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

[nathanyell]

Alright - I'll take your word for it I've posted here off an on and I can not believe that after 3 years of wanting to stay at WL, I will be there!! Am so excited that the room discount code came out and I booked today! I'll be there 5/28 - 6/3...so just wait, I'll be asking a LOT of questions!

Here's the first...set

I see another poster asked about getting to Pioneer Hall for the show and you recommended the bus over the boat to get there quicker. So...can you walk there too? And what would you say the estimated times are for using the bus, boat, or walking (if possible)?

And what is this about being able to take a boat to Contemporary? Is it a boat just between the two resorts or is it a 'stop' on a boat to MK? For that matter, is the boat to MK a straight shot or are there stops?

I have not had the greatest luck with boats from MK to the Poly so I'm not really fond of their boat system but I think that WL may be different since it is not as small of a boat as the one to Poly/MK.

Ok, thanks!!!!

There is a trail to Ft. Wilderness. Its about a mile from what I have been told. I'm really not sure how long it would take, but someone else might chime in on that one.

The blue flag boat goes from WL to Contempory to Ft. Wilderness in the morning, then the opposite in the late afternoon/evening. WL-FW-CR. They leave every 20 minutes and there are two, so FW would be probably about 10 minutes away. (Small boats like the Poly/GF/MK loop)

The boat to the MK is dedicated with no stops. There are two boats on this one as well. (Bigger Boats)

The bus to FW probably only takes about 5 minutes.

I find the boats at WL to be more consistent than anyplace else, but that is just my opinion. I try not to take buses when I can help it because Disney does not keep buses on certain routes.

Hope that helps!

Brian

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

There is a trail to Ft. Wilderness. Its about a mile from what I have been told. I'm really not sure how long it would take, but someone else might chime in on that one.

The blue flag boat goes from WL to Contempory to Ft. Wilderness in the morning, then the opposite in the late afternoon/evening. WL-FW-CR. They leave every 20 minutes and there are two, so FW would be probably about 10 minutes away. (Small boats like the Poly/GF/MK loop)

The boat to the MK is dedicated with no stops. There are two boats on this one as well. (Bigger Boats)

The bus to FW probably only takes about 5 minutes.

I find the boats at WL to be more consistent than anyplace else, but that is just my opinion. I try not to take buses when I can help it because Disney does not keep buses on certain routes.

Hope that helps!

Brian

Thanks Brian!

 

[fcanal]

Just back from a week stay at WL. We had a deluxe room, which includes Club Level service. We loved the Lodge, and it really does feel so secluded. If you didn't know better, you would really think you were in the mountains. The first several days it was freezing cold, but the Lodge just seemed that much cozier. We had several issues, but the Disney staff were all so wonderful about getting them solved. The only complaint I have, and it really is a very minor one, is that our room was on the first floor at the far end of the building, so going to the 7th floor for the CL was a bit of an inconvenience.
Overall, we loved it and all decided we would definitely love to stay there again.

 

[kcbedo]

There is a trail to Ft. Wilderness. Its about a mile from what I have been told. I'm really not sure how long it would take, but someone else might chime in on that one.

There's a map of the trail on Robo's web site:

http://www.stitchkingdom.com/maps/index.php?showmap=48

According to Google Maps, it looks like it is almost exactly 1 mile to Pioneer Hall, an average walking speed should get you there in about 20 minutes. I haven't done it, so I can't say for sure.

From what I understand most of the trail is NOT lighted at night.

 

[nathanyell]

Just back from a week stay at WL. We had a deluxe room, which includes Club Level service. We loved the Lodge, and it really does feel so secluded. If you didn't know better, you would really think you were in the mountains. The first several days it was freezing cold, but the Lodge just seemed that much cozier. We had several issues, but the Disney staff were all so wonderful about getting them solved. The only complaint I have, and it really is a very minor one, is that our room was on the first floor at the far end of the building, so going to the 7th floor for the CL was a bit of an inconvenience.
Overall, we loved it and all decided we would definitely love to stay there again.

How did you like the Deluxe rooms? I was thinking of doing that sometime with my brothers family.

Brian

 

[MMrules]

I am checking into the WL for the first time in 32 days

I have a reservation for Dolphins in Depth at Epcot for 9:30 am. Is it better to take a bus to Epcot or should I take the boat to MK and then hop on the monorail? Just trying to decide which option would be faster so that I am not late!

 

[nathanyell]

I am checking into the WL for the first time in 32 days

I have a reservation for Dolphins in Depth at Epcot for 9:30 am. Is it better to take a bus to Epcot or should I take the boat to MK and then hop on the monorail? Just trying to decide which option would be faster so that I am not late!

