A Resorts Gal Guide
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Planning Guide
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is a stunning resort inspired by the Pacific Northwest and National Park Lodges. It is home to two Disney Vacation Clubs: Boulder Ridge and Copper Creek Villas. Below, you’ll find our planning guide for Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Guests planning a stay will want to familiarize themselves with the different room types, restaurants, recreation, and transportation options available at the resort.
A Note on DVC Resorts
Since Copper Creek Villas and Boulder Ridge Villas are Disney Vacation Club Resorts, they operate a little differently from the average Disney Resort Hotel. Disney’s Vacation Club members will have a first-come, first-serve choice of rooms when reservations become available. However, it is rare for rooms to fill up, so Disney makes these rooms available on a cash basis to regular resort guests.
Therefore, you do not have to be a DVC member to stay at this or any other Disney Vacation Club Resort. Boulder Ridge is located in an entirely separate building from the rest of the resort. It has its own pool area.
Copper Creek Villas is comprised of units that are connected to the Wilderness Lodge and cabins that sit out near the lake. The Cascade Cabins are one of the most exclusive accommodations offering privacy with the conveniences and comfort of home. We have a separate review of Copper Creek Villas if you want to learn more.
The Basics of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Here are a few basic things you’ll want to know about the resort:
- Check-In: 3:00 p.m.
- Check-Out: 11:00 a.m.
- Self-Parking: Disney’s Wilderness Lodge offers complimentary overnight self-parking for guests who are visiting with a vehicle. Valet Parking is available at a daily charge.
- Free Wi-Fi Internet
- Address: 901 Timberline Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
- Housekeeping: Deluxe Resorts receive daily full housekeeping service.
Disney provides the following description of the resort on their website:
Reference
Escape to the rustic majesty of America’s Great Northwest. Inspired by turn-of-the-century National Park lodges, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge celebrates American craftsmanship and honors the beauty of the untamed wilderness. Soak in the splendor of the great outdoors, from nature trails through pine forests to rocking chairs that overlook a murmuring creek. Inside, discover towering totem poles, headdresses and more, and enjoy the rustic elegance of the stone hearth and roaring fireplac
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort Benefits
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge guests can participate in Disney’s early theme park entry, a perk extended to all Walt Disney World Resort guests.
Early Theme Park Entry: This perk allows resort guests to enter any Walt Disney World theme park 30 minutes before officially opening to the general public. This early entry provides several advantages:
- Lower Crowds: Being among the first to enter the park allows you to experience popular attractions with shorter wait times. This will help you to check off must-see rides and experiences ahead of the crowd.
- Photography Opportunities: If you love capturing the magic of Disney, the early hours provide a fantastic opportunity for photos in front of iconic landmarks with fewer people in the background.
- Cooler Temperatures: Morning hours are often cooler, making outdoor activities more comfortable. But if you visit during cooler weather, don’t forget a jacket!
Extended Evening Hours: On specific evenings, Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resort guests, including those staying at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, enjoy spending extra time in select theme parks. During extended evening hours, these parks stay open later than their regular closing time, usually for two more hours.
This benefit offers several advantages as well:
- More Ride Time: This allows you to enjoy additional nighttime rides and attractions when lines tend to be shorter.
- Magical Nighttime Atmosphere: Disney parks take on a unique and enchanting ambiance at night, with beautifully lit landscapes. So you’ll have a longer time to savor the nighttime magic with fewer crowds.
- Less Rush: With extended hours, you can explore at a more relaxed pace.
Planning Your Stay at the Wilderness Lodge
Below, you’ll find our resources for planning your stay at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. We’ve taken detailed photos of everything you can imagine. If you’re unfamiliar with Disney, we consider our resort transportation guide to be one of our most valuable resources. It’s designed to help you prepare in advance and can be used as a tool to help you get around while you’re there.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Review: Our review of the resort discusses its history and styling after Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Inn. It highlights amenities like the resort’s grand lobby with a seven-story fireplace, hand-carved totem poles, and Native American artifacts like headdresses and shadow box displays of moccasins and arrowheads. We also get into the details of our last stay, including our room locations, what food we tried, recreation, and transportation options.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Room Types: The article provides an overview of the different room types available at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. It includes detailed descriptions and photos of standard rooms with various views (resort, water, fireworks) and options with king beds. Features highlighted are platform beds, ample storage, flat-screen TVs, and modern bathrooms with dual sinks. Some rooms offer club-level access and larger deluxe options. It also touches on the room decor, amenities, and tips for choosing the best room type for your stay. All the rooms at Wilderness Lodge have a balcony, except for ground floor units, which have a patio. Rooms offer basic amenities like a hair dryer, toiletries, and steam iron.
