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

[Beechparty]

Just got final payment confirmation. Received our luggage tags.
Yea!!
Majestic
I have been calling for my PS, How have you liked e-mailing? Did you just start doing it or did they tell you to do it? I got the e-mail address from this forum but nothing from Disney. so I haven't e-mail so far but I think it might be easier. I usually have to leave a message and they call me back to make them by phone.

 

[JBurke]

I am so excited...I have finally been tagged a "WL Vet"!!
Thanks!!


Only 16 long days to go, this last 2 weeks will take forever.
I started some serious packing this weekend.

 

[Majestic]

I have had great success with email. It usually takes a day or two for me to get replies but what's the hurry right?

Matthew has treated me wonderfully. He obviously knows his stuff and has given us some great ideas to make our time more enjoyable.

I am not one to plan EVERYTHING in advance though! You have to add some variety while you are there.

We are really looking forward to the trip.

By the way, not sure if everyone knows but next year we are doing WL for 4 days and a 7 day DCL trip. Already starting to plan THAT one and we haven't even gone on THIS year's trip!

Fred

Originally posted by Beechparty
I have been calling for my PS, How have you liked e-mailing? Did you just start doing it or did they tell you to do it? I got the e-mail address from this forum but nothing from Disney. so I haven't e-mail so far but I think it might be easier. I usually have to leave a message and they call me back to make them by phone.

 

[FloridaCat]

Like a lighting strike. DD e-mailed me this morning she got the FL rates and told me to book a weekend getaway to WL. I said “hold on there Bobbalouie, I am on a fixed income”. She said “my treat”. So I hit the phone and booked it. Don’t have to tell me twice.

 

[Tig-girl]

Guess What!

I got an email offer from Disney this weekend! I was just saying last week how I had never ever received anything via email in the way of a discount, and sure enough, just a few days later, I got one too! It was a special rate for the opening of Mission Space, and wouldn't you know, we can't go in September, but I was really thrilled to get the discount offer! I hope they send me more for when I can go. Just thought I'd pass on my obvious joy and excitement.
:

 

[Tig-girl]

FloridaCat


YOU ARE SO LUCKY!

Congratulations, you must have a wonder DD! Have a wonderful time. But what am I saying............of course you will!

 

[Bear Necessities]

Hello to everyone!! Wow Kimmar 41 pages already!! Its been awhile since I ve been here. Have a question about the villas at Wilderness Lodge. DH and I spent our honeymoon at the lodge in 96, and as you can see by our counter we are going back in short order. This time we are taking our 3 children and staying at the VWL. We have rented points for a 1-bedroom villa. We are so excited we cant stand it. I am frantically crossing lists etc. I have noticed that there are more than several here on the board that have been to VWL, and am wondering..... How much of a different experience will it be for us??? did anyone wish they had stayed at the lodge instead?? Were you still able to swim at the main pool??? Is there anything that we should expect to happen that is different from the lodge?? We are so happy to be going to VWL so I dont want anyone to think we are second guessing our choice== we arent. Just trying to get a feel for how things will go. Hope everyone is having a great summer!!!

Thank you !

 

[Pluto14]

Hi Kimmar and gang! We've been home from the WL for a week now, and I finally have time for a quick trip report! We stayed at WL from 7/12-7/19. It was just as wonderful as our first time last year! We walked into that lobby and it was like we had never left......it is truly a magical place that is able to make a whole school year's time span just vanish. Dh and I sat in the lobby with our mugs filled that first evening and he said, "It feels like we never left", to which I replied, "School year? What school year?" (To fellow teachers, this place does wonders for helping to make a challenging year just fade into the past! )

We stayed in room 5030- woodsview. We had a wonderful view of the castle and fireworks. This room is located right next to the elevator, so I was a bit concerned about noise. Occasionally we had the noisy crowd come off the elevator late at night, but for the most part it was as quiet as any other room.

We enjoyed the pool this time. Last year, everytime we went to use it it rained. We found the pool to be less crowded in the mornings.

We ate at Roaring Fork for breakfast. Try the pecan cinnamon rolls! They're delicious, especially if you heat them for a few seconds in the the microwave! Dh being Mr. Frugal, he was disappointed to see that the mugs haven't changed a bit since last year. So, now we have 4 identical mugs!

We did eat at Whispering Canyon for dinner. We had the all you care to eat dinner and found we weren't as thrilled with it as we were last year. Probably becasue we had been to 'Ohana the night before and were still stuffed from that dinner!

Those of you planning your trips or getting just about ready to go, I envy you!

Oh, one more thing! DH and I saw a bride and groom having their picture taken on the bridge inside the lobby, and the next day we saw a groom and his groomsmen sitting in the lobby pinning on thier boutinniers (sorry if that is spelled wrong!). The groom kept beaming and telling people that passed by, "I'm getting married!!" It gave DH and I an idea of renewing our vows at the WL someday! Hey, any excuse to go back!!

