Resort Thread Disney's WILDERNESS LODGE

Is the WL boat the first stop in the way to MK? May have to start using the bus as well! We usually use two scooters with us so sounds inconvenient all around.
Not 100% sure, but if they are stopping at the WL from the MK first to unload, then I would guess they are letting people board to go to the MK, they will just have to go to FW first to unload and load FW guests. Will be interesting to hear that feedback!
 
The change reportedly has to do with the amount of boats that can accommodate scooters and strollers. Scooters can only travel on the large enclosed boats, not the small open air boats. And strollers have to be folded up on the small boats.

With the updated route, a large boat now stops at both resorts, followed closely by a small boat.
I would withhold judgement at this time.

As with most WDWnt posts this does not make sense unless they are removing (1) of the Cabin cruisers from service. They have always had the combination of a Cruiser, and a open Resort launch for the WL and Ft Wilderness alternating throughout the day.

In the morning for MK opening they always ran the combination of having both boat types from each resort to MK.

Dave
 
I would withhold judgement at this time.

As with most WDWnt posts this does not make sense unless they are removing (1) of the Cabin cruisers from service. They have always had the combination of a Cruiser, and a open Resort launch for the WL and Ft Wilderness alternating throughout the day.

In the morning for MK opening they always ran the combination of having both boat types from each resort to MK.

Dave
I'm trying to withhold judgement....it's kind of not working!
 

I'm trying to withhold judgement....it's kind of not working!

Quote from WDWnt post: A third water taxi connects Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, but this route does not begin operating until the afternoon.
The example I will use is that they did not even know when the Bay lake boat loop starts which is 3 PM.

Dave
 
I would withhold judgement at this time.

As with most WDWnt posts this does not make sense unless they are removing (1) of the Cabin cruisers from service. They have always had the combination of a Cruiser, and a open Resort launch for the WL and Ft Wilderness alternating throughout the day.

In the morning for MK opening they always ran the combination of having both boat types from each resort to MK.

Dave
Not sure if this counts as an “official confirmation”, but poster over on the CCV Thread stated they confirmed the situation with member services…

Just confirmed with Member services.

The reason is too many ECVs. What a ridiculous “solution.”

Make service worse for the majority for the sake of the few.
 

Scaffolding Shifted, Paths Closed for Repainting at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge


Refurbishment work continues at the Copper Creek Villas & Cabins and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort, with some more of the scaffolding shifted farther down the main building and some exterior columns being prepped for repainting.

Rustic log cabin pavilion with orange cones, tools, and lanterns; lush greenery evokes Frontierland ambiance at Disney parks.

Refurbishment work continues at the Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. The room refurbishments began in mid-May 2025 and ended in September 2025, but the actual building work has no specific end date listed yet. However, the resort still shows multiple signs of construction work in progress as of this October.

By the overpass area, several sections are blocked off by cones, barriers, and warning tape as crew members work on repainting the wood beams.

Log cabin at a Disney park with barriers and a closure sign, area off-limits for maintenance—no view of classic park castles here.
The guest walkway to the side is also completely blocked off with barriers.


White construction barriers block a wooded walkway in a Disney park, with a sign about refurbishment for future guest enjoyment.
A sign placed in front has the usual “Please Pardon our Pixie Dust” language. Behind it, we could see a lift and some equipment stages for what we expect will be more repainting work.

Inviting lodge lobby in Disney style, with rustic wooden beams, nature-inspired windows, soft lantern lighting, and guests strolling.

Inside the resort’s main lobby, the windows facing outside continue to be blocked with tree-patterned decals, as they were during our last update.

An indoor sign at a Disney park reads, Terrace closed. Area being refurbished for your future enjoyment, Disney style.

The terrace by the lobby remains closed, with a folding sign in front of the door and a second “Terrace Closed” sign attached directly to the glass.

A sunlit terrace at a Disney park is closed off behind glass doors, with a Terrace Closed sign and construction notice visible.

Outside, we could see no visible signs of work remaining, so the terrace may reopen in the near future.

Looking through a red-trimmed window—similar to Main Street facades at Disneyland—shows scaffolding outside, desk and lamp inside.
The right wing of the main building is still covered in scaffolding, though it has shifted more to the side since our last update. It is visible outside the windows on many of the floors.

Scaffolding lines the side of a building, possibly during a refurbishment like those seen on Disney park castles, with trees and blue sky behind.

Peering outside, it appears that more of the wood beams by the guest room balconies may be prepped for repainting.

Construction site with stacked metal pipes and green fencing near trees and a building, resembling Epcot construction areas in Disney Parks.
Looking down, the usually tranquil nature and guest walkways by the water features have been overtaken by piles of equipment, supplies, metal poles, beams, and barriers.

A man standing on a balcony overlooking Main Street U.S.A., with Cinderella Castle in the background at Walt Disney World.

Up on a higher floor, we could see crew members in the process of prepping more of the columns for repainting.

Guests stroll along a wooden hallway with frosted tree designs on the windows, sunlight streaming in like at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
The hallway leading down to Roaring Forkand Story Book Dining at Artist Point also continues to have all its windows blocked with more of those foggy forest decals.

Two workers in safety gear work atop a green metal roof under a blue sky, reminiscent of rooftops seen in Disneyland parks.

