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

[Tinkerbellie16]

We are debating staying here in june. I am worried about the pool for the kids. Is it fun? I haven't had luck finding many pics of the entire pool. We swim a lot. We will only be there two nights and one day during that time will be at MK. We will swim the other days and during the afternoon of our park day. We have stayed at SSR and Kidani and loved the pools. How do you rate this one. My kids will use the slide they will be 5 and 8. Any advice on the pool area will be great. If we don't stay here it will be AKL just because of the pool.

Hi! I stayed for a week at VWL end of May/beginning of June this year. Our kids are 7 & 9 and we most look forward to our pool time. We love a good slide, some deep spots to dive for things, and chairs for lounging (especially if there is an umbrella!). We spend a few hours minimum each day at the pool so it is in our top 3 of why we like resorts/hotels! I will say that we ended up using the main pool only once and I personally wouldn't get in it because it was so dirty (but I believe this was an oddity because I can't imagine they let the lifeguards in the pool to skim it all day long because that's what they were doing!). The slide was not very exciting so the kids did not like it that much. The chairs were packed together and very hard to get one (but that is an issue at many of the resorts). We ended up going to the pool near the villas the rest of the time. We liked the bubbling springs in the pool and the more relaxed atmosphere of the pool but it was still very crowded (which I found odd for a non-main pool).

We enjoyed the lodge and can see why it is so popular during the winter. But the main pool is not as exciting as some of the other resorts on property. That's just one DISer's opinion though! I think it depends on what your kids want out of the pool.

 

[WLSILVERCREEKSPRINGS]

We are debating staying here in june. I am worried about the pool for the kids. Is it fun? I haven't had luck finding many pics of the entire pool. We swim a lot. We will only be there two nights and one day during that time will be at MK. We will swim the other days and during the afternoon of our park day. We have stayed at SSR and Kidani and loved the pools. How do you rate this one. My kids will use the slide they will be 5 and 8. Any advice on the pool area will be great. If we don't stay here it will be AKL just because of the pool.

We've stayed many times at WL & once at AKL We choose WL because of the location, the lake view, & relaxed atmosphere. If swimming was my determining factor I would choose AKL, the slide isn't any better than WL, but the pool, shaded hot tubs, & pool deck area are amazing. I've stated before that if I could have the AKL pool area at the WL, that would be Disney perfection for me!

 

[pas130]

Nice to see you over here again in the backwoods, pas!

Because this isn't the Resort Changer's thread nor the CL thread, I won't even begin to ask here why you're thinking of switching to RPC for your GO trip. But I will say that comparing RPC with the WL is a bit of an unfair comparo and the prices are way different. I love your indecisive resort chooser ticker warning!

Yes, WL is lovely at Christmas and very cozy and I would definitely stay at Christmas again. With the Deluxe room you'll have CL access, but not be on CL which is actually advantageous, IMHO because then you'll get a regular balcony.

For some reason the Deluxe rooms are more expensive at WL than BC, for example, and they're only 500 SF. So if you wanted to save money, the BC Deluxe is actually cheaper. I'm not pushing one or the other, but you mentioned saving some money over the GF. BTW, the GF Deluxe does not come with CL access, but I don't think you're considering that anyway.

Don't be a stranger!

Don't wanna do GF without the rest of the family I think And I figured I could take the boat to MK and tour the monorail loop, then the monorail over to EPCOT, etc....So this seems like a good Christmas fit. The fireplaces the "woodsy' feel. And the $$$ saved is an extra bonus I'll still have Christmas shopping to do Do you think Regular CL room or Deluxe??? We don't mind sharing a bed. We are all used to sharing space..

 

[vatchr]

Nice pics. Wow, did it rain--enjoyed the rain shot!! Florida at its best!! Love the theming for this resort. We'll be there in the fall-cannot wait! Do you happen to recall what your room number was?

We were in room 4109 - it was a great room.

 

[troynkasey]

We are debating staying here in june. I am worried about the pool for the kids. Is it fun? I haven't had luck finding many pics of the entire pool. We swim a lot. We will only be there two nights and one day during that time will be at MK. We will swim the other days and during the afternoon of our park day. We have stayed at SSR and Kidani and loved the pools. How do you rate this one. My kids will use the slide they will be 5 and 8. Any advice on the pool area will be great. If we don't stay here it will be AKL just because of the pool.

We've stayed in June quite a few times. The pool can get busy, but not crazy. The slide is a slide. Nothing special and certainly not exciting, but our 5 year old LOVED the slide this year. Probably not enough for the 8 year old though.

 

[WDWKOOK]

We leave tomorrow and I've officially finished all the packing, yard work, house work, errands, laundry... I'm probably forgetting something, but nonetheless, I can now peruse the DIS with impunity and wish my fellow travelers a safe and fun-filled vacation (Oh, and please don't clog-up the passing lane on 95)

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

We leave tomorrow and I've officially finished all the packing, yard work, house work, errands, laundry... I'm probably forgetting something, but nonetheless, I can now peruse the DIS with impunity and wish my fellow travelers a safe and fun-filled vacation (Oh, and please don't clog-up the passing lane on 95)

I hope you have a great time and I can't wait for your live trip reports.

