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:

 

[TheTophDaddy]

Trepidation?

Oh my lord, don't feel trepidation or any sort of unease!

The Wilderness Lodge, for my money, is the best resort on property. I love Dixie Landings, but WL will far surpass your every wish. The theming is everywhere, pervasive to an almost obscene degree. The staff is wonderful. The food puts the vittles at DL to shame. And don't get me started on the wonderful atmosphere around the pool and geyser.

You're going to love it. Don't be nervous... be exuberant!

 

[cymbaldiva]

WL is absolutely beautiful...watch out or you'll get spoiled! Only thing I didn't like much there was the bus transportation - the boat between WL and MK is pretty sweet though - it's SO romantic to travel on with your sweetie! :animwink:

 

[Dizknee_Phreek]

to me, the bus transportation was fair...i didn't like how the stations were set up though. i've never really been all too fond of boat rides...a little too slow for my tastes..but it was ok. me and dad sat in the very front of one of the boats on our way back from MK one night...that was pretty cool! it was nice on the muggy June evening, but i'm sure it'd be freezing sitting out in the open in Nov!

anyway, the thing i hated the most about WL was the lack of a food court. i got so used to them over the course of about 10 or 11 visits, then we join the DVC and all of a sudden that privilidge is gone! i loved the food courts! i loved how crowded and busy they were in the morning and how empty they were at the close of a long day in the parks! Roaring Forks is ok, but it's nothing at all like the food courts that i'm used to. the dining room looks so generic compared to the rest of the hotel! and the food wasn't nearly as good as Dixie Landings. i miss Dixie Landings!!!

personally, i would skip Roaring Forks...but since it's your first time going to WL, give it a try...you may like it better than i do. but don't worry so much about staying there! it's an awesome place! you'll have a great time, i just know it! and just remember, if you don't like staying there as much as resorts such as DL, you can always go back to DL on your next visit! but i can kinda understand your anxieties! we're staying in Beach Club Villas this Thanksgiving...i've been in Beach Club but have never ever stayed there, so i'm a tad bit worried about how i'll like it. but i've gotten used to jumping from one resort to another from trip to trip, so i'll be ok with it! and if i don't like it, no one said i have to go back! just kind of think of WL as DL kicked up a few notches! :animwink: maybe that'll help a little until you can get down there and see it for yourselves!

 

[bgraham34]

Agh Sept 13th can't come fast enough......

 

[Jedi Osborn]

Awesome post Dizknee_Phreek, those are the exact thoughts I'm having. I enjoy the 'crowded' food court for breakfast, and the empty one for ice cream at night. Sounds crazy, but it really is part of the experience. Its like you're all one big Dixie (Riverside) family getting ready to enjoy the parks. You over hear everyone's plans for the day and it gets you (more) excited to get going.
Is there even a place to sit at the Roaring Forks?
I'll just have to start scouting out places to have breakfast in the parks. We always have breakfast at the food court, so if the Roaring Forks don't work out, we'll have to eat in the parks. Not a bad thing, just different.


But you did help, thanks for the thoughts. And you're right, if we don't like it (and I'm sure that won't happen) we can always go home to Dixie.

 

[leeocean]

Originally posted by dreamer

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.

No, no, I totally agree with you. I think that you need to do it at least once either at the Contemporary or the Poly to get the total experience that Walt would have wanted his guests to have.

 

[Worldphile]

Originally posted by Jedi Osborn
Awesome post Dizknee_Phreek, those are the exact thoughts I'm having. I enjoy the 'crowded' food court for breakfast, and the empty one for ice cream at night. Sounds crazy, but it really is part of the experience. Its like you're all one big Dixie (Riverside) family getting ready to enjoy the parks. You over hear everyone's plans for the day and it gets you (more) excited to get going.
Is there even a place to sit at the Roaring Forks?
I'll just have to start scouting out places to have breakfast in the parks. We always have breakfast at the food court, so if the Roaring Forks don't work out, we'll have to eat in the parks. Not a bad thing, just different.


But you did help, thanks for the thoughts. And you're right, if we don't like it (and I'm sure that won't happen) we can always go home to Dixie.

