@@amydoran9987 anyone who doesn’t love walking and doesn’t hate magic kingdom should try it. Especially if your kids love vehicles. My dads disabled and we’ve tried several different hotels. We will never stay anywhere else after trying Contemporary, that place is so convenient!
I worked here for my Disney College Program and I'm convinced this location made the experience that much better. Walt Disney World isn't necessarily known for a woodsy nature atmosphere, but this resort somehow brings rural mountainous America and Disney luxury together. The food and bar at Geyser Point is excellent and the recreation staff (😉) is wonderful and fun.
Wilderness Lodge is my #1 Dream Resort, and I want to stay there before I die. Why haven’t I? Because I have Deluxe Resort dreams on a value resort budget
Universal still has a Delorean. See if you can travel back to the year 1994. Wait, No. Either 1996 or 1998. In 1996, they were having the 25th anniversary celebration. In 1998, they opened Animal Kingdom. Pick one of those last two. If you adjust for inflation, it was a lot mire affordable. They all were.
Loved this!! Please do more of these! I know Food is obviously your main focus but the level of professionalism your reporting and overviews has is great for this kind of stuff. Thanks!
Stayed at the Wilderness Lodge when our kids were 7 and 8 years. It was by far our favorite resort. Now our kids are 30 & 31 and we chose to have a family reunion there in January. Can not wait. Thank you for the video!
My absolute favorite resort. It allows me to get away from the rush and hussle of the theme parks while still keeping me close. It's really not that far to take water transportation to the Contemporary to go the monorail as well as close to MK. I always feel like I'm coming home when I check in
My husband and I stayed here two nights in 2022 before moving to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. As much as we loved having animals right outside the balconey, this year we are staying the whole trip at the Wilderness Lodge. We loved how relaxing it is and hope to really explore the resort this time.
I plan to do a split stay. Staying at one of the resorts near Epcot for the first part of the trip and at wilderness Lodge for the second park when we plan on going to Magic Kingdom
My family has stayed at practically all the deluxes multiple times and this is the overall family favorite. The theming is great and it just feels like home. Location is fantastic as well. Not as convenient as the Epcot area deluxes but for Magic Kingdom resorts I like riding the boat over far more than the monorail. Best part is the WL is cheaper than most of the deluxes although I have found that when discounts are offered it is usually at a lower percentage.
It's my favorite resort especially at Christmas time but I'd never pay to stay there, we are barely in our room on a disney trip it's a huge waste of money especially at that huge price per night
As of 2hrs ago, i upgraded from All Stars Music to Copper Creek at Wilderness Lodge. While ive been in the lobby, and only the lobby, before, my family hasnt. I cant wait to see their faces the second they walk in and see the lobby for the first time. Im sure they will be as blown away as i was.
i LOOOOOOVE Wilderness Lodge. My bf had the best vacation ever staying there in 2019, but that price jump for 2021 tho….. 👀 i don’t think i’ll be able to afford staying there again 😞 disney is really pricing out so many people
@@jayceesmith82 it was $350ish a night for us in August we did a split stay between Wilderness and Movies and they put us in a room where we had full view of the castle. $480 a night now. It’s a big jump for my bf and i to even do a split stay for.
@@ReachMabry wow! yup its a big jump we just came last week we stayed in walt disney swan and its 300 a night. Disney is becoming so expensive… thank u for letting me know 😊
@@jayceesmith82 i understand why. it’s cuz they renovated the rooms. i get it… but whew… can’t warrant the price to stay at a deluxe. even so, i could only ever do a split stay. idk about 2021 and beyond now 😬
Two people staying here for a measly 4 days can spend an outrageous $6,000. I can stay at a mid level hotel at Universal for SIXTEEN days and go to their parks for 10 days straight. Disney is ridiculous.
I have stayed at many WDW resorts and the Wilderness Lodge is our favorite. The food options are great and the transportation is better than the other resorts for the most part. I noticed the pricing you showed wasn’t necessarily what one would usually pay. We tend to travel when Disney puts discounts at some resorts or we have also used DVC resale on occasion.
I brought my sister here for dinner in 2019 and LOVED it! We can't wait for it to reopen since it's been closed. The Queen was flawless and didn't break character at all. I honestly think she frightened my 48 yr.-old sister LOL.
We stayed at Wilderness Lodge in 2015. Loved it! We did find a quick boat ride to Contemporary gets access to monorail to the TTC so that got access to EPCOT. Then a jump to Skyliner could jump to Hollywood studios if bus ride and wait would be too long.
We just got back from Boulder Ridge. 1 bedroom. Absolutely breathtaking from the room, to the Geysers, to the views. Landscape, the lodge. Everything about it is amazing
My Aunt has been planning our Disney trips for the past 20 years, but recently we decided that I would start helping her. I absolutely LOVE the rustic feel and craftsmanship of this hotel. Almost everyone in my family have agreed on this hotel, and the ones who haven’t just don’t see the appeal of nice hotels. We are DEFINITELY going to stay in this hotel for next year’s Disney trip.
Ive done the flag lowering on the roof 3 times with ranger Stan. Have my official certificates framed. Definitely my favorite memory of wilderness lodge.
