Originally Posted By MPierce At a little over $300.00 a night for a courtyard view room during value season, you be the judge. We had room 5075 this time. A beautiful view of Bay lake. For folks familar with the Lodge, that's the room just to the right of the 5th floor overlook balcony. Now I'm definetly a sucker for the Wilderness Lodge, and it's evident I am willing to pay for that view. I suggest that folks that stay at one of the WDW resorts to request they change the sheets daily, If not you will get clean sheets every 4 days. Our room was immaculate every day of our stay, believe me we checked. We walked in several times while Mousekeeping was sweeping. The towel animals were just an extra touch. They forgot to leave coffee 1 time when we called they prompptly brought a weeks worth to the room. We received turn down service every night with mints. It actually started feeling like a 4 star resort. They still need better towels and a microwave, and a better cable line up as well as free internet connection. They no longer carry six packs of beer at the Wilderness merchabtile. That's right only single 16 oz beers at $5.25 a piece. So a six pack will set you back $32.33 now. A CM told me they quit selling six packs because the dining areas were not selling their beer. So now it's all 1 price, expensive. I have an appointment to make so I will finish my thoughts on the Lodge later.
Originally Posted By danyoung If the money's coming out of my pocket, I don't think there's a room on the planet worth $300 a night. But that's just for me and my finances. Plus I can get the WL in the $150-$200 range with AP discounts, which is a little more reasonable. It's one of the few WDW hotels that I have yet to stay in. Glad you enjoyed it!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 My thoughts on yours ... I love the WL. It is my favorite WDW resort. I truly feel 'home' there whatever that means. I love the new rooms as the lodge was getting quite shabby in the 2000-2004 period. I have spent more nights at that resort than any other Disney resort on Earth and the number of nights is likely in the 150-175 range ...yeah, that's a loT! But I can honestly say that I have never paid close to $300 a night. Hell, I have gotten concierge for $109 a night there. I don't even think I've paid over the $200 level for a room there. And I last stayed there in late 2006, so this isn't ancient history or anything. I can't say a room there is worth $300, but I can't say it isn't either. I wouldn't pay it ... but with the buy 4, get 3 free that changes the dynamic a bit. I can tell you that you could have stayed at places like Omni Championsgate, Gaylord Palms, JW Marriott Grande Lakes, Marriott World Center and Hyatt Grand Cypress for between $80-120 a night with Priceline.com these days ... no, they don't have magic, but they are damn fine true 4-star caliber resorts. You say sweeping ... was it a real vacuum or just one of those pushie deals? Turndown service is definitely something new or you were special because I don't believe I've ever gotten it there and that includes concierge level. So this would be an improvement. I agree about the towels and Internet, those are small-time deals that could easily be improved. And I am not a beer drinker, but it sounds like they're screwing over those who are ... and you know those DVCer like their Bud! Keep up the reports ... I ain't been up to the World since Halloween and I am anxious to hear the word of someone I trust!
Originally Posted By dshyates At $300 a night, no. I love the WL, but I won't pay that when you can stay at the Ritz Carllton for less. I just ran some numbers for next week. $279 Ritz, $259 JW Marriot, The Peabody $402, Disney's WL $199, WL Villa $334. But the DEAL of the WEEK by far is The Mona Lisa in Celebration. It is listed as 4+ stars and has a rate of $99 for a suite. But that may be because they filed for Chapter 11 last week.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^Yeah, but as I said you can PL for far less. Take a look at Biddingfortravel.com or Betterbidding.com and you'll see there are tremendous values coming up in O-Town now.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Turndown service is definitely something new or you were special because I don't believe I've ever gotten it there and that includes concierge level. So this would be an improvement. << This was the first time I got turn down service also. Next time a $109 Concierge deal comesa up let me know. I'll drive there for that. I'm not going to nit pick the price of a coke at $2.39 or 8 donuts for $4.29 or the increase while we were there of these cute little Mickey Place mats that went from $3.00 to $3.95, and I thought the lays potatoe chips were a bargain at $1.99. My suggestion is get your snacks, and especially your beer somewhere else.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> You say sweeping ... was it a real vacuum or just one of those pushie deals? << One of those pushie deals, and I guarantee that room was spotless.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> If the money's coming out of my pocket, I don't think there's a room on the planet worth $300 a night. But that's just for me and my finances. Plus I can get the WL in the $150-$200 range with AP discounts, which is a little more reasonable. It's one of the few WDW hotels that I have yet to stay in. Glad you enjoyed it! << Give it a try Dan. I think you will like it.
