Category — w. Most Recent Stuff

I saw the below on Amazon yesterday, so of course took a screenshot suitable for framing…

The part circled in red is what was new to me.  So now I will have a distinguished obituary: “Bestselling author…”!!!

If you are going to Disney World in 2014, you really need this book. Buy it here. If your trip is in 2015, wait for our 2015 edition.

Of course, as Jim Korkis notes here, there may be “Collectors Edition” value to the 2014 version, as it is our first!!! So perhaps you should buy several copies of both…

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(For the first page of this review of the Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, see this.)

THE BATH AND MASTER BEDROOM OF A BOULDER RIDGE VILLA AT THE WILDERNESS LODGE

The master bath and bedroom is the same in both One and Two Bedroom Boulder Ridge Villas.

They are accessed from a short hall near the kitchen. First on tap is the washer-dryer.

Next is the divided bath, with part accessible from the hall, part from the master bedroom, and a door between the two parts.

The part accessible from the hall includes a sink…

…shower…

…and in its own space, toilet.

The part accessible from the master bedroom has this sink…

…and a whirplool tub.

In the back of this master bath space is another large closet, romantically equipped with a laundry tub.

In the master bedroom itself you’ll find on one side a king bed.

On both sides the bed tables have storage…

…these villas have plenty of storage. But I do miss the desk you’ll find in other such villas.

On the other side of the room you’ll find a small bench, a TV/dresser combo, and an easy chair.

The bench has drawer storage below…

…and the dresser adds more.

A closer view of the chair.

These rooms are just fine for most couples!!

THE ART AND AMENITIES OF THE BOULDER RIDGE VILLAS AT THE WILDERNESS LODGE

This review continues here!

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DISNEY WORLD NEXT WEEK: OCTOBER 11 TO OCTOBER 19, 2014

The material below details operating hours, Extra Magic Hours, parades, and fireworks.

The same stuff is in the image, but organized by park, not by topic.

For more on October 2014 at Walt Disney World, click here.

[Read more →]

DISNEY WORLD DEALS INTO MARCH 2015

As expected, two new Walt Disney World deals came out this morning for early 2015.

• One is a “Stay, Play and Dine” package discount with eligible arrival dates of 12/14-12/20/2014 and 1/5-3/7/2015
• Another is a room-only discount applicable most nights from 1/5-3/28/2015

These deals need to be booked by December 29, 2014.

“Stay Play and Dine” savings vary based on family size, ages, length of stay, and hotel. A couple of hotels are excluded from the December dates. Disney’s page on this deal is here.

Room only discounts are as follows:

Value Resorts:

• Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation: excluded
• All Star Sports, All Star Music, Pop Century and Family Suites at Art of Animation: 15% off on weekends, 20% off on weekdays
• All Star Movies: 10% off on weekends, 15% off on weekdays

Moderate Resorts:

• Coronado Springs, Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans Riverside, Cabins at Fort Wilderness: 20% off on weekends, 25% off on weekdays
• Port Orleans French Quarter: 10% off on weekends, 15% off on weekdays

Deluxe Resorts:

• Yacht Club, Beach Club, BoardWalk Inn, Polynesian, Contemporary, Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge (except Savanna view): 30% off all nights
• Animal Kingdom Lodge Savanna View: 20% off all nights

DVC Resorts:

• Excluded: Bay Lake Tower, Villas at Grand Floridian, Polynesian Villas, all Grand Villas
• Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, Beach Club, Boardwalk Villas, Wilderness Lodge Villas: 30% off all nights
• Villas at Animal Kingdom Lodge: 20% off all nights

Disney’s page on the room-only deal is here.

My friends at Destinations in Florida can help you with this or any other deal! Call them at 877-918-8941 or request a price online.

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(For the first page of this review of the Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, see this.)

PHOTO TOUR OF THE LIVING/DINING/KITCHEN AREA OF A BOULDER RIDGE VILLA AT THE WILDERNESS LODGE

The living/kitchen/dining area in Boulder Ridge One and Two Bedroom Villas are identical.

As you enter such a villa, you’ll find a large closet on one side.

Pass it and the main living/dining/kitchen area opens up.

The kitchen  has white cabinets and stainless steel.

The kitchen has all the basics required to store, prep, cook and serve meals for the people these spaces sleep. Some of the stuff here…

…more.

The refrigerator.

Deeper in the room–this shot is from the back near the balcony–you’ll find the dining and living space. Note the small breakfast bar at the right…

…much needed as the dining table is only provided with two chairs and cannot fit many more. The two together are fine for a four-person One Bedroom Villa, not so good for a Two Bedroom Villa.

Also on the dining table side of the room you’ll find this small couch. Note the Bambi pillow.

The coffee table has storage within it.

The couch unfolds into a bed that I measured as 60 inches wide by 75 inches long–as wide as, but a little shorter than a queen.  Because of metal rails the bed sleeps shorter than the measurements imply. I got the cushion as four inches deep.  Fine for kids, not for taller or heavier adults.

