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

[Tinkerbellie16]

Brian - are you back yet?? I can't wait to hear all about it! You are one of the people that convinced me to try WL (Well, you don't know it, but y'all did on this thread!)

So my coworker tells me he's going with his family in 2 weeks to Disney and staying at WL!!! Of course, we ended up having all these discussions (it's his family's first time going) and I told him the main hot tub is down and he said, "oh, i'm bummed I'm going to miss sitting in a cesspool of human filth" So, I know that some folks feel this way (I can take it or leave it but feel that chlorine does the job and just don't stay in it too long) but he was not affected by the news at all which made me feel better for him. He won't 'miss' something.

All of his questions were good questions but one made me laugh, "Do you take breaks during the day or do you stay at the park all day?" They have one child, a five year old who is just past naps - but we all know what that equates to at Disney - TIRED. I told him that if he didn't go back to the resort during the day, he would have a miserable time like all those people that say they are never going back. I put it this way - would you spend all day at the zoo without a break? Or would you go to Dave and Busters from 9 am to 8 pm or later? No. And who doesn't want to chill at a Disney Resort? And WL!!! I'm excited for him and soooo excited to stay there myself in a few months!

 

[Mouse14]

this is very upsetting news... going to be at WL the 4,5,6 of feb.... might be switching now...

 

[Mouse14]

just called and they said that the main tubs are closed but the villa tub is open... might be a repost just a heads up tho, any one think the resort can do something for you for the construction?..

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

just called and they said that the main tubs are closed but the villa tub is open... might be a repost just a heads up tho, any one think the resort can do something for you for the construction?..

Another poster called and was switched to AKL. If you really need the main hot tub, then perhaps you can switch resorts? But Brian and other posters have said the villa hot tub is open if needed.

I have to admit that it is frustrating when you have to book dining 6 months in advance so you book your vacation 6 months in advance but then they might only warn you about a refurb a couple of months or only weeks in advance! So I can understand your frustration. Good luck!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Brian - are you back yet?? I can't wait to hear all about it! You are one of the people that convinced me to try WL (Well, you don't know it, but y'all did on this thread!)


All of his questions were good questions but one made me laugh, "Do you take breaks during the day or do you stay at the park all day?" They have one child, a five year old who is just past naps - but we all know what that equates to at Disney - TIRED. I told him that if he didn't go back to the resort during the day, he would have a miserable time like all those people that say they are never going back.

Have been wondering about Brian too! Hope they had safe travels home and we get to hear all about the trip soon.

EXCELLENT advice for your co-worker!!

 

[Fun_at_WDW]

All of his questions were good questions but one made me laugh, "Do you take breaks during the day or do you stay at the park all day?" They have one child, a five year old who is just past naps - but we all know what that equates to at Disney - TIRED. I told him that if he didn't go back to the resort during the day, he would have a miserable time like all those people that say they are never going back. I put it this way - would you spend all day at the zoo without a break? Or would you go to Dave and Busters from 9 am to 8 pm or later? No. And who doesn't want to chill at a Disney Resort? And WL!!! I'm excited for him and soooo excited to stay there myself in a few months!

I have to totally disagree on this one. We went to WDW for 11 days in June. We went to parks every day and NEVER came back in the middle of the day and never had a miserable time. In fact, we had a fabulous time! My sons were 8 & 9 years old. We flew from San Diego to Orlando on the red eye on Friday night and arrived at the park around 11:00 am on Saturday. By 2:00 pm we were at Epcot and spent the rest of the day there. But, maybe we are not typical. Even when the boys were younger we use to go to Disneyland in California from rope drop to park close without a break. (They did take naps in the stroller when they were babies.)

 

[kennedyandkailey]

I have to totally disagree on this one. We went to WDW for 11 days in June. We went to parks every day and NEVER came back in the middle of the day and never had a miserable time. In fact, we had a fabulous time! My sons were 8 & 9 years old. We flew from San Diego to Orlando on the red eye on Friday night and arrived at the park around 11:00 am on Saturday. By 2:00 pm we were at Epcot and spent the rest of the day there. But, maybe we are not typical. Even when the boys were younger we use to go to Disneyland in California from rope drop to park close without a break. (They did take naps in the stroller when they were babies.)

This is us too... I agree! My children are 6 and 8. Our last trip they were 5 and 7. We do not go back to the resorts and/or take a break. We leave the hotel at 7-8 am and come back when the park closes. The one thing we do do is deluxe dining with three sit down meals every day. This is our relax and recharge time. We love it. When we are fed and have taken our little 30-60 minute break, we are ready to go again! We actually never went back to our resort mid-day... even when they were babies!!

We leave in 5 days!!!!!! I CANNOT WAIT TO STAY AT THE WL FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!!!!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I have to totally disagree on this one. We went to WDW for 11 days in June. We went to parks every day and NEVER came back in the middle of the day and never had a miserable time. In fact, we had a fabulous time! My sons were 8 & 9 years old. We flew from San Diego to Orlando on the red eye on Friday night and arrived at the park around 11:00 am on Saturday. By 2:00 pm we were at Epcot and spent the rest of the day there. But, maybe we are not typical. Even when the boys were younger we use to go to Disneyland in California from rope drop to park close without a break. (They did take naps in the stroller when they were babies.)

This is us too... I agree! My children are 6 and 8. Our last trip they were 5 and 7. We do not go back to the resorts and/or take a break. We leave the hotel at 7-8 am and come back when the park closes. The one thing we do do is deluxe dining with three sit down meals every day. This is our relax and recharge time. We love it. When we are fed and have taken our little 30-60 minute break, we are ready to go again! We actually never went back to our resort mid-day... even when they were babies!!

We leave in 5 days!!!!!! I CANNOT WAIT TO STAY AT THE WL FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!!!!

That's awesome for you guys! No bad juju from me

 

[2girlsmom]

I guess I am the opposite of you guys! My kids are older, too, 12 and 10, but we seem to need breaks. Deluxe dining helps cause it enforces sit down breaks, but we still like to go in late some days, leave early some days, and if we are planning on rope drop at a park and also late nights, we really do best with a break in the middle to go back to the hotel, swim, etc.

 

[sophie832]

We are all checked in and ended up in a ground floor room right by the pool. Not sure whether to be happy with that or not. Concierge desk in the lobby said all hot tubs are closed. Too rainy and stormy to check now.

 

[lilmape]

I have to say I'm bummed. Construction on Main Street and at the hotel?
I was so looking forward to a late evening dip in the hot tub with my husband. We are headed down shortyl to celebrate our anniversary. We had to wait 6 months to go because of me graduating and getting a new job, and we wanted to stay at the lodge for the geyser and hottubs near the lake. I have to say I'm bummed. I don't know if we can afford to change resorts with the 40% off deal we got on the courtyard view... Disney is really killing the magic for me.

 

[TinyDancer]

We just returned today from a fantastic short trip to Disney's Wilderness Lodge. This was my first time at the WL and I was so impressed. The theming was amazing and I fell in love with the overall atmosphere of this resort. In fact it's a new favorite. Past stays have been at CR, Poly, GF, CSR, and the Swan & Dolphin. If the rooms were a little nicer it might even beat out GF, my current all-time favorite, and I would say it's a tie with the Poly. I still need to stay over at the YC and perhaps that will be next? I can tell already I will love that resort as I'm a nautical person. Back to WL, I loved the grounds. It was hard to believe you were in Florida, as it felt like the Pacific Northwest. The moss trees were my favorite, and they really added to the rustic feel of WL (although perhaps not typical in the Pacific NW?).

Everyone could not have been nicer, and this was without question the least busy I have ever seen WDW. I loved it! No crowds, no waits for restaurants, no advance dining reservations necessary, and the CM's were the most friendly I have seen them. They were all so happy that the holiday rush is over, they were more relaxed and actually had time to chat with you. It was very refreshing.

Ok. Now for the icing on the cake. We booked online direct through WDTC just six days before departure. We got a great deal, but only booked the "standard" view which I knew was the parking lot, roof tops, or service area. Not very appealing. We checked in online. We also didn't arrive until about 8:30pm as we drove up late from Miami. After reading these boards many have mentioned that all the good rooms are taken the later you check in, and some have mentioned that online check-in also limits you. Nothing could have been further from the truth in our case. We went to the online check-in area and the CM was very talkative and provided us with our packet. She saw me using the Foursquare application on my iPhone and we started chatting about it. I finally got around to asking her if our room was any good? She looked it up and didn't say anything, which told me right away it wasn't a great room. She started playing around in the computer and next thing we knew she upgraded us to Courtyard View, sixth floor, the very end room overlooking the pool, grounds, Bay Lake, the Contemporary, and we could even see the fireworks! It was amazing! So it just goes to show you it pays to ask and it also pays to be nice and friendly with the CM's. FYI our room was 6165. I highly recommend it, but be prepared for a walk as it's the last room in the corridor.