Agree completely! I've stayed at this resort at Christmas, in the fall and in the spring. All year it's the best, but the Christmas decorating is the best! A different Christmas tree in almost every corner of the ground floor
Wilderness Lodge is our go-to, we stay at Boulder Ridge every year! Awesome for kids to have some down time, and a lot more quiet than the value resorts with tons of groups running around.
My husband and I had dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe in December. We were staying off property in a condo. I'm glad we were able to go. It was nice to see the train room as well while we were there. It's a beautiful resort.
my wife & I stayed there august of 2019, had a great time, hotel was great , personal were great, food and park were great. did not have to wait for rides . all was great!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ,
This is our favorite DVC location. We know we are immediately home by the cozy decor and the familiar scent that welcomes us every time. I wish I had that scent back home! It’s cozy, has a ton of books to read and relax and the pools are awesome. I could just stay here and get away and not even go to the parks. The transportation is on point. No it’s not within walking distance but it’s so nice to be away from it all at the same time. Can’t wait until November when we are back there!! ❤️
I've only had the pleasure and of course $$$ to visit Disney World 6 times in my 54 yrs on this earth... the first trip ever was in the 1970's and we stayed at the Dutch Inn with Windmills, Tulips and Clogs everywhere! Next trip (don't recall what year) we stayed for the first time at Wilderness Lodge... and since then it's the only resort we/I would/will go to.
My favorite Disney resort! Boulder Ridge rooms do need a “refresh” but they are still great. One thing, as of January 2022, the boat to the Contemporary and Fort Wilderness has not returned and you can no longer walk to Fort Wilderness. However, there is a bus to get to the Fort. It’s so amazingly themed and peaceful, nice to come back to after a long day in the parks.
One of the most underrated resorts on property. Beautiful grounds, a great pool, diverse dining options, and efficient transportation. We've stayed at the farthest end of Boulder Ridge and didn't think the walk back to the main lobby was bad at all.
I´ve stayed there three times. And I would stay again without problem. I love it. If you arrange well your timeline, the bus and the boat won´t be a problem. The trip by boat is lovely, and the bar by the lake also
We stayed at Wilderness Lodge about 9 years ago and we absolutely loved it. We were there for two weeks and it was just about the best Disney hotel we have stayed in. The atmosphere is unbeatable and we loved getting the boat to the Magic Kingdom. Perhaps coming from Scotland we don’t mind the buses so much as we never found them anything other than an efficient way to get around. I would thoroughly recommend it but unfortunately we haven’t been able to afford to stay there again although we have visited it every time we have been in Disney since. We have stayed at multiple Disney hotels over the years including Value, Moderate and Deluxe resorts but Wilderness Lodge still gets the biggest approval rating in our house, with Yacht and Beach club in second place.
Stayed there Christmas 2019 and absolutely loved it. The holiday decorations are absolutely amazing, especially the giant tree in the lobby. Just spectacular. And if going to Whispering Canyon, don’t forget to ask for the ketchup. :)
Wilderness Lodge is my absolute favorite resort hotel. The lobby is cozy and grand all at the same time. It's the only hotel lobby I've ever wanted to spend time in - one of our must do things when staying there. If you're ever there during one of Florida's rare cold spells, sitting by the fireplace is fabulous. Geyser Point is very tasty but would be worth it if only for the view & atmosphere. With the paused Reflections construction I'm not sure the walkway between Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge is open? But if not there is a boat also.
We rented DVC points from David's for our stay at Boulder Ridge in May 2022. Very much looking forward to it! On our last trip in 2019, we spent an evening exploring the resort, doing the Hidden Mickey Challenges, and eating at the Storybook Dinner--it was magical. It's my husband's favorite resort on property so I can't wait to spend the week there when we finally get back to the Parks.
I took the fam there and since then we been lucky to stay another 3 trips there over the last 10 years. Every time we took a hard long look at other hotels, but this is simply the best overall experience and was the fam's pick. The boat ride to MK is beautiful way to get there and taking the EPCOT monorail lets you avoid the bus with that transfer. The theming and landscape, isolation provides a unique and wonderful experience outside of the parks. Nothing compares!
We stayed there several years ago and it was on sale. So much so that it was cheaper than art of animation. It was wonderful. I loved the bunk beds for my kids. I just saw where they took those out and that’s disappointing. It was perfect for my family
We are DVC members and Copper Creek at Wilderness Lodge is our home resort. We absolutely love it there. We haven’t had any issues with transportation. We love the pools and restaurants. I highly suggest the Cheese Barbecue Brisket and the Teriyaki Wings at Geyser Point they are amazing. I’ve not had anything I haven’t liked from there.
We recently stayed at the Copper Creek cabins. Yes, very expensive but a special trip for us. As it turns out the cabins exceeded all expectations. Fantastic, wonderful, magical. Disney actually delivered an experience that exceeded the price. It’s hard to recommend, but for a once in a lifetime trip the cabins are without peer.
If you don’t know this little secret about whispering canyon cafe, if you ask for ketchup they will give you every single ketchup bottle they have and if someone else asks for it, they will pass it down. It’s so much fun and is the main reason I love that dining experience
I’ve stayed at most of the premier resorts at Disney, and I found Wilderness Lodge to be one of the best. Yes, the rooms are a slight bit smaller, but it’s not really a noticeable difference. And I found the boat ride to the Magic Kingdom and bus to other parks to be a great transition. The separation from the main areas is actually quite relaxing. And you can still see the evening fireworks at the Magic Kingdom at the outdoor bar at the lake edge. In my opinion, it’s similar to the Grand Floridian but far more comfortable. I’d pick it over most other resorts any time. PS: The pools and outside areas are far better than at other resorts and the entire place seems far quieter.
