31 responses

  1. Kelly B – Destinations In Florida
    August 9, 2016

    Linda – I\’ve had a few clients visit there and they said the construction has not been a bother at all. Low noise levels. A lot of the visual obstructions are down. And they said the buses and boat have been so empty. If this runs course to how the Poly renovations went, then what they told you seems right on target.

    Reply

    • Anonymous
      August 9, 2016

      Thank you !!

      Reply

  2. Linda
    August 9, 2016

    I spoke to disney, and they said the construction on the villas will be completed by the end of the year, and only the small pool and spa will be closed until march. How true is this ?

    Reply

    • Dave
      August 10, 2016

      Linda, honestly we won’t know until they stop…

      Reply

  3. Mary
    July 5, 2016

    Hi Dave,
    I have reservations at the Villas in August
    Their is a lg group of us, not sure where are rooms are yet.
    I am a little concerned about the construction and how it affects people staying in the Villas.
    How do you get to the Villas, from Wilderness Lodge.Do you walk that path that I see in the pictures.
    Thankyou

    Reply

    • Dave
      July 6, 2016

      There’s is a short covered walkway from the main lodge to the villas, Mary. See the map–it’s the narrow green thing connecting the green roofed and red roofed buildings.

      Reply

  4. frank
    June 10, 2016

    Hi David,
    What will be the view from the “old” DVC (bottom right of the map) because the new ones (the righ ones) will be in front and will hide the lake view, am I right?

    Reply

    • Dave
      June 11, 2016

      Frank, the lower DVC rooms already had their views blocked by trees, and I don’t expect any of the new stuff to be higher than treetop height. So there should be no net change in views.

      Reply

  5. Debbie
    May 18, 2016

    Have all of the courtyard view rooms in the lodge been renovated?

    Reply

    • Dave
      May 19, 2016

      No, Debbie. Half are untouched, the other half are–it’s believed–being converted to DVC.

      Reply

  6. Jennifer OHair
    April 10, 2016

    We are wanting to book a courtyard view room at WL first week of December 2016. I’m not overly concerned about the views, but instead am worried about afternoon noise. I will have my 9 month old son with me and am planning on daily nap time. Do you think it will be too noisy?

    Reply

    • Dave
      April 11, 2016

      Jennifer, any room at WL may be subject to noise. Just to be sure, you might want to pick a different hotel…

      Reply

      • Jennifer OHair
        April 11, 2016

        Thank you so much! Think we will look elsewhere.

        Reply

  7. Thia
    March 12, 2016

    Hi Dave! Thank you so much for your quick response I’m very grateful. I took your advise and looked into the Contemporary (we’ve stayed there in the past) but again the price difference is astronomical, I would end up paying an additional $1,113 that’s just too much. I’ve heard Animal Kingdom Lodge is amazing, however my son has ADHD & autistic and my husband has cancer. Travel to and from AK is difficult for this reason we simply avoid it and the park. Wilderness Lodge & the Contemporary have the best transportation for us. WL is like my parents home in Colorado so we’re good there. You hit it on the nail about my concerns with the noise. We typically take afternoon breaks from the parks to avoid sensory overload and melt downs. We take our son on hikes or play on the beach. once centered we head back to the parks for diner and enjoy an easy pace at the parks. I think my only option is to voice my concerns with a cast member before our plans are finalized, hopefully they’ll understand and do the right thing. Again thank you Dave for time & energy this is a wonderful site and I’m glad I came here. Thia

    Reply

    • Dave
      March 15, 2016

      Thia, Garden Wing standard view rooms are $50-70 more per night your dates than WL rooms…

      Reply

  8. Thia
    March 12, 2016

    Hi there! We’re planning our trip for the last week of October 2016. We plan to stay at the W.L. in Standard View w/2 queen beds, can you please tell me how I should specifically request for a room. Example: Building 1, Floor 1, SE – facing view, Room #1000-1010. I wish we could afford to upgrade but our budget is tighter than my belt! Thank you in advance!

