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

[bcuinohio]

Just back yesterday from WL, the hot tubs were back up and running but the geyser is still not operating. No word from any of the CM's regarding when it might be up again. Sad not to see it.

We are there next month. I hope it is working by then.

 

[kimmar067]

I may not be an 'old-timer' lodger but I signed it ....

....well thank you!

 

[nathanyell]

We are going back in October and I have seen some posts that say the rooms are starting to show some wear. Just wondering if anyone has heard when the next room refurb will be?

Nope. Our last two rooms have been kept up really nicely. So i think the wear is hit or miss.

Brian

 

[nathanyell]

Congratulations on the little girl.

I love the the spelling of her name. Our daughters middle name is the same but spelled differently.

Yeah we wanted something original.

Congratulations Caitlynne is a wonderful name for a new princess.

Thanks!!

Brian, that's a beautiful name for your princess! Congratulations!

We've got a bunch of March birthdays coming up. Both of my boys, 2 of my friend's boys, my godchild, and my cousin. Then, there's my anniversary, as well.

I'm so excited that my WL WDW vacation is booked. Can't wait to get down there and enjoy. April can't get here fast enough!

I have a trip this month, but the fam is staying home. So I'm really looking forward to our trip in the fall. ;-)

Congrats Brian. My youngest was 22 months on his first visit. Tigger woke him up during his nap and 8 1/2 years later he still is mad at Tigger.

Haha.

Brian

 

[Wendy&Grumpy]

We have just booked Labor Day Weekend (Friday through Monday) Club Level using a bounceback offer.

This will be me, DH, DD11 and DS16.

We have APs but will not be doing parks this trip... it'll be resort only.

We do plan on exploring the lodge.

What should we not miss? I know there's swimming and trails and I've read water peageant & fireworks from the beach, campfire & movies @ FW, movies on the beach... what other free resort activities are there?

What are the CL food offerings like? I understand there's pretty much a full continental breakfast, how about other times of the day? My kids are grazers, so if there's snacks enough to keep them satisfied I really don't want to drag them to sit down restaurants and pay for food they won't eat! Should I be making dinner ressies or playing it by ear? Ack!

 

[WDWKOOK]

We have just booked Labor Day Weekend (Friday through Monday) Club Level using a bounceback offer.

This will be me, DH, DD11 and DS16.

We have APs but will not be doing parks this trip... it'll be resort only.

We do plan on exploring the lodge.

What should we not miss? I know there's swimming and trails and I've read water peageant & fireworks from the beach, campfire & movies @ FW, movies on the beach... what other free resort activities are there?

What are the CL food offerings like? I understand there's pretty much a full continental breakfast, how about other times of the day? My kids are grazers, so if there's snacks enough to keep them satisfied I really don't want to drag them to sit down restaurants and pay for food they won't eat! Should I be making dinner ressies or playing it by ear? Ack!

Here's one link to my CL photos from December '10:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2582311&page=20

The photos show the breakfast offerings which are the same everyday. However, oatmeal is only offered seasonally. There are also photos of the snack offerings which are the same everyday: Cookies, Gummies, chocolate covered mini pretzels and nuts. I don't recommend trying to replace dinner with CL food. While you could certainly eat your fill of h'ors d'oeuvres and then come back for dessert at 8, I don't think it's an adequate dinner substitute.

 

[MMrules]

My little princess was born on Tuesday. 6lbs 2oz. While she is not going on my next trip, we are busy planning our next trip. Gonna have to read up in all the baby tips.

Thanks everyone for the congrats.

Brian

Congratulations!!!!

 

[MMrules]

We are going back in October and I have seen some posts that say the rooms are starting to show some wear. Just wondering if anyone has heard when the next room refurb will be?

My room this Feb. was in great condition. It was a courtyard view. I thought the furniture, carpets, and bathroom looked great. In fact some of my stuff at home is in worse shape thanks to my 2 little boys

 

[Wendy&Grumpy]

Here's one link to my CL photos from December '10:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2582311&page=20

The photos show the breakfast offerings which are the same everyday. However, oatmeal is only offered seasonally. There are also photos of the snack offerings which are the same everyday: Cookies, Gummies, chocolate covered mini pretzels and nuts. I don't recommend trying to replace dinner with CL food. While you could certainly eat your fill of h'ors d'oeuvres and then come back for dessert at 8, I don't think it's an adequate dinner substitute.

