Wilderness Lodge Fact Sheet

A Guide to Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort at Walt Disney World | AllEars.net
A Guide to Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort at Walt Disney World | AllEars.net

A Guide to Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort at Walt Disney World | AllEars.net

Wilderness Lodge Highlights:

  • Great location! A short boat ride away from Magic Kingdom.
  • A huge multi story lobby with authentic Pacific Northwest Artifacts on display.
  • An amazing pool! A stream starts in the lobby and makes its way to a waterfall and eventually the resort’s beautiful pool! There’s also a geyser that shoots off several times a day.
Wilderness Lodge Lobby

What is the Wilderness Lodge like?

The 728-room lakeside Disney’s Wilderness Lodge opened on May 28, 1994, and is modeled on the historic Old Faithful Lodge circa 1904 in Yellowstone National Park. From the moment you walk through the front door (yes, those are crickets you hear) the theming takes over. It is one of the best themed resorts on property, Animal Kingdom Lodge being the other.

The lobby is a wonderful place to explore complete with an 80 foot tall fireplace and rocking chairs, hidden Mickeys, totem poles, wood carvings, teepee chandeliers and more.

On November 15, 2002, the Villas at Wilderness Lodge, part of the Disney Vacation Club, opened adjacent to the Wilderness Lodge. These were renamed the Boulder Ridge Villas in May 2016. On July 17, 2017, the Copper Creek Villas and Cabins at Wilderness Lodge opened. All these rooms are Disney Vacation Club studios, one-, two-, or three-bedroom villas or stand-alone cabins. You do not have to be a Disney Vacation Club member to stay in these rooms. Guests at the Villas share central services with the Lodge (including the front desk).

Wilderness Lodge

What are the advantages to staying at the WL?

Located in the Magic Kingdom Resort area, the WL is a themed resort unto itself. Many folks feel they could stay at the Lodge their entire trip and still have had relaxing vacation with their money well spent.

The Magic Kingdom is a short boat ride away, which makes the Wilderness Lodge a convenient spot for those wishing to visit the park frequently.

What room options do I have?

Most of the rooms are approximately 340 sq.feet. There are 3 room views available. The Standard View generally faces the parking lot or driveway and sometimes the roof; the Woods View faces the woods towards the MK (no view of MK-maybe a glimpse of a monorail) on one side and the Wilderness Lodge Villas on the other side; the Courtyard View looks out over one of the pools or Bay Lake. Some guests report the upper floors do enable you to see the MK fireworks although since the trees have grown, these views have become very limited.

Wilderness Lodge Room

There are 7 floors in the main building and 6 floors on the wings. The lobby is considered to be on the 2nd floor. First floor rooms have a walkout area and are generally close to the pool and waterfall. Not all rooms have balconies and some balconies have privacy rails so that you can’t see out when sitting. The rooms on the top floor have solid wall balconies. Most rooms have 2 queen size beds and some offer a queen-size bed and 1 bunk bed set for families. You may request a portable crib for your room also. The sink area has a double vanity, with the shower and toilet in a closed area.

The rooms have a small safe in the closet to store valuables. It’s big enough for your plane tickets, cash/travelers checks and maybe some jewelry, but not much more. For storing larger valuables inquire at the front desk. Most rooms have hair dryers installed as well as a small, complimentary refrigerator, an iron and ironing board.

Is there Internet Access available in the rooms?

Walt Disney World Resort has complimentary Wi-Fi service available in all of its hotels. See our Internet Access page for details.

What are the bunk bed rooms like?

The Bunk Bed rooms are the same size as the rooms with 2 queen beds. The bunk beds are centered in the area the queen bed would be in. There is space between the bunks and the wall but there are bed-rails on both sides of the top bunk. The Wilderness Lodge no longer accepts requests for bunk bed rooms.

Old Faithful Club

Tell me about the concierge option.

The Concierge rooms are all on the seventh floor, each room has a privacy balcony and the view will be either woods or courtyard. Your room will have one King sized bed or two Queen sized beds or one Queen sized bed plus two bunk beds. The room has an ironing board, a hair dryer and bathrobes as well as a nightly turn down service.