We stayed here for our honeymoon trip...back when it was (almost) new and still had the buffalo shaped pond and when they used to bring animals over from Discovery Island in the evening. It was a wonderful experience. Unfortunately it would not work now that we are a family of 5. We did eat breakfast here on the last morning of our last trip. Still one of my favorite resorts on property.
We just stayed here. We have stayed at this hotel for the past 14 trips. We love it. It’s quiet, pretty and comfy. The boat is fun and scenic especially in the morning. It’s also close to the Magic Kingdom, which is the park we go to the most. On this trip we tried the dvc villa. We loved it and we hope, to try to get it again on our next trip.
Our lobby facing room at Wilderness Lodge was SUPER QUIET. It was like we were in a sound vacuum. If you opened the door it was super noisy, but as soon as that door closed, we couldn't hear a thing, not even Whispering Canyon. It was great
even though this resort is def on the epxensive side, my mom and i always try and stay here for at least ONE night whenever we go to thr parks because we love it sm. With the new dining promo disney just announced, it was the first time we had a good reason to stay here for our whole trip and we are sooooo excited
I've stayed in a lot of different places in WDW and several of this tier resort. Wilderness Lodge is my go-to if I can't stay at the Yacht or Beach Club. I did not enjoy my stay (a long time ago) at the Swan/Dolphin (I honestly have forgotten which one) and my stays at Polynesian were definitely hit-or-miss. I think what I have enjoyed the most about Wildnerness Lodge is it puts me in mind of the Grand Californian, kind of like its big brother, and breakfast is always a lot of fun (if way too much food) with the very entertaining staff at Whispering Canyon. For that, it makes a nice choice for first-time WDW visitors who can afford a decent room/view and want that Disney "fantasy" feeling. The main pool is really nice, too.
My family could have never been able to afford actually staying here as a kid, though we did enjoy a family tradition of getting breakfast here on the first morning of the vacation before going to the first park 😄 it was a fun experience and it is a goal of mine to be able to afford to stay here at least a few nights of the vacation by the time I'm done with college 🤞🏼
Stayed at least 3 times when the kids were little and loved it. Loved to be able to boat to MK and to the Contemporary to catch the Monorail! I did love Artist Pointe, though!
Wilderness Lodge is the only resort we stay at. It really is our home away from home. We stayed at other deluxe resorts but love the Wilderness Lodge. Highly recommend staying.
We stayed there in June and loved the resort, restaurants, and the cast members were great. The transportation was our only con. Buses and boats were sparse. First buses were “late” for making rope drop at the parks.
Stayed at WL five times and just love it. One things you didn’t mention is I booked a birthday cruise from the dock by bicycle rental. It was a 8 person boat with a captain . It was my daughters in law birthday. We even were able to order a birthday cake to have on boat. All supplies were supplied even the the boat was decorated with birthday banner. The best part was taking a ride to to watch the fireworks from the boat at MK. Also was able to watch the electric boat parade from boat The whole trip was about 4 hours. We had a great experience. I think the entire trip was about 450.00 including cake and tip for boat captain who was very knowledgeable about WDW told us some things we didn’t know. It was well worth it. We had 8 people on our trip and the little had to wear life jackets. There was also beverages and snacks provided. I highly recommend it but you have to book in advance as they fill up quickly. I think there was four boats the night we went.
My family and I have started saving money for a big family trip to Disney for my 30th birthday in a few years and this is the hotel I’m wanting us to go to. Yes it lacks a monorail, but I’m not afraid of a bus trip and I always make a point during trips to go there for dinner and/or to just sit and soak in the beauty of the place.
Outstanding Overview ! as side note, our 1st visit to "WL" was Christmas 1995 ! then every year until the nasty virus ! alot of changes form 1995 & mid 2000`s specifically Christmas decoration elimination &/or reduction "BUT" still our go to Resort ! however, we will miss this year as well ! due to nasty virus ! just want to be careful ! in closing, this is most professional review to date ! & i have viewed all !
We stayed there at Copper Creek last February and LOVED it. We stay at a different resort every trip (all categories) and so far it’s my favorite. No negatives for me. PS - we had a corner deluxe studio. One door led out to the pool and our balcony overlooked the lake and Geyser Point. It looked a lot nicer than the rooms shown in the video. Also, I don’t think we paid over $500 - but since we went in Feb during the pandemic maybe that’s why. Guess we lucked out.
We've stayed at both the hotel and the DVC Boulder Ridge villas. We love this location. Taking the boat to the Magic Kingdom is somehow calmer than trying to get on the bus. And after a tiring day at the MK, the boat home is just the way to unwind. We're planning on staying two nights at one of the cabins at Copper Creek next year. It will be a non-park day, just enjoying the atmosphere.
This was the first hotel that my aunt Jody booked when my parents, Grandma and I went to Walt Disney World. My aunt Jody, her boyfriend Kim and their son Quentin met us at the Orlando airport
My immediate family, in-laws and sisters family loves Wilderness Lodge. It really makes you feel at home. If you're thinking about it I would definitely consider it!!
