The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge

The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge evoke memories of the great outdoors from America's Pacific Northwest. They are housed in a five story tower alongside the Wilderness Lodge Resort.

Rating: 4 stars
Rooms: 181 villas
Rates: from $325 to $1,155 Check rates

Address: 901 West Timberline Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Area: Magic Kingdom Resort
Nearest airport: Orlando International (MCO)
Map: Click to view

The Villas at Wilderness Lodge are on the same site as Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort and they share the same facilities. The theming is rustic with Native American influences. Walt Disney's love of railroads is evident in the Carolwood Pacific Railroad Room with its  railroad memorabilia.

It is the only Vacation Club Resort close to the Magic Kingdom theme park but it is also the only one that is not connected by monorail. Transportation to the Magic Kingdom is by water launch and to the other theme parks by motorcoach.

The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge nestle in a stand of pine trees on the edge of Bay Lake. There is a courtyard with rocks, waterfalls and the Fire Rock Geyser that shoots 120 ft in the air, every hour (between 7 am and 10 pm).

Rooms/Suites

The 181 villas have either a private porch or balcony and look out on to either woodlands, pools, courtyards or the next door Wilderness Lodge Resort.

Rooms are suitable for between 4 and 8 people.

All the villas have kitchens or kitchenettes (Studio villas) with multiple bedroom units from studio, one-bedroom up to two-bedroom (there are no three-bedroom units).

Studios are around 356 square feet and will sleep 4. They come with a queen-size bed and a double-size sleeper bed.

The one-bedroom villas are 727 square feet and also sleep 4. The Master Bedroom has a king size bed with its own master bathroom and whirlpool tub. In the living room there is a queen-size sofa bed and a dining area.

The two-bedroom villas are a bit bigger with 1333 square feet and will sleep up to 8. The Master Bedroom has a king size bed with its own master bathroom and whirlpool tub. In the second bedroom there are either two queen-size beds or one queen-size bed and a double-size sleeper sofa. In the living room there is either a queen-size sleeper sofa.

All villas have flat-screen TVs in the bedrooms and living rooms.

Dining

The Whispering Canyon Café is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers all-you-care-to-eat food and games. You can choose from a varied menu including Canyon BBQ skillets with wood-smoked pulled pork and ribs, oven-roasted chicken, beef stew, steak, pork chops, pasta salads and sandwiches. There is plenty of entertainment from the waiters with songs and games; it can get quite loud.

The Artist Point serves dinner in a rustic lodge style setting decorated with beautiful murals and paintings. The menu include specialties from the Pacific Northwest including Cedar Plank Salmon, Grilled Buffalo and Artist Point Berry Cobbler.

There is also a quick counter service restaurant, Roaring Fork Snacks where you can pick up omelets, soups, salads, sandwiches, pizza, hamburgers, beers and non-alcoholic beverages and it is open all day.

The Wilderness Lodge Resort also has a lounge offering appetizers and a full bar including their own own micro-brewed beer and coffees. The Territory Lounge is open from late afternoon until midnight.

Recreation

The main Silver Creek Springs Pool that appears to feed from the hot springs in the lobby has a water slide, a childrens pool and two spas. Nearby is the Trout Pass poolside bar.

There is also a quiet pool and a roped off wading area by the sandy beach at Bay Lake plus a 24 hour children's playground.

You can rent a Pontoon Boat, a Canopy Boat or Sea Raycer by Sea Ray from the Teton Boat and Bike Rentals or take a specialty cruise such as the fireworks cruise. As the name suggests, you can also rent bicycles and cycle on the one mile path to Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.

Joggers and walkers can also take advantage of the bicycle trail as can skateboarders and rollerbladers. If you are feeling like relaxing then you can take an old-fashioned wagon or carriage ride to the campgrounds instead.

There are also opportunities to go fishing (catch and release only) and play volleyball.

Guests can work out on state-of-the-art exercise equipment or relax with a massage or sauna at the Sturdy Branches Health Club.

For children aged 4 to 12, there is evening supervised activities at the Cub's Den where they can play computer games and watch Disney movies plus dinner and snacks are provided.

Alternatively, there is classic camp fire entertainment and Disney movies under the stars at the Chip'n Dale's Campfire Sing-a-long.

For children, there is a video game arcade, the Buttons & Bells Arcade near the Wilderness Lodge Mercantile.

Amenities

The Villas at the Wilderness Lodge offer a host of amenities including:

• room service (including pizza delivery)
• concierge service
• rooms and facilities for guests with disabilities
• free parking, valet parking (charge applicable)
• minibar, iron and ironing board, wall safe
• coffee maker and microwave (available on request)
• refrigerator (available on request)
• TV with Disney Channel and ESPN
• babysitting and childcare services, Pak-n-Play Crib available
• laundry facilities/services (coin operated)
• bath robes and hair dryer
• voice mail, wireless internet access (surcharge for high-speed access)
• Sturdy Branches Health Club
• Wilderness Lodge Mercantile shop for northwestern and Wilderness Lodge themed merchandise and sundries