Caribbean Beach vs Wilderness Lodge

[nllmncsu]

Can't wait to go to Wilderness Lodge. We changed to it in January from Carribean for a mother/daughter trip due to the Skyliner being down the full week we had scheduled.

 

[chimo2u]

I have to agree with most here. Wilderness Lodge is far better, but the price difference is significant.

Caribbean Beach is a good moderate with the skyliner hub. PROS - The skyliner is fun, kind of a ride in itself and it gives you extra dining options by taking you to the Riviera Resort (you can also walk to RR too), Pop and AoA, and the Epcot resorts - Y&B Club and Boardwalk. It has a great themed main pool and smaller "quiet" pools in each section. It's nicely themed and pleasant. CONS: The skyliner goes through the resort and kind of breaks up the theming (You KNOW you're in Disney, and not some Caribbean resort!) and you can hear it functioning above you from some of the rooms. The CBR rooms are very basic (no real difference from the values in my opinion) with motel door style entrances. CBR is very wide-spread and there is a lot of walking to get to certain things if you don't know what specific rooms to request to meet your needs. As I said its a GOOD resort, but those are things to think about.

Wilderness Lodge is a deluxe on Bay Lake. PROS: The rooms are beautifully themed and comfortable. The DVC rooms, if you can get one, are even better and come with in-room washer/dryer combos. Rooms are beautifully and tastefully decorated. The resort has two amazing pools, over-looks Bay Lake and has very good food. Geyser Point in particular is a GEM! (Good food and drinks, right on the lake!) Whispering Canyon has all-you-can-eat hearty food at decent prices, while the Roaring Fork is a great quick serv. Currently Artist Point, the main signature restaurant, is closed, but when open has amazing character dining (I'd say one of the more interesting ones too with really good food and the Snow White characters, including the evil queen!) The lobby is breathtaking as is the landscaping and theming around the resort. The only CON I could muster up (and I had to really think about it) is that it is a Bay Lake resort that is NOT on the monorail line - actually, I don't even consider that a con because it keeps the WL a little quieter with less resort-hoppers! There is a lovely boat that gets you to the MK in 15/20 minutes and quick, consistent bus service everywhere else. WL is also my favorite hotel at WDW. I would still choose it over Gran Floridian even if I had no budgetary concerns!

My opinion is that Wilderness Lodge is worth every penny if you plan on spending significant down time at the resort. If you plan on spending most of your time out and about in Disney, I would choose Caribbean as it give you plenty of travel options and is MUCH cheaper.

It warms my heart to read this.... originally I was planning on staying at YC CL for our October 2022 trip, but rooms are crazy right now without CL added on ($700 a night practically)..... So we went with WL Club Level as they just underwent the refurbishment. I was considering possibly moving over to YC once CL was dropped into inventory, But your whole post makes me just want to keep my WL CL rooms..... I think I might just stay put GREAT REVIEW!! thank you for posting!

 

[dreamtripper]

It warms my heart to read this.... originally I was planning on staying at YC CL for our October 2022 trip, but rooms are crazy right now without CL added on ($700 a night practically)..... So we went with WL Club Level as they just underwent the refurbishment. I was considering possibly moving over to YC once CL was dropped into inventory, But your whole post makes me just want to keep my WL CL rooms..... I think I might just stay put GREAT REVIEW!! thank you for posting!

Enjoy your stay! !

 

[Sue M]

We have stayed at both resorts several times. Unfortunately, our last stay at CBR was a preferred water view. It put us near the main building but far from the Skyliner. We had to take a short bus ride to get to the Skyliner.

IMO, WL is leagues above CBR. You get to take a boat to the Magic Kingdom!

You are there for 2 weeks. I strongly suggest you try a split stay. Perhaps try the last 3 or 4 nights at WL.

Since you're going in August, it's going to be hot. You'll enjoy spending time at the Wilderness Lodge pools and eating outside at Geyser Point.

Hopefully, these images give you some idea of what to expect at WL.

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beautiful pics

 

[Sue M]

Hi friends! We have a trip booked for August for two weeks, we are currently booked at Caribbean Beach. We stayed there in March and absolutely loved the convenience of having the skyliner right there. So, we booked it again! I have been looking at Wilderness Lodge and am debating switch because it gives me Grand Californian vibes. My big question, are the beds as comfy as the ones at the Grand Californian?

I’m hesitant on switching to Wilderness Lodge because of the lack of the skyliner. But I’m also hesitant because they don’t have allergy ordering on the mobile app, and they do at Caribbean Beach. We utilize the hotel food court a lot! I would have to speak with a chef every time at Wilderness Lodge.

For those who have stayed with both (with the skyliner) being open. Which is your preferred, and is it worth the extra money? We will be spending equal time at all parks.

Thank you!

We’ve had several stays at WL thru the years. And our last WDW trip was at WL. I think Roaring Forks has gone downhill a lot. Food doesn’t seem fresh made anymore. My dinner at Roaring Forks was the adult grilled cheese. Nothing grilled about it. Just a cheese sandwich on toasted bread. No more fresh cut tomato, onion, pickle & lettuce bar for burgers. This was pre Covid.
Im glad I got to eat at Artist Point before it closed.

The new Geyser Point had good food. And I loved the Villas pool. Actually more than the main pool.

I haven’t been in the new rooms but the beds we had were comfy. I agree, the similarities with Grand Cali are striking. And loved walking thru and grabbing a meal because it reminded me of WL.

Having said that, we’re booked at CBR 2 weeks in August. I think the room rates they’re charging now at wdw are ridiculous. I won’t pay it. As much as I enjoy WL I don’t think it’s a $400/night hotel.

 

[Mdktf]

Hi friends! We have a trip booked for August for two weeks, we are currently booked at Caribbean Beach. We stayed there in March and absolutely loved the convenience of having the skyliner right there. So, we booked it again! I have been looking at Wilderness Lodge and am debating switch because it gives me Grand Californian vibes. My big question, are the beds as comfy as the ones at the Grand Californian?

I’m hesitant on switching to Wilderness Lodge because of the lack of the skyliner. But I’m also hesitant because they don’t have allergy ordering on the mobile app, and they do at Caribbean Beach. We utilize the hotel food court a lot! I would have to speak with a chef every time at Wilderness Lodge.

For those who have stayed with both (with the skyliner) being open. Which is your preferred, and is it worth the extra money? We will be spending equal time at all parks.

Thank you!

There is no comparison, WL hands down