Wilderness Lodge - 1st Timers

[richard3330]

Hi,

We have never stayed at the WL before and we can't wait until we visit this Xmas. Can anybody leave some past experiences below of their previous trips, it would be GREAT to hear some views from people that have visited WL before.

Also we will be there on Xmas Day (25th) and want to 'treat' ourselves to one of the best rooms/suites available : what rooms/suites are these? Also we have booked a standard room, will we be allowed to upgrade upon arrival or over the phone before hand?

Does WL have any good shops? and do we have to make PS' now if we want breakfasts in one of the WL restaurants?

Any Help or advice about the resort will be excellent.

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

 

[Eeyore1954]

WL is my favorite resort. There is a lot to do there:

1) Hidden Mickey Hunt
2) EWP (evenings)
3) WL Tour with Ranger Stan (don't miss this! Ranger Stan is amazing.)
4) Rocking chairs in front of the fireplace
5) Check out the geyser
6) Check out the decorations -- I think WL is the best decorated resort at Disney.

Shopping: The Mercantile is good, but not the best Disney shop. Roaring Forks provides counter-service type food and refillable mugs.

WL has two great restaurants: Whispering Canyon and Artist Point. AP is wonderful for a romantic dinner. WC is more family-style; be warned: WC is rowdy, loud and fun. I like both; they are very different in style and food.

You'll have a wonderful time here.

 

[slimplaw]

All of the above is correct. There is a thread on this board with many questions and answers about WL. Sit awhile and read them, you'll get a lot of info.

 

[minniemmom]

WL is my favorite resort also! When we stayed there the trip was just one of those magical times; everything seemed to fall into place perfectly! This hotel was the first, and only since, where we had towel animals made for us! We like to stay at different resorts everytime we visit WDW (soon we will have stayed at all resorts!) so we will not be staying here on our Christmas visit . I almost wish we hadn't stayed here before so we can experience it at Christmas time, but we're trying the AKL and GF, which we're looking forward to. You'll have a wonderful time at the WL I'm sure! Enjoy! Post your experience when you return!

 

[slimplaw]

You might also want to check out Christmas dinner in Whispering Canyon Cafe. When we were there in early Dec. 2000, they were advertising a traditional Christmas dinner for Christmas day.

 

[RNMOM]

This is our favorite resort also. We have been 3 times, twice at Christmas and it is beautiful. We are trying the YC this year instead but might just pop over for Christmas dinner at Artist point.

My favorite thing here is to go to the sitting area off the lobby. It is hidden above the front entrance and there are actually two or three there. Fireplace and all. It is so cozy with leather furniture and you can people watch and listen to the music...it is wonderful. I was ill on first trip and spent a long afternoon reading here while family was doing the parks.

I kinda wish we were spending this year there but our boys(men) are too big for the bunks and won't sleep together.

 

[richard3330]

Thanks Everybody for your replys.

WL sounds great, especially at Xmas.

We are getting really excited now!

 

[fireplug]

Richard
We love the lodge and will be ther in Dec too.
If you are an early riser try and catch the sunrise over the lake one morning. I go all the time when we stay there. It is so quiet outside and that first cup of coffee seem to taste even better.
I hope you enjoy yourselves.

Steve

 

[DisneyFreaks]

Wilderness Lodge is simply gorgeous at Christmastime. You will love it. But by all means make PS at the full service restaurants there. We only got to eat breakfast one time because the restaurants were so crowded with guests from other resorts coming over to eat. While we ate at Whispering Canyon they were putting the huge Christmas tree together in the lobby so we watched them as we ate. It was a totally awesome sight to see.

 

[las3888]

While WL is not my favorite resort, I think you are going at the best time to experience it! We went when it was 90+ outside, and just couldn't get into the lodge-atmosphere i.e., snuggle up by the fireplace. Christmastime would be the perfect time though to really soak up the atmosphere there.

Good luck and have fun!!!

 

[GEM]

We were at the WL for the first time last December. We only had one major problem with it -

Now we never want to stay anywhere else!!

Seriously, we love the WL and it has now become our Disney "home" as far as we are concerned. It is absolutely breathtaking at Christmas time. No other resort we visited even came close!

My main advice is this - take time relax and enjoy the lodge! If you spend every minute rushing around the parks, then you have really missed the best of what the lodge has to offer. The parks will be really packed while you are there, so take some time to escape and really enjoy the peace of the lodge. It will make a huge difference in the way you feel by the end of your vacation.

-Spend a morning relaxing on your balcony and watching the resort come to life.

-Spend an afternoon relaxing by the pool.