The Concierge Lounge opens into the lobby and is also on the 7th floor. Continental breakfast, wine and cheese, snacks and tea, evening appetizers and desserts and cordials are served. The concierge desk is open from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm to help with dinner reservation, shows, etc. Junior Suites guests have Old Faithful Club (concierge) access via MagicBand.

Reader Reviews of the Concierge Club Level!

What should I expect to pay for a room at the Lodge?

The Wilderness Lodge is considered a “Deluxe” resort hotel, however, the pricing is slightly lower than the other deluxe resorts. These are regular rate prices and do not include the Florida Sales Tax nor the county resort tax. Most rooms have a maximum five-person occupancy per room. Prices are per room, and there is an additional adult charge of $25 per adult per night for more than two adults in a room.

Walt Disney World Resort rates vary by season (there are nine seasons now), and also by day of the week. The holiday season is the most expensive time of the year. It runs from mid-December to early January as well as during Easter Week.

The rates for a:
— Standard View Room range from $369 – $709
— Woods View Room range from $430 –  $725
— Woods View w/ Bunkbeds Room range from $478 – $748
— Courtyard View Room range from $463 – $733
— Courtyard View w/Bunkbeds range from $486 – $786
— Club Level Standard View Room range from $615 – $997
— Club Level Deluxe room range from $780 – $1.355

What time is Check-In/Check-Out?

Online Check-in is available through the My Disney Experience App. Look for the special Online Check-in line at the resort’s front desk.

Check-in is at 3pm. Upon arrival head to the front desk to check-in. Rooms are not guaranteed to be available until 3pm, but you can request Early Check-in when you do Online Check-in.

Wilderness Lodge Lobby
Animal Kingdom Lodge Front Desk

Early check-in allows you to leave luggage with bell services, get your Magic Bands (if you don’t already have them) and head off to the parks or relax around the resort. You will be get a notification on My Disney Experience when you Room is ready. You will then be given your room number and your Magic Band will open your door! You can also use the app on your phone to open your door.

Check-out time is 11amExpress Check-out is available to all guests paying with a credit card, arrange for this service at check-in. A detailed hotel bill is delivered to your door by 7am. If the bill is correct you simply leave. Your Magic Band serves as a Disney souvenir. Late Check-out of noon can be requested without additional cost (very limited availability). If you need Late Check-out, request it at Check-In and as soon as possible the morning of check out (the number of eligible rooms are limited).

Resort Airline Check-In Service at your Disney resort is only available if you are flying domestically (includes Puerto Rico) on specific airlines It is a complimentary (free) service and allows you to check your luggage

Is there a fee to park at the Wilderness Lodge?

There is a fee for overnight self-parking at Walt Disney World Resort hotels. Click HERE for current pricing and other parking-related information.

Are refrigerators available in the rooms?

There should be a complimentary refrigerator in the room; if there isn’t, one should be available no charge upon request.

Room Coffee Bar and Fridge

I hear that there are no more room key cards at Disney resort hotels. How do I get into my room?

Walt Disney World has converted their room keys and admission tickets from plastic cards to MagicBands, flexible plastic wristbands, resembling a watch or bracelet, that use Radio Frequency (RF) technology. Your MagicBand is linked to your My Disney Experience (MDE) account and acts as your Disney resort room key. Simply touch the Mickey symbol on your MagicBand to the RFID reader near your room door to gain entry. Read about using MagicBands for park admission, FastPass+ and more HERE.

In addition, Walt Disney World is currently testing a Door Lock/Unlock feature using My Disney Experience. You can read more about how this new feature works HERE.

Disney MagicBands©Disney

How Do I Get to…

While it seems as though you should be able to walk to the other Magic Kingdom resort hotels and perhaps even the Magic Kingdom itself, you can’t.

Transportation from the Wilderness Lodge is available through either the Boat Dock or the Bus Depot. They are located on opposite ends of the resort.

