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Tips on the Wilderness Lodge anyone?
- Thread starter magicwand
- Start date
stillgoofy
Well-Known Member
The "flag family" gets to go up to the roof of Wilderness Lodge in the morning and raise the flags for the day. It is a small ceremony for just your family and you can get tons of pictures up there. You can check at the front desk when you check-in to see if any days are available for your vacation. I was always told you have to ask at check-in but when we went in December, they said we could have called ahead to try to book it so I'm not sure about that. We still haven't done it yet, but we did get invited up to the roof for a private fireworks viewing for just my daughter and I. It was very cool.
Check out this page for more info: http://allears.net/acc/faq_wl10.htm
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Ransom
Well-Known Member
The Wilderness Lodge is awesome. 
If you're not able to fit the tour into your schedule, at least take time to walk around. Look at the artwork and Native American artifacts in the Lodge. Go upstairs to the hallways that face the lobby -- there's more up there (plus some really nice reading nooks).
Follow the stream from its source in the lobby to where it joins the lake. Watch the geyser. Listen to the boats whistle as they come and go.
Go to the Villas building and check out the lobby and adjacent Iron Spike room (where there are some nice pictures of Walt Disney as well as a few cars from his backyard train set).
If you're feeling adventuresome, rent some boats at Grand Teton and tour Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon. Or rent bikes there and go over to Fort Wilderness (you can get there by boat as well). If you schedule a meal at Trail's End, you won't be disappointed. It's a hidden gem of good, down-home food and the Fort Wilderness Settlement is fun to walk around and explore.
You can head the other way to the Contemporary (your other neighbor), where you can explore the Grand Canyon Concourse and have a meal at the Wave -- a really nice sit-down restaurant that offers some creative dishes at a reasonable (for WDW) price. Then hop on the monorail and tour the other resorts on the line. Get off at the Poly, walk through to the TTC, and get a ride to Epcot for that wonderful view you get when going 'round the circle.
Come back to the TTC, get on the ferry, and head over to MK just for the fun of it. Then get a boat back to the Lodge, where you may want to have a meal at Whispering Canyon (if you're in the mood for a rambunctious atmosphere) or Artist Point (if you're more into a quiet meal). But before you have that meal, send the kids to Buttons and Bells while you grab a drink at the Territory Lounge. Don't forget to look up while you're there!
After dinner, go out to the beach and watch the Electric Water Pageant and Wishes -- always a great end to a day at the resort. On your way back, look back at the Lodge from near the geyser -- notice anything? It's bear-ly possible you may see something in the design of the lodge.
If you're not able to fit the tour into your schedule, at least take time to walk around. Look at the artwork and Native American artifacts in the Lodge. Go upstairs to the hallways that face the lobby -- there's more up there (plus some really nice reading nooks).
Follow the stream from its source in the lobby to where it joins the lake. Watch the geyser. Listen to the boats whistle as they come and go.
Go to the Villas building and check out the lobby and adjacent Iron Spike room (where there are some nice pictures of Walt Disney as well as a few cars from his backyard train set).
If you're feeling adventuresome, rent some boats at Grand Teton and tour Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon. Or rent bikes there and go over to Fort Wilderness (you can get there by boat as well). If you schedule a meal at Trail's End, you won't be disappointed. It's a hidden gem of good, down-home food and the Fort Wilderness Settlement is fun to walk around and explore.
You can head the other way to the Contemporary (your other neighbor), where you can explore the Grand Canyon Concourse and have a meal at the Wave -- a really nice sit-down restaurant that offers some creative dishes at a reasonable (for WDW) price. Then hop on the monorail and tour the other resorts on the line. Get off at the Poly, walk through to the TTC, and get a ride to Epcot for that wonderful view you get when going 'round the circle.
Come back to the TTC, get on the ferry, and head over to MK just for the fun of it. Then get a boat back to the Lodge, where you may want to have a meal at Whispering Canyon (if you're in the mood for a rambunctious atmosphere) or Artist Point (if you're more into a quiet meal). But before you have that meal, send the kids to Buttons and Bells while you grab a drink at the Territory Lounge. Don't forget to look up while you're there!
After dinner, go out to the beach and watch the Electric Water Pageant and Wishes -- always a great end to a day at the resort. On your way back, look back at the Lodge from near the geyser -- notice anything? It's bear-ly possible you may see something in the design of the lodge.
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WereMagicLives
Member
seriously is one of the nicer hotels in my opinion the launches are very efficient and the wave runner boats are so amazing anywhere you goo
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kangaand2roos
Member
We were lucky and got the 6th floor facing towards the MK and we got to see the fireworks every night, very slightly obstructed but it was great the kids could see them and we didn't have to fight the crowds. Very nice hotel, not my favorite but you'll enjoy it alot.
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I-4Warrior
New Member
Seriously, make sure your room isn't overlooking the lobby, facing Whispering Canyon. It can make for a really horrible/early/loud way to start your day. Nice place, but due to this experience, it's my least favorite Deluxe stay.
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boilerpicc
Well-Known Member
My family got to be the flag family one year when we stayed at the Wilderness Lodge. It does book up quickly... the only day open was the day we were leaving. You have to get up pretty early to do it, but it is worth it. A cast member takes you up onto the roof in the front of the hotel where you get to raise (if I remember right) the American flag, State of Florida flag, Disney flag (?), and two Wilderness Lodge flags. While we were up there, the cast member gave us a mini-tour and was pointing out all kinds of interesting things you could see from that height. It was a neat experience, and I recommend calling ahead if that is what it takes.
Wilderness Lodge is my favorite resort. There are tons of neat nooks and crannies to explore, and the Hidden Mickey Scavenger Hunt helps you to find some of them. Also, if you have kids that don't like to sleep in the same bed, they have rooms with bunk beds there.
Wilderness Lodge is my favorite resort. There are tons of neat nooks and crannies to explore, and the Hidden Mickey Scavenger Hunt helps you to find some of them. Also, if you have kids that don't like to sleep in the same bed, they have rooms with bunk beds there.
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disneygirl76
Carey Poppins - Nanny and Disney Enthusiest
We loved staying here! We stayed for my birthday several years ago. We like the We did ask for our room to be changed - I think b/c we had originally asked for a higher floor, as we don't care for 1st floor rooms, and for some reason (they were sold out perhaps) they didn't have one. My DH handled check in and it was several years ago so I don't remember exactly. But the next day when we switched rooms, they were very helpful and accommodating. The only restaurant we didn't care for was the atmosphere of Whispering Canyon. We ate there on a whim and didn't get the joke until after we were seated. We were there for bfast and it was good food but it was wild! And i'm totally fine with loud and fun dining experiences but it was kind of annoying. The pool is beautiful too!!!!
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I was always told you have to ask at check-in but when we went in December, they said we could have called ahead to try to book it so I'm not sure about that
Yes, and what number would you call??
Yes, and what number would you call??
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disneylemons
Active Member
We love the WL - one of our last trips we were coming in late on the boat and the driver swung out to show us the "Bear Face" of the lodge - it was cool! I think the atmosphere there is so relaxing - and Whispering Canyon is tons of fun! My SIL tried to ruin the fun last year by getting her own ketchup...not wise.. just added to the crazyness...joke was on her for being a spoil sport!
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kangaand2roos
Member
WE had a bunkbed room facing the MK on the 6th floor. I think they are sprinkled throughout the hotel.
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SallyShine
New Member
I love this hotel! It is my favorite, by far. It's been a few years since I've been there and I have a question. Can you use the quick service dining credits at Roaring Fork?
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