Wilderness Lodge - AMAZING (but....)

[ClarabelleCow]

To the OP - you would love the 2 bedroom, as an owner, we get the two bedrrooms with just 4 of us! The nice part is you can save alot by eating breakfasts in the room, and with little ones, going out to dinner can be rough, have it brought in or you can make it yourselves. Also you get 2 full bathrooms, jacuzzi, kitchen, washer and dryer, 3 televisions! Consider arriving a day early and cut the trip one day short. Those weekend points are a killer.

Example - if you arrived on Sunday 7/20/08 and checked out on Friday 8/1/08, only staying for 12 nights it would be 550 points, if you did your dates 7/21 - 8/3, it would be 660 nights, so by arriving a day early and cutting the trip short a day, the cost would go down $1,100.00 if you rented points for $10.00 a point.
And yes - 5 in a 1 bedroom is tight, and they will not provide bedding for anyone else. It does have to do with firecodes and the way the occupancy is set up.

 

[Sammie]

Regardless of whether one agrees with a room occupany levels, they are there for a reason.

A guest has a choice to either abide by them as they should or make other provisions. Many suggestions have been given. If the cost for the 2 bedroom is too much, the OP could shorten the trip and be legal, but then why is that never a consideration.

As to DiznEeyore's comments, believe me if any of you giving her a hard time were DVC and paid those dues monthly, you would feel the same way.

As to the CMs comment to book a one bedroom all they are interested in is a sale, not what is correct and they are not paying the dues either.

As to booking a villa and them not finding out, you will need Keys/IDs for everyone to attend extra magic hours and believe me DVC members are very serious about room occupany levels, do you want to spend your entire vacation wondering about it and sneaking in and out, I wouldn't.

 

[Sammie]

I wish they'd soften up there occupancy for the 1 bedroom. At 727 sq ft I think thats plenty big enough for 5 or 6 but they have their rules and thats that.

there is one king bed and one sofa bed, where would the others sleep?

 

[Sammie]

The occupany levels are set for the entire building, not the size of the room.

They are set up to safely let a certain number of people exit the rooms, exit the halls and use the stair wells. Adding extra people to that determination, undermines the safety of the building and everyone in it.

I would certainly hope that no one would do that to save money.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Sent you a PM.

 

[Sammie]

Sent you a PM.

If you don't plan to share your info with the rest of us, why mention you sent a PM.

As I said, I certainly hope that no one would over look the occupany levels for thier own gain.

If you have some legal way to help, I am sure all of us would benefit from that information, too.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The occupancy level for a standard room at the WL is four. They allow you to add one child under the age of three, not two.

The occupancy level for a standard room at the Polynesian is five. They allow you to add one child under the age of three, not two.

The occupancy level for a one bedroom (other than some AKV one bedrooms) is four. They allow you to add one child under the age of three, not two. You have too many people to book a one bedroom at VWL, even if you book through a member. Currently, DVC will allow a fifth person aged three or over, but they will not supply any additional bedding or linens. But even DVC will not allow six in a one bedroom, even if two of them are under the age of three. The limit is currently five - total. Just five. If you book through CRO, you still can only book four persons, plus one under the age of three at VWL in a one bedroom.

With your party of six, you would either need an All Stars Family Suite, a FW Cabin or a two bedroom villa. There are some suites at Coronado Springs that sleep five or six that might also work. Or you could try one of the WL suites that will sleep your party of six.

When you have multiple children under the age of three, only one of them doesn't count towards room occupancy. The rest all count.

 

[BCV23]

Deb, occupancy at the Polynesian is 5 plus one under 3 so they would be fine.

As for not folding the stroller at the Polynesian, make the short walk to the TTC and take the ferry. The rooms closest to the ferry are 476 sq ft. With two queens and a twin size daybed those rooms offer a better bedding option for your group IMO.

BTW, two studios at VWL would not connect and I don't know if there are even any that are adjacent to each other.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Deb, occupancy at the Polynesian is 5 plus one under 3 so they would be fine.

As for not folding the stroller at the Polynesian, make the short walk to the TTC and take the ferry. The rooms closest to the ferry are 476 sq ft. With two queens and a twin size daybed those rooms offer a better bedding option for your group IMO.

BTW, two studios at VWL would not connect and I don't know if there are even any that are adjacent to each other.

Yeah, they had said they really didn't want to stay at the Polynesian. I know we stayed there on our first trip with five of us and none under the age of three. Six, as long as one was under the age of three, would work fine at the Polynesian.

I agree not to get two studios, unless SIL wanted a room all to herself. Which might not be bad for her, but not great for the OP. Five in a studio, even if two are under the age of three, would not be that comfortable.

 

[Gabrielle]

That's the weird thing - We had 2 porta-cribs in the room last week. So, the only difference would be 1 extra adult in the 2nd bed.

I didn't think it was bad at all. We had 1 crib in between the dresser and table, and the other by the balcony. The room wasn't huge, but we had plenty of room. Then again, we're used to staying at All Stars.

I just don't think twins under the age of 2 qualify as two whole people.

 

[minnie61650]

I don't know why the difference, but you could have hit on one, yourself. I'm just sort of thinking "outloud" on this one.