We absolutely LOVED staying at the Boulder Ridge DVC section of the resort a few years back. We stayed at the 1BR Villa, with the full kitchen. My son LOVED messing around in the Jetted Hot Tub, he's now 18, non verbal Autistic and it's one of the things we can put in him for an hour or so and get to relax a bit. When I saw the remodels on them I was a bit torn. Yes they did need updating, but I'm going to miss that "Rustic" look before the remodel. Most of all however I'm REALLY going to miss the Jetted Hot tub, since that was replaced with a "Soaking Tub". :(
I love these in-depth looks at the resorts! For what it’s worth, we have always loved the Wilderness Lodge. It’s such a nice respite from the hectic nature of the parks.
Stayed at wilderness lodge for about 2 weeks 2 years ago. Really nice! Loved the Snow white and the seven dwarfs dinner character meet and greet! The food was delicious
Stayed here as a kid several times in late 90 and again in 2005. This August will be my first trip to WDW since that 05 trip. We had a reservation for my family at Poly but once they announced the monorail was not going to be done I immediately switched to here and saved $700 for our week long stay. No reason to pay a premium price for Poly and not get the Monorail. Always enjoyed the themeing and ambiance of Wilderness and I am confident my kids (7 and 5) will too!
So timely my Husband has us booked there for a celebration vacation/staycation we are taking. ❤️ Our first time to stay here though we have visited it often.
Wilderness Lodge is great as part of a two-resort stay, especially if paired with an Epcot resort. But if staying only at WL, getting to the other 3 theme parks means either long bus rides, or (much better) a rental car and a lot of driving.
We have only stayed at two Disneyworld properties, here and Saratoga Springs. Wilderness Lodge is one of my favorite places to visit, but the stay was only so-so. Small rooms, no recognition of our 25th anniversary, and poor transportation options. We did enjoy the boat ride over to Magic Kingdom. All in all, we will stay in our Marriott Timeshares, but this is a beautiful property.
It's so peaceful and calm over there vs. any other hotel on property. It DEF. nails the Nat'l Park/PNW vibe and look. I totally loved everything about the place, but for sure it ain't a "Florida-y" beach-y kinda place.
So I live in PNW now. Been to WL many times...favorite part is the cricket recording..its literally the same as here. I live in the woods by mt. Hood. Every august it sounds like wilderness lodge...not Oregon.
The short answer is yes, you should really stay here if you can afford it. We stayed there in 2019 and absolutely loved it! The theming, the natural beauty of the lake, the trees, the amenities... it has it all. The only thing I would ding it for is food. It doesn't have the best food options.
We’ve stayed for 2 weeks every 3 years at Wilderness Resort since 1998 (when my oldest son was 3). The last time was last year. I tried to suggest Animal Kingdom Lodge one of the last few times but got voted down 3 to 1. We love WL and if my 2sons ever decide to get married and have kids, I can see the tradition continuing. Thanks for the great review, even though I’m reading it a year after the fact!
We just rented a one bedroom villa at copper creek for next year. We wanted something that felt more isolated after a day in the parks but that was still close to MK since we have young kids.
You need to do one of these for every resort
Came here to say this! This video was so helpful.
Totally agreed. They have a great one on Animal Kingdom Lodge
Excellent idea, Manok Manok! 👍🏽
One for the contemporary would be interesting.
@@amydoran9987 anyone who doesn’t love walking and doesn’t hate magic kingdom should try it. Especially if your kids love vehicles. My dads disabled and we’ve tried several different hotels. We will never stay anywhere else after trying Contemporary, that place is so convenient!
I worked here for my Disney College Program and I'm convinced this location made the experience that much better. Walt Disney World isn't necessarily known for a woodsy nature atmosphere, but this resort somehow brings rural mountainous America and Disney luxury together. The food and bar at Geyser Point is excellent and the recreation staff (😉) is wonderful and fun.
And if it's out of your budget to stay here, it's still a great resort to visit and to have lunch or dinner at!!
It doesn't look like it's worth the obscene rates for the rooms.
@@largol33t12 Is any Disney hotel really worth it? They're all overpriced
@@tarazieminek1947 True but some look especially unimpressive!
i’m about to work here for dcp and honestly this was so nice to hear!!
Best Disney resort stay ever, and I have been to almost all of them.
Wilderness Lodge is my #1 Dream Resort, and I want to stay there before I die.
Why haven’t I?
Because I have Deluxe Resort dreams on a value resort budget
Check out Dave’s DVC rental. It makes it more affordable but you do have to pay for your room upfront.
Universal still has a Delorean. See if you can travel back to the year 1994. Wait, No. Either 1996 or 1998. In 1996, they were having the 25th anniversary celebration. In 1998, they opened Animal Kingdom. Pick one of those last two. If you adjust for inflation, it was a lot mire affordable. They all were.
@@UmmYeahOk I would love to go to Disney back then again! I would be down if I could time travel
Also lol
Loved this!! Please do more of these! I know Food is obviously your main focus but the level of professionalism your reporting and overviews has is great for this kind of stuff. Thanks!
Stayed at the Wilderness Lodge when our kids were 7 and 8 years. It was by far our favorite resort. Now our kids are 30 & 31 and we chose to have a family reunion there in January. Can not wait. Thank you for the video!
