Resort choice remorse..??

[my2lovedisney]

I just booked our September 2012 vacation at The Wilderness Lodge, and I am having some remorse. We've never stayed here before, I don't know what to expect and we could definitely save the $$ staying in a Mod. Our last stay in Sept. 2011 we stayed for one night at CSR (and loved the room & dinner @ Pepper Market-that was all we got to experience) and the rest of the trip we were in AKL, which was lovely but the room was a bit crampy.

We were tossing around staying at CSR/PO (either/or) or Wilderness.

Someone give me some insight, please..

 

[Mousemommy1]

I'll say that I totally understand what you are feeling! We usually stay values and have stayed at CBR once as well, and this July we are doing a 10 night (5/5 split stay) at the Poly and BC...needless to say, it is alot more than we usually spend on our trips (about $2000 more ) and thats WITH a 40% discount. But, I have come to accept it, and our trip is already paid off with cash, and I know we can afford it, and I REALLY want to try deluxe (and these are my two dream resorts)...but, I know we've had awesome trips spending less. It took me awhile to get over the shock of the price tag, but I figure it this way...we will get the experience, and if we like it, we will just have to make the choice in the future whether to shell out that same money or not but we won't know until we try. Plus, I don't know when I'll be able to pry open DH's wallet so wide ever again, so I might as well take it now!

 

[elaw]

Why not try another split stay? .... that way if you dont like it you always have the other resort to look forward to

 

[my2lovedisney]

Why not try another split stay? .... that way if you dont like it you always have the other resort to look forward to

This is a great idea Elaw, I never thought about it until I saw so many others actually do this. However, toting along 2 kids (ages 5 and 1) from one resort to another with baggage is exhausting.

 

[buzznina]

This is a great idea Elaw, I never thought about it until I saw so many others actually do this. However, toting along 2 kids (ages 5 and 1) from one resort to another with baggage is exhausting.

The resorts will move your baggage for you.

 

[mydisneyobsession]

Why not try another split stay? .... that way if you dont like it you always have the other resort to look forward to

elaw - I would LOVE to see how your Mega-Split stay trip came to be. Do you have a pre-trip report going anywhere? I'm doing three resorts in 12 days in November and am wondering if I'll wear us all out with our resort changing!

 

[afcgirl]

I love CSR and I am staying there for our trip in 3 weeks but I do prefer WL. WL is my favorite resort. But if you were not blown away by AKL, then I am not sure if you will love WL like I do since the two have some similarities.

But my advice is if you can afford it, you should keep WL.

 

[mom2princesses2]

We stayed at WL Sept. 2010 and CSR Nov. 2011 and we would go back to CSR most definitely over WL. We were very disappointed in the room at WL.

 

[my2lovedisney]

We stayed at WL Sept. 2010 and CSR Nov. 2011 and we would go back to CSR most definitely over WL. We were very disappointed in the room at WL.

What disappointed you? My biggest concern is having a buffet or something like it, so that we are time crunched the whole visit. We seemed to be last time when I booked too many dinners at certain times, it was hard for us to make the reservations.

So, I want my resort to have a great place to eat. Since I only got to experience dinner at CSR I don't know how their b-fast is.

 

[KELLY]

We have stayed at WL and love it. But dh next favorite would be CSR. We have even stayed the last 3 years at pop. Even thought we like it we are kind of outgrowing the room. We go for 10 days and when we first walk in the room looks large. But after we have been then for a few days it get smaller on us. So back to the moderates we head. I actually prefer the moderate over the deluxes because of the price. But still feel like I"m getting the extras just not the location.

 

[elaw]

What disappointed you? My biggest concern is having a buffet or something like it, so that we are time crunched the whole visit. We seemed to be last time when I booked too many dinners at certain times, it was hard for us to make the reservations.

So, I want my resort to have a great place to eat. Since I only got to experience dinner at CSR I don't know how their b-fast is.

The WL is my favorite resort.

