Aaahhhhh! 30 hours until we head to the airport! I am so excited to FINALLY get to stay at WL!
I hope you had an easy trip and you're enjoying your stay
Just returned from a wonderful stay at WL. Didn't start off too good but still love the place. We rec'd a text with our room number and that it was ready when we arrived. Upon arrival, we went to our room on the 4th floor CV. MB wouldn't work. Back to the front desk and they re-scanned the bands. Back to our room. Well, it was a king bed instead of 2 queens. Back to the front desk. Told her I needed 2 queens and she gave us room 4009. Back to the room. MB wouldn't work. Back to the front desk for re-scanning. Finally, got in the room. Great room, great view. The only thing that would have been better would have been better transportation throughout our stay.
That post made me dizzy and you must have felt the same way. You literally got the run around. UGH.
We're here now and I've fallen in love with VWL. I actually love the feel of this entire resort. I know that most construction hasn't yet started so things will change in the fall. For now, I'm not seeing much construction other than a small area outside of Roaring Forks.
The lobby of VWL smells sooo good! And we are loving the space of a 1 bedroom.
That lobby is so relaxing. I love the inglenook area by the fireplace. Enjoy every minute!
What should I request for a standard view at WL? Would asking for a higher floor be best? Would a closed in balcony be better to block the service area below?
There are two SV locations - North Wing and South Wing. The South Wing doesn't have a service area below. Rooms look out at the parking lot with VWL, the bus stop and woods off to the left. The port cochere area is down below.
Photo courtesy of
GrandCalifornian:
Fourth floor rooms, I believe, on this side of the South Wing, are classified as SV and the rest, I believe are Woods View:
The North Wing rooms do have the service area below, but the highest rooms on the side have a partial Wishes view, but some or all may be classified as Woods View? The SV rooms that face the parking lot area and overlook the post cochere are dormers (upper right):
I just took the plunge and booked my April vacation at WL. I called to make my room only reservation just so I could have them put in my room request to be far away from the construction. The CM I spoke to didn't seem to know much about it since she had to look it up. She then told me that it looked like I wouldn't be impacted since the notice said that renovations should wrap up around Jan 2016. Then she did admit that the date is subject to change. From reading everything on the DIS, I kept stressing that I would really appreciate it if she would put the request down just in case it did run into April. Let's hope she listened and the CM assigning the rooms is kind to me!
The
WL DVC Expansion thread has lots of information. The only "renovation" I can think of that would be completed at WL by 1-16 would be the paint and repair work that's being done using the scaffolding.
My brain is in overloaded finalizing fast passes with dining and super secret birthday activies....Going to ft wilderness FRom wilderness lodge directly...I think there is a trail, but are there any other ways? It doesnt have to be the fastest, just from point a to point b. My husband has a bad knee, the less walking the better.
With a bad knee, I would take the bus if your DH finds it hard stepping up or down from an unstable boat.
I've stayed in some seriously dodgy motels, but I've never once had a room with a magic fingers bed. I wonder if I just haven't gotten out enough.
I'm at that point where I'm excited, but also nervous about vacation. A friend of mine just had a week of "staycation," and she thought a lot of what made it so relaxing was the lack of work involved. Disney is definitely a lot of work. We go to Disney pretty frequently, but this will be the first trip where my youngest daughter actually understands what's going on. She's only three, but completely obsessed with the Disney princesses and meeting Minnie Mouse. She's had two surgeries this year for a congenital heart defect, so I'm looking forward to spending vacation with her where we aren't in a hospital or home recovering from surgery. My sister is flying in from California with my niece, who just turned 18 and is starting college in the fall. And my oldest daughter hasn't a clue that her cousin, whom she idolizes, will be joining us for the trip. I think the magic is worth the work.
The seriously dodgy MOTELS would make for an interesting blog, with photos, of course
We understand - these trips can be very stressful, especially with multiple parties involved. We set high expectations and there's so much that's out of our control. But, once you arrive, often the stress is replaced with joy (and relief). Sometimes you just have to switch (mouse) gears and focus on that when you feel nervous and overwhelmed.
I have been reading construction is supposed to go into 2017. Just so you are aware.
It's estimated through April 2017.
So excited.... 60 days to go ... be at Wilderness Lodge Sept 26 to Oct 3!! This will be our 3rd trip to WDW but 1st time at Wilderness Lodge! On our 1st trip we had dinner at Whispering Canyon and fell in love with the property and so excited to be able to stay here this time!eds
I have been trying to read thru this thread and lots of great information, however, I have a couple of questions. We are booked in a standard woods view room (2 queens no bulk beds) - we would like to be on a higher floor and in the room type is there a particular floor or area to possibly get a view of the fireworks. Also from what I understand best to call and make a request over the phone approximately 10 days prior... is there reason we can't request further out?
Another thing we actually arrive in Orlando Friday Sept 25 and 1st night there will be staying at Dolphin and moving to the Wilderness in the morning; any suggestions as we have breakfast reservation at Askerhaus at 9:30 am and have to go to WL before AK to get out bands activated for the dining plan. 2nd thing about this is that we have a couple of things we would like to put in a safe... does WL have a safe that isn't in the room (since we won't be able to get in a room until later in the day)?
Welcome and I'll log your dates in POST 1.
You want to call and have your requests added NLT 7-10 days prior to arrival. The reservation drops into the resort about 10 days or so prior, then the WL Room Assignor assigns a room about 3-5 days prior to arrival. I recommend adding them ASAP or when you book. With a Woods View room, request a high floor in the North Wing or Wishes View.
Just go to the lobby check-in to place items in a safe, however, your room might actually be ready, as
@dansdad mentioned. Did you do online check-in and order MBs? Did you get a message inviting you to do
Direct to Room Check-in? This was being beta tested a while back, so I don't know if it's available to you or at all resorts, but it was to start in Feb. at WL. We had it in April at CR. This would allow you to bypass checking-in at WL. Your room number would be texted to you and you could go directly to your room when it's ready and/or go from the Dolphin to the parks first.
But, this I'm not sure about, I believe your package components would be available to you as long as you have your MBs with you. We have APs and use TiW so I don't know for sure whether you would have to physically check-in or not to activate your package components. Hopefully, someone will know
We have always found it helpful to explain what you are looking for in your requests. So I would request "higher floor" "view of fireworks".
The 10 day prior thing is something the phone CMs try to get people to do. I have no idea why. You can add your requests any time from the day you book up until 4-5 days out. I usually add my requests 7-8 months out when I book. If you try and the phone CM says you have to wait, call back. The majority of them will note your requests no problem.
You can check in as early as 6AM. You never know, your room might be ready. Most likely not, but it's possible. We have actually had our room ready around 6:30 twice now. If you can't get into your room, Bell Services will be able to securely store any valuables for you.
We have at 7:00 am ADR at Chef's Mickey's on Friday morning. If we are at the boat dock by 6:40, will we make it over to the Contemporary in time? I see the service starts at 6:45, but wasn't sure how long it will take from WL to CR on the boat. Or would it be best just to drive our car over there?
You can also take the Early ADR bus. Travel time is about 5 minutes.
From the TRANSPORTATION chapter:
BUSES FOR EARLY ADRs (Advance Dining Reservations)
Buses for the Magic Kingdom and Magic Kingdom Resort Area will start running at 6:30am DAILY.
Buses for Animal Kingdom/Animal Kingdom Lodge will start running at 7:00-7:15am DAILY.
Buses for the Disney's Hollywood Studios (covering the Epcot Resort Area) will start running at 7:00-7:15am DAILY.
Buses for Epcot (Princess Breakfast at Norway) will start running at 7:00-7:15am DAILY.
This information is valid EVERY DAY, and for ALL DISNEY RESORTS serviced by Bus transportation.
These buses are for Breakfasts only, and should not be used for general park access. Always let the driver know where you are going upon boarding the bus. Most times, the driver will be able to take you directly (ie: Contemporary, for Chef Mickey's) but sometimes this is not possible. As such, you should always allow time for a connection when going Resort to Resort. Actual arrival times will vary by location.
~AllEars
Thanks for putting together this awesome thread! We are staying 1-9-16 to 1-14-16 for marathon weekend and DD first trip (She will be 2). A few questions I would like to ask. Looking at the bus times, it appears that it takes ~ 30 minutes to almost anywhere with exception to MK, is this an accurate assumption? I am a big beer fan, and noticed that Whispering Canyon Café has a beer that is no longer shipped to my state (Racer 5 IPA). Does WCC have a bar area where I can just grab a beer after the marathon, or do I have to sit at a table to order one? Anyone who has stayed here for marathon weekend, do you have any additional tips/information you wish you would have known about your stay at WL? TIA.
You're welcome and welcome to the thread! I'll add your dates to the Lodgers' Log.
You should be totally fine taking the boat. I would be at the dock by 6:40 like you planned, and then you should be able to either hop on the first blue flag boat that arrives (which will either be going direct to CR (a 5 min or less trip) or to FW first (which adds about 10 minutes to the time to get to the CR) OR you could wait for the next blue flag that will be going direct to CR. Either way you will get there by 7 or just shortly after, and it beats having to deal with driving over there, so from there you'll be free to head wherever you want.
Congratulations. Your daughter should love WL. Ours did at that age for her first trip, and still does. I completely agree with your general bus assessment. Allow about 30 min, except for MK which is only like 5 min on the bus. Another exception might be Downtown Disney, which tends to be on the high end of the 30 min, so don't count on it being that short.
I'm not sure about the beer, but I strongly suspect that any beer available at WCC would be available at Territory Lounge, since they are right next to each other and share a service area. The lounge is the bar area outside of Artist Point, but has walk up service like you'd be looking for.
Enjoy your trip and the marathon!
Nice to see you. Hope the family is well. Is DD about to start kindergarten?
I was wondering, in order to plan, what the pool hours usually are in September? I understand these can vary, but if someone could give me a rough idea, i'd be grateful - particularly I wonder what's the latest for a late evening swim?
Since they added the fence and now close the pool when a lifeguard isn't present, the times have been slightly modified. I think in Sep. they are around 10-9 or 10-10?
We are staying at WL for the first time this August!
We can't wait! Thanks so much for all the incredible info!
Welcome to the thread and congratulations on booking! For even more information, we have a
WL DVC Expansion thread HERE
