has been Chili, Spring Rolls with a sweet but spicey sauce, Ribs from Whispering Canyon!!!, A chicken dish with onions and stuff on it. Let's just say that we haven't been able to replace dinner with the food offerings but it is really nice to have regardless.

Will chat more later!

Originally posted by TDERadulski
Does anyone know if the resorts have DVD players int he rooms, or if any are available? We are headed to the WL in a few weeks, and I was wondering if I shoudl bring some of my son's favorites incase of bad weather or if he just needs them.

 

[Majestic]

Ok ok...by popular demand...errr...request....

I did a brief summary of day 3 and 4. Posted and ready for review.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=439370

Missed you all. It was fun to take some time out to post a few messages while down here. I uploaded 175 pictures to my laptop today and plan on taking at least that many more over the next few days. It's gonna be a LARGE photo album!!

Will write again in a few days.

Any more requests while I am down here? Anyone need pictures of anything special?

Fred

 

[rugratsmom66]

FloridaCat - Just finished packing the clothes. Will worry about the rest of the stuff tommorrow. Just wished I'd thought about whistling while doing it - Hee Hee Hee

Majestic - The anticipation is killing me - I can't wait to get there. I only need to get through 1-1/2 more days of work and then we're off to the Magic. It sounds like you are having quite the restful vacation.

Just have to see that countdown clock again.