Not feeling my resort choice

[Smittolis]

As some 'lateral thinking' have you looked at the availability of DVC points? Perhaps renting them and booking out so far in advance may be an option? May present the best of both worlds?

 

[siestakeys04]

WL was our first resort and although I am not an outdoors(woman) I really enjoyed the hotel. I don't consider it to be bad theming it was just enough to make me feel I was in the middle of nowhere. The convenience of the boat ride to MK and CR couldn't be easier.

I would like to try POFQ since they have beignets!!

 

[HopperFan]

At the holidays WL would be on of my first picks. It's the perfect backdrop for the holiday decor.

I think the thing you have to consider is a deluxe, interior hall, all inclusive in one building resort OR a motel style outside door with multiple buildings and walking outside to get to dining etc.

I think WL would totally WOW your MIL but in the end you should pick what you feel good about.

Here is some video -

 

[mslhb]

I LOVE the WL. The dining options are great and to me having a balcony to sit on makes me stay deluxe vs. moderate.

 

[csjordan]

We are doing 5 nights at VWL and 3 nights at VGF for 12/26-1/3!! Best of both worlds!!

 

[mousegear]

I second on WL looking like Great Wolf Lodge. We frequently go to Great Wolf Lodge on weekend trips as it only takes a couple of hours of driving from where we live. It does not interest me at all. I rather like modern looking things but Grand Floridian is super luxurious to stay during the holidays. I could sit at the lobby and stare at the ginger bread house for hours.

 

[rosiebean]

The WL will be awesome! I know some people can feel that the 'theming' is somewhat different, but when inside of the huge cavernous lobby you will have a different view!

Except that I didn't when I visited WL. I didn't think the theming was 'different'..I know what the theme is. It's just not to my taste. And seeing the lobby during visits for dinner at WL didn't change my mind (and I LOVE Artists Point...I just don't want to stay at WL). Seeing the resort at Christmas didn't change my mind either. And when I visited a friend in their room, I was even less enthused about the theme (small rooms, rustic decor, not to my taste). It's just not something I enjoy, and, honestly, I'd be rather depressed staying there thinking that I'd wasted that much money on a resort whose entire vibe didn't mesh with mine.

But that's me.

I can do outdoors. My family camps a few times a year. I grew up camping and loved it. I've been to lodges that WL is themed after! But...when I'm at WDW this just isn't the theme that appeals to me. I'd rather pay more for another deluxe or pay less (and even take nothing but buses!) to stay at resorts whose themes appeal to me at a very personal level.

So I'd pay more to stay at deluxe resorts that speak to me at a personal level...like BC/YC or Poly. I'd pay less to stay at POR, which I adore despite the fact you have to use bus service to get to all parks! A funny note: my dad does not like the POR resorts, he loved CBR. I LOVE the POR resorts and would hate staying at CBR *almost* as much as staying at WL.

Here's my advice to the OP: really think hard about whether or not the resort theme's appeal to you will impact your stay. It would affect mine! But you might have a different approach than I do. But if you really don't like WL's theme and really think it might affect your stay...stay elsewhere! But you know your opinions and reactions better than any of us. Just because I'm not a fan of WL doesn't mean you will hate it. Likewise, just because I love POR and don't mind their buses doesn't mean you'll feel the same way. Go with your gut. And once your decision is made, don't second guess it!

 

[Ensusieasm]

I have booked our second trip to the mouse for Christmas. I am taking my 2 teenage girls and my mother-in-law. This will be MIL's first time to Disney.

I have already stayed at Grand Floridian, and while I loved it, the holiday rates have priced me out of it. So I chose Wilderness Lodge. But the exterior of the resort does nothing for me. I keep looking at PORFQ and it looks so pretty and quaint.

I am considering changing my resort. Am I making a bad move?

I totally get where you are coming from. When I go to Florida to get away from winter in Maine, I don't want to stay in a lodge that reminds me of a cabin in the North Maine woods or Yellowstone National Park.
I want to feel like I'm at a Florida resort.

 

[tarak]

I think the exterior does not excite me because it reminds me so much of Great Wolf Lodge. And saying there once was enough. But I suppose that since this will be a slow paced stay, and we will have resort time, WL will be fine. It will feel like home since we live in the mountains.

Your comparison to the Great Wolf Lodge made me chuckle. The absolute worst, most uncomfortable hotel stay I've ever had was at the GWL. I've strayed at the WL twice and was completely underwhelmed. The rooms were dark and the carpets had that waxy texture I associate with the need for a deep clean. The closet in our room smelled of old cheese. We didn't need the closet and you couldn't smell it unless the door was open, so we let it go. We were only staying three nights before moving to the BC. I mentioned the cheese smell when we checked out. It just added to that less-than-clean impression we had of the room. We've not stayed at POFQ, but have stayed at POR and we really liked the resort. I'd give POFQ a try over WL. On the other hand, the flat bread we had at the WL lounge (can't recall the name) was hands down one of the best I've had anywhere. The pool is nice and the "geyser" was cool to watch. The boat to MK is very relaxing.

 

[poconopixie]

Thanks to ALL of you! You gave me so much to think about. I think I am going to stick with where I am and then book Beach Club for next summer. I like an interior hallway so I probably would not be happy at a moderate.

