This or that...again - WL vs. CSR

[Dug720]

Today is my 30-day mark. So of course I'm checking to see if any availability increases over the next couple of days as people are having to make final decisions.

I'm currently booked in a Courtyard View King at WL - honestly that was pretty much on the Bambi backsplash in the coffee area. LOL. Bambi was my first movie, it's for my 50th birthday, etc. It's never really been a resort on my list because I'm not really a Western-theme girl. But it looks cool.

I could save a smidge over $550 to change to a Preferred King at CSR (not in GDT). I've stayed at CSR before, but it's been years.

I live in NYC and am used to walking and public transportation, so I'm fine with busses and walking. Only firm plans at the moment are arrival day (well, arrival at WDW - I'm spending the night at the MCO Hyatt and then DMEing it first thing in the morning) meeting up with a friend and her boyfriend for lunch at Whispering Canyon (but we'll likely meet up in the MK beforehand), and meeting up with friends to celebrate my birthday - likely at Springs since we're not doing a reservation thing so them getting into a resort would be sticky.

AKL is my favorite park, so being in that area would be nice - but WL is "deluxe" and it's my birthday. I might give the CSR themeing a slight edge, but it's miniscule - AKL is by far my fave, but I want to be there over my birthday rather than waiting until later in August.

Pros/Cons to each?

Thanks!

 

[CynBeth]

I have never stayed at CSR but love the theming at WL especially the lobby and the geyser in the back. One of our favorite breakfasts is WCC. Plus you have the electrical water pageant at night. It is an easy boat ride to MK and I believe they still have the boat between resorts so you would have more food choices.

 

[Dave006]

I like the WL it is compact and a new refreshed Deluxe resort. CSR is so spread out it has it own internal bus system unless you are staying at the GDT tower. I think it comes down to what you might do with the $550+ difference.

Great that you are a NY walker and conformable walking distances but it is not the distances but the summer humidify that hurts almost everyone including us Floridians if we admit it.

...and meeting up with friends to celebrate my birthday - likely at Springs since we're not doing a reservation thing so them getting into a resort would be sticky.

Not a problem just take Disney transportation from DS.

Dave

 

[Dug720]

Great that you are a NY walker and conformable walking distances but it is not the distances but the summer humidify that hurts almost everyone including us Floridians if we admit it.

We have humidity too. The past couple of weeks or so we had days hotter and more humid than Orlando.

 

[manicstreet]

We have never stayed at wilderness lodge (we are staying for 8 nights in august). However, it is one of our absolute favorite places to hang hence why we are staying. I think if you were staying in the tower at Coronado you could make an argument. The tower felt like a deluxe. It was great. Either choice you will have a blast I’m sure.

 

[Devil13]

We have never stayed at wilderness lodge (we are staying for 8 nights in august). However, it is one of our absolute favorite places to hang hence why we are staying. I think if you were staying in the tower at Coronado you could make an argument. The tower felt like a deluxe. It was great. Either choice you will have a blast I’m sure.

Agree with you.
Stayed at both, if it's not GDT, I think Wilderness is an easier choice if you're OK with the $$.

 

[bdiddy]

We are at WL right now and it’s our first stay and we were blown away. I just love this place so much. I don’t know how we will stay anywhere else now! Granted we’ve never stayed at CSR but I can’t imagine anything being better than WL at this point. It had such an awesome chill vibe and everything is so impressive.

 

[Cheburashka]

If you're 30 days out that means a summer trip. Orlando's regular thunderstorms are an important consideration in summer, and staying at the one-building Wilderness Lodge will be easier in inclement weather than will staying at an outbuilding at CSR. At WL you'll be able to walk to the lobby, restaurants, gift shop, laundry room, Magical Express, park bus line, etc. always with a roof over your head. No worries about you or your luggage getting wet.

It's also a very beautiful resort. I found its lobby breathtaking the first time I stayed there. There are two good pools, one for families and one quiet, and both of those pools have hot tubs. The family pool has a nice water slide. If you have the right view from your room (or if you go to the dock or look out of an elevator landing window), you can watch the Electric Water Pageant. Being able to take the boat to MK is nice, too. During our first trip we sailed very close to the EWP while on the way back to the resort from MK- that was a special experience. The rooms are newly refurbished, so they should feel very fresh. The Roaring Fork and Whispering Canyon Cafe serve solid Disney-quality food. Artist's Point is awesome but unfortunately it probably won't be open a month from now.

 

[Dug720]

Thanks all.

I ultimately decided to go with CSR even though it is a regular room. I don’t care about pools (so gross) and the EWP left me bored and yawning when I was in a Poly studio in February (honestly didn’t even finish it I was so bored - don’t get the big deal about it). I have been in the “OMG AMAZING” WL lobby before (even at Christmas) - my dad loved fish on wood at the old Artist Ppint and dragged us there several times (ugh - worst meals for me) and I’m sorry, I know I am in the minority but it does nothing for me. I really thought about it, and the only thing I liked was the coffee area backsplash.

i shouldn’t have changed from Yacht Club in the first place - but I did and that money refunded went to other stuff and now it is out of range. So ultimately CSR was the best out of the remaining options.

 

[manicstreet]

Thanks all.

I ultimately decided to go with CSR even though it is a regular room. I don’t care about pools (so gross) and the EWP left me bored and yawning when I was in a Poly studio in February (honestly didn’t even finish it I was so bored - don’t get the big deal about it). I have been in the “OMG AMAZING” WL lobby before (even at Christmas) - my dad loved fish on wood at the old Artist Ppint and dragged us there several times (ugh - worst meals for me) and I’m sorry, I know I am in the minority but it does nothing for me. I really thought about it, and the only thing I liked was the coffee area backsplash.

i shouldn’t have changed from Yacht Club in the first place - but I did and that money refunded went to other stuff and now it is out of range. So ultimately CSR was the best out of the remaining options.

No offense but why did you even ask for a comparison? You clearly didn’t like wilderness lodge and it’s amenities from your prior experiences.