Thoughts on Wilderness Lodge

[our happy place]

we will be staying for the first time next week, so I will let you know how we liked it when we get home. We are very excited and I have a feeling we won't want to stay anywhere else after this trip!

[LudwigVonDrake]

I just booked the Wilderness Lodge for the first time for next July. Can't wait!

[RocknBev]

You have been given great advice....
We love WL and will be there in January for the marathon weekend. Of course after I kill myself in the half-marathon I may not leave the room..if I make it to the elevator...if not I will be the one passed out in one of the chairs in front of the fireplace
Definitely take your kids to the Whispering Canyon Cafe! It's a hoot!

[mickeefan]

We are seriously considering the WL or WLV for our Spring trip. It seems like everyone loves it there. It would save us considerable $$.
Only concern is the big boats and the ECV's, but it appears that will not be a problem.

[Ropachs]

Little update - my in-laws stayed at VWL last week and got to be the flag family. They were very fortunate to have Stan, because he is retiring on 10/30/09, sad we won't get to meet him next year...

[KylesMom]

They were very fortunate to have Stan, because he is retiring on 10/30/09, sad we won't get to meet him next year...

DH and I were discussing this very thing a few weekends ago and we both had a gut feeling that Stan would soon be stepping down. He's truly a great man (and spokesperson for Disney), and celebrating the flag with him during each of our stays the past several years has been a HUGE highlight of staying at WL.

Notwithstanding the sad news of Ranger Stan's departure, WL has become our favorite Disney resort - and one that we continue to come back to each year. While we did have some bumps with the front counter staff this past June, I'm confident this was more of an exception than the rule. The other staff members around the hotel were spectacular, and the activities around the lodge can't be beat.

[like2workout]

i think you will love the wilderness lodge! i stayed there for the first time in june, and i'm staying again next week. some of my tips will be repeats, but here are some things i enjoy about it:
-a nice walk through the woods over to fort wilderness. it's either 1 or 2 miles one way, but it's a nice relaxing walk
-movies are shown at night on the beach there. we watched wall-e one night. beach chairs are out for everyone to sit in
-if you have family members who like pin trading, they have a small pin booth with a pin trading book you can look through each day and trade if you want to
-whispering canyon restaurant is alot of fun and good food! it's not a quiet place by any means, but i you like liveliness while you eat, you'll love it. plenty of activities for kids during the meals too.
-rocking chairs and fireplaces are everywhere!!

enjoy!

[BigBaloo]

Not sure if they still do it, but they used to have a Hidden Mickey search. The front desk had a sheet w/ clues on it & we spent about an hour searching for them all. It was really fun & a good way to look around the resort

[KylesMom]

Not sure if they still do it, but they used to have a Hidden Mickey search. The front desk had a sheet w/ clues on it & we spent about an hour searching for them all. It was really fun & a good way to look around the resort

Yep, they still have the Hidden Mickey Search page! If it's not included in your welcome packet upon check-in, don't hesitate to ask for one.

This was an ideal activity for us one night when it was pouring out & we just wanted to stay in. We ordered a pizza, then wandered the rest of the night, trying to find those elusive Mickeys!

[kemps@wdw]

LOVE the WL! Couple of things you could look into...
1. Guided tour of the resort (ask @ front desk)
2. Flag Family of the Day (see Ranger Stan)
3. Elec. light parade on the beach @ night
4. Water taxis to CR, MK and FW (@ dock)
5. Walking path to FW
6. WCC (ask for ketchup)
7. Real geyser (every 30 min)
8. Arcade
9. Marina (mouse racer boats)
10. Great pool/hot tubs (yes...tubS)


The resort itself is a real jewel. If your're an early riser, the sunrise @ the dock is truly stunning!

[KH]

You have been given great advice....
We love WL and will be there in January for the marathon weekend. Of course after I kill myself in the half-marathon I may not leave the room..if I make it to the elevator...if not I will be the one passed out in one of the chairs in front of the fireplace
Definitely take your kids to the Whispering Canyon Cafe! It's a hoot!

