Resort Spotlight: Wilderness Lodge Resort & Villas
Next in our series of posts featuring Walt Disney World Resort hotels is my favorite Walt Disney World Resort, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Villas.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge opened in 1994 in the Magic Kingdom resort area. Wilderness Lodge is reminiscent of the National Park Service lodges from the early 1900s and is a beautiful resort full of rustic charm. It sits between the Contemporary Resort and Fort Wilderness Resort on Bay Lake. The main lodge is an 8-story, massive log-structured building. The lobby boasts an 80-foot tall fireplace with wooden rocking chairs to relax in, totem poles, wood carving, teepee chandeliers, hidden Mickeys and more.
In my opinion, there isn’t another resort as beautiful as Wilderness Lodge during the holidays. There is a huge tree in the lobby with smaller trees and swags and wreaths scattered throughout the resort. With a fire in the huge fireplace and all of the gorgeous decorations it really feels like home. My husband and I chose Wilderness Lodge for our 20th anniversary trip in December 2014. It was our first stay at Wilderness Lodge and we picked the perfect time of year to stay. We could have sat in the lobby in front of that fireplace all day!
Accommodations
Wilderness Lodge has a total of 728 rooms of which 27 are suites. The standard rooms are about 340 square feet with 3 views to choose from. A standard view faces the parking lot, driveway or roof. A woods view faces the woods toward Magic Kingdom on one side and the Villas of Wilderness Lodge on the other side. A courtyard view gives you a view of the pool and Bay Lake. The rooms have either 2 queen beds or 1 queen bed and set of bunk beds. The suites are about 500 square feet and offer 2 separate rooms…a bedroom with 2 queen beds and a living room/kitchen. The suites are considered Concierge (Club) level and offer access to the Old Faithful Club with personalized concierge service and lounge with continental breakfast, midday snacks and evening wine, cordials and desserts.
There are also 181 villas at Wilderness Lodge that are deluxe studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom configurations. There is also an expansion project starting at Wilderness Lodge that will add 26 waterside villas and a new leisure pool.
Dining
Wilderness Lodge offers some great choices for dining. Roaring Fork is the counter-service location where guests can purchase and refill their mugs and grab a quick meal.
Whispering Canyon Cafe is described as a “rowdy, rootin’ tootin’ good time round up the whole family for hearty western fare and antics aplenty.” This place is a blast!! The food is delicious and the wait staff is hilarious! They really make eating here a unique experience. We enjoyed it so much we at here 3 times……breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Don’t forget to ask for ketchup!
Artist Point is a signature dining location serving American cuisine with Pacific Northwest flavors. It is rustic yet elegant. There are murals that capture the spirit and romance of the American frontier. Ornate iron lanterns are suspended from timber columns.
Dine indoors as you enjoy panoramic views of Bay Lake and Silver Creek Falls, or retreat to the outdoor terrace to enjoy the beauty of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
Recreation
Wilderness Lodge has 2 heated swimming pools, whirlpools, children’s pool and waterslide. There is also a health club, fishing, water play area, watercraft rental and bike rental.
Transportation
Wilderness Lodge offers motorcoach transportation to other Disney resorts (transfer required) and theme parks with water launch available to Magic Kingdom and select resort hotels.
Resort Benefits
Wilderness Lodge offers a merchandise location, self-service laundry, valet laundry, valet parking, club level concierge and other Disney Resort guest benefits.
Kids Programs
Cub’s Den, the children’s entertainment clubhouse, offers supervised activities for kids ages 3-12. Entertainment includes Disney movies and video games. Meals are available for an additional charge. Advance reservations are highly recommended.
Kid’s Nite Out is another option for childcare. Caregivers can provide one-on-one in-room childcare in the comfort of a Walt Disney World® Resort room. The professional staff of Kid’s Nite Out gives the child individual attention by playing a variety of fun-filled activities with him/her including reading books, coloring, or playing “I Spy” games. They can also provide a fun, well-trained sitter to just hang out with the family if they need a father’s/mother’s helper. Kid’s Nite Out also plans and works children’s parties, camps, and children’s theme conventions.
This has been a brief overview of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge & Villas. Have you stayed at this resort? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!
