Wilderness Lodge questions

[maxiesmom]

We are tossing around the idea of staying in a 2 bedroom villa at the Wilderness Lodge. Right now we have 2 rooms booked at CSR, but we could book a villa for not a whole not more money. But I can't find a whole lot of info out there on the Wilderness Lodge Villas.

I have a few questions I'm hoping someone can answer for me.

#1 Are there different views to request?

#2 Are the villas all a long walk away from the bus stop? They look to be on the map. Is there a location I should request if we decided to stay at the Wilderness Lodge Villas?

#3 Can guests at the villas use the main feature pool at the Lodge?

#4 How is the boat service? Do they run pretty frequently?

#5 Is the bus service to the parks decent? How many resorts share a bus with the Wilderness Lodge?

Thanks in advance for your help!!!

 

[FlyingBelle]

#1 Are there different views to request?
- Yes, for the Wilderness Lodge (woods, courtyard, etc), but not sure for the WLV.

#2 Are the villas all a long walk away from the bus stop? They look to be on the map. Is there a location I should request if we decided to stay at the Wilderness Lodge Villas?
- No! The villas are closer to the bus stop than the lodge (IMO), however, the entire resort is very manageable!

#3 Can guests at the villas use the main feature pool at the Lodge?
- Yes, and vice versa

#4 How is the boat service? Do they run pretty frequently?
- From what I remember, it's every 15-20 minutes, probably more frequently around opening/closing of the MK

#5 Is the bus service to the parks decent? How many resorts share a bus with the Wilderness Lodge?
- Occasionally I remember doing a drop-off at the campground, but we're usually there off-seasons. (not sure if that makes a difference)

 

[dansdad]

#1 Are there different views to request?

Yes. Check out post #10 here for layout and pictures.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2969675

#2 Are the villas all a long walk away from the bus stop? They look to be on the map. Is there a location I should request if we decided to stay at the Wilderness Lodge Villas?

Maybe 3-4 minute walk. For location check out reply above.

#3 Can guests at the villas use the main feature pool at the Lodge?

Yup!

#4 How is the boat service? Do they run pretty frequently?

We love the boats. They arrive about every 15 minutes or so.

#5 Is the bus service to the parks decent? How many resorts share a bus with the Wilderness Lodge?

Yes it is decent. I'm pretty sure bus only shares with Ft. Wilderness.

 

[grimley1968]

#1 - You can probably request villas courtyard or villas woods. The villas courtyard is NOT the same huge (and IMO scenic) courtyard that regular WL has. However, woods views within the villas are very nice and quiet.

#2 - The villas lobby is almost literally right behind the bus stop. I've always thought the villas were far closer to the bus stop than any part of the main sections of WL. To get from the bus stop into the main WL lobby, you have to pass the villas lobby. But as the previous poster mentioned, the bus stop is not a bad walk from any part of WL, especially the villas.

#3 - Yes.

#4 - I've only waited beyond 15 minutes for a boat once in all the times I've stayed at WL. Usually it's a bit more frequent than that, especially at busy times of day. As for the boat ride itself, it's one of my favorite aspects of staying at WL.

#5 - I've always found bus service from WL to the parks to be among the best at WDW. Yes, it does sometimes drop-off or pick-up at the campground, which definitely adds to the length of the trip, but it's not too bad.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The villas at WL don't have much of a view. Basically a woods view for just about every villa. Sometimes you can get a peak of the lake through the trees or a bit of the villas pool, but mostly just woods.

The bus stop is closer to the villas than the lodge. Walk out the front door and a few steps to the right and there is the bus stop.

You can find out more on the DVC Boards about VWL because it is a DVC resort. And it is the smallest DVC resort at WDW.