Wilderness Lodge Questions

[sbkline]

I was initially booked for 10 nights at Carribbean Beach, but with this new discount released on Monday, I had the opportunity to upgrade to the Wilderness Lodge for only $506 more than CBR was going to cost me. That's been one of my dream resorts to stay at, so needless to say, I'm very excited. I had some questions, though.

I read in the Unofficial Guide that "most" rooms have a balcony. I requested the cheapest level of room, so do those rooms all not have a balcony? Or do some have one and some not? Is it just hit or miss then on whether I get a room with a balcony? What about the rooms in the main building where the lobby is? Are those rooms all automatically "preferred" rooms, since they are in the main building?

We like to do surrey bike rides. Does WL offer that, or do we have to go to Ft Wilderness?

We have gone to WL before to hop the boat to Ft Wilderness, but what about going to the Magic Kigndom? Does the boat go directly from WL to MK? Or does it stop at the other resorts first? What about when we visit the monorail resorts for supper? We plan to eat a meal at each of the monorail resorts at some point. Do boats go directly from WL to the resorts, or do they just go to the Magic Kingdom, and then hop the monorail to the resorts?

That's all the questions I can think of for now. I'll post any others as I think about them.

 

[Princess_Minnie]

I just wanted to say that I LOVE the Wilderness Lodge. It's where my family stayed on our first trip and it has always had a special place in my heart. When they say "Welcome Home" at the gate, I really feel like I'm coming home.
If you get to stay at the Wilderness Lodge, I do have a few tips:
1. Always take the bus to the MK. It is sooo much faster than going all the way to the TTC and taking the monorail. Its about a 5 minute bus ride to the park gates.
2. Be sure to explore. The Wilderness Lodge is not a resort that you should just walk in and out of. You should experience it. Its too rich in theming and Disney magic to not see it all.
3. Go to the pin cart if you like pin trading.
4. Really enjoy your time there! The Wilderness Lodge is (at least in my opinion) the coziest and most homey of the Disney resorts and its such a fun place to stay. Its grand but at the same time its warm and welcoming.
I hope that you have fun!

 

[sbkline]

I just wanted to say that I LOVE the Wilderness Lodge. It's where my family stayed on our first trip and it has always had a special place in my heart. When they say "Welcome Home" at the gate, I really feel like I'm coming home.
If you get to stay at the Wilderness Lodge, I do have a few tips:
1. Always take the bus to the MK. It is sooo much faster than going all the way to the TTC and taking the monorail. Its about a 5 minute bus ride to the park gates.
2. Be sure to explore. The Wilderness Lodge is not a resort that you should just walk in and out of. You should experience it. Its too rich in theming and Disney magic to not see it all.
3. Go to the pin cart if you like pin trading.
4. Really enjoy your time there! The Wilderness Lodge is (at least in my opinion) the coziest and most homey of the Disney resorts and its such a fun place to stay. Its grand but at the same time its warm and welcoming.
I hope that you have fun!

On point 1, I'm assumming you meant Epcot and not Magic Kingdom, since the boat ride would seem to be the quickest way from WL to MK.

Just got my packet of goodies in the mail today...28 days until we hit the open road and head south! :sohappy:

 

[sbkline]

A couple final questions before we go

Just a week from tommorrow until we pack up and pull out of our driveway, and I have a couple more questions I can think of before we leave.

First, is there any kind of fitness center at the Wilderness Lodge? My wife is into Curves and was wanting me to find a day to go to curves while on vacation. I told her no way am I wasting time out of our WDW vacation to go hunting for a Curves, when she will be getting plenty of excercise walking around WDW. :lol: However, if there is a fitness center right there on property, that would be something she may enjoy, and be able to do that while me and my son are in the pool or something.

Secondly, sort of along with the excercise theme and all, what about that walking path from Ft Wilderness to Wilderness Lodge? How long is it, and how long does it generally take you to get from one place to the other? We plan on spending the evening at FW with some friends, doing Hoop-Dee-Doo, horse barn, wagon ride, etc, and we may spend more time there on another night or two of our vacation. I thought a nice walk to or from, along the walking path, would be fun, plus excercise for my wife.

And if we walk FROM the Wilderness Lodge to FW, then we would obviously know where the path is for the walk back. But what if we take the boat to FW, then want to walk back to WL? Where would I find the path at FW for the walk back?

 

[Phonedave]

Just a week from tommorrow until we pack up and pull out of our driveway, and I have a couple more questions I can think of before we leave.

First, is there any kind of fitness center at the Wilderness Lodge? My wife is into Curves and was wanting me to find a day to go to curves while on vacation. I told her no way am I wasting time out of our WDW vacation to go hunting for a Curves, when she will be getting plenty of excercise walking around WDW. :lol: However, if there is a fitness center right there on property, that would be something she may enjoy, and be able to do that while me and my son are in the pool or something.

Yes, Sturdy Branches is located in the DVC villas, right by the quiet pool. There is a spa there as well.

Secondly, sort of along with the excercise theme and all, what about that walking path from Ft Wilderness to Wilderness Lodge? How long is it, and how long does it generally take you to get from one place to the other? We plan on spending the evening at FW with some friends, doing Hoop-Dee-Doo, horse barn, wagon ride, etc, and we may spend more time there on another night or two of our vacation. I thought a nice walk to or from, along the walking path, would be fun, plus excercise for my wife.

It is about a mile between the two resorts. Of course that depends on exactly where you start (and finish) - add on the distance from the "property line" of FW to the Hoop De Doo and its another 1/2 mile or so.

And if we walk FROM the Wilderness Lodge to FW, then we would obviously know where the path is for the walk back. But what if we take the boat to FW, then want to walk back to WL? Where would I find the path at FW for the walk back?

You pick it up at the boat docks at FW. There are a number of braching trails there that intertwine, but they are marked. The jogging path will take you along the access road and you will arrive at WL by the bus stops. The Nature trail will lead you along Bay Lake, and you will come out by the WL boat docks.

-dave

 

[Tiggerish]

On point 1, I'm assumming you meant Epcot and not Magic Kingdom, since the boat ride would seem to be the quickest way from WL to MK.

Just got my packet of goodies in the mail today...28 days until we hit the open road and head south! :sohappy:

Actually, no, she meant MK. Since the WL is essentially "around the corner" from MK, the bus ride is no longer than the boat ride, and may even be shorter, considering that the bus moves at a much quicker pace than the boat does (and has the capacity to carry a greater number of passengers). :wave: Waiting time for whichever form of transportation you choose would probably have a greater effect on the length of the trip.

Have a GREAT time. I love the WL!!

 

[sbkline]

Yes, Sturdy Branches is located in the DVC villas, right by the quiet pool. There is a spa there as well.



It is about a mile between the two resorts. Of course that depends on exactly where you start (and finish) - add on the distance from the "property line" of FW to the Hoop De Doo and its another 1/2 mile or so.



You pick it up at the boat docks at FW. There are a number of braching trails there that intertwine, but they are marked. The jogging path will take you along the access road and you will arrive at WL by the bus stops. The Nature trail will lead you along Bay Lake, and you will come out by the WL boat docks.

-dave

Thanks, my wife will be glad to know that there is a fitness center. Even if she ends up not using it, it's still good to know that she has that option. And thanks for the info on the walking path.:wave: