WDWKOOK
NOW WITH LESS TAG!
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2009
WILDERNESS LODGE HISTORY...
Opening on May 28, 1994, Disneys Wilderness Lodge was inspired by the Great American Northwest National Park lodges from the turn of the 20th century. It is an architecturally grand Disney Deluxe Resort honoring American craftsmanship and artistry, and celebrates the majesty of the unspoiled wilderness. Designed by architect Peter H. Dominick, Jr., who also designed Disneys Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Grand Californian, the theme of being in harmony with nature winds through the lodge, inside and out. Authentic décor and genuine artifacts pay homage to ancient Native American cultures and the pioneering spirit of early American explorers.
Step inside the 7-story lobby, the centerpiece of Disney's Wilderness Lodge, and be awed by 2 towering totems. Each reaching 55-feet tall, the hand-carved pole, one topped with a raven, the other an eagle. Draw your eye up the 4 levels of corridors that surround the lobby and provide access to sitting nooks, terraces and nearly 730 guest rooms. The various animals, from whales to raccoons to eagles carved into these totems, depict Native American myths and legends.
A 10-foot totem near the Wilderness Lodge Mercantile features a few more famous animals. Disney character Humphrey Bear stands at the base and supports Donald Duck. Lodge legend has it that rubbing Humphrey Bears black nose brings good luck.
While looking up towards the ceiling in the lobby at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, notice 4 massive teepee-shaped chandeliers suspended from solid Lodgepole Pine beams. Authentic rawhide, hand painted with geometric designs, stretches over the lights' structural framework. Each teepee chandelier, with its bronze and steel ring of silhouetted buffaloes and riders on horseback, weighs 600 pounds.
~MORE WL HISTORY
~DOWNLOAD THE MUSIC OF WL
WL ROOM REHAB NEWS, ETC...
The WL room rehab includes replacement of most bathroom fixtures including the tile and shower curtain, the flooring, drapery, bedding and fabric areas of existing furniture, including the headboard. The outdoor furniture will also be replaced and the room painted a lighter color. All hallway carpeting will also be replaced.
To ensure minimal disruption to guests, the rehab will use floor buffering, meaning, the floor beneath the wing being rehabbed will not be occupied by guests.
From July 7 - 27, the South Wing's 7th (CL) floor is being rehabbed. The CL floor will have to be closed from about July 7 - 13 due to the replacement of carpeting, etc... near the lounge which will have to be closed.
The entire WL room rehab is slated to be completed by the end of September 2012.
More detailed information is available from the contractor, Thor Construction, which was posted on this thread HERE and HERE.
GarakDS9 reported on 7/14/12 that work was done on the North Wing: "Seems like south wing work is running full speed ahead."
On 7/4/12,GarakDS9 posted that "work is being done on the first floor now. I was amazed at their speed today. Old carpet was ripped out and new put in near the elevator just past RF. They also put in new archways to the first floor hallway , replacing sheet rock with more lodge polls. Looks nice."
REHABBED ROOM PHOTOS!
In May, Macavity provided us with the first WL rehabbed room photos! They are located HERE and HERE. In July, rea59 provided us with the first rehabbed Deluxe room photos. They are located HERE.http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2778033&page=212http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2778033&page=212
More rehabbed room photos by nyrebecca are posted HERE.
YOU HAVE ARRIVED...
Disneys Wilderness Lodge is located in the Magic Kingdom Resort area:
901 Timberline Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Phone: (407) 824-3200
Fax: (407) 824-3232
~Check-in is after 3:00 for WL guests and after 4:00 for VWL guests
~Check-out is before 11:00
SELF-PARKING is free and conveniently located directly in front of the resort.
VALET PARKING is $12 per day (plus tip). Guests need only pay for valet parking once per day at Disney resorts. Just show your valet receipt at the next resort to avoid being charged again.
Disney Vacation Club members no longer receive free valet parking.
Valet parking is free of charge to all vehicles displaying a disabilities tag at Disney facilities offering valet service.
DISNEYS MAGICAL EXPRESS:
HOW M.E. WORKS:
1. Reserve Disney's Magical Express Transportation when you book online or by calling (407) WDW-MAGIC or (407) 939-6244.
2. Upon landing at Orlando International Airport, skip baggage claim and proceed to the Disney's Magical Express Welcome Center in the Main Terminal Building, B side, Level 1. Disney's Magical Express service will collect your luggage and deliver it directly to your Walt Disney World hotel room within 3 hours after you check in at the resort. Luggage delivery service provided by Disney's Magical Express is available for flights arriving between 5:00 am and 10:00 pm daily. For airport arrivals after 10:00 pm, guests may collect their luggage at Baggage Claim and transport it with them on the motor coach.