We are planning on eating dinner, I'm just not sure I want to make a reservation for kids who may well be grazing all day and then not eat enough at dinner to make a big sitdown dinner worthwhile!

The room service looks great to us grownups but a bit pricey for kids who may well not eat what's ordered after grazing all day - how about Roaring Forks... could we get something light for the kids there?

Thanks for your help!

 

[WDWKOOK]

We are planning on eating dinner, I'm just not sure I want to make a reservation for kids who may well be grazing all day and then not eat enough at dinner to make a big sitdown dinner worthwhile!

The room service looks great to us grownups but a bit pricey for kids who may well not eat what's ordered after grazing all day - how about Roaring Forks... could we get something light for the kids there?

Thanks for your help!

Well, if you're there during any "free dining" period, I would make sure you have some ADRs for table service meals. Here is the Roaring Fork menu:

http://allears.net/menu/menu_rf.htm

They could also split an adult-sized sandwich if the "kids' picks" don't appeal to them.

 

[nathanyell]

Did online check in for CSR today. I guess I should be happy, but I'd be happier if my whole trip was a WL. I can do online check in for the last two days at WL in 7 days. Then maybe I'll get more excited.

Brian

 

[punkin413]

Just wanted to come by here and celebrate.....we are staying at VWL for the first time this October!!! I'm renting DVC points from a friend of mine and her home resort is SSR, so she originally made the reservation there back in November. But she was able to switch to VWL for us last week and we're super excited! Never stayed at the WL so this is a first and I'm sure we will love it. We ate at WCC a couple of trips ago and have been meaning to stay there ever since b/c we fell in love with the place. And to boot this will be my son's first trip. He'll be 13 months old at the time. Any tips on babies at Disney World will be greatly appreciated! We plan on enjoying the resort more than usual this trip instead of spending all day in the parks.

 

[bcuinohio]

Just wanted to come by here and celebrate.....we are staying at VWL for the first time this October!!! I'm renting DVC points from a friend of mine and her home resort is SSR, so she originally made the reservation there back in November. But she was able to switch to VWL for us last week and we're super excited! Never stayed at the WL so this is a first and I'm sure we will love it. We ate at WCC a couple of trips ago and have been meaning to stay there ever since b/c we fell in love with the place. And to boot this will be my son's first trip. He'll be 13 months old at the time. Any tips on babies at Disney World will be greatly appreciated! We plan on enjoying the resort more than usual this trip instead of spending all day in the parks.

We did the same thing. A friend of mine is a DVC member with OKW as his home resort. He booked us at OKW but at the seven month mark he was able to move us to WLV. We are there next month. The price of the Studio was less than half of what Disney charges.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

My son and I enjoyed our latest stay at Wilderness Lodge. We were there Feb 25th thru March 2nd.
We were in a Courtyard view room which was very clean. I'll have to come back and post a picture of the view outside our balcony once I get it uploaded to my computer. We could see and hear the Water parade from our room. It was a nice break for my son while I was making him do his math homework. We were in room 6035.

We love the Lodge itself. I spent some time sitting in front of the fireplace one morning while I let my son sleep in.
My teenage son doesn't care much for the arcade but he still managed to spend some money there.

One of these trips we'll actually get to see the geyser. Our first trip it was down and this trip it was down.

I really wish Roaring Forks would make Mickey Waffles. I love having those with bacon for breakfast when I'm at Disney. I made do with the kids platter breakfast. It was enough to get me started for the day. The adult breakfast platter just had too much food on it.
My son didn't care much for the breakfast offerings (he's a waffle fan too) but did have apple jacks cereal and a sticky bun for breakfast every morning. They need another variety of cereal for the kids. Maybe some fruit loops would be nice. Eating the same one every day gets old.
We didn't eat there for any other meals - just grabbed snacks once in a while.

The buses and boat to MK were great as usual.
On our last day, Disney started work on the bus stop so they were relocated to a section of the parking lot. Supposedly they did slide a note under all the doors but I never saw it. It may have gotten inside the USA Today which I didn't look it. Of course it was pouring down rain that day but WL set up temporary canopies (the kind you use in your backyard) for guests who were waiting for buses.
I don't know if it's still going on or if they completed the work already.

