Wilderness Lodge 4th and 5th floor question

[Flower'sChild]

I called Wilderness Lodge and they are going to try to put my on the 4th or 5th floor as I believe these are the ones that you can see the lobby from the floor and also you can sit down outside while you look at the lobby. I have a standard room and from what I heard there are no standard rooms on floor 6. So can you see the lobby from the 4th and 5th floor and are there places to sit down on the 4th and 5th floor outside while you look at the lobby?

 

[HouCuseChickie]

OK- hoping I understand the question correctly. We stayed in a standard room on the 5th floor last month. The door to our room faced the lobby. There was also a place around the corner from our room- also facing the lobby - that had seating/viewing outside (at least I could have sworn there was seating)...overlooking the pool/lake. We were in room 5081...an added bonus- we could also see the MK fireworks from our room balcony.

Pardon the pic quality, but these were taken from the rail area just across from our room door.

This pic was taken from the inside, but I'm looking through the 5th floor viewing area (doors leading outside if I recall correctly) for this one...

I know I saw other seating up there, but it was mainly quiet nook kind of places. I remember seeing rocking chairs and benches here and there, but I can't recall if that was our floor or if I was looking up at the concierge level.
I hope this helps with your question. If not- sorry...just trying.

 

[bugsbunny]

I stayed on the 5th floor once, but it wasn't in the lobby. It was in the wing that Roaring Forks is in. It overlooked the smokehouse and the green filled scum pond. But I did get a great view of the fireworks at MK every night and could watch them from my balcony.

 

[sbkline]

Does it make a difference which wing you're in? I've never stayed at the Wilderness Lodge, but we're booked there for April. But when we went to WDW last year, we passed through the Wilderness Lodge one night to catch the boat over to Ft Wilderness and we got on an elevator and went upstairs. I'm not sure which floor we went to, but as far as the wing goes, it was the wing off to your left as you come back into the building from the pool complex. But whichever floor we ended up on, I don't remember it being such that we could look down below to the lobby. I think it was just a hallway with doors all down each side of the hallway, like a traditional hotel. But then again, we all we did was get off the elevator, take a few steps, then got back on the elevator and went back downstairs, so my memory could be fuzzy. Or do some of the rooms have two doors: one which goes out to the hallway and one which goes out to the balcony, or the lobby overview, as the case may be? But in the Samantha Brown Wilderness Lodge episode of Great Hotels, it seems that her room was a door off of a hallway, and not any kind of lobby overview.

So I guess my question would be, are the lobby overview rooms:

1) based on which wing you stay in?
2) based on which floor you're on, as the OP wondered?
3) All rooms which don't face outside? Or in other words, as you go down the hallways, the rooms on one side have a door on the opposite end that leads to the lobby overview, while the rooms on the other side of the hallway have a sliding glass door on the opposite end that takes you to the balcony.

I'm curious about this now myself, since I plan to unload my luggage there 11 weeks from today! And I have to be honest and say I've never really stopped to think about this question before, but it is a good question.

 

[Phonedave]

Does it make a difference which wing you're in? I've never stayed at the Wilderness Lodge, but we're booked there for April. But when we went to WDW last year, we passed through the Wilderness Lodge one night to catch the boat over to Ft Wilderness and we got on an elevator and went upstairs. I'm not sure which floor we went to, but as far as the wing goes, it was the wing off to your left as you come back into the building from the pool complex. But whichever floor we ended up on, I don't remember it being such that we could look down below to the lobby. I think it was just a hallway with doors all down each side of the hallway, like a traditional hotel. But then again, we all we did was get off the elevator, take a few steps, then got back on the elevator and went back downstairs, so my memory could be fuzzy. Or do some of the rooms have two doors: one which goes out to the hallway and one which goes out to the balcony, or the lobby overview, as the case may be? But in the Samantha Brown Wilderness Lodge episode of Great Hotels, it seems that her room was a door off of a hallway, and not any kind of lobby overview.

So I guess my question would be, are the lobby overview rooms:

1) based on which wing you stay in?
2) based on which floor you're on, as the OP wondered?
3) All rooms which don't face outside? Or in other words, as you go down the hallways, the rooms on one side have a door on the opposite end that leads to the lobby overview, while the rooms on the other side of the hallway have a sliding glass door on the opposite end that takes you to the balcony.

I'm curious about this now myself, since I plan to unload my luggage there 11 weeks from today! And I have to be honest and say I've never really stopped to think about this question before, but it is a good question.