-Spend an evening in the rocking chairs in front of the fireplace or in one of the great hidden "nooks" on the uppper floors around the lobby. When we were there last Christmas, they often had entertainment in the lobby in the evenings - like a singing group or bell choir.

-Enjoy the hot tub late at night.

-Get the "Hidden Mickey" list from the front desk and try to find them. Be warned, they are pretty hard!

-EAT AT ARTIST POINT!! I don't care if you have to sell your blood and plasma to pay for it - just do it!!

-When you check in, ask if you can be the "Flag Family" one day. It's an awesome experience!

-Take the lodge tour with Ranger Stan. He really is an amazing guy!

-Rent a Watermouse boat (one for each of you) and explore Bay Lake and The Seven Seas Lagoon. This is my husband's absolute favorite thing to do at WDW!

-Rent bicycles and take the short ride over to Fort Wilderness Campground to explore. It's a very easy ride (nice and level) and it's fun to see the campground. They have a petting zoo, stables, and some other neat stuff to check out.

-If you want to buy the Wilderness Lodge Christmas ornament (in the gift shop) to remember your stay by, do it as soon as you arrive! They ran out last year.

Have a wonderful time! We will be there again this December and we can't wait. We really want to try all the resorts eventually, but we just can't bear the idea of being anywhere but the WL at Christmas time!

 

[richard3330]

Thanks You again everybody, especially Gem.

The WL sounds as though it is going to be wonderful at Christmas we are so excited!

Gem:
You are right about us going at a busy time of the year, during a couple of days I think we will just stay at WL and relax!
Also, what is 'The Flag Family'

 

[GEM]

Each morning at the lodge, a family gets to accompany Ranger Stan to the roof of the lodge to help raise the flags - the American flag, the Florida state flag, the Disney Company flag, and the Wilderness Lodge flag. The view is absolutely incredible and there is no other way to get up on the roof to see it. It really is a very memorable experience. We got to take lots of great pictures and we got a nice certificate to remeber the event by. Ranger Stan is just so much fun, too! He will give you all sorts of extra information and insight on the lodge. He only takes one family up per morning, so be sure to ask when you are checking in if there are any open mornings while you are there. You have to sign up in person at the front desk. My husband and I really enjoyed it. It's a really neat feeling to look WAY up there later in the day and see all those flags flying and know that you got to help raise them that morning!

 

[s&k'smom]

Just wanted to add that the lodge is really beautiful at night. For example if you are coming back at night from MK on the boat it is so beautiful coming in from the water. I don't know what I like more first thing in the morning or at night. Plus you can get a great view of the Electrical Parade from the beach.

 

[PhillyKid83]

hey,
im 19 years old and i think the wl is the best resort in disney...a must do i think is to raise the flags in the morning with the family...we did it one year and it was awesome...you can see everything...there is just something about the atmosphere at wl that makes it so great...but about the rooms i think if you want to make it the best experience for you and your family, you should get a room on the 7th floor, woodlands side...it gives you a perfect view of the fireworks over the castle...we would just sit in our room everynight at 10 and just watch...my little sister was crazy about it...hope my info was helpful...have a good time

 

[richard3330]

Thanks PhillyKid!

Does anybody know if WL has any suites or upgraded rooms or if WL has a concierge service?
Thanks

 

[Eeyore1954]

Richard: WL has a concierge level (7th floor). They also have the Villas at WL adjacent to the Lodge. The Villas have larger suites available, but it is part of DVC, so availability may be tight (or non-existent) at Christmastime. We managed to get a room in the Villas in May, but we called months in advance.

Concierge service is very nice; if you are lucky you will run into Randall -- he is a concierge extraordinary!

Have a super magical time there!

Re: Flag family -- this does require a lot of stair-climbing, but it is SO WORTH IT. And Ranger Stan is absolutely amazing. I've not met any other CM at WL that knows more than he does. My DW and I tried to "stump" him -- I think it's impossible.

 

[richard3330]

Thanks Steve.

Do you think WL will have any Concierge rooms available for Xmas/New Year time. We REALLY want to upgrade to concierge and don't mind having to pay lots, as it will be Xmas time - we should treat ourselves !!! LOL.

And I gather that WL don't have any actual suites in the main building (like presidential suites) - only in the villas - is this true?

Thanks!!!

 

[richard3330]

Also Steve:,

The flag family sounds really really really great, I hope we will be able to enjoy that experience!

 

[Gary M]

Richard:

DW and I have stayed at WL 13 times and have reservations for three more times this winter. Needless to say we like the WL very much. We have stayed at GF, BWI, Poly, AKL and DL and like the WL best. For all kinds of information on the WL you can go to:

www.wdwig.com/faq_wl.htm

This should answer most of your questions.

Gary M