Wilderness Lodge ?

[midwestdee]

After drivingmyself nuts for a month - I decided we will stay at Wilderness Lodge for our after Thanksgiving trip this year - DH said pckk whatever I wanted. So here's my question. Did any of you choose the "cheap view" room and were you sorry? I would like a decent balcony - not a stand only. Believe me , I wuld be grateful for any and all opinions. I'm having a hard time justifying the cost for the courtyard view for 7 nights. Do all rooms have some type of balcony? Thanks!!!!

 

[disneyobessed]

All rooms have a balcony. The ground level floors have a patio. We booked a standard room and were upgraded to a ground level couryard facing the villa pool. it was great. I dont think our trip would have been as enjoyable if we didnt have that easy pool /ground level access. we walked out our room and there was the pool. From what i have read the WL is known for upgrading especially since you are going at a quiet time. IF the view is that important to you i would book what you really want. If not book the standard and when you get down there see if you are upgraded if not go to your room and if you dont like it ask for a different view.

 

[abner1776]

We booked a standard and got upgraded to a courtyard view. It was on the 5th floor with a nice balcony( table and 2 chairs) overlooking the pool and looking out over the lake. We were not pushy at check in but it also was not a busy time at WL, so that may have helped our case.

 

[Aimeedyan]

We were booked standard (with a CM rate, at that!) and were upgraded at checkin to courtyard view - 1st floor, overlooking the main pool. We never even went swimming so that mattered little to us but the location was nice and the view was nice.

We were even planning to ask nicely at check in regarding an upgrade but she informed us we'd already been upgraded before we had a chance.

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

We stayed with friends @ WL a few years back. We both booked standard view rooms at the time . At check in (separate times during the same day) we both asked if any upgraded rooms with views were avaliable. Our friends got a wonderful view of the courtyard and pool area and we didn't...ours was a standard woods view in the back of the hotel. It was the luck of the draw that day and I didn't win! By the way we stayed at the end of June ,which is usually a busy time of year.....have a great time,you'll love it there regardless of the view(but it doesn't hurt to ask upon check-in).

 

[Tam1067]

Like some of the previous posters, we booked a standard view room in July a few years back. I never asked for an upgrade, but when we got to our room (I can't remember which floor--sorry--but I'm pretty sure if was about the 5th or 6th floor), we found out we'd been upgraded to a courtyard view. We could look down on the pool area and see the lake from the balcony. It was really nice. I generally don't like to pay extra for a "view" (I'm too cheap) but having had it once, I know I would prefer it.

 

[ADisneygirl]

I know what you are asking about the balconies. All the balconies at AKL and WL are full size with two chairs. On the ground level it would be a patio. The BWI and BC have balconies in some of their rooms which are the pulpet type -- with room to only stand on. We were upset one year at the BWI when we got the little balcony. We were shocked actually!

I have stayed at WL in a standard view room. We saw the top of the Contemp. resort and a few of the very high fireworks. Looking down from our balcony we saw the loading area, the smoke house and the employee break area. I wouldn't have liked being on a low floor with that view, but up high it was very nice.

 

[stonecreekboys]

We just returned this evening from WL. We had a courtyard room, which was all we could get when we booked the room. Two family members booked standard rooms and were both upgraded. We don't usually pay for the difference in room upgrades, but the view was incredible, and is worth the money. We were on the sixth floor overlooking the pool. We could see the water and the water parade every night. We had a great time and the resort was beautiful. But I have to be honest in saying we really missed the Beach Club. WL is great, but we found the transportation to be a bit trying at times. You'll have a great time, though. Just enjoy the scenery and the relative quiet.

 

[sara74]

We returned from WL yesterday! We booked the standard view and I tried in vain for weeks to change the booking to woods view as I got very nervous about the noise/view of the loading dock. No problems though, we were upgraded to courtyard view upon check-in! I was so excited! We were on the 5th floor and the view was gorgeous. The transportation was interesting for us too, like for stonecreek - but the buses were great, it was when we used the monorail from the Contemporary that we had problems! I'd skip the monorail next time and bus it!

 

[stonecreekboys]

I agree. Buses are the way to go. We had problems with the boats. One day the large boat was out of service between the MK and WL and we had dinner reservations. We ended up having to take the long way around to FW then Contemporary and hop on the Monorail. It was a long trip around.

 

[midwestdee]

Thanks everyone for the input - DH and I really appreciate it.

 

[Cupmom]

We returned from WL yesterday! We booked the standard view and I tried in vain for weeks to change the booking to woods view as I got very nervous about the noise/view of the loading dock. No problems though, we were upgraded to courtyard view upon check-in! I was so excited! We were on the 5th floor and the view was gorgeous. The transportation was interesting for us too, like for stonecreek - but the buses were great, it was when we used the monorail from the Contemporary that we had problems! I'd skip the monorail next time and bus it!

Since you just got back did you happen to notice any room rehabs taking place?
Thanks

 

[sara74]

Happen to notice? We were underneath one of them! There was some minor noise as they were working but we didn't spend that much time in the room and since we had been given the double upgrade, I didn't feel much like complaining over something that really didn't bother us. I was too excited just to be there! Anyway, our room was 5015, so I am assuming the room above us was 6015. I didn't think that our room was all that bad - no peeling wallpaper or anything, but I would like to see the 'new' rooms! (Next trip...already thinking of the next trip...)

 

[Cupmom]

Sorry to hear about the noise, that is one thing I was worried about when booking the WL for our August trip. Maybe since it was underway it will be done before we get there. I can't wait to see any pictures of the rehab rooms!

 

[DisOrBust]

Hate to break a bubble but Im have been trying to get std view over T day and all thats left is courtyard.

 

[MScott1851]

We booked standard last year, and were upgraded to woods without asking. It was our anniversary. We could see the MK fireworks at night, because we were at the very end of the "U" shape of the Lodge (on the left side).

This year, we have two reservations, one I had to book for Woods view because that was all that was available, but the other one I booked standard...it's just not worth the extra $$ for courtyard to me.

We spend very little time in our room that isn't showering or sleeping, so we're not big on a view anyway. I would love to get a courtyard upgrade this year, but will be happy with what I booked.

I did specifically note on my reservation that I wanted a King room, but with a full-size bathroom. Most of the king rooms are handicapped accessible, but I want a tub. Who knows? That request may increase my chances of an upgrade if there aren't any standard rooms with those specifications available.

 

[PrincessPaczki]

Hi!
Last year, at the WL, we had upgraded ourselves to a woods view. I would not have considered it that though! It was in the corner, and we did see trees in the courtyard, we also could see in the next room! After walking around outside the lodge, my DH and I realized that there were not very many rooms that acually looked down towards the parking lot.
I think the standard would be our choice the next time. The grounds are so beautiful that there is not a bad view around!

 

[maelstrom]

We booked a standard view in January 2005 and got upgraded to courtyard at check-in. We had a great room on the 3rd floor, close to the end of the building, so we could just walk down a flight of stairs and we were on the path to the boat dock. We have woods view booked for June and I hope we get courtyard again.

 

[siestakeys04]

We requested bunk beds and an upper floor we had to get a woods view to even have bunk bed option. We are very excited!!!!

 

[TnTsParty]

In an honest opinion is Courtyard view the best view? I have only been in Woods view and we liked that. I only had the option of courtyard - has anyone ever heard of being down-graded? Probably not since they most likely wouldn't give a refund.