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

[Tig-girl]

Mermaid3
I'm definitely up for the horseback riding! Even though DH and DS say that it would be a big waste of money. But they are not big horse fans, so what do they know!!!
So the question goes out to you all.................anyone ever gone on the horse trail? Is it boring, fun, expensive, worth it? I'd love to hear from some of you that have tried it.
NJFabFour
I'm soooooo jealous of your countdown timer!

 

[Tig-girl]

I DID IT!

So, what do you think of that Kimmar? Another gorgeous guy in a siggie. Hope we don't get accused of "fluff" again.

 

[Mermaid 3]

You certainly did it. I don't mind looking at him every time you post, but just wait till I figure out how to do it. (I know what you are thinking, that it will take forever)

 

[NJFabFour]

tardin1964 and Florida Cat:
Thanks guys for the weather info! I'm not going to panic, but as you noted, good to keep an eye on it and go prepared! I bought ponchos for DH and myself today and already have some for DS and DD. Taking one umbrella but now am thinking of taking two. What do you think? DH asked where I can rent a mule to haul everything to the parks with us!!

Tig-girl,
You may be jealous of my countdown but I am now jealous of that awesome siggie!! Wish I had the equipment to do it! I don't get too excited about Hugh's "fluff", but I'll take plenty of JBJ "fluff" anyday!

Have a good night All! Got to get some more stuff packed!
Pinkbounc

 

[Disbug]

I have been several times on the Horseback Ride in Ft. Wilderness. I would suggest going in the morning (cooler temps).
It is strictly a single file walking ride. It is nice for doing once for the experience. But, if you are an experienced rider it might be a bit boring.. No galloping or cantering. Just single file, trail "walk".

When I went it was 45 minutes. Cost about $30...

 

[Mermaid 3]

on horseback riding. Looks like Tig-girl and I won't be going on the trail, a little too boring. We're in to much faster rides (at least we were in our younger days! ) But it still sounds less exciting than I hoped for. And the rest of the gang would not want to go for sure.

 

[JBurke]

I'M BACK

Just got back last night from a great trip to WDW and WL.
We had booked a standard room but we were given a free uprgade to a courtyard view.
In my room request, I had a asked for a standard view in the north wing, but when were assigned our room number (it wasnt ready when we checked in) I knew it was in the south wing. I was kinda bummed until I realized we were upgraded, so no way was I going to complain!!

We had room 5147, 2 queen beds with an awesome view of the pool and the lake. Perfect for the water pagent at night. A even better view would be a room further down the wing (anything ending in odd from 5149 on up because our view of the pool was partially blocked by a tree)
THe only negative was that it such a LONG walk from the elevators.
The lodge was as beautiful as ever.
The only complaint we had was with housekeeping. THe first 2 days we got towel animals and our toys arranged in a waterslide and then a theater perfromance, but after that we got nothing. Our maid the last few days was a man, not to be sexiest, but I am not sure if that had anything to do with it. THe kids were bummed to come in the last 5 days of the trip and find nothing.
Oh well.

Anyway, I hate to be back but will answer any questions.
PS-the weather was pretty sucky-tons of rain and the parks were pretty crowded.

 

[FloridaCat]

Welcome back and sounds like you had a great time. As a Floridian, I am sorry for the rain and we are praying it will stop soon. Many residential areas are flooded and now the Tropical Depression is heading here. I have no idea where the water can go.

I would have called Guest Services on the Housekkeeping item. I hope you at least expressed it in no tips left. Waiting to hear all about it.

 

[FloridaCat]

One more item. Since I know it is up to the pretty Moms to think of everything. Throw some gallon size freezer bags in your back pack. Great for protecting cameras, cell phones, purses and the like from the rain.

Take rain gear head cover or hoods as umbrellas are hard to control if you are in crowds. I do have a small collapsible Tote Umbrella I take, necessary equipment living in Florida.

 

[JBurke]

FloridaCat-Yes after 3 days of no special touches, I stopped leaving tips. I felt really bad about it, but heck I paid enough for the room.
We brough plenty of ziplock bags with us-a life saver.
Also we bought a $20 mister machine that strapped around my husband's waist. We just had to fill it with ice water and we could mist ourselves all day long. Definately helped wiht the humiditry. People kept asking us where we got it!
Also-for those of you with strollers-get a stroller cover! We bought a $15 one from Target that fits most any stroller. It saved our stroller from getting drenched. ALWAYS put it on when entering a ride because more than once the weather was fine wehn we went on a ride and it was POURING by the time we got off the ride. And all the stroller areas are out in the open so a cover will keep your stroller dry.
A magical moment happened to us while on the Safari ride in AK. The CM who collects the strollers for you before you board the safari noticed our mister and liked our stroller cover, she said we were so smart to think of such things. When we got off the ride and went to collect our stroller, there was a certificate under the stroller cover that said "Tahnk you fro helping create Disney's Animal Kingdom Memories...we certify that this monet during your visit to the Walt Disney World Resort was magical! THe Burke Family was most prepared for a 2 week safari" (they knew our names because they were on our matching shirts)
We were all so very touched. THe CM said we got it for our mister and stroller cover ideas!!!

 

[shelley_s]

Hi!