 

[baler31]

Ultimately, the "theme" is just aesthetics. Just like buying a house when you take the furnishings out what do you have? If you like the location, transportation options, dining, fitness center, pools, interior corridors, and upgraded mattresses the "theme" is just background noise. You don't have to live there after all. I love the GF but I hated the overt Victorian decor it used to have, I may have been in the minority. However, it did not diminish the fabulous staff and amenities of the resort so we continued to stay there ruffles, prints and all.

I have planned many trips for friends and friends of friends that I don't know well. I have found people to be more satisfied with their resort choices if they really think about they things that are important for a successful, magical trip. For most people that has very little to do with the actual decor.

As you said, if you like interior corridors the value and moderate resorts may not be a good fit for you.

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

You may find Wilderness Lodge much better in person! It does have a wow factor and a deluxe feel in my opinion and the location is super convenient. Artist's Point is a fabulous restaurant too - the best meal of one of my trips. Have a great time!

 

[Nancyg56]

I have not stayed at WL but have stayed at the GF and POFQ. I love POFQ during the holidays and if I had to choose I woudl be hard pressed to pick WL over my favorite little Moderate. It is lovely, and the holiday decorations perfectly chosen. It is a moderate though, so do not look for the Grand amenities tucked within, there are not there.
They won't be at WL either though.

One of the nicest aspects of POFQ for me was the themed holiday music. You transition from typical holiday tunes in teh parks to bluesy jazzy holiday music playing softly in the background, and that was welcomed. You can also get away from holiday crowds...no one is resort hopping to POFQ to check out the lobby and grounds it is a lovely resort but is not a viewing hot spot! LOL!!! There is a lot to be said for leaving busy behind when you go "home".

 

[AdamEfimoff]

Yikes 830 a night !!!!!

Wow You might as well be in NYC or Paris for that money!!!

 

[Hopefully]

Yikes 830 a night !!!!!

Wow You might as well be in NYC or Paris for that money!!!

There are Standard View rooms available at Christmas time, without any discount, for $482.33 I don't know where you got that number

 

[AdamEfimoff]

Was talking about Grand Floridian

 

[Mousemommy1]

The WL is our 2nd favorite, right under the GF.

We never had an issue with the room size as a family of four. Unfortunately, we have pretty much outgrown the WL as we are now a family of five.

That being said, I love POFQ as well, but WL is way better IMO!

 

[mickeynut1]

We loved the Lodge, and although I have never been at Christmas, I have heard, read, and saw pictures of how awesome it really looks. We loved the location, loved the themeing and loved the resort. We would go back in a heart beat.

It really is awesome, IMO. All of the resorts are nicely decorated, but the WL is just amazing and is our favorite during the holidays .

I think the exterior does not excite me because it reminds me so much of Great Wolf Lodge. And saying there once was enough. But I suppose that since this will be a slow paced stay, and we will have resort time, WL will be fine. It will feel like home since we live in the mountains.

You might be surprised if you stay there as visiting a resort is totally different from staying there (IMO). I'm not saying that once you stay there you will fall in love with the lodge, but actually staying at a resort gives a different impression vs just visiting (at least in my opinion/experience). We would always visit the GF every trip to eat/shop and while it is a nice resort, we didn't get the best vibe when we walked around. I actually vowed never to stay there because it felt stuffy and the theme just didn't appeal to us. Well, we finally took the plunge and stayed there and I fell in love with the resort. It's not our #1 favorite, but it is close to the top of the list and I'm very glad we tried it. With that said, you might leave the WL feeling the same way you do now, or you could leave there wondering why you didn't stay there sooner .

The WL will be awesome! I know some people can feel that the 'theming' is somewhat different, but when inside of the huge cavernous lobby you will have a different view! The theming is different yes, but it is very fun and the attention to detail is typical Disney-esque awesome! We have just booked 2 weeks at the Poly simply because the WL was not available. It is a really cool place, and being Xmas and having all the coziness of log fires and smores etc... will only enhance the experience in my opinion.

The transportation from the WL is awesome too, especially if you take the boat to MK, its a very cool ride!

Thanks to ALL of you! You gave me so much to think about. I think I am going to stick with where I am and then book Beach Club for next summer. I like an interior hallway so I probably would not be happy at a moderate.

I hope you have a great trip .

You may find Wilderness Lodge much better in person! It does have a wow factor and a deluxe feel in my opinion and the location is super convenient. Artist's Point is a fabulous restaurant too - the best meal of one of my trips. Have a great time!

I agree

 

[margot31]

While the front side of the lodge doesn't do much for me the inside at christmas is amazing. We stayed there for a trip in Dec 2015. I wanted to stay at a resort that looked like that image you see on lifetime and all at christmas and the lodges all decorated (cheesy I know) and it was well worth it. We hotel hopped to see the decorations of the resorts and I have to say just based on the decorations POFQ did nothing for me. We originally had POR reservation but managed to get a great deal at the lodge. The tree's in the lobby were very cool but other than that nothing. The lodge is just great.

 

[Lisann]

Remember, no matter what resort you end up with, all of them will be decorated beautifully at Christmas, not just WL.