we did wilderness lodge...what next?

[ginerjenny]

Last August we stayed at the wilderness lodge and we love it!! We were there 10 days. I loved the feel of the resort. We were upgraded to a courtyard view and we got upgraded to bunkbeds for the kids. They were so excited because I refused to pay extra for bunk beds.

We loved the boat ride to magic kingdom. MK is our favorite.

We are planning on going back maybe in April. Should we stay at the WL again or try something new? We know we love it there but there seems to be so many other places to try.

 

[J&J]

you might lke to try something different. every trip is different so the trip to wl will not be the same but you could be disappointed.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Last August we stayed at the wilderness lodge and we love it!! We were there 10 days. I loved the feel of the resort. We were upgraded to a courtyard view and we got upgraded to bunkbeds for the kids. They were so excited because I refused to pay extra for bunk beds.

We loved the boat ride to magic kingdom. MK is our favorite.

We are planning on going back maybe in April. Should we stay at the WL again or try something new? We know we love it there but there seems to be so many other places to try.

WL is all refurbed this year, so the new rooms could still be new to you...LOL! Good luck deciding!

 

[tinkmom76]

I agree! The WL is being refurbed so it will seem like a different resort. We stayed one night in June before heading out on a cruise. We had a refurbed room and it was so nice. We are headed back to stay there at Christmas and I can't wait.

 

[OKW Lover]

Try something new! If you loved WL, then Animal Kingdom Lodge will be right up your alley.

 

[DizneyNutz]

Try something new! If you loved WL, then Animal Kingdom Lodge will be right up your alley.

I disagree with this statement. We love the WL so much that we bought into DVC there but I could care less for all the African theming of AKL. Really dont even care to visit there during the holiday decorations. It just doesn't do anything for us. The two resort frames or styles are similar but two entirely different themes. Somebody should inform them that not all visitors there to eat at their restraunt enjoy someone sitting nearby beating on an African drum. to each their own

 

[GrandCalifornian]

We had the same debate after a wonderful WL trip for our honeymoon we are very excited to be going back and staying there five years later.

There are so many options, and with any Disney resort you will get a nice place, but one of the wonderful things about WDW is how they have custom touches at each resort so that each is unique. While WL and AKL share an architect, the theme, locations, and transportation options all differ. I personally love being on Bay Lake, so I'd consider other MK area resorts. Cost comes into play too, and I see WL as a great value often being the cheapest of the Deluxe resorts. To save money I've heard that a Moderate with a nice rural feel is POR, which appeals to some who like that aspect of WL. Another somewhat different option would be to stay in the neighborhood and get a cabin at Fort Wilderness.

Your choices are endless, and every option has its very vocal supporters and others who claim they would never consider it. In the end, it is all Disney, and its up to you to find the perfect flavor that suits your family. Or, you could always split the stay between multiple resorts and enjoy some of each!

 

[ginerjenny]

i think the transportation was one of the biggest things we liked. We never had to wait very long at all for the boat. Which other resorts use the boat to magic kingdom? We spend most the time in magic kingdom and visit the other lands one day only.

 

[mariamouse]

i think the transportation was one of the biggest things we liked. We never had to wait very long at all for the boat. Which other resorts use the boat to magic kingdom? We spend most the time in magic kingdom and visit the other lands one day only.

The other resorts with easy MK access are the Grand Floridian, Polynesian and Contemporary Resort. These resorts are on the monorail, so you have the option of taking that OR the boat if you are staying at the GF or Poly. The CR is within walking distance to the MK, so most people choose to walk over the monorail. The CR boat does connect you to the WL and FW, but I have never heard of its going to the MK-- someone please correct me about that if I am wrong.

All three of these resorts are significantly more expensive than the WL since they are on the monorail loop, but they are all fantastic and well worth trying if you have some extra $ to spare! The garden view room views at the GF and Poly are fantastic and you may be able to snatch an affordable garden wing room at the CR (versus the tower rooms, which are much more expensive).

With regard to the AKL vs WL debate, it is true that the vibe of the expansive lobbies is quite similar due to their having the same architect. The rooms are similar in size and the prices are comparable. Otherwise, they are quite different. We prefer the location of the WL, but like pretty much everything else about the AKL more-- room decor (although maybe this opinion will change once the WL refurb is done), bigger pool, better restaurants (IMO), etc. We do love both resorts, though, and I understand why the boat access to MK might make the WL seem like a better value.

I say try something new as long as you will not be too homesick for the WL! Given that you spend so much time at the MK, I vote for a monorail resort if it's within your budget!

 

[elaw]

I suggest a split stay .... that way you can do both. We always wanted to try different resorts but couldn't break away from WL (I did one time and regretted it) so split stays worked great for us.

 

[Sue M]

So many WDW to try! We love WL too, but also have enjoyed stays at AKL, BC, & Poly in the Deluxe category. POR is our fav moderate resort, but we also enjoyed CBR, just POR more!!