The roof work on the building also continues, with crew members seen climbing the slope using wires.

Scaffolding covers a multi-story lodge with balconies, surrounded by greenery, resembling Disney’s Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World.
Looking at the scaffolding area from the outside, the columns in need of repainting are more readily apparent. The pale tan color will be replaced with the darker brown color to match the rest of the building.

Green construction barriers block the sidewalk, with a sign saying Sidewalk Closed, to Lobby and a left arrow, Disney park style.

Some of the paths outside have been blocked to go around the refurbishment work. Green barriers have signs pointing guests toward the lobby using alternate routes.

Scaffolding covers multiple floors of a rustic hotel, nestled among lush greenery and large rocks, reminiscent of Disney's Wilderness Lodge.
As previously mentioned, the Walt Disney World website does have a warning that the Wilderness Lodge Resort is undergoing exterior refurbishment work beginning in August of 2024. While “all resort amenities will remain available,” there is no scheduled end date listed yet.
 

Scaffolding Shifted, Paths Closed for Repainting at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge


Refurbishment work continues at the Copper Creek Villas & Cabins and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort, with some more of the scaffolding shifted farther down the main building and some exterior columns being prepped for repainting.

Rustic log cabin pavilion with orange cones, tools, and lanterns; lush greenery evokes Frontierland ambiance at Disney parks.

Refurbishment work continues at the Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. The room refurbishments began in mid-May 2025 and ended in September 2025, but the actual building work has no specific end date listed yet. However, the resort still shows multiple signs of construction work in progress as of this October.

By the overpass area, several sections are blocked off by cones, barriers, and warning tape as crew members work on repainting the wood beams.

Log cabin at a Disney park with barriers and a closure sign, area off-limits for maintenance—no view of classic park castles here.
The guest walkway to the side is also completely blocked off with barriers.


White construction barriers block a wooded walkway in a Disney park, with a sign about refurbishment for future guest enjoyment.
A sign placed in front has the usual “Please Pardon our Pixie Dust” language. Behind it, we could see a lift and some equipment stages for what we expect will be more repainting work.

Inviting lodge lobby in Disney style, with rustic wooden beams, nature-inspired windows, soft lantern lighting, and guests strolling.

Inside the resort’s main lobby, the windows facing outside continue to be blocked with tree-patterned decals, as they were during our last update.

An indoor sign at a Disney park reads, Terrace closed. Area being refurbished for your future enjoyment, Disney style.

The terrace by the lobby remains closed, with a folding sign in front of the door and a second “Terrace Closed” sign attached directly to the glass.

A sunlit terrace at a Disney park is closed off behind glass doors, with a Terrace Closed sign and construction notice visible.

Outside, we could see no visible signs of work remaining, so the terrace may reopen in the near future.

Looking through a red-trimmed window—similar to Main Street facades at Disneyland—shows scaffolding outside, desk and lamp inside.
The right wing of the main building is still covered in scaffolding, though it has shifted more to the side since our last update. It is visible outside the windows on many of the floors.

Scaffolding lines the side of a building, possibly during a refurbishment like those seen on Disney park castles, with trees and blue sky behind.

Peering outside, it appears that more of the wood beams by the guest room balconies may be prepped for repainting.

Construction site with stacked metal pipes and green fencing near trees and a building, resembling Epcot construction areas in Disney Parks.
Looking down, the usually tranquil nature and guest walkways by the water features have been overtaken by piles of equipment, supplies, metal poles, beams, and barriers.

A man standing on a balcony overlooking Main Street U.S.A., with Cinderella Castle in the background at Walt Disney World.

Up on a higher floor, we could see crew members in the process of prepping more of the columns for repainting.

Guests stroll along a wooden hallway with frosted tree designs on the windows, sunlight streaming in like at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
The hallway leading down to Roaring Forkand Story Book Dining at Artist Point also continues to have all its windows blocked with more of those foggy forest decals.

Two workers in safety gear work atop a green metal roof under a blue sky, reminiscent of rooftops seen in Disneyland parks.

The roof work on the building also continues, with crew members seen climbing the slope using wires.

Scaffolding covers a multi-story lodge with balconies, surrounded by greenery, resembling Disney’s Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World.
Looking at the scaffolding area from the outside, the columns in need of repainting are more readily apparent. The pale tan color will be replaced with the darker brown color to match the rest of the building.

Green construction barriers block the sidewalk, with a sign saying Sidewalk Closed, to Lobby and a left arrow, Disney park style.

Some of the paths outside have been blocked to go around the refurbishment work. Green barriers have signs pointing guests toward the lobby using alternate routes.

Scaffolding covers multiple floors of a rustic hotel, nestled among lush greenery and large rocks, reminiscent of Disney's Wilderness Lodge.'s Wilderness Lodge.
As previously mentioned, the Walt Disney World website does have a warning that the Wilderness Lodge Resort is undergoing exterior refurbishment work beginning in August of 2024. While “all resort amenities will remain available,” there is no scheduled end date listed yet.
Thanks for keeping us posted! It’s nice to see the lodge getting some much needed love, but I can’t help but be glad I am not staying there right now! Last year, at this time, I had less than a month to go until my trip.
 





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