JUST GOT BACK - DVC RESORT REPORT - WILDERNESS LODGE

M

MOMIELKIDS

Member
Original Poster
Just got back from a week in WDW with a 2 bedroom at Wilderness Lodge DVC. We needed a cot and the DVC sales guy got it from us after the Lodge people refused to get us one. We needed to change rooms when the grandkids came in and we HAD TO MOVE THE COT OURSELVES!!!! Other than that, the Lodge, as usual, was a great place to stay. Masks were enforced throughout the resort, thank goodness. Food as usual, at the Coral Seas and Liberty Tavern, was expensive and tasteless. The Grills at the hotels continue to have the best food and best value, but DVC and AP discounts don't work there, but that's okay. It's just about the only good food in the whole system (Topolino's at the Riviera is an exception - it is outstanding!). Inside the parks you get a feeling of a failing trend. Bathrooms were not as clean and well supplied as usual. Many of the food locations were closed, which is to be expected. The rides are not as in good repair as in the past. A lot of bare wood and cracks now showing and overloaded trash cans, like in Disneyland Paris. Not for the first time, I felt being taken advantage of as a customer. Used to be you felt no matter what you paid, you felt satisfied. Not anymore. Headcoverings and ears $32????? I own 2 DVC properties, and am an AP member for both WDW and Disneyland (no more, apparently for D-Land) and am questioning my renewal. The feeling of being "ripped off" at every turn is becoming pervasive. I can't get away taking some of the grandkids for under $4000 (not including my DVC room where the points for a family are getting ridiculous!!!). Was looking into the 3 bedrooms at any resort and the cabins at W-Lodge and the points for what you get are ridiculous. You are charged for EVERYTHING!!!! Now there is talk about closing down Peter Pan??? That would do it for me...Sell DVC and forget the APs. Disrespect for the people who spend the most - grandparents - seems to be the order of the day. Everything is about the dollars now, it seems. The "extras" that you always felt were there are just about all gone now. They don't seem to realize that respect and those "extras" (i.e. the Gallery above the Pirates of the Caribbean in D--land, etc. and so many other "hideaways" now gone) encourage us to come back again and again, especially as our families grow. With 7 grandkids, I want to keep coming back, but those "little things" are driving us away. It's a shame, because there is still so much "good" about the parks, but it seems like they're slowly chipping away at them and the value, which has never been great, is becoming even less so. The kids enjoy Universal so much more, where the "little extras" , both in Florida and California, are still there...To show the relationship I have with Disney...when I was going into the army, my fiance asked me where she could take me on a vacation - anyplace I wanted. It was October 1971. I told her the new DisneyWorld, and so we went there the first month it was opened and other than those few years where I was "otherwise involved" with the army, we have been there every year since, and with the DVC properties for the last 6 years, sometimes 2 to 3 times a year. My youngest son, who has 3 DVC properties was MARRIED at the Grand Floridian chapel! So, we are a Disney family and hope to continue, but I don't know. They're making it tougher and tougher....this is also the third time we've been there since the pandemic and we had a Disney Cruise cancelled, so we're serious Disney people, but it needs to open its eyes to the most loyal people...'nuff said...
 
M

MOMIELKIDS

Member
Original Poster
Needless to say, we had no luck trying to get on "Rise of the Resistance" for 2 days. Tried to get on at 6:59 am and 12:59 and at 7:01 and 1:01 and all four times within a minute, we were told all queues were filled. It was a big disappointment for my 4 grandkids down from New Jersey. Unfortunately for them, this was a once every 5 years trip for them...I'm sure in 5 years people will be so disgusted that "Rise..." will be gone...
 
