Honeibee
<font color=darkgreen>Lives in Fear of Sweeps<br><
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2005
- Messages
- 3,080
I love the Wilderness Lodge. So does my husband. 
Which is evident as that is the place we chose to get married.
Our first trip to WDW was in September 2004. We arrived at the WL very early in the morning. As any first time visitor to the WL does, we started in awe at the lobby. My God, it is beautiful.
We didn't ask to be upgraded (It was my pre-DIS boards days. What did I know.) But...we got upgraded! We were thrilled! We loved our room, It was on the first floor. While Chuck slept, I snuck out the sliding door and swam in the pool in the early hours, when I had the whole pool to myself. (OK a couple of days I shared it with a Mallard. I didn't mind, neither did he.)
Towards the end of that week, I said to my honey "You know, we can get married here". We already had plans in motion to be married on a Princess Cruise Ship in Alaska. He said "Let's do it!" And so we changed all our plans.
We chose a date at the beginning of June so it would not be too too crowded. (Insert Honeibee-slapping-her-forhead smilie here.)
So now, it's June 2005, and we are counting the hours until we leave.
We arrived at the WL about 10:45 Sunday, June 5th. We had not received our Magical Express package, but I wasn't too worried since I had made arrangements with Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings to have the wedding limo pick us up at the airport. (I'll have more on Magical Express and also Mears in my "Transportation Trip Report".)
When we walked into the lobby of the WL for the first time this trip, we were again in awe, but not at the lobby. At the CROWD. I could not believe how many people were there. And at that time of the day too! (It was a sign of things to come, I just didn't know it yet.)
Checking in was a little painful, as we had top wait....and wait...and wait. They had three people on the desk, only two in Guest Check-In.
But OK, we knew it was worth the wait. Plus it gave us more time to look around the lobby.
When we finally got to check in, we found out our room wasn't ready (It was last time. We got our room in September at 7:30am.) But OK, that's fine. It didn't have to be ready until 3:00pm. We knew that.
So we asked if we could get an upgrade. Nope, we were told nothing was available. But to try again in the morning.
So after we left our luggage with the bell services people (very nice, but very busy people) we went off to the Richard Petty Driving Experience. (More about that in my "Everything Else Trip Report".)
When we came back to the WL about 6:00pm we checked into our room. I wish I could remember the room number. I think it was on the 5th floor.
We walked in the room and the first thing we noticed was the smell. Of feet. Hot stinky sweaty nasty feet. It was totally gross! We put down the suitcases and flung open the sliding door to.....more smells! We were right by that smokehouse and what I think were generators. I don't know where the second smell was coming from but it smelled like rancid diesel oil! It was nasty.
So our choice was smelly stinky feet or rancid motor oil. Not the best way to start your dream vacation wedding week.
So we stayed in the room that night and first thing Monday morning I called the Front Desk to see if we could move. They said nothing was available.
On our way out to MGM we stopped at the desk and begged PLEEEEAASE can we upgrade. Or at least move.
It took about 15 minutes of discussion in the back room, but we got to move. The only problem was we'd have to pack up, put our luggage back with bell services, and recheck in later that day.
OK we said, we'd do it.
We packed up and went off to MGM.
When we came back we rechecked in. To 5132. Same exact room. Same exact stinky feet smell. But, a better view of the villas and no nasty petrochemical stink.
Twice while we were there we got in the elevator with families who were giddy because they just checked in and were upgraded. One family said they just asked and got upgraded to concierge! That kinda hurt...
After that things went smoothly at the WL, but I have to say I was kinda disappointed that they did nothing at all for our wedding. I mean, we could have gotten married anywhere in the States. Anywhere at WDW. We chose the WL. I would have thought that maybe, just maybe, they might have sent us something. A cheese and crackers plate, a little bottle of champagne, some congratulations balloons.
Nothing.
It felt kinda sad.
I knew our records indicated that we were a honeymoon couple, and we both wore bride-to-be and groom-to-be pins. I mean everyone asked us about it, but no one did anything.
I also left a $5.00 tip every day for MouseKeeping. We didn't get one single bit of Pixie Dust from them either. Not even a towel animal.
Oh well. I guess it's true...He who does not expect much is seldom disappointed.
But geez, if you can't get a little Pixie Dust at Disney World....
Anyway, I still think the WL is the most beautiful place ever. I love the ambiance, the details, the whole feel of it.
We'll stay there again, some day.
BTW, spent some time with Stan, the park ranger guide. What a pip he is! He escorted me across the lobby on the day our our wedding. He was so touched at the "honor" I was bestowing on him. He's a true gentleman and it was in fact my honor to meet him and have him show me a Hidden Mickey while I was wearing my wedding gown.
Which is evident as that is the place we chose to get married.
