Thoughts on Wilderness Lodge

[clausjo]

I just booked a trip for January at the Wilderness Lodge. We've never stayed at a Deluxe resort before and I'm very excited. Can anyone let me know of any "must not miss" things at the resort? Also, I gave my kids a choice between Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge and, much to my surprise, they picked Wilderness. Any thoughts?

[The Hitchhiking Ghost]

We're staying there for our 1st time in October, although we've visited and ate there on different occasions.

WL has very nice fine dining - if it's in your budget, Artist Point makes for a nice evening meal.

Electrical Waterpagent makes a stop at the Wilderness Lodge in the evenings as it makes its rounds around the 7 seas lagoon and Bay lake - make sure to see that (lasts about 10 minutes or so).

Make use of the water taxi - to the Magic Kingdom.

I'm sure others will come up with a lot more. It's a beautiful hotel.

[Scott C]

Absolutely loved it. Be sure to take the tour. I am sure that someone will have the details. Roaring forks was not bad -- filled most of our needs. Great pool. Bunk Bed room worked out well for us. Be sure to look around the resort -- there are many nooks and crannies to explore and enjoy. You will love it.

Thanks
Scott C

[Carolanne]

Haven't stayed there yet but it looks gorgeous. Enjoy!

WL seems like something my DH would love. We're already booked at POFQ for November & I gave him the option of upgrading to WL, and to my surprise he wants to stay with POFQ. I guess I did too good of a job selling him on POFQ

[jnfr2424]

Have a great time! We went to this resort when it first opened and have been back 4 times since!
My sister and I love to talk and catch up late @ night in front of the big fireplace sitting in the rocking chairs!
Every 15 mins (I think) go outside and catch the geyser!
If you have time rent boats or bikes WL has some of the best trails to go around.
Hopefully it will be warm enough for you to swim in the pool and also notice where it begins
The ferry ride to MK is relaxing
Just like Scott C mentioned there are so many nooks and crannies to find especially if you are looking for a quiet spot mine is right when you enter the Lodge take the first staircase you see and there are sitting areas that are perfect for reading or people watch below!

Enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy!

[TheRustyScupper]

WARNING -- BIASED OPINION -- WARNING

1) I think you made a wise choice with WL.
2) You should truly enjoy your visit.
. . . take the tour (Sun-Wed, 9:00am)
. . . visit the Iron Spike Room and see Walt trains
. . . sit and wonder at the lobby & listen to the music
. . . stroll the grounds
. . . rent a boat and sail the lakes
. . . play in the beach sand
. . . walk (or ferry) to Fort Wilderness
. . . take in the nightly campfire
. . . see the geyser (on the hour)
. . . try to be Flag Family *

* First-come-first-served to be the ones to raise the flags. GREAT experience and views from the top of WL.

[Tigger&Stitch]

You will love it! My husband and I stayed there for the first time on our honeymoon 3 years ago, and just had to go back again last year. We loved it so much, we bought into DVC (Wilderness Lodge as our home resort).

As others have mentioned, there is a Lodge tour (most weekday mornings at 9am), a beach where you can watch the Electrical Water Pageant, a top notch restaurant, and a fantastic snack place (Roaring Forks) - they have a breakfast croissant sandwich that we dream about when we aren't there.

You can also rent boats and bikes, and bike or walk to Fort Wildnerness. Fort Wilderness has a petting zoo and a Disney movie/bonfire (where you can get s'mores) most nights.

Oh! And definitely take the boat to Magic Kingdom (instead of a bus). The boat also goes to the Contemporary, and a different boat goes to Ft Wilderness.

Finally, you can get a set of clues from the front desk for hidden Mickey's all over the resort. The resort is just beautiful - check out the main lobby (and all the different levels of the lobby - lots of educational stuff regarding the fireplace and the many layers of rock), as
well as the Villas lobby.

Enjoy!

[Mousemates]

we loved our stay at the WL...had a courtyard view and could hear the water in the "mountain stream" from our balcony...looking out towards bay lake with all the pine trees it felt very much (without mountains) like some of the lodges we've stayed at in Montana/wyoming. The lobby is pure magic, the pool is great and the water taxi service makes for a relaxing trip to the MK and back.