Roaring forks does have tables (15-20 IIRC). They turn over pretty quick in the morning. So, while it was crowded for breakfast, my wife and I never had a problem finding a seat. There are also tables outside if the weather cooperates.

WCC is a little more dollarwise, but maybe not much more depending on how many you are feeding and how much they eat (think teenagers) because they have an all-you-can-eat skillet. And WCC breakfast is pretty quick.

 

[Jedi Osborn]

Outside seat? That's cool. Those are one of the things we like best about C Beach (and miss at Dixie). Having a nice relaxed breakfast outside (and maybe feeding the birds....sshhhh) is a great way to start the day.

WCC is a sit down restaurant though right? But then you said they're pretty quick. Is the whole breakfast thing all-you-can-eat? I do pretty well at those, but we'd lose serious money on my wife. We'll have to try that one morning. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Worldphile]

Originally posted by Jedi Osborn
Outside seat? That's cool. Those are one of the things we like best about C Beach (and miss at Dixie). Having a nice relaxed breakfast outside (and maybe feeding the birds....sshhhh) is a great way to start the day.

WCC is a sit down restaurant though right? But then you said they're pretty quick. Is the whole breakfast thing all-you-can-eat? I do pretty well at those, but we'd lose serious money on my wife. We'll have to try that one morning. Thanks for the tip.

Yes. WCC is a sit down (only inside). There are the typical menu items that you can get a la carte, Eggs & Bacon, etc. But they also have an all you can eat skillet.

Here's the WCC breakfast menu:

http://wdwig.com/menu/menu_wcb.htm

Here's Roaring Forks menu.

http://wdwig.com/menu/menu_rf.htm

 

[cymbaldiva]

The only thing I know about Roaring Forks from my visit is that the early-riser in our group always went down and brought up breakfast for the rest of us to have in bed - how SWEEEEET is that!?!?! I was SOOO spoiled! :sohappy:

 

[Dizknee_Phreek]

Originally posted by Jedi Osborn
Awesome post Dizknee_Phreek, those are the exact thoughts I'm having. I enjoy the 'crowded' food court for breakfast, and the empty one for ice cream at night. Sounds crazy, but it really is part of the experience. Its like you're all one big Dixie (Riverside) family getting ready to enjoy the parks. You over hear everyone's plans for the day and it gets you (more) excited to get going.
Is there even a place to sit at the Roaring Forks?
I'll just have to start scouting out places to have breakfast in the parks. We always have breakfast at the food court, so if the Roaring Forks don't work out, we'll have to eat in the parks. Not a bad thing, just different.


But you did help, thanks for the thoughts. And you're right, if we don't like it (and I'm sure that won't happen) we can always go home to Dixie.

:sohappy: oh good!! i'm glad i have someone to relate to now! and i agree completely! i got so used to the food courts, that it just became part of the tradition and magic! that's one of the many things i regret about my family getting into the DVC, even though it does have it's advantages. mainly, it just that i got SO used to the value and moderate resort set-ups, that i felt like i was thrown into something completely and totally different. i have never been one for changes, so it's something i'm having to adjust to and it's been rather difficult so far. but anyway, you're lucky because you're trying out WL, but you can always go back to DL. i feel like i can't. i feel like i'm stuck in these few hotels because we can't afford anymore points, and i'm being held back from the ones that i really love, such as DL. anyway, i'm rambling..sorry.
back on topic....if you DO start feeling homesick for DL, you can always visit! a lot of times, we'll drive over to DL on our last morning or something, and eat breakfast there (cuz according to my parents, they serve the most awesome eggs in the world...according to me, they serve the best chocolate croissants (sp?) in the world...at least they used to until they changed them a bit) it's always nice to visit there and pretend like i'm staying there...but it's just not the same.

btw, my parents used to eat breakfast at Tony's Town Square in MK (i think that's what it's called...on the right as soon as you walk under the railroad station) they really liked it, so that's always a thought in case you don't like RF. my sister and i aren't too much of breakfast people, so we'd sometimes grab a cookie from main street bakery. i'm sure you'll be able to find some great restaurants in the parks that serve breakfast (just in case)! but i'm glad you're thinking ahead like that! it'll be a lot easier on you when you get down there!

