Studio Rooms at Wilderness Lodge Villas - need help - not happy with experience

[Sueil33]

Hi Everyone,

Just back from a 4 night stay at Wilderness Lodge Villas. My husband and I love the resort but we were VERY dissappointed by the room we had. It was 3562 - a dedicated studio, at the end of the hallway parking lot view. The room was very bland with little decor and the worst part was that the very small bed had a terrible mattress that tilted to one side. Our final night we actually slept on the pull out couch which was actually a little bit more comfortable.

One of the managers showed us a one bedroom unit and it was beautiful!! Would have been very happy there.

So we are looking for advice from the DVC community. Are there any "nicer" studio units at Wilderness Villas or should we just plan to stay in 1 bedroom units. My husband and I don't have children and we are looking for a bit more luxury from our accomondations since we like to enjoy the resorts as much as the parks.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Sandisw]

The studios should be all decorated the same and the bed is the same size in all the studios. Of course, some could certainly be showing more wear and tear than others.

We stayed in a studio a few years ago and the bed in our unti (can't remember the #) was comfortable.

The 1 bedrooms are certainly going to be more comfortable and having stayed in one last summer, we realize it would be very difficult to go back to a studio for more than a night or two.

If you can afford to stay in a 1 bedroom, then I would just plan on that!

 

[kimberh]

We stayed in a Studio overlooking the trees on the 4th floor last year. Our Queen size bed was very comfortable. No complaints here.

 

[garydeb]

Sueil33,

We also stayed in a studio that had a terrbile mattress. After the first night we called housekeeping and complained about the mattress. When we got back from the park later that day, they were in our room replacing our mattress. The new mattress was wonderful and we got a good night's sleep. You should have called housekeeping to replace the mattress. We like the studios because it allows us to save points to have longer stays at WDW.

-Debbie

 

[bobbiwoz]

That very small bed should have been a queen sized bed. If you're used to king, then maybe that's why it felt small. We've not had any problems with VWL's studios. We often wind up with one of the dedicateds at the end of the hall!

 

[palhockeymomof2]

We've stayed in a few studios and they were all decorated the same way and as others have reported have queen size beds....which is what we have at home so no issues for us......I will admit the 1brs are really nice but for the 2 of use we would rather stay longer in a studio....when our kids come along we get a 2 br

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Absolutely loved our VWL studio!! Is it possible to actually book a dedicated one or is that only a request?

 

[bobbiwoz]

Absolutely loved our VWL studio!! Is it possible to actually book a dedicated one or is that only a request?

I've never asked for one specifically, but usually we get one. Warning, many of them are at the end of the hall, I think 2 on each side and if you are on the right as you go down, that's the "dumpster view!" There are other dedicated studios, and we've had one close to the elevator, too.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I've never asked for one specifically, but usually we get one. Warning, many of them are at the end of the hall, I think 2 on each side and if you are on the right as you go down, that's the "dumpster view!" There are other dedicated studios, and we've had one close to the elevator, too.

Is it still possible to request "close to the elevator"? I know there were some changes in requests we can now make...

 

[Deb & Bill]

Hi Everyone,

Just back from a 4 night stay at Wilderness Lodge Villas. My husband and I love the resort but we were VERY dissappointed by the room we had. It was 3562 - a dedicated studio, at the end of the hallway parking lot view. The room was very bland with little decor and the worst part was that the very small bed had a terrible mattress that tilted to one side. Our final night we actually slept on the pull out couch which was actually a little bit more comfortable.

One of the managers showed us a one bedroom unit and it was beautiful!! Would have been very happy there.
...

Of course you would have been happier in a one bedroom villa. Everyone is happier in a one bedroom villa. It just requires twice as many points. So you either save points and do a studio with the queen sized bed or use twice as many points and do a one bedroom with a king sized bed and a full sized kitchen.

We never stay in studios if we can help it. Last one must have been at least seven or eight years ago.

None of the VWL villas have much of a view. Mostly trees, trees and more trees.

 

[TDC Nala]

If you want a king bed and more space, you'll need to save up the points for a 1-bedroom. If the mattress was a problem they would have replaced it if asked.

I always stay in studios but it's usually just me, or me and a friend, and I can get more visits in if I stay in studios.

There's also one studio at VWL that doesn't have a balcony. I've been in in twice. Just lucky I guess (really, it didn't matter to me that it didn't have a balcony, but to some it could be huge)

 

[tjkraz]

If there is anything wrong during your stay, GET IT CORRECTED!!!

When it comes to mattresses, it's one thing for them to be too hard / too soft. Not much a hotel or timeshare can do to appease all guests.

But if there is something structurally wrong with the mattress itself, the resort should have no problem replacing it. Things like mattresses do not wear in a uniform fashion.

