wilderness lodge vs contemporary garden wing

[madhatter]

we're taking our boys (age 2 and 4.5) to disney this christmas and can't decide on the wilderness lodge or contemporary garden wing. we'd like a tower room, but its not in the budget(uncle sam took a big bite out of my a$$ this year). contemporary garden wing rooms look ugly,and seem far away from main tower, but there is the monorail. The wilderness lodge looks nice but no monorail

 

[cm1988]

Ambiance vs Room Size

The tradeoff seems to be the Ambience of Wilderness Lodge vs. the larger rooms (and larger baths) of the Contemporary. I'd go for the Contemporary... more room to stretch out... and they really are nice rooms. Catch an elevator any time you want that view from the top.

The young folks will enjoy the Contemporary's game room... and you'll enjoy the convenience of the monorail... or if you don't want to wait for that... a walk over to the Magic Kingdom.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I would go with Wilderness Lodge. I realize many people like the Contemporary, but I am not one of those people...I think the Lodges are simply AMAZING, and I think your kids would enjoy it more. It's a beautiful resort and I LOVE the theming.

 

[Lance]

For the Christmas feel, I would go with the Wilderness Lodge.

I love the Contemporary, but if it's not Tower, it's not for me!

 

[GoofyMike29]

this may help in your decision

Both of these hotels are amazng andyou will be satisified with whatever you end up with but:

The Wilderness does not have a bus that goes to the MK, you must take a boat. These boats get crowded very quickly and take forever and a week

The Contemporary on the other hand, is in walking distance from the MK, also the game room is sweet and Chef Mickeys is right there.

Personally I would go with Contemporary

But eiher way you are getting a sweet hotel.

:king:

 

[SJTSmith]

I would pick the Wilderness Lodge it is great at X-mas time. The contemporary main tower is great but I would not stay in the garden wing.

 

[kidagain]

My husband I took the kids ( one 2 years the other a teen at the time ) to stay at the Wilderness Lodge in 2000. It was beautiful plenty to do, and the theme was great...a bit of Walt's life there...
Anyway, you would be surprised at how quick the tansport was by ferry to MK. No complaints here. Everything was perfect. The kids will love the theme pool at WL.:animwink::sohappy:

 

[madhatter]

i was thinking that the lodge would be better for xmas and if i stayed in the garden wing at the contemporary, i would be slummin it. i hate feelin that way on vacation. i had to do it enough growing up. if i could have a tower room i would choose the contemporary.so should go to the contemporary and pray for a free upgrade?what are the chances. i'm sure every one who gets a garden room tries to.

 

[ToTBellHop]

chances of an upgrade to a premium room over Christmas week? Considering how crowded the hotels are then...I wouldn't think the chances would be too good. I have never known disney transportation to be overly bad at any resort. It takes a while to get places from Downtown Disney, but that would be the case regardless of where you are staying. Again...I would think you and your kids would enjoy Wilderness Lodge more. The pool and lobby are just fabulous...and I love the geyser.

 

[poppins50]

While I like the ambiance of WL better than Contemporary, I would say with boys that young stay at the Cont. Besides what everyone else said.

1. you have a walkway right into MK. That's my favorite part.
2. hop on the monorail to Epcot and other monorail hotels.
3. request room on ground floor facing the playground area.
(just imagine sitting there having coffee on your patio, watching the boats go by, while your kids have fun on the playgym area, with them still in sight.
4. If your too tired to do anything at night, you can still watch the fireworks from the hotel. The views from atop of the contemp. are some of the best. I also thought that the views from the Contemp. boat ramp were pretty wonderful too.
5.Boat to FW for FREE nightly campfire and movie. (althought the sticks and marshmellows are sold for a minimal fee. Also at FW is the petting zoo, River country, hayrides, boat ride away (also just a boat ride away from WL).

 

[madhatter]

as far as it being too crowded for an upgrade ,we're going dec 8 -16. are the garden rooms a far walk from the main tower?

