So, You're Planning a Walt Disney World Vacation? (Part 3)

Approaching the Wilderness Lodge

WHERE TO REST YOUR HEAD

Our favorite place to stay

Since we don't have the chance to visit Walt Disney World (WDW) every year, our family really values having a comfortable place to stay that also captures our imagination and that is in a convenient location. For us, that means checking into Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort!  The rustic, but grand entrance (inspired by the great national park lodges in the northwest U.S.) signals to us that it is time to leave our work-a-day world behind and focus on having some good ol' family fun.

A view from the patio and pool area

In addition to having an impressive 7-story lobby, the Wilderness Lodge has a huge fireplace with rocking chairs, a great pool area, its own geyser, and a boat dock for relatively quick trips to the Magic Kingdom.  The Whispering Canyon restaurant is a hoot since the cast members (staff) do a great job of staying in character and there are plenty of dining room activities for the kids (pony races, Lincoln Logs etc.) Beware if you ask for the ketchup!  Whispering Canyon is one of the most filling places for breakfast I've been to at WDW and I highly recommend the skillet-style (a big family style platter) breakfast if you want to have second and third helpings.  Even though the Wilderness Lodge is a Deluxe Resort, it is the most affordable hotel in this group.  The adventerous theme, variety of recreation offerings at the resort and boat transportation make it a worthwhile investment for our family.

Rooms at the Lodge
During our last trip to the Wilderness Lodge we requested two rooms with bunk beds and we got them on the 1st floor with a patio view of the Silver Creek near where the creek bubbles out from the lobby. At first we weren’t sure about the courtyard view on the ground level, but we liked how easy it was to get out to the lobby (via the hallway across from the arcade) and to the bus stop. We didn’t have to wait for elevators and we could easily walk down the hall to get out to the pool. The pool noise didn’t bother us since we faced the meadow area.  Previously, we had stayed on the other side of the resort on the 3rd floor facing the pool and the patio area outside of the Roarin' Fork quick service eatery. There are plenty of room options available to suit a wide range of tastes.

Silver Creek winding through the Meadow

Getting your bearings at the Wilderness Lodge
After you get settled, I suggest taking a quick walk around the resort to get your bearings and to check out the amenities. There's plenty to discover inside and out! Beyond the pool there is a sandy beach (no swimming though) and a climbing structure for kids. Boat rentals (as well as bike and life jacket rentals) are also in this area. Along a boardwalk is the resort's geyser and event further on a boardwalk is the boat dock for transportation to the Magic Kingdom, the Contemporary (where you can easily transfer to the monorail) and the Fort Wilderness resort campground. Surrounded by pine trees, the Wilderness Villas, (a Disney Vacation Club site) are off to the side of the Wilderness Lodge. Inside the Wilderness Resort you'll also find the Mercantile and Arcade.  The Mercantile had a good selection of food items and a variety of Disney merchandise, including clothing with the Wilderness Lodge logo. Also in the lobby, a PhotoPass photographer was usually available during our last visit in the early evening to take photos on the bridge that crosses the headwaters of the Silver Creek. This is nice place for a family or group shot. When you are exploring, don't forget to watch out for Hidden Mickeys and animal tracks on the outdoor paths.  If you want more details, ask about the formal tour of the resort.

Recreation near the Wilderness Lodge

• My husband and son enjoyed the Sea Raycer boat rental options during one of our visits. Next time I'd like to rent one of the surrey bikes to explore the pathways around the resort.
• The Wilderness Lodge pool area is easy to get around and has a jacuzzi area and baby pool. The water slide not really tall, but it has a high fun factor.  
• I have heard that Chip 'n' Dale's Campfire Sing-a-long at the nearby Fort Wilderness Campground is a lot of fun, but we have not done it ourselves yet.  There are also several other activities at Fort Wilderness.

Transportation to the Parks and Elsewhere from the Wilderness Lodge

One of the best features of the Wilderness Lodge is that you can take a boat directly to and from the Magic Kingdom! You'll have the chance to ride on a variety of vessel types and sizes if you use this mode of transportation during the course of your vacation.  From this dock you can also take the boat to the Contemporary Resort for a monorail connection or over to Fort Wilderness. Boats seem to come 

frequently (every 15-20 mins. or so).

Boat approaching dock at Wilderness Resort

If you are headed to other parks, water parks or to Downtown Disney, you can easily take a bus (head outside past the Mercantile and Arcade to the bus stop). Note that while you can get to the other Disney parks by bus from this stop, you cannot get to every Disney resort via bus. However, the concierge can help you determine the fast way to get there and call a cab/van when needed. (We ate at Cape May Café at the Beach Club Resort for breakfast one morning and found out that the fastest way there would be to take a cab/van. It arrived within minutes to pick us up at the front door of the Wilderness Lodge.) 

Additional information about the Wilderness Lodge
Take a look at these other great resources about the WDW Wilderness Resort:

The Unofficial Tribute to Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Villas

Only WDWorld Blog featuring the Wilderness Lodge
Family Vacation Critic Review of the Wilderness Lodge
AllEars.net Wilderness Resort Fact Sheet
Mouse for Less Wilderness Lodge Resort FAQ

A view of the Wilderness Lodge from Bay Lake

Check back for information about dining ideas and highlights from the different Walt Disney World parks!