 

[Jedi Osborn]

Hmm, I have a feeling I may end up being the one to deliver breakfast. I may have to keep that idea secret!

Dizknee_Phreek
Ha! Its amazing how much two people can think alike about things like this!!!!
The food courts are part of the routine, the fun and the magic. I'm not one for changing things either. At least not when its really really really important like this:lol:
You've got a good point, I can always go back to DL. The visiting thing was an awesome idea, but you're right, it wouldn't be the same. There's just something about that walk in the morning, over the bridge, past the pool, over the next bridge...... "sigh"
(on a side note, if when you go away and you miss being home, its called homesick, what is it called when you're home and you miss being in Disney??)

I just started looking at the DVC stuff. Doesn't it 'cost' less points to stay at someplace like DL or C Beach? I could be way off, but like I said, I just recently (yesterday) started looking into it.

Thanks for the tip on Tony's. We'll have to check it out.

"but i'm glad you're thinking ahead like that! it'll be a lot easier on you when you get down there"

Ha! Yeah, that's what I do. I'm always thinking ahead. Like to the point where I making a list of the best rides to take my daughter on, where we should be in the parks so she can take her nap and a whole list of things. Got to have something to think about !!

 

[wannabeBelle]

Id hate to throw a monkeywrench into the works but Tony's is filling in for Crystal Palace while it is being refurbished. Prior to that though Tony's had stopped doing breakfast!!! Sorry!!!

 

[Atlaslaw]

The thing I'm going to miss most about DL is the boat trip to Downtown Disney. Nothing like it. Alas, WL does have a boat to MK, so hopefully that will more than fill that gap in my Disney needs:lol:

As far as thinking ahead, I thought that was more than half the fun-the months of anticipation. I already have all but two PS booked, we have our general itinerary plotted out, room reservations, etc. Driving this time, so I started working on a trip plan in Microsoft Street 2000 yesterday, which btw is a really cool program.

I guess you can't really call it "Disney-sick", just sounds a bit like blaphemy to me:zipit: I'd tend to call it homesick, just the same. Going to Disney always feels like going home; a very special home, but home nonetheless.

102 days left!:sohappy:

Can't wait until they post November hours.

 

[Jedi Osborn]

wannabeBelle - so does that mean Tony's will have breakfast until the CP opens back up? Do you know when they'll be open again. My daughter loves Pooh and I thought a breakfast at the CP would be fun

I know. We'll really miss the boat to Downtown Disney at night too. Taking the bus just isn't the same. Hopefully the boat to MK will make up for it. But it got so we'd ride the boat at DL to DD everynight after we got back from the park. "sigh" another routine that will be different. I'm terrible. I get a chance to stay at a more expensive hotel at a great price and all I can think about is the stuff at DL. :veryconfu
Disney World is like home, you're right. After all the months (years sometimes) of planning, getting up early to fly down, all that stress, when we finally walk into Epcot (we always go to Epcot on our first night, 'cause it was the first park we ever went to) I breathe a big sigh and totally relax,
I'm finally home.

 

[Atlaslaw]

I feel the same way about Epcot. We try to go there first usually and I like to go there last if possible to say goodbye to Spaceship Earth.

On the other hand, I've always wanted to stay at WL and now we're getting the chance. I've always loved Artist Point, we make it there every trip regardless.:slurp:

 

[Terp02]

Atlaslaw, That is a SWEET avatar. Have you seen them on this tour? I saw them on July 11th, and it was my first time seeing them, and they BLEW MY MIND. I'm happy there's at least one other Rush fan on the boards.

Sorry for getting off topic, resume the discussion.

 

[Atlaslaw]

Going to see Rush in one week, next Thursday. Can't wait. Rush and Disney in the same year. Life is good. But, back on topic, sorry.....

 

[wannabeBelle]

OMG Power Windows!!! I havent seen that album in like forever!!! Good to see some people have awesome taste in music!! Sorry about the straying from the thread!

 

[Atlaslaw]

Didn't mean to spark a Rush convention, but glad others recognize my new Avatar. Glad I changed it.

"Hold your fire
keep it burning bright
hold the flame 'til the dream ignites
a spirit with a vision is a dream
with a Mission"

-Neil Peart, Mission, Hold Your Fire