Last year when we were in Walt Disney World for the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration we stayed a few post-conference days at the Wilderness Lodge. This resort had been on my must-do list for some time, as was a stay at the Yacht Club which was an opportunity Disney SMMC afforded us.
I am so thankful that we were fortunate enough to stay at my two most coveted resorts in the same week. Since I already posted about how marvelous Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is, I thought I would also share our experience with the WL.
If you’ve ever been drawn to life in a cabin in the woods, that is exactly the atmosphere the Wilderness Lodge achieves. When you step foot into the main building and take in your rustic surroundings, you get the feeling that you’re staying at a resort nestled in a valley among the Appalachian Mountains.
This resort features seclusion without being secluded; You are just a short boat ride from the Magic Kingdom. The proximity and ease of getting to and from MK is one of my favorite perks of staying at this Disney resort.
We were upgraded to a pool view/river view room and what a gorgeous view it was. We also enjoyed watching Wishes from our balcony at night. We like to get an early start each day so we usually miss out on the fireworks. It was a great treat to be able to watch them from the comfort of our room.
There is something beautiful to see everywhere you look at the Lodge. There are breathtaking waterfalls, serene woodsy walks and paths and even a geyser. My kids loved walking over the bubbling Spring inside the hotel lobby, which runs outside and into the waterfall seen above.
There is also a full service spa and fitness center on premises. We took a walk around at night and enjoyed a movie on the beach before exploring the property, which is very quiet and serene. You can do a lot of everything here, or a lot of nothing. We noticed many wooden rocking chairs, beautiful fireplaces and chess sets for guests to use.
We dined at all three restaurants on property: Artist Point, Whispering Canyon Cafe and the quick service, Roaring Fork. I got myself a fruity drink at the Trout Pass Pool Bar and it was delicious. Of all of these, the breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe was my favorite. It is a fun place to dine with family, especially for kids; Make sure you ask for ketchup.
This is one of my favorite resorts and it’s the closest you can get to Magic Kingdom without paying monorail hotel prices. It’s what makes this resort a truly hidden gem. I’d love to stay in a cabin at Fort Wilderness Campground right next door.
This looks like a great place to stay. Sadly I have never been to Disney
This looks like an incredible place to stay. It is like a vacation within a vacation.
What a great place to stay with your family. I really like the design and openess of the building.
The Wilderness Lodge sounds like a wonderful place to stay. The pictures are absolutely gorgeous that I would love to stay when I get a chance to visit there. That pool, the waterfalls are just amazing & a full service spa could be a great experience as well.
Wilderness Lodge looks like an amazing place to stay. We are hoping to get to Disney next year. I will have to look into staying there.
I’ve stayed at a few Disney resorts but never the Wilderness Lodge. I wonder if my kids would love the rustic look. I seriously doubt it but I would.