Have not posted much but have read and learned a lot. Thanks to all!

We just returned Wed. night from our first trip to WL, and all I can say is "WOW!!!"

We were definitely sprinkled with Pixie Dust! Had booked 2 standard rooms, myself, DH, DD 13, DD10, and DS 6. We arrived at 11:30 am, registered and got our UPH tickets. Our rooms weren't ready, but the CM showed me where they would be. Upgraded to courtyard view! I asked about being a flag family, and the CM said she thought it was all booked. After she finished my paperwork, she left, came back a few minutes later with a log book and said we could be the flag family on the day we checked out. What a great way to end our trip. The view from top of the lodge was awesome.

Have just been catching up on the posts since we left.

Corky- you mentioned a while back that you are a scrapbooker. You may already know, but be sure to check out the scrapbook store in Downtown Disney, called Wonderful World of Memories. It was hard to get out of there! Some gift shops have a small selection of scrapbook stuff but DTD has the complete line of Disney stuff.

Tardin- my DS 6 is a VERY picky eater. I try to take stuff along for him, but when we're gone all day, it gets difficult. A few meals he just ended up having something to drink, then we got him something later. Particularly at Epcot, some of the World Showcase restaurants did not have anything he would eat. In the hotel, we kept a small thermoelectric cooler plugged in with his milk for cereal, yogurt, string cheese and fruit. He also eats PB on rice cakes. How's that for a diet? (he will eat french fries and some types of chicken nuggets, but not all the restaurants had them).

Our weather was not great- several days it started pouring around 4 pm and did not stop all evening.
Be sure to take a poncho!!

I found the WL a/c to be on the cold side, especially when you came in from either 90 degree heat, or torrential rain. And that was pretty much the weather, one or the other!

Still, we had a fabulous time. I want to go back!!

 

[JBurke]

Shelley_S-we thought the AC was way too cold too. We kept turining it up to 80 but the room still seemed cold. Especially after you were drenched from the rain.
After a while we didnt even bother with the stupid ponchos. We just got wet with or without them anyway!!
Maybe we ran into each othert at the WL and didnt even know it!

 

[shelley_s]

Janice- maybe we did! Everyone there was so friendly. Since I am the trip planner, no one in my family had any idea what to expect- they were blown away by the lodge!

Our room was on the 3rd floor, pretty near the elevator and easy access to RF for the kids to refill their mugs! Lots of hot chocolate after coming in wet!

I have to admit that I was not completely looking forward to this trip, but we all had so much fun that we can't wait to go back!

Shelley

 

[FloridaCat]

Welcome back and to our WL "Family". Now you know what I mean when I say a part of you stays behind and you are doomed to obsess on how to return.

I am so sorry for the rain, whenever they predict a above normal year for Hurricanes it seems it is a summer of rain. Couple of nights ago they reported we have had 18 inches since June 1

Now us stay behinds can look forward to you and Janice talking about your advntures. I want to hear about being the Flag Faily. I think that is so cool.

 

[jlieblaw]

Our trip is coming up in a couple of weeks and my 2 yr old dd is very excited. She keeps saying "I want to go to Disney world." Unfortunately I'm having some complications with my pregnancy that we'll be finding out more info on next week and I'll be discussing with my doctor whether we need to cancel the trip. Hopefully we'll get the okay to go as planned. This will be our first stay at WL or any deluxe disney property.

 

[FloridaCat]

Prayers, PD & {{{{{HUGS}}}}}
Keep us posted

 

[NJFabFour]

Well I'm sooo excited to read from those recent visitors about the upgrades! This would be sooo cool! (Do any courtyard views have bunk beds?) NOT so excited to hear about the weather, but I can tell in the posts that it didn't damper anyone's spirit! Hot chocolate in Roaring Forks - now THAT will make my little picky eater very happy! Leaving in the a.m. and will check in Sunday a.m.! YEAH!

 

[FloridaCat]

Welcome to the land of fun and have a safe trip down. Yes some Courtyard View rooms have bunk beds. HC is good and so is the Lemonaide. I have seen gripes on Disney Coffee on other threads, but I thought RF was very good.

WOO HOO your on your way.

 

[kimmar067]

Well, looks like Shelley's "hooked for life"!!

Hey NJFabFour, I am sooooo jealous! Yes, some of the courtview rooms have bunks. My DSis, AspiringCindy, had a room with bunks, as did my DS's. Hey Fred, do you remember the pic a while back, that showed the view of the courtyard?? Anyhoo, wherever that pic is, I had posted about the rooms w/bunks, so check it out...mebbe page 60 or 61??!?!?! (not sure )

FloridaCat:
If you'll notice, I posted back on page 73 (I think) about the fact that we MAY be going to Fla after all! (Citrus Bowl game, etc.) Is it really as cold as I experienced it back in 1999?? That's one of the MAIN factors why I'm hesitant on going.....

 

[BluOrchid2]

Originally posted by kimmar067
Yes, some of the courtview rooms have bunks. ...Hey Fred, do you remember the pic a while back, that showed the view of the courtyard?? Anyhoo, wherever that pic is, I had posted about the rooms w/bunks, so check it out...mebbe page 60 or 61??!?!?!

Our room, 4121, had a courtyard view AND bunk beds!