Whispering Canyon = TS .... I've never had to make a reservation ... just show up and ask for a table
Roaring Forks = CS .... decent selection of the typical food offerings

for more info ... http://www.wildernesslodgesite.com/content/dining

 

[WDWKOOK]

I just booked our September 2012 vacation at The Wilderness Lodge, and I am having some remorse. We've never stayed here before, I don't know what to expect and we could definitely save the $$ staying in a Mod. Our last stay in Sept. 2011 we stayed for one night at CSR (and loved the room & dinner @ Pepper Market-that was all we got to experience) and the rest of the trip we were in AKL, which was lovely but the room was a bit crampy.

We were tossing around staying at CSR/PO (either/or) or Wilderness.

Someone give me some insight, please..

I've stayed at CSR, but once you try WL, I think you'll love it and you might not want to stay anywhere else. Here are some differences:

~WL rooms are in one building with everything you would need under one roof.

~At the WL, you can take a boat to the CR and then monorail to the Poly and GF or you can then walk to the MK in about 10 minutes from the CR. There is also a dedicated boat to the MK and a dedicated bus.

~You can also boat to FW where there are many greats activities. There are also trails to FW that are lovely.

~You don't have to pay a surcharge to eat at Roaring Fork and WCC is so much fun and open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

~The views of the inner courtyard of WL with Bay Lake, the pool and geyser in the background is spectacular. You can watch the nightly Electric Water Pageant from WL and they have nightly free marshmallow roasts on the beach before they show a movie on the beach.

~There is a kid's club, if you need one and they have daily free afternoon activities there. They also have them in the afternoon at the pool.

~You can see some of Wishes from the upper rooms that face toward the MK/CR.






I have many WL photos and more information/links on the first page of the WL thread that's hyperlinked in my signature

 

[nancyjvanwyk]

Don't have remorse. The WL is a great resort. My husband and I have stayed there 2 times and do enjoy it more than AKL. I see that some other posters have touched on the food which is very good and the light parade on the lake is fun!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) You will not be disappointed with WL.
2) When you walk into the lobby, you could easily gasp.
3) It is gorgeous.

5) Wilderness Lodge Neat Things:
. . . fantastic 8-floor grand lobby
. . . outside geyser every hour on-the-hour
. . . train cars from Walt's back yard at Villas
. . . marina for boat rentals *
. . . bike and surrey bike rentals *
. . . walkway to Fort Wilderness
. . . boats to FW and MK
. . . hunt for Hidden Mickey's
. . . tours of the Lodge, Wed-thru-Sat
. . . daily Flag Family gets to raise the morning flags
. . . walking/jogging trails
. . . fishing using your own gear
. . . fishing excursions *
. . . fitness room
. . . fireplace mimics Yellowstone rock strata
. . . totem poles in lobby

* fee based

 

[Tara]

I know it happens, but it's hard for me to imagine anyone not enjoying WL. It is both majestic AND cozy, if that makes any sense. The rooms are the same size as moderates, so no big improvement there, but there is a lot to do there, as others have mentioned. And being under one roof is simply wonderful on rainy days! Plus the boat ride to MK is a welcome treat. The tour of the Lodge is terrific (and not time consuming) and there is a Hidden Mickey scavenger hunt.

 

[MindyDean]

I've stayed at both.
PROS for WL: feels more like a resort-more upscale, easier to get around quickly-everything under the same roof, Fantastic theming, cozy sitting areas on different floors,boat ride to MK, close to campground if you want to do Hoop De Doo. Absolutely beautiful and cozy feeling during the holidays, concierge/club level rooms , one bus area pickup, balcony to sit on, kids could run down to arcade and not be roaming around a huge resort
CONS: Price, regular rooms are small and a bit dark, really crowded pool area, not enough seating for Roaring Forks-more seating outside , but rain or cold not good

PROS for CSR: price, pools, lots of grounds to explore and take a walk, spa and salon, good outside bar
CONS: for some really spread out, paying tip at Pepper Market Grill, motel like feel-no balcony, lots of bus pickup areas

I did find more personal service at WL especially at the club level-very nice luxury, but price is always a factor. If you are going to spend more time at the resort, I would choose WL. If pool time is important I would pick CSR