Wilderness Lodge Vs Hilton

[Michelle Yelner]

I am trying to plan a trip in May and still can't decide on a hotel. I would love to stay at many of the deluxe hotels, but other that the Wilderness Lodge, they're pretty much out of my price range. I am considering the Wilderness Lodge but I was concerned that it is very isolated from other hotels and restaurants, so I was wondering if I might be better off staying at the Disney Hilton which I understand is right by Downtown Disney. We will have a car either way, so can anyone make a suggestion as to which hotel might be better off for me since I don't want to be restricted to eating at the restaurants in the hotel. Even though the Hilton is not on Disney property, can I still have a great experience? Does anyone know if it is nicer than the Wilderness Lodge?

Thanks

Michelle

 

[diznee25]

After reading your post a few times, I must admit I'm a little confused.

You mention your concern about the Wilderness being isolated and the fact that you don't want to be restricted eating at restaurants in the hotel you chose. Later on you said you'll have a car anyway. If you plan on using your car as main transportation while on vacation, then it shouldn't matter what resort you stay at. You certainly won't be restricted to Resort restaurants because you'll have a car.

That's how I preceived your post.
If you could clear this up so I can better help you, I'd appreciate it!

Diznee25

 

[bizwiz24]

It just so happens that I did stay at the Disney Hilton 7 years ago, even though it seems like its only been a month. I guess that is how much it impacted me. I have been traveling my entire life and I fell in love with the hotel.

I will be going to disney in July and I actually chose Hyatt Grand Cypress over the Hilton and Disney Carribean Beach Resort. The price I received, $80 per night, was too good to pass up. I've never stayed at a Disney hotel but I imagine you will have a wonderful time at the Hilton. It is even great that downtown Disney is a short walk from the hotel, that is a big plus.

To be honest, with all the Disney resort's different themes, they almost don't feel very Disney-like. Being so close to downtown Disney puts you right in the middle of the action. I believe the Hilton will be a great choice. Enjoy!

 

[DonnaLeah]

Aren't the decisions aggonizing?? How many days will you be in WDW? I could not make a decision for our May trip, so we are splitting our stay between the Doubletree Suites in DTD and the
Swan. We usually stay in ine place (DTD area) but really wanted to try a differnt area. Perhaps a few days in one place and a few days in the other? If that's not something you want to do I'm sure you will be just fine at the Hilton. I'm sure you will have a great time where ever you decide to stay!!


Donna

 

[Antiguan]

I have stayed at both, the Hilton first, then the WL. I would choose the WL everytime. The convenience to DTD was fun at the Hilton, but being able to catch the boat to MK is so convenient. One evening we walked over to FW and ate there. Contemporary is a 10 miute boat ride to eat there. We caught the bus to DTD a few times. We actually only ate dinner at WL one evening. And WL is a Disney hotel, you cant beat that. The convenience of charging to your room is more useful than you realise. And not having to use a car because there is trasportation to every where was great.

 

[Kimberle]

Welcome to the Dis!!

The WL is one of the most "un-iosolated" resorts at Disney. You have so many options!

There are 2 great resturants at WL, plus the food court. There are 2 boat lines, one WL/FW/MK and one WL/FW/CR (runs 7am-10pm). It is very easy to eat at Trails End in FW (or one of the shows). It is also very easy to eat at CR (Chef Mickeys, our fav Concourse Steakhouse, CA Grill.) You could just hop the monorail to GF, so add all those resturants. Also, add all the Poly's as you have *2* easy ways to get there! Boat to CR, then monorail over. OR, the direct bus from WL to TTC (right next to Poly).

Tons of places!!

Try the Lodge! You'll love it!!

 

[Grumpy92]

I would choose WL. The boat to MK is very convenient and we have never had to wait very long for a bus to anywhere. The hotel is beautiful and quite an experience.
As for eating we enjoy taking the boat to CR or FW and trying their restaurants. We do use Roaring Forks, the counterservice location frequently.

I truly think you will find the Wilderness lodge more convenient then the Hilton.

 

[tampafan]

I have never stayed at the Hilton, but I have stayed at the Double Tree suites at DTD as well as the Wilderness Lodge. I would prefer the WL. The boat is awesome and I found the other transportation to be convenient. We really love to eat at Epcot, but found Whispering Canyon to be much fun. Enjoy your trip.

 

[Michelle Yelner]

Thanks for all your responses! It sounds like the Wilderness Lodge might be a better choice than the Hilton, but, now my only concern is the size of the rooms which I heard were very tiny. Can anyone tell me if that is true? Also, just to provide more information regarding my trip, I would be there with my husband and 4 year old son and would be staying at the hotel 7 nights We are also planning to do MK,(2 days), Epcot, MGM, Animal Kingdom & Universal.

Last, I'm planning the trip, May 16th to the 23rd and was quoted a rate of $228 night at the Wilderness Lodge and $178 a night at the Hilton, does anyone know if I can get better rates than that at either one of the properties or any of the other Deluxe properties? Also, does anyone know if Disney will end up coming out with a promotion for May like they did for the one that ends April 18th?

Thanks

Michelle

 

[Kimberle]

Originally posted by Michelle Yelner
Thanks for all your responses! It sounds like the Wilderness Lodge might be a better choice than the Hilton, but, now my only concern is the size of the rooms which I heard were very tiny. Can anyone tell me if that is true? Also, just to provide more information regarding my trip, I would be there with my husband and 4 year old son and would be staying at the hotel 7 nights We are also planning to do MK,(2 days), Epcot, MGM, Animal Kingdom & Universal.

