Hi,
Just got back after a trip there for a week. I followed the forum reports on the lodge, listened to them, and our stay was great.
Because of comments on a noisy lobby area, we asked for a quiet room when we booked it via Disney. We got a room about halfway out one of the "wings" of the hotel. The restaurant just off the lobby, ironically called Whispering Canyon, is not noisy. It is loud. Part of the "entertainment" there is for the waiters to announce various items loudly. If you ask for ketchup, a waiter will announce that fact to everyone, and suddenly a parade of children will appear each carrying one bottle to your table. They asked a newlywed couple next to us to gallop around the restaurant on hobby-horses saying "I love you" to each other and kissing all the way around. The napkins are really bandannas. The waiters carry lots of them to make headresses with "feather" straws or other assorted hats. This restaurant opens early and stays open late. So after seeing pictures of the lobby on Disneys site, do not be encouraged to book a room on a balcony overlooking the lobby.
We didn't get to try the pool but people pointed out to us that it is heated which we checked. So people swam in all kinds of weather, warm or not.
This lodge is a little more compact than say Port Orleans. Rather than being spread out, it is all in one lodge, although 7 stories high and maybe 500? feet long.
We really enjoyed the location on the lake. We took a ferry boat many days, eiither direct to Magic Kingdom (10 minute ride) or one day there and then used to Monorail to Epcot (40 min total) for an adventure. We took a boat next door to the Hoop-de-do Review. Actually the first night we walked the 3/4 mile to Fort Wilderness and took the boat back. We even rented a 17' Boston Whaler one day. They told us that the smaller Searacers were not designed for 2 adults with a 320 pound load limit plus they discouraged taking pictures from them. Maybe people stand up in them and fall over?
We took a bus to the Animal Kingdom lodge for dinner one night. That was really my first choice of where to stay because of the supposedly great views form the rooms. We got there an hour before dinner so we could look around. They have a walkway on the ground out to a viewpoint. After seeing 4 zebras and an antelope, I am glad that I did not spend lots of money to get that view from a room. We were supposed to eat at Jiko that night but after looking at the buffet in Boma, we changed our mind and ate there.
We had afternoon tea at Grand Floridian, a monorail ride back from Magic Kingdom. Afterwards we took a boat back to MK and then a boat to our lodge.
I was disappointed in their fast food area; it was about half the size of a typcial McDonalds where the one at Port Orleans Riverside was 4-5 times that size. I like a quick breakfast in the morning rather than a restaurant. Here we had cold or hot cereal every morning. Do they figure in a fancy hotel no one would eat in the fast place? The offered eggs there but no pancakes, waffles, etc. We tried the kid's French Toast Stix; they were horrible.
We really got the most from Wilderness Lodge. However I have to wonder if the restaurant prices go along with the lodging prices. Don't know how to check that. Two cereals, juice, coffees, and one muffin cost $15. I would consider staying there again although I like variety so I would consider what other lodges offered in comparison.
Alan C.
Just got back after a trip there for a week. I followed the forum reports on the lodge, listened to them, and our stay was great.
Because of comments on a noisy lobby area, we asked for a quiet room when we booked it via Disney. We got a room about halfway out one of the "wings" of the hotel. The restaurant just off the lobby, ironically called Whispering Canyon, is not noisy. It is loud. Part of the "entertainment" there is for the waiters to announce various items loudly. If you ask for ketchup, a waiter will announce that fact to everyone, and suddenly a parade of children will appear each carrying one bottle to your table. They asked a newlywed couple next to us to gallop around the restaurant on hobby-horses saying "I love you" to each other and kissing all the way around. The napkins are really bandannas. The waiters carry lots of them to make headresses with "feather" straws or other assorted hats. This restaurant opens early and stays open late. So after seeing pictures of the lobby on Disneys site, do not be encouraged to book a room on a balcony overlooking the lobby.
We didn't get to try the pool but people pointed out to us that it is heated which we checked. So people swam in all kinds of weather, warm or not.
This lodge is a little more compact than say Port Orleans. Rather than being spread out, it is all in one lodge, although 7 stories high and maybe 500? feet long.
We really enjoyed the location on the lake. We took a ferry boat many days, eiither direct to Magic Kingdom (10 minute ride) or one day there and then used to Monorail to Epcot (40 min total) for an adventure. We took a boat next door to the Hoop-de-do Review. Actually the first night we walked the 3/4 mile to Fort Wilderness and took the boat back. We even rented a 17' Boston Whaler one day. They told us that the smaller Searacers were not designed for 2 adults with a 320 pound load limit plus they discouraged taking pictures from them. Maybe people stand up in them and fall over?
We took a bus to the Animal Kingdom lodge for dinner one night. That was really my first choice of where to stay because of the supposedly great views form the rooms. We got there an hour before dinner so we could look around. They have a walkway on the ground out to a viewpoint. After seeing 4 zebras and an antelope, I am glad that I did not spend lots of money to get that view from a room. We were supposed to eat at Jiko that night but after looking at the buffet in Boma, we changed our mind and ate there.
We had afternoon tea at Grand Floridian, a monorail ride back from Magic Kingdom. Afterwards we took a boat back to MK and then a boat to our lodge.
I was disappointed in their fast food area; it was about half the size of a typcial McDonalds where the one at Port Orleans Riverside was 4-5 times that size. I like a quick breakfast in the morning rather than a restaurant. Here we had cold or hot cereal every morning. Do they figure in a fancy hotel no one would eat in the fast place? The offered eggs there but no pancakes, waffles, etc. We tried the kid's French Toast Stix; they were horrible.
We really got the most from Wilderness Lodge. However I have to wonder if the restaurant prices go along with the lodging prices. Don't know how to check that. Two cereals, juice, coffees, and one muffin cost $15. I would consider staying there again although I like variety so I would consider what other lodges offered in comparison.
Alan C.
