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

[Little Lulu]

I hear you on the bus issue! We also waited one morning on the Epcot bus for 45 min. It was Wed morning, May 5. If we stay here again we will have to do the cabs too because that was crazy!

OMG, we must have been waiting for the same bus!
We almost missed our LeCellier 11:30am ADR, in fact, we were late and they still let us eat! TG!

 

[BlueFairy]

OMG, we must have been waiting for the same bus!
We almost missed our LeCellier 11:30am ADR, in fact, we were late and they still let us eat! TG!

Possibly not the same bus. They were late Tues and Thurs morning too.

 

[CarolinaBlue]

We're leaving in the morning for our first stay at WL!

I have a question about transportation. If we're doing morning EMH at MK, is it better to take the bus or the boat? We've stayed at FW several times and never had a problem with the boat, but I just wondered how it is at WL.

 

[guarn3md]

I would definitely take the boat! I found it to be faster than the bus. I never take the bus to the MK when staying at WL. JMHO
Have a good trip!
Debbie

 

[krmlaw]

do you guys think taking boat then switching to monorail is better than bus?

 

[LJD2143]

do you guys think taking boat then switching to monorail is better than bus?

We absolutely do this!
It may be a little more of a hassle - but we MUCH prefer the boat & monorail to the buses. In fact, we avoid the buses AT ALL COSTS! And our kids consider a monorail ride to be an "Attraction"! The only park we absolutely have to take a bus to is the Animal Kingdom. For MK, DHS and EPCOT we use the monorails and boats.

To EPCOT from WL: boat to Contemporary, monorail to TTC, and then monorail to EPCOT.

 

[JordanBailey22]

OMG, we must have been waiting for the same bus!
We almost missed our LeCellier 11:30am ADR, in fact, we were late and they still let us eat! TG!

I bet we were waiting on the same bus!! It was about that time! How funny is that! I keep thinking about who all was around me but my memory fails me lol! It was the same way for our breakfast at Tusker House on Tuesday morning, we were late due to the bus but they didn't even blink an eye. It was super busy at that time so maybe thats why.

 

[JordanBailey22]

We're leaving in the morning for our first stay at WL!

I have a question about transportation. If we're doing morning EMH at MK, is it better to take the bus or the boat? We've stayed at FW several times and never had a problem with the boat, but I just wondered how it is at WL.

I was just there and I would definitly say boat! Even the buses to MK seemed like it took forever for one to come. We only did the bus to MK 2 times but that was enough for us to learn our lesson!

On a side note, we are from NC too, western NC to be exact! But, my dh is a die hard Duke fan, lol! My dad is a tarheel fan so I am stuck somewhere in the middle on game days!

 

[ethansmommy]

Yes, we did get sprinkled with lots of Disney magic on this last trip, Blue Fairy!

Here's some pics of our view! Room #5075 King Bear Face Room!
Out onto the lake and the pool......

Looking down from our room...

From the balcony into our room....

Also, wanted to add the boats were great, never had to wait and we enjoyed them and used them alot!
Now, the buses. Eh. We waited 45 min one morning for an Epcot bus! From then on, it was cabs for us, no big deal as we are taxi people. Just wanted to see what the bus thing was all about.

DH already misses the WL. Wants to go back.....soon.
We've stayed at them all, and this is HIS favorite resort of them all.

How lucky you are to have gotten to stay in the bear face room!! When you took the taxi's who did you call to get one or were they just available out front of the WL. Also if you can remember how much the taxi fare was to the different places you went? I am planning on a couple of early Adr's and want to make sure we get to them on time with out any bus issues!!
~Jen

 

[BlueFairy]

We're leaving in the morning for our first stay at WL!

I have a question about transportation. If we're doing morning EMH at MK, is it better to take the bus or the boat? We've stayed at FW several times and never had a problem with the boat, but I just wondered how it is at WL.

do you guys think taking boat then switching to monorail is better than bus?

Just remember that the MK boat doesn't run until 30 min prior to park opening. So if EMH starts at 8am, you won't leave the dock until 7:30 or a little later.

The CR boat is already running at that hour. We wanted to see the opening show at MK, so it was CR boat to the walking path for us. Much faster than trekking up the hill to the monorail. From the CR, the monorail stops at TTC, Poly and GF before reaching MK.

 

[BlueFairy]

We absolutely do this!
It may be a little more of a hassle - but we MUCH prefer the boat & monorail to the buses. In fact, we avoid the buses AT ALL COSTS! And our kids consider a monorail ride to be an "Attraction"! The only park we absolutely have to take a bus to is the Animal Kingdom. For MK, DHS and EPCOT we use the monorails and boats.

To EPCOT from WL: boat to Contemporary, monorail to TTC, and then monorail to EPCOT.

