Wilderness Lodge - Dated/Tired Rooms??

[wdwthanksgiving]

i have read a couple of reviews about the room at Wilderness Lodge - some have said they feel the rooms are dated and worn looking -
if we stay there it will be "a treat" because it will be almost twice as expensive as staying at port orleans/riverside...i have to get two rooms so i really want this to feel like a special place (not just the lobby area but the rooms themselves)
also, are there refrigerators in the room?
thanks in advance for your input!

 

[Nermel9]

Uh, no...I just stayed there in November and I didn't think my room looked dated at all, it was very nice, I loved every second that I was there! I'm considering staying there again when I go this November, trying to decide between there and AKL...

And yes, there is a fridge in the room! And don't forget about the boat that goes to MK...I loved being so close to MK, you really feel like you're in the middle of everything!

 

[Googilycub]

I stayed in the villas at wilderness lodge in september. I thought the rooms were dark and dated. We pretty much decided that it was like a super 8 with a really nice lobby. That is just my opinion though, and that is what I thought of the villas (I have not stayed in the regular rooms). I will not be going back anytime soon. For the price, I think there are better options out there.

 

[maciemouse]

Love the resort lobby and grounds but I feel like the rooms are dated as well. I do not feel it is worth the price if you are paying rack rate. I would try AKL. It is similar and the rooms are in better shape IMO. By the way, I love POR too.

 

[happily single]

I was upgraded to the WL last year due to a TA error after booking Port Orleans. It had always been my dream to stay at WL, but I couldn't justify the price.

I was not impressed! Yes the lobby is beautiful and it was nice to just head down the elevator to get my morning drink, but I did not care for the hallway or room decor. I don't think it's dated, but just looks like something out of an older Motel 8.

What I absolutely disliked was the food court. Honestly I think my kitchen is larger and they had no selection at all!

I would save my money, stay at PO and visit the WL for a day trip

 

[disneyfan55]

I was upgraded to the WL last year due to a TA error after booking Port Orleans. It had always been my dream to stay at WL, but I couldn't justify the price.

I was not impressed! Yes the lobby is beautiful and it was nice to just head down the elevator to get my morning drink, but I did not care for the hallway or room decor. I don't think it's dated, but just looks like something out of an older Motel 8.

What I absolutely disliked was the food court. Honestly I think my kitchen is larger and they had no selection at all!

I would save my money, stay at PO and visit the WL for a day trip

I have stayed in a few of the National Parks resorts in Yellowstone, Oregon Caves and the Grand Canyon to name a few. The fixtures in the rooms are made to look like those in these National Parks resorts. I found the lobby and just the whole atmosphere to kind of really make you feel you are indeed at a National Park. (I know Disney is evident, but you can feel welcome there especially with the fireplaces burning and the beautiful lobby.

 

[*~PrincessBelle~*]

Just came back from a stay at WL (early Jan). I have to say that the proximity to MK and other monorail resorts was a big draw for me. The lobby was absolutley breathtaking .... and I think this was the problem. It set such a high standard for what I was going to see in the rooms. The rooms were ok. I found them a little outdated..if this was what I was going to get I would have stayed at a mod or value. I wont go into the issue I had with bugs in my room...not to mention the new room they gave me (after the bug fiasco) had a cup of old oatmeal on the bathroom counter and dirty kleenex on the nightstand.

However for many people the room is a minor thing. Roaring Forks was great for CS. The boat and bus service was fantastic and the scenery around the WL was beautiful. The room for me just left a little to be desired. It was nice but not worth the money to change from a value to a deluxe (which I did).

We did have our honeymoon booked here but after my stay decided to give AKL a try..hopefully we'll have better luck there.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

The Lodge's room were re-done in 2005-2006.

