The Wilderness Lodge and Villas FAQ (Part 7) Simbas and Tiggers and Humphreys OH MY!

[JPN4265]

My biggest suggestion is to check the room when you arrive. If you aren't changing rooms for any reason, check all the housekeeping items - you have everything stocked, is it clean for you, etc. Then call housekeeping with any requests - needed items, anymore cleaning, etc. I've found this sets a tone on what you need (lots of towels, extra creamer, and vacuumed everyday) and helps out. I also try to find the person that cleans our room and say hello and thank you. Also, I will call and ask that the room be cleaned at a specific time if it matters to me (so if we come back to the resort to nap from 1-4pm, I don't want them cleaning then!)

And I find that it really does help to leave a tip

Some very good information here. Thanks.

 

[nathanyell]

My biggest suggestion is to check the room when you arrive. If you aren't changing rooms for any reason, check all the housekeeping items - you have everything stocked, is it clean for you, etc. Then call housekeeping with any requests - needed items, anymore cleaning, etc. I've found this sets a tone on what you need (lots of towels, extra creamer, and vacuumed everyday) and helps out. I also try to find the person that cleans our room and say hello and thank you. Also, I will call and ask that the room be cleaned at a specific time if it matters to me (so if we come back to the resort to nap from 1-4pm, I don't want them cleaning then!)

And I find that it really does help to leave a tip

That's a great suggestion! I'll definitely keep that in mind when I get there.

30 Days!!!

Brian

 

[wickey's friend]

Merry Christmas to you all. We leave in about an hour for the airport. Next stop -- WDW and WL!!!

 

[Loopner]

That's a great suggestion! I'll definitely keep that in mind when I get there.

30 Days!!!

Brian

Me, too! We're getting so close!!!

 

[nathanyell]

Merry Christmas to you all. We leave in about an hour for the airport. Next stop -- WDW and WL!!!

Have fun Wickey's Friend!!!!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

nathanyell -
I expect a FULL and DETAILED report upon your return

Less than a month - I'm jealous!!!!

 

[disneyfreak89]

I've read that not all rooms at WL have balconies that you can sit out on, and that is a MUST for us. Would it be silly to 'request' a room with a balcony? or will they think I'm nuts? Is there a certain section/floor that has balcony rooms so I can just request that?

BTW, LOVING this thread!

 

[goofy4prez]

Here's a little on site report here in Orlando.

We arrived at the Portofino Hotel at Universal Studios on Tuesday and I have to admit I am very impressed with the hotel, staff, and the ammenities. We are staying in the club level and the rooms are fairly large. However, as nice as the rooms are it just don't have that "magic" you find at WDW

The first two days we visited both of the Universal parks and had a fun time. The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman 4-D ride did leave me a bit quessy. But being a roller coaster nut that I am( I live only 1 hour from Cedar Point) I did love the Duelling Dragons, and Hulk Coaster; the Revenge of the Mummy was a nice ride as well.

Today we spent the day at Sea World. As I mentioned in a previous post I remember going to Sea World in Aurora (near Cleveland) several times but they closed it about 10 years ago and my daughter never had the chance. Sure she has seen Marineland in Niagra Falls but it's just not the same. My DD loved Sea World. Sea World had a few nice rides as well, but we really were not there for the rides.

Over all I really enjoyed Universal Studios. I love WDW much more but it would not hurt for some WDW execs to spend a few days as a guest at Portofino Hotel and see what they do right.

Tomorrow we arrive at the WL and will spend the next 11 days there club level. Our first trip to WDW in Aug. 08 was at the WL and we were upgraded to CL(can you believe that) just for being first time guests(at least that's what the cm said to us). We have become hooked on club level; we stayed at the YC in January 09 club level and enjoyed it almost as much as the WL.

I can't wait till tomorrow evening; I will see my parents for the first time in 2 years(they moved to Phoenix). I know that's terrible but I own a small business and it has been so hectic the past couple of years we have not been able to get back. We originally were all going to meet up in Jan. 09 at WDW but my mother was not able to get the time off from her job she was hoping to get. Anyhow, as I mentioned my daughter does not know they are going to be there and it's been so hard not telling her.

Sorry for the long post all but I'm so excited to see my parents and also see my dd reaction when grandma & grandpa walk into Narcoossee's tommorow,that and 11 days in WDW.

It's after midnight and I should hit the sack. When I get back I'll have to be certain to post plenty of pics.

 

[Cee]

Just made arrangements to enjoy a 1BR at VWL the first week of Nov. 2010. I haven't stayed there in YEARS. So excited!

 

[tardin1964]

Here's a little on site report here in Orlando.

Tomorrow we arrive at the WL and will spend the next 11 days there club level. Our first trip to WDW in Aug. 08 was at the WL and we were upgraded to CL(can you believe that) just for being first time guests(at least that's what the cm said to us). We have become hooked on club level; we stayed at the YC in January 09 club level and enjoyed it almost as much as the WL.

I can't wait till tomorrow evening; I will see my parents for the first time in 2 years(they moved to Phoenix). I know that's terrible but I own a small business and it has been so hectic the past couple of years we have not been able to get back. We originally were all going to meet up in Jan. 09 at WDW but my mother was not able to get the time off from her job she was hoping to get. Anyhow, as I mentioned my daughter does not know they are going to be there and it's been so hard not telling her.