Please tell me how you get to DHS using the monorail and boats? You walk through Epcot and take the boat?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The CR boat is already running at that hour. We wanted to see the opening show at MK, so it was CR boat to the walking path for us. Much faster than trekking up the hill to the monorail. From the CR, the monorail stops at TTC, Poly and GF before reaching MK.

The boat to the Contemporary starts at 6:45 AM and closes at 11:45 PM.

 

[LJD2143]

Please tell me how you get to DHS using the monorail and boats? You walk through Epcot and take the boat?

Yep -from the IG!
I admit it seems like alot of hassle and time....but we just build our schedule and touring plans around it. (For instance, we don't spend much time at DHS anyway).

 

[CarolinaBlue]

I was just there and I would definitly say boat! Even the buses to MK seemed like it took forever for one to come. We only did the bus to MK 2 times but that was enough for us to learn our lesson!

On a side note, we are from NC too, western NC to be exact! But, my dh is a die hard Duke fan, lol! My dad is a tarheel fan so I am stuck somewhere in the middle on game days!

I have family in western NC (Asheville and Marion). We live just west of Charlotte. My entire family (with the exception of 2 nieces ) are Tarheels. My oldest dd graduated from Carolina last year.

 

[DCbride]

Just returned from a long weekend at WL. It was our fist time staying. I am really surprised how much I enjoyed the resort. We jave been staying at the CSR lately so the theme was very different for me. Wasn't sure if I would like it or not. But the resort was beautiful and the location- wow.

We planned a girls weekend for Mother's Day, got 2 rooms for 5 adults and 1 child. Requested 1st floor connecting woods view. Our first room was at the end 2069 (maybe) it was VERY DARK the balcony was stone with what we called a port hole view. Did not care for the room at all, plus we were not connecting. I called and had a great CM who was able to "find us a room anyplace in the resort with connecting rooms" We were in 6053 and had a great view of the pool with a solid balcony. If you are the type to sit on the balcony to enjoy the view, a solid balcony is not for you. But we were thrilled to have connecting and a pool view so we were very happy.

We only ventured into the MK one day for a 1/2 day so the majority of the time was spent either at the resort or traveling to ADRs. The resort is very easy to walk around, in fact several ladies had pedometers and we determined we walked about 24 miles in 4 days, and that's without going to parks!!! It was very very hot last weekend so we only walked to Ft W 1x. The fireworks on the beach were nice as was the water parade each night. We spent one afternoon at the quiet pool and I commented that I felt like I was at a backyard pool party, with the greenery.

We went to the bakery at BW for Mother's Day breakfast. Taking the walk around the lake to BC and Swan, I still like the feel of that area, beachy, but I am definitely now sold on the relaxing feeling of WL. We booked again in August, but will try CL this time. (basically we picked WL CL over free dining- and still will save about $800) and I am excited to go back so soon.

The boats were such a relaxing way to begin the day. I loved that!

We didn't venture into the arts and crafts or kids area- but look forward to doing that one day.

I really enjoyed my first time at WL. I am so happy we decided to try it!

 

[Little Lulu]

How lucky you are to have gotten to stay in the bear face room!! When you took the taxi's who did you call to get one or were they just available out front of the WL. Also if you can remember how much the taxi fare was to the different places you went? I am planning on a couple of early Adr's and want to make sure we get to them on time with out any bus issues!!
~Jen

So sorry I haven't gotten back here yet!
For the taxis, it's best to call down first and have bell services call for a taxi.
That way, by the time you get downstairs, you won't have to wait as long for one. Once in a while, there would be one there, but many people use the boats and buses there at WL, so the need for taxis are low. (I don't know why?)

Rates I remember paying, to the GF,not including tip (and DH always tips) was $7.
To DTD was $15
To Epcot was $12
To BC for Cape May was $12

 

[ethansmommy]

So sorry I haven't gotten back here yet!
For the taxis, it's best to call down first and have bell services call for a taxi.
That way, by the time you get downstairs, you won't have to wait as long for one. Once in a while, there would be one there, but many people use the boats and buses there at WL, so the need for taxis are low. (I don't know why?)

Rates I remember paying, to the GF,not including tip (and DH always tips) was $7.
To DTD was $15
To Epcot was $12
To BC for Cape May was $12

Thank you for the info!!

 

[puffinp51]

Hi! We have 8:05 ADR's for breakfast at the Crystal Palace. We've never done this before and was wondering if anyone can suggest the best transportation route to the MK? It's not an EMH morning. Thanks in advance

M.K.

 

[WLSILVERCREEKSPRINGS]

The bus is the best way to get to an early ADR at CP, we did this in 2007 and we will be again this June

 

[GinCar]

The bus is the best way to get to an early ADR at CP, we did this in 2007 and we will be again this June

I have a friend leaving in a few days for their first Disney trip, staying at the WL. They also have reservations at CP at 7:55am.
When do the boats start running?
I think I told her to take the boat that morning.

Thanks in advance.