Naplesgolfer

Naplesgolfer

Well-Known Member
MOMIELKIDS said:
Just got back from a week in WDW with a 2 bedroom at Wilderness Lodge DVC. We needed a cot and the DVC sales guy got it from us after the Lodge people refused to get us one. We needed to change rooms when the grandkids came in and we HAD TO MOVE THE COT OURSELVES!!!! Other than that, the Lodge, as usual, was a great place to stay. Masks were enforced throughout the resort, thank goodness. Food as usual, at the Coral Seas and Liberty Tavern, was expensive and tasteless. The Grills at the hotels continue to have the best food and best value, but DVC and AP discounts don't work there, but that's okay. It's just about the only good food in the whole system (Topolino's at the Riviera is an exception - it is outstanding!). Inside the parks you get a feeling of a failing trend. Bathrooms were not as clean and well supplied as usual. Many of the food locations were closed, which is to be expected. The rides are not as in good repair as in the past. A lot of bare wood and cracks now showing and overloaded trash cans, like in Disneyland Paris. Not for the first time, I felt being taken advantage of as a customer. Used to be you felt no matter what you paid, you felt satisfied. Not anymore. Headcoverings and ears $32????? I own 2 DVC properties, and am an AP member for both WDW and Disneyland (no more, apparently for D-Land) and am questioning my renewal. The feeling of being "ripped off" at every turn is becoming pervasive. I can't get away taking some of the grandkids for under $4000 (not including my DVC room where the points for a family are getting ridiculous!!!). Was looking into the 3 bedrooms at any resort and the cabins at W-Lodge and the points for what you get are ridiculous. You are charged for EVERYTHING!!!! Now there is talk about closing down Peter Pan??? That would do it for me...Sell DVC and forget the APs. Disrespect for the people who spend the most - grandparents - seems to be the order of the day. Everything is about the dollars now, it seems. The "extras" that you always felt were there are just about all gone now. They don't seem to realize that respect and those "extras" (i.e. the Gallery above the Pirates of the Caribbean in D--land, etc. and so many other "hideaways" now gone) encourage us to come back again and again, especially as our families grow. With 7 grandkids, I want to keep coming back, but those "little things" are driving us away. It's a shame, because there is still so much "good" about the parks, but it seems like they're slowly chipping away at them and the value, which has never been great, is becoming even less so. The kids enjoy Universal so much more, where the "little extras" , both in Florida and California, are still there...To show the relationship I have with Disney...when I was going into the army, my fiance asked me where she could take me on a vacation - anyplace I wanted. It was October 1971. I told her the new DisneyWorld, and so we went there the first month it was opened and other than those few years where I was "otherwise involved" with the army, we have been there every year since, and with the DVC properties for the last 6 years, sometimes 2 to 3 times a year. My youngest son, who has 3 DVC properties was MARRIED at the Grand Floridian chapel! So, we are a Disney family and hope to continue, but I don't know. They're making it tougher and tougher....this is also the third time we've been there since the pandemic and we had a Disney Cruise cancelled, so we're serious Disney people, but it needs to open its eyes to the most loyal people...'nuff said...
Click to expand...
I agree with most of your points wholeheartedly. I still like the Wave, Cali grill and few of the third party restaurants in the springs as well. I would add the lack of interesting and varied merchandise in the stores and cutting of street/small entertainment .( this was happening pre-covid). For Disney to be worth the 4 season's cost of on property deluxe lodging, park tickets and table service food, they need all the layers that existed in late 1990's. Better food, street entertainment, shows, more interesting shops with something worth buying. They also need to return to top class maintenance of the hotels and all aspects of the parks. If Disney delivered on all these area's they could charge more for park tickets and people would still flock to the parks and they wouldn't have to discount the hotels and offer free dining or any other deals.
 