With the Poly, the buildings are seperate from the "main lodge" area. Since each builiding is seperate, and not "enclosed' with the others, there's enough fire entrances and egresses to the building to allow for the greater occupancy #.
With the WL, maybe there aren't.

Just a postulation.......

.

I think you may be correct.


Some guests think occupancy limits are solely based on room size.
The room size is not as an important issue as are the width of doorways, widths of hallways, number of stair wells, location of stairways, number of fire walls, number of stories in a building and the total number of persons in a building when determining the fire code in regard to fire access and egress.


Disney does allow an additional occupant if the child is under the age 3.
If there are 2 or more children under the age of 3 the additional child/children count toward the regular room occupancy.

When fire codes are made the fire marshal must figure each guest will take up a certain amount of floor space need for a safe evacuation. Sometimes a fire marshal will not figure floor space for a child under 3 in a Pak-n-play (of course the child does not need to stay in the Pac-n-play the whole time they are in the room) staying in a motel/hotel room with a parent because they figure that in an emergency that child will be carried out to safety. To my knowledge only 1 extra child under 3 is allowed for this formula.

-------------------------------------------------

Since 9/11 a lot of the fire codes are stricter especially in regards of the disabled and fire access and egress.


See this website about Resources on Emergency Evacuation and Disaster Preparedness for more info:



http://www.access-board.gov/evac.htm

There are real reasons why hotels/motels have room occupancy limits.

Just a little FYI

Have fun at Disney!

 

[BCV23]

Sorry Deb, read it too fast. I agree about 5 in a studio!

Our family of five had many wonderful stays at the Polynesian. So much space and such a magical resort. And in the rainy season as Conch Kahuna said, Raratonga (and Nuie for that matter) are very close to the GCH. A matter of feet really. Much closer than the walk to the boat at WL.

 

[boomhauer]

there is one king bed and one sofa bed, where would the others sleep?

2 adults in the king bed (me and my wife.)
1 adult and 1 child on the sofa bed (sister in law and 7 year old.)
2 porta cribs for the infants.

FTR - We aren't going to do that. I don't agree with everything Disney says or does, but I do follow the rules. If the rules state we can't all fit in a 1 bedroom, then we'll either do a 2 bedroom or 2 standard rooms.

 

[ldo]

we just showed the attendant our double stroller and he directed us to the cars without the bars that fit bigger strollers, ecv and wheelchairs. Of course, someone in an ecv/ wheelchair got priority, but we never had a problem.

We have twins and got on with them sleeping in stroller many times---yes you can't do it with the bar in the middle, but there are designated cars on every train that will accommodate you.

 

[minnie61650]

2 adults in the king bed (me and my wife.)
1 adult and 1 child on the sofa bed (sister in law and 7 year old.)
2 porta cribs for the infants.

FTR - We aren't going to do that. I don't agree with everything Disney says or does, but I do follow the rules. If the rules state we can't all fit in a 1 bedroom, then we'll either do a 2 bedroom or 2 standard rooms.

So glad to hear you will be following the rules.
I also think following the rules is the best policy.

I just wanted to point out that Disney will not give out 2 porta cribs if only list 1 child under 3 is listed on the room ressie.

Have fun at Disney!

 

[Tess]

The lodge is great, but then again so is the Poly. Those are 2 of my favorite resorts. If you havent stayed at the Poly in the past, I would recommend keeping the res you have

Ditto! The rooms are definitely more spacious and, look at it this way, you can add one more notch on your Disney belt.

 

[boomhauer]

Ditto! The rooms are definitely more spacious and, look at it this way, you can add one more notch on your Disney belt.

I thought about that. I forget which guidebook it was, but one of them says "many guests who sta at WL report having little interest in staying anywhere else." I can certainly see why.

 

[bolgers love wdw]

Boomhauer:
I certainly know how you feel about the WL!! My DH has over 50 stays at the POLY (only resort his family will ever stay at!!) But when we went on our Honeymoon in May 2004, we decided to switch it up a bit and tried the WL. Well, now my DH cannot imagine ever staying elsewhere!! He absolutely LOVES the WL (and me too!!) . We just returned from our 6th stay there since 2004 and are already planning our next trip. When we were talking about where we are going to stay, there was no question!! WL hands down!! We have stayed at other resorts in between our WL stays, but it sure isn't "home".Trust me, once you have caught the WL bug, there is no cure!! (except another stay of course!!)

So glad you loved the lodge!!!

 

[johndavid]

Boomhauer:

We just returned from the WL. There were four of us on the reservation, 2 adults and 2 children. Since there had to be 1 adult in each room, we were guaranteed connecting rooms. My mom went with us too, but I added here to the room after checking in and just purchased her park passes then. We stayed in a Deluxe room a few years ago, which was great. But the two bathrooms and 4 beds is more comfortable.

 

[grannyminnie]

Boomhauer, it's your fault....I switched my upcoming ressie at ASMu to the WL!! Am taking my daughter and two "grands", and after staying at the Grand Floridian with my sisters at Thanksgiving, decided to bite the bullet, spend the extra money and upgrade to the Wilderness. I took my granddaughter there in April and we both loved it. Can't wait to go back in January, and be "at home" again! Isn't it cozy?