The NEW WL FAQ (Part 5) Simbas and Tiggers and Humphreys OH MY! Part 2

[TiggerAllie]

Another question about the main pool closure. Are there 2 hot tubs at the main pool area? I know the closure states the pool and hot tub and am wondering if there are 2 hot tubs right there (not including the one near the villas)...if there are two, would they both be closed? I called the WL yesterday but the person was not sure!

Is there a hot tub near the villas? I know there are 2 together between the pool and the geyser, but when we walked over to see the villas pool, we didn't see a hot tub (which doesn't mean it's not there, of course.....)

 

[DLBDS]

I'm staying CL in Feb. and was just printing out my tipping envelopes. After printing 2 envelopes, I stopped. Do the CM's cleaning the rooms on this level accept their tips? If not, I won't leave one but I want to do the right thing. As far as turndown service...the CM is in the room for a total of about 2 minutes max, right? Why tip for THAT? So, for those who have stayed CL at the WL recently, are the CM's (mousekeeping) accepting their tips? And, out of curiosity as I don't think anyone can change my mind about tipping for this particular service especially since it's included in the cost of CL, how many of you out there tip for turndown?

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Yes the Mousekeepers do accept tips on concierge level, the mousekeepers on this level are the very best at their jobs.

The turn-down service is also more then just turning down the bedding for the night. We return to our room during the day to swim, rest and shower for dinner. (especially during the warmer months) The mousekeepers that perform the turn-down service also straighten the room removing trash and replacing any towels and washclothes that may have been used, along with turning down the bedding and leaving candy mints.

While I do leave a tip for turn-down service it is only a dollor or two, less then I leave for the main Mousekeeper that cleans the room during the day.

Hope you have a WONDERFUL Trip

Beckie

 

[tinkarooni]

I talked to Guest Services today twice and the hotel directly. They checked with the engineering dept and told me that the geyser has already been refurbished and will not be shut down when the pool is. I feel the same way that the pool is not such a big deal to me but we would like our children to experience the geyser.

 

[denisekayt]

Yes the Mousekeepers do accept tips on concierge level, the mousekeepers on this level are the very best at their jobs.

While I do leave a tip for turn-down service it is only a dollor or two, less then I leave for the main Mousekeeper that cleans the room during the day.

I agree with Beckie, when we were there in Dec I had tip envelopes for both the regular "morning" mousekeeping and then separate ones with a bit less $ for the evening turndown mousekeepers (for reference I put $4 in for the day tips, $2 in for the evening).

That said, I found that we often times didn't end up using both envelopes. Some mornings we woke up late, and then were gone until past the time for turndown. On those days only the morning envelope had a chance to be put out (and I didn't feel too guilty since the turndown mousekeeping truly should have been in the room a short time with no one in there to mess it up since the morning cleaning). Other days we were in our room in the evening and didn't want to leave just for turndown service, so we would put our Do Not Disturb sign out and just didn't get turndown.

Have a great trip!

 

[kimmar067]

Well if it bothers you enough to post the question I'd say move to another resort. AKL will do you just fine however I highly recommend you have a rental car if you want to come and go whenever you want without waiting for the bus.

If it was me? I would stay elsewhere. The quiet pool will be PACKED.

Fred

...ITA. In fact, you might want to consider WL's 'baby brother', the AKL....with your little ones, the zero-entry pool is PERFECT! [But that's just MY opinion.... ]

 

[bengalbelle]

I talked to Guest Services today twice and the hotel directly. They checked with the engineering dept and told me that the geyser has already been refurbished and will not be shut down when the pool is. I feel the same way that the pool is not such a big deal to me but we would like our children to experience the geyser.

Thanks! No way were we moving but we were all going to be a little disappointed if the geyser was shut down. The pool isn't that big of a deal to us in February

 

[pixiesrule]

I just reserved my pkg through Mouse Ears vacations and got my confirmation for Courtyard View Bunk Beds in July. I don't think I am going to be able to stand it for the next 7 months This is my first package, since I have found it cheaper to do each segment individually in the past. I wanted to go with the DDP this time, so opted for the package. And we will use the Sea Raycers option, because we always rent them. We will also do the mini golf, so I guess the package isn't something that will be wasted. I am so looking forward to 'moving up' from Fort Wilderness Cabins to the WL - how many loads of laundry and how many sinks full of dishes until July 22

 

[DLBDS]

Thanks, guys. I was just at the WL earlier this month with my family (3 of us). We never let the room get cluttered and messy. I even straighten the beds before I leave in the morning. Just something I have to do. I know they're gonna come in and make them up anyway though. In Feb. it'll just be me and mom and I KNOW we aren't gonna be any different. If anything, the two of us will be even neater. Turndown service for us won't require much. I honestly believe they'll only be in the room for a couple of minutes....max. Just in case I change my mind though....Are there tipping envelopes just for turndown or are you suppose to use the ones that say "Mousekeeping" for both services? Thanks again, Beckie and Denise!

 

[GatorEye]

Yes the Mousekeepers do accept tips on concierge level, the mousekeepers on this level are the very best at their jobs.

