Wilderness Lodge

Originally Posted By tuknshak

We are starting to look at making a trip to WDW in may of 2007. We are thinking of staying at the Wilderness Lodge. We had a couple of questions about it. Does the Monorail stop here? If not what ways do you move between all the parks from this hotel? Also what hotel rooms ahve the best view? Thanks!

 

Originally Posted By trekkeruss

The WL is not a monorail resort. You can take a boat to the MK; the rest of the parks are accessed by bus. No opinion on views, as I have never stayed there.

 

Originally Posted By DVC_dad

The only options for transport are...

1.) Your car to all parks.
2.) A boat to the MK or transportation station, then to all parks from there.
3.) A bus to all parks.

As for the view, that depends on if you want an extremely PRIVATE view, which there are many of the forrest area...or a pool view. The pool is neat and you can see the light show on the lagoon around 9PM at night with that one. I'd ask for a higher floor pool view myself.

 

Originally Posted By MinnieSummer

IMHO the transportation at this resort ranks the lowest of all resorts. I don't mind busses as I stay at moderates most of the time but for some reason the busses to and from WL seem to take forever. I'm simply not a fan. I also don't think the pool is large enough for the size of the resort. However, the theming of the resort is breathtaking. I'd definitely request a room with a view of the pool so you can see the Boat Parade in the evening -- my daughter loved getting to see that from our balcony.

 

Originally Posted By bandontherun

WL is my favorite resort- I love the boat ride to the MK. You can also take a boat directly to the Contemporary and use the monorail to Epcot or walk from Contemporary to MK. Otherwise it is all bus service.

 

Originally Posted By LuvDatDisney

"I also don't think the pool is large enough for the size of the resort."

It was before they went and added timeshares that were never part of the plan when the resort was built.

 

Originally Posted By jkayjs

WL is our favorite. We like an upper floor at the end facing the main pool and CR. We have had a room on that end that we could see the fireworks over the top of the resort from the MK and as mentioned we could see the ELP and the geyser.
As said the three options are boat, bus and car. We have been many times and have never had an issue with transportation.
There are two pools, the main pool which can get busy, but there is a quiet pool on the VC side that always seems to have room. There is a nice path over to FW and they have lots of things to do there. The marina rents boats and bikes as well with a beach next to it. There are 2 good sized hot tubs by the main pool that are very nice.
The grounds are beautiful. As soon as you turn onto the drive you feel like you are in the northwest. Palms are replaced with pines and the themeing is carried throughout the resort. The lobby is breathtaking but at the same time the most laid back and inviting you'll experience at WDW.
I guess you can tell we really like this resort. May will be a lovely time at WDW. Go to www.allearsnet.com to see all the resorts and check out the discriptions of each. Pick the one that appeals to you most. There is something for everyone so don't let a good or bad response on a message board keep you from trying the resort that seems right for you. Have fun choosing and enjoy your trip. For us the planning is a large part of the fun.

 

Originally Posted By BlazesOfFire

I will be there on Sunday even but have stayed quite a few times before.

I like either a Courtyard or Woods view, and never had a bad view. I do, though. absolutely hate the bus system there, and on EMH nights, even the boat service sucked. They had only one boat running and you share the boat and busses with Fort Wilderness Campground. I saw busses come and go twice for some resorts while waiting once for a bus to come pick us up from Epcot.

Aside form the transportation issues WL is simply breathtaking from the moment you walk in the hotel. I love how everything is centralized, and you dont have to walk far to go to another building for your room. Its all in the same building! The lobby is wonderful, and so are the rooms. The reataurants are yummy too!

 

Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom

I have stayed at the Wilderness Lodge. It has incredilbe themeing and is truely a gem when it comes to resort design. WL has two incredible sit down resturaunts as well as a small and limited food court. The pool also has incredible themeing as well. My first comment about the pool is that back in January you could boil a potato in it since it was so warm ( and I'm talking about the pool not the hot tub ). Your going to get an incredible view anywhere in the resort. Some quests complain about the views of the room facing the parkinglot ( rooms facing out towards the front of the Lodge ). My room was facing the Villa's. I really liked the view and it was nice and quiet. My room was on the third floor. Its kinda of a hidden floor on the wing where the shop is.

