NEW Wilderness Lodge FAQ!!

[peachgirl]

Originally posted by turbodisney
What is the additional charge for the Concierge Level?... Does it vary with the price you are paying and time of year?

Does someone have a rough average for the month of June?

thanks

The actual price difference between concierge and a standard room is about $150, no matter what time of year. If you make your reservation using a code, then it would be less. For instance, if you had an AP rate of 40% off rack rate...then a standard room would cost about $120, a concierge room would cost $210.

I've read that it's possible to upgrade once you arrive, but it's based on availability. In June I'd be surprised if there was anything available. Sometimes at check-in they offer less expensive upgrades based on what your room type is, but again, that's based on availability and usually only happens during the slower seasons.

The less you're paying for your room, the more it costs to move to concierge.

 

[disneykids2]

Going to WL in 3 weeks for the first time with 3 young kids (3 & 5).. any suggestions or comments anyone can offer to assure me that I made the right choice of hotels. I booked it since I was told its very close to the MK.. would appreciate all comments.

 

[floridafam]

Disneykids2,

I think you'll be happy. It is close to MK, just a boat ride away. The resort is great.

Be sure, if you have time, to go over to FW for the campfire, marshmallow roast/movie with Chip and Dale. This was an unplanned activity for us and I didn't want to go. We went and it turned out to be one of the most special things we talk about the most when we talk about WDW.

The food court is pretty good. We enjoyed the soups.

Don't miss the geyser in the courtyard and the water pageant at night.

It never hurts to ask for an upgrade to concierge at check-in, unless you already have a concierge room booked, they may offer you an upgrade for around $30/night or so. I'm not guaranteeing this just suggesting you ask. It's nice to have the extras for the kids.

Our lunch at Whispering Canyon was so so. I think we would have had a better experience at breakfast.

The arcade is nice, the pool is fun and there are a lot of things to do.

May I ask what type of room you have booked?

The only thing that bothered us slightly was the noise from other rooms. We could hear every toilet flush and people talking.

 

[disneykids2]

Floridafam -- thanks for the comments.. My husband just booked the trip.. My husband booked the room and I believe it's 2 queen beds but I am not sure what view/location....

The noise comment concerns me.. my kids are such light sleepers.. hopefully they will be so exhausted from days of fun they will pass out at night

Originally we were booked at the Caribeean but switched due to great price .. my kids are young so I dont want to go overboard with $$ at the deluxe resorts, but at the same, want it to be a memorable vacation!!

 

[Elk34]

I know that the ice buckets are definitely big enough to keep juice boxes in. As a matter of fact we did it. We grabbed a couple of juice boxes from conierge and a couple of Diet cokes and kept them there overnight. I am one of the people that likes my morning caffeine in the form of a Diet Coke and they didn't have them out in the morning so I started getting one the night before and keeping it in the ice bucket for the morning.

We had concierge priveleges but stayed on the 5th floor so we didn't have a refrigerator. At check in we upgraded from our courtyard room to concierge for $35 but liked our 5th floor room better than what was available on 7th floor so we kept the 5th floor room and had access to the 7th floor added to our room keys. BTW I just asked about the upgrade and the CM acted like it was a very common request and I was not made to feel like i was being pushy at all.

Also, you have 2 sinks at WL bathrooms so you could always do like we used to at Spring Break and load up a sink and cover it with ice. Plastic trash cans work too.

Also, I never noticed much in the way of sounds from other rooms. Nothing really out of the ordinary from what you expect in a 700+ room hotel anyway.

 

[DisneyPoly]

Can you rent water mice at the Lodge?

Thanks!

 

[Lou-Ann]

Yes m'am.....I am sorry I cannot give you the rates but know they are available. Have fun.....

 

[JBurke]

Yes you can rent mice.
I have it as $20 for a half hour or $30 for an hour.
They are a lot of fun.

 

[DisneyPoly]

Thanks for the info. Here's another question ...

does anyone know the time of the movie shown at Ft. Wilderness in the summer months?

Appreciate the help!

 

[rriley25]

I've just loaded some pics from our trip last September. Most are of the Lodge. You may access these photos here. Also, we're going again at the end of May and staying at the Lodge. If anyone has any special photo requests, I'll see if I get those for you. Try this one instead:

 

[daannzzz]

I am heading to WDW in a couple weeks and have stayed at the WL twice. I want to request one of the rooms between the Jr. Suites at the ends of the wings. These are just regular rooms but they have a small extra window. Does anyone know if these rooms have a particular name? Or does anyone have a link to a map with the room numbers so I could make the appropriate request. Thanks.

 

[2bemarried]

rriley,your photos are viewable to the public so we can't see them.

