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

[nathanyell]

This is going to be a strange one.

I've been working on booking (40% off pin code) for our split lodge(5 nights WL/3 nights ALK) trip in December, but have been unable to book a standard at WL. They are only showing CY and above on the list.

So I decided this morning to see if other dates before mine and through mine were available. So I put in 10 days ending on the day we are switching to ALK. Suddenly a standard room is available for my dates. So I trimmed it back down to 5 days and it is not available again.

I ended up booking the 10 days and then calling CRO right away and modifying the dates so it is just my 5 days.

Has anyone else seen this happen?

I'm trying to stay Club Level for AKL and the same thing happened there for my last three days. Not available for 3, but if I check for 10 it is available.

Maybe a quirk of the new reservation system? But if you are looking for a day or two to add to a reservation I'd check definitely try it.

Brian<-- Who is happy he has his reservations, even if he had to spend 20 minutes on the phone with CRO.

 

[disneywith4boys]

Are there connecting rooms in the standard view category? I thought I remember reading that there are none, but I cant find it with a search of this thread.

 

[CTH3]

Answered your duplicate post at the general resorts threads, but in case WL FAQers are interested:

We had a very similar experience trying to book the WL with the 40% pin code--couldn't find a courtyard view for the dates we wanted, but if we slid the whole trip forward one day they were available. We ended up booking the "one day forward" dates, then checked the site every day and one day a week later, voila, there were free courtyard views on the dates we wanted. We called a CRO and asked them if we could just slide our dates back one day and they did it, no problem, happy to oblige.

Our best guess is they they set aside a certain number of each type of room for the 40% pin coders and use some sort of complicated formula that figures in length of stay and days of weeks and once they're gone, they're gone. Until they come back because somebody cancels or something. Or maybe not, maybe it's an even more complicated formula that changes what's available on a hourly or daily or weekly basis. Or maybe....

I think your solution was both smart and ethical. Glad it worked out for you; your many informative postings on the WL FAQ thread have been helpful in our planning and appreciated.

 

[mtsarnacki]

Great thread thanks for all the info.

 

[fan4life]

I would keep checking every morning. I've heard that they become available at 7am.

I was missing a day from my trip last year. I went online looking for one day, but it was not available. So I had to book a CY view instead. I linked the reservations and when I checked in they put us through in a CY view for the whole trip. I did have to go re-check in the next day, but it really did not matter.

Maybe you'll get lucky and get the same room too!

Brian

Thanks so much for your helpful info...i think i'm going to keep on checking and hope for what i want...
thnks brian

 

[Minniemouse07]

We just received another 40% off PIN code today for our post-cruise stay in August.

Our original booking was made in August w/ free dining (Standard room). Since then numerous offers have come out (and we've received 3 PIN codes!)... none of the offers are as good as what we currently have.

Apparently there aren't any standard rooms available w/ any of the deals...and bumping us up to anything else is over $600 more!!

So we will sit tight w/ our standard room and free dining. I'm not thinking that Disney will release any deals for more than 40% off!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

We just received another 40% off PIN code today for our post-cruise stay in August.

Our original booking was made in August w/ free dining (Standard room). Since then numerous offers have come out (and we've received 3 PIN codes!)... none of the offers are as good as what we currently have.

Apparently there aren't any standard rooms available w/ any of the deals...and bumping us up to anything else is over $600 more!!

So we will sit tight w/ our standard room and free dining. I'm not thinking that Disney will release any deals for more than 40% off!

Lucky duck on the pin codes!

 

[Tracerr00]

We just received another 40% off PIN code today for our post-cruise stay in August.

Our original booking was made in August w/ free dining (Standard room). Since then numerous offers have come out (and we've received 3 PIN codes!)... none of the offers are as good as what we currently have.

Apparently there aren't any standard rooms available w/ any of the deals...and bumping us up to anything else is over $600 more!!

So we will sit tight w/ our standard room and free dining. I'm not thinking that Disney will release any deals for more than 40% off!

