Just back from 8 days at the Wilderness Lodge

[riogirl]

Well we made it back to Philly (barely) hours before Hurricane Irene hit! We spent 8 days at the Wilderness Lodge, our first time at the Lodge, and we really liked it a lot-not in love like many of you out there, but I give it a 8.5 out of 10.

The grounds were beautiful, lobby amazing, pool very nice, but way too small for the size of resort. We did get a seat every day but I cannot imagine during peak season how hard it is to get a seat there. The Roaring Fork was good for our breakfast most mornings and ok for a quick sandwich at lunch but again too small for the size of resort. I was just glad we weren't there during the real crowds!

The room was ok...we were upgraded for free to a woods view from a standard that we paid for and that was very nice. We overlooked the villas and walkway to bus, very close to elevator and lobby. The room was immaculate and didn't look run down. Just needed to brighten up a bit. I know its the theme, but if they changed the comforter to a brighter color that would be really a nice change. We took them off and just by doing that the room opened up! Lighting in the bathroom was a little dim, but it was clean as ever and that was good enough for me! The Mousekeeping was great too!

The transportation was a little bit of an annoyance this trip. We were at a very convenient location BUT the time it took to get to many places was a little ridiculous! The boat to Magic Kingdom and the Contemporary was the best! We rarely waited longer than 15 minutes. The buses were ok too but the amount of transfers to get places was a little much and the pick ups at other resorts slowed us down too. If we didn't give ourselves 1 1/2 to 2 hours to get to another resort for dining reservations, we wouldn't have made it. Example: it took us over an hour to get to the Beach Club for dinner, the route we took was bus to Magic Kingdom then waited a long time for bus to Beach Club which then stopped at Yacht Club first.
Also to get to Epcot World Showcase for dinner...took us 2 hours! Boat to Contempo, monorail to TTC, monorail to Epcot (we took the monorail to get a chance to ride it to Epcot) then to walk from the front entrance to Italy was ridiculous! (We had the intention for being in the park and going to dinner from inside but the heat was too much to walk around during the day.)

Overall we had a wonderful vacation - parks were spotless, CMs were extra happy and friendly and the magic is still there..cannot wait to go back!

 

[Korfar]

A question for you since you are from that area. We were there as well and noticed most of the people we were around were from NYC, Boston or Philly. Is this time of year typical for vacations in that part of the country? Everyone had Yankees, Red Sox of Phillies gear on. One cast member commented on my Brewers hat that it was the first one he had seen without a B on it. I thought that was funny.

 

[mp2bill]

We spent 8 days at the Wilderness Lodge, our first time at the Lodge, and we really liked it a lot-not in love like many of you out there, but I give it a 8.5 out of 10.

The grounds were beautiful, lobby amazing, pool very nice, but way too small for the size of resort. We did get a seat every day but I cannot imagine during peak season how hard it is to get a seat there. The Roaring Fork was good for our breakfast most mornings and ok for a quick sandwich at lunch but again too small for the size of resort. I was just glad we weren't there during the real crowds!

The room was ok...we were upgraded for free to a woods view from a standard that we paid for and that was very nice. We overlooked the villas and walkway to bus, very close to elevator and lobby. The room was immaculate and didn't look run down. Just needed to brighten up a bit. I know its the theme, but if they changed the comforter to a brighter color that would be really a nice change. We took them off and just by doing that the room opened up! Lighting in the bathroom was a little dim, but it was clean as ever and that was good enough for me! The Mousekeeping was great too!

The transportation was a little bit of an annoyance this trip. We were at a very convenient location BUT the time it took to get to many places was a little ridiculous! The boat to Magic Kingdom and the Contemporary was the best! We rarely waited longer than 15 minutes. The buses were ok too but the amount of transfers to get places was a little much and the pick ups at other resorts slowed us down too. If we didn't give ourselves 1 1/2 to 2 hours to get to another resort for dining reservations, we wouldn't have made it. Example: it took us over an hour to get to the Beach Club for dinner, the route we took was bus to Magic Kingdom then waited a long time for bus to Beach Club which then stopped at Yacht Club first.
Also to get to Epcot World Showcase for dinner...took us 2 hours! Boat to Contempo, monorail to TTC, monorail to Epcot (we took the monorail to get a chance to ride it to Epcot) then to walk from the front entrance to Italy was ridiculous! (We had the intention for being in the park and going to dinner from inside but the heat was too much to walk around during the day.)

