Our first visit to the Wilderness Lodge
---------------------------------------
The Cast: Two related families from Massachusetts comprised of 4 adults and a 10-year-old boy. We've been visiting WDW since it opened and have stayed at most of the on-site resorts.
Accommodations: Two connected rooms on the 5th floor of the North Wing - Courtyard (pool) view.
First impressions: As we approached the Wilderness Lodge, we were amazed at the size of the facility. The rustic logs with the green roof make an imposing sight. First-timers to the lodge will be very impressed as you enter the lobby. If you appreciate architecture and construction techniques, you'll notice that each log was chosen for it's size and purpose, then hand-hewn and fitted into place. The teepee-like chandeliers, the fireplace carved out of the Grand Canyon and the totem poles are all one-of-a kind. This is no ordinary log cabin!
Check-in: We arrived at 11am and were told that the rooms were not ready yet and that check-in is at 3pm. However, we did learn that our rooms were on the 5th floor of the North Wing.
After an early start and a 1400-mile journey, we needed some fuel in our bellies in order to make it through the rest of the day, so we headed for a nice lunch at the Whispering Canyon Cafe which is just across the lobby from the check-in desk. Unfortunately, you can't get anything to eat between 11 and noon at the Whispering Canyon Cafe. The only alternative is to trudge down the hill to the Roaring Forks Snack Bar. So, instead of a nice meal to celebrate the beginning of our vacation, we had to settle for burgers and nachos at the snack bar.
After that, it was off to the Magic Kingdom for some of that famous Disney Magic! The ferries from the NorthWest Dock are a very convenient way to get to the MK. As you walk to the dock, you pass alongside of the beautiful Silver Creek Falls and the large Silver Creek Springs pool complete with slide. The water for the pool actually starts inside the lobby at a bubbling brook. It cascades down the Silver Creek Falls and flows directly into the pool. When you're in the pool, it's fun to sit by the wall at the point where the creek drops into the pool and feel the cool water running over your body. Very refreshing on a hot Florida day!
After 3pm, we hopped the ferry at MK and headed back to get our room assignment. The polite CM said our rooms still weren't ready, so we mentioned that we were told to check back after 3pm. The response was that "LodgeKeeping" works until 4:30 so come back later and keep trying. Since we hadn't come all this way to eat nachos in the lobby, we gently and tactfully suggested that she go to the 5th floor to see if the rooms might be ready. She did - they were.
The rooms: We had two connecting rooms for our combined families and it was a great convenience to be able to open the connecting door and visit with each other. Like every other kid in the resort, our 10-year-old grandson loved the bunk beds! Our room had the twin Queen-sized beds. In true olde-time lodge style, the beds are quite high off of the floor. I'm 6-feet tall and my feet didn't touch the floor when sitting on the edge of the bed. The first time you get up in the middle of the night for a "potty break" while still half asleep, you'll realize just how high the beds are! While on the subject of the bathroom, I'd like to meet the person who decided on the location of the TP holder. He/she must be a contortionist. Probably the only place worse to put it would be outside of the room! Also, be careful when using the shower. The tub floor can get quite slippery with certain soaps and shampoos. Tip: Put a towel in the tub and stand on it while showering.
The view from the veranda is spectacular! Any of the odd-numbered North Wing rooms from 5007 and up allow you to see the entire pool, the courtyard and the Silver Creek Falls. You'll also have shade from the hot afternoon sun. Unfortunately, the view of Bay Lake and the Geyser is blocked by many tall trees with thick Spanish Moss. You won't be seeing the nightly Electric Water Pageant from these North Wing rooms. From the 5th floor and below, the deck railings are open aluminum so you can sit and enjoy the view, while the 6th floor has a "dormer" type deck with an enclosed wooden fence so you have to stand to see the Courtyard. I'm sure it's perfectly safe, but the aluminum railings are attached at only two places in the floor and ours was loose. It was a bit disconcerting to lean on the railing five stories up and feel it move. Also, watch out for the bird droppings. No bare feeting on the deck!
The rooms are equipped with an iron, an ironing board and a hair dryer. There's also a wall safe with your own key to lock up personal items. The air conditioner and ceiling fan are very quiet and the TV swivels and slides to any angle. The remote control has no keypad so you must jump through all of the channels to get to the one you want. If you're not interested in watching TV, each weekday morning the 'USA Today' newspaper is placed at your door.
The rooms in the North Wing are very convenient as far as access to the resort amenities. You're just a quick elevator ride to the snack bar for a quick refresher, a short walk to the boat dock, or a dip in the pool. But, if you've got a car, it's a LONG walk to and from the parking lot especially after hiking several miles through the parks all day. It's also very dark. For some reason, the adjacent CM parking lot is more brightly lit than the guest lot. Of course, you could always use the Valet parking service.