We had the standard room/tickets/free dining at the end of August as well. I looked online and the standard room with 40% pin/tickets/dining plan is saving us over $100! So I called and had them switch it & was very excited about saving a little money! $100 is $100 I can use towards some other goodies! When I called I had to wait on hold for about 25 minutes - must be a busy PIN day!

 

[Minniemouse07]

We had the standard room/tickets/free dining at the end of August as well. I looked online and the standard room with 40% pin/tickets/dining plan is saving us over $100! So I called and had them switch it & was very excited about saving a little money! $100 is $100 I can use towards some other goodies! When I called I had to wait on hold for about 25 minutes - must be a busy PIN day!

Every time my TA checks there aren't any standard rooms available...maybe it is the time frame we are going ? (21-26?).

What complicates matters is dd will turn 10yo a month before the trip so we are paying for an adult ticket and dining plan for her.

 

[1971DBday]

Well it looks like we are coming back to the WL after over 16 years away!!! My DH and I stayed here on our honeymoon when it first opened (about a year after it opened). Now we are planning my 40th and my DBIL 50th birthday celebrations and this was our agreed resort.

As much as we will miss the Poly, being a family of 5 we don't get a chance to stay at the WL without getting a Villa ($$$$). So our oldest will be staying with her Aunt and Uncle and hopefully we can get adjoining rooms.

I like to do my homework, so I am looking forward to refreshing myself on everything about the WL. I can't wait to get some family photos in places we took some of our honeymoon photos at!!!

The next challenge will be that this will just be a long weekend trip (5 days), when we are used to 10 days. I just don't feel comfortable pulling the kids out of school for to long anymore (2 days I can handle - and so can they). Plus, we will be back in June of 2012 for a Grand Gathering that will get us back to our regular scheduled vacation length. So enough about our craziness....I'm just glad to be coming back again in 2011!!!!!

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

Well it looks like we are coming back to the WL after over 16 years away!!! My DH and I stayed here on our honeymoon when it first opened (about a year after it opened). Now we are planning my 40th and my DBIL 50th birthday celebrations and this was our agreed resort.

As much as we will miss the Poly, being a family of 5 we don't get a chance to stay at the WL without getting a Villa ($$$$). So our oldest will be staying with her Aunt and Uncle and hopefully we can get adjoining rooms.

I like to do my homework, so I am looking forward to refreshing myself on everything about the WL. I can't wait to get some family photos in places we took some of our honeymoon photos at!!!

The next challenge will be that this will just be a long weekend trip (5 days), when we are used to 10 days. I just don't feel comfortable pulling the kids out of school for to long anymore (2 days I can handle - and so can they). Plus, we will be back in June of 2012 for a Grand Gathering that will get us back to our regular scheduled vacation length. So enough about our craziness....I'm just glad to be coming back again in 2011!!!!!

Looks like we keep following each other around WDW!! We'll be at WL for three days in September before heading back to the Poly to finish out the month and a couple days in October.

 

[CAJUNWDWFAN]

We got 40% pin code for a standard room at the WL for a stay September 29th to October 7th. We booked it a month or so ago.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Can anyone who has been at WL this weekend (Feb 11th, 12th or 13th) confirm or deny reports of bats flying in the lobby & hallways.

There is another poster claiming this (about 6 or 7 bats that are swooping down within inches of guests) and I find it hard to believe.

Thanks!

 

[j-jhall]

Can anyone who has been at WL this weekend (Feb 11th, 12th or 13th) confirm or deny reports of bats flying in the lobby & hallways.

There is another poster claiming this (about 6 or 7 bats that are swooping down within inches of guests) and I find it hard to believe.

Thanks!

They were very fast moving, but I thought they were sparrows. Definitely something small and quick flying though.

 

[MMrules]

Can anyone who has been at WL this weekend (Feb 11th, 12th or 13th) confirm or deny reports of bats flying in the lobby & hallways.

There is another poster claiming this (about 6 or 7 bats that are swooping down within inches of guests) and I find it hard to believe.

Thanks!

I was there from the 4th to the 7th and didn't see anything flying in the lobby. I sat in the lobby every evening in front of the fireplace for at least and hour and didn't notice anything. Nor did I hear anyone else talking about bats or birds inside.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Can anyone who has been at WL this weekend (Feb 11th, 12th or 13th) confirm or deny reports of bats flying in the lobby & hallways.