The Wilderness Lodge is sort of shaped like a Y - not quite, but it will work for this. The main pool is in between the 'arms' of the Y and the lobby is in the leg.

In the leg section there are 7 floors, 7 being the concierge floor, and the others are 'normal' rooms.

If you have a courtyard view room, you will be down one of the arms of the Y, with a balcony facing the middle, or to the Villas pool. Which is the back side of the right hand arm. Woods view rooms are some of the rooms on the right side of the lobby, and some on the left arm. Normal views are mostly on the left of the body of the Y.

So it does not matter what leg 9(arm) or are on. Once you start going down EITHER leg, you are off the main lobby and will have a 'normal' hall with rooms on both sides.

If you have one of the rooms on the lobby, on either side, then you door will open overlooking the lobby and you will have a view of either the loading dock, or the DVC Villas from your balcony.

In any case, there is nothing preventing you from wandering around the building and finding a comfortable place to hang out. No matter where your room is.

-dave

 

[sbkline]

The Wilderness Lodge is sort of shaped like a Y - not quite, but it will work for this. The main pool is in between the 'arms' of the Y and the lobby is in the leg.

In the leg section there are 7 floors, 7 being the concierge floor, and the others are 'normal' rooms.

If you have a courtyard view room, you will be down one of the arms of the Y, with a balcony facing the middle, or to the Villas pool. Which is the back side of the right hand arm. Woods view rooms are some of the rooms on the right side of the lobby, and some on the left arm. Normal views are mostly on the left of the body of the Y.

So it does not matter what leg 9(arm) or are on. Once you start going down EITHER leg, you are off the main lobby and will have a 'normal' hall with rooms on both sides.

If you have one of the rooms on the lobby, on either side, then you door will open overlooking the lobby and you will have a view of either the loading dock, or the DVC Villas from your balcony.

In any case, there is nothing preventing you from wandering around the building and finding a comfortable place to hang out. No matter where your room is.

-dave

Now I feel like a total blonde (my real hair color, or what's left of it! LOL), as I knew that WL was shaped like a V, as you described. Had I sat down and thought it through, I should have realized that you naturally can only overlook the lobby, if you're actually in the lobby building, and that if you have a room in one of the "arms", you can't overlook the lobby! Maybe it's just time for me to shut off the computer and go to bed! :ROFLOL:

I requested the cheapest possible room. Are such rooms spread out amongst both "arms" as well as the lobby building? Or are all the rooms in the main building preferred rooms?

 

[Phonedave]

Now I feel like a total blonde (my real hair color, or what's left of it! LOL), as I knew that WL was shaped like a V, as you described. Had I sat down and thought it through, I should have realized that you naturally can only overlook the lobby, if you're actually in the lobby building, and that if you have a room in one of the "arms", you can't overlook the lobby! Maybe it's just time for me to shut off the computer and go to bed! :ROFLOL:

I requested the cheapest possible room. Are such rooms spread out amongst both "arms" as well as the lobby building? Or are all the rooms in the main building preferred rooms?

I BELIEVE (not 100%) that most of the 'cheap' rooms are on the lobby, in the section over the Whispering Canyon Cafe, as those rooms look out over the loading docks. Some of the rooms along the wing on that side are also 'cheap' rooms - I think, the ones closest to the lobby, which while they open onto the hall, also overlook the docks

Here is a (very) down and dirty picture. The Red and Blue markings indicate the Standard View Rooms (you can see the parking lot and loading docks)

The rooms in Blue would overlook the lobby. The rooms in red would not.

That mossy or green lake people keep mentioning is circled in green. Rooms on the higher floors along that lake side will be able to see MK fireworks through the trees. Those are woods view rooms.

-dave

 

[mickeysshoes]

i was told that the rooms over looking the lobby are not standard view....woods view i think!!! We had one once and I love it!!!!

 

[Phonedave]

i was told that the rooms over looking the lobby are not standard view....woods view i think!!! We had one once and I love it!!!!

I am pretty sure the ones that overlook the Villas (on the Southeast side of the lobby) are woods view.

I am not sure about the ones on the other side. Maybe they 'upgrade' them because they are on the lobby,

-dave

 

[heartodisney]

Couple more questions! Phonedave, keep the GREAT answers coming!

First, we put in for a room with a bunk bed..will this be a "standard room" or a room with a "woods view"..or need we rquest a "woods view"?

Second, we will most certainly put in a request to be a flag family when we check in and hope there is an opening...but I also read where there is a "Lady Bug release program"..has anyone done this and is it true? I would love to do this with my daughter!

