One of my family's favorite resorts at Walt Disney World is the Wilderness Lodge. We love its close proximity to Magic Kingdom - you can head there by boat, which is fun! Typically, the Wilderness Lodge is the least expensive deluxe category option of the Magic Kingdom resorts.
Groundbreaking occurred in August 1992, and the Resort opened in 1994. Being from Colorado, the Wilderness Lodge reminds me of staying in a lodge located somewhere in the Old West. It comes as no surprise then that the chief designers and architects of the Wilderness Lodge Project visited all of the great grand hotels of America's national park system. If you've ever been to the Awahnee in Yosemite or the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone, the Wilderness Lodge reminds you of those rustic luxury hotels.
The imagery of the West at the Wilderness Lodge also incorporates the outside in its theming. The grounds are landscaped with evergreen pines and pampas grass along with huge boulders scattered throughout. Approaching the Lodge, you will find yourself marveling at the immense size of the resort's lodgepole pines and rugged rocks. As you enter the Resort, cast members dressed in park ranger style or in pioneer style will be around to greet you and assist with your needs.
The eight-story lobby is a showstopper. You will see two 55-foot Pacific Northwest totem poles, Native American artifacts on display, Hopi storm pattern weaving interpreted into the lobby's wood floor, four massive 600-pound teepee chandeliers, comfy leather furniture (inspired by craftsman Thomas Molesworth), a bridge over a bubbling water feature, and so much more. Another marvel in the Lobby is the 82-foot-tall stone fireplace, representing the strata of the Grand Canyon. With rocking chairs nearby, guests can't resist sitting down and staring at the fire.
Above the lobby level are seven floors of guest rooms and two six-story wings made out of wood and stone, and a wing of studio and one- and two-bedroom villas. If you hear of the Boulder Ridge Villas, this refers to Disney Vacation Club (DVC) time-share rooms (they can be booked by regular guests too). Copper Creek (also DVC) also has studio, one- two- and three-bedroom villas.
For ultra rustic luxury, consider staying in one of the 26 stand-alone Cascade Cabins (also DVC). The Cabins have two bedrooms, two baths, a full kitchen, large dining and living room spaces, and a private porch with a built-in hot tub. Exquisitely themed with floor-to-ceiling windows and exposed wooden beams, you'll want to settle in for some relaxing moments. The den space has a sleeper sofa and sleeper chair and an interior-exterior stone hearth gas fireplace with incredible views of the water. Cascade Cabin dwellers can watch both the sunrise and sunset on their porches and get glimpses of the Magic Kingdom fireworks with the music piped in.
Regular guest rooms are differentiated by view choices. Standard View rooms have a view of either a parking lot, rooftops, or a service area. Woods View rooms look out over the forested areas facing Magic Kingdom and the Contemporary Resort or the Disney Villas. Courtyard View rooms face either the pool and/or Bay Lake. Concierge rooms are on the 7th floor of the Lodge. They include standard rooms with a variety of views. There are also four Honeymoon Rooms, and the Vice Presidential and Presidential Suites. Not located on the 7th floor are six Deluxe Rooms, which come with concierge privileges. Concierge guests have access to the Old Faithful Club, which offers some tasty treats and other perks.
Dining options at the Wilderness Lodge include Whispering Canyon Cafe, Artist Point, Geyser Point Bar and Grill, and Roaring Forks. Whispering Canyon is hard to miss as you will hear all sorts of hooting and hollering while breakfast, lunch, and dinner are going on. The fare is Western style and your servers are intent on making your meal a memorable one. Artist Point is also a must-do if you can snag a reservation. Kids love it as the restaurant has a forestlike theme inspired by Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This is Storybook Dining at its finest, with Snow White, some of her forest friends, and the Evil Queen interacting with you at dinner. Geyser Point Bar and Grill (all outdoor seating) is down by Bay Lake. If you are wanting a place to kick back and enjoy classic comfort food and some libations, this is the place for you. Roaring Forks is also an option if you are wanting some quick service food to fill your belly.
Disney Imagineers thought of everything as they planned out the theming of this resort. For example, the hot spring in the Main Lobby actually flows outside and turns into Silver Creek, which then becomes a waterfall that empties into a boulder-lined swimming pool. Silver Springs Creek Pool is a top attraction at the Wilderness Lodge. It has waterfalls, rocky overlooks, a waterslide, a kiddie pool, and two whirlpools. Adventurous types can swing by the Teton Boat Rentals and enjoy Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon by renting a motor craft. Bicycles and surreys are rentable as well. There is a children's playground located at the beach.
As you walk around the grounds, you can pass wildflowers intermixed with natural grasses. You can even meander toward Bay Lake to watch the resort's own re-created geyser erupt at the top of every hour. A fun nightly activity always happening at 9:35 pm is the Electrical Water Pageant. Best viewed from the beach, boat dock, or from a room that faces Bay Lake, guests can watch a series of illuminated barges pass by featuring King Neptune and his court.
My family has enjoyed staying at the Wilderness Lodge on several occasions. One of our favorite times to experience it is over the holidays. One of the tallest decorated Christmas trees at Disney World (stretching upwards some 60 feet) can be found smack dab in the middle of the Wilderness Lodge Lobby. If you look closely at the decorations, small animals and other western-themed items are thoughtfully tucked into the tree branches. I have so many fond memories of enjoying the Christmas decorations with my family when my daughters were young.
So let's head back in time to August 1992. At the resort's groundbreaking, Michael Eisner declared that "in our architecture, Disney continues to produce the kind of groundbreaking entertainment that keeps the Disney name magical to people around the world. Our architecture is part of the show." Indeed, it is. You can't go wrong staying at the Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World.
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