Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Villas Resort (Disney Deluxe/Deluxe Villas Resort) - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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We returned about a week ago from our first trip in over 10 years to WDW and stayed for the first 7 nights at the Wilderness Lodge. We originally stayed there the year it opened and it was just as I remembered it! It is beautiful beyond words. The staff was wonderful and mousekeeping was excellent (left a new towel animal every day). Transportation is great to the Magic Kingdom. Just hop on the boat which is never crowded and you are there in 10 minutes. I can't say enough about this resort.
We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge for our most recent trip. This was our first time staying on property. When we checked in with the guard it was a very quick process. We loved the feeling the lodge gave us. The lobby was just as I pictured it would be, breathtakingly beautiful!!
The bus service to both AK and DHS could have been better and we ended up driving to both parks when we returned them after waiting for over an hour for a bus to come the first time we were at each park. The boat coming back from MK was usually crowded and we were left having to stand while holding both of our kids plus having to fold the stroller (yes, we were told more than once we had to remove the kids who were sleeping at the time and to fold it up before we could board the large boat). Others got to leave their stroller upright but we had to fold ours. Needless to say we weren't pleased and ended up asking one of the CM after we got back to the WL one night. He told us that we didn't need to fold it and could leave it upright. If we had any problems from there out to get the CM's name and report them. This was one of the reasons we had originally chosen this resort was so we could leave the stroller upright on return trips from MK if the kids were sleeping.
We had towel animals 2 of the 6 nights we were there (the night we checked in and another day). They never changed DS' pack n play sheet even though it was dirty and we asked for a new sheet for him. Not sure why they didn't since they changed the sheets in the 2 queen beds.
We had no complaints about Roaring Forks. We never got to try WCC because the night we had reservations for there was a mistake. It showed up when we called back to verify but it wasn't in their system. Not sure what the mistake was. We were a little disappointed as we really wanted to eat there.
Wilderness Lodge was our first Deluxe Resort experience at WDW and we very much enjoyed it! The CM's were always helpful and polite, we used a rental car so we had little experience with the transportation outside of the boat ride to MK (which was always wonderful)!
It cost us about $800 more than a moderate resort and that was pretty fair considering the price of some of the other deluxes.
The theme of this resort is nothing shy of spectacular, the lobby alone is breathtaking. The room we stayed in was a woods view, bunk bed room on the 6th floor and it was quite roomy, comfortable and quiet.
The pool was beautiful, lovely grounds for taking an afternoon stroll. The food court was less than spectacular, there was very little variety and we found it far too small for this resort. We wished we'd made ADR's for Whispering Canyon or Artist Point; the smells from those restaurants were devine!
We found Wilderness Lodge to be a Magical respite from our hectic days in the parks and we were given the honor of being Flag Family on our check out day which provided a Magical Memory for our entire family.
Over-all, Wilderness Lodge did not disappoint and we look forward to another stay there in the future!
This place is fabulous. It is absolutely stunning and the main lobby is take-your-breath-away beautiful. We just got back from staying the week before Christmas and it was just so magical. We really spent alot of time enjoying the lodge, the pool, the hot tubs, the scenery. It was absolutely perfect. The only thing that could have made the WL better is if it was a monorail resort. The boats to MK were great and we literally NEVER had to wait, but there's nothing faster and more fun than the monorail.
We requested to be in the main lobby building at a high floor, because we wanted to be able to look over our balcony at the goings-on downstairs. It was so much fun to wake up and check out all the hustle and bustle in the lobby. Plus, in the main lobby there are many little coves to sit and read by a crackling fire. If you do ask to stay in the main lobby, also ask to be above the check in desk, NOT above Whispering Canyon. We constantly had to keep our balcony door closed because the noise from the highway and parking lot was so loud.
Overall, the WL is fantastic and a wonderful way to spend your vacation.
I highly recommend WL and can't wait to go back.
This hotel is absolutely beautiful. I stayed here in May 2009 for the first time after always staying at Fort Wilderness campground and loved it so much that I'm going again in a week. I had a woods view but could see the monorail and the castle and fireworks from my balcony. WOW what a magical place.
We went to WL last Christmas Vaca and it was amazing. We loved everything about it. It was so cool taking a boat to MK and the buses were great everywhere else. The staff was nice, the mousekeeping did a great job, and we had a fabulous trip.
We usually try new resorts every time we go...but when I booked this years trip I could not resist re-booking WL again because we loved it so much!!
I returned from the WL last week and my room was filthy upon arrival - the soap was used and the bedding had not been changed. Mousekeeping took care of the issue ASAP, but it was hit and miss all week. This is my second stay at WL and I chose to upgrade at the last minute since the resort itself is gorgeous and I love the theme. Although, I like the WL- if budget permits I will stay at a different deluxe or pay less and stay at one of the mods. My recent experience at CSR was much better.
Since we are DVC owners and own at VWL............
We have stayed there many times!
The only thing that went wrong this time during our 2 week stay was that the microwave died and we had a counter one. In the Villas it did take counter space away, I was able to deal with it!
We also got to be FLAG FAMILY one morning with Ranger Stan. MAGIC!!!!
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1976-2001 2001 JOINED DVC 2002VWL 2003Beach Club Villas&7-day Disney Eastern Carribean Cruise 2004VERO VWL 2005VERO/VWL 2006VERO/VWL 2007 VWL 2009VWL 2011VWL 2012 DISNEY MAGIC(2) &VWL 2013BLT and DISNEY DREAM 2014 AofA, Mom/Daughter F & W and MNSSHP 2015 1st Winter Trip BC/SSR Dad/Daughter F & G/SSR POLY/GFV/BLT 2016 DL-DGF WDWMom/Daughter POLY 2017 3-day DISNEY DREAM SSR visit my daughter she is a CM SSR SSR MNSSHP 2018 3-day DISNEY DREAM2018 5 night DISNEY MAGIC to BERMUDA
We stayed here from May 29th, 2010 to June 4th, 2010. It is just breath taking!!!
We were in room 5064, what we thought was just a normal standard room. BUT...... we got to watch the fireworks from our balcony at night. It was wonderful!!!
From the moment you walk in, you hear "Welcome Home" from every CM you come across. Everyone there was SUPER nice and we couldn't have picked a better place to call home for 7 days!!
We had one mishap while there but it happened during the night and the issue was resolved with one phone call. They had even left us a note to tell us what was going on. We had no water for about 5 hours during the night and we did have to wait to take showers for about a half an hour!!! No worries, we went down to the QSR and got our coffee and by the time we got back all was well!!
Loved the lobby and rooms in the Villas. Restaurants (Whispering Canyon and Artist Point) are outstanding. Roaring Fork Cafe (snacks and sandwiches) and the main pool were often crowded with no convenient room for our party of 5.
We're DVC members so we can't really comment on the price of the rooms, but they were great, quiet and comfortable with plenty of room for our 3 teens and the two of us. The washer and dryer in the Villas came in real handy too! We had a great experience and recommend considering the Wilderness Lodge.
We reciently stayed at the Wilderness Lodge (July 13-19 2010) and loved every minute of it. We checked in after 10 and had missed our ADR for Whispering Canyon Cafe. Roaring Forks was open until midnight so we got something to eat there. The front desk CM that was working that night (I think I only saw the one) was very helpful and welcoming. Bell Services brought up our stroller and garden grocer items within minutes of arriving in our room. We had a small snag with the luggage delivery but that was fixed by both the Bell services gentleman (Tone) and his morning manager. We had a bunk bed room on the 4th floor (4165 has a GREAT courtyard view)which was very clean and homey. Our mouse keeper was wonderful through the entire trip and kept our room tidy and neat. The pool was wonderfully warm and inviting. Whispering Canyon Cafe was delicious and fun (we ate there for lunch and breakfast) and our CM (Cajun Chad) was very friendly and funny. Our middle daughter spilled her milkshake during lunch and was brought out another in a "spill proof" cup (they put masking tape with writing all over the top of it to keep the lid on) which made us all laugh. We didn't have long to wait on the friendship to the MK. We also didn't have long to wait for buses with the exception of Down Town Disney (that is also a farther away location though I admit). Overall my family and I enjoyed our trip to WDW and our stay at the Wilderness Lodge and will be staying here again.
My son and I enjoyed our latest stay at Wilderness Lodge. We were there Feb 25th thru March 2nd. We did online checkin which was quick and easy.
We were in a Courtyard view room which was very clean. We could see and hear the Water parade from our room. It was a nice break for my son while I was making him do his math homework. We were in room 6035. The birds spent some time on the balcony though so I had to clean the railing, table and chairs so they were usable.
We love the Lodge itself. I relaxed sitting in front of the fireplace one morning while I let my son sleep in.
My teenage son doesn't care much for the arcade but he still managed to spend some money there. I agree that it's a small arcade for the size of the resort. Especially since the Villas were added.
One of these trips we'll actually get to see the geyser. Our first trip it was down and this trip it was down. The grounds are very pretty and I enjoyed walking around them.
I really wish Roaring Forks would make Mickey Waffles. I love having those with bacon for breakfast when I'm at Disney. I made do with the kids platter breakfast. It was enough to get me started for the day. The adult breakfast platter just had too much food on it.
My son didn't care much for the breakfast offerings (he's a waffle fan too) but did have apple jacks cereal and a sticky bun for breakfast every morning. They need another variety of cereal for the kids. Maybe some fruit loops would be nice. Eating the same one every day gets old.
The checkout lines were very slow but the 2 lines to get food moved quickly.
We didn't eat there for any other meals - just grabbed snacks once in a while.
The buses and boat to MK were fine.
On our last day, Disney started work on the bus stop so they were relocated to a section of the parking lot. Supposedly they did slide a note under all the doors but I never saw it. It may have gotten inside the complimentary USA Today which I didn't look at. Of course it was pouring down rain that day but WL set up temporary canopies (the kind you use in your backyard) for guests who were waiting for buses. The work is probably complete by now.
I'm not sure when my next stay to WL will be. But I know I'll have another one sometime. Wilderness Lodge gets a from me.
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We stayed at the WL for the first time in December. We really enjoyed it.
We happened to visit when it was cold, so it was so nice to be able to explore the lobby, get food and visit the gift shop without having to go outside.
It was clean and quiet. The view from our room was so peaceful, a pond, woods and we could see the fireworks from MK at night.
The staff was always helpful and polite.
We really enjoyed the boat ride to MK. So fast and convenient.
The only downside was that the QS restaurant did not serve mickey waffles, my favorite!
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My husband:www.totalbullgrit.com-- a Southern good ol' boy, dad, and geek.
Melissa
We stayed there and loved the theme! The pool was amazing and the hot tub great! We loved the boat ride to MK! A magical resort! We loved the roaring forks there for CS meal! And the staff were great! The room was quiet but it need a little update (specially the bathroom).
We just returned from the Lodge - our 3rd time to stay there, and just a wonderful experience! There is now Mickey waffles on the menu at Roaring Forks daily - yea! The rooms on the 4th floor, off the lobby were fine - spacious, clean and well laid out. A few comments that I hope Disney will address someday....wireless internet would be a plus. A drink station where you could refill your resort mug somewhere over in the villas - would be a plus. And although Whispering Pines was good it wasn't as great as in past stays. But overall - wow. It really has started to feel like I am "coming home" when we check in!
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