Air conditioning issues are plaguing Disney Wilderness Lodge and its visitors and employees this week.
Temperatures are rising and stifling in guest rooms, restaurants and backstage areas as thermometers in Central Florida tumble above triple digit territory. The situation extended to the resort’s common areas, including the seven-story lobby.
On Wednesday, a “Pardon the Fairy Dust” sign inside the resort warned that air conditioning would be unavailable throughout the morning. Reports of such problems began last week.
A Walt Disney World spokesperson said Wednesday afternoon that work is being done “around the clock” and that the resort hopes to have regular cooling operations in place soon.
Wilderness Lodge is located on Bay Lake just south of Magic Kingdom Theme Park and Disney’s Contemporary Resort and features more than 700 standard guest rooms. It opened in 1994 with a design inspired by national park lodges.
Resort guests are reporting that Walt Disney World Cast Members installed portable coolers in guest rooms and common areas late last week. Other guests were given the option of moving to another Disney World resort, including Coronado Springs Resort and Art of Animation Resort, and receive financial compensation, a spokesperson confirmed.
Wilderness Lodge rates vary by date, size, and view. According to travel and reservation company Kayak, the average price for a weekday room over the past two weeks was $609. Disney World classifies this resort as a “deluxe” resort, along with properties such as the Contemporary, Grand Floridian, and Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Kathy McKinley is visiting Disney World with her nine family members from North Carolina, New Hampshire, and Texas. They are staying in three rooms in the main building of Wilderness Lodge.
The cast members “have installed three fans in each room and a small refrigerator in one of the rooms. It’s hot in the common areas, but the rooms are fine,” McKinley said.
In fact, she praised the workers for their efforts in the hot conditions.
“We came back from a long day at Hollywood Studios a few days ago and they were giving out free varieties of ice cream and free drinks like water and soda,” she said. “We spend all day in the heat, so having the fans on makes us feel safe when we come into the lodge.”
dbevil@orlandosentinel.com