One thing I have come to realize are the rooms themselves at Disney are not that great (except maybe the Grand Floridian). I mean compared a Four Seasons or Ritz Carlton which Disney's Deluxe Resorts are comparably priced, they are a bit of a let down. As much as I loved the WL, the room was just ok. The toilet and bath tub area really need to be redone, and perhaps the beds and walls could be spruced up too. The carpet seemed pretty new and there was a flat panel TV. There was some cute theming in the room, but it was pretty basic. Did this disappoint me? No, because I know I am paying for the location, the Disney service, the convenience, and the wonderful theming of the resort itself.

Attached is a link to some pictures and I've also placed a few previews on this thread. Unfortunately I forgot my camera so they are all taken with the iPhone which is not the best quality. Hope you enjoy!

http://gallery.mac.com/ekroller#100722

Ernie

Thanks for the update! This looks to be the almost the exact location of where I stayed for my first trip to WL..
Great views!!

 

[alieila]

Yeah! Same with our first trip in 2006! If it was near the top floor and facing contemporary! Nearly towards the end of the hallway! With the bar a few flights down the stairways! I'd say it's a great room!

Thanks for the update! This looks to be the almost the exact location of where I stayed for my first trip to WL..
Great views!!

 

[sophie832]

Another update on our room...when we first got in, I did a bedbug check. Saw some small, ant-like bug on the bottom boxspring. It wasn't a bedbug, though. Being on the ground floor, we also saw a lizard on the patio. However, while in the bathrrom I noticed a line of the tiny bugs crawling along the bathroom doorway into a crack that goes into the foundation. Clearly, these bugs live in the ground. They still don't appear to be bedbugs, but I'm not sure whether to be worried. It kind of makes me uncomfortable, but now we've already unpacked, so it would take a lot to re-pack or move. Sigh. I want to be happy because we're so close to the pool, boats, laundry, and Roaring Forks. Maybe I'm being silly to worry...we're from California so we wouldn't know if these are normal in Florida.

 

[annmarieda]

Another update on our room...when we first got in, I did a bedbug check. Saw some small, ant-like bug on the bottom boxspring. It wasn't a bedbug, though. Being on the ground floor, we also saw a lizard on the patio. However, while in the bathrrom I noticed a line of the tiny bugs crawling along the bathroom doorway into a crack that goes into the foundation. Clearly, these bugs live in the ground. They still don't appear to be bedbugs, but I'm not sure whether to be worried. It kind of makes me uncomfortable, but now we've already unpacked, so it would take a lot to re-pack or move. Sigh. I want to be happy because we're so close to the pool, boats, laundry, and Roaring Forks. Maybe I'm being silly to worry...we're from California so we wouldn't know if these are normal in Florida.

I am by far no expert, but I would think ....if you pulled down the sheet and looked under the pillow and saw no "dirt" on the bed, then you are fine in regards to bedbugs. Again, not an expert, but I think Florida is just full of critters and that is probably all your seeing in the bathroom. I would call mousekeeping... but I wouldn't worry or change rooms. Try and have a good vacation.

 

[Mouse14]

hey lilmape we will be there the weekend of the 4,5,6 too and also have a courtyard view room booked!! ill keep an eye out for the lime green mickey heads

 

[gilsan]

I will also be there on the Feb 1-10 in a courtyard view. I am looking forward to my first stay at WL!

 

[j-jhall]

I will also be there on the Feb 1-10 in a courtyard view. I am looking forward to my first stay at WL!

This will be our first time staying at WL as well. We have a courtyard view from Feb 4-13.

 

[Mouse14]

awesome there will be a bunch of us there that weekend!

 

[lilmape]

hey lilmape we will be there the weekend of the 4,5,6 too and also have a courtyard view room booked!! ill keep an eye out for the lime green mickey heads

We'll make sure to watch as well! Looking forward to some sunshine!