Boat Dock — Walking in the front door of the Lodge, the boat dock will be through the back door, down the left side past the pool, down the wooded walkway to the dock.

Bus Depot — You would make a right in the lobby just after you pass the front desk; then go past the gift shop (on your right) and outside to the bus depot. There are three “stops” at the Bus Depot.

To the Magic Kingdom — There are two options. Take the Red Flag Boat available at the Dock. You can also take a bus.

For all other theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs, you can take a bus.

Note that the Wilderness Lodge sometimes shares a line with the Polynesian Resort so you may have to make a stop.

To Fort Wilderness – Take a bus to the Fort Wilderness Settlement Depot, or walk to the marina to catch a launch (blue flag).

Wilderness Lodge Bus Stop

Where can I get morning coffee?

Roaring Fork is located on the first floor near the pool entrance.

Roaring Fork

What are Rapid Fill Mugs?

The Rapid Fill beverage program allows Disney Resort guests to buy (or receive as part of the Disney Dining Plan) a resort mug that can be refilled for a certain period of time as designated at time of purchase. These mugs are enhanced by an RFID bar code that enables the mug to deactivate when the designated time is complete. For complete details visit our Rapid Fill Mug page.

What are the restaurants like?

There are two full-service restaurants, a lounge, a snack bar, and a combination bar and grill.

Artist Point – every night this restaurant turns into an enchanted forest as it hosts the Storybook Dining with Snow White!

Snow White at Storybook Dining at Artist Point

Whispering Canyon Cafe – located off the main lobby, the restaurant actually opens to the lobby. This is a western themed family style restaurant with special activities for those celebrating a special day…including “horse races”. Food is offered family style (you share off the same serving plate) in skillets placed on lazy susans; breakfast, lunch and dinner are served, in addition to a la carte plates.

Whispering Canyon Cafe

 

Territory Lounge – adjacent to Artist Point and is a relaxing lounge that serves a nice micro-brew as well as espresso and cappuccino. Appetizers and light snacks are available in the afternoon and evening.

Territory Lounge

Roaring Fork is located on the ground floor near the pool entrance of the main Lodge. It is a quick service location with light meals and is open from approximately 7 a.m. to midnight, daily. There is a seating area where you can dine or wait for your grilled items to be ready.

Roaring Fork

Geyser Point Bar & Grill is located behind the Copper Creek Villas, overlooking Bay Lake. The Grill serves lunch and dinner. The Bar is a full-service bar, and you can order food there as well. There is plenty of comfy seating as well as televisions at the bar.

Geyser Point

Miss Jenny’s In-room dining is available for breakfast (7-11am) and dinner (4-12pm)

What is the pool like?

The pool is very nice and stays with the National Park Service motif. It begins inside the lobby as a bubbling geyser and runs outside to Silver Creek Falls and into the larger pool. There is a short water slide and also a kid’s pool. There are lounge chairs, some tables and umbrellas available. There are two hot tubs for soothing your sore muscles.

Wilderness Lodge Pool

What types of recreational options do I have?

You can swim in the pool or sunbathe on the sunny beach of Bay Lake. There is a 3/4-mile wooded path for walking, jogging or biking from WL to Fort Wilderness.

Teton Boat and Bike Rental — Bike rental is available from 9am to dusk. Boat rentals area available from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lockers are available at the Marina, $1 per rental. Disney Vacation Club Members, be sure to show your ID for a 10% discount. Other discounts may be available for Annual Passholders — just ask.

Fireworks Cruises set sail from Teton Boat and Bike rental nightly.

When you check in, you’ll be given an Activities Calendar for the week.

Arcade is located near the Mercantile store.

Wilderness Lodge Bike Rental

What will I find in the gift shop?

The Wilderness Lodge Mercantile shop has a variety of northwestern and Wilderness Lodge specific “themed” merchandise, Disney plush and sundries. Food items are also available geared towards those staying in the Villas. There are two fantastic life size wood carvings of bear that you have to see. Just outside the entrance to the shop, you will find a Disney Character Totem pole, which serves as a great photo opportunity!

