Tell me what you love and don't love about WL About This Page:

[erin7075]

Hi all,

We had originally planned on POFQ but got a 40% pin code and decided to book with WL for August 2010 and are just super excited about it!!

This resort just really looks wonderful to me. This is our first time onsite. We're driving in. Our party is myself, my dh, dd (9) and dd (5). We are supposed to be booked for a Woods view room.

Can anyone who has stayed on site tell me what they love and don't love about WL? Any tips?

[MelissaL]

Welcome to the boards! We stayed at Wilderness Lodge several years ago and really enjoyed it.

Loved:
The look of the resort -- as we were driving up, it was hard to believe we were still in Florida and not in the Pacific Northwest. We definitely felt transported every time we entered the building.
Artist Point -- yum!
Access by boat to the Magic Kingdom and the Magic Kingdom area resorts -- very convenient for breakfast at Chef Mickey's
The geyser out back -- if your kids haven't been out West, watching the eruption will be a unique experience for them (and for you)

Didn't love:
Unlike at the Boardwalk-area resorts, you can't really walk to anywhere else (except maybe Fort Wilderness) -- but we only missed that because we'd stayed near the Boardwalk several times

Really, this is great resort choice. Be aware: when your first time onsite is at a deluxe resort, it could spoil you for staying at a moderate or value resort on a later trip!


Happy planning,
Melissa

[Luvsun]

to the boards!
I WL! It is a beautiful resort!!
There are so many things to love about this resort.
Every time I have stayed there, the CMs have always been so welcoming and helpful!
I love that you can take a boat to the MK, Ft. Wilderness, and the Contemporary Resort!
There are some fun and good food choices! Whispering Canyon Cafe is a fun family place to eat. Artist Point is a great choice for a special occasion meal.
The pool area is wonderful! Dh and I love the pool at WL!
You can rent bikes or surrey bikes at WL and travel to Ft. Wilderness and look around. You can rent boats and sea racers (mini boats) at WL and tool around the water ways, including all the way over to Seven Seas Lagoon!
We had a pool/lake view room and watching the sunrise over the lake is wonderful!

[jimmymac]

Pros
-Fabulous lobby
-Great theming - it's hard to believe you're at WDW at not in the woods somewhere
-boat ride to MK
-walking along the beach
-Whispering Canyon Cafe - good for kids of all ages
-Artist Point - good grown-up place to eat
-great pool
-geyser
-nice gift shop

Cons
I can't name one

[erin7075]

Thanks for the Welcome!

Wow! Looks like we made the right choice! Thank you all for your input! Now, how am I going to make it for 9 more months?!

[lukeandbrookesmom]

Originally Posted by jimmymac

Cons
I can't name one

Same here! We love WL - enjoy your trip!

[disneyfan2000]

I remember the first time I visited the WL. I wasn't staying there, my brother and I were just exploring some resorts at night. I remember walking into the lobby and being completely overwhelmed. It was absolutely amazing. Saying the lobby was huge is an understatement. (I'm a star wars fan so bear with me on this description) It literally felt like I had walked into the Ewok city on Endor....the massive logs that seemed to go on forever. I had to walk around the lobby and take it all in from different angles.
And then seeing the little details like the water bubbling in the lobby and flowing outside eventually leading to the pool.....just amazing.

I finally got to stay there on my honeymoon. It was still as overwhelming then as it was the first time I walked into the lobby. Having boat access to the Magic Kingdom is fantastic. The whole Magic Kingdom area seems like the heart of Disney World (at least for me).

The negative is now, when i go back to Disney World, if I don't get to stay there, I'm disappointed.

[notjustamom]

We LOVE the WL. Last year my DD was 8 and DS was 5 and they love it there. Best thing for us was being able to take the launch to MK. You'll have a great time, it's a fantastic place!

[Mystic]

We love the Wilderness Lodge. We love being able to walk over to Fort Wilderness for breakfast at Trail's End. For us, Whispering Canyon Cafe is starting to wear on us. It's fast becoming a must not do but that won't stop us from staying at the Wilderness Lodge in the future.

[mavisdavis]

Originally Posted by Mystic

For us, Whispering Canyon Cafe is starting to wear on us. It's fast becoming a must not do but that won't stop us from staying at the Wilderness Lodge in the future.

I'm with you. It's just too much "action" for me and DH.
BUT for kids it's pretty fun!!!!

[disneyfan2000]

Originally Posted by Mystic

We love the Wilderness Lodge. We love being able to walk over to Fort Wilderness for breakfast at Trail's End. For us, Whispering Canyon Cafe is starting to wear on us. It's fast becoming a must not do but that won't stop us from staying at the Wilderness Lodge in the future.

How long a walk is it from WL to Trails End Rest.? We'll be staying in the WL villas in Dec.

[mavisdavis]

it's about 15 minutes. you could rent bikes to ride there, or you could take the boat if you weren't up to walking.

[Kynna]

We stayed there in March and had a great time. We loved hanging around in the lobby an rubbing the bears (on the totem pole outside the store) nose every night before bed. The boat ride to MK was magical and my kids really enjoyed the pool. The only con I can think of is the QS option isn't very quick and was pretty small. After one meal there we avoided it the rest of the trip. Not a deal breaker for us though. After we've done the "world tour" we'd be happy to return.

[Mystic]

Took us 10-15 minutes to walk there. Definitely a nice walk early in the morning. It's also a nice ride on the lake in the morning as well.

[ShellingConnie]

I liked everything about the resort except Roaring Forks was too small for the size of the resort.

That won't stop me from staying again sometime though.