Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is your escape to the rustic majesty of America’s Great Northwest. The resort is inspired by the turn-of-the century National Park Lodges; it celebrates the American craftsmanship and honors the beauty of the untamed wilderness. The lobby of the resort transports you to the great outdoors. Towering totem poles and headdresses adore the lobby area where you can take in all the grandness while sitting in front of the rustic stone hearth and roaring fireplace. While at the Wilderness Lodge you can soak in the splendor of the great outdoors, from nature trails through pine forests to rocking chairs that overlook a mumbling creek, and don’t forget to catch the eruption of Old Faithful hourly.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge offers you the choice of two different pools. Follow the bubbling Cooper Creek to enjoy the Copper Creek Springs Pool where you can zip down a 67-foot water slide that is built into the rocks or relax in either a hot or cold whirlpool spa. Nearby the little ones can play in close by the newly added water play area. Keep your eyes open for Old Faithful’s eruption.
If you are looking for something more laid-back head over to the Boulder Ridge Cove Pool nestled within the Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. This location offers a zero-depth entry pool and a whirlpool spa. If you are lucky enough, you can get a spot at one of the first come first serve shaded seating areas.
Looking for other recreation to enjoy at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, there are bike rentals, boat rentals, fishing excursions (read more about this in my fishing excursion review), Buttons and Bells arcade, campfire activities and movies under the stars. There is also a great jogging trail through the meadows and pine woodlands, you can get a map of the trail from the Concierge.
In the evening you can sit along the shore of Bay Lake where you can see the Electrical Water Pageant go by. This show gives guests of all ages the chance to marvel at the spectacular sites and sounds as sparkling sea creatures cruise by to Disney tunes you know and love. Make sure to grab a drink and a seat so you can also watch the fireworks from Disney’s Magic Kingdom’s evening show light up the sky just beyond Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge has no shortage of meal options. You have several options to indulge in for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, all set amid a rustic yet elegant turn of the century Pacific Northwest setting. You can choose to have breakfast, lunch or dinner at the Whispering Canyon Café, a sit-down restaurant with all-you-care-to-enjoy skillets and shenanigans, reservations recommended, or grab a Quick Service meal at Roaring Fork with popular breakfast dishes like eggs, sausage and donuts or stop by at lunch or dinner for savory burgers and sandwiches. For lunch or dinner stop by Geyser Point Bar & Grill where you can enjoy your meal while taking in stunning views of Bay Lake. For dinner only you can head to Artist’s Point and savor a delicious meal that the whole family will love, with appearances by Disney Characters from the Disney film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, reservations required.
Disney’s Wilderness resort offers two different complementary means of transportation to the Walt Disney World Theme Parks. You can use Disney’s Watercraft Transportation to cruise across Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon directly to Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park. You can also ride a watercraft to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground or to Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Disney’s bus transportation is also available to transport you to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney Springs and the waterparks at the Walt Disney World Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge has no shortage of room categories. From standard rooms that overlook the parking area to Club Level rooms where you can enjoy the Magic Kingdom fireworks from your own balcony.
During at our stay at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge our accommodations was a Courtyard View Room that overlooked the Cooper Creek Springs Pool. The room was spacious and provided plenty of room and storage for our party. Standard amenities in Wilderness Lodge rooms are:
- Hairdryer
- Complimentary high-speed WiFi Internet access
- Pool towels
- Telephone with voicemail
- Coffee maker
- Flat-Panel Television
- In-Room Safe
- Coffee and tea set up
- Patio or Balcony
- Iron & Ironing Board
- Refrigerator – small
Below is a video of our room so you can see just how lovely the rooms are:
Overall, our stay at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge was nothing short of magnificent. I fell in love with the rustic beauty of the resort. When we returned to the resort we felt as if we were transported to the Great Northwest. The forest that surrounds the resort is like a natural insulation from the hustle and bustle of the theme parks less than a few miles away. If you are looking for a resort close to the action but that offers a peaceful serene setting when you get back to your resort, look no further than Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. This Deluxe Resort comes in at a great price and is a great option for families with children of all ages as well as for adults vacationing on their own. There is something for everyone at this resort. Let me book your next Walt Disney World Vacation at Disney’s Wilderness Resort, I promise you will not be disappointed.
Tina is a long time Advisor with Guru Travel. Tina specializes in all things Disney and would love to help your family plan. Tina can be reached by emailing tina@thewdwguru.com.