 

[WDWKOOK]

I hope you have a great time and I can't wait for your live trip reports.

Thank you! I will post here from the WL starting Sunday.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thank you! I will post here from the WL starting Sunday.

What day are you planning to visit the Boardwalk and asking to see their rooms on the Inn side?

 

[Wendy&Grumpy]

For Guest staying Club Level:
Wilderness Lodge Itinerary Planning Office
407-824-2466 phone
407-824-3162 fax


Are these the numbers directly to the CL CMs?

 

[sjs314]

We leave tomorrow and I've officially finished all the packing, yard work, house work, errands, laundry... I'm probably forgetting something, but nonetheless, I can now peruse the DIS with impunity and wish my fellow travelers a safe and fun-filled vacation (Oh, and please don't clog-up the passing lane on 95)

Safe travels and have a wonderful vacation.

 

[WDWKOOK]

What day are you planning to visit the Boardwalk and asking to see their rooms on the Inn side?

Good question and I don't have an answer. It will be on an Epcot day, but we have many, so I don't know which one. Do you want me to PM you when I'm there? Should I post my photos of BWI to the BWI thread?

For Guest staying Club Level:
Wilderness Lodge Itinerary Planning Office
407-824-2466 phone
407-824-3162 fax


Are these the numbers directly to the CL CMs?

No. The IPO is an office in a different location from the CL concierges. If you are a CL guest and would like to contact the IPO, best to email and they will reply within 24 hours, but usually much sooner.

The email is:

Wilderness.Lodge.Itinerary.Planning@disneyworld.com

Safe travels and have a wonderful vacation.

Thank you, sjs314!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Good question and I don't have an answer. It will be on an Epcot day, but we have many, so I don't know which one. Do you want me to PM you when I'm there? Should I post my photos of BWI to the BWI thread?

The BWI thread would be great to post them, in fact anywhere you post them is great. I don't think I will need to send you a PM when your there, although maybe I will change my mind about that.

 

[Wendy&Grumpy]

No. The IPO is an office in a different location from the CL concierges. If you are a CL guest and would like to contact the IPO, best to email and they will reply within 24 hours, but usually much sooner.

The email is:

Wilderness.Lodge.Itinerary.Planning@disneyworld.com
sjs314!

I understand that the IPO is in a different location - I have already been communicating with them through the email address. It was suggested on another thread to contact the CL CMs directly, and these numbers -

For Guest staying Club Level:
Wilderness Lodge Itinerary Planning Office
407-824-2466 phone
407-824-3162 fax

- are listed on the sticky at the beginning of this thread.

Since they are 407 numbers, I was asking if they are the correct numbers to communicate directly with the WL CL CMs, rather than IPO.

Anyone?

 

[WDWKOOK]

I understand that the IPO is in a different location - I have already been communicating with them through the email address. It was suggested on another thread to contact the CL CMs directly, and these numbers -

For Guest staying Club Level:
Wilderness Lodge Itinerary Planning Office
407-824-2466 phone
407-824-3162 fax

- are listed on the sticky at the beginning of this thread.

Since they are 407 numbers, I was asking if they are the correct numbers to communicate directly with the WL CL CMs, rather than IPO.

Anyone?

That is the number for the IPO not for the CL floor concierges. When I last stayed CL at Christmas, I was given a card by the concierge with only the in-house phone number for the CL concierges.

That number is: 7-1614 from the in-room phone.

Many phone numbers given for WDW contacts are actually routed through a call center elsewhere in FL. I suggest emailing the IPO and asking them for the direct (actual) CL phone number.

Good luck! I have to leave for our trip now

 

[mom2jcc]

It seems surreal! My DH and I are taking our very first anniversary trip this coming October (after 17 yrs of marriage and 3 kids later). DH thinks we are staying at the SOG, but I am surprising him with WL. He has always wanted to stay there. We visit every trip

I booked a courtyard room

 

[tinkerbellybutton]

Does anyone know if WL is up for any refurbs? A few months ago I read something about an upcoming refurb, but never heard anything again.

 

[MMrules]

It seems surreal! My DH and I are taking our very first anniversary trip this coming October (after 17 yrs of marriage and 3 kids later). DH thinks we are staying at the SOG, but I am surprising him with WL. He has always wanted to stay there. We visit every trip

I booked a courtyard room

Happy Anniversary!!! Mine is in October too but we are going on year 14!!! The WL will be a perfect place to stay. It is so cozy and romantic!!!

I had a courtyard view and it was beautiful!!! Enjoy

 

[rotlex]

Holy cow! Just checking my counter.

 

[pas130]

We leave tomorrow and I've officially finished all the packing, yard work, house work, errands, laundry... I'm probably forgetting something, but nonetheless, I can now peruse the DIS with impunity and wish my fellow travelers a safe and fun-filled vacation (Oh, and please don't clog-up the passing lane on 95)

Didn't get to wish you farewell......Have a great trip! I will be watching for your TR