I think it's exciting to try different places. We try new ones, and go back to old favs too.

 

[sharadoc]

How about a cabin at Fort Wilderness? You can get the bunkbeds, a boat to MK and a wonderful laid back feel. There is SO much to do there.

Wilderness Lodge and the Contemporary are a short boat ride away too so you essentially can hang at all 3 resorts (no pool hopping, though).

The nightly campfire with Chip and Dale and a movie, a great swimming area with a slide, a petting zoo, pony and horseback rides, canoeing, fishing, boat rentals, etc. etc. etc. Rent a golf cart and you can go everywhere within the resort easily, or use the internal transportation and easily get around.

Plus with a cabin you get a full kitchen and your own deck. Nice and peaceful, no one running around or over your head and the only toilet flushing that you'll hear is yours!

 

[disny_luvr]

That's a tough one! DH and I both love the WL too. The hotel is beautiful and we just like the "feel" of the place. Our last stay there was is December, 2010 and the lobby is absolutely awesome during this time of year. That said, on our last trip DH was really pushing to stay there again, but I wanted to try the BC. DH was reluctant at first but gave in and he ended up loving the BC - even more than the WL. We'll stay at the WL again but I think it is good to try other places. You never know, you may like another resort out there even more.

BTW, now I'm having the same problem with the BC. Neither DH nor myself want to go to Disney without staying there, but we'll still go to other hotels because if we don't we'll never know what else is out there.

 

[ginerjenny]

I like the idea of a split stay. Does that often cost more? do you get a discount for doing multiple nights at one place?

 

[mickeynut1]

I like the idea of a split stay. Does that often cost more? do you get a discount for doing multiple nights at one place?

A split stay doesn't cost more unless you want the dining plan. If you have the DDP for both stays, a minimum ticket purchase is required for each stay, with a 1 day base requirement if you're paying for the DDP and a 2 day base for free dining. No discounts are given for multiple nights at one place, but sometimes there are room discounts offered which can be applied to your reservation if there is availability under that discount at the resort you want.

As far as where you should stay next......we have our favorites (with the WL being one of them ), but we also like to try new resorts. We love the Poly and GF which are on the monorail and also have boat transportation to the MK. We are booked for our first CR stay in December and while the theme/decor has never appealed to us, we thought we'd give it a try. Good luck deciding and have fun planning .

 

[bitohoney]

Try something new. That way you have something new and different to look forward to. There are so many fantastic resorts to choose from I don't know why anyone would would to stay in the same place all the time!

 

[heidijanesmith]

Try something new! If you loved WL, then Animal Kingdom Lodge will be right up your alley.

We really liked AKL too! If you are interested in a tropical themed resort, then stay at the Poly

 

[cjsm&d]

Last August we stayed at the wilderness lodge and we love it!! We were there 10 days. I loved the feel of the resort. We were upgraded to a courtyard view and we got upgraded to bunkbeds for the kids. They were so excited because I refused to pay extra for bunk beds.

We loved the boat ride to magic kingdom. MK is our favorite.

We are planning on going back maybe in April. Should we stay at the WL again or try something new? We know we love it there but there seems to be so many other places to try.

If you can afford the price increase, I'd go with Poly. MK is your favorite, so you have great access to MK and EPCOT with the monorail.

 

[ginerjenny]

we ended up picking Coronado. It was the least expensive moderate with free dining still available during our dates. excited to try something new but I might need to go over to WL for a visit at least

 

[shocker]

Last August we stayed at the wilderness lodge and we love it!! We were there 10 days. I loved the feel of the resort. We were upgraded to a courtyard view and we got upgraded to bunkbeds for the kids. They were so excited because I refused to pay extra for bunk beds.

We loved the boat ride to magic kingdom. MK is our favorite.

We are planning on going back maybe in April. Should we stay at the WL again or try something new? We know we love it there but there seems to be so many other places to try.

I feel your pain, I'm right there with you. Our last stay was at WL and whoa! I'm not sure we CAN go anywhere else! I want to try CR and have my first monorail stay but think I would need a MK view and that would be $$$$$, may have to do a split stay?? I agree with PP, other than price that's where the similarities of AKL and WL end. WL offers me 2 options for transportation (with our room 1/2 way between each it was perfect, transportation is my BIG sticking point since I've stayed off site for 1/2 price and driven myself to a park faster than Disney can get me to it's own parks), it is a smaller 1-building campus and not a spread out compound (no mult-bus stops at this resort), it offers viewing decks for the evening electric light parade (if not seen from your private balcony), with a boat ride over to CR you are linked to all the monorail resorts for dining options, has a beach, and you can take all the $$ you saved by staying here instead of a monorail resort to pay for ALL of the rest of your vacation. Like I said, I'm not sure we'll ever be able to stay anywhere else, we may have found our "home" and that was never the intention. For what we're looking for in a resort, I'm not sure this can be beat. But, if I never try another resort, is there another "home" out there I would love just as much? Any other resort stay will be compared to WL.