There are dozens of options for Disney hotels For those who want to stay at the company's own complex in Florida, Disney's Wilderness Lodge could be one of the best options for your trip!
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Of all, one of the most beautiful (if not the most beautiful!) is the Wilderness Lodge.
Alright, I admit that I have a soft spot for hotels with this more nature-oriented theme.
As I said in the post Animal Kingdom Lodge which is one of my all time favorites Disney resorts.
But Wilderness Lodge is not just a beautiful hotel, it is so rich in details that it is impressive.
I had the opportunity to make a technical visit during the Influencers of Magic Program in which Disney invited us.
I was impressed with the amount of references and items that refer to Walt Disney in this Hotel!
I showed a lot about this in our Youtube channel and you can follow in the video below.
Curious and want to know more about the Wilderness Lodge? So let's go!
Wilderness Lodge attractions
There's a lot of good to find and do in Wilderness lodge.
The first point is right on the face: the sensational decoration of the hotel.
Disney always puts a lot of effort into the decoration of all its resorts, even the budget ones.
The Pop century, for example, has dozens of items marking a kind of 20th century timeline.
already the Art of Animation puts on a show by decorating different pavilions with different Mickey Mouse House movies. Nor can we forget the thematic appearance of the hotels in the All star.
However, at Wilderness Lodge, Disney's effort seems to have been doubled.
The idea of the resort is to simulate the lodges of the US national forest parks.
Hence, the whole place feels like a cabin you would find in the middle of a forest.
However, the design goes a step further.
As it is inspired by real places, the decoration tries to bring a little of life to the wildest regions of the USA, such as the Grand Canyon area and other preserved spaces.
Therefore, the resort has a very rich decoration.
For example, all furniture is wood and inspired by items from Native American culture.
A rug in the central lobby, for example, brings together symbols from four different types of wood, representing the union of humans, wildlife, the 4 seasons and the universe.
Another item worth mentioning is the 25 meter fireplace located in the hotel lobby.
It is inspired by the Grand Canyon and has all the layers of color in the stone that mark the passing of the years of the natural monument.
The entire lobby (and even the hotel) is built with wood and feels like a cabin.
The furniture is all comfortable and cozy, usually in red and with decorative patterns inspired by the native culture of the USA.
The rooms all follow the same decorative theme, with lots of wood, carpets and the color red.
The decoration is not restricted to the interior of the hotel. From the outside, there are also a lot of cool things to see.
If you're in the mood to explore, you can walk around and maybe even walk to the Fort wilderness (which is nearby) and check out the landscape.
There are some trails set up by Disney along the way and even an artificial geyser for guests to explore.
The atmosphere is very cozy, but it may not be for everyone.
If the idea of staying in a comfortable cabin in the woods, with all that native culture theme, is not your thing, you will not like the Wilderness Lodge.
If so, you'll love the hotel!
Leisure at Disney's Wilderness Lodge
There are some activities to enjoy there.
At the resort you will find 2 heated pools, the Copper Creek Springs Pool and the Boulder Ridge Cove Pool.
Next to these pools, children can also enjoy a large water slide.
And for adults, hot tubs to relax during your stay.
As the hotel is very close to nature, it also offers some trails where you can walk, run or cycle along them.
You can even rent bikes at the Wilderness Lodge if you wish.
Another leisure alternative is to rent a motorized boat and go fishing on Bay Lake, this is sport fishing and you have to return the caught fish to the water.
In addition to all this, children can enjoy an open-air cinema, which takes place every night on the lawn located near the marina.
In addition, of course, to the huge games room.
The Wonders of The Lodge Tour
The Wonders of the Lodge Tour is a free tour offered at Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort.
It is worth noting that you can take this tour even if you are not staying at the hotel!
On this 1-hour tour you will have the opportunity to see the original art and architecture around the resort.
To join the tour, simply show up in front of the large fireplace inside the Wilderness Lodge Resort Lobby at the scheduled time.
Wonders of the Lodge tours are generally available Wednesday through Saturday at 9am. No reservation needed!
A guide will accompany you and your tour of this special resort will begin.
The guide will lead guests through the resort and provide information on historic artifacts, architecture and artwork.
The tour is full of fun trivia and is a great experience for anyone interested in American history, especially as it pertains to the railroads and the settlement of the West.
I loved this tour when I did it, mainly because it tells a lot about the love of Walt Disney!
You might question whether there's really anything really interesting about art, architecture and history at a Disney Resort, but the Wilderness Lodge really does have a lot going for it.
There are so many details in the construction that they are easily overlooked.
Additionally, there are artifacts and art exhibits throughout the resort.
The resort is not a museum, but like most Disney hotels, there are many interesting pieces to look at and much that can be learned from what is on display.
What It's Like to Stay at the Wilderness Lodge – Disney's Luxury Resort
The Wilderness Lodge has very comfortable rooms.