Definitely take the bus!

 

[Worfiedoodles]

We arrive on Thursday -- should I do online check-in? I don't know much about it, just that theoretically you can do it....

Maria

 

[nathanyell]

We arrive on Thursday -- should I do online check-in? I don't know much about it, just that theoretically you can do it....

Maria

I would do it, because this is a big weekend with the marathon. Could save you some time.

mydisneyreservation.com

Brian

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I would do it, because this is a big weekend with the marathon. Could save you some time.

mydisneyreservation.com

Brian

Thanks! That's why we're coming! It's my 4th WDW Half Marathon and my dh's first Full!

Maria

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I checked the first few posts but couldn't find any information on room request for villas. Do all 1 BDR villas have a patio/balcony? Are any different like partial balconies, different views, etc? I would welcome any recommendation for room requests! Thanks!

 

[MMrules]

Definitely take the bus!

Thanks Brian. I just wanted to make sure that was the quickest option. I know people dis the bus system a lot but I have never had any issues at any resort. If we leave by 8:00 the latest we should have time to spare right?

 

[WDWKOOK]

Thanks Brian. I just wanted to make sure that was the quickest option. I know people dis the bus system a lot but I have never had any issues at any resort. If we leave by 8:00 the latest we should have time to spare right?

Last week, we waited about 35 minutes for an Epcot bus at the WL at about 10 AM. Two buses came for every park in the time that one finally came for Epcot. As you can imagine, by that time, it was one packed Epcot bus

Also, one afternoon the Tronorail had door problems and because they were only running two monorails to Epcot from the TTC, we waited about 30 minutes for the monorail from the TTC to Epcot.

These are isolated instances, but you do need to take into consideration glitches like these. They're not common, but they did happen twice to us last week.

 

[nathanyell]

Thanks Brian. I just wanted to make sure that was the quickest option. I know people dis the bus system a lot but I have never had any issues at any resort. If we leave by 8:00 the latest we should have time to spare right?

I would think that is plenty of time.

Brian

 

[nathanyell]

I checked the first few posts but couldn't find any information on room request for villas. Do all 1 BDR villas have a patio/balcony? Are any different like partial balconies, different views, etc? I would welcome any recommendation for room requests! Thanks!

This might help. I have never stayed on that side.

http://dvcnews.com/index.php/resorts/villas-at-wilderness-lodge/roomfinder

Brian

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

This might help. I have never stayed on that side.

http://dvcnews.com/index.php/resorts/villas-at-wilderness-lodge/roomfinder

Brian

Interesting info! I believe I will just submit one request for a balcony unless I see anything different in the next 4 months. So it's hard to wait 4 months but then again I am happy to be looking forward to a Disney vacation! And at a new resort to boot!

So I am interested in eating at Artist Point. Should I bring my kids (DD7 & DS8 at time of travel)? They enjoy eating at restaurants and are very well behaved. But if the dinner takes a long time, they will get bored. We can let them play on our iphones for a little bit, but I don't like to do that (especially at nicer restaurants). They LOVE steak and game and will eat different foods so I'm not worried about the menu. Has anyone else eaten there? Taken their kids there?
Thanks!

 

[MMrules]

Last week, we waited about 35 minutes for an Epcot bus at the WL at about 10 AM. Two buses came for every park in the time that one finally came for Epcot. As you can imagine, by that time, it was one packed Epcot bus

Also, one afternoon the Tronorail had door problems and because they were only running two monorails to Epcot from the TTC, we waited about 30 minutes for the monorail from the TTC to Epcot.

These are isolated instances, but you do need to take into consideration glitches like these. They're not common, but they did happen twice to us last week.

That is why I am thinking if we leave by 8:00 we should have plenty of time to get there....that would give us an hour and 1/2. Seeing as it is a tour I can't be late!!! Sorry you had 2 bad experiences. I know things can happen, but it is usually at the wrong time!

 

[daughertyk]

Has anyone stayed CL lately, how are the food options in the evening?

 

[fcanal]

We stayed CL last week. We only made the appetizer hours once, but the dessert hours a few times. Appetizers were beef skewers and another hot appetizer, cheese and crackers, fruit, uncrustables, beer, wine and assorted beverages. The desserts were pretty much the same every night, peach cobbler for a couple of days and apple cobbler the other days, brownies, cookies and magic bars.
HTH

 

[skater]

I just booked the new tour at AK for 9:00 a.m. I'm wondering if we should take a cab so there's no chance of mistake getting there. Any thoughts on bus transportation to AK or what time I would need to be at the bus stop to get to AK by about 8:30 a.m.?