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

[Sk8Leigh]

Hmmmmm.....It's hard to take advice from someone who's never experienced club level. But, even I like a bargain, and if you are willing to pay that extra $950 and give up the word "worth", then you'll be ok. I have many pics on the Club level resort lounge thread on the other forum and have stayed a every CL on WDW property. The service that WL CMs offer is top-notch.

I'm not sure what that all means, but $950 is a LOT of money to pay for some food in a lounge. They could use that money to do and buy a lot of other things on the trip, or not even spend it at all. And they'd still be staying in the same resort without spending it. It's not like you get a nicer resort. I don't think it can possibly be worth $950.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

We debated heavily regarding CL for our up coming trip. With the 40% off code, would we ever be able to afford it again?

But then we looked at our normal vacation habits. How often would we be there during the food offerings? How much control over ADRs am I willing to give up? What extras does CL offer that I really want or need?

We would only be back at the lodge, for the most, at breakfast and nightly dessert. We would not be there for the lunch or hot dinner meals. We don't normally drink alcohol, so the beer and wine would not be used. [dietary purposes, not moral reasons I'm looking forward to one Grand Mariner Orange Slush in Epcot].

We aren't doing a lot of ADRs this trip and I didn't need help booking them.

The rooms are not bigger. The views aren't necessarily better.

For us, the only advantage would be to let the boys use the cool key in the elevator. And as much as I would like to give that to them, it just wasn't worth the money, to our family.

Each family needs to see what works best for them.

May you all make magical memories on your trips!

 

[shippedtosea]

First of all, HAPPY HONEYMOON!!!
We had room 5075, right across from you and that view IS awesome. They must have only kings right there. something for us to make a note of. LOL I'm telling you, this place is DH's favorite out of all of the deluxes and the CLs! He loves the WL and I do too! So glad you two had a wonderful time there and got pixie dusted with a bear face room!!!
By chance, did you all get a chance to eat at the AP?

Thank you so much!

Yeah I guessed that its really just those rooms that have the king sized beds. I heard that most of them are handicap and on the first floor which I really didn't want. so we def lucked out! We visited a lot of resorts on the trip but DH said he wouldn't have choose a different one. We did eat at AP (I am going to do a whole dining review and that will be in it if you wanna check it out) on our first night. the food was AMAZING. It is in my top 3 of the trip....and might even be #1. I am a vegetarian and DH is a big meat eater so we tried a lot of different things and everything was better than the next. I highly recommend it.

 

[MickeyEars]

AlexWyattMommy,
You said it exactly!! That's an awful lot of money and how often would we be there to take advantage of the offerings. We do not drink alcohol and I want to make my own ADR's. Thanks for writing what I was thinking!!


Carla

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

You're welcome.

If we were doing a shorter trip, or spending more time at the hotel, or needed lots of help with ADRs, I could totally see doing the CL with a discount. I could even see someone benefiting without a discount.

It is just up to each family to figure out for themselves.

 

[britfish]

We debated heavily regarding CL for our up coming trip. With the 40% off code, would we ever be able to afford it again?

But then we looked at our normal vacation habits. How often would we be there during the food offerings? How much control over ADRs am I willing to give up? What extras does CL offer that I really want or need?

We would only be back at the lodge, for the most, at breakfast and nightly dessert. We would not be there for the lunch or hot dinner meals. We don't normally drink alcohol, so the beer and wine would not be used. [dietary purposes, not moral reasons I'm looking forward to one Grand Mariner Orange Slush in Epcot].

We aren't doing a lot of ADRs this trip and I didn't need help booking them.

The rooms are not bigger. The views aren't necessarily better.

For us, the only advantage would be to let the boys use the cool key in the elevator. And as much as I would like to give that to them, it just wasn't worth the money, to our family.

Each family needs to see what works best for them.

May you all make magical memories on your trips!

Just out of curiosity, how much more expensive is CL? I've never even considered it but just wondered.

 

[mep319]

I stayed club level at AK (so we could do the early morning safari). I've not stayed club at WL but while it was nice...it wouldn't be worth $950.

 

[L8ter]

i have a room view/location question:

we booked a woods view room and were hoping to see anything we could of the MK, castle, fireworks or monorail from our balcony.
so far i've requested north side of the lodge, high floor. but i'm wondering which would be better: staying over the lobby, or in the north tower above the otter pond?

i've read that the lobby and WC can get pretty noisy, any opinions?
and any idea where we might get the best view?

thanks for your help!

 

[GlencreeMom]

We'll be staying at the WL CL this fall for our first family visit and thanks to all of the wonderful posts here, I'm SOO excited about it!!