 

[rriley25]

We have had a first floor courtyard view. Very nice. We had a 4th floor Woods view. This room was dark, seemed to have an odor and cleanliness was not up to Disney standards. After 2 days we asked to be transferred to Courtyard view. We were given a 5th, room 5021 courtyard view. Very nice (see pictures posted under lodge photos). This room had one queen bed and a set up bunk beds. The laundry room and roaring forks were just an elevator ride away. The lodge lobby was so homey we could have sat there all day and just people watched. The Whispering Canyon Cafe - very noisy but fun. The food was just so-so in our opinion. You can ask for a hidden mickey list at the front desk. There is story telling for the kids. There are kids programs. Theres an arcade. A bridge inside that our 2 year old loved to throw pennies in to. Valet parking if wanted. Beach area with volley ball nets. Boat rentals, bike rentals, bus service to the parks plus a boat ride to MK. 2 pools, plus a kiddie pool and 2 hot tubs, a geyser. I could go on and on. This resort is absolutely beautiful. Feel free to email us if you have any specific questions. We are going back again in May 2003.

 

[Lou-Ann]

My name is not Riley but I am Irish and always up for a family reunion if you care to adopt me. I LOVE the Lodge. Just wanted to wish you and your family a wonderful trip. I shall be thinking of you and be "green" with envie.......

 

[Fridye]

DisneyPoly -- This is the info I gathered. We went a couple of years ago, and our 2 DDs loved it. We're going to go again next trip since it's fun and its free!

"The campfire program is open to all WDW resort guests. It generally begins around 7:00 p.m. during the fall/winter season and 8 p.m. after the time changes in April through the summer. It is held near the Meadow Trading Post in the campfire area (about a 15-minute walk from Pioneer Hall ). If you do not wish to walk, you will have to catch a bus that is on the internal Fort Wilderness route. Get off at the Meadowlands Trading Post stop. The program begins with a sing-along led by a Disney CM and a marshmallow roast around two campfire rings. You may bring your own marshmallows or buy them at the Chuckwagon (roasting sticks and marshmallows are $2). You may also buy pizza, hot dogs, candy, nachos, juice, popcorn, sodas, coffee, beer and other refreshments at the Chuckwagon. While this is going on, Chip and Dale make an appearance to visit with guests and sign autographs. The sing-along lasts about 40 minutes. Next, one or two Disney animated features, depending upon the season, are shown on a large outdoor screen. Seating is available in bleachers or on benches. There is also plenty of room to lay out a quilt or blanket. The movie schedule is posted at all comfort stations. In the event of rain, the sing-along is still held on the porch of the Meadow Trading Post."

 

[Honeychild]

On our last trip to WDW my family rode a pontoon boat from POFQ to POR (Yes, short trip!). Anyway, my husband made the statement that next time he was there he wanted to rent a boat and skip a park. Well, I have planned a "free" day into our next trip. I've researched my options and need some help from those of you that may have rented boats before.

One plan is for $115, unlimited boat rental, unlimited party size, during a 4 hour block your entire stay - does anyone know the four hour block? I called WDW Play and they didn't know the hours. (This one is is appealing because my sister's family will be with us and we could all go out on the pontoon boat and/or the boys could use the mouseboats.)

The other plan is for $199., unlimited boat rental, 4 person party, anytime during the day, entire length of stay. (This one is appealing because of the anytime during the day, but would limit it to just my family.)

My husband's birthday is coming up and I would like to make him a gift certificate for this. Any help would be appreciated.

We are staying at the WL!

THANKS!

 

[floridafam]

I thought that they had a length of stay "boat and bike" plan that would cover all of this for your length of stay for $200.

Is this what you are talking about?

I would do this because it is really worth it from what I've heard.

 

[turbodisney]

Concerning the length of stay boat rental...

Besides driving around the lake, can you take the boat to other resorts or MK and park them? Or is travel restricted to certain areas?

Anyone done this before at WL?

Thanks

 

[momtothreeangles]

We will be at the WL for the first time arriving on May 2nd, can't wait. Looking for advice from the experts. I put in requests for bunk beds, non-smoking, and a high floor. My reservations are for a woodview. All is great but I want to avoid a private balcony, I am not sure if I worded that correctly, but I have read that some balconies you can't see out if your sitting. I have 3 children and would be afraid they will be standing on chairs trying to see out or something. I have heard alot of good things about room 6012 or rooms in this area, but do these rooms have the inclosed balconies? Thanks for your help. I hope I have made sence.

 

[rriley25]

Yes, the 6th floor rooms do have the enclosed balconies. 5th floor does not. I don't know why there would be a difference.