 

[Majestic]

Bear Necessities,

Uhhh....from things I have read and I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong....

You don't have to pay for valet parking. That's normally $6 a day!<Pretty sure.>

You don't get full maid service. Just one or two times a week and it's still not FULL service? <Pretty sure.>

You have full use of all the facilities at the Lodge including the big pool.

Outside of that, from people that i have spoken to, it is great to have all the space when you have a larger family or are traveling with more than 4 people. I took a look at the lobby there and was pretty pleased. It looks really nice but I have not seen the rooms.

Lastly, my wife and I have been thinking of getting into DVC but if we did, we would NOT get a Villa because we want and expect different things when we are on vacation (One of them is FULL maid service every day. That's just my opinion. YMMV) but we WOULD make WL our DVC home.

Hope I helped rather than confused. Either way, I hope you have a great time!!!

 

[Liv2CdWorld]

To add on to Fred,

If you book your stay at VWL though Disney like you would a resort, you get full maid service your entire stay. Like Fred mentioned above, if you rent, you don't. However, if this is an issue, you can pay for daily full service.

 

[kimmar067]

dizneykid ~
Bwahhhhhhh, wahhh, sniff, sniff, STOP doing that!!!! Telling us such WONDERFUL, ROMANTIC stories, that is!! [LOL]

Janice ~


FloridaCat ~
Wow, how cool is THAT?? Does your DD need a MOM??!?!?!(heh-heh)

Bear Necessities ~
I think that, other than the slightly lengthier walk to the main pool/ gyeser/ marina, you will be pleased with VWL...

BTW ~ the offer for that special rate is 8/24 to 10/1.....but $109/nite, can ya beat it????!?!?!

 

[Majestic]

So what I remember is correct? As a DVC member, you don't get full maid service which is why you get the same when you rent?

The new part is the booking direct through Disney and getting full maid service! I didn't know that! Thanks!

Fred

Originally posted by Liv2CdWorld
To add on to Fred,

If you book your stay at VWL though Disney like you would a resort, you get full maid service your entire stay. Like Fred mentioned above, if you rent, you don't. However, if this is an issue, you can pay for daily full service.

 

[Beechparty]

Fred,

Thanks for the info. How exciting about the cruise. We have always wanted to do that and never got past the sticker shock especially compared to other cruises. If I could go back when my ds was younger, I would go in a heartbeat. I am
still hoping for one day.
I will try to post about our conc. stay right when we get back which will be right before you leave.

 

[Beechparty]

We stayed at WL in 1995 so we are WL vets. Any help from the tag fairy?????????

 

[FloridaCat]

DD need a mom, LOL. They both would agree with that, always trying to "fix" me up. I was blessed with the love of my life and choose to live alone since the passing of their Mother, which I posted earlier,

I have two DD and they have kept me involved in their lives. I told them both this was not necessary as they had their families to care for, but they would have none of that. On the flip side, we were there when they needed help in starting out with new lives and families.

When I was telling DD#1 about our trip to WL this month, she asked if I made DD#2 and DGD stop and listen, LOL. On trips I would stop the car and make everyone get out, usually in a remote spot in the middle of no where. I would tell them not to talk or make any noise and just listen.

Hear the amazing sounds the wind makes swirling in a box canyon or over a mountain peak. The sounds the Colorado River makes on its journey to the Grand Canyon. The voices of animals in the far distance or overhead.. Sit quietly and watch Bear and Deer come out to a meadow to feed.

Must have done something right as the DGK has been taught to love and enjoy nature as their Mother’s were.

 

[FloridaCat]

Thanks for the report and glad you had such a great time. We had room 5028, next door and agree the elevator is not a big problem. I think it is because it is in a room, rather opening into the hall.

There is no doubt in my mind that place puts a spell on you.

 

[jlieblaw]

Pluto14

I would like to request a room with a view of the castle and room 5030 sounds good. However, we have 2 rooms and need them connecting. Do you remember if your room was a connecting room?

Thanks

 

[BraveMom3]

My three children and I had that room 2 years in a row, and loved it! My children think that it's "our room" I really enjoyed being close to the elevator and ice/vending. You can see the castle changing colors and the fireworks from MK. The view was a little obstructed by treetops, but could still see well enough. Also directly below the balcony is the "otter pond" where we would see otters every morning.

 

[bkw86]

Less than a week now. Anticipation is building!

 

[FloridaCat]

I can feel your excitement. Walk in those big massive doors and and be ready for the time of your life..

Pack your slickers, we have been having PM thunderstorms for the past three weeks and forecast to last another week or so. Will not bother your vacation, they come and go so head for cover and have a Mickey Bar for me.