Wilderness Lodge

[Trinity]

Hey Everybody, Just signed up and thought I would post a question. Going to DW November and cant decide if we should spend the money on Wilderness Lodge or just stay in a budget property. We keep going back and forth because how much time do you really spend in your room anyway. So should we splurge and stay in the wilderness lodge? We are not going with kids if that makes a difference in where we should stay.
:sohappy:

 

[DisneyWorldGuru]

WL!!!

Hey cool, you are from Alaska.... I have always wanted to go to Alaska but I always tend to go to WDW for some reason... well mabye next summer...

 

[Yellow Shoes]

Originally posted by wannabeBelle
Mom and I are going to Disney in either Oct or Dec... If you had to choose betweem the Port Orelans Riverside, Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge, which would you choose??

How much of an issue is $$?

POR is very well landscaped, quiet and relaxing for less money than WL or AKL.

There are double beds instead of queens, but this is less of an issue since you will each have a bed to yourself.
(for me, bed size is important, because I share a king at home)

All of these rooms are the same size.

I'm guessing the pool is not terribly important to you. WL has the advantage here if you plan on swimming.

I would go with POR and use that extra $ for a daily sit-down meal.

Or a sweatshirt.

Or a snowglobe.

Or... you get the idea.

 

[leeocean]

I think your mom would like the WL or POR - POR is great if you request a room in the Alligator Bayou area! WL is great - the ambience at night is fantastic.

 

[all_good_chic]

Originally posted by wannabeBelle
All right guys lets see if I can throw in a curve ball here. Mom and I are going to Disney in either Oct or Dec (hopefully both but family obligations may interfere. If you had to choose betweem the Port Orelans Riverside, Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge, which would you choose?? Not a romantic trip I love Mom but not like that and I Am 37 for informational purposes.

I would choose Animal Kingdom Lodge. It is a great choice with everything it has to offer. Looking at the animals from your room is awsome and the whole theme of the place is really nice. Because you are both adults the distance from the park won't be as big of a problem and even though it isn't as close as other hotels it is truly one of the nicest. If money is a big issue i would choose POR. It too is really nice and although it isn't as good as AKL it still is a good choice. Wilderness lodge is the closest to magic kingdom but i didn't like it as much as the other hotels. Animal Kindom and Wilderness Lodge share a similar look but i find AK to be nicer and the animals are great.

 

[wannabeBelle]

Once again, Thank you everyone for your opinion. I am going to wait and see what kind of specials Disney plans on running for the time period I want to go, get the numbers and discuss with Mom. All of your insight was valuable though and I thank you!

 

[sigsegv]

Re: Wilderness Lodge#2

Originally posted by Trinity
Josh,

we are going to be staying for 8 days and are undecided about renting a car.

Thanks, Kirsten

I loved a lot about the Wilderness Lodge, but the transportation was the worst part. Not that it was bad, just worse than the other aspects. The theming is great and the setting is sublime. The pool at night can be quite nice and beautiful.

Splurge for the WDW, but also splurge for a rental car -- you'll enjoy things a lot more.

-sig

 

[sigsegv]

Originally posted by Debbie
I would definitely try the Wilderness Lodge. I know I am if I get to go in December. I feel we do spend more time in our room since it is off season and the park hours can be shorter.

DW and I usually go to WDW during the off-season. We also tend to spend quite a bit of time in the room. Part of it could be that we are there during the off-season, but I think that, as we get older, the parks while still a great attraction to us, are less important than the whole experience of the WDW _resort_.

(Now that we have a daughter on the way in November, this focus will probably change in a few years.... But I don't mind. :sohappy: )
-sig

 

[sigsegv]

Originally posted by wannabeBelle
All right guys lets see if I can throw in a curve ball here. Mom and I are going to Disney in either Oct or Dec (hopefully both but family obligations may interfere. If you had to choose betweem the Port Orelans Riverside, Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge, which would you choose?? Not a romantic trip I love Mom but not like that and I Am 37 for informational purposes.

Well, I've never been to POR, so I can't speak to that. I think AKL looks beautiful, but it's "style" is not quite to my taste. Plus, it's very isolated vs either of the other two. WL, while far from "the middle of it all" is more centrally located than AKL. Stay at WL, but make ressies for dinner one night at Jiko and check out AKL.

-sig

 

[bgraham34]

I am going in September and staying there. I am so looking forward to it. I have never stayed there before and that last few trips I have stayed at the allstars.

 

[Atlaslaw]

I've yet to stay at WL, but have always wanted to. Like you $ is always the concern. We love Dixie Landings (I refuse to call it Port Orleans!) but want to try something else. We had reservations for CB, but with the new discount codes that just came out we are switching to WL for the same price we were going to pay for CB. Check those Discount codes!

 

[TheTophDaddy]

Compromise

My wife and I went to the Wilderness Lodge on our Honeymoon in 1995. I don't think there is any more romantic place on property. Artist Point is an incredible restaurant, the pool is the best in the World, the seclusion makes you feel as though you're a million miles away.

