WL Magic is disappearing

[GasMan65]

Our family of 5 (children's ages 5,7,11) just returned from 6 days at WDW staying at WL. This was our first visit in over 5 years and the magic is less than before.......some examples:

1. A FAKE fire in the WL fireplace. There used to be real wood with a hint of smoke in the air throughout the lodge. Today the halls smell of lysol.

2. Hard to find CM's who speak English well. We have nothing against foreign workers, but command of the language should be a mandatory requirement.

3. Vetran CM's seem to have a lousy attitude about their jobs. After speaking with several, the common theme was cutbacks from HQ.

4. No more coffee and cordials available in the lobby in the evenings or coffee and pastries in the mornings. (Probably not a big deal since not many people enjoy sitting in front of a FAKE fire)

5. Valet Parking now costs $6 - used to be free!

6. Actually had a CM request a tip when parking the car one evening at valet.

7. Boat service to MK was spotty and very unpredictable.

I could go on, but the bottom line is this: Disney WL is still a great place, however, the the little things that made it magical are slowly disappearing under pressure from Disney leadership to cut costs. I understand about costs, in fact I'd be willing to pay more money for more magic. Perhaps the great package deals Disney has been offering over the past year are finally beginning to take their toll on the magic.

 

[GEM]

I'm sorry you felt that way, but I would have to disagree. We still find the Wilderness Lodge the most magical place in the world! I can comment on the "fake" fire. We have stayed at the WL many times, and as far as I can remember, it has always been a gas fire. Many people have allergic reactions, etc. to real wood smoke. It does seem like they used to have a heavier sort of pine or woodsy smell in the lodge, also fake. I haven't noticed that as much my last couple of trips. A lot of people on this board (and maybe in real life) complained about it, so maybe that's why it's not as strong now. A lot of people are just really sensetive to things like that. Also, valet parking is now $6 at all the resorts, not just the WL. We've never had any problems with the boat service at all. I'm really sorry you did. As for the CMs, I can't comment on that. I can say I've never really noticed it, but I could have had better luck than you. Anyway, I hope you will give the lodge another chance.

 

[tobrown]

We leave tomorrow for WL and are hoping we have a great stay.
We stayed Poly Concierge two years ago and liked it, but to
be honest one can always find something to complain about it
they try hard enough.

Will post my opinion when we return.

 

[CBRorBust]

Well,

I'll respond to this post too.

I had a GREAT stay at the Wilderness Lodge this week, but I was kinda of taken back by a few things. The hotel is amazing in every sense of the word, but there were things that I guess I just expected from a top of the line disney hotel.

1) No coffee maker in room? I don't know when this changed, but I hate the fact that I have to get dressed to go down stairs to Roaring Forks to get a cup. That was just minor. I guess because every other hotel (non disney)I have ever stayed at has had them in the room.

2) I loved the fact that the hotel has restaurants, but I would have liked to see more of a variety when it came to Roaring Forks.

3) The T.V. was really tiny. I'm guessing around 13-20 inches? I was shocked just because we stayed at Pop Century and their T.V.'s were really big! I think 27-32 inches maybe??

4) I hated that I *had* to take the boat to get to MK directly. They are so slow and seem like it would be so much faster by bus.

5) I did not expect to have to share a bus with any other resort. That was just odd to me. Especially since WL is such a large resort. I like to get where I'm going and go.

6) I have to agree with the above poster, there were a few CM's that were less than friendly. I even called one night to ask how I could get to MK as early as possible, and the CM at the front desk snapped at me. So I was just like...okay. I'll call again in the morning.

Don't get me wrong, I loved the hotel and enjoyed my stay. But everyone encounters something different on their stay. These are just things that caught me off guard. So take it for what you will. I'm sure you guys will have a wonderful stay.

 

[Gary M]

When we first went to the WL they had a wood burning fire in the fireplace. I also loved the wood burning smell. When they converted to a gas fireplace, I asked why they changed and was told that the real fire was too hot and ruined the fire brick in the chimney.

They will furnish a coffee maker if you ask. The boat to MK from WL takes less than 10 minutes, dock to dock. I know it is shared with FW, which wasn't the case a few years ago.

In general, I think all of WDW has lost some magic. Maybe it's the cutbacks or maybe I have burned myself out by going so many times.

 

[wilderness01]

So you can only take the boat to the MK and there is no bus service? Sorry there were some disappointments for you.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Well, you could have taken a two minute bus ride from WL to TTC then riden the Monorail to MK.

 

[mbaker1277]

We returned yesterday from the WL and the BWI, and for us the WL has lost some of the magic too, only because the BWI was so wonderful. We had horrible wait times for bus service, and many overcrowded ferryboats. The rooms were starting to show a little wear and tear with some mold in the bathroom tile, etc. But the BWI was so magical for us that we now can never go back anywhere else, and I NEVER thought that would happen.

 

[CBRorBust]

Okay so maybe the boat ride to MK isn't that big of a deal to most, but to me...it was annoying.

The boats were always so crowded! Much more crowded than any of the other bus rides were.


And I'd really hate to see those people who are terrified to be on the water! Then they would have to take a bus to some other location and then a bus to MK.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Sammie]

I think with Roy Disney leaving the Disney Co and his problems with Mr. Eisner it is going to get worse before it gets better.

You can go to www.saveDisney.com for a list of Disney Co. board members. I would start writing letters.

I think with the internal problems, morale is at an all time low.

 

[n2mm]

Oh how I loved my first visit to WL in 1995, when they had the coffee, drinks and deserts in the lobby in the evening. That was just heavenly.

I always find that when the CMs are not happy, that's usually a sign of poor management. I guess overworked and underpaid has it's toll on people.