Club Cooloholic

Club Cooloholic

Well-Known Member
MOMIELKIDS said:
Just got back from a week in WDW with a 2 bedroom at Wilderness Lodge DVC. We needed a cot and the DVC sales guy got it from us after the Lodge people refused to get us one. We needed to change rooms when the grandkids came in and we HAD TO MOVE THE COT OURSELVES!!!! Other than that, the Lodge, as usual, was a great place to stay. Masks were enforced throughout the resort, thank goodness. Food as usual, at the Coral Seas and Liberty Tavern, was expensive and tasteless. The Grills at the hotels continue to have the best food and best value, but DVC and AP discounts don't work there, but that's okay. It's just about the only good food in the whole system (Topolino's at the Riviera is an exception - it is outstanding!). Inside the parks you get a feeling of a failing trend. Bathrooms were not as clean and well supplied as usual. Many of the food locations were closed, which is to be expected. The rides are not as in good repair as in the past. A lot of bare wood and cracks now showing and overloaded trash cans, like in Disneyland Paris. Not for the first time, I felt being taken advantage of as a customer. Used to be you felt no matter what you paid, you felt satisfied. Not anymore. Headcoverings and ears $32????? I own 2 DVC properties, and am an AP member for both WDW and Disneyland (no more, apparently for D-Land) and am questioning my renewal. The feeling of being "ripped off" at every turn is becoming pervasive. I can't get away taking some of the grandkids for under $4000 (not including my DVC room where the points for a family are getting ridiculous!!!). Was looking into the 3 bedrooms at any resort and the cabins at W-Lodge and the points for what you get are ridiculous. You are charged for EVERYTHING!!!! Now there is talk about closing down Peter Pan??? That would do it for me...Sell DVC and forget the APs. Disrespect for the people who spend the most - grandparents - seems to be the order of the day. Everything is about the dollars now, it seems. The "extras" that you always felt were there are just about all gone now. They don't seem to realize that respect and those "extras" (i.e. the Gallery above the Pirates of the Caribbean in D--land, etc. and so many other "hideaways" now gone) encourage us to come back again and again, especially as our families grow. With 7 grandkids, I want to keep coming back, but those "little things" are driving us away. It's a shame, because there is still so much "good" about the parks, but it seems like they're slowly chipping away at them and the value, which has never been great, is becoming even less so. The kids enjoy Universal so much more, where the "little extras" , both in Florida and California, are still there...To show the relationship I have with Disney...when I was going into the army, my fiance asked me where she could take me on a vacation - anyplace I wanted. It was October 1971. I told her the new DisneyWorld, and so we went there the first month it was opened and other than those few years where I was "otherwise involved" with the army, we have been there every year since, and with the DVC properties for the last 6 years, sometimes 2 to 3 times a year. My youngest son, who has 3 DVC properties was MARRIED at the Grand Floridian chapel! So, we are a Disney family and hope to continue, but I don't know. They're making it tougher and tougher....this is also the third time we've been there since the pandemic and we had a Disney Cruise cancelled, so we're serious Disney people, but it needs to open its eyes to the most loyal people...'nuff said...
Click to expand...
There is a lot to digest here, but I guess I will just address the "food as usual" was "expensive and tasteless" comment on Coral and Liberty Tree Tavern. If you have had food there enough times that you now expect bad food, why would you continue to go there? I mean there are other options and if you think all sit downs at the parks are bad, then you might as well have tasteless food from a quick service and save a few bucks.
 
S

Scott B

New Member
I feel the same way. My family has been going to WDW for thirty years. It used to be that the cast members would speak to you and say "Have a magical day" at the end. Last time we were there, Christmas 2019, I saw none of that. My family thinks the food is very good at most places but you pay as well. But it is the little things that Disney is cutting out. Limited beads at the French Quarter. Limiting shampoo and soaps in hotel rooms (I can partially understand this because of theft) but when you pay what you pay for the hotels... Also, we are from NJ and fly to get to WDW. We always thought the Magical express was just the greatest. Use the special luggage tags and your bags are delivered to your room. No work for you. Made you feel like you were on vacation before you even got there. NO MORE!! Same with Magic bands. If you want to use one, now you have to pay or get your cell phone out of your pocket every time you do something. I do not want to do that. Same with paying for parking at the hotels. How much maintenance could they really be doing on parking lots in FLA? Not patching potholes (I grew up in Pittsburgh). It just seems like things are not as "magical" as they used to be.
 