 

[Invero]

Re: this may help in your decision

Originally posted by GoofyMike29

The Wilderness does not have a bus that goes to the MK, you must take a boat. These boats get crowded very quickly and take forever and a week

Just to throw in a tidbit here... I can't say much right now, but I can say that bus service to Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge will be expanding soon. They're going to be testing out new routes that will make travelling to the MK and other parks more direct. No more transfers at TTC.

 

[LoriL]

Another idea

Mad Hatter: What about staying at the Polynesian? It's just as close as the Contemporary to the Magic Kingdom, but the theming is much more fun for little ones. We're staying there with my 2 year old son for that reason-- I know he'll love all the torches and the fantasic new pool. Plus we are only a short hop to Chef Mickey's. When he is older, we want to take him and stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge (for many of the same reasons you are considering the Wildnerness Lodge) buut I think that with toddlers the most important thing is speedy access both ways-- to and from the parks. If you want to go back to your hotel during the day for a rest, you may have to wait a long time. Of course, the other option is to stay at the WL and rent a car so that you can make better time-- but sometimes it can take forever to get into and out of the parking lots. (And valet parking is no longer free at the resorts!).

 

[gepetto]

The wing rooms are exactly like the tower rooms. I think the wing is just as convenient to the monorail as the rooms in the tower....after you take the elevator and then the escalator it takes as long as getting there from a wing room.

 

[Lance]

Originally posted by gepetto
The wing rooms are exactly like the tower rooms. I think the wing is just as convenient to the monorail as the rooms in the tower....after you take the elevator and then the escalator it takes as long as getting there from a wing room.

A tower room to the monorail takes about 30 seconds, it's ridiculous how quick and easy it is to get to everything from tower rooms.

Yea, the wing rooms are exactly alike interior wise, but not even close to being as convenient.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I certainly like the Polynesian, but if cost is an issue...you could end up in a room pretty far away from the Great Ceremonial House...and have to listen to the christmas soundtrack there consisting of about two songs...I still say the Lodges are the best at Christmas--they really deck the halls, so to speak. Also consider the buses at present...at many locations, a single bus services the Wilderness Lodge, Contemporary, Grand Floridian, and Polynesian...where as MY favorite resort has its own bus...also consider the obscene lines to get on the monorail after fireworks/Spectro at the Magic Kingdom--all things to weigh in. Really matters how much time you want to spend places other than Magic Kingdom and Epcot...I don't even know is Animal Kingdom Lodge is an option for you, though...but, my nephew was three this year and LOVED Animal Kingdom Lodge...

 

[poppins50]

It depends on where the room is in the garden wings. I was one of the first rooms into the North wing and it was very conveniant to the tower. But I can see that rooms at the opposite end of the wings might not be as conveniant, but still not too bad.

Just beware last visit I stayed in the North wing first floor close to the tower we had the 24 self service laundry just above us :hammer: We thought there were cheerleaders above us. until my Dh took a midnight stroll and found out the banging was the washers and dryers.

 

[Beauty and the]

Originally posted by madhatter
as far as it being too crowded for an upgrade ,we're going dec 8 -16. are the garden rooms a far walk from the main tower?

About a two minute stroll, but a guess thats a long way for some people:animwink:

 

[Beauty and the]

You'll find the garden wing very convient for the pool the food centre the rcadeand the children's play ground we had a ground floor room that looked onto the lake and also the playground it was lovely to sit and relax outside the room and the children played happily. Of an evening we could sit out with a cooldrink and watch the water pagent,truly wonderful.

Staying in either the garden wingds or the Wilderness Lodge will be a fantastic experience and one your family wouldn't forget in a hurry.

To those who haven't stayed in the garden wings, don't knock it until you've tried it. I'm sure you'd all be very pleasantly suprised:animwink:

 

[goaler]

We have never stayed at the Contemporary, but if we did it would have to be a tower room, just because that would be cool.

We have stayed at the WL three times and will go back many more. You have to experience the atmosphere there. Its all in the sights, sounds, and smells of the place. The kids will love the pool and the lake. It is an amazing place. The whole family will love it.

The boat to the MK doesn't take long at all, it really isn't any different than a bus ride to other parks. It is very relaxing for the ride "Home" after a long day at the park.