My absolute favorite resort. It allows me to get away from the rush and hussle of the theme parks while still keeping me close. It's really not that far to take water transportation to the Contemporary to go the monorail as well as close to MK. I always feel like I'm coming home when I check in
This is genuinely the best review video I have seen ever of a Disney resort. Thank you for this. And please do much more!!!
My husband and I stayed here two nights in 2022 before moving to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. As much as we loved having animals right outside the balconey, this year we are staying the whole trip at the Wilderness Lodge. We loved how relaxing it is and hope to really explore the resort this time.
I plan to do a split stay. Staying at one of the resorts near Epcot for the first part of the trip and at wilderness Lodge for the second park when we plan on going to Magic Kingdom
My family has stayed at practically all the deluxes multiple times and this is the overall family favorite. The theming is great and it just feels like home. Location is fantastic as well. Not as convenient as the Epcot area deluxes but for Magic Kingdom resorts I like riding the boat over far more than the monorail. Best part is the WL is cheaper than most of the deluxes although I have found that when discounts are offered it is usually at a lower percentage.
My wife and I stayed there for our honeymoon in 2000. Loved everything about it.
It's my favorite resort especially at Christmas time but I'd never pay to stay there, we are barely in our room on a disney trip it's a huge waste of money especially at that huge price per night
And it’s half of the poly or grand Floridian. Those are crazy prices
The prices right now are OBSCENE. Disney will one day wake up and wonder where the world all their "loyal customers" went...
As of 2hrs ago, i upgraded from All Stars Music to Copper Creek at Wilderness Lodge. While ive been in the lobby, and only the lobby, before, my family hasnt. I cant wait to see their faces the second they walk in and see the lobby for the first time. Im sure they will be as blown away as i was.
Our very first trip to Disney and our first resort. My mom loved the view and the nightly boat show.
i LOOOOOOVE Wilderness Lodge. My bf had the best vacation ever staying there in 2019, but that price jump for 2021 tho….. 👀 i don’t think i’ll be able to afford staying there again 😞 disney is really pricing out so many people
May i ask how much u paid for this resort in 2019?
@@jayceesmith82 it was $350ish a night for us in August
we did a split stay between Wilderness and Movies and they put us in a room where we had full view of the castle. $480 a night now. It’s a big jump for my bf and i to even do a split stay for.
@@ReachMabry wow! yup its a big jump we just came last week we stayed in walt disney swan and its 300 a night. Disney is becoming so expensive… thank u for letting me know 😊
@@jayceesmith82 i understand why. it’s cuz they renovated the rooms. i get it… but whew… can’t warrant the price to stay at a deluxe. even so, i could only ever do a split stay. idk about 2021 and beyond now 😬
Two people staying here for a measly 4 days can spend an outrageous $6,000. I can stay at a mid level hotel at Universal for SIXTEEN days and go to their parks for 10 days straight. Disney is ridiculous.
This is the resort that we always stay at when we go to Disneyworld. We love this resort and it feels like home!
I have stayed at many WDW resorts and the Wilderness Lodge is our favorite. The food options are great and the transportation is better than the other resorts for the most part. I noticed the pricing you showed wasn’t necessarily what one would usually pay. We tend to travel when Disney puts discounts at some resorts or we have also used DVC resale on occasion.
We love the Wilderness Lodge. It is one of our favorite stays!
I brought my sister here for dinner in 2019 and LOVED it! We can't wait for it to reopen since it's been closed. The Queen was flawless and didn't break character at all. I honestly think she frightened my 48 yr.-old sister LOL.
We stayed at Wilderness Lodge in 2015. Loved it! We did find a quick boat ride to Contemporary gets access to monorail to the TTC so that got access to EPCOT. Then a jump to Skyliner could jump to Hollywood studios if bus ride and wait would be too long.
We just booked our trip for here next June!
It's amazing I don't know how you can't love this resort
Stayed there for 3 nights over new years eve a few years ago and loved it.
We stayed at Fort Wilderness when I went to Disney world as a kid in 2003 & we loved it. The pool was fantastic & we loved the theme!
We just got back from Boulder Ridge. 1 bedroom. Absolutely breathtaking from the room, to the Geysers, to the views. Landscape, the lodge. Everything about it is amazing
my mom and i have stay here every time we have gone to disney world and we love it
My Aunt has been planning our Disney trips for the past 20 years, but recently we decided that I would start helping her. I absolutely LOVE the rustic feel and craftsmanship of this hotel. Almost everyone in my family have agreed on this hotel, and the ones who haven’t just don’t see the appeal of nice hotels. We are DEFINITELY going to stay in this hotel for next year’s Disney trip.
I MOST HIGHLY recommend Disney's Wilderness Lodge as one of our favorites! Been there to Wilderness Lodge, done that!
Ive done the flag lowering on the roof 3 times with ranger Stan. Have my official certificates framed. Definitely my favorite memory of wilderness lodge.
I loved staying at this resort!! Amazing decor especially during Christmas. Wish there were more videos focusing on the hotels. Very informative
Agree completely! I've stayed at this resort at Christmas, in the fall and in the spring. All year it's the best, but the Christmas decorating is the best! A different Christmas tree in almost every corner of the ground floor
Wilderness Lodge is our go-to, we stay at Boulder Ridge every year! Awesome for kids to have some down time, and a lot more quiet than the value resorts with tons of groups running around.
