The Carolwood Pacific Railway Room: An Off-the-Beaten Path Resort Lobby

I don’t know about you, but I always enjoy a good two-for-one, and that’s exactly what you get when you visit the Carolwood Pacific Railway Room at Disney’s Boulder Ridge Villas. First, you’ll get a dose of nostalgia. The hidden lobby radiates Walt Disney’s love for trains. Secondly, you’ll have stumbled upon one of the very best places to relax in all of Walt Disney World.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve rested my weary legs in one of the oversized rockers by the fireplace. It’s the perfect place to explore (and nap) after a busy day. You might want to do just that on your next visit. For short, the train room isn’t too difficult to find. You’ll first need to visit Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. If you’re not staying at the resort, the easiest way to get there is to take a boat or bus from the Magic Kingdom. See the options for traveling from Magic Kingdom to Wilderness Lodge for specifics.

From the Wilderness Lodge’s lobby, you’ll take the side exit to Boulder Ridge Villas. The side exit is a small hallway that sits adjacent to Wilderness Lodge Mercantile, the resort’s gift shop. Boulder Ridge Villas is in a separate building. It’s one of two Disney Vacation Clubs at the resort. Once outside, you’ll continue down the long covered walkway to the entrance of Boulder Ridge Villas. (If you arrive at the Wilderness Lodge by bus, the bus stop is directly in front of the villas building.)

When you enter the villa’s lobby, the Carolwood Pacific Railway Room is to the right. You’ll probably notice this sign that says Carolwood Pacific Fair Weather Route. If you’re a fan of Walt Disney, you likely know that he lived on North Carolwood Drive in Holmby Hills, a subdivision in the Los Angeles area. There, Walt and his wife Lillian built their home, which included a barn and a one-eighth-scale steam railroad. The semi-miniature train traveled over a half mile of track around the Disney’s backyard.

The train’s route was deemed the Fair Weather Route. It is also historically noted as contributing to the inspiration behind Disneyland. While the Disney’s home no longer stands, guests can still visit Walt’s Barn where it was re-erected in Griffith Park. It’s also near the park where Walt Disney took his daughters to ride the merry go round on Saturday’s. (Sadly, we visited a few years ago and the merry-go-round had closed.)

The idea for Disneyland came about when my daughters were very young and Saturday was always Daddy’s day with the two daughters. I’d take them to the merry-go-round, and as I sat while they rode, I felt that there should be something built where parents and children could have fun together. So that’s how Disneyland started.

Walt Disney

Unfortunately, the Carolwood Railway Room doesn’t have nearly as much of the memorabilia as Walt’s Barn. But it does house one very special treasure. A glass display case contains two of the train cars that traveled the Fair Weather Route.

Now, that’s not something you see every day. During your visit to the train room, you might take some time to explore the space or the adjoining Boulder Ridge lobby, play a table game, or just sit by the fireplace and soak in the moment. But a word of warning. We like to call those rocking chairs in front of the fire sleepy chairs. You’ll soon find out why. Here are a few photos of the space.

While you’re at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, you might also take the time to tour the magnificent lobby and check out a few other hidden spaces around the resort. Of course, all of these activities will be better enjoyed if you include food. The Wilderness Lodge is one of our top choices for dining locations among the resorts. You may remember I recently placed a to-go mobile order from Geyser Point and enjoyed my meal at a table and chairs in the train room.

Tip: If you need to use the restroom while you’re visiting the lobby, you’ll find it to the right of the fireplace area in the photo below. It’s just beyond the cove.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, you enjoyed this tour of the Carolwood Pacific Railway Room at Boulder Ridge Villas. For more on Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, you might enjoy one of the following:

• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Rooms (Photos and Tour)
• The Pools at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Roaring Fork Quick Service Review
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Bus Schedule with Times

You might also enjoy our list of Favorite Disney Resort Quiet Escapes. (It includes a free guide you can save to your phone at the end!)

More Planning

Resorts Gal specializes in Disney World Resorts, Characters, and Dining. Explore our resources, including our Disney World Resorts Guide. It provides an overview of everything you need to know about the Disney Resort Hotels. For dining, our Disney World Dining Guide is an excellent place to start. Our Disney World Transportation Guide is a wonderful resource for planning your routes. It’s one of our most popular resources. If you plan to meet characters in the parks, we have an updated list of Disney World Characters. It includes every available character meet-and-greet in the parks and where to find rare characters throughout the year. Lastly, our Disney Parks Guide provides a complete overview of all four theme parks and water parks.