Last, I'm planning the trip, May 16th to the 23rd and was quoted a rate of $228 night at the Wilderness Lodge and $178 a night at the Hilton, does anyone know if I can get better rates than that at either one of the properties or any of the other Deluxe properties? Also, does anyone know if Disney will end up coming out with a promotion for May like they did for the one that ends April 18th?

Thanks

Michelle

WL & AKL (almost identical rooms, except for decore) are the smallest of the deluxes. But, they are very nicely set up.

You will have plenty of room for 3. You can request either 2 queens, or 1 queen w/ a bunkbed. Every room also has a balacony (2nd floor, a patio). The closet is spacious and there are 2 sinks and a nice sized vanity outside the bathroom. The actual "bathroom" is just a regular sized tub/shower and toilet.

I believe, but am not sure, that these rooms are abt 50 square feet bigger than the mod's.

As for the rates, though no one knows for "sure", I think we all tend to agree that Disney most likely release codes for late Apr/May, etc. They had a nice discount for "peak", so I'd imagine they also have one for "regular". We're planning a trip for late April, so we're *waiting* too!!

Keep your eye on mousesavers.com. The codes will be posted there as soon as they are known.

 

[stacy6552]

Hands down without a doubt stay at the WL!!!!! IM a firm believer in staying at any Disney resort over the others. We learned it the hard way staying at the Wyndham Palace last year. Disney just knows how to take care of you. And on top of that the WL is amazing! Now Im not a mountain lodge kinda girl, but we loved this resort! We had a room with a queen bed and bunk beds for the kids, which they loved! We watched the fireworks at MK every night. And the Whispering Canyon is one of our must do resturaunts!

And, IMHO your farther "isolated" from everything at the HIlton than the WL.

 

[currycook]

I have stayed at both. The Hilton is very nice, but not kid friendly. My kids loved the WL, but they did not like the Hilton. The pool at the Hilton was a HUGE dissappointment to my kids. If you dont have kids, I would go with the Hilton, but if you have kids I would go to the WL.

 

[macs4us]

You could rent points from a DVC member (often as low as $10/pt) and stay in a studio room for the same amount as the Hilton. Wilderness Lodge Villas has studios that are 356 sq ft (the standard room there is 340sq ft), and has a microwave, coffee maker, under the counter refrigerator, etc. You may find deals for a larger room, or one of the other DVC properties. Check out the DVC Rent/Trade Board.

Also consider booking a Ft. Wilderness cabin which has a discount through the beginning of June. The cabins are around 500 sq ft, and have a fully equipped kitchen, a deck with bbq, and sleep 6. They have a lot of activities on site, a boat to the MK, and a trail to Wilderness Lodge.

If those options aren't something you are interested in, you could book both hotels, depending on the cancellation policy, and wait to see if any codes or discount come out. We have gone in May pretty cheap (les than $80/nt for a moderate) with codes.

Good luck!!

 

[Michelle Yelner]

Thanks again for your responses! Since I posted, I went to a trade show and was talking to a guy who works for the Disney properties and when I asked him about the Wilderness Lodge and told him I wanted a nice room, he said that the AKL would be nicer. He said the AKL has newer rooms than the WL and would be more sophisticated than the WL. Can anyone else verify that? Since I am very fussy about my hotel room and prefer elegant over rustic, would I be better off at the AKL than the WL if that is all I can afford when it comes to the deluxe properties?

Also, FYI I went another board and someone had just come back from the Disney Hilton and gave it a horrible review. They said that the hotel did not have a room for them even though they had a guaranteed reservation and when they finally got a room, they said that they heard everything through the walls.

Michelle

 

[babygarrettsmom]

Hi, Michelle! I have not stayed at the WL (DH isn't into 'rustic' either), but I have stayed at the AKL and the Hilton.

The Hilton: Due to DH's 'diamond' status, we were put on the concierge floor with supposedly bigger rooms than usual. That said, it wasn't all that. Hotel was nice, nice room, nice restaurant, nice people, but that's it. Nothing 'special'. (None of the housekeeping staff said a word to us)

Animal Kingdom Lodge: One of my favorites!! It doesn't exactly have a 'rustic' look to it - more 'African'. It's beautiful!! The rooms aren't that small, and are nicely done. Lots of dark browns, but still very nice! The lobby is beautiful and the view to the savannahs is just too cool. If you can stay in a Savannah room, go for it! Three awesome restaurants on site, and all that Disney magic!!

Wilderness Lodge: I've never stayed there, but it's really only the theming that's rustic. It has a sort of 'cowboy' look to it. But, you'll still have all that Disney magic everyday!

And, even Mousekeeping will say "good morning/evening" to you!!

Whatever you decide, enjoy!!

 

[Kelly Nelly]

Wilderness Lodge hands down over the Hilton. Do not even think twice.

Plus that fellow telling you that AKL is more sophisticated then WL, that is totally not true, it is newer but that is about it. WL has better pools then AKL, better theme IMHO, and a way better location.I bet the fellow who told you this has most likely never stayed at either resort.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

Wilderness Lodge - no contest !

My family and I have stayed to both. For one spring break we spent 5 nights in the Hilton, and on another trip we had a 2 bedroom unit at the Wilderness Lodge Villas. Our opinion of the two resorts ..... well, one resort and one hotel .... could not be more different. We loved the Lodge , thought the theming was fantastic, enjoye the pool and the boat, and in general had a grand time. As for the Hilton - we decided on the drive home that if our only place to stay at WDW was the Hilton we would rather wait to take a trip another time. We tend to enjoy the "magic" when staying at a Disney resort, and the Hilton just didn't have any for us. And this was after getting the Hilton for only $60 per night off Priceline !

In addition, if a AP or good code rate somes out for the time of your trip you can always try for a lower rate than what you have seen now. Disney tends to reward the patient.