My husband and I had dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe in December. We were staying off property in a condo. I'm glad we were able to go. It was nice to see the train room as well while we were there. It's a beautiful resort.
my wife & I stayed there august of 2019, had a great time, hotel was great , personal were great, food and park were great. did not have to wait for rides . all was great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Thank you AJ and your team for all of your heart work and diligence
I enjoy the smallness of the resort. It’s very intimate. I’ve stayed here and also old faithful inn. They’re both worth the experience.
This is our favorite DVC location. We know we are immediately home by the cozy decor and the familiar scent that welcomes us every time. I wish I had that scent back home! It’s cozy, has a ton of books to read and relax and the pools are awesome. I could just stay here and get away and not even go to the parks. The transportation is on point. No it’s not within walking distance but it’s so nice to be away from it all at the same time. Can’t wait until November when we are back there!! ❤️
I've only had the pleasure and of course $$$ to visit Disney World 6 times in my 54 yrs on this earth... the first trip ever was in the 1970's and we stayed at the Dutch Inn with Windmills, Tulips and Clogs everywhere! Next trip (don't recall what year) we stayed for the first time at Wilderness Lodge... and since then it's the only resort we/I would/will go to.
Staying here at the end of November. Cannot wait!
My favorite Disney resort! Boulder Ridge rooms do need a “refresh” but they are still great. One thing, as of January 2022, the boat to the Contemporary and Fort Wilderness has not returned and you can no longer walk to Fort Wilderness. However, there is a bus to get to the Fort. It’s so amazingly themed and peaceful, nice to come back to after a long day in the parks.
One of the most underrated resorts on property. Beautiful grounds, a great pool, diverse dining options, and efficient transportation. We've stayed at the farthest end of Boulder Ridge and didn't think the walk back to the main lobby was bad at all.
We stayed in the cabins just last week. Had lunch at Whispering Canyon cafe. Loved it!
Been there done that they're not bad
Could be better.
Thank you for not forgetting Territory Lounge! Bar none my favorite haunt for a kid break at Disney.
I´ve stayed there three times. And I would stay again without problem. I love it. If you arrange well your timeline, the bus and the boat won´t be a problem. The trip by boat is lovely, and the bar by the lake also
We stayed at Wilderness Lodge about 9 years ago and we absolutely loved it. We were there for two weeks and it was just about the best Disney hotel we have stayed in. The atmosphere is unbeatable and we loved getting the boat to the Magic Kingdom. Perhaps coming from Scotland we don’t mind the buses so much as we never found them anything other than an efficient way to get around. I would thoroughly recommend it but unfortunately we haven’t been able to afford to stay there again although we have visited it every time we have been in Disney since. We have stayed at multiple Disney hotels over the years including Value, Moderate and Deluxe resorts but Wilderness Lodge still gets the biggest approval rating in our house, with Yacht and Beach club in second place.
Haha I came to the comments to see what people were thinking and I found the fellow Scot! We're everywhere.
We just stayed at the Wilderness Lodge in a Copper Creek 2 bedroom villa.. There was plenty of room for our family. We loved it!
That's what the two of us stayed in. I agree nice rooms and comfy bed.
I grew up staying at the Wilderness Lodge villas every year. It is hands down my FAVORITE WDW resort !!! I think the MK boat is the best part
We absolutely LOVE it but it always books out so fast. I'm thinking it's a lot of people's favorite hotel LOL
Stayed there Christmas 2019 and absolutely loved it. The holiday decorations are absolutely amazing, especially the giant tree in the lobby. Just spectacular.
And if going to Whispering Canyon, don’t forget to ask for the ketchup. :)
They will throw it at ya 😂😂
This is my new home away from home as I purchased DVC Points for Copper Creek. Can't wait to be there for Christmas this year!!
Always my favorite resort at WDW! Best theming, best character dining, best views, best cast members, "simply the best"
I was on the opening team at the Wilderness Lodge. I was very pleased and proud to do so. It truly is a beautiful Hotel .
Wilderness Lodge is my absolute favorite resort hotel. The lobby is cozy and grand all at the same time. It's the only hotel lobby I've ever wanted to spend time in - one of our must do things when staying there. If you're ever there during one of Florida's rare cold spells, sitting by the fireplace is fabulous. Geyser Point is very tasty but would be worth it if only for the view & atmosphere. With the paused Reflections construction I'm not sure the walkway between Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge is open? But if not there is a boat also.
WL is my favorite resort. Looking forward to staying here in October.
We rented DVC points from David's for our stay at Boulder Ridge in May 2022. Very much looking forward to it! On our last trip in 2019, we spent an evening exploring the resort, doing the Hidden Mickey Challenges, and eating at the Storybook Dinner--it was magical. It's my husband's favorite resort on property so I can't wait to spend the week there when we finally get back to the Parks.
I took the fam there and since then we been lucky to stay another 3 trips there over the last 10 years. Every time we took a hard long look at other hotels, but this is simply the best overall experience and was the fam's pick. The boat ride to MK is beautiful way to get there and taking the EPCOT monorail lets you avoid the bus with that transfer. The theming and landscape, isolation provides a unique and wonderful experience outside of the parks. Nothing compares!