Our first trip to WDW was in September 2004. We arrived at the WL very early in the morning. As any first time visitor to the WL does, we started in awe at the lobby. My God, it is beautiful.
We didn't ask to be upgraded (It was my pre-DIS boards days. What did I know.) But...we got upgraded! We were thrilled! We loved our room, It was on the first floor. While Chuck slept, I snuck out the sliding door and swam in the pool in the early hours, when I had the whole pool to myself. (OK a couple of days I shared it with a Mallard. I didn't mind, neither did he.)
Towards the end of that week, I said to my honey "You know, we can get married here". We already had plans in motion to be married on a Princess Cruise Ship in Alaska. He said "Let's do it!" And so we changed all our plans.
We chose a date at the beginning of June so it would not be too too crowded. (Insert Honeibee-slapping-her-forhead smilie here.)
So now, it's June 2005, and we are counting the hours until we leave.
We arrived at the WL about 10:45 Sunday, June 5th. We had not received our Magical Express package, but I wasn't too worried since I had made arrangements with Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings to have the wedding limo pick us up at the airport. (I'll have more on Magical Express and also Mears in my "Transportation Trip Report".)
When we walked into the lobby of the WL for the first time this trip, we were again in awe, but not at the lobby. At the CROWD. I could not believe how many people were there. And at that time of the day too! (It was a sign of things to come, I just didn't know it yet.)
Checking in was a little painful, as we had top wait....and wait...and wait. They had three people on the desk, only two in Guest Check-In.
But OK, we knew it was worth the wait. Plus it gave us more time to look around the lobby.
When we finally got to check in, we found out our room wasn't ready (It was last time. We got our room in September at 7:30am.) But OK, that's fine. It didn't have to be ready until 3:00pm. We knew that.
So we asked if we could get an upgrade. Nope, we were told nothing was available. But to try again in the morning.
So after we left our luggage with the bell services people (very nice, but very busy people) we went off to the Richard Petty Driving Experience. (More about that in my "Everything Else Trip Report".)
When we came back to the WL about 6:00pm we checked into our room. I wish I could remember the room number. I think it was on the 5th floor.
We walked in the room and the first thing we noticed was the smell. Of feet. Hot stinky sweaty nasty feet. It was totally gross! We put down the suitcases and flung open the sliding door to.....more smells! We were right by that smokehouse and what I think were generators. I don't know where the second smell was coming from but it smelled like rancid diesel oil! It was nasty.
So our choice was smelly stinky feet or rancid motor oil. Not the best way to start your dream vacation wedding week.
So we stayed in the room that night and first thing Monday morning I called the Front Desk to see if we could move. They said nothing was available.
On our way out to MGM we stopped at the desk and begged PLEEEEAASE can we upgrade. Or at least move.
It took about 15 minutes of discussion in the back room, but we got to move. The only problem was we'd have to pack up, put our luggage back with bell services, and recheck in later that day.
OK we said, we'd do it.
We packed up and went off to MGM.
When we came back we rechecked in. To 5132. Same exact room. Same exact stinky feet smell. But, a better view of the villas and no nasty petrochemical stink.
Twice while we were there we got in the elevator with families who were giddy because they just checked in and were upgraded. One family said they just asked and got upgraded to concierge! That kinda hurt...
After that things went smoothly at the WL, but I have to say I was kinda disappointed that they did nothing at all for our wedding. I mean, we could have gotten married anywhere in the States. Anywhere at WDW. We chose the WL. I would have thought that maybe, just maybe, they might have sent us something. A cheese and crackers plate, a little bottle of champagne, some congratulations balloons.
Nothing.
It felt kinda sad.
I knew our records indicated that we were a honeymoon couple, and we both wore bride-to-be and groom-to-be pins. I mean everyone asked us about it, but no one did anything.
I also left a $5.00 tip every day for MouseKeeping. We didn't get one single bit of Pixie Dust from them either. Not even a towel animal.
Oh well. I guess it's true...He who does not expect much is seldom disappointed.
But geez, if you can't get a little Pixie Dust at Disney World....
Anyway, I still think the WL is the most beautiful place ever. I love the ambiance, the details, the whole feel of it.
We'll stay there again, some day.
BTW, spent some time with Stan, the park ranger guide. What a pip he is! He escorted me across the lobby on the day our our wedding. He was so touched at the "honor" I was bestowing on him. He's a true gentleman and it was in fact my honor to meet him and have him show me a Hidden Mickey while I was wearing my wedding gown.
I remember my awe struck feeling 
Congrats on your marriage! We stayed at Disney for our honeymoon back in 1981 and have been hooked ever since. 
Many times the restaurant will buy you dessert if they know it's a special occasion. 
and I'm so sorry your stay wasn't what you hoped for (actually no one would hope for a stinky room but you get my point). Thankyou for sharing and may you have some happier pixiedust memories to share in the future,