I'm a little worried we won't get the bunk beds for DS & DD but am willing to take my chances as I think the lounge offerings/snacks will make it worth it. [Still haven't told DH we're staying club level; I figured I'd save that tidbit for when we arrive!]

The only bump I've run into was I was told that Mickey's Grand Welcome couldn't be set up for our arrival but that was by one of the CL CM's, so I'm hoping when I speak with the Disney Florist, I'll find out differently b/c the second day we'll be there will be Halloween and I want to do something for that night as well.

Anyway, thanks to all of you who've been posting about your trips and your little nuggets of information. This newbie truly appreciates it!!

 

[SLBGBR]

Here's our Day&Night views (you can see the fireworks too!) from room 2026 and 2028 centrally located on the second floor over the Otter Pond. Upon taking the elevator down to the 1st floor you have the Roaring Fork, laundry, doors to the pools and path to the boat dock right there! Not bad at all for a Woods View!

 

[Dawson'sMom]

We are planning our first deluxe stay at the Wilderness Lodge for Dec 11-17 (using Bounceback 40% off), right now I have a Woods view bunkbeds booked (lowest room level avaiable at time of booking). I am thinking about either upgrading to club level using 40% BB or switching to free dining(if offered) and hope to book standard room. What would you do? This will more than likely be our only chance to ever stay CL, but I am worried that we would still need to book dining plan. For all you WL CL vets, when staying CL do you still do DDP or do you just pay OOP for a few TS meals or do you find that the CL food is enough and just grab a couple of CS meals or snacks when you want something eles?

I am also looking for information on the Photopass package for the WL. I would like to book a session. Has anyone done this before? I would love to see some of those pics!

Thanks

 

[guarn3md]

We are planning our first deluxe stay at the Wilderness Lodge for Dec 11-17 (using Bounceback 40% off), right now I have a Woods view bunkbeds booked (lowest room level avaiable at time of booking). I am thinking about either upgrading to club level using 40% BB or switching to free dining(if offered) and hope to book standard room. What would you do? This will more than likely be our only chance to ever stay CL, but I am worried that we would still need to book dining plan. For all you WL CL vets, when staying CL do you still do DDP or do you just pay OOP for a few TS meals or do you find that the CL food is enough and just grab a couple of CS meals or snacks when you want something eles?

I am also looking for information on the Photopass package for the WL. I would like to book a session. Has anyone done this before? I would love to see some of those pics!

Thanks

I am leaving in less that 48 hours for Ft. Lauderdale then Disney. We are staying CL for the first time at WL. We have previously stayed here - Thanksgiving 2008, but not CL. I debated long and hard about what dining plan to do. We have always done the regular dining plan but I felt that it might be too much this time. Plus with the hot weather and the 4th of July crowds I just wasn't interested in making 6 TS reservations. We decided to do the QSDP and pay OOP for three TS meals. I know that by the time you add it up I may not be saving much/anything, but I also know that I won't be burning some of my touring time with TS dinners - which is what we usually do. I also have my Disney rewards dollars that has amounted to about $200 and we are going to use that to pay for the OOP TS dinners. The other idea we had was that we won't order dessert at dinner since we know we can get dessert when we get back to the WL. Last, I don't think we are going to do Illuminations or Fantasmic - just so we can get back to WL and enjoy the last bit of the lounge. This is our fifth trip and we have seen the shows many times. We are planning to see MK fireworks but it will be on the night I made reservations for the dessert party. Hope this long explanation helps! After I return home (late, late July 10th) I will be sure to post my reviews and let you know if I made the right choice.
Debbie

 

[krmlaw]

OMG im seriously getting so excited ... i feel like i should be looking over TGM or this site all the time now befor eour trip THIS FRIDAY! Im afraid Im forgetting something!

I CANNOT wait to get there!!!!

 

[anjalee6]

We have 20 days until we get to WL. We are all so excited to get back there.

 

[disnewbie108]

OMG im seriously getting so excited ... i feel like i should be looking over TGM or this site all the time now befor eour trip THIS FRIDAY! Im afraid Im forgetting something!

I CANNOT wait to get there!!!!

Cool. WL for your baby's 1st trip....We will be there in August for our baby's first trip! I am excited. DS7 has been 3 times and this is old hat for him. But we are excited for baby.

Since they ask you a million times what you are celebrating when you call WDW, we finally told them Baby's First Visit. We will actualy be arriving 2 weeks after his 1st birthday too. My husband will be deployed in Japan for his 1st bday and will miss it, so we hope to have a late celebration while at WDW. Cant think of a better place. I am so looking forward to WL!

Hope you have a great time and a great stay at WL!