When problems are encountered, start with Housekeeping or Maintenance (whichever is most appropriate) and if the problem isn't addressed in a timely fashion, stop by the front desk and speak to a manager. I don't think it's realistic to think that every villa will be completely scratch- and stain-free but we all have the expectation that obvious maintenance or housekeeping problems which negatively impact the stay will be resolved.

 

[Brian Noble]

Of course you would have been happier in a one bedroom villa. Everyone is happier in a one bedroom villa. It just requires twice as many points. So you either save points and do a studio with the queen sized bed or use twice as many points and do a one bedroom with a king sized bed and a full sized kitchen.

This. So, you have to decide what's more important for you. If it were me making the decision, I'd be leaning towards the 1BR and spending the points. Life is too short for hotel rooms on vacation.

 

[Granny]

My husband and I don't have children and we are looking for a bit more luxury from our accomondations since we like to enjoy the resorts as much as the parks.

I'd recommend, as have others, to book 1BR in the future. The studios are basically slightly upgraded resort rooms whereas the 1BR has the suite aspect with full kitchen and washer/dryer. If you want luxury, that's the way to go. It's what DW and I have been doing since we got empty-nested a couple of years ago.

 

[Sueil33]

Thanks for the replies.

I definately understand the difference between the studio and one bedroom in quality. I must disagree with the idea that the studios are simliar to resort rooms. The quality of the bedding, bed and furniture in the DVC locations is not at par with the quality of the same in a Deluxe resort at Disney.

We will definately be more vocal about our expectations in the future and if we have any issues. This is our first year as DVC owners so we are still learning the ropes.

Thankfully we went for 410 points total so we should be able to splurge on the one bedrooms and still get in more then one trip a year.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thanks for the replies.

I definately understand the difference between the studio and one bedroom in quality. I must disagree with the idea that the studios are simliar to resort rooms. The quality of the bedding, bed and furniture in the DVC locations is not at par with the quality of the same in a Deluxe resort at Disney.

We will definately be more vocal about our expectations in the future and if we have any issues. This is our first year as DVC owners so we are still learning the ropes.

Thankfully we went for 410 points total so we should be able to splurge on the one bedrooms and still get in more then one trip a year.

It's a timeshare. Your dues pay for the upkeep. You get what you pay for. If you want a deluxe hotel room, spend your money on that.

We like VWL and own points there. It's a quiet resort away from all the noise and action.

The linens you get in the one bedroom are the same as the ones in the studios. The mattresses are the same only different sizes. The furniture in the older resorts is better quality than the newer resorts.

 

[tjkraz]

I must disagree with the idea that the studios are simliar to resort rooms. The quality of the bedding, bed and furniture in the DVC locations is not at par with the quality of the same in a Deluxe resort at Disney.

Like Deb & Bill said, it's a timeshare not a hotel...and therein lies the difference.

On average hotels run about 65% occupancy. In good years, even Disney hotels top out around 90%. That means most Disney hotels have dozens of vacant hotel rooms every night. If a room is found to have issues that require extra housekeeping or maintenance attention, it's left empty for as long as necessary to fix the problems.

By comparison, the entire foundation of a timeshare is near 100% occupancy year-round. Timeshares just don't have the excess capacity to deal with problems as seamlessly. If a timeshare has 20 Studio rooms being vacated and 20 incoming guests with Studio reservations, then they need to clean and prepare 20 rooms before 4pm. We could wring our hands over the woulda/coulda/shouldas, but really it's the nature of the beast.

In your original post you referred to the bed as "very small." Studios have queen size beds just like Wilderness Lodge hotel rooms. No difference.

Linens (sheets, towels, etc.) all come from the same laundry supply. You will get the same linens in both the hotel rooms and villas.

I will agree that some DVC units are not decorated quite as luxuriously as their Deluxe hotel counterparts. (Bay Lake Tower and Animal Kingdom Villas are pretty close, though.) It's a financial issue since member dues pay for upkeep and replacement on all furniture and fixtures.

There is a little give-and-take, though. All DVC Studios have nicely-appointed kitchenettes while most deluxe hotels have a modest mini-fridge hidden inside a waist-high cabinet. DVC Studio balconies are also better than Deluxe hotel balconies at some resorts.

As already stated, the mattress sounds like it was due for replacement and a call to maintenance most likely would gotten the job done while you were at the parks.

 

[buzzandzurg]

I found this thread hilarious as I'm sleeping in 3562 right now. I'm on the pullout with our oldest and my wife is on the regular bed. The first thing she noticed when we walked in the room was the mattress. She sat on the bed to call the front desk and noticed it was tilting.

 

[jpmom]

When were the rooms here last renovated?

 

[bobbiwoz]

When were the rooms here last renovated?

I think that they got new sofa beds within the last 2-3 years. I remember seeing new furniture come in one September, maybe it was 2008.