 

[BlovesC]

Are the WLVillas much older and out of date than the Lodge rooms itself? My brother and his wife are DVC members and I visited them when they stayed at WLV in October 2009. I couldn't believe the condition of the room...I found the furnishings to be hideous, and even their TV was at most a 20" CRT. I couldn't imagine those accommodations being considered deluxe, so are they next in line for a refurbishment? Are the regular Lodge rooms much different?

 

[Tink415]

Lodge rooms are different than Villa rooms. DVC rooms take longer to be updated.

Link to photo's of Wilderness Lodge http://www.wdwinfo.com/Photos/Wildreness-Lodge/index.htm

And Wilderness Lodge Villas http://www.wdwinfo.com/Photos/Wilderness-Lodge-Villas/index.htm

 

[tdsbu]

I agree that some of the villa rooms are worn.
On the other hand, if you have ever stayed at a lodge in a national park, you recognize that some of the "old" feel to the furnishings is intentional. Old Faithful Inn, after which WL was modeled, is very rustic.

 

[gemmybear83]

We stayed in a concierge room last October and we found that tired, I was surprised given it was a concierge room. Wallpaper was coming away under the sink and the bed covers seemed old, the room was immaculate and very clean though.

Saying all of this we loved the resort and are staying a couple if nights in the villas this year.

 

[branv]

Well personally I think the rooms looked dated the very moment they decorated. I get they wanted that rustic quality in the rooms, but that decor could have been rustic/lodgy without looking like a bad 70's motel room. But then, IMHO Disney has a thing for hideous bedspreads. Can't fathom why they're always so garish. I wish they'd at least redo the bed coverings similar to how they did the newer CSR rooms -- you can certainly maintain a theme with that solid colored duvet look with a rustic-y throw and pillows. And that greenish plasticy veneer on the cabinets, ugh. They should have stuck with just the overall wood look.

But then again, I find most of the rooms on property to be cheesy and outdated looking. Again, you can partly blame those bedspreads (and wallpaper, ack!).

Now...that being said. I LOVE WL! Room decor schmecor, I was very comfortable in those rooms. The rooms were darker than at some places, but very cozy (and PERFECT for afternoon rests). After hours in the Florida sun, I appreciate how cool and relaxing the WL is. The bed was SO comfortable, like heaven compared to my experiences with the beds at POFQ and POP (I won't even go into the nightmare of a bed we slept on at POP). And unlike the mod/value you are set back from the door so not nearly as negatively impacted by all the hall noise that comes with being at a Disney hotel (and excited little feets and voices pounding down the hall at 6 am ) I opened up my balcony door and heard...nature! Everything seemed clean and well-maintained. The rest of the resort manages to carry off that lodge/cabin look without looking cheap as the rooms do. I won't hesitate to stay there again.

 

[disneyfan55]

I agree that some of the villa rooms are worn.
On the other hand, if you have ever stayed at a lodge in a national park, you recognize that some of the "old" feel to the furnishings is intentional. Old Faithful Inn, after which WL was modeled, is very rustic.

Yes, very true ! I have stayed at many of the National Park lodges and the WL is very true to them! I don't know why they say 'lodges of the Pacific NW. I think it's old Faithful lodge as well. I have stayed in a few in the Pacific NW and while similar, I think Old Faithful is more alike than different.

 

[Disney-Kim]

Everyone needs to remember that this is Disney, not the Hyatts/Sheratons of the world. The rooms are just not the same and the decor is "themed" and not meant to be the hippest new hotel decor.

WL is a favorite of many DIS'ers and the rooms were updated just a few years ago. Yes CSR did a more mainstream look as it is a business hotel...but for most of us...the "theme" of the hotels is what makes them a favorite.

WL rooms are kitschy and that is the way they are supposed to be.

Your staying on WDW property for the fun of it not for the luxury amenities

 

[pixarmom]

Our most recent WL stay was February of 09, and we thought the rooms were fine. We really like the theme (but our family is outgrowing the WL rooms this year, so we have to move on!) I've noticed the photos of the villas looked a bit more worn than the bunk bed rooms that we've always stayed in.