Wilderness Lodge Mess

[Speedemon21]

I can't express how helpful you all have been!

After weighing all the pros and cons of the responses from the board, we have decided to jump ship and embrace POR! We are looking forward to spending our 10 days there and truly excited about saving the money and having FD included (double bonus!!). Guest Services was amazing and our incredibly helpful representative got us a Royal Guest room with a river view. We'll be taking our car to the ADRs and maybe even to the parks.

We will definitely look forward to WL the next time we visit (and enjoy the zero pool that is being installed!) Thanks again for everyone's help!!

Yay! Good for you! We love POR and I think you will too. I am a bit jealous. Wish we could jump ship to POR with free dining too! Have a great time!

 

[Sammie]

Just remember if using your car to get to your ADRs you will have a time limit on leaving your car at that resort unless you valet park.

The most convenient is definitely a taxi.

 

[hockeymom519]

We had reservations at WL for 9/20-9/27. After much contemplation, we ended up switching to POFQ. I found out we had a pin code for free dining there. Saving over $1000. We would love to stay at WL, but will save it for another trip when it's at it's prime.

 

[kmorlock]

It may or may not work but, we were able to move to another resort after calling and talking at long length to Guest Services. I initially called the normal Disney travel, told no rooms for our bounceback promo, nothing for FD pin, blah, blah.
I nicely pushed to speak to higher powers, then was placed on hold forever, connected to Guest SVS who actually made it happen but not before my pushing the necessity for us to move somewhere besides AKL Villa, or exec suites @12 Grand -because even GS tried to reassure me all would be well at WL for 11/13-11/22. For our family, I knew it would not work at VWL this time w/construction and no pool. We all know rooms are in inventory for the next Fall promo so it is really just a matter of getting someone in GS who WANTS to help. Good Luck!

 

[jsgrant5]

KMORLOCk just wondering what resort you were able to transfer to, and did you have to pay more if it was an upgrade?

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

KMORLOCk just wondering what resort you were able to transfer to, and did you have to pay more if it was an upgrade?

Yes I am curious too.

 

[dchronister]

I love both of the resorts, it would have been a tough decision. But if the pool is a big factor, I would have switched too. My kids like the pool or POR much better than the one at WL and also we haven't (yet) had any problems with the busses at POR, just go into it knowing that it will take a little longer to get to the MK area and you will be fine, if you use the bus system at all. We stayed in VWL in Dec. and we love it, we have stayed there several times and will stay again, but I am going on a solo trip in Nov and didn't want to spend a lot on the room since it will just be me, so I am staying at POR again. If you were staying in Alligator Bayou I would say that the furnishings would be similar to WL, but I think you mention a Royal Room so you are probably staying on the Manor side, I have never stayed on that side of the resort, but understand that it is quite different than the AB side. Either way you will have fun and enjoy yourselves. Just don't do what we did our first trip and did every rope drop and ever EMH, and my DD, 6 at the time, it was way to much for her, so we had to learn to slow down, sleep a little later, as we are a later to bed, get up a little later family. You will just have to learn what works for your family. But Have Fun.

 

[kaytieeldr]

We are booked at WL Sept. 11-20. This is our first trip WDL. My husband passed away 13 months ago from cancer. We have been planning this trip for years so I promised the kids we would still go. They are 25,22,19,19. Noticed the pool closure yesterday on DIS so I called Disney to ask about it. Was also told they are renovating the rooms so from 9-5 each day they might need to get into our room depending on if it had been completed yet. I am very sad to think this long awaited trip might not be what we are expecting. The kids really don't want to downgrade the resort but can't afford to upgrade either.

Never ever heard of any hotel renovating an occupied room. Necessary emergency maintenance, yes. Housekeeping, sure. But newly-revealed 'renovations'?

Anyway, have you considered (checked the pricing and theming) for Animal Kingdom Lodge?

 

[kaytieeldr]

A mention on taxi services while staying at WL, we used taxi's 4-5 times during our stay. Getting to DTD for example, after 1 pm (double check that time) from WL requires 2 bus transfers and we saw we had just missed the DTD bus. So with a double stroller and 2 buses just for DTD, uh no..a taxi from WL to there cost $10.
Most of our cab fares were $7-8 one way. We'd usually take Dis transportation the other way. Depending on the kids tired level, our tired level lol, this was really helpful. Instead of leaving for a Dis restaurant 50 mins ahead, we could take our time getting ready and grab a cab with a 5 min ride.
There was always a cab ready outside the front of lobby. Just ask the CM at the bell desk.

Really unusual. Where do you have to transfer? What happened to the DTD bus Wilderness Lodge used to share with GF?

 

[Scarlett81]

Really unusual. Where do you have to transfer? What happened to the DTD bus Wilderness Lodge used to share with GF?