Wilderness Lodge Mercantile

Can I watch Magic Kingdom Fireworks from the WL?

When the Lodge first opened you could see fireworks from rooms facing the MK, however as the trees have grown much taller, there are very limited, if any, views.

What type of child care options are available?

There is no longer a child care club at Wilderness Lodge. To check on available child care options at Walt Disney World, visit our Child Care FAQ.

What special tours and programs are offered at the WLodge?

“Wonders of the Lodge” tour is offered at throughout the week — be sure to check with the front desk. This one-hour tour is about the architecture and how the Lodge was built. It takes you outside, talks about landscaping, and then goes back inside and talks about the artwork, like the metal work and the Totem Poles and the paintings.

Are Any Special Cruises Available from the Wilderness Lodge Boat Dock?

Yes, several specialty cruises are available from the boat dock. Visit our Specialty Cruises page for details.

Wilderness Lodge Lobby

What other things might I want to know?

All Disney resorts and guest rooms are smoke free. There are designated outdoor smoking areas. Check the resort map or with a Cast Member for locations.

Electric Water Pageant – Go to the boat dock in the evening at approximately 9:35 PM (check with Guest Services for exact times). You’ll be treated to the delightful Electric Water Pageant which makes its way across Bay Lake nightly. This whimsical light and music show will entertain you and your family for about 10 minutes. It’s worth seeing at least once! (The ELP visits all the Bay Lake resorts nightly.) The ELP may be canceled due to inclement weather.

Electrical Water Pageant

Be sure to check out the Buffalo Topiaries in the front of the resort! They are across from the luggage drop-off area.

If you’d like to start your day relaxing, grab a cup of coffee and a danish and sit out by the pool watching everyone else scurry to their morning destination.

The 120′ Fire Rock Geyser spouts every hour on the hour from 7 am to 10 PM. Walk from the lodge to the back of the pool and there is a walkway to watch the Geyser. Be sure to look for the rainbow that sometimes joins the show.

Geyser

Celebrating a special occasion? The bakery at the Wilderness Lodge will make a cake for your celebration. 24-hour notice is requested.

If you have a car when checking in to the WL, be sure to drive up to the front entrance and have the Bell Services unload your luggage. You can then go park your car. Traveling from the entrance, you’ll go down and to the left. It’s a short hike with a hill to get back.

Spend time exploring! In addition to the wonderful rocking chairs in front of the fireplace, there are areas overlooking the lobby where you can sit and relax or read with nice views of the lobby and/or courtyard. If you go all the way to the top floor of the lobby, you can go out on the roof at the front of the resort. There is also a nice area on the courtyard side of the lobby where some people have chosen to get married!

If you want a wonderful place to sit and enjoy the Lodge, take the elevators on the store side of the lobby to the 4th or 5th floors. There are small sitting areas that overlook the lobby.

Ask at the Front Desk for the Hidden Mickey Hunt List.

Reportedly, if you are on the boat from the MK to WL in the evening, as you approach the lodge take a look around the middle section of the hotel. The design and placement of some of the windows and the lighting resemble a huge bear staring at you.

If you want to learn more about the Wilderness Lodge, check out this AllEars TV Video!

 

The WL is located at 901 Timberline Dr. Lake Buena Vista, FLA 32830. The phone number is 407-824-3200 and the fax is 407-824-3232. The WL is a AAA 4 Diamond hotel.

Places to Eat in Wilderness Lodge

Overview

  • Phone: 407 824-3200
  • Address: 901 Timberline Drive, Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830

Transportation Options (2)

  • Bus
  • Boat

Activities & Recreation (9)

  • Boat Rental
  • Kid's Club
  • Playground
  • Arcade
  • Running Trail
  • Poolside Movies
  • Tennis Courts
  • Gym
  • Health Spa

Room Options (5)

  • Standard View
  • Courtyard View
  • Courtyard View - Bunk Bed
  • Standard Room - Club Level
  • Deluxe Room - Club Level Access