I'm not sure when my next stay to WL will be. But I know I'll have another one sometime. Wilderness Lodge gets a from me.

 

[Linda67]

Hey everyone
We are staying at the WL for the very first time in May and are sooooo excited!
We have booked our vacation through a UK travel agent so have been told that we can't check in on-line
I'm not sure why, does that sound right to you?
Anyway, if I wanted to make a room request without using on-line check in what is the best way to do it (phone/fax/email??)
We have a Woods View room but I would love a high floor and an open rather than solid balcony
TIA
I am sure I will be bugging you all with lots more questions )

 

[jennifer in canada]

Looking forward to our first trip here in May....a surprise upgrade for my parents who still think we are staying at CBR, hope it can stay a surprise awhile longer.This place looks fantastic!!

 

[nathanyell]

Hey everyone
We are staying at the WL for the very first time in May and are sooooo excited!
We have booked our vacation through a UK travel agent so have been told that we can't check in on-line
I'm not sure why, does that sound right to you?
Anyway, if I wanted to make a room request without using on-line check in what is the best way to do it (phone/fax/email??)
We have a Woods View room but I would love a high floor and an open rather than solid balcony
TIA
I am sure I will be bugging you all with lots more questions )

Online check-in does not give real options to make a room request. I would contact your travel agent and have them make a request for the 5th floor. That way you do not have to worry about the enclosed balcony which are on the 6th and 7th floors. If you have a Woods View, I'd also request the North Wing. That way you might get a view of the fireworks in the distance if you are in the room.

Hope that helps.

Brian

 

[nathanyell]

Looking forward to our first trip here in May....a surprise upgrade for my parents who still think we are staying at CBR, hope it can stay a surprise awhile longer.This place looks fantastic!!

I surprised my Mom the first time we went. She had no clue until I pulled up to the MK toll booth and said we have reservations at WL. She thought we were staying with friends at a time share off-site.

Now she's hooked on WL and does not want to stay anywhere else.

Brian

 

[MMrules]

Just wanted to come by here and celebrate.....we are staying at VWL for the first time this October!!! I'm renting DVC points from a friend of mine and her home resort is SSR, so she originally made the reservation there back in November. But she was able to switch to VWL for us last week and we're super excited! Never stayed at the WL so this is a first and I'm sure we will love it. We ate at WCC a couple of trips ago and have been meaning to stay there ever since b/c we fell in love with the place. And to boot this will be my son's first trip. He'll be 13 months old at the time. Any tips on babies at Disney World will be greatly appreciated! We plan on enjoying the resort more than usual this trip instead of spending all day in the parks.

THe lodge will be wonderful with a baby! I took both of my boys to WDW at 11 months old (CBR and AKL). I would suggest trying to keep the baby's schedule like home (bath and bed by a certain time). We would be at the hotel by 7ish, bathe them and then try to get them to bed by 8:00. Bring your own stroller from home so that if you need it at night to walk around for falling asleep it will be with you. Also if you are at the parks and the baby needs a nap they are in their stroller where they are comfortable. Utilize all the children's centers at the parks for diaper changes, cooling off time and relaxation from the park. The CM's there are wonderful.

I brought my own diapers, wipes, sippy cups, baby food, and snacks packed in a suitcase. This helped cut down on expenses while we were there. I also brought my own dish soap to wash bottles and cups in my room. Although you are going through DVC so you may have that in your room.

Finally, if your little one has enough hair, get his first haircut at the Main St. Barbershop at the MK. I did it for both my boys and it was wonderful. They even get a "first haircut" ears hat.

If you have any other questions I would be happy to help. We have gone 3 times with little ones and have been able to avoid meltdowns each trip b/c of taking it easy, getting enough rest, having pool time, and sticking to routine bedtimes. I think it worked well!

 

[MMrules]

I am sitting at my laptop wearing my Wilderness Lodge sweatshirt and looking out at my snow covered yard wishing I was at my happy place . WL is addicting!! I can't wait to get back there....have a family trip booked in July and staying at BCV, but I really want to go to WLV.