There is another poster claiming this (about 6 or 7 bats that are swooping down within inches of guests) and I find it hard to believe.

Thanks!

We were there over Christmas and saw them flying around the rafters in the ceiling. We were on the top floor/CL lounge and my DD noticed them. They were flying around everyday of our 8-night stay. We felt sorry for them because it seemed they were furiously flying around looking for an exit. We only noticed them flying high in the rafters though and they didn't come very close to the CL lounge tables.

Maybe when they have the flag ceremony in the morning and the door is open they get in or maybe when they take down the flag at night.

They were very fast moving, but I thought they were sparrows. Definitely something small and quick flying though.

Yep, that's what we saw. Very fast moving, back and forth, about as high up as you could go. From the CL lounge they looked like bats to us.

 

[jenny-d]

Just returned from 8 nts at WL...had a great room very clean, great view. My only complaint was the loud swish of the toilets you could hear...I cannot believe I haven't read anyone complaining of this before! Am I just super sensitive (my whole family thought they were annoying) or have bad luck with room location (I've had standard, woods, and courtyard views on all different floors so I don't think that's the case either. ) I've never had this problem in any other hotel before. I love WL and this was our 5th stay there, but it was so annoying this time that I think we are going to switch resorts next time. (do other resorts have this issue?) Anyone else experience this or am I crazy?!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Just returned from 8 nts at WL...had a great room very clean, great view. My only complaint was the loud swish of the toilets you could hear...I cannot believe I haven't read anyone complaining of this before! Am I just super sensitive (my whole family thought they were annoying) or have bad luck with room location (I've had standard, woods, and courtyard views on all different floors so I don't think that's the case either. ) I've never had this problem in any other hotel before. I love WL and this was our 5th stay there, but it was so annoying this time that I think we are going to switch resorts next time. (do other resorts have this issue?) Anyone else experience this or am I crazy?!

Yes, bats, flushing toilets and...

We were last in a 5th floor, CYV room in December and all 8 nights I noticed the flushing toilets, too. It seemed to be coming from the wall behind the headboard. We also had a room with a connecting door. I always request not to have one, but we were upgraded to CL so I didn't want to complain. I learned the hard way, I will never accept a room there again with a connecting door. Every morning and late at night we were regaled with very loud neighbors and we could hear every single word and we couldn't fall asleep some nights until well after midnight. I've had rooms at all the other Deluxes, except the GF, with connecting doors, but have never noticed this level of noise - it was like they were in our closet!

 

[nathanyell]

Yes, bats, flushing toilets and...

We were last in a 5th floor, CYV room in December and all 8 nights I noticed the flushing toilets, too. It seemed to be coming from the wall behind the headboard. We also had a room with a connecting door. I always request not to have one, but we were upgraded to CL so I didn't want to complain. I learned the hard way, I will never accept a room there again with a connecting door. Every morning and late at night we were regaled with very loud neighbors and we could hear every single word and we couldn't fall asleep some nights until well after midnight. I've had rooms at all the other Deluxes, except the GF, with connecting doors, but have never noticed this level of noise - it was like they were in our closet!

I remember the toilets more at Port Orleans and especially the all stars. I think they are much worse. I felt like I knew my neighbors personally at the all stars. I am glad at wl that there are interior corridors, because the bugs congregate by the lights and come right in when you open the door.

Guess every place has their issues. I'll stay with wl as much as I can.

Brian

 

[RedheadRinger]

We are headed down on 2/27 and staying thru 3/5 at WL. This will be a First Visit for my grandson, age 2. Can't wait to see his face when he see's everything for the 1st time. We have booked 2 standard rooms. My husband and I and probably grandson in 1 room and 2 daughters and their husbands in the other. I am trying to figure out what to request for rooms. Can somebody help with a suggestion. We are really hoping for an upgrade and connecting rooms.
Also, husband and I took the "sleigh" ride a couple of years ago while at the WL. Do they have some type of carriage ride at this time of the year?