The other side of the room has a TV/dresser combo and a side chair. In One Bedroom Villas with a connecting door, that door will be where the chair is, and the chair will be closer to the couch, as indicated on the floor plan.

While the dresser has just one drawer, it, the shelf above it, the storage drawer in the coffee table, and the large front closet together provide plenty of storage for the two people this room sleeps.

Seating is another matter. The couch and easy chair are enough for the four a One Bedroom Villa sleeps, but for a Two Bedroom Villa, other chairs will need to be dragged into the living room, and there’s not a ton of space for them.

At the end of the space is a balcony. Most views at the Boulder Ridge Villas at the Wilderness Lodge are lovely.  The one above, from our August visit, not so much.

Here’s the view from our December balcony.

The One Bedroom Villas are great spaces in a wonderful setting.  The Two Bedrooms don’t fit well in the living/dining area all the people they can sleep…

THE BATH AND MASTER BEDROOM OF A BOULDER RIDGE VILLA AT THE WILDERNESS LODGE

This review continues here!

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(For the first page of this review of the Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, see this.)

PHOTO TOUR OF A STUDIO ROOM AT THE BOULDER RIDGE VILLAS AT THE WILDERNESS LODGE

There are three-ish basic room types at the Boulder Ridge Villas at the Wilderness Lodge

• Studios, which sleep five on a queen, fold-out couch, and fold down short Murphy Bed
• One Bedroom Villas, which sleep 4 on a king and a fold-out couch, and
• Two kinds of Two Bedroom Villas–one combines a Studio and One Bedroom Villa via a connecting door (called a “lock-off” villa), and another was designed as a Two Bedroom from the start, where the second bedroom has two queens (called a “dedicated” villa).

This page covers Boulder Ridge Studios, but at the end I’ll also make some notes on the second bedroom of a dedicated villa.

When you enter a Studio, the bath and closet are on one side, and the kitchenette on the other.

You’ll find this large closet accessible from near the bath sink.

Just one sink–but another is right outside in the kitchenette. Note the woodsy–twiggy?–treatment around the mirror.

The tub/shower and toilet are in their own separate space.

The kitchenette is across the entry hall. It comes with the mini-fridge and coffeemaker all deluxe rooms have, plus a microwave and toaster…

…and some basic supplies.

It also adds storage to the room.

Deeper in the room on one side you’ll find a queen bed and sofa.

A closer view of the queen.

Note the carving on the headboard.

Deeper on this side is the couch.

The coffee table in front provides additional storage.

The couch folds out into this bed. I measured it as 54 inches wide and 72 inches long–shorter than a full bed.  Metal rails at the head and foot make it sleep shorter than this.  The cushion is four inches deep, and the bed is adequate for shorter, lighter folk.

The other side of the room includes a dresser and a table that folds away when the Murphy Bed here is lowered.

I did not get a close-up shot of the dresser (on the right) acceptable even by my low standards, but it has four good-sized drawers.  These, the storage in the coffee table, and the large closet means there’s plenty of storage here for the five people this room will hold.

Another view of this side of the room…

…a closer view of the table…

…and of it disappearing as the Murphy Bed is unfolded.

The Murphy Bed presents the only reasonably priced way for five people to stay in a Wilderness Lodge room.

I measured the Murphy Bed mattress as 33 inches by 75 inches.  Because it is surrounded by framing, it sleeps shorter than this–otherwise heads or toesies will end up on the wood. Figure 5′ 9″ as the max height of someone who will be comfortable here.  The cushion is a nice 6 inches deep.

Note the darling Bambi art revealed when this bed is down.

Almost all Studios at the Boulder Ridge Villas at the Wilderness Lodge have balconies. Mine was the only one on my floor that didn’t–although I did have a nice view.

Because of the missing balcony, Disney upgraded me to a concierge room in the main Lodge, but when I explained I needed to be in this room to review it for you, they put me back. This is how I suffer for you–no free drinks, no balcony…

HOW THE SECOND BEDROOM OF A DEDICATED TWO BEDROOM VILLA IS DIFFERENT

Many Two Bedroom Villas at the Boulder Ridge Villas at the Wilderness Lodge combine a Studio and a One Bedroom Villa.

Some, however, were designed as Two Bedroom Villas from the start, and their second bedrooms have a number of differences compared to Studios:

1. No entry direct to the hall.

2. Instead, a very large closet in this spot.

3. No kitchenette.

4. No Murphy Bed or couch–instead these rooms have two queen beds and sleep four. See the image–which is from a much older version of the decor here.

Studios at the Boulder Ridge Villas at the Wilderness Lodge present a great option for five person families, or families looking for three sleeping spots!

PHOTO TOUR OF THE LIVING/DINING/KITCHEN AREA OF A BOULDER RIDGE VILLA AT THE WILDERNESS LODGE

This review continues here!
 

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