Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

UPDATED MARCH 2020 HERE

We have loved our stays at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge so much that we’ve visited three times in four years!  Wilderness Lodge is also home to two villa type resorts – Boulder Ridge and Copper Creek – featuring everything from studios up through 3-bedroom grand villas and lake front cabins.

Wilderness Lodge is an escape to the rustic majesty of America’s Great Northwest, and is inspired by turn-of-the-century National Park lodges. Like everything Disney, the attention to detail here is awe inspiring.

Inside the lobby, you will find soaring ceilings in the American craftsman style. There are totem poles, numerous sofas and rocking chairs, a stately fireplace and more!! You can even see the bubbling spring that flows all the way into the pool!!!

Be sure to look for the photographers around the lobby during the holidays!

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Rooms

We had a woods view bunk bed room but were upgraded to pool view on arrival. The room was plenty spacious for the four of us and we love the set up so that the littles don’t have to share a bed. We were on the sixth floor and our balcony is cut out of the roof in a way that didn’t allow a regular railing. Instead our balcony had a half wall. I will be honest and say I didn’t love this. If I were paying for a pool view (remember we had a free upgrade), I would definitely NOT want this floor. We did have a sweeping view and could see clear out to the lake beyond. However, since the wall was solid, it just encouraged the boys to climb up in the chairs to see over. Not safe and would have terrified me with littler kids.

Dining at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort

Geyser Point Bar & Grill

One of our favorite meals of our week long trip was the lazy afternoon we spent at the brand new Geyser Point!  This location is on the quick serve dining plan and is a MUST if staying at Wilderness Lodge, or even Contemporary which is just a boat ride away.

There is both covered and open seating and we have done – and enjoyed – both!  The hostess does now keep a wait list and seat accordingly, which I much prefer over trying to stalk tables.

The unique menu has everything from bison burgers with Tillamook cheddar and a house-smoked salmon BLT with lemon-caper mayonnaise to small plates, craft beers and signature cocktails.  While everything we had was very good, I highly recommend just going for the delicious burger of the salad.  :-)  I also love their black cherry mule.

Storybook Dining at Artist Point with Snow White

The hidden gem of Disney Signature Dining, Artist Point at Wilderness Lodge, reopened as a price fixe character dining experience in late December after much anticipation. The restaurant has been transformed into the Enchanted Forest, and it was just that… enchanting!  The meal was great, and you get to meet Snow White, Grumpy, Dopey and The Queen!

Read my full Storybook Dining Review Here

Territory Lounge

Territory Lounge has long been one of our favorite Disney lounges.  We love the warmth of the rustic lodge decor and often make a meal of the flatbreads, fondue, poutine and charcuterie in the evening!

Whispering Canyon Cafe

Whispering Canyon Cafe is another favorite!  It is just a silly, fun meal with good comfort food.  If you go, you must ask for straws and ketchup!  Whit went so far as to ask if the skillet was a souvenir.  HAHA!  It’s a great place for a group as well.

Roaring Fork

This updated quick-service restaurant serves Mickey waffles, specialty sandwiches and flatbreads, grilled chicken sandwiches, pulled pork and more.  The dining area here is nothing special so we had our breakfast to go each morning and enjoyed it in our room!

Recreation at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort

Just like for dining, guests staying at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins are steps away from all of the recreational opportunities at the nearby Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.

Boulder Ridge Cove Pool

This brand new, modern-day swimmin’ hole has a gorgeous backdrop and an excellent back story.  Families with little ones will appreciate the zero entry pool.  We loved the cabana type seating areas that are first come first serve.

Copper Creek Springs Pool

The feature pool is heated and surrounded by pine trees and boulders.  My boys LOVE the waterslide built right into the rocks.  There is also a splash area connected to the pool.  My kids also always love the afternoon pool parties with trivia, games, bingo and other challenges.

The Water Playground

We are a bit past this age now, but I fondly remember many early evenings spent on Disney playgrounds and spraygrounds.

The Geyser

My kids LOVE the geyser the sounds off every hour!