CaptainAmerica

CaptainAmerica

Premium Member
MOMIELKIDS said:
Just got back from a week in WDW with a 2 bedroom at Wilderness Lodge DVC. We needed a cot and the DVC sales guy got it from us after the Lodge people refused to get us one. We needed to change rooms when the grandkids came in and we HAD TO MOVE THE COT OURSELVES!!!! Other than that, the Lodge, as usual, was a great place to stay. Masks were enforced throughout the resort, thank goodness. Food as usual, at the Coral Seas and Liberty Tavern, was expensive and tasteless. The Grills at the hotels continue to have the best food and best value, but DVC and AP discounts don't work there, but that's okay. It's just about the only good food in the whole system (Topolino's at the Riviera is an exception - it is outstanding!). Inside the parks you get a feeling of a failing trend. Bathrooms were not as clean and well supplied as usual. Many of the food locations were closed, which is to be expected. The rides are not as in good repair as in the past. A lot of bare wood and cracks now showing and overloaded trash cans, like in Disneyland Paris. Not for the first time, I felt being taken advantage of as a customer. Used to be you felt no matter what you paid, you felt satisfied. Not anymore. Headcoverings and ears $32????? I own 2 DVC properties, and am an AP member for both WDW and Disneyland (no more, apparently for D-Land) and am questioning my renewal. The feeling of being "ripped off" at every turn is becoming pervasive. I can't get away taking some of the grandkids for under $4000 (not including my DVC room where the points for a family are getting ridiculous!!!). Was looking into the 3 bedrooms at any resort and the cabins at W-Lodge and the points for what you get are ridiculous. You are charged for EVERYTHING!!!! Now there is talk about closing down Peter Pan??? That would do it for me...Sell DVC and forget the APs. Disrespect for the people who spend the most - grandparents - seems to be the order of the day. Everything is about the dollars now, it seems. The "extras" that you always felt were there are just about all gone now. They don't seem to realize that respect and those "extras" (i.e. the Gallery above the Pirates of the Caribbean in D--land, etc. and so many other "hideaways" now gone) encourage us to come back again and again, especially as our families grow. With 7 grandkids, I want to keep coming back, but those "little things" are driving us away. It's a shame, because there is still so much "good" about the parks, but it seems like they're slowly chipping away at them and the value, which has never been great, is becoming even less so. The kids enjoy Universal so much more, where the "little extras" , both in Florida and California, are still there...To show the relationship I have with Disney...when I was going into the army, my fiance asked me where she could take me on a vacation - anyplace I wanted. It was October 1971. I told her the new DisneyWorld, and so we went there the first month it was opened and other than those few years where I was "otherwise involved" with the army, we have been there every year since, and with the DVC properties for the last 6 years, sometimes 2 to 3 times a year. My youngest son, who has 3 DVC properties was MARRIED at the Grand Floridian chapel! So, we are a Disney family and hope to continue, but I don't know. They're making it tougher and tougher....this is also the third time we've been there since the pandemic and we had a Disney Cruise cancelled, so we're serious Disney people, but it needs to open its eyes to the most loyal people...'nuff said...
Click to expand...

Scott B said:
I feel the same way. My family has been going to WDW for thirty years. It used to be that the cast members would speak to you and say "Have a magical day" at the end. Last time we were there, Christmas 2019, I saw none of that. My family thinks the food is very good at most places but you pay as well. But it is the little things that Disney is cutting out. Limited beads at the French Quarter. Limiting shampoo and soaps in hotel rooms (I can partially understand this because of theft) but when you pay what you pay for the hotels... Also, we are from NJ and fly to get to WDW. We always thought the Magical express was just the greatest. Use the special luggage tags and your bags are delivered to your room. No work for you. Made you feel like you were on vacation before you even got there. NO MORE!! Same with Magic bands. If you want to use one, now you have to pay or get your cell phone out of your pocket every time you do something. I do not want to do that. Same with paying for parking at the hotels. How much maintenance could they really be doing on parking lots in FLA? Not patching potholes (I grew up in Pittsburgh). It just seems like things are not as "magical" as they used to be.
Click to expand...
Obvious trolls are obvious.
 
