Share the Love about the Wilderness Lodge

[puakinikini]

We save up to go to WDW every 3 years - and 2017 is our year! We leave in less than a month. We are staying at the Wilderness Lodge - rented DVC points. Help me get excited for the trip by telling me your favorite things about staying at this resort. Any tips, insider advice would be much appreciated.

 

[dansdad]

We save up to go to WDW every 3 years - and 2017 is our year! We leave in less than a month. We are staying at the Wilderness Lodge - rented DVC points. Help me get excited for the trip by telling me your favorite things about staying at this resort. Any tips, insider advice would be much appreciated.

This thread is chock full of great information and tips on the 1st page. Plus lots of Lodge lovers and experts hang out there.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...villas-and-cabins-information-thread.3372315/

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Where do I start?! I could just sit in the lobby all day! Take the tour they offer some mornings. If you don't have time for that, concierge has a handout that details the architecture and decor in the resort (describing the totems and other items in the lobby). Visit the sitting room in the Boulder Ridge villas. They have some of the train cars that Walt Disney used in his backyard. Sit by the fireplace. Eat at Whispering Canyon and ask for ketchup. Walk the trail between WL and Ft. W (or take the boat) and visit the stables to see the horses). The boats from WL to MK start running an hour before park opening (you can take a bus earlier), but if you would still like to boat over, simply take an early morning boat to CR and walk!

 

[Mousemommy1]

The Wilderness Lodge is a wonderful resort with fantastic theming throughout. The lobby is jaw dropping, cozy and gorgeous all at the same time. We are sad that as a family we have outgrown most of the rooms there, but we fully intend on booking a WL CL Deluxe room in the future just to stay there again. Enjoy!

 

[Tigger's ally]

I love Territory Lounge for a nightcap. We get one to go and sit up on the balcony behind the lobby to watch the electrical parade with piped in music! But, it has been awhile since we last stayed there. Still my fave resort though! The music they play as you enter in through the doors is majestic!

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Oh I love Wilderness Lodge! As said above, the lobby is amazing and if you can't take the tour, try and get some information on it and walk around. I love to go to the lobby early in the morning when many people are still asleep and sit by the fireplace while the resort wakes up. Absolutely take the boat to Magic Kingdom! The majority of the boat captains are so much more than just "the person who drives the boat". They often tell stories or jokes, ask Disney trivia, sing songs, or just shoot the breeze with the passengers. It's a great way to to get to the park and always puts me in a great mood. The Electrical Water Pageant is fun to watch from the beach if your balcony doesn't look out on it. I also enjoy sitting out on the balcony and just listening to the music at night. This is going to sound weird, but I love shopping in The Mercantile. I know it's just a Disney gift shop in a resort, but it's just so cozy and the cast members are wonderful in there. I also love to have breakfast out by the pool and watch people as they rush off to start their day. I absolutely love this resort and my family knows that if they give me the choice, Wilderness Lodge will absolutely be the resort I would choose.

 

[CynBeth]

We love the lobby plus overall theme of the resort including the geyser. WCC is one of our favorite breakfasts on property. We also enjoy the boat to FW and CR and the boat to MK. Also the water pageant is a favorite of ours.

 

[Capang]

1. Sitting in a rocker by the fireplace after a long day at the parks.
2. Watching the water parade.
3. The trains!
4. The theme of the resort.

*haven't been to Geyser Point yet but I look forward to that on the next trip!

Honestly WL is my absolute favorite. It is so close to MK with easy access to FW and the monorail resorts via boat to the contemporary. So close to the action but so quiet and peaceful. Enjoy your trip!

 

[sara_s]

Stayed here for the first time in June and am dying to go back!! My husband and I really enjoyed Geyser Point - the view was perfect, the bartenders are so friendly, and the drinks are tasty! We hung out there a lot.

 

[Shanti]

We save up to go to WDW every 3 years - and 2017 is our year! We leave in less than a month. We are staying at the Wilderness Lodge - rented DVC points. Help me get excited for the trip by telling me your favorite things about staying at this resort. Any tips, insider advice would be much appreciated.

Wilderness Lodge was the first Disney resort we ever stayed at. We had never even been inside of one before. I remember walking in and being blown away by the beautifully themed lobby. The trees around the resort really gave it a Northwest feel. Boating to and from MK was special, too, especially when the Electric Water Pageant floated by us on the way back from MK.

 

[mkh531]

Oh I love Wilderness Lodge! As said above, the lobby is amazing and if you can't take the tour, try and get some information on it and walk around. I love to go to the lobby early in the morning when many people are still asleep and sit by the fireplace while the resort wakes up. Absolutely take the boat to Magic Kingdom! The majority of the boat captains are so much more than just "the person who drives the boat". They often tell stories or jokes, ask Disney trivia, sing songs, or just shoot the breeze with the passengers. It's a great way to to get to the park and always puts me in a great mood. The Electrical Water Pageant is fun to watch from the beach if your balcony doesn't look out on it. I also enjoy sitting out on the balcony and just listening to the music at night. This is going to sound weird, but I love shopping in The Mercantile. I know it's just a Disney gift shop in a resort, but it's just so cozy and the cast members are wonderful in there. I also love to have breakfast out by the pool and watch people as they rush off to start their day. I absolutely love this resort and my family knows that if they give me the choice, Wilderness Lodge will absolutely be the resort I would choose.