Originally Posted By -em I love the Lodge (and one day Ill even stay there...) course my fav thing in the whole resort is the pin cart (but I *am* biased)
Originally Posted By MPierce This is the first year my wife didn't buy any pins. She said she just wasn't into it this trip.
Originally Posted By -em Well there isn't many good ones out right now... Ive only purchased 1 set and 1 pin in the last 2 months and thats mainly cause I got them 50% off... Unless they come out with something super cute for April the next pin Ill prob end up with is the Lodge 15th anniversary pin...
Originally Posted By MPierce That's right that will be this year. I know my wife will want one of those. I talked to Ranger Stan while we were there. He said he will have his 20 years in this October. He said he just hasn't made his mind up yet on retirement.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<This was the first time I got turn down service also.>> Yeah. I don't ever recall it there at all ... and I was one of the first guests in May 1994. <<Next time a $109 Concierge deal comesa up let me know. I'll drive there for that.>> To be fair, I had booked a standard room with AP discount and when I checked in I had a very nice CM and she said my room wasn't ready, but she'd find 'something' for me. To me, that's real magic. <<I'm not going to nit pick the price of a coke at $2.39 or 8 donuts for $4.29 or the increase while we were there of these cute little Mickey Place mats that went from $3.00 to $3.95, and I thought the lays potatoe chips were a bargain at $1.99. My suggestion is get your snacks, and especially your beer somewhere else.>> Well ... all I can to that is ... DUH!!! Oh, and bring back your 1998-era refillable mugs too!
Originally Posted By MPierce My wife purchased the new mug. She said there were all kinds of folks down there using the old style mugs. At the ridiculous price range the Rodent is springing on everybody I see why. >> To be fair, I had booked a standard room with AP discount and when I checked in I had a very nice CM and she said my room wasn't ready, but she'd find 'something' for me. To me, that's real magic. << Did you invite her to share the bliss of the concierge level with you?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<My wife purchased the new mug. She said there were all kinds of folks down there using the old style mugs. At the ridiculous price range the Rodent is springing on everybody I see why.>> You know my story because it's the truth and I'm sticking to it. I was told by literally dozens of CMs over the years (including leads at Roaring Fork) that I could bring them back forever and that's what I do. I admit that in October, when I dined there but was staying at the Hilton, I felt I got some 'looks' from CMs, but I don't care what their new policy is ... and frankly when they eliminated the DDE discount there I almost stopped dining there ... now, well, when it's $17 for two chicken salads (and they are very tasty and quality), I am not adding another $4-5 to the tab for soda when I have a mug that I've been told to bring back. They either make that $15-20 tab with me getting 'free' soda ... or they make nothing and I won't dine there. >> To be fair, I had booked a standard room with AP discount and when I checked in I had a very nice CM and she said my room wasn't ready, but she'd find 'something' for me. To me, that's real magic. << <<Did you invite her to share the bliss of the concierge level with you?>> No. I was traveling solo and actually invited one of this site's top photogs to join me ... and she ate and drank plenty (albeit while telling me that concierge at the Poly was better -- and she was right about that!)
Originally Posted By Disneymom443 I love this restort, we stayed during the December holidays in 06. I felt that it was worth it every bit. It is just not what you get for me, it's how your family feels. They were very happy so that made it all worth it for me. It was my DH, kids and we took my MIL,&SIL. MIL, and SIL had never been, and all they could say was," This is so beautiful how can we thank you." My MIL was almost in tears. That to me is worth the $$$.
Originally Posted By juicer I have stayed at the Wilderness Lodge, Caribbean Beach Resort, the cabins at Fort Wilderness and Pop Century. The least cost (of course) was at the POP. When I go to WDW - I love that wonderfull "feeling" you get when you are totally emersed in the magic of Disney World. I realized that I can get that wonderfull "feeling" staying at the POP - versus the Wilderness Lodge. Our room at the POP was a large King room and it faced the big bowling pin pool. Just looking out and seeing that great pool with its great music (not too loud) gave me that "feeling" and it saved me over $200 a night! This is something that is so personal - Getting that "feeling" is why we all go!