This resort always seems to be a hubbub of activity ever at night. You want to keep in mind that its a multi-story resort and I swear the walls are paper thin. I found the WL to be noisey. You could hear toilets flushing in adjoining rooms throughout the night. From early morning on you could hear children running up and down the halls.

As for transportation, you have boat access to the MK as well as bus access to ALL parks. You share the boat and buses with guests staying at the Ft Wilderness Campground. I for one enjoyed the boat trip to the MK.

<<It was before they went and added timeshares that were never part of the plan when the resort was built.>>

This is not true. Uuban Design Group's original plan always included the Wilderness Villas. The WLV were not suppose to be build so close to the WL. The WLV were intened to use the WL check in desk. In the original plan UDG planned on a train that would take guests from the check in at the WL to the WLV.

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/187690707X/qid=1145493404/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-2191227-1791067?s=books&v=glance&n=283155" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/gp/produ
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Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy

<My first comment about the pool is that back in January you could boil a potato in it since it was so warm ( and I'm talking about the pool not the hot tub )>

Aw man...you just sold me on the WL, Tom. I loooove bein' hot and humid, and a hot pool certainly fits that bill!

 

Originally Posted By tuknshak

Thanks for the input. Jkayjs- what type of room did you reserve to get a view of both the main pool and MK? Any particular area/room number we should but a request in for after booking?

I am glad to hear the theme of the hotel is breathtaking. We got the idea from disney's website the hotel was very beautiful and fit us perfectly. We are getting married at the Ahwahnee in Yosemite next month and love to stay at GCH at DL. As you can see the trend we love nature and disney. We both have never been to WDW but are AP DL people and love DL. We are thinking for our first anniversary WDW and the WL are the perfect match.

The transportation does seem a little skim for this hotel but that isn't enough to make us not stay there. What are the boats to the MK? You can get on the Monorail from there and move between parks correct? How far away is that boat ride?

 

Originally Posted By trekkeruss

Just about anything you want to know about the WL:

<a href="http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/faq_wl.htm" target="_blank">http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/
faq_wl.htm</a>

<<What are the boats to the MK? You can get on the Monorail from there and move between parks correct? How far away is that boat ride?>>

The monorail only serves two parks: the MK and Epcot, and they themselves are not directly connected. To get to Epcot from the WL using the monorail, you would have to get on the boat to the MK, take the monorail to the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC), and transfer to an Epcot monorail. It would be easier just to take the bus to Epcot.

 

Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom

The Wilderness Lodge, Wilderness Lodge Villas, Animal Kingdom Lodge and Grand Californian Hotel were all designed by the Urban Design Group.

 

Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom

The Wilderness Lodge probably has more in common with the Ahwahnee as they are both solid concrete buildings. But the interior looks more like the Old Faithful Ldoge just HUGE and with incredible restaurants. You are going to love it.

I don't know if the pool is heated in the summer. But boy oh boy it was nice and toasty in the winter.

 

Originally Posted By Disneymom443

I have resvorations for Wilderness Lodge and can't waite.

I got all of my info through allearsnet they have a wonderful slide show of the resort. And get info on just about anything for the resort.
Try to do the family raising of the flag. they get a family to do this every morring.

 

Originally Posted By t1lersm0m

<<I don't know if the pool is heated in the summer. But boy oh boy it was nice and toasty in the winter.>>

The pool at AKL was heated in August 2004. It was too hot during the day, but felt good at night. There should be a way to just heat the pools at night, but I know it takes a long time to heat a pool that size.

But in the August heat, it's hard to feel refreshed in a heated pool.

 

Originally Posted By mrichmondj

I'm only 2 weeks away from my Wilderness Lodge vacation! I can't wait!

 

Originally Posted By NJFIREGUY

I stayed at WL last Jan. What a wonderful hotel.

I'm an early riser I would get up in the morning grab a coffee and sit in a rocker by the fire place while i waited for everyone else to get up.

The boat ride was nice but sometimes crowded.

and although the pool was pretty empty most of the time i was there (it was a bit cool) I do remember thinking it was rather small for the size of the resort. I bet its packed in the summer.

 

Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom

I think the pool is a good size considering the size of the main pools at the CBR, POFQ and POR. Of course the most incredible pool in my opinion at WDW is the one shared by the BC and YC.

 

Originally Posted By tuknshak

How does one book one of the WL villas? Any idea what they are like or what they cost per night? Are the more 'romantic' of a room choice?