I find that the magic doesn't shine quite as bright at WDW as it use to years ago.

 

[tnkrbell]

We also stayed for the first tiem at WL in 95 and remeber the pastries and the wood burning fire!!
We still love the WL but.. our last stay in May was less then steller it seemed dirty??!! I figured it was because it was so buisy due to the overflow from Riverside being closed.
I really hope it doesnt continue to disapoint this is one of my faves and Im really picky!!! lol

 

[GasMan65]

I agree with the Eisner comment.

 

[PamNC]

We stayed at WL for the first time back in May and we weren't that impressed. Yes, it's a beautifully themed resort but we weren't impressed with the following:

1) Cast Members - As we drove up to check-in nobody greeted us right away. They just stood there until I got out of the car. At YC/BC where we usually stay...you don't even get the car stopped until someone is rushing to the door to greet you.
Also, the girl who checked us in never smiled and never looked into my face until she asked for the money. Very blah experience.

2) The rooms. Small and dark. However, mousekeeping did a great job every day.

3) Boat service - not good at all! We waited and waited and even heard a CM say that the CM at the Contemporary boat dock was "taking a break" and that's why it was slow.

4) Pool was small. of course, we're use to Stormalong Bay so maybe it's not a fair comparison.

All in all, we thought it was "nice" but we'll never stay anywhere but YC or BC. Love the Epcot resort area. We felt "far-removed" at Wilderness Lodge although there is the boat launch. I think if we had kids we might like it a little more.

I did think it was beautiful - and I loved the geyser. However, we were quite disappointed.

PamNC

 

[DrKnow77]

I stayed at the WL for the first time in Sept of this year. While I absolutely loved the resort, I was taken aback by a couple of things as well.

When we checked in, the CM was extremely rude to my parents-in-laws. I found this very hard to believe, being at Disney World and being in a deluxe resort. My wife's mother had a hard time understanding what the CM was saying and she kindly asked her to repeat what she was saying. The CM became very rude.

If you've never stayed at the WL and are going there soon, have no fear! It is a wonderful place and I wouldn't think twice about going back. But I can also understand the first poster's remarks about unpleasant changes.

When I returned, I received a post card from the WL asking me to fill out an online survey of the resort. I was very candid about the CM experience, so hopefully if enough people do the same, they will listen to us!

 

[susy]

We just stayed at the WL over Thanksgiving. We did have to pay rack rate (244.20) and it was worth every penny. Boat service was VERy good. The only deluxe resort that doesn't share transportation is AKL. They upgraded my inlaws to concierge from standard. I thought it the resort was very beautiful and the CM's were wonderful. If it's going down, it really must have been something before. We visted the BWI while we were there and I wasn't impressed. The lobby was just a fancy hotel lobby. I think everyone has different tastes and that's what Disney caters to.

 

[Geoff_M]

A few points...

1. A FAKE fire in the WL fireplace. There used to be real wood with a hint of smoke in the air throughout the lodge. Today the halls smell of lysol.

I don't begrudge them that. As other have noted, real fireplaces are high maintenance, more of a fire risk, and bother some people's allergies.

2. Hard to find CM's who speak English well. We have nothing against foreign workers, but command of the language should be a mandatory requirement.

3. Vetran CM's seem to have a lousy attitude about their jobs. After speaking with several, the common theme was cutbacks from HQ.

6. Actually had a CM request a tip when parking the car one evening at valet.

Sorry to hear that you had problems, we were last there in June and didn't run into anybody with bad attitudes.

1) No coffee maker in room? I don't know when this changed, but I hate the fact that I have to get dressed to go down stairs to Roaring Forks to get a cup. That was just minor. I guess because every other hotel (non disney)I have ever stayed at has had them in the room.

Call the front desk, they'll bring you one. Problem solved.

5. Valet Parking now costs $6 - used to be free!

Unless you're a DVC member, I don't think there's free valet parking anywhere at WDW. So I'm not sure how this is a knock on WL.

7. Boat service to MK was spotty and very unpredictable.

We licked this potential problem in June this way: we took the direct boat to CR and then hopped the monorail to MK. The CR boat starts running before the MK boat and we left a long line of people at the WL dock as we hopped the boat for CR.

4) Pool was small. of course, we're use to Stormalong Bay so maybe it's not a fair comparison.

That's no doubt due to the fact that WL is one of the smallest resorts on site.

 

[Brier Rose]

We were just there Dec.6-12, and while I'd agree that the boat service seemed slower than before ( I don't remember ever going to FW on the way to MK), our overall experience was great. We spent ALOT of time in the resort. DS got really sick while there, and we only went out the first day of our trip.
One night I went down to Roaring Forks to try and get him some Jello, but they didn't have any. The VERY sweet CM at the register looked,but couldn't find any, and then asked for my name and room number. A little later some food manager(?) person called to explain that they were going to cook some Jello for us, but because of some shipping problem they were totally out. They even called around trying to find us some Jello! They offered to make DS anything else that I thought the may be able to take...smoothie,etc. I declined, but they insisted that if I changed my mind to not hesitate to call them back, and they would send him something right away! That was soooo sweet, and I will never forget it.

We were also supposed to go to MVMCP on the 9th, but DS was so sick we were not able to go. Instead of just leaving us stuck with the tickets, Guest Services refunded all our money.

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by GasMan65
No more coffee and cordials available in the lobby in the evenings or coffee and pastries in the mornings.

I don't remember them ever having any of those things last time we were there.

I also don't remember seeing a coffee maker in any of the deluxe rooms but I think you can request one.

 

[TDC Nala]

No more coffee and cordials available in the lobby in the evenings or coffee and pastries in the mornings.

That's called "concierge level service" now.