One final comment about the room: Don't drink the water! Other than Mexico, the tap water has the most foul tasting and smelling water we've ever experienced. Tip: Buy a large bottle of water at the Mercantile store in the lobby and use that for drinking, brushing teeth etc. And while you're at the Mercantile, pick up the best bargain in the resort: A pint of cold milk for a buck. Cheaper than the carbonated sugar-water drinks and much better for you.
Lodgekeeping: Our "MouseKeeper", named Devora, was the greatest! She was fast and did an excellent job at keeping things spotless. Plus, she has a beautiful smile! And each day when we returned, there was a special treat on our beds in both of our rooms. She does what can only be described as 'Origami with towels'. One day there was an alligator, then a dog holding the TV remote in his mouth, then a crab, then a flower, then a small boy - all cleverly folded with towels and face cloths. Truly amazing!
(Sidebar: If you're in the hallway when they're making up the rooms, notice that many of the carts which are used to carry the linens & supplies are motorized.)
Laundry: Yes, there's a laundry room, but set your alarm clock for 3am to use it. It's one room - 6 washers - 5 working. This is for the entire resort! And it's a LONG walk to get there while carrying a bundle of laundry. The day we went there, a fist fight practically broke out among the women who were arguing over who was there first. It was amazing! Mee-YOW!!
Dining: Most of our dining at WL was at the Whispering Canyon Cafe. For breakfast, try the all-you-can-eat buffet. A big selection which keeps on coming! If you're lucky, you'll be served by "Tiny". (When you see him, you'll know how he got his name! But most likely, you'll *HEAR* him before you *SEE* him). He kept us entertained with his jokes and juggling mastery. It's a great way to start the day!
At the end of the day and after a few miles of hiking through the parks, you'll want to refuel with the "Canyon Skillet" - a more-than-you-can-possibly-eat barbecue that's finger-lickin' good!
For a late-night snack, hop on down to the Roaring Forks Snack Bar for a burger, pizza, nachos, etc. The lines are out the door at certain times of the day (especially breakfast), so be prepared to wait. Tip: Buy the mugs! You can fill them as many times as you want for free for the length of your stay. There are 2 styles: short and fat or tall and skinny. Both hold the same but the skinny one fits into car cup holders while the fat one doesn't. They're around 11 bucks each with tax but they pay for themselves in just a couple of days.
A bad day at Silver Creek: If getting our rooms was a bit troublesome, keeping them was just as difficult. On the 4th day of our 8-day stay, LodgeKeeping came to our room with a complete change of bedding (including bedspreads) and said that they had us listed as having checked out the night before! Obviously there was an error, so on our way to the parks, we inquired at Guest Services. Sure enough, we're not here! We showed our park passes which had the dates correct for an 8-day stay, but the computer had us checked out last night. The CM disappeared to the back room to see what went wrong. After several minutes, we asked the CM at the next station to see if she could find out where our gal had gone. The second CM came back and said "they're working on it". Several more minutes went by and finally our CM returned but without any good news. We were told to go and enjoy the day and check back later. (This is sounding very familiar!).
Later in the day, we returned to find out what went wrong. It turns out that there was another guest with the same name as mine registered at the resort who left last night. The CM who checked him out saw our name (which is the same) and checked us out instead of him! It was at this point I wished I had charged all my meals and souvenirs to my (his) room!!
Unfortunately, there was only one way to solve the problem. They had to register me all over again as a newly arrived guest which meant new room keys to go along with the original park passes. And since they both look identical, you can imagine the fun we all had figuring out which card to use and at what place! I ended up cutting the corner off of the new room keys so we wouldn't be totally confused.
WL Summary: In spite of a few glitches, the Wilderness Lodge is a fine resort. We especially enjoyed sitting on the decks late at night watching folks in the pool and listening to the roaring Silver Creek Falls. The rooms are extremely quiet and we didn't hear any of the other guests around us or above us. The food was well prepared and plentiful. Even though the pool is large, the two attentive lifeguards maintain law and order to keep the kids safe. Enjoy your visit!!
Some final thoughts: With the precarious world situation and with the economy rapidly changing resulting in thousands being laid off from work each week, this may have been our last visit to WDW for quite a while. We're thankful that we've been fortunate to be able to experience "The most Magical Place on Earth". There are many who won't. Keep that in mind during your next visit.
Appreciate every Magical moment!
Cheers..
So, does anyone know if there is laundry service at WL, and if so, some idea of what it costs?