 

[stepdisney]

Quick question. How far in advance do they have the movie schedules and where can I find them? We will be at the lodge at end of August. Thanks.

 

[tink20]

Ok, I haven't read all the posts. I have a few ?'s

1. Is the boat transportation to MK good or is it really slow? Can you take the bus? or is the boat faster?

2. How is bus service to the othe parks? Same as most resorts or is there long waits?

3. How is the Club Den child activity center? Would DS, who is 9, like it?

4. Thinking of going end of Jan 11', do they usually offer discounts then?

5. Does this resort book up fast, or am I okay to wait until I am 100% sure that we are going?

TIA

 

[Nebula]

Ok, I haven't read all the posts. I have a few ?'s

1. Is the boat transportation to MK good or is it really slow? Can you take the bus? or is the boat faster?

2. How is bus service to the othe parks? Same as most resorts or is there long waits?

3. How is the Club Den child activity center? Would DS, who is 9, like it?

4. Thinking of going end of Jan 11', do they usually offer discounts then?

5. Does this resort book up fast, or am I okay to wait until I am 100% sure that we are going?

TIA

We never waited more than 10 minutes for a boat to MK. We never took a bus to MK, so I can't compare, but the boats were very relaxing. We loved them.

We never waited more than 10 minutes for buses to the other parks, either. They tended to get crowded quickly, though.

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

1. Is the boat transportation to MK good or is it really slow? Can you take the bus? or is the boat faster?You can take the boat or bus to MK. The boat is about a 10 min. ride. The bus about the same, but for some reason seems faster. Either way, it is a quick trip.

2. How is bus service to the othe parks? Same as most resorts or is there long waits?We've stayed at WL six time (just returning on Sunday) and have never waited more than 15 min. for a bus or boat. We think WL has a more direct route compared to some of the other deluxe resorts.

3. How is the Club Den child activity center? Would DS, who is 9, like it?I've heard great things, but never used it.

4. Thinking of going end of Jan 11', do they usually offer discounts then?Most likely

5. Does this resort book up fast, or am I okay to wait until I am 100% sure that we are going?Out of all the resorts, the great Wilderness Lodge has the most returning guests out of any Disney resort. Yep, that is a fact!

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

We are planning our first deluxe stay at the Wilderness Lodge for Dec 11-17 (using Bounceback 40% off), right now I have a Woods view bunkbeds booked (lowest room level avaiable at time of booking). I am thinking about either upgrading to club level using 40% BB or switching to free dining(if offered) and hope to book standard room. What would you do? This will more than likely be our only chance to ever stay CL, but I am worried that we would still need to book dining plan. For all you WL CL vets, when staying CL do you still do DDP or do you just pay OOP for a few TS meals or do you find that the CL food is enough and just grab a couple of CS meals or snacks when you want something eles?

I am also looking for information on the Photopass package for the WL. I would like to book a session. Has anyone done this before? I would love to see some of those pics!

The photo pass package is $99.95. The photographer takes you around the Lodge for 30 min. taking various photos of your family and then presents you with a CD/DVD of all the shots. Very cool.

We just returned from our 6th stay at at the Lodge and this time we were fortunate enough to enjoy CLUB LEVEL using a 40% discount. This equates to the club level being about $40-50 more per night than a courtyard view/ bunkbed room which we've always gotten in the past. Let me tell you....It was sooo awesome. We have a DD 17 and a DS 14 who eats us out of house and home and it was really a Godsend. We had our breakfast there each and every morning (7 night stay) and it was a HEALTHY bkfst. It was pretty special to be able to overlook the Lodge's magnificant lobby each and every morning. The snacks were enough to hold us over mid day. At 5 comes the wine/cheese and things like bacon wrapped scallops, green chili, salmon cakes (think crab cakes), venison meatballs (out of this world), bbq chicken cabobs, turkey wraps, spiced nuts, veges and dip, coffee, coffee and more coffee!!! They have a machine where you press a button and viola, you have your mocha, latte or whatever you may choose. I iced mine and it put Starbucks to shame. Oh yea, then there is dessert beginning at 8!! Awesome way to end the day.

I can't even begin to count the $$$$ we saved on food. I also can't begin to say the number of people that came up to us asking if we would like their dining coupons because they have 22 (yes 22) meal vouchers left and they are leaving the next day and can't use them. Another family asked if we would like to by their 4 dining coupons for $3.50 because they just wanted a ice cream bar but used all their snack vouchers for water. (TIP... you can ask anywhere for a glass of ice or icewater and they are happy to get it for you free of charge!!!!

We just returned on Sunday and would be happy to answer anyone's questions!
Okay..that's it for now.