I dont know. At the Epcot/DTD bus stop there is now a sentence that says after 1pm (or 2pm, can't remember which), the DTD bus will be transferring to another bus. Before that time it is a shared Epcot DTD bus.
I don't know where it transfers because when we arrived, the DTD bus was just pulling out, so we figured the total trip time would be too long and opted for a cab.
I'll also say that when we waited another time at the DTD stop which is shared with Epcot, there were 3 Epcot only buses in a row, and not one of the drivers knew when the DTD bus would come or where it transferred! So perhaps its a new thing

 

[kittb]

After speaking to Disney UK again last night, there is nothing they can do until the pool closure has been confirmed with them from the US. The only thing we can do is move to another resort, where the options are very limited and we have to pay extra, which at the moment is looking like another £1000 per room on top of what we have already paid.

I am really disappointed with the communication from Disney. I understand refurbs have to be done, but at least we should have been told earlier.

The holiday is supposed to be celebrating my 40th birthday, our wedding anniversary and my husband and myself losing 10 stone between us. At the moment I really don't know what to do...

just wondered if you'd had an update yet? We're in a similar position, 2 x 40th birthdays, 15th Wedding Anniversary, splashing out inheritance from my dear Grandma. I emailed the WDTC who we booked through and they phoned last week whilst I was driving, they called back and left a message that they did not yet have the details to discuss this with me!! But would call on Monday or Tuesday .... nothing .... so I've just emailed again. So disappointing when so much is invested in the trip.

 

[fla4fun]

I dont know. At the Epcot/DTD bus stop there is now a sentence that says after 1pm (or 2pm, can't remember which), the DTD bus will be transferring to another bus. Before that time it is a shared Epcot DTD bus.
I don't know where it transfers because when we arrived, the DTD bus was just pulling out, so we figured the total trip time would be too long and opted for a cab.
I'll also say that when we waited another time at the DTD stop which is shared with Epcot, there were 3 Epcot only buses in a row, and not one of the drivers knew when the DTD bus would come or where it transferred! So perhaps its a new thing

Does this have something to do with the new Typhoon Lagoon bus service where all resorts have to go to Epcot and transfer instead of taking direct buses? TL and DTD were always combined, but I think with the PI bus stop at DTD closed, they are trying to reduce the number of buses required to move people in and out of there, so they split out the TL guests. I hadn't heard that actual DTD guests had to go to Epcot, only TL guests.

 

[Figments Father]

We are booked to stay at WL the last week of Sept. After receiving our letter we called and complained. After being transferred to Guest Services (and some deliberation) we were given the option of switching to the Grand Floridian (they would cover half the cost difference) or $500 off our trip.

Hope this helps!

 

[jess1662]

We are booked to stay at WL the last week of Sept. After receiving our letter we called and complained. After being transferred to Guest Services (and some deliberation) we were given the option of switching to the Grand Floridian (they would cover half the cost difference) or $500 off our trip. Hope this helps!

How much of a fuss did you have to make in order to get them to offer this? I'm always unsure how hard to push on this kind of thing.

 

[denman007]

It's your vacation and your money, push as hard as you want - but remain clam and pleasant while doing so.

 

[Donut23]

Ok, an idea......

We ADORE the Wildie and POR is our favorite moderate so resort choice is a toss up.

The BIG factor for us are the busses. Perhaps it was a bad ride on a hot, stuffed bus years ago but I'll WALK before I get on a stinky bus again (and I'm currently preparing for a knee replacement!)

My idea? Switch to POR and.... Rent a car! No waiting in the morning. At the end of the day about 30 seconds and the AC is pumping cold air into the car. No squeezing onto a bus with tired stinky people. One ride squeezed up against a guest covered with perspiration is enough to keep ANYONE off the busses.

More than plenty of room in that discount for the car rental.

Only one problem. Like that lovely balcony cabin on the cruise ship, you will be totally spoiled and may have to make rental cars part of your Disney budget.

 

[Dumbo Mad]

just wondered if you'd had an update yet? We're in a similar position, 2 x 40th birthdays, 15th Wedding Anniversary, splashing out inheritance from my dear Grandma. I emailed the WDTC who we booked through and they phoned last week whilst I was driving, they called back and left a message that they did not yet have the details to discuss this with me!! But would call on Monday or Tuesday .... nothing .... so I've just emailed again. So disappointing when so much is invested in the trip.

Hi, no I've still not heard anything. I sent another email to guest services on Tuesday and another email to Disney UK who we booked with. Can believe how bad the communication is. Have you heard anything?

 

[Scarlett81]

Does this have something to do with the new Typhoon Lagoon bus service where all resorts have to go to Epcot and transfer instead of taking direct buses? TL and DTD were always combined, but I think with the PI bus stop at DTD closed, they are trying to reduce the number of buses required to move people in and out of there, so they split out the TL guests. I hadn't heard that actual DTD guests had to go to Epcot, only TL guests.

Yes I'd bet its related to that for sure. It was funny to us why 3 bus drivers didn't know the why/what/where's of it all! We figured it must be a pretty new arrangement.

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

We are booked to stay at WL the last week of Sept. After receiving our letter we called and complained. After being transferred to Guest Services (and some deliberation) we were given the option of switching to the Grand Floridian (they would cover half the cost difference) or $500 off our trip.

Hope this helps!

What? I've heard of several people trying this and getting no where.

 

[Figments Father]

Really not much of a fuss at all. Just told them we were disappointed and asked about compensation and/or a switch to an equivalent or better room.