We stayed there several years ago and it was on sale. So much so that it was cheaper than art of animation. It was wonderful. I loved the bunk beds for my kids. I just saw where they took those out and that’s disappointing. It was perfect for my family
We are DVC members and Copper Creek at Wilderness Lodge is our home resort. We absolutely love it there. We haven’t had any issues with transportation. We love the pools and restaurants. I highly suggest the Cheese Barbecue Brisket and the Teriyaki Wings at Geyser Point they are amazing. I’ve not had anything I haven’t liked from there.
We recently stayed at the Copper Creek cabins. Yes, very expensive but a special trip for us. As it turns out the cabins exceeded all expectations. Fantastic, wonderful, magical. Disney actually delivered an experience that exceeded the price. It’s hard to recommend, but for a once in a lifetime trip the cabins are without peer.
If you don’t know this little secret about whispering canyon cafe, if you ask for ketchup they will give you every single ketchup bottle they have and if someone else asks for it, they will pass it down. It’s so much fun and is the main reason I love that dining experience
My family is staying here in three weeks can't waitttttt
I’ve stayed at most of the premier resorts at Disney, and I found Wilderness Lodge to be one of the best. Yes, the rooms are a slight bit smaller, but it’s not really a noticeable difference. And I found the boat ride to the Magic Kingdom and bus to other parks to be a great transition. The separation from the main areas is actually quite relaxing. And you can still see the evening fireworks at the Magic Kingdom at the outdoor bar at the lake edge. In my opinion, it’s similar to the Grand Floridian but far more comfortable. I’d pick it over most other resorts any time.
PS: The pools and outside areas are far better than at other resorts and the entire place seems far quieter.
We stayed here for our honeymoon trip...back when it was (almost) new and still had the buffalo shaped pond and when they used to bring animals over from Discovery Island in the evening. It was a wonderful experience. Unfortunately it would not work now that we are a family of 5. We did eat breakfast here on the last morning of our last trip. Still one of my favorite resorts on property.
We just stayed here. We have stayed at this hotel for the past 14 trips. We love it. It’s quiet, pretty and comfy. The boat is fun and scenic especially in the morning. It’s also close to the Magic Kingdom, which is the park we go to the most. On this trip we tried the dvc villa. We loved it and we hope, to try to get it again on our next trip.
Our lobby facing room at Wilderness Lodge was SUPER QUIET. It was like we were in a sound vacuum. If you opened the door it was super noisy, but as soon as that door closed, we couldn't hear a thing, not even Whispering Canyon. It was great
even though this resort is def on the epxensive side, my mom and i always try and stay here for at least ONE night whenever we go to thr parks because we love it sm. With the new dining promo disney just announced, it was the first time we had a good reason to stay here for our whole trip and we are sooooo excited
Staying there in September for the first time in over 2 decades! Can't wait to see the lobby again!
Stayed here for a long weekend in November 2019 for the Christmas party. This resort can’t be beat during Christmas!
I've stayed in a lot of different places in WDW and several of this tier resort. Wilderness Lodge is my go-to if I can't stay at the Yacht or Beach Club. I did not enjoy my stay (a long time ago) at the Swan/Dolphin (I honestly have forgotten which one) and my stays at Polynesian were definitely hit-or-miss. I think what I have enjoyed the most about Wildnerness Lodge is it puts me in mind of the Grand Californian, kind of like its big brother, and breakfast is always a lot of fun (if way too much food) with the very entertaining staff at Whispering Canyon. For that, it makes a nice choice for first-time WDW visitors who can afford a decent room/view and want that Disney "fantasy" feeling. The main pool is really nice, too.
My family could have never been able to afford actually staying here as a kid, though we did enjoy a family tradition of getting breakfast here on the first morning of the vacation before going to the first park 😄 it was a fun experience and it is a goal of mine to be able to afford to stay here at least a few nights of the vacation by the time I'm done with college 🤞🏼
Stayed at least 3 times when the kids were little and loved it. Loved to be able to boat to MK and to the Contemporary to catch the Monorail! I did love Artist Pointe, though!
The Train room is my most Magical place in the world! Wilderness Lodge is my favorite resort!
Wilderness Lodge is the only resort we stay at. It really is our home away from home. We stayed at other deluxe resorts but love the Wilderness Lodge. Highly recommend staying.
We stayed there in June and loved the resort, restaurants, and the cast members were great. The transportation was our only con. Buses and boats were sparse. First buses were “late” for making rope drop at the parks.
Stayed at WL five times and just love it. One things you didn’t mention is I booked a birthday cruise from the dock by bicycle rental. It was a 8 person boat with a captain . It was my daughters in law birthday. We even were able to order a birthday cake to have on boat. All supplies were supplied even the the boat was decorated with birthday banner. The best part was taking a ride to to watch the fireworks from the boat at MK. Also was able to watch the electric boat parade from boat The whole trip was about 4 hours. We had a great experience. I think the entire trip was about 450.00 including cake and tip for boat captain who was very knowledgeable about WDW told us some things we didn’t know. It was well worth it. We had 8 people on our trip and the little had to wear life jackets. There was also beverages and snacks provided. I highly recommend it but you have to book in advance as they fill up quickly. I think there was four boats the night we went.
My family and I have started saving money for a big family trip to Disney for my 30th birthday in a few years and this is the hotel I’m wanting us to go to. Yes it lacks a monorail, but I’m not afraid of a bus trip and I always make a point during trips to go there for dinner and/or to just sit and soak in the beauty of the place.
