Just back - 8 days at Wilderness Lodge

[minie_meese]

This was our first time at Wilderness Lodge. What a wonderful resort. We were in room 5071. Wonderful view of the lake, pool and electric water pagent. The balcony was nice to sit on in the evening but there are lights just above the rooms on the 5th floor so there were a number of bugs around the lights - no bites on anyone however. Every day we had different towel animal arrangements in our room. Our room was off the main lobby. There was a little noise from Whispering Canyon till about 9:30 on some nights but nothing terrible. We had a water problem for an hour one day - no water then very gross water for about a minute.

We loved walking around the resort and looking at the Native American artifacts. The pool was great but we had to share it with a number of ducks who were quite happy to be in the pool. They were mostly ok with the human guests. The hott tub was great too.

Everyone we met was terrific. We met lots of very nice CMs and guests. Loved how close everything was in the resort and the boat to the Magic Kingdom was great. Not having to fold up the stroller and squish into a bus wiht a sleeping 4 year old after a big day at the MK was wonderful. The buses were mostly good except to Downtown Disney - both times the wait was 40 minutes and then stops at another resort made the trip seem interminable. Next time I might take a taxi to Downtown Disney.

Here are a few pics from the Wilderness Lodge.
Lodge view from pool area

Topiary "chasing" my granddaughter in front of the lodge

Duck joins the swimmers

Day view from our room

Night view from our room

Towel animals in our room

Housekeeping had a workshop on making towel animals

View of the beach from behind Trout Pass Pool Bar

The geyser

 

[simonkodousek]

Glad to hear you had a nice time at the Wilderness Lodge! It's a great resort, and I hope to return one day, but for now, I'm trying out other Deluxes!

 

[jenseib]

Sounds like a wonderful time. I love your pictures. I hope to stay there someday!

 

[melomouse]

Thanks for the review and the pics! I can't wait to get back to WL in January. Reading your report amde me feel that it was just that much closer!!!

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Yay another great review. We will be at the lodge next month. We just rented a car so I wont have to deal with transportation if I dont want to. I am getting so excited. When and where was the towel animal making? did you have to sign up?

 

[LoriZH]

Wow, what a stunning view! Glad to hear you had a great time and congrats on all those towel animals! BTW, it seems a lot of people staying in the resorts near the MK share their pool with the ducks, I know we did at the CR. Oh and I hear you big time about buses to DTD, we shared them with WL and we waited 40 plus too for a bus however, I would rather be waiting for a bus in Disney instead of going to work, lol.

 

[minie_meese]

For the towel animal workshop housekeeping just set up a long table in the lobby and anyone who wanted could stop at the table and learn to make a towel animal. They asked what you'd like to make and then they helped you make it. I saw a lot of ghosts and mice. It was just a little thing but it was really nice.

 

[daninalismama]

I'm so happy to see someone who really likes WL. We visited for the first time last month (we stayed at Pop, but since we were eating at WL, might as well check it out, right?). Anyway, I loved the theming.

Just curious though, how were the activities for kids? I saw they have the Cub something-or-other (babysitting service) and we went in and looked around that area, but we were trying to weigh between WL and AKL (I prefer WL because I NEED straws!!!) , but other than the pools and stuff, are there lots of things to do that little kids would enjoy (my DD's will be 9 and 7 when we go in 2009).

 

[minie_meese]

There is a lot for kids - more than we coudl take advantage of in our 8 days.

The kids club is open during the day between 2 and 4:30 for crafts. Kids can drop in with a parent and do crafts. We did not take advantage as our granddaughter just wanted to be in the pool when we had free time. In the evening the kids club has baby sitting.

The other nice quiet thing is the beach area. The kids can build sand castles and there are lounge chairs out there for the adults (it is right by the pool bar). You can't swim in the lake but the beach area is really nice.

Kids 7 and 8 might also like all of the Indian artifacts all over the resort - there is a tour at 9 am whcih we didn't do but we did walk around. Just outside our door was a case with really interesting fossils.

You can catch a bus or boat over to Ft Wilderness campgrond where there are a lot of kids cativities - farm animals - campfire with Chip and Dale with s'mores in the evening.

One thing our little one just loved was seeing the electric water pagent from our balcony on the 3 nights we got back in time. We were in a room facing the lake. It looked like most of the inner courtyard rooms on the top 3 floors could see it as there were a lot of people looking out from their balconies.

If you plan to spend a lot of your pak days at the Magic Kingdom, the boat transportation was really great. This was entertainment for our little one too.

 

[RKO1968]

Welcome back! I love this place. It's one of my favorites.

 

[alldiz]

Thanks for the report and the great pics.

Sounds like you had a great trip....
WL is my favorite....can't wait to go back.
Kerri

 

[daninalismama]

There is a lot for kids - more than we coudl take advantage of in our 8 days.

The kids club is open during the day between 2 and 4:30 for crafts. Kids can drop in with a parent and do crafts. We did not take advantage as our granddaughter just wanted to be in the pool when we had free time. In the evening the kids club has baby sitting.

The other nice quiet thing is the beach area. The kids can build sand castles and there are lounge chairs out there for the adults (it is right by the pool bar). You can't swim in the lake but the beach area is really nice.

Kids 7 and 8 might also like all of the Indian artifacts all over the resort - there is a tour at 9 am whcih we didn't do but we did walk around. Just outside our door was a case with really interesting fossils.

You can catch a bus or boat over to Ft Wilderness campgrond where there are a lot of kids cativities - farm animals - campfire with Chip and Dale with s'mores in the evening.

One thing our little one just loved was seeing the electric water pagent from our balcony on the 3 nights we got back in time. We were in a room facing the lake. It looked like most of the inner courtyard rooms on the top 3 floors could see it as there were a lot of people looking out from their balconies.

If you plan to spend a lot of your pak days at the Magic Kingdom, the boat transportation was really great. This was entertainment for our little one too.

Awesome! Very cool! Thank you for all the wonderful information! This definitely makes planning our trip much easier!

 

[Laura.bora]

They have craft time?? My son is going to flip (when he finally finds out we're going! ) Is the craft time free?

 

[ccigliano]

Thanks for the review Minnie Meese (love the name). I love reading reviews from others who enjoy the lodge and this one definitely put me in the mood for my upcoming trade. WL is my favorite resort, so much so that I am now the proud owner of DVC points at the WL Villas. I can't wait for my Christmas trip.