Our mousekeeper was very nice - I spoke to her a few times. She always made interesting towel animals for us and should would position our stuffed Mickey's in different poses (sleeping under the covers in bed or with the remote in his hand pointed at the TV with the TV turned on).

Instead of using envelopes I tried to put the money in the hands or paws of whatever towel animals she made for us. The best one was three birds rowing in a canoe.

For what we paid to be on the CL, a few extra $ a day we thought was worth it. I think most here would definitely agree.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Julieh22]

Here are a few pics of what the mousekeepers did on our Trip a couple of weeks ago:

 

[denisekayt]

are there tipping envelopes just for turndown or are you suppose to use the ones that say "Mousekeeping" for both services? Thanks again, Beckie and Denise!

I had separate envelopes...I just made my own since they do not provide tipping envelopes (for ANY service) in the hotel room. Have fun!

 

[DLBDS]

I had separate envelopes...I just made my own since they do not provide tipping envelopes (for ANY service) in the hotel room. Have fun!

I don't think you've heard about these then.....

http://www.themouseforless.com/downloads/trip/mousekeeping.shtml
http://www.arwolff.com/heidi/

I print mine from TMFL. Save them to my computer and then print them on #10 envelopes. I think when I tried to print the ones from Heidi they all printed out "for the maid". I didn't like that so I went with TMFL. Heidi actually has better graphics, IMHO. Anyway, I thought maybe there were some out there that say "Turndown" in addition to "Mousekeeping". I've printed 6 out for mousekeeping. I'm just not convinced that I need to leave anything for turndown....yet.

 

[Alice28]

Sooooooooooooo bummed about the pool closure. It *might* be up and running by the time we get there March 19th, but I am not sure. This was kind of our last chance to stay in a regular room at the Lodge, as our
3rd child will be 2, and I hate to give up on it because of the pool, but what a pain to go over to the CR or Poly.

My biggest gripe is that we are paying PEAK time prices- over $350 a night for a woods view room, and now the main pool will not be available? That doesn't seem right. I think at least $50 should be knocked off the price per night....I plan on calling Disney, but I also put in an overflow rate request (for WL, Poly or YCBC) with Shades of Green, which was my original plan anyway....just had to wait for them to book up before I could make the request.

 

[T-i-double-g-err]

I just reserved my pkg through Mouse Ears vacations and got my confirmation for Courtyard View Bunk Beds in July. ... I am so looking forward to 'moving up' from Fort Wilderness Cabins to the WL - how many loads of laundry and how many sinks full of dishes until July 22

We're counting down the loads here as well. We'll be at WL from 7/11-18.

 

[DisneyParkFan]

I stayed at the Wilderness Lodge earlier this month and loved it. A long time ago when I first made reservations to return to WDW after a long hiatus, I was going to stay at the WL. But at theat time I couldn't afford it in June. Since then I have gradually been working my way up to deluxe Disney hotels and finally made it. I can't begin to explain how much I enjoyed my stay there. I know some of the other hotels have Monorail access but I found the boat transportation to be fun and relaxing for me. I had requested to in a room facing the inner/main courtyard but because of my late arrival I was in a first floor room facing the WLV. Now I have something to work toward again and anticipate on my next visit. However, I did find the room to be spacious and warm and cozy at the same time. At the end of a day, or even in the middle of the day, I would think "I want to go home" and realized I meant the Wilderness Lodge. I guess now I understand why they say "Welcome home" when you check-in. I am sure anything else I have to say has been said a million times over by other people. Having a leisurely breakfast on my patio in the morning. Letting all my cares slip away in the hot tub at the Silver Creek Springs area, or watching the geyser shoot off every hour on the hour. Maybe its the fact I rubbed Humphrey's nose my first day there. Who knows? I just know I want to go back someday. The Wilderness Lodge is now my favorite resort.

 

[bytheblood]

This is so wonderful. I have booked my next trip to Disney for December 2007. I chose the WL. I am excited about it and I am looking forward to it.

 

[DLBDS]

This is so wonderful. I have booked my next trip to Disney for December 2007. I chose the WL. I am excited about it and I am looking forward to it.

Good for you! You won't regret it. I promise. I went earlier this month and it was fabulous.

 

[JennyMominRI]

How is the concierge level? I'm thinking of booking it for late April

 

[TwilightOwl]

We just left the WL yesterday... my goodness I was not ready to leave, even after a 6-night stay! We absolutely loved it. The atmosphere, the decorations, the pool, the ducks... well, I could go on and on. We did a monorail tour of the Contemporary, Poly and GF, and we thought WL was hands down the best of them all! The Poly was a very cool place but it was jam packed with people waiting for O'Hana's and Kona Cafe.

Our mouskeeper Victoria made towel animals nearly every day. My dd was in heaven! I just left a plain envelope with "Mousekeeping" on the outside on a pillow. She stopped to talk to us a few times, and I thanked her for leaving the animals.

When we left, there were two sets of baby ducks. One group of six and another group of four. So sweet! We love the WL!