Wilderness Lodge

[TwoGirlsandDisney]

Has anyone stayed here? I was wondering how close the boat is to the MK. We are debating OKW, or the Wilderness Lodge.
Thanks!

 

[JimnSha]

stayed at WL over Easter, loved it....Boat is very convenient, felt like 10-15min...but was probably 20ish. Great spot though, we enjoyed it

 

[bellazachmom]

We have stayed at WVL a few times, most recently in September 07 and we LOVE it!!! Such a great resort with wonderful atmosphere.

One thing we found on our last stay, there is now a DIRECT bus from WL to MK!!! You do not stop at any other resorts and from pick up to drop off the trip is about 5 minutes! Also, from the villas, the bus stop is much closer then the boat dock. It is a bit of a walk to the boat dock, but not too bad, and the boats can be a lot of fun! Keep in mind that they are "open" and can get a little hot and humid while the buses are usually air conditioned quite comfortably.

So for us with our 2 & 4 year olds at the time, we took the bus for convenience and the boats for experience. We also used the boats to head to the Contemporary so we could eat at Chef Mickey's and ride the monorail. This boat makes a loop of Bay Lake, so you head to the WL campground, too. They seem to switch up the routes, though, because sometimes we would go to the campground and then the contemporary and sometimes it was the other way around no idea why.

Have a great trip! Jennie

PS - We love OKW, too, for the size of the rooms and the laid back feel of the resort, I think you will be happy at either place! We own at BCV but have not stayed there yet, waiting for the kids to get a bit older to enjoy the pool!

 

[LoveMickey]

We just returned from WL last weekend. There has been a change to the transportation since our last visit. The boats now go directly to MK. This is the large boat, which is enclosed. It is a 12 minute ride and it goes MK to WL then back to MK. It used to do the loop, which included Fort Wilderness.

The smaller boats which are open, go to FW and the Contemporary and will fill in going to MK when needed.

The other poster was correct in that the bus is more convenient and quicker to walk to from the Villas. The bus stop is right near the villas.

We used both, but prefer the boats for the experience.

It is a lovely resort. Request a room near the elevators to avoid the rooms at the end of the long hallway.

 

[wildernessDad]

We like the boats personally. The walk to the boats at WL is longer than the walk to the WL bus stop, but the walk from the MK dock to the bag check point is shorter than the walk from the MK bus stop to the bag check point.

 

[simmons_m]

We stayed at the Wilderness Villas in Feb, and loved it. The walk to the boat is nice, plus the time by the water gave our 5 & 2 year old something to do. It definitly felt like the wait was shorter at the Bus stop, and it is closer to the Villas. I also "felt" like there were more buses. If we missed a boat, sometimes we would need to wait 20 to 30 min for the next boat, which could feel like an eternity. They type A personality got the better of me, and sometimes we took the boat to the contemporary so that we could hop on the monorail. We just felt better if we kept moving.
I think the pools and the atmosphere at the Wilderness Lodge/VWL is great, and we will most likely stay there again.
Mike

 

[hag7]

We liked both better than our home resort, SSR. OKW: room size, Pool slide bigger, spread out, less points..... VWL:- boat ride to MK, wilderness atmosphere, smaller rooms, cooler entry/lobby by far. You can't go wrong either way

 

[itsreally4mommy]

Curious why smaller rooms is a plus?

 

[kimberh]

We love the boat ride, it is very relaxing. The resort is beautiful! It is not going to disappoint you.

 

[danielle782001]

We found the room at the VWL to be very large and roomy...very cozy and comfortable...

We love the boat to the MK...It is quick, easy, relaxing, and great to take in the sites...A few times we watched fireworks in the MK and the water pagent from the boat...that was cool!

 

[jarestel]

Curious why smaller rooms is a plus?

Saves on extra walking after a long day!