Disney's Wilderness Lodge

Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort is styled on the Old Faithful Lodge in Yellowstone National Park at the turn of the 20th Century and evokes memories of the great outdoors from America's Pacific Northwest.

Rating: 4 stars
Rooms: 728 rooms & suites
Rates: from $240 to $770 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 Wilderness Lodge Resort also has the Disney's Vacation Club Disney's The Villas at Wilderness Lodge on the same site and they share the same facilities.

It is one of four deluxe resorts close to the Magic Kingdom theme park but 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 Wilderness Lodge Resort nestles in a stand of pine trees on the edge of Bay Lake. The split log wooden clad resort itself is U shaped around 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).

The lobby is amazing with an atrium up to the full height of the building, a massive stone fireplace, rocking chairs, Native American totem poles, teepee shaped chandeliers and wood carvings. At Christmas there is an enormous gingerbread house on display.

Rooms/Suites

The accommodation in the Wilderness Lodge Resort is in either the 7 storey main building or 6 storey wings. Rooms are decorated in warm wood colors with mission style furniture, quilt designs and wildlife motifs.

The rooms on the first floor have patios but not all the other rooms have balconies. You used to get a good view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the higher level rooms but now that the trees have grown, the view has been partially obscured.

Standard rooms will sleep 4 (plus a baby in a crib) on 2 queen beds and are the smallest rooms of the deluxe resorts. Most other deluxe resort standard rooms will sleep 5.

Some rooms are available with a king sized bed instead at no extra charge and you can also get rooms with a single queen bed and a bunk bed at an extra charge (see rates below).

With the standard rooms, there are three views; Standard View overlooking the grounds, Courtyard View looking out onto the courtyard, Bay Lake or the resort pools and Wood View overlooking the surrounding forest.

There is also a range of Concierge Club rooms and suites (see sidebar for additional amenities).

The Honeymoon rooms are the same size as the standard rooms with a single king bed, marble whirlpool tub and a dormer balcony and as the name suggests, sleep 2.

The Wilderness Lodge Resort suites are all 1 bedroom suites but you can often book an adjoining room to make them effectively into 2 bedroom suites.

The Deluxe or Junior suites have a large bedroom with 2 queen beds or 1 king bed and there is also a queen sofa bed in the living room and will sleep 6. They also come equipped with a wet bar, French doors between the living room and bedroom. Though they are not located on the Concierge Club 7th floor, guests have access to all the concierge facilities.

The larger The Vice-Presidential (Yosemite) suite has 1 bedroom with king bed, 1 1/2 baths, sitting room with sofa bed, small dining room, wet bar, whirlpool bath and sleeps 4. It also has 4 balconies wrapping around the corner of the building with views of the courtyard and Bay Lake.

The Presidential (Yellowstone) suite is the largest suit with 1 bedroom with king bed, 1 1/2 baths, sitting room with sofa bed, small office, wet bar, whirlpool bath and sleeps 4.

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 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 Wilderness Lodge Resort offers 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