I love the mercantile too! My favorite shop at Disney. The Wilderness Lodge got its theme exactly right and it's the best mix of price, location, theme, food, layout, etc. the only thing I don't like is the CM uniform at the resort. Everything else is PERFECT.

 

[sara_s]

I love the mercantile too! My favorite shop at Disney. The Wilderness Lodge got its theme exactly right and it's the best mix of price, location, theme, food, layout, etc. the only thing I don't like is the CM uniform at the resort. Everything else is PERFECT.

The uniforms - ack! I feel so bad for them!

 

[mkh531]

The uniforms - ack! I feel so bad for them!

Yep. There's no way to look good in them. Even a 20 yo supermodel would look frumpy.

 

[JerseyJanice]

So many cool things to see in the main lobby.

On the fourth floor hallway near the corner that is farthest from the check-in/concierge counter, check out the layers of the stones. Lots of fossils inside; kids enjoy trying to figure what animals and plants they are.

Go up to the fifth floor and check out the tops of the beams. It's fun to try and spot the animals that are carved into them.

The beach of Bay Lake is beautiful in the early morning. If you need to make early cell calls, go there. The Electric Water Pageant comes up to the beach every night.

 

[puakinikini]

Where do I start?! I could just sit in the lobby all day! Take the tour they offer some mornings. If you don't have time for that, concierge has a handout that details the architecture and decor in the resort (describing the totems and other items in the lobby). Visit the sitting room in the Boulder Ridge villas. They have some of the train cars that Walt Disney used in his backyard. Sit by the fireplace. Eat at Whispering Canyon and ask for ketchup. Walk the trail between WL and Ft. W (or take the boat) and visit the stables to see the horses). The boats from WL to MK start running an hour before park opening (you can take a bus earlier), but if you would still like to boat over, simply take an early morning boat to CR and walk!

Thanks so much - great suggestions and right up my alley.

 

[Cayaco]

We love the lobby plus overall theme of the resort including the geyser. WCC is one of our favorite breakfasts on property. We also enjoy the boat to FW and CR and the boat to MK. Also the water pageant is a favorite of ours.

Is it hard to get a view of the parade from the beach?

 

[mickeynut1]

This is going to sound weird, but I love shopping in The Mercantile. I know it's just a Disney gift shop in a resort, but it's just so cozy and the cast members are wonderful in there.

Me too! I think The Mercantile is an awesome gift shop and I agree that the CMs are wonderful .

We love the lobby plus overall theme of the resort including the geyser.

The lobby is beautiful. I also think the geyser is cool to watch .

It is so close to MK with easy access to FW and the monorail resorts via boat to the contemporary. So close to the action but so quiet and peaceful.

I agree

I remember walking in and being blown away by the beautifully themed lobby.

I had that same feeling the first time I walked into the WL as the lobby is just breathtaking .

The Wilderness Lodge got its theme exactly right and it's the best mix of price, location, theme, food, layout, etc.

 

[GrandCalifornian]

We love the quiet rural feel, coupled with the great location so close to MK. It feels so secluded and relaxing that it is hard to believe it is just a few minutes from the busiest theme park in the world. Bay Lake is beautiful, and allows for nice boat transportation options. Geyser Point is an excellent addition to the resort, and takes advantage of the lakefront location.


There isn't really a beach anymore, as it has been replaced by the patio area in front of Geyser Point. It is concrete up to the plants and fencing that separate you from the water, but a very nice spot to watch the sunrise.


You can also see most of the higher MK fireworks form here, and they play the music from the show. There is a grassy area South of here that is used for the outdoor movies. Since you are right on the water, the view of the Electrical Water Parade is great from here. It is also nice to watch it from the walkway by the Geyser, or from the transportation boat dock to the North.

WL is just the prefect resort for us. The theme fits us well and we love all of the details that Disney has incorporated into it.


The architecture is impressive, and we love the variety of little sitting and observation areas that are built into the different floors of the resort.


We also really appreciate that except for the cabins it is all under one roof, so you can get anywhere at the resort while staying inside in any weather.

 

[Dean Marino]

Grin - we are blessed to be DVC owners, HOMED at BRV. We never stay anywhere else .

 

[Cayaco]

There isn't really a beach anymore, as it has been replaced by the patio area in front of Geyser Point. It is concrete up to the plants and fencing that separate you from the water, but a very nice spot to watch the sunrise.

Can you watch the water parade from there?