wl questions?

[sdevir]

I just got back from a 5 day vacation at the Wilderness Lodge. Great hotel!!
Does anyone have any questions about it?

 

[krdisneybound]

WL is my DVC home. It is awesome in my mind.
It is my first choice of places to stay. Very convenient and always gotten the perfect room for our needs. The little tour that Stan gives is great also. You learn a lot about how it was built.

 

[fabumouse]

Yes, I have questions about the WL - especially, what were the top three things that you loved about it, and what would you change if you had the opportunity?

 

[BeccaGrace]

I have questions

--How was the transportation to the parks and DTD?
--Did you use Magical Express & if so, how was it?
--Was there anything there that you hadn't read about on the boards that surprised you?
--Did you eat at Roaring Forks at all? How was it?
--Was the resort very crowded?

That's it--Glad to hear you had a great trip!

 

[shellbelle]

Thinking about staying there next December. Tell me about transportation, especially after fireworks at park. We stayed at POP this October on a last minute trip thanks to the free dining plan. The line for the bus after the fireworks was crazy! Looking for better transportation.

 

[Tigger714]

I have questions

--How was the transportation to the parks and DTD?
--Did you use Magical Express & if so, how was it?
--Was there anything there that you hadn't read about on the boards that surprised you?
--Did you eat at Roaring Forks at all? How was it?
--Was the resort very crowded?

That's it--Glad to hear you had a great trip!

We just got back too!

Transportation was great to the parks and DTD. More difficult resort to resort but that is probably because I was used to WL having a bus to the TTC and they discontinued that about 6 months ago. I was told WL was the only resort that did that before.

We did use the magical express and it was great! Just remember, it can take up to 3 hours to get your bags in your room so make sure anything you need immediately is in your carry on. The bus was clean, the video cute and the return service was prompt and easy! (and I was a skeptic at first!)

Nothing suprised me, someone had said things were looking a bit worn but we did not notice (this was not our first stay).

We did eat at Roaring Forks, the kids pizza meal was a godsend for our DS8. Don't forget your refillable mug!

The resort was not overly crowded. We did notice an increase in pool use once people started arriving for Jersey Week. That was our cue to head home! (Just kidding!)

The only inconvenience we had was that one of the elevators nearest roaring fork was down for almost 7 days. This did make us wait a few extra minutes but that was no big deal.

Two things I learned that I didn't know before:

Watercraft rental does not start until 10 am even though the place opens at 9 a.m. (what's with that?)

And, you can't rent a Sea Raycer from WL and dock at Poly or any other resort to pick up someone or trade riders.

 

[pennyplanner]

Tigger714,

Heading to WL this Friday!

Was the bus to MK running while you were there? I would love to ride the bus TO MK and then take the boat BACK to the WL!

I am wearing a boot cast. I am a little nervous about that. My TA is calling tomorrow to request a room off the mail lobby elevator. Hopefully with bunk beds! I am counting my steps and they certainly add up at WDW! Glad you enjoyed your stay!

--penny

 

[Tigger714]

Tigger714,

Heading to WL this Friday!

Was the bus to MK running while you were there? I would love to ride the bus TO MK and then take the boat BACK to the WL!

I am wearing a boot cast. I am a little nervous about that. My TA is calling tomorrow to request a room off the mail lobby elevator. Hopefully with bunk beds! I am counting my steps and they certainly add up at WDW! Glad you enjoyed your stay!

--penny

Yes, the bus to MK starts running very early, l think it was 7:30 when the park opened at 9. This is also the only way to get to the TTC, connect at MK with the Monorail or Ferry.

I am delivering a baby next month and found that everyone was very quick to accomodate anything we needed. You may think about renting an ECV, this proved to be helpful on those days when I was feeling a bit beat! Hope you enjoy each and every step and remember to soak in the hot tub at night if you can, seems to help with the swelling (at least it helped me!)

 

[CBoysMomLovesDisney]

This week I am planning to make room only reservations for May 2006 At this time it will be for a standard room. if a code comes out I might be able to change to an upgraded room.

This is our first family trip to wdw. I am hoping it will be so magical. Taking our two sons - just turing 5 and almost 4.

Questions:

Standard Room - Should I ask for any special Room, floor, view etc.
Hows the pool for kids?
Thinking about taking a break in the middle of the day to rest for night time. did you do this? if so did it take longer to come and go than you had planned.