Sirwalterraleigh

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
MOMIELKIDS said:
Just got back from a week in WDW with a 2 bedroom at Wilderness Lodge DVC. We needed a cot and the DVC sales guy got it from us after the Lodge people refused to get us one. We needed to change rooms when the grandkids came in and we HAD TO MOVE THE COT OURSELVES!!!! Other than that, the Lodge, as usual, was a great place to stay. Masks were enforced throughout the resort, thank goodness. Food as usual, at the Coral Seas and Liberty Tavern, was expensive and tasteless. The Grills at the hotels continue to have the best food and best value, but DVC and AP discounts don't work there, but that's okay. It's just about the only good food in the whole system (Topolino's at the Riviera is an exception - it is outstanding!). Inside the parks you get a feeling of a failing trend. Bathrooms were not as clean and well supplied as usual. Many of the food locations were closed, which is to be expected. The rides are not as in good repair as in the past. A lot of bare wood and cracks now showing and overloaded trash cans, like in Disneyland Paris. Not for the first time, I felt being taken advantage of as a customer. Used to be you felt no matter what you paid, you felt satisfied. Not anymore. Headcoverings and ears $32????? I own 2 DVC properties, and am an AP member for both WDW and Disneyland (no more, apparently for D-Land) and am questioning my renewal. The feeling of being "ripped off" at every turn is becoming pervasive. I can't get away taking some of the grandkids for under $4000 (not including my DVC room where the points for a family are getting ridiculous!!!). Was looking into the 3 bedrooms at any resort and the cabins at W-Lodge and the points for what you get are ridiculous. You are charged for EVERYTHING!!!! Now there is talk about closing down Peter Pan??? That would do it for me...Sell DVC and forget the APs. Disrespect for the people who spend the most - grandparents - seems to be the order of the day. Everything is about the dollars now, it seems. The "extras" that you always felt were there are just about all gone now. They don't seem to realize that respect and those "extras" (i.e. the Gallery above the Pirates of the Caribbean in D--land, etc. and so many other "hideaways" now gone) encourage us to come back again and again, especially as our families grow. With 7 grandkids, I want to keep coming back, but those "little things" are driving us away. It's a shame, because there is still so much "good" about the parks, but it seems like they're slowly chipping away at them and the value, which has never been great, is becoming even less so. The kids enjoy Universal so much more, where the "little extras" , both in Florida and California, are still there...To show the relationship I have with Disney...when I was going into the army, my fiance asked me where she could take me on a vacation - anyplace I wanted. It was October 1971. I told her the new DisneyWorld, and so we went there the first month it was opened and other than those few years where I was "otherwise involved" with the army, we have been there every year since, and with the DVC properties for the last 6 years, sometimes 2 to 3 times a year. My youngest son, who has 3 DVC properties was MARRIED at the Grand Floridian chapel! So, we are a Disney family and hope to continue, but I don't know. They're making it tougher and tougher....this is also the third time we've been there since the pandemic and we had a Disney Cruise cancelled, so we're serious Disney people, but it needs to open its eyes to the most loyal people...'nuff said...
Click to expand...

MOMIELKIDS said:
Needless to say, we had no luck trying to get on "Rise of the Resistance" for 2 days. Tried to get on at 6:59 am and 12:59 and at 7:01 and 1:01 and all four times within a minute, we were told all queues were filled. It was a big disappointment for my 4 grandkids down from New Jersey. Unfortunately for them, this was a once every 5 years trip for them...I'm sure in 5 years people will be so disgusted that "Rise..." will be gone...
Click to expand...

I gotta ask an honest question: what did you think it was gonna be like?!?

They’ve been practically begging you to stay away for over a year. Especially DVC.

Naplesgolfer said:
I agree with most of your points wholeheartedly. I still like the Wave, Cali grill and few of the third party restaurants in the springs as well. I would add the lack of interesting and varied merchandise in the stores and cutting of street/small entertainment .( this was happening pre-covid). For Disney to be worth the 4 season's cost of on property deluxe lodging, park tickets and table service food, they need all the layers that existed in late 1990's. Better food, street entertainment, shows, more interesting shops with something worth buying. They also need to return to top class maintenance of the hotels and all aspects of the parks. If Disney delivered on all these area's they could charge more for park tickets and people would still flock to the parks and they wouldn't have to discount the hotels and offer free dining or any other deals.
Click to expand...

But this has been going on for 10 years and no one has made any attempt to stop it...

Two years ago higher prices were celebrated and every “experience” was worth what the abducter demanded...

Member? Boy I sure do...guess covid hasn’t taken my memory (yet). 🤔
 

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