Hi all! We returned yesterday from our incredible stay at the WL!!! My DH and I are just in love with the place and are already trying to figure out when would be the soonest we could go back! Looks like we'll try again next summer, although we do have a long stretch off from school during the Dec. holidays....hmmmmm....anyway, on to my full report!
Upon arriving, we were just in awe of the place. We had our own car, as we drove down from NJ, and used self-park the whole week....not a problem at all and not much of a hike from the main lobby. Check in took about 10 minutes and we were checked in by a CM named Tammy. She was very helpful and efficient. She booked our Fantasmic dinner package right away and gave us our Hoop Dee Doo Rev. "ticket" right away. (I had booked in advance).
Domiii, we had the same room as you! Woodsview/MK side room 5022! We could not have asked for a better room, in my opinion. We had a wonderful, peaceful view of the otter pond and enjoyed watching them in the early mornings and early afternoons. We definitely heard them in the middle of the night, just like you mentioned domiii...!!! I know 999ghsts has mentioned 5032/5034 having the best MK views, and while 5022 had a slightly obstructed view because of the trees, I still thought our view was magnificent....at night we could see the MK train station and the castle very well! Our room also had an iron/ironing board there upon our arrival....so maybe lodgekeeping didn't remove it after the last guests checked out. That was fine with us!
As for transportation, we only used the boat to the MK and the boat to Ft. Wilderness for HoopDeeDoo. Our boat to the MK went straight to the MK. The ride was very relaxing and went quickly. On the way back from MK it stopped at Ft. Wilderness first and then went to WL. It seemed as the boats were very frequent, so wait time for a boat was extremely minimal.
During our stay, we didn't get to use the pool...it seemed like everytime we planned on heading down, it was usually raining pretty hard. Another time we headed down to use it, the weather was perfectly fine, but the pool was closed because the pump was broken. So, unfortunately, I can't report on the pool. It seemed to be pretty crowded in the afternoons and evenings and least crowded in the mornings.
We did eat at the Roaring Forks for breakfast everyday and two times for lunch....definetly purchase the mug that can be refilled.....it is well worth it! I didn't find it to ever be very busy at the times we went. Usually around 7am for breakfast and we would take it back to the room to watch the otters while we ate anyway.
We did eat at Whispering Canyons one night. It was a very fun atmosphere. Our waiter pretty much kept low key for us and that was fine. We just enjoyed watching all of the activity around us. Only complaint I had is that many times they asked everyone to put their forks down and participate in things (like the hokey pokey and waving the napkin around while the pony races took place) and in the meantime my food sat there getting cold...so the majority of the meal was luke warm-cold when you managed to grab bites between activities.
DO take time to sit in a big, brown, chair with the wide arm rests in the lobby. DH and I sat in them most every evening with our mugs filled with coffee and just gazed at the magnificent lobby. It is so relaxing you will not want to get up and go back to your room to sleep! DO take time to go on the hidden mickey hunt around the hotel. It is tough, but we were able to find most of them one rainy afternoon.
Those of you who have yet to go, I truly envy you!!!! I wish I could go back now! It looks like next summer will be the earliest....but that's ok, because I can hang out here on this wonderful board and start planning!!!!
WL is wonderful!!!! You will not be disappointed! 999ghsts, I envy you for working in such a beautiful atmosphere! Any job openings?!
I'm sorry this was long, but I tried to be pretty thorough. Any questions, please ask. I will be more than happy to answer!
Are you faxing in a room request? Do you have a complete itinerary? I am so excited!
. The only thing that makes it bearable is planning the next trip!
Thanks so much 999ghsts 
My family (DH, DS8, DS11 and myself) will be at the WL 8/4-8/10. So I guess we will pass one another at some time. Funny, we live south of you in WV. I have a brother that lives in your neck of the woods. We are all very excited also and our trip is just about all we talk about! Have a safe trip and enjoy!!