3. International Guests flying into Orlando International Airport from another country must follow the U.S. Customs and Border Protection process and claim luggage after disembarking the plane. After completing the process, proceed to the Disney's Magical Express Welcome Center in the Main Terminal Building, B side, Level 1. Disney's Magical Express service will recollect your luggage and deliver it directly to your Walt Disney World hotel room within 4 hours after you check in at the resort.
4. Sit back and relax as Disney transports you to your Disney Resort hotel in an air-conditioned motor coach.
5. As your vacation draws to a close, you'll receive a Transportation Notice advising you of the pick-up time and place for your motor coach ride back to Orlando International Airport. Please note that it is your responsibility to bring your luggage to the pick-up point. Please note that you cannot reserve the luggage service exclusively. You must be present on the motor coach to have your luggage transported to a Walt Disney World hotel.
ROOMS, VIEWS AND RATES...
There are 728 rooms at the WL. Non-suite rooms are 340 square feet. Most rooms have 2 queen beds, but there are rooms with one king and rooms with one queen and a set of bunk beds. Suites, Deluxe Rooms and handicap-accessible rooms with roll-in showers are also available. FREE WiFi is now available in each room and in public areas throughout the resort.
WL ROOM RATES:
~2012 RACK RATES
BOOKABLE VIEWS:
STANDARD VIEWS look-out onto the parking lot, road, driveway, smokehouse/service area or roof with views of the woods in the background.
WOODS VIEWS look-out to the wooded area around the resort out toward the front of VWL or toward the Magic Kingdom and Contemporary. You can see some of the MK, Wishes and the monorail from higher floors.
~NORTHSIDE WOODS VIEW ROOMS are on floors 1-6 and face the Otter Pond. A few face the MK. Floors 4, 5 and 6 above Whispering Canyon are Woods View lobby rooms. There are more Woods View rooms on floors 2-6 located on the southside of the lodge overlooking the Villas and trees.
~SOUTHSIDE LOBBY WOODS VIEW ROOMS are located above the front desk off the lobby on floors 5 and 6 have views of roof peaks and trees in the distance. They are room numbers 5091-5099 and 6091-6099.
~SOUTHSIDE VWL/WOODS VIEW ROOMS are located on the southside of the lodge before the mid-lodge elevators. They face the side of the VWL and a few trees and are on floors 2-6. Rooms are even numbered from 2100-2120, 3100-3120, 4100-4120, 5100-5120 and 6120-6120.
~NORTHSIDE LOBBY WOODS VIEW ROOMS are located off the lobby above Whispering Canyon Café. These rooms face toward the Contemporary Resort and Magic Kingdom with the possibility of seeing Wishes. Rooms numbers are: 4081-4090, 5081-5090 and 6081-6090.
~NORTHSIDE OTTER POND WOODS VIEW rooms are located beyond the mid-lodge elevators. They are on floors 1-6 and they face toward the Contemporary Resort and Magic Kingdom giving you the possibility of seeing Wishes from the higher floors. They also overlook the Otter Pond which attracts wildlife. Rooms are even numbered 1004-1034, 2004-2034, 3004-3034, 4004-4034, 5004-5034 and 6004-6034. Rooms 6004-6034 have dormer balconies.
COURTYARD VIEWS are of Bay Lake, the Silver Creek Springs Pool and the Fire Rock Geyser or the Wilderness Lodge Villas Hidden Springs Pool area. Some Courtyard view rooms are located off the lobby. Down the south and north corridors they face the falls and pool. Some Courtyard View rooms also face south overlooking the VWL. Rooms are located on all floors.
~NORTHSIDE INNER COURTYARD VIEWS provide a view of Bay Lake and therefore the Electrical Water Pageant if the room is located on one of the higher floors. They are further away from the pool and they are located on floors 1-6 and are odd numbered from 1005-1031, 2005-2031, 3005-3031, 4005-4031, 5005-5031 and 6005-6031. Plus 4035-4061, 5035-5061 and 6035-6061. Rooms 6005-6031 have dormer balconies.
~SOUTHSIDE INNER COURTYARD VIEW ROOMS are in the south wing close to the Silver Creek pool. The higher floors have obstructed and very limited views of the higher fireworks from the Magic Kingdom. The Courtyard View rooms toward the end of the wing would be the best location to see them. They are located on floors 1-6 and they are odd numbered rooms 1135-1165, 2135-2165, 3135-3165, 4135-4165, 5135-5165 and 6135-6165. Plus 2107-2121, 3107-3121, 4107-4121, 5107-5121 and 6107-6121. Rooms 6107-6121 have dormer balconies.
~COURTYARD VIEW ROOMS OVERLOOKING THE VILLAS are located in the south wing that face south and have a view of the VWL and the Hidden Springs Pool. The rooms also have a view of the forest between WL and Ft. Wilderness Campground. These rooms are some of the quietest rooms. They are located on floors 1-6 and are even numbered from 1130-1164, 2130-2164, 3130-3164, 4130-4164, 5130-5164 and 6130-6164. Rooms 6130-6164 have dormer balconies.
~INNER COURTYARD VIEW ROOMS OFF THE LOBBY (known by DISers as Bear Face Rooms), are centered in the middle of the inner courtyard and they overlook the entire courtyard area from the balcony with the lobby outside the front door. They are located on the 4th and 5th floors and are odd numbered from 4067-4079 and 5067-5069.
STANDARD (NON-SUITE/DELUXE) ROOMS are 340 square feet and have either two queen-size beds, a king-size bed (wheelchair-accessible rooms), or a queen-size bed and a set of bunkbeds. All rooms come with a table and two chairs, flat panel TV, under-counter refrigerator, keyed wall safe, iron and ironing board, iHome clock radio, and CUISINART COFFEE MAKER WITH COFFE AND TEA replenished as needed. Toiletries are included and replenished as needed or by request.
The bathrooms have black/gold granite countertops in the separate vanity area with two sinks and two mirrors, and a hair dryer (NOT attached to the wall). The adjoining bathtub/shower/toilet area has white and gold tiles and wallpaper in an etched leaf print. There is a full-length mirror on the outside of the bathroom door and a curved shower curtain with a rain showerstyle showerhead.
DELUXE ROOMS sleep six. At 500 square feet, these rooms have a balconied parlor area separated by French doors with a queen-size leather sleeper sofa, two easy chairs, a coffee table, table and two chairs, wet bar, fridge and a flat panel TV. The bedroom is separated by the curtained French doors from the parlor and has two queen-size beds, another flat panel TV, and another balcony. The double-sinked bathroom with separate toilet and shower/bath can be accessed from either the bedroom or the foyer and is identical to a standard rooms bathroom. Deluxe Rooms have a view of Bay Lake though some views are obstructed by trees. Although none are located on the club levels seventh floor, they do come with full club level amenities and privileges.
Rehabbed Deluxe Room photos from July 2012 can be found HERE. (Thank you, rea59.)
Deluxe Room photos from April 2012 (pre-rehab) can be found HERE. (Thank you, elaw.)
~DELUXE INNER COURTYARD VIEW ROOMS:
Five of these rooms are located mid-way down the South Wing and have a view of the inner courtyard. They are located just around the corner from the mid-lodge elevators with easy 7th floor access. The rooms are 2123, 3123, 4123, 5123 and 6123. Rooms 2123 and 3123 have dormer balconies.
~DELUXE NORTH WING ROOMS:
Ten of these rooms are located at the very end of the North Wing. They have a woods view very close to the dock with an obsstructed view of Bay Lake. The rooms are 1000, 1003, 2000, 2003, 3000, 3003, 4000, 4003, 5000 and 5003.
~DELUXE SOUTH WING ROOMS:
Ten of these rooms are located at the very end of the South Wing. They have views of Bay Lake and the marina. The rooms are 1166, 1169, 2166, 2169, 3166, 3169, 4166, 4169, 5166 and 5169. Rooms 1166 and 1169 have dormer balconies.
From the previous thread, orignally posted by HumphreytheBear: There are actually 25 Deluxe Rooms (Junior Suites). They are 1000, 1003, 1166, 1169, 2000, 2003, 2123, 2166, 2169, 3000, 3003, 3123, 3166, 3169, 4000, 4003, 4123, 4166, 4169, 5000, 5003, 5123, 5166, 5169 and 6123.
All of these rooms do offer a connecting option that would be a room with 2 queen beds or a room with one king bed that is either woods or courtyard view. Rooms X000 are the rooms in the North wing that are at the very end of the hall on the left corner, Contemporary side they are Lake/tree view, X003 are the 2 doors down on the right corner with a pool/lake/tree view rooms X123 are halfway down the south wing in the left corner overlooking the pool/lake/geyser. Room X166 is the room at the far end of the south wing on the left corner with a lake view and rooms X169 are 2 doors down on the right corner also with a lake view. Rooms 2123, 3123, 1166, 1169, 2166, and 2169 have dormer balconies.
~WONDERFUL WL INFORMATION THREAD BY MAGICinMYHEART: 2009-2011
~WILDERNESS LODGE PHOTO THREAD: 2008 - PRESENT
~FANTASTIC FAN SITE