 

[Tigger714]

This week I am planning to make room only reservations for May 2006 At this time it will be for a standard room. if a code comes out I might be able to change to an upgraded room.

This is our first family trip to wdw. I am hoping it will be so magical. Taking our two sons - just turing 5 and almost 4.

Questions:

Standard Room - Should I ask for any special Room, floor, view etc.
Hows the pool for kids?
Thinking about taking a break in the middle of the day to rest for night time. did you do this? if so did it take longer to come and go than you had planned.

My experience has been with the fourth floor courtyard view (I think that's the north wing, closest to roaring forks) We prefer this because we can look out over the pool and watch what's going on. It's also easy to get to roaring fork for a late night snack, etc. If your booking a standard room there is always a chance you could get upgraded at check in. It's a nice way to start the vacation!

The pool is great for kids. Our DS 8 loves to swim and his favorite parts are swimming with the ducks and hanging on to where the water comes down from the stream, there is a heavy current that the kids like there.

The kiddie pool is just fine and it has plenty of shade. The afternoon nap idea is great and that is the plan of action we take. Come back around 2, swim, nap or both and then back for the evening. It is a great way to miss the heat of the day. This works best when you have a bigger breakfast early, a snack mid day if needed, snacks at the nap time and then dinner late. On our last trip we traveled with other family members who insisted on eating at 5 pm. This was awful! It really seemed to cut into our park time and never seemed to work for us. We will go back to our original plan next time, get some groceries for light lunches in the afternoon at the lodge and just do breakfast and late dinners.

As far as transportation to and from, we have never had a problem and enjoy taking the boat. I always allow an hour no matter what type of transportation we are taking.

Good Luck! Hope your trip is magical!

 

[pennyplanner]

Thanks Tigger714!

I have ordered a wheelchair for evenings if I need it. Wearing a cast should be interesting BUT nothing like being 8 months pregant! Wow. Kudos to you for handling all that!

Thanks for the reminder about getting to the TTC via MK bus. I really miss that service. That is the way we would head to Epcot in the past. It is always fun to ride the monorail.

The Epcot bus was my only complaint as far as transportation during our vacations at WL. It just seemed like an endless ride to the park.

Thanks for the tips!

Getting really excited...

--penny

 

[keishashadow]

Thanks Tigger714!

I have ordered a wheelchair for evenings if I need it. Wearing a cast should be interesting BUT nothing like being 8 months pregant! Wow. Kudos to you for handling all that!

Thanks for the reminder about getting to the TTC via MK bus. I really miss that service. That is the way we would head to Epcot in the past. It is always fun to ride the monorail.

The Epcot bus was my only complaint as far as transportation during our vacations at WL. It just seemed like an endless ride to the park.

Thanks for the tips!

Getting really excited...

--penny

My DS is in a boot too...we have a transport chair we could use (my Mom's), but hate the thought of dragging it everywhere if he won't need it.

I know you can rent a regular chair @ the parks. Not sure how it works @ resorts. When you say you "ordered" a chair, did you reserve one @ hotel/parks/ or via a private company...thanks.

 

[boomhauer]

So, am I understanding this correctly - Is there a bus that runs from the WL to the Magic Kingdom?

That was my only concern. Wasn't crazy about always having to take the boat over there.

 

[Tigger714]

So, am I understanding this correctly - Is there a bus that runs from the WL to the Magic Kingdom?

That was my only concern. Wasn't crazy about always having to take the boat over there.

Yes, you are correct. There is a bus that goes from WL to MK.

 

[pennyplanner]

Yes on the boat!

Keishashadow,
My TA ordered it for me from a private company. It will be at the WL when I check in and the company picks it up the day after we leave. I believe the cost was approximately $50 for Friday to pick-up on Saturday.

My concern about getting one in the parks is that I really think I will need it in the late afternoon/evening visits. I am afraid the parks would be out by then. There is no guarantee they will be available.

Friends of ours needed one for their son a few years back. It is supposed to be light weight. I am figuring I will need it for the late afternoon run to dinner and night time activities. I hate to think of using it BUT I will not be held back from oodles of fun because of my aching leg!

I will be making the best of it although it is giving me hives thinking about exiting a park with masses of people and me in the chair!

--penny