However, I would still recommend saving a bit of money and staying at Port Orleans Riverside or French Quarter. They are a little less than half the price, are still overflowing with Disney quality, are very romantic, and have great amenities. There is a drop-off in food quality, but also in price. I have stayed in both of these resorts, and love them both equally (albeit for different reasons).

I would not... N-O-T... stay in an All-Star for eight days. A couple days? OK. Eight? Not a chance.

Whatever you decide, open yourself up to the magic, and no matter where you're staying, you'll have an incredible time.

TheToph

 

[dreamer]

I think the answer depends on what you like doing.

If you're going to be beating down the doors to get into every attraction and every show you can, and trying to see every attraction possible, then you'll be sorry you spent the extra money on the lodge. I would choose a moderate resort.

Likewise, if food is your thing, spend the money on restaurants. You'll easily blow what you saved on lodging and be glad for it.

I want to suggest another option, though. If money is not an object, then even if you're going to be spending a lot of time in the parks, you would not regret spending extra money for a monorail hotel. My opinion is that you haven't truly "experienced" Disney World the way Walt meant it to be until you stay in a monorail hotel.

But, some people would disagree heartily.

 

[wannabeBelle]

Thanks everyone. With the discount codes now available at Mousesavers.com and Disneyclub, I got the rates for all the resorts that Mom and I were considering. Mom choose the PO Riverside and I splurged and went for a water view. I will get to the Deluxe resorts some day. I know I will enjoy PO Riverside in any event it was so lovely the last time I was there. Thanks again all!!!

 

[Atlaslaw]

We've always loved Dixie Landings. Request a room in Magnolia Bend if you can. I'm not that fond of Alligator Bayou, but it's still Disney! If you've never stayed there be sure to take advantage of the boat ride to Downtown Disney. It's fantastic. One of my favorite things to do. There's nothing like the serenity of riding that boat back from Downtown Disney, in the dark, up the Sassagoula River to Dixie Landings. Hope you enjoy it!

 

[wannabeBelle]

thanks Atlas. I had stayed in Magnolia Bend the last time I went there. I was convinced my Mom would adore it there so when I make my reservations, I am going to request that again. Have you seen the new discount codes for the fall?? If not write me bak either here or a private message and Ill get all the info together for you!! It is like 38 % off the rack rates for rooms at that time!! Awesome discount.

 

[Atlaslaw]

Thanks. I got the codes too. We wanted to try something different. Had reservations for Caribbean Beach, but with the codes we're switching to Wilderness Lodge now. Costing us less than $1.00 more to stay at WL! Fantastic! This will be our first trip since the birth of our daughter and her first trip ever, at age 2.

108 days to go

 

[Dizknee_Phreek]

Originally posted by arstogas
ESPECIALLY if you're not going with kids, stay at the Wilderness. And at night, take your partner on a nice stroll down the dock to the end... it's peaceful and romantic, and you can sit out on the dock as long as you want, staring at the stars and the dark water... Very few people take advantage of this, but it's sublime.

that is...if you don't have a fear of water! which i don't, but while staying at WL, my dad and i were sitting on the beach waiting for the electric water parade, and i was getting freaked out! i don't know why but the darkness and the water combined just scared the heck outta me! not to mention that it was really foggy that night because of the smoke from the wildfires, so it made it even worse! but it was in early June, so i'm sure it won't be foggy/smoky in Nov. but still...it would really creepy for me, smoke or no smoke!

but to answer trinity's question...since you're traveling light (no kids) then definately go for WL! who cares how much time you'll be spending in the rooms? it'll be worth it to splurge!! especially when you compare WL's Christmas decorations to a value resort's Christmas decorations (depending on when in Nov you go)

to answer wannabeBelle, personally, i'd choose Riverside....but just because it's my all time favorite resort. but i see that you've already to stay there anyway :animwink: if either you and/or your mom have never seen the deluxe resorts you mentioned, definately take a gander at them! they're worth taking a good look at even if you're not staying there!

 

[MR. DISNEY]

The WL has 1 thing that nobody has mentioned they have a BOAT that goes to the MK and FW so if you have a big day at one of the other parks you can still take a short boat ride for ice cream in the MK:slurp:

 

[Jedi Osborn]

Heading to theWL in December and I'm a tiny bit concerned. We're so used to Dixie and C Beach. But its Disney, how can any of us go wrong? The way I figure it, it'll still be wonderful, just a different kind of wonderful!!!!

To anyone going before November 30th......I'd love to hear the details of your trip!!!

 

[Atlaslaw]

Same situation here. Excited about the trip, of course, but we've always stayed at Dixie Landings, that's "home". A little trepidation about staying somewhere else, but I know the Disney magic will be there wherever we stay. Will let you know how things go.

104 days to go!