Salon at the Springs

If you are familiar with Wilderness Lodge, the Trout Pass pool bar is now the Salon at the Springs!  I treated myself to a manicure to check it out.  For y’all, of course… :-)  I must say that it was a lovely and luxurious experience and I highly recommend it.  The salon is tiny and advance reservations are definitely needed.  The salon does manis, pedis and hair.  I did a manicure and then had them apply some festive Disney Jamberry nail wraps.  I’ve really wanted to try them for a long time and had no confidence in my own ability to apply them.  While they were super cute and I did enjoy having them, I wouldn’t do them again.  I just use my fingers too much and they started snagging on everything after the first day.

Hidden Mickey Scavenger Hunt

Be sure to pick up the hidden Mickey scavenger hunt at the front desk.  It is a great way to explore the resort!

Fireplace Nooks

Another favorite feature of Wilderness Lode are the fireplace nooks.  You will find these overlooking the lobby.   Some of them simply had a couple of rocking chairs, and others (like this one), had fireplaces, sofas and chairs. We chilled here one night during a big storm and brought pizza up to enjoy our dinner in front of the fireplace. It was just lovely!! This particular one was on the fourth floor just over the main front doors of the lodge.

Electric Water Pageant

Each night, the Electric Water Pageant stops right at the Wilderness Lodge beach. Check the times guide during your stay.

Teton Boat & Bike Rentals

Cruise around Bay Lake aboard a variety of watercraft, include family pontoon boats. Land-lovers can steer bicycles and surrey bikes around the resort or down the trail to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.

We rented Sea Raycers and had a fabulous 45 minutes tooling around Magic Kingdom, boating over the water bridge and checking out the monorail resorts.  John is already quite the Disney buff and was so excited to get a few glimpses of the abandoned River Country and also take a peek of the shoe tree up close!

Cornhole, Ping Pong, Pool and More

In a covered pavilion off of Geyser Point you fill find ping pong, pool, giant connect four, corn hole and more.  Simply ask for the balls at the recreation window.  Honey and I had a lovely lunch overlooking Bay Lake while the boys popped over here for games between bites of food.

Campfire and S’mores

Each evening the resort shows a movie under the stars and lights up the fire pits for s’mores.  They provide sticks and marshmallows and you can purchase kids for s’mores at the quick serve window next to Geyser Point.  I believe they are $10 and have stuff for about 4 s’mores.

There is SO much to do at Wilderness Lodge that we still haven’t done it all in our three stays.  Here are a few more on our list…

Jogging Trails – Take a quick jaunt down the .75-mile shaded trail that leads to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground or take your time wandering the 2.5-mile pathway throughout the resort’s grounds.

Buttons and Bells Arcade – Delight in both classic and contemporary arcade games.

Now, I know I will get questions about Disney Vacation Club.  I have hemmed and hawed over writing my own post because there are already so many out there that I’m not sure what more I could really add to the equation.  Essentially, Disney Vacation Club is Disney’s version of a time share.  You purchase a number of points at a “home resort” (current options are Copper Creek, Polynesian and Aulani).  These points can be used any time during the year at any resort for any type of accommodation.  Of course, some take a lot more points than others.  If you have specific questions, please email me and I will help however I can!

That being said, you do not have to be a Disney Vacation Club member to enjoy these beautiful accommodations!  They are available to the general public for booking, just like a regular hotel room.  I don’t think many people realize this.

Before I go, I also want to share that one of our favorite things about Wilderness Lodge is taking the boat over to Magic Kingdom.  It is such a peaceful way to arrive and depart.  The other parks are accessible by bus, but Wilderness Lodge is a fabulous choice for families that will spend the majority of their time at Magic Kingdom and dining at the monorail resorts (Chef Mickey’s, Ohana, Park Fare, etc.).

We love Wilderness Lodge and will definitely stay here again!!  I find that it is almost always one of the most affordable deluxe resorts and you can’t beat that along with the great theming, activities, dining and proximity to Magic Kingdom.  It also has one of the more affordable club level room options as well.

As an independent consultant with Glass Slipper Concierge, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, I offer concierge travel planning for Walt Disney World® Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland® Resort, Adventures by Disney®, Aulani and other delightful destinations.
Start designing your dream vacation today!

Also at Wilderness Lodge: Boulder Ridge and Copper Creek Villas

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