There are two double beds each (with very good mattresses), a bathroom with two sinks outside and a good-sized bathtub.
Therefore, rooms are approved!
The other structures of the hotel are also of good quality.
The pool is big but not as big as other hotels.
On the other hand, there are usually less people there.
Transportation to Disney parks and other facilities is also of good quality.
It's not on the monorail path, but it's in the Magic Kingdom.
This means that it has a boat service to take guests to the park.
Yes you can go by boat to the Magic Kingdom.
Honestly, I loved the experience and highly recommend the tour!
If you don't want to go by boat, you have the option of taking an internal bus to other Disney destinations.
In terms of food, the Wilderness Lodge is well served with some excellent restaurants such as Artist Point, Roaring Fork, Geyser Point Bar & Grill and others.
The variety of food is great and so is the quality.
By the way, it is at Artist Point that the Storybook Dining, an event where you can have dinner with Snow White, the Evil Queen, Dopey and Zangado.
Worth knowing!
Wilderness Lodge restaurants
There are several food options there.
In fact, some of the options at this hotel are some of the coolest restaurants in all of Walt Disney World!
Let's check.
Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White
This restaurant is very famous for being the restaurant where you can have a meal with Snow White, the Evil Queen and the Seven Dwarfs.
The restaurant is beautiful. The cuisine here is American style and the dinner price is fixed at USD $60 per adult and USD $39 per child.
The meal includes starter, main course and dessert for each guest.
The food is very pleasant, but the highlight of the restaurant is undoubtedly the meal with the characters.
You can check the official menu of the restaurant on here.
You can check out our post dedicated to Storybook Dining also.
We recommend that you make reservations!
Whispering Canyon Cafe
Without a doubt my favorite Wilderness Lodge restaurant.
Before we talk about the food, I need to talk a little about the theme of the restaurant which is why this is one of my favorite restaurants!
The idea here is as if the restaurant were a big family home on an American farm, so they treat everyone as if they were part of the same family, meaning zero formalities!
And that brings fun attitudes, for example. Maybe your waiter is a cousin who thinks you're a little lazy ordering so much from him.
And if that happens, be prepared because if you are not prepared, you might even be scared!
If, for example, you ask for ketchup, it is possible that the waiter will ask all other visitors to the restaurant to take the ketchups from your table to you!
Aside from these banter, the food here is good and the cooking is American style.
The restaurant is available for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
We recommend breakfast, as it is the meal that we think is most worth having there!
You can check out the full Whispering Canyon menu on here.
We've also talked about the Whispering Canyon here on the blog.
We recommend that you make reservations!
In addition to these 2 restaurants, there are also other options there, the Geyser Point Bar & Grill, Roaring Fork and the Territory Lounge.
Worth staying at the Wilderness Lodge
Okay, we come to the big question you might be wondering.
Is it worth staying at the Wilderness Lodge?
Come on.
It is true that there are cheaper hotels in Disney.
Pop Century, Art of Animation and All Star are 3 examples.
Budget hotels are very comfortable and practical, ensuring a good stay at Disney.
So… why stay in a more expensive option?
I usually say that traveling to Disney is enjoying the holidays and experiencing a magical moment.
I understand the need to make plans and a controlled budget (after all, it's a trip that costs money), but the main objective is to live a unique experience.
This includes not only the parks, characters and attractions, but also the hotel where you are staying. He helps set the mood for that Disney magic.
That's why I think it's worth staying in one of the luxury hotels.
Of course, if you're on a tight budget or prefer to direct your resources to other items (such as character dinners, outlet shopping or other things), it's up to you.
Go ahead! After all, the idea is to take the trip of your dreams.
Now, if you are interested in the whole Disney environment and want an immersive and comfortable experience, but you are in doubt if it is not “silly” to invest a little more in accommodation, you can go without fear!
So being direct, it is worth staying at the Wilderness Lodge.
So, what did you think of the Wilderness Lodge?
Is this themed decoration just the way you like it or do you prefer another type of accommodation? Tell us in the comments below!
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About the Author Carlos Braga:
Unparalleled experience in Orlando and Disney! As a former Universal Orlando team member and a passionate devotee of the magic of Disney, I have become a true Orlando travel expert. Before becoming a renowned travel consultant dedicated to Orlando, I had already made hundreds of visits to the parks, cultivating my knowledge and passion mainly over the last 7 years as a consultant and specialist in Disney travel.
My journey into this enchanted world began in 1995, when I took my first trip to Orlando. Since then, my love for Disney and the city has only grown. In 2023, we celebrate the sixth anniversary of 'Partiu Disney Parks', consolidating our role as one of the main sources of information about Disney and Orlando Parks.
During these six years of existence, we have continued to offer quality and updated content, being the reliable source for all those looking for essential information to plan their trip to Disney and Orlando. With my vast experience and passion for this magical destination, I am here to guide you every step of the way towards the most incredible Orlando and Disney experience!