Outstanding Overview !
as side note, our 1st visit to "WL" was Christmas 1995 ! then every year until the nasty virus !
alot of changes form 1995 & mid 2000`s specifically Christmas decoration elimination &/or reduction "BUT" still our go to Resort ! however, we will miss this year as well ! due to nasty virus ! just want to be careful !
in closing, this is most professional review to date ! & i have viewed all !
We stayed there at Copper Creek last February and LOVED it. We stay at a different resort every trip (all categories) and so far it’s my favorite. No negatives for me.
PS - we had a corner deluxe studio. One door led out to the pool and our balcony overlooked the lake and Geyser Point. It looked a lot nicer than the rooms shown in the video. Also, I don’t think we paid over $500 - but since we went in Feb during the pandemic maybe that’s why. Guess we lucked out.
We've stayed at both the hotel and the DVC Boulder Ridge villas. We love this location. Taking the boat to the Magic Kingdom is somehow calmer than trying to get on the bus. And after a tiring day at the MK, the boat home is just the way to unwind. We're planning on staying two nights at one of the cabins at Copper Creek next year. It will be a non-park day, just enjoying the atmosphere.
This was the first hotel that my aunt Jody booked when my parents, Grandma and I went to Walt Disney World. My aunt Jody, her boyfriend Kim and their son Quentin met us at the Orlando airport
We are staying at WL this summer and this video has me SO excited!!
We're staying here for Christmas, and I CAN'T wait!
I’d love to stay here
Those baby cribs are a lifesaver. We were able to put our infant in one with some water while we went and visited the parks all-day
My immediate family, in-laws and sisters family loves Wilderness Lodge. It really makes you feel at home. If you're thinking about it I would definitely consider it!!
We absolutely LOVED staying at the Boulder Ridge DVC section of the resort a few years back. We stayed at the 1BR Villa, with the full kitchen. My son LOVED messing around in the Jetted Hot Tub, he's now 18, non verbal Autistic and it's one of the things we can put in him for an hour or so and get to relax a bit. When I saw the remodels on them I was a bit torn. Yes they did need updating, but I'm going to miss that "Rustic" look before the remodel. Most of all however I'm REALLY going to miss the Jetted Hot tub, since that was replaced with a "Soaking Tub". :(
We usually stay at Polynesian but I loved Wilderness Lodge and would definitely stay there again!
Yes, if you wanna pay a little bit more. We lucked out with them having on site babysitting service. We used it once and they waved the cost.
I'm headed there tomorrow!
I love these in-depth looks at the resorts! For what it’s worth, we have always loved the Wilderness Lodge. It’s such a nice respite from the hectic nature of the parks.
Stayed at wilderness lodge for about 2 weeks 2 years ago. Really nice! Loved the Snow white and the seven dwarfs dinner character meet and greet! The food was delicious
Stayed here as a kid several times in late 90 and again in 2005. This August will be my first trip to WDW since that 05 trip. We had a reservation for my family at Poly but once they announced the monorail was not going to be done I immediately switched to here and saved $700 for our week long stay. No reason to pay a premium price for Poly and not get the Monorail. Always enjoyed the themeing and ambiance of Wilderness and I am confident my kids (7 and 5) will too!
So timely my Husband has us booked there for a celebration vacation/staycation we are taking. ❤️ Our first time to stay here though we have visited it often.
Wilderness Lodge is great as part of a two-resort stay, especially if paired with an Epcot resort. But if staying only at WL, getting to the other 3 theme parks means either long bus rides, or (much better) a rental car and a lot of driving.
We have only stayed at two Disneyworld properties, here and Saratoga Springs. Wilderness Lodge is one of my favorite places to visit, but the stay was only so-so. Small rooms, no recognition of our 25th anniversary, and poor transportation options. We did enjoy the boat ride over to Magic Kingdom. All in all, we will stay in our Marriott Timeshares, but this is a beautiful property.
It's so peaceful and calm over there vs. any other hotel on property. It DEF. nails the Nat'l Park/PNW vibe and look. I totally loved everything about the place, but for sure it ain't a "Florida-y" beach-y kinda place.
So I live in PNW now. Been to WL many times...favorite part is the cricket recording..its literally the same as here. I live in the woods by mt. Hood. Every august it sounds like wilderness lodge...not Oregon.
We stayed here four years ago and loved it. It is totally worth it!
The short answer is yes, you should really stay here if you can afford it. We stayed there in 2019 and absolutely loved it! The theming, the natural beauty of the lake, the trees, the amenities... it has it all. The only thing I would ding it for is food. It doesn't have the best food options.
I agree that's when we stayed in a 2 bedroom copper creek villa. Was awesome just 2 of us lol
We’ve stayed for 2 weeks every 3 years at Wilderness Resort since 1998 (when my oldest son was 3). The last time was last year. I tried to suggest Animal Kingdom Lodge one of the last few times but got voted down 3 to 1. We love WL and if my 2sons ever decide to get married and have kids, I can see the tradition continuing. Thanks for the great review, even though I’m reading it a year after the fact!
My husband was so bummed about the renovated rooms. He loved the furniture they had before. I am ok with it. Still one of my favorite resorts.
We just rented a one bedroom villa at copper creek for next year. We wanted something that felt more isolated after a day in the parks but that was still close to MK since we have young kids.