Also remember that you can ride the boat to the CR...catch the monorail there...and use monorail service to Epcot...hope you have an A+ stay.

[TheVBs]

If we ever stay at a deluxe, this would be our first choice. I hope you have a wonderful time, can't wait to hear about it!

[TinaAndGlenn]

We also LOVE WL! I am curious what 'view' room you booked? Last trip we overlooked the pool & lake area. It was spectacular! Although next time I am considering a woods view.
I enjoyed getting a dessert bar (YUMMY) & a cup of coffee (refillable mugs) in the evening and eating on the outdoor patio. The coffee is Necafe-not good for an avid coffee drinker, but the atmosphere more than makes up for its shortcomings!

[It'sWDW4me]

As Rusty said, request to be the Flag Family of the Day. I've heard it's a fabulous experience.

[clausjo]

Thank you to everyone that has replied; I'm so excited! Because of cost, we're booked in a standard view right now, but I'm hoping that there will be some type of passholder rate for this time and I'll be able to change to a better view.

Does anyone know if there is a charge for the Lodge tour?

[Kate In Wonderland]

I agree with what everyone has said here! I've stayed at both the WL and the AKL. You can't beat WL for location! Definitely take the boat to MK, it's a much nicer experience.

Don't forget to ask for ketchup if you eat at Whispering Canyon (trust me...even if you don't use ketchup - ask for it anyway).

Have a wonderful time!!!

[Scott C]

Thank you to everyone that has replied; I'm so excited! Because of cost, we're booked in a standard view right now, but I'm hoping that there will be some type of passholder rate for this time and I'll be able to change to a better view.

Does anyone know if there is a charge for the Lodge tour?

Lodge tour is free -- Hopefully Stan is still there is is quite knowledgeable.

Thanks
Scott C

[prprincess]

So far, the WL is my favorite resort of them all. It's just a beautiful, peaceful, relaxing place. I loved all of the food options, the pool is great, and then the building and the grounds are just gorgeous. Enjoy!! I'm sure you will love it.

[wildernesslady]

The lodge tour is great. Stan was there for ours this past March. He was wonderful.We call him the ambassador for the lodge. He truly loves his job and the lodge. It is very relaxing there. You made a great choice. We had every DVC option available for our upcoming Oct. trip and still choose to return to our home resort. It is magical there.

[Princess'Mom]

Stan was there in late May/early June. I saw him in the lobby!

[darthmacho]

Though it has been 11 years since our stay in 1998, it continues to be our favorite resort. We visited in 1999 and 2003, and we plan on visiting again in 2010 no matter where we stay.
My wife and I love the theme and the decor, and the dining can't be beat. Artist Point is our favorite restaurant in the World, though next time we plan to take our young kids to Whispering Canyon for a wonderful lunch or dinner. I can't wait to go, I'm getting so inspired here on these boards again!

Have a great time at WL! Take time to explore the resort, and try both restaurants.

[jrpersinger]

Stan is still there. I talked to him last week by the geyser and again at the 4th floor sitting area above the lobby.

I am going to probably be the odd person out on this thread, but I was not overly impressed with the WL. I liked it, but not enough for a return visit. I thought the rooms were to small for us, the bedding was outdated and rough. And our general experience with the staff and overall service was plan BAD! To the point we were given 2 free nights.

The Lodge itself is beautiful. The pool was nice, but small and got REALLY crowded. We were also in a Courtyard View (rooms 4055 and 4057) right by the stream and it was really nice to sit out on the balcony at night and listen to it. I loved the boat transportation. The girls loved the pool parties. I also liked that its all under one roof.

[Septbride2002]

If we ever take a resort only trip I think either Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge would be my resort choice. I love the music they play in teh lobby of the Wilderness lodge - it is like salve on your soul. The Courtyard is beautiful and I love the view out onto the lake.

I have alwyas wanted to spend more time at Fort Wilderness w/o actually staying there (I'm not big on camping) so I think if we stayed a WL we would do some exploring over there.

You can sign up for the camp fire movie - where the kids roast marshmellows and then you watch a Disney movie on a big screen. Always seemed like a lot of fun.

~Amanda