Sorry for the long post all but I'm so excited to see my parents and also see my dd reaction when grandma & grandpa walk into Narcoossee's tommorow,that and 11 days in WDW.

It's after midnight and I should hit the sack. When I get back I'll have to be certain to post plenty of pics.

Wow...it must have been real hard not telling your DD about Grandma & Grandpa being there too. What a great surprise for the holiday's. You put a smile on my face thing about your DD's reaction when seeing them. Have a wonderful stay at the WL.

My wife an I booked a Disney Cruise sailing 10/30/10 about a month ago. We havent' told our two DD's yet...ages 13 & 11 and we don't know when or how to tell them. I don't want to tell them too early in case we have to cancel for some reason... but it's really hard not to surprise them on Christmas morning with the news so they have something to look forward to during the year.

 

[nathanyell]

I've read that not all rooms at WL have balconies that you can sit out on, and that is a MUST for us. Would it be silly to 'request' a room with a balcony? or will they think I'm nuts? Is there a certain section/floor that has balcony rooms so I can just request that?

BTW, LOVING this thread!

The only rooms that do not have balconies would be ground level rooms that have a patio. You could just request a high floor and that should take care of it. I did hear there is one studio in the Villas that does not have a balcony.



Brian

 

[nathanyell]

nathanyell -
I expect a FULL and DETAILED report upon your return

Less than a month - I'm jealous!!!!

I might be too excited to remember anything!!

I will definitely do a report on the room and resort in here. ;-)

29 days!!

Brian

 

[nathanyell]

Here's a little on site report here in Orlando.
Sorry for the long post all but I'm so excited to see my parents and also see my dd reaction when grandma & grandpa walk into Narcoossee's tommorow,that and 11 days in WDW.

It's after midnight and I should hit the sack. When I get back I'll have to be certain to post plenty of pics.

You definitely need to write and tell us about your surprise for your daughter. I know the family reunion will be so much fun!

Have a great time!!!

Brian<--patiently waiting 11 days for your photos.

 

[Loopner]

Nathan! We're almost at "only 4 weeks to go" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[disneyfreak89]

The only rooms that do not have balconies would be ground level rooms that have a patio. You could just request a high floor and that should take care of it. I did hear there is one studio in the Villas that does not have a balcony.

Thanks Brian. I was just curious because of what I read on Allears:

"Not all rooms have balconies and some balconies have privacy rails so that you can't see out when sitting."


Since it didn't mention "patios", I assumed some rooms just had a railing and not a balcony.

 

[snogger]

Back a Full week now and we miss it already

Had yet another GREAT trip..One day we had rain in the morning, otherwise just clouds and sun and warm. Still love the Wilderness Lodge.. Worth the extra expense to stay there for us.

Loved Epcot.... Could have EASILY spent another day there..

Grabbed FP for Soarin', then waited 50 minutes inline for Test Track.. The wait at Test Track was worth every minute! Wish we had time to ride it again.

Soarin', although fun, would not have been worth standing in line as long for. I saw wait times over 120 minutes.. .

We did the "easy" Mission Space and loved that also..
Ate dinner at Coral reef. Dinner was pretty good, but the atmosphere was even better!

Had to kind of rush through the World Show case.
We did see the France movie, China, did the ride at Norway and Mexico and had fun at the worlds we did get to.

At Hollywood we did the Aerosmtih Roller coaster and LOVED it!
Rode Tower of Terror twice, once in the back row and once in the front row.. a lot of fun!

Did not get into Toy story mania as the line wait was over 60 minutes the times we checked and FP's were gone before 10:30am

Ate at Hollywood & Vine again.. Pretty good for a buffet..Saw Fantasmic again and enjoyed it again. Worth the hour wait we had in our seats.

Spent two days at MK.. Rode Space mountain 3 times, Splash Mountain twice and Thunder Mountain twice and enjoyed them all.

Biggest waste of time, for my daughter and I, was spending 35 minutes inline for Peter Pan.. I suggest if the line is longer than 5 minutes skip it!
Enjoyed Mickey's Philharmonic.. Dinner at Tony's town square.. VERY good food

Mickey's very merry Christmas party was a blast again!

Re-rode Pirates with Eyes open this time(Last time didn't enjoy it that much as I went in expecting a "thrill Ride" ) and enjoyed it much more than last time.. Can't say the same for Haunted Mansion... Still didn't bring any excitement to me or my daughter.

Also, went to the Luau at The Polynesian.. Good food and the entertainment was top notch!

Feel free to ask any questions if you have them.

 

[snogger]

Here are a few photos from our trip:

Christmas in the Lobby

Wide shot of the Lobby

and 3 Shots of "Bear" Falls

More later

 

[disneyfreak89]

BEAUTIFUL pictures Snogger! Thanks for sharing!

 

[burberryplaid]

Ohhh Snogger those pics are wonderful!

I'm 156 days out and can barely stand it!

 

[nathanyell]

Nathan! We're almost at "only 4 weeks to go" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Loopner,

That would be today!!! Only 4 weeks!! 16 work days!

Brian <--is dreaming of Disney in two feet of snow.