Where to stay at Wilderness Lodge??

[KCheatle]

Hello!!! My family and I are traveling to Disney World in May, 2012. We are staying at the Wilderness Lodge. I've never stayed there before and am really unfamiliar with the grounds. I've stayed at moderates and values before where you can request a certain building or part of the hotel to stay in - can you do the same at the Wilderness? If you can, is there a better section to stay in than others?

Thanks!!!

 

[captainkidd]

There are no "sections" at the Lodge, only different views. If you pay for a Woods View, there is a chance you might see the top of the castle and some of the fireworks. A standard view will get you a view of trees or the parking lot. Courtyard will get you a view of the pool area.

 

[disney magic 06]

There are no seperate buildings apart from the Villas. It is a comparatively small and compact resort all under one roof so no room is too far away from anywhere.

We did request a high floor room last year, but were given a 1st floor room and it was fine so no complaints.

 

[DisneyJoe]

Hello!!! My family and I are traveling to Disney World in May, 2012. We are staying at the Wilderness Lodge. I've never stayed there before and am really unfamiliar with the grounds. I've stayed at moderates and values before where you can request a certain building or part of the hotel to stay in - can you do the same at the Wilderness? If you can, is there a better section to stay in than others?

Thanks!!!

What room type did you book?

 

[durangojim]

We prefer the woods view the best as we don't like to be over the courtyard since it can be noisy (unless you get a courtyard view facing the villas). Also with the woods view you have a good chance of seeing the castle and fireworks like capt mentioned and you might get a room at the end of one of the wings that overlooks bay lake. I'd avoid a standard view room as you will see the parking lot or service entrance, which can smell and is not a pleasant view at all.

 

[KCheatle]

What room type did you book?

I believe it was just a standard room. I don't think I booked a "woods view" or "courtyard view" - is it worth the upgrade?

 

[DisneyJoe]

I believe it was just a standard room. I don't think I booked a "woods view" or "courtyard view" - is it worth the upgrade?

IMHO, woods view is worth it over standard.

 

[bethram]

We recently booked Wilderness Lodge for June, with a woods view. I've heard that you don't want to overlook the lobby because the Whispering Canyon Cafe can be rather loud well into the evening, which is part of the reason I went for the woods view. That said, I've haven't been there yet so I'm only repeating what I've read in books.

 

[Skibum1970]

My wife and I had a "woods view" room last March and were on the 5th floor. We could see the fireworks over the treetops and had a very peaceful stay. Plus, we could get to Roaring Forks or Whispering Canyon in just a couple minutes. Walking past the lobby in the later evening (10:00 and a little later), the lobby was a little noisy. Obviously, it has a lot of echoes. So, I would definitely say that the "woods view" is worth the extra.

 

[Rob562]

We recently booked Wilderness Lodge for June, with a woods view. I've heard that you don't want to overlook the lobby because the Whispering Canyon Cafe can be rather loud well into the evening, which is part of the reason I went for the woods view. That said, I've haven't been there yet so I'm only repeating what I've read in books.

There are some Standard view rooms that do not open into the Lobby. They're down around the corner but overlook the service area outside and one level below Whispering Canyon.

There are also a couple Courtyard view rooms with doors that face the lobby, the ones along the back wall of the lobby, on either side of the two outside balconies. (These are referred to as the "Bear Face" rooms)

-Rob

 

[sweetpee_1993]

We stayed in a woods view/bunk bed room in the Wilderness Lodge in September. I thought our room location was killer. We were literally right around the corner from the guest laundry, Roaring Fork, and the lobby. Walking out to the pool was extremely short. Going out to catch the boat to the MK was just down the hall. The back door to the building is right by the little foot bridge walkway to the dock. We didn't feel like we were in the middle of all the important stuff, either. Just look at the view from our patio. We were on the first floor. No waiting for elevators!

I *may* still have a map of the resort in all my travel junk I saved. I'll look tomorrow if I get a minute. If I find it I'll scan it in for ya.

:wave:

 

[mickeysshoes]

We have stayed at the WL several times and have loved each room we have had except for the room in the wing that we had to walk down past the roaring fork. We would rather be in the wing right off the main lobby. The best room we had was the room above the check in desk looking out over the lobby. We were not bothered by the noise of the lobby or WCC. Now you will find that each person here will have a different choice in room type or location. I do agree that a bump up to woods is well worth the extra cost. But I what I suggest you do is leave it alone and see what you get and make a personal choice once your there. Then if you stay there again you will know better what you should book for you. The WL is a great resort and you will be happy in any room. Good luck and enjoy!!!

 

[tigsmom]

We've stayed at the WL over 10 times and at each grade of room. Standard was on the 4th floor overlooking the parking lot... not bad if all you do is sleep there. Woods view is a favorite...we stay on the 6th floor in the 6020-6032 hallway (with 6030 or 6032 the best for us); it's right by an elevator (that leads down to the bottom of the ramp by the Roarin' Forks and laundry), but still quiet. You overlook the bog (as pictured above) and the MK. At first you could watch the castle all night and see the fireworks and then the trees grew and blocked that. Those big storms a few years back topped trees, but I'm not sure what you can see now. When we stay Courtyard it's overlooking the Villas and quiet pools (can't remember the room numbers, but we get the same room each time).

 

[KCheatle]

Thanks for all of the help!! I'm so excited to stay there as I've heard so many wonderful comments about it. We are definitely the kind of family that has only used our room for sleeping in the past. The reason we upgraded this year to a deluxe was because we are taking my 2 year old son and 6 yo daughter and the bus system was hectic enough with one kid, let alone a toddler and a 6 yo. I know we can't avoid it entirely, but we spend a lot of time at the MK and the boat looked like a great option for us. Plus, the size of the hotel is a lot less intimidating (i.e., need midnight snacks for kids - just walk down the hall as opposed to walking a 1/4 mile to the cafeteria).