Overall we had a wonderful vacation - parks were spotless, CMs were extra happy and friendly and the magic is still there..cannot wait to go back!

I had a similar experience. I didn't have any problem with the amenities at the WL, but it did take me more than an hour to get from the WL to EPCOT once.

My wife and I were originally going to drive from the WL, but since we had already started waiting for the bus, we just kept waiting hoping that the next bus was going to EPCOT. By the time we got picked up, it was more than 1/2 hour into waiting. Then, with all the stops, it took over 30 more minutes.

That's why I wish they had some sort of system of wait time boards for buses...maybe something on the side of each bus showing the ETA till the next half dozen or so and where they are going. That way, people could make an educated decision on what transportation they'd like to take.

 

[Diane Hughess]

I ALWAYS rent a car from the Car Care Center for 7 of our 10 day vacations. We can drive to our resort dining reservations, as well as early breakfast ressies anywhere in the world. We also drive to our evening park so that we won't have to wait for busses during the mass exodus at park closing. I bring my personal GPS to get us from point to point in minimal time. It's worth the $150-250 to us. I find it very relaxing to drive around the world--the roads are so well maintained and easy to navigate. I aslo try to get a room near a parking lot so that we won't have a long walk from the car. Sometimes bus stops can be rather far away from the room, and after a long, hot day of walking, you kind of just want to get to your room quickly. We also sometimes sneak away for a day or two offsite at other parks..

 

[trylon57]

Korfar- When a team is a winner, you see their hats everywhere. If the Brewers win this year, I can assure you that you will see those "B" hats all over the place. Here in New York, you never see Mets hats any more. Back to the subject at hand,thanks to all for the great advice about using cabs to go resort-to-resort.

 

[lbrad]

What is the best way to get a taxi cab???

Going from CSR to GF Friday Sept 30th for 7:15 dinner ressie at Citricos & returning to CSR.

My plan was CSR to TTC or MK to GF to get to dinner (since AK closes at 5pm)
then GF to MK (or possibly DTD depending on time) back to CSR

Thank you in advance :wave:

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

WL is our favorite resort and although we loved the Poly, we still feel a little more at home at the WL. 8 days are however a little much at the moment but we wanted to stay for four days during our oncoming trip. But all AP-rooms were already gone so we stay at AKL this time.
But eight days at the WL must be a beautiful experience.

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

Staying at the WL in November. Really excited as this is our first time at anything other than a value resort!!!

I thought you were going to stay at the Poly? Changed your plans? Anyway I am pretty sure you will LOVE the WL. I think everyone does, it is the crown achievement of WDI resort theming IMHO.
Have a great time there.

 

[YankeeMouse]

Wilderness Lodge has always been the best resort for us with upgrades. Many, many times with upgrade to pool view when paying for standard or woods. WHen it is just my husband and myself traveling without the adult kids, we have been double upgraded to pool and king view. Don't know why, it happens at all times of the year.

 

[coltow]

Also to get to Epcot World Showcase for dinner...took us 2 hours! Boat to Contempo, monorail to TTC, monorail to Epcot (we took the monorail to get a chance to ride it to Epcot) then to walk from the front entrance to Italy was ridiculous! (We had the intention for being in the park and going to dinner from inside but the heat was too much to walk around during the day.)

I would have taken the bus direct to EPCOT then done the monorail route back. That way you wouldn't have needed so much time to get to dinner, I'd just rather take a leasurely way back to WL

 

[wannabeBelle]

Cabs are readily available. Anytime I have been at a Moderate or a Deluxe, I just got to the Bell Services area and they have called a cab for me and it was there in a matter of minutes. Anything mroe than one or two rides though, I would probably look into renting a car for the week. I do that when I need to be in a lot of off beat locations as well as offsite for different things. Marie

 

[Obi]

Wilderness Lodge has always been the best resort for us with upgrades. Many, many times with upgrade to pool view when paying for standard or woods. WHen it is just my husband and myself traveling without the adult kids, we have been double upgraded to pool and king view. Don't know why, it happens at all times of the year.

did you ask for the complimentary upgrade or was it just given to you?

i wouldn't mind an upgrade from the 1 bedroom villa to the 2 bedroom villa at ssr when i go there in a couple of weeks.