    Reply

    • Dave
      March 12, 2016

      Thia, don’t do it that way, as the folks assigning your room won’t be able to interpret what you want or are trying to avoid. Request an upper floor room that avoids construction noise.

      If you are worried about construction, try standard view at the Animal Kingdom Lodge or at the Garden Wing at the Contemporary.

      Reply

  9. Drew greene
    February 17, 2016

    Is there a strong chance this runs into 2017? Would like to possibly stay here in feb or march of next year.

    Reply

    • Dave
      February 18, 2016

      Drew, yes.

      Reply

  10. Stefanie
    January 18, 2016

    Hi Josh,
    I recently booked a room at the VWL using DVC rental points for May. We booked thru a service which is non refundable. I don’t think we realized the extent of the construction. Do you think it is still worth a stay. we had some other options at the time of the booking, but now i am getting worried. We don’t plan to be around most of the day since we will be at the parks, but I am not sure what to do.

    thanks

    Reply

    • Dave
      January 19, 2016

      Stefanie, the main worry is daytime construction noise. If you aren’t in your room much, I don’t think it will matter.

      Reply

  11. Joan tomei
    January 13, 2016

    Planning a dec 2016 stay at WL in a standard room. Will be getting 3 rooms, bringing kids and grandkids with us. Will the construction bother us in a standard room? Should I try for some upgrade? Would a courtyard view be better? Worth the money? A bunk bed room? Thanks so much for your time.

    Reply

    • Dave
      January 14, 2016

      Joan, yes, courtyard view rooms are the best choice.

      Reply

  12. Tasha
    December 29, 2015

    The Polynesian does not have enough owners willing to rent out points yet I’m told. And the DVC is not allowing you to book 5 in a boardwalk room as the refurbishment is not finished yet, I’m also told. Perhaps I’ll just go to a moderate that sleeps 5 🙁

    Reply

    • Dave
      December 30, 2015

      Oh, fudge–thanks Tasha, I did not now either of those points.

      Reply

  13. Tasha
    December 28, 2015

    We are planning a trip for the first week of Dec 2016. As a family of 5, there are few affordable options for us. Do you think the wilderness lodge will be an acceptable choice by then? We plan on renting DVC points. This is our second visit, not first. Thank you.

    Reply

    • Dave
      December 29, 2015

      Tasha, construction is expected to continue at WL through 2016. Among the DVC studios, the BoardWalk Villas and Polynesia Village studios also sleep 5.

      Reply

  14. Debby
    December 27, 2015

    So, yes, of course I booked a villa…lol…Jan 31 thru Feb 5 2016 ..I knew about construction and have been to Disney many times previously, so I am not too bothered by it…In which villa would you suggest I ask for when checking in? I understand from your pic that not really ANY good views at this time, but perhaps you could guide us toward something..? Thank you

    Reply

    • Dave
      December 29, 2015

      Debby, the views on the non-Bay Lake side are the best!!

      Reply

  15. Beth
    December 18, 2015

    Hi Dave,

    Do you know if they have taken any VWL rooms out of inventory because they are so deeply affected?

    We are attempting to rent points in the fall and are hoping VWL will be an easier “get” because people will want to avoid it. However, if inventory is reduced, it might be tough to get anyway.

    Just curious! Thanks.

    Beth

    Reply

    • Dave
      December 19, 2015

      Beth, I don’t know, but I doubt it…

      Reply

Leave a Reply

 

 

 

My response to questions and comments will be on the same page as the original comment, likely within 24-36 hours . . . I reserve the right to edit and delete comments as I choose . . . All rights reserved. Copyright 2008-2024 . . . Unless otherwise noted, all photos are by me--even the ones in focus--except for half a dozen from my niecelets . . . This site is entirely unofficial and not authorized by any organizations written about in it . . . All references to Disney and other copyrighted characters, trademarks, marks, etc., are made solely for editorial purposes. The author makes no commercial claim to their use . . . Nobody's perfect, so follow any advice here at your own risk.

Back to top
mobile desktop