Anyway, my point is that this year with the 2yo, we may actually be in the room a lot more with napping and early bed times, so I'm glad you mentioned the possibility of watching the fireworks from some of the rooms. Maybe when we do the early check in I'll let them know that this is something we'd be interested in since we've got the little guy and may not be able to stay in the parks late enough to watch the fireworks there.

Thanks for all of the advice, and if anyone has a map, I'd love to look at it!!

 

[bgraham34]

Before I was a DVC member I always booked woods view and got upgraded to courtyard. But I actually prefer the Woods view because its quieter.

 

[polymissy]

Wilderness Lodge is such a beautiful resort! I have stayed there in Standard, Woods, and 2 different Courtyard views, all times with small children.

The standard room was directly over the lobby. It was a fun location, but was a little loud during the evening since it was over Whispering Canyon Cafe. The dumpster was also outside and the early morning trash pick up woke us daily around 6am. If you sleep solid, it can be a great option, if not, you may want to reconsider.

The woods view room we had was much quieter. We had no issues with noise, or anything else.

The courtyard view, overlooking the pool area was loud during the afternoon when the pool party was going on. It kept my littlest one from being able to nap. Plus, I can only take so much "Hot,Hot,Hot". Haha.

The next time we stayed, I booked woods view again, but received an "upgrade" to courtyard. I waited 45 minutes to try to be accommodated with my "downgrade" to the room type I had booked, but they were unable to make the change. They did, however, change us from the center courtyard, to the courtyard overlooking the pool at the Villas. It was much quieter than the big courtyard, and we did not have an issue there.

The actual rooms themselves are no different, unless you are requesting the bunk bed or king bed rooms. If you are not concerned with napping, or getting to bed early(before 10pm (as that is how late the restaurant was loud), I think you'll have a great room, no matter what the view!

Enjoy!

 

[Tinkwings]

Our first time was in lobby just over the check in desk....view of baggage area...it was very noisy, both from Whispering Canyon rowdieness and peeps above us happened to be banging around til late.

Next year I sprang for the club level so noone would be above me and asked for a quiet room and got one. Have gotten decent discounts etc....but do call with room request each year days before to ensure my selection because I was told that is when they assign them. That being said, if I were on another floor? I would ask for courtyard view, especially aiming for waterfall courtyard area....once when we were all sick that waterfall was so soothing...never bothered by occassional earlier pool parties....but also was told courtyard view includes the out facing area towards the villas as possiblilities! I would not want to be towards end by boat whistles....personally....:lookaroun

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Okay. The little mappy thing they gave us at check-in is tiny. Kinda a waste of time, really. Here's what I can tell ya from this map. The room we were in was in the "wing" that's at the top of the picture. It was a north side woods view that overlooked the "otter pond" or so it's called. We didn't see any otters. Anywhoo, you can sorta see the pond just above where the building is. Also, if you look to the right side off the end of that "wing" you'll see the boat dock. See how close? It was super convenient and even pretty to walk to. The bus depots were on the opposite side of the lobby but it wasn't an unpleasant or overly long walk over there. Anywhoo, all the rooms that look out to the woods on that wing are numbered *004-*034, even numbers. The first digit will correspond with the floor you want: 1-6. Thus, our room being on the first floor we had a room number of 1020. If you wanted a 6th floor on that wing overlooking the pond/woods you'd request an even room number 6004-6034. Does that make sense?

I can try to do more reading if there's some other location you think you might want in the resort. I wish I could find a decent map that gave the room locations by number. That'd make life easier, huh? LOL! I did find one but it's so small and fuzzy you can't make out any of the room numbers. Frustrating!

 

[KCheatle]

Okay. The little mappy thing they gave us at check-in is tiny. Kinda a waste of time, really. Here's what I can tell ya from this map. The room we were in was in the "wing" that's at the top of the picture. It was a north side woods view that overlooked the "otter pond" or so it's called. We didn't see any otters. Anywhoo, you can sorta see the pond just above where the building is. Also, if you look to the right side off the end of that "wing" you'll see the boat dock. See how close? It was super convenient and even pretty to walk to. The bus depots were on the opposite side of the lobby but it wasn't an unpleasant or overly long walk over there. Anywhoo, all the rooms that look out to the woods on that wing are numbered *004-*034, even numbers. The first digit will correspond with the floor you want: 1-6. Thus, our room being on the first floor we had a room number of 1020. If you wanted a 6th floor on that wing overlooking the pond/woods you'd request an even room number 6004-6034. Does that make sense?

I can try to do more reading if there's some other location you think you might want in the resort. I wish I could find a decent map that gave the room locations by number. That'd make life easier, huh? LOL! I did find one but it's so small and fuzzy you can't make out any of the room numbers. Frustrating!

WOW!! Thanks Sweetpee! This is great information! I really love how close it is to the boat dock as we intend to use that boat quite a bit. We are even considering taking the boat to MK or Contemp to take the mono to Epcot just to avoid the bus system. It would be great to be that close to the dock.

Okay, I think I'm going to give in and request and upgrade to a woods view on that side. That would really be nice.

I really appreciate all the feedback! I'm so excited to go and this has absolutely added to my excitement!!!!:sohappy:

 

[AttyTBM]

Hi Everyone,
We have a reservation for a woods room in April. Should we make any special room requests? Like a high floor, close to elevator or close to transportation?
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!