Should You Stay at Wilderness Lodge?
Deciding where to stay at Walt Disney World is always quite challenging.
You know you want to pick an official Disney resort… but which one?
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
For a while now, I’ve been trying to help you decide. And today, we’re looking at a fun one!
Should you stay at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge? All signs point to yes.
About Wilderness Lodge
Magic Kingdom is the most popular theme park on Planet Earth. Hundreds of thousands of guests cycle through this park each week.
So, the most popular resorts tend to be the ones closest to the park. Alas, Disney prices these hotels accordingly, especially the monorail resorts.
You’ll definitely get what you pay for when you choose them, but they’re pricey. Savvy consumers can save quite a bit of money by choosing a boat over the monorail.
Wilderness Lodge hosts boat transportation to and from Magic Kingdom’s front gate. That’s just a small part of the amenities you’ll discover during a hotel stay here.
Boat Transportation
Most importantly, what you’ll notice is the serenity of this tranquil resort. Disney styled Wilderness Lodge after the national park lodges out west.
In particular, Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone National Park inspired the hotel’s style. Old Faithful Inn featured a triangular aesthetic that architect Peter Dominick mimicked for Disney.
Wilderness Lodge
This resort is an architectural triumph nested in the woods near Magic Kingdom. When you stay here, you can escape the chaos of the parks at the secluded resort.
It’s a mesmerizing combination of eventful park visits and calm hotel visits. We weren’t sure what to think about Wilderness Lodge the first time we booked.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Nowadays, even when we don’t stay here, we almost always visit the hotel.
The top-notch amenities here justify a boat ride to Wilderness Lodge.
The Triumphant Lobby
Before his death, Dominick designed three different Disney resorts. All of them feature the same design aesthetic of a sweeping, majestic hotel lobby.
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Jambo House lobby is a sight to behold. On the West Coast, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa mirrors Wilderness Lodge.
Wilderness Lodge Lobby
Dominick learned from his first outing, playing in the margins at the latter two hotels. However, he never moved off the core premise of Wilderness Lodge due to its triumph.
This hotel lobby embraces guests with a warmth and comfort akin to a campfire. Dominick designed a stunning 82-foot stone chimney as the lobby’s anchor visual.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Lobby
Even better, chairs and sofas are plentiful, Disney’s way of encouraging guests to relax and enjoy.
I strongly advise you to trust Disney on this one. It’s such a tranquil spot.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Lobby
Of course, you will notice some noise when you sit here. And here’s why…
The Restaurants
You’ll enjoy a choice of four different restaurants at Wilderness Lodge. All of them have their ardent supporters, which is rare for even a Disney hotel.
Generally, at least one spot falls into the range of “Fine but nothing special.” Everything here is special, starting with the current alpha of Disney character meals.
Story Book Dining
Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White is just what it sounds like.
Guests partake in a fairytale meal with Snow White as their host…and that’s not all.
Photo: Disney
The Evil Queen also appears, snarling her way through her greetings.
The meal here tells a story in and of itself, as each entrée has a gothic name.
Photo: Disney
I have friends who consider Story Book Dining the end-all, be-all of Disney dining.
Personally, I prefer a different restaurant at this very hotel, though.
Story Book Dining
Whispering Canyon Café serves bottomless skillets of campfire food. Guests also receive a side of humor thanks to those jokesters serving the food.
Ordering the ketchup at Whispering Canyon Café is a beloved tradition among Disney fans.
Whispering Canyon Cafe
Recently, Disney added a new spot at the back of the resort campus.
Geyser Point Bar & Grill resides right by the water and near the hotel’s artificial geyser.
When you dine here, you can eat a Bison Cheeseburger and watch the game.
Geyser Point Bar and Grill
This bar and grill is a de facto sports bar with several televisions.
So, you can sit by the water while you drink, dine, and be merry. It’s pretty great.
Geyser Point Bar and Grill
Finally, Roaring Fork is an excellent Quick Service restaurant for any meal.
However, its breakfast service is among the best at Walt Disney World.
The Pools
Wilderness Lodge hosts a pair of pools, one of which recently received a makeover. The Boulder Ridge Cove Pool features a heavy amount of theming, even by Disney standards.
According to legend, a climactic weather event wiped out the area. In a rush, the construction crew abandoned the grounds, leaving their equipment behind.
Boulder Ridge Cove Pool
You can still see the mining crane here while you go for a swim in the pool. It’s oddly disconcerting but also decidedly Disney. This pool gives good, quirky vibes.
Still, you’re more likely to swim and sunbathe at Copper Creek Springs Pool. The main pool here is spacious and absolutely gorgeous at night.
Copper Creek Springs Pool
Since Disney designed the hotel with a wood aesthetic, you can really appreciate it when it’s lit up.
As far as night swimming goes, Wilderness Lodge in general is hard to beat.
The Reason Why You May Book Elsewhere
I referenced it earlier, but the reality remains that Magic Kingdom fans prefer monorail resorts. There’s a reason why Disney discounts the rooms at Wilderness Lodge compared to the others.
People will and do pay more for the opportunity to stay at a monorail resort. So, Disney discounts Wilderness Lodge a bit to persuade guests to expand their horizons.
Wilderness Lodge
Personally, I think that Wilderness Lodge rivals two-thirds of the monorail resorts. I actively prefer it to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
As for Disney’s Contemporary Resort, I think it’s a draw between the two. Contemporary offers slightly better amenities and location, but Wilderness Lodge is more aesthetically pleasing.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
When the savings are big enough, I’d definitely choose Wilderness Lodge over either one.
So, yes, I say that you should stay at Wilderness Lodge. It’s such a gorgeous facility.