The Pools at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge: The article shares detailed information about the two pools at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge: the Copper Creek Springs Pool and the Boulder Ridge Cove Pool. The Copper Creek Springs Pool features a waterslide, hot tubs (hot and cold whirlpool spas), and an aquatic play area. The Boulder Ridge Cove Pool offers a quieter, more shaded environment with themed elements. Both pools provide complimentary towels, life jackets, and accessible facilities. The pools have specific operating hours and are exclusive to resort guests.
Wilderness Lodge Transportation Options: The article outlines the transportation options at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, which include resort watercraft and Disney buses. Guests can take boats directly to Magic Kingdom and Fort Wilderness. They can take buses to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs. It details the routes and tips for each destination. Guests can take a transfer bus to get to the water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon).
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Restaurants: This article provides a comprehensive guide to the dining options at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. It covers five main restaurants: Roaring Fork (quick service), Territory Lounge (bar/lounge), Whispering Canyon Cafe (table service with fun antics), Geyser Point Bar & Grill (outdoor lounge), and Artist Point Storybook Dining (character dining with Snow White). Each restaurant’s unique offerings, hours of operation, and tips for dining are highlighted.
Refillable Mugs and Locations at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge: Find out where to refill Rapid Fill mugs, the current price, and what beverage options are available at the resort.
Wilderness Lodge Mercantile: Find out what kind of merchandise you can find in the resort’s gift shop. You’ll find items like groceries, over-the-counter medicine, and more!
Laundry at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge: Preview photos of the laundry rooms, location, and other information for doing a load of laundry at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
Individual Dining Reviews for the Wilderness Lodge
Whispering Canyon Cafe Breakfast Review: The article reviews breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. It highlights the fun, interactive atmosphere and the hearty menu offerings, such as all-you-can-eat skillets with a variety of breakfast items. The review emphasizes the restaurant’s appeal for families and those looking for a unique dining experience, mentioning the playful antics of the servers that add to the entertainment.
Roaring Fork Review: The article reviews Roaring Fork, the main counter-service restaurant at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. It offers a preview of breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a variety of options like the barbecue brisket with burnt ends and Wilderness salad. The review highlights the ease of mobile ordering, the diverse menu, and ample seating options both indoors and outdoors.
Geyser Point Bar and Grill Review: The article reviews Geyser Point Bar & Grill at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, highlighting its scenic lakeside setting and casual atmosphere. Open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., it offers a variety of appetizers, entrees, desserts, and cocktails without requiring reservations. While you dine, take in scenic views of Bay Lake.
Story Book Dining at Artist Point: This is a review of Storybook Dining at Artist Point with Snow White at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. It describes the prix fixe menu featuring shared appetizers, entrees like Magic Mirror’s Slow-Braised Pork Shank and Bashful’s Butter-poached Sustainable Fish, and themed desserts. The meal’s highlight is the character interactions with Snow White, Dopey, Grumpy, and the Evil Queen. While the food quality is mixed, the overall experience is recommended for its enchanting atmosphere and character engagement.
Territory Lounge Review: This article shares dining tips and things we’ve tried at the resort’s lounge. We love to dine at this family-friendly establishment. It’s the perfect place to grab a bite to eat without a reservation.
Extras and Seasonal
Taking the Boat Between Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Magic Kingdom: This article provides photos and directions of the specific steps we take when traveling between Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Magic Kingdom.
Christmas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge: Have you dreamed of visiting Disney’s Wilderness Lodge during Christmas? It’s a dream come true! This photo post shares what to expect and how to plan.
Buttons and Bells Arcade: The resort’s arcade is off the lobby. It’s on the right past Wilderness Mercantile as you make your way to the bus stop.
Electrical Water Pageant: The Electrical Water Pageant passes this resort nightly. You can walk out to the viewing area behind Geyser Point Bar and Grill to see it. This is where guests also watch Happily Ever After, the nightly fireworks at Magic Kingdom. However, we don’t feel that it’s a great view of the fireworks.
Old Faithful Club Level: This is an exclusive room upgrade that provides access to a private lounge during your stay. If you would like to know more about what to expect out of club level, in general, try our review of the Kamehameha Club at the Polynesian.
Fire Rock Geyser: Fire Rock Geyser erupts each hour between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. It was designed to resemble Old Faithful.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Room Tour
Here is a tour of a standard room at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge with a king-size bed and a resort view.
Related Reading
For your convenience, here’s a list of all our articles related to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort:
More Deluxe Resorts to Consider:
If you haven’t decided on a resort, you might consider a few other options:
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (This resort is not in the same location. But it’s more comparable than any other resort.)
The following resorts are part of the Magic Kingdom Resorts Area: