Just stayed at WL, for the 3rd time. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the theming there. Tried a new drink, Sand in your Pants, at the poolside bar while waiting for DME to get me. Definitely had some kinks in the stay this time though. That room refurb is apparently REALLY needed in some areas.
Let me start at the beginning...had a couple of BIG issues. We arrived after 11pm, I had booked a courtyard view room. The front desk CM said "uh-oh" when she pulled up our ressie. Told us we had to wait a while because our room was not ready yet. After a little while, told me we could get into a Standard View room for the night and switch in the morning. I asked about the downgrade refund. She got help, he offered $20 back because "You already had a great rate." Ummm,NO...I explained that up until my upgrading 2 weeks ago, we had a great rate at standard view, too. I told him I expected the price difference between categories credited to my card. He did so. The excuse was that the resort was completely booked, and there were many late check outs with only one mousekeeper to clean the rooms. I didn't care WHAT the excuse was, just wanted to get started on SLEEPING!
So, in the morning, we had to wait to leave our room till bell services could come get our bags and hold them for us. Then, we had no luggage all day...(Our trip was only 3 full days). When we got back to the resort in the evening, we had to wait in the checkin line again to get our new room and room keys, and we had to call to get our bags back. Nobody would answer the phone, it would go to a message, then bounce to front desk or whatever. Over and over the front desk cm would transfer us, and over and over it would go back to another cm at the front desk. I finally asked for a manager to call me, and explained the trouble. Got our bags about 1 1/2 hours after first calling for them.
The manager called, I explained the story. She was very kind, and understanding. I think she was named Mary, she was sweet. She did put a small credit on our account, as apology for the room not being ready for us. As I had told her, we paid for 20 hours in a hotel room...and after arriving at 11 pm and not getting into a room till midnight, we only got 11 hours in it. Not reasonable, for ANY reason, for a room NOT to be ready for a pre-booked guest at 11pm.
Our room, by the way, the bathroom door knob was hanging on the inside -- you couldn't use the doorknob to pull the door shut...and the drapes on our poolview room (bright light right across the courtyard shone in) would not close all the way, the rod they were on was bent downward in the middle. We only had a 3 day vacation, so had to just deal with it or have to go through that WHOLE moving process again the next day.
On our last full day, we had booked an early morning tour at MK. My mom's legs had unfortunately not held out well on the trip, and our room was not close to any transportation really. SO I called downstairs to ask if the boats to MK were running yet, or should we go to the bus stop instead. They put me on hold, and came back saying the boats were running to mk already, every 20 minutes. So to the dock we went. After about 20 minutes, we hadn't even seen an MK boat from afar! So we used the dock phone to call agian, once again they returned and told us it was a little behind coming back, to hang in there. Soon, people started lining up behind us. While in line, after another 20 minutes, I called on my cell to guest services. They looked into it, told me they were calling transportation to see what the holdup was, and to call our tour and see if we could get into a later one. About 10 minutes later, I gave up. Our tour was starting at 8:30, it was now 8:20. I ran to the front desk, mom followed slowly behind. I waited in line, and told the cm what was going on. She ran into the back office, and came back with another woman who told us to come with her. She put us into a WL van, and drove us to the MK. Got there at 8:32. The tour was just starting.
I was so bummed, it was our last day, and I booked the early tour because I wanted to get that time sitting quietly in the not yet opened park, get a picture from the train station of main street not yet crowded, and get the pix of the statues with us in the pictures but no crowds.
The Wilderness Lodge really let me down this time around. Even the turn down service that I called for, for 3 nights, only happened ONCE! I should have just asked mousekeeping for some of the little cards they leave, those are the best part of turndown! We had similar situation last trip, too. We had requested turndown for 4 nights (we had 2 rooms)...both rooms got it 2 nights.
Our last morning, everything went like clockwork. Checked our bags, got our boarding passes, etc. Went on our way for the morning...then came back 2 hours before our DME pickup. I lounged at the pool bar, then on the beach, got some pictures (turned out beautiful) of the lodge and waterfall. That was the ONLY day that went well at the lodge, and it restored my faith, I am only very sad that I had to leave as soon as things started going well!
To the man in the DIS shirt at the boatdock on friday (st pattys day) getting onto the CR boat with his family early in the morning, sorry I didn't get to say HI...I saw you but didn't register the DIS shirt till you were boarding. I was in the MK line. So HELLO a little late!
Thanks for making me feel better. I had heard such good things about WL. What bothered me most was that you showed up at 11PM and there wasn't a room waiting for you. Also that you had to wait to get the other room. They screwed up they should treat you accordingly. Maybe my expectations are too high. I would not want to have to change rooms, even for one night. IMHO you should have received an upgrade or better compensation. ....... (okay, in through the nose out through the mouth) I guess my way of thinking is, my next stay at WDW has already cost me $5,000 (food not included) For that kind of money, I'm looking to be treated like a queen lol. I'll have that coffee you ya'
My understanding is that many of the moderates received fridges in each of the rooms during the time they were remodeled. Perhaps we will see this same thing happen at WL while they remodel this summer. 