Hey Bev,

My brother in law and I are running the Half Marathon and staying at WL too! Enjoy your chair by the fireplace. We'll probably end up recuperating in one of the hot tubs at the pool on Saturday night . Have a great race!

[clausjo]

Thanks to everyone for all of the great advice. A little update . . . hubby was laid off a couple of months ago and we cancelled the trip. Then, he decided to start his own business so things are looking up a bit (a little, little bit, but it's something). He felt badly that that we wouldn't be going because I went back to school a couple of years ago and I'm finally graduating at the end of this month! The original trip was what I wanted for graduation. So, me and the kids are going to go in February, but we had to downgrade to Pop. I'm happy to still be going and I really enjoy Pop, but I was looking forward for all of us to have a really nice stay at the WL.

We've made our ADR for Whispering Canyon so we can at least get over to the resort and have a fun meal and look around while we're there. It's not the same, but I'm sure we'll enjoy it very much. Does anyone know if we'll be able to get a hidden Mickey list while we're over there for our dinner?

Thanks again for everyone's wonderful advice. Hopefully we'll be able to put it to good use sooner rather than later!

[KylesMom]

Does anyone know if we'll be able to get a hidden Mickey list while we're over there for our dinner?

Absolutely - just ask at the front desk. While I'm sorry your plans to WL had to be cancelled for now, at least you're making the trip to POP in February and can still enjoy Disney's magic. WL will be there when you're ready for your first stay!

Congrats on your graduation, by the way!

[jonahbear2006]

your kids have great taste! the pool is uber cool in comparison, I think. The grounds are much more tranquil and, of course, location location location. You can always go to fort wilderness for the smore singalong and movie; chip and dale are there. There is a scavenger hunt you can get from your lobby at wilderness lodge, and I agree Artist Point is a fantastic place to eat. Whispering Canyon is not our forte, I have learned to despise disney restaurants that are loud. I need to take it back when I eat in a theme park setting not kick it up 10 notches. Their counter service there at WL is really good, too. And fort wilderness has the cheapest buffet on property for dinner if you are looking for a smorgasboard.

[jonahbear2006]

Thanks to everyone for all of the great advice. A little update . . . hubby was laid off a couple of months ago and we cancelled the trip. Then, he decided to start his own business so things are looking up a bit (a little, little bit, but it's something). He felt badly that that we wouldn't be going because I went back to school a couple of years ago and I'm finally graduating at the end of this month! The original trip was what I wanted for graduation. So, me and the kids are going to go in February, but we had to downgrade to Pop. I'm happy to still be going and I really enjoy Pop, but I was looking forward for all of us to have a really nice stay at the WL.

We've made our ADR for Whispering Canyon so we can at least get over to the resort and have a fun meal and look around while we're there. It's not the same, but I'm sure we'll enjoy it very much. Does anyone know if we'll be able to get a hidden Mickey list while we're over there for our dinner?

Thanks again for everyone's wonderful advice. Hopefully we'll be able to put it to good use sooner rather than later!

dont feel bad. we are going through the same thing and my husband is, as well, trying to do independent contracting. We love deluxe and had to stay moderate; it was the cheapest thing to do for 5 people and we were so homesick for beach club the entire trip. I think we would've been happier at pop, personally. At least it's whimsical and fun. Look at it that way, and just be lucky to be there. We are going in December bc we have annual passholders but we are only going with enough chump change for gas, so I feel like we are really pushing it. Things will get better and disney will be waiting! goodluck.

[Maleficent's Dad]

One of, if not the best Disney themed resort. The attention to detail here is second to none.

The resort is comfortable. It's really well done and it's just plain nice to stay there.

I could list a few flaws, but these are minor, nit-picky details.

Great place.

[Roland]

If you go to the Whispering Canyons, don't forget to ask for ketchup!