Third, has anyone done the hidden mickeys' to obtain a pin, and if so, what kind of pin?

Fourth, has anyone done the tours of the WL and really taken the time to look at the trains that are on display?

Thanks guys!

 

[Phonedave]

Couple more questions! Phonedave, keep the GREAT answers coming!

First, we put in for a room with a bunk bed..will this be a "standard room" or a room with a "woods view"..or need we rquest a "woods view"?

Bunk beds come in both "woods" and "courtyard" views. They are different prices, to the tune of about $40 - $45 more a night (rack rate) for a courtyard view. Woods looks at, well, woods. Courtyard looks at the pool or Bay Lake, which is kind of nice because then you can see the Electric Water Pagent from your balcony. You have to specify which one you are booking.

Second, we will most certainly put in a request to be a flag family when we check in and hope there is an opening...but I also read where there is a "Lady Bug release program"..has anyone done this and is it true? I would love to do this with my daughter!

I have never heard of a Lady Bug Release program at the Wilderness Lodge. Try for the Flag Family, but don't be disappointed if you do not get it. It books up quickly.

Third, has anyone done the hidden mickeys' to obtain a pin, and if so, what kind of pin?

I have done the hidden Mickey's, but nobody ever gave me a pin. You go to the desk and they give you two sheets - one for the main lodge and one for the Villas. Then you go look for them. That was about it.

Fourth, has anyone done the tours of the WL and really taken the time to look at the trains that are on display?

Thanks guys!

Have not done the offical tours (there are an AM and PM) but I hear they are very good. There is a lot more than just trains on display. Check out ALL the floors around the main lobby. There are displays on every one. Then go over to the Villas and look around there. Thats where most of the train stuff is.

-dave

 

[heartodisney]

Bunk beds come in both "woods" and "courtyard" views. They are different prices, to the tune of about $40 - $45 more a night (rack rate) for a courtyard view. Woods looks at, well, woods. Courtyard looks at the pool or Bay Lake, which is kind of nice because then you can see the Electric Water Pagent from your balcony. You have to specify which one you are booking.





I have never heard of a Lady Bug Release program at the Wilderness Lodge. Try for the Flag Family, but don't be disappointed if you do not get it. It books up quickly.



I have done the hidden Mickey's, but nobody ever gave me a pin. You go to the desk and they give you two sheets - one for the main lodge and one for the Villas. Then you go look for them. That was about it.




Have not done the offical tours (there are an AM and PM) but I hear they are very good. There is a lot more than just trains on display. Check out ALL the floors around the main lobby. There are displays on every one. Then go over to the Villas and look around there. Thats where most of the train stuff is.

-dave

A HUGE Thank you for all this info! :sohappy: I have already booked room and have gotten my pin code for discount...just have not asked for woods view or courtyard view..hopefully, when we check in, I will ask..it really will not matter that much..due to fact that one night while my wife and mom-in-law will do a ladies night out, my daughter and I will head to the "beach" and watch the Water Parade! I really wished I had written down the site that I had visited on the ladybug info..it was just a very small excerpt. I want to thank you also about info on things on each floor..will very much see to that! Yes, very much heard that Flag family fills up fast..I will just try on first day..and then see on everyday if someone has "backed out"! Also, read where a Native American comes in a couple of times a month to talk..I hope we can experience this also. As a child, I lived out west with the Navaho and other tribes..but do not remember much, so this would be great not just for me, but for my family to meet the wonderful person to come in and talk with guest! Thanks again!

 

[LeafsFanNL]

I steer people away from the standard view rooms. We had a sixth floor room from which we could see Wishes. Looking at the map above, it was just above the balloon labeled D. The fireworks were nice, but the smell from the smokehouse and the white noise from the transformers in the service area ensured that our balcony remained closed almost all the time. I doubt I spent five minutes out there the whole week we were there. Looking back, we should have spent a little more for a woods view.

 

[sbkline]

There is a ladybug release thing, but it's at the Grand Floridian, not the Wilderness Lodge. :wave:

 

[heartodisney]

There is a ladybug release thing, but it's at the Grand Floridian, not the Wilderness Lodge. :wave:

Oh bother....thank you for the info..the "website" I saw that in was wrong then..we'nrt they! :lol:

 

[LudwigVonDrake]

Last July I had a room on the 4th floor with a standard view that overlooked a loading area. I also had a great view of the MK fireworks over the trees.