The Disney Graduation Trip, Part 1: Wilderness Lodge

We are not in Colorado anymore, Toto.

Since we would all be buying airfare already to Florida for graduation, I decided we should squeeze a Disney trip in, too. 

Ali's birthday was just a few days after the trip was over, so we celebrated early.

I also presented Nick with his Enchroma colorblind glasses I'd been wanting to get him. I figured he'd be outside needing sunglasses at Disney, what better time to see all the colors he'd been missing.

The only trick is getting your brain used to them. The instructions tell you not to flip them up and down, and Nick quickly learned why. If he took them off the whole world was suddenly like it was under water in a green sea. But they really worked. One of the bushes at Bill and Julie's place had red variegated leaves against other green leaves. Nick was unable to distinguish this until he wore the glasses.

Since we had arrived Wednesday we went over to Disney Springs that night for dinner, to get Ali's Aladdin cake, and to look around at the shops since we didn't allot any time during the trip weekend to get over there. We didn't have our grads with us, so we stood in for Sam and Jason.

Then Friday morning, we all got up, loaded up in the Explorer, with Julie leading the way in her car. The plan was to stop by Walgreens to stock up on water and snacks for the room, then check in to Wilderness Lodge, and she follows me over to the car rental return place that was just a mile from the hotel.

Sam, Jason, Zach, and Josh were coming over from Sarasota and checking into the Grand Floridian.

We hit traffic on the way in, but it did allow me to get a photo of her car under the sign entrance!

We checked in, left the bags, left everyone to get a bite for breakfast, and got the Explorer turned in. Once we returned to the Lodge, there was time to look around the place for just a few minutes before I got the text alert our room was ready.

this particular spot holds a lot of memories

(2000)

(2004)

Those flags at the top of the Lodge in 2004 were put up by us that morning. You can ask if there is availability to be a flag family at check in and we had lucked into a spot on the last day of our trip that year. 

The view from the flagpoles:

Ranger Stan had guided flag families for several decades since the Lodge's opening in 1994 until his passing in 2014.

the handles in the elevator

down the hallway to our room

We had stayed at the Wilderness Lodge on our very first trip and then once again in 2004. Room 3010 was just down the hallway from the room where we had last stayed some fifteen years earlier.

Our room view:

The Lodge has expanded exponentially since we first stayed here. They've added a DVC Lodge that's as big as the main one, as well as very expensive cabins along the water. Our view overlooked one wing of those cabins.

In 2004, all that was between our balcony and the water was trees. Below is the same angle as above in '04:

The only photo I seem to have taken of the room in 2004 is of the bunk beds (which we did not need this time around)

The interior of the room has been toned down a lot, with no comforter and only one accent pillow. The bed frames though have a carved log look with the wilderness headboard.

woodland creature shower tiles

After we had left our bags, we headed up to the top floor for the club level access we'd added on. The seventh floor is gated and has a wing of rooms, but you also have the option to stay in a regular room and add just access to your reservation to take advantage of the amenities.

The view from the 7th floor club. You can also see the "balconies" of the club level rooms peeking out from those dormers. Not a fan.

View down into the lobby from the club

to compare: