Deluxe - Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Address: 901 Timberline Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Phone: (407) 824-3200
Fax: (407) 824-3232

Step into a split-log lobby, eight stories high, honoring craftsmanship and artistry. ; Celebrate the national parks of the Northwest. ; Enjoy the natural elements, towering totems, Native American culture and the pioneering legacy of the American frontier, while you sample the beauty of the great outdoors. ; All the pleasures of a great resort, and more.

Resort Layout:
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. During the holidays, a huge gingerbread village complete with trains is on display in the lobby. Even if you just go to visit, be sure to bring your camera along.

On November 15, 2002, the Wilderness Lodge Villas, part of the Disney Vacation Club, opened adjacent to the Wilderness Lodge. These rooms offer villas of studio, one and two bedrooms. You do not have to be a Disney Vacation Club member to stay at the Villas. Guests at the Villas share central services with the Lodge (including the front desk).

Services & Amenities:
 Room Service
 Concierge desk
 Health Club
 Babysitting and child services
 Pak-n-play crib available
 Room and facilities for guest with disabilities
 Self parking
 Valet parking available for a nominal fee
 Laundry facilities/services

Guest Rooms:
Guest Room Views include:
Courtyard View
Look out onto landscaped grounds, Bay Lake or the resort pools.
Woods View
Take in views of the surrounding natural forest.
Standard View
Enjoy expansive views of Resort grounds from your Guest room.
Standard Guest Rooms: maximum 4 Guests
Make yourself at home in an inviting Guest room decorated with vibrant colors and handcrafted embellishments.
• Courtyard View from $255
• Club Concierge Level from $360
• Woods View from $230
• Standard View from $199

Deluxe Guest Rooms: maximum 6 Guests
Enjoy all the style and charm of a room with additional square footage for accommodating an extra Guest.
• Deluxe Level from $400

Suites: maximum 4 Guests
Stay in the Vice Presidential with one bedroom, 1 1/2 baths and sitting room, (sleeps 4), or the Presidential with one bedroom, 1 1/2 baths, sitting room and office (sleeps 4).
• Vice Presidential from $740
• Presidential from $835

Most of the rooms are approximately 340 sq.ft. 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.

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.

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 Junior Suites offer another alternative for families. They are approximately 500 square feet and offer 2 rooms; a living/kitchen room and a Large Bedroom with 2 beds. The Living Room Couch also opens into a bed. In addition to the couch, the Living Room has a TV, table, 2 chairs, wet bar and mini refrigerator.

There are French doors between the rooms. The advantage to the Junior suite is having a second room to talk or watch TV in while the kids sleep in the bedroom. Most of the suites are at the ends of the wing, overlooking the lake - remember that some of the balconies are privacy balconies. A few of the suites are in the small section facing the lake about half way out the wing and have a pool view.

Junior Suites have only one bathroom. Junior Suites have: hair dryer, coffee maker, small fridge, iron, and ironing board.

Room Features:
• Most rooms are available with your choice of king-size bed, two queen-size beds, two queen-size beds and one pull-out sofa, one queen-size bed and bunk beds
• Disabled accessible rooms available
• Turndown service available upon request
• Nonsmoking rooms available
• Irons, ironing boards, hairdryers and make-up mirrors in each room
• In-room coffee makers and refrigerators available at no charge
• Cribs available upon request
• In-room safes
• Dual line phones with voicemail
• Disney Channel and ESPN
• Newspaper delivery available
• Laundry facilities/services

Club Concierge-level guests
You will receive comfy robes available in your room
• Staff available prior to and during your visit for reservations and vacation planning
• Access to the exclusive Old Faithful Club featuring Continental breakfast, snacks and evening wine and cheese reception
• Ability to participate in the Wildlife Discovery Excursion — an exclusive guided tour of Kilimanjaro Safaris® at Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park — offered only to a limited number of Club Concierge-level Guests for an additional fee.

Check-In & Check-Out
Check-in is at 3pm. ; Your room may be available prior to that time, but it is not guaranteed. ; If your room is not available, you can leave your luggage with the Bell Services where it will be delivered to your room with it is ready.

Check-out is at 11am. ; If you pay by credit card, you do not have to go to desk to check out. ; An itemized bill will be hung on your door by 8:30am on the day of your departure. ; The electronic room key which was given, will be automatically deactivated at 11am. ; You can use Bell services to take luggage to your car. ; If you are taking a bus or taxi to the airport, Bell services will keep your luggage until your transportation arrives.

Dining
There are 2 full service restaurants, a lounge and 2 snack bars.

Artist Point - with high ceilings and large painted murals serves dinner featuring cuisine from the Northwestern United States. Sitting by a window provides a view of the woods or the pool depending on your location. The restaurant is famous for it's Cedar Plank Salmon and is one of the few US locations which annual gets the rare and tasty Copper River Salmon!

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 served in skillets placed on lazy susans; breakfast, lunch and dinner are served. Be sure to read the bottom of our Dinner Menu for ways to make your Whispering Canyon experience a memorable one!

Be on of the first ones in line for dinner at Whispering Canyon Café and ring the dinner bell and holler "Come and Get It!!" in the lobby. For your efforts, you will be rewarded with passes for free ice cream at Roaring Forks. Beware of the stick pony races at Whispering Canyon Café. If you have small children, make sure they are at the back of the pack.

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 from 5pm-10pm.

Roaring Fork Snacks - is located on the ground floor near the pool entrance. It is a self serve snack shop open from approx 6 am to midnight, daily and has Refillable Mugs. There is a small seating area where you can dine or wait for your grilled items to be ready.

Trout Pass - the poolside refreshment center has seasonal hours.

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

Miss Jenny's In Room Pizza Deliveries offered from 4pm to midnight.

Tip:
The best beverage deal is the refillable mugs, available for approximate $12 at any of the food court vendors and through pizza delivery. ; The mugs are 16-oz, sturdy, dishwashable safe containers with lids. ; Mugs are refillable for the length of your stay at a self-service beverage island in the center of the food court. ;

Beverages include soft drinks, coffee, tea, iced coffee and tea, and hot chocolate (but not milk or fruit juice).

Recreation:
Pools
The pool 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.

Bay Lake Beach
Soak up the sun on a white-sand beach.

Sturdy Branches Health Club
Work out on state-of-the-art exercise equipment, experience a relaxing massage or dry sauna.

Cub's Den
Enjoy a parents' night out and treat children ages 4-12 to an evening of supervised activities, computer games, Disney movies, dinner and snacks in an environment created just for them.

Buttons & Bells Arcade
Play a variety of video and pinball games at this high-tech game room located in the area next to Wilderness Lodge Mercantile.

Children's Playground
Climb, slide and play to your heart's content on this 24-hour playground located next to Wilderness Lodge Mercantile.
Watercraft Rentals
Spend some time on the lake with a Pontoon Boat, Canopy Boat or Sea Raycer by Sea Ray, or take a specialty cruise. (Extra fee)

Fishing
Hook a fun-filled fishing trip for the entire family. (Catch and release only)

Bike Rentals
Rent a bike and enjoy the three-quarter mile path to Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.

Horse-Drawn Excursions
Take a relaxing, old-fashioned wagon or carriage ride through Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.

Video Rentals
Stop by Wilderness Lodge Mercantile to rent a movie or two.

Chip'n Dale's Campfire Sing-a-long
Gather 'round the campfire with your nutty pals for songs and fun, then watch a classic Disney movie under the stars.

Jogging Trail
Enjoy a scenic run one-mile run along the bike path to Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.

Shopping
The Wilderness Lodge Mercantile shop has a variety of northwestern and Wilderness Lodge specific "themed" merchandise, Disney plush and sundries. There are 2 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.

Transportation:
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 past the Cub's Den (on your left) and outside to the bus depot. There are 3 "stops" at the Bus Depot.
The Wilderness Lodge shares a bus with the Polynesian Resort and the Grand Floridian, not Fort Wilderness. The buses were very prompt and came often. They have separate buses for Epcot, MGM, Animal Kingdom/Blizzard Beach and after 4 a bus that goes to Downtown Disney/Typhoon Lagoon. They all are a pretty quick ride except for the Downtown Disney one, which makes several stops. Wilderness Lodge is the first stop on the way back from any attraction, but also the first on the way there.

Magic Kingdom -- There are 2 options. Take the Red Flag Boat available at the Dock. You can also take a bus.

Trail Rides at Fort Wilderness - Board the Boone Bus from the WLodge Bus Depot; it will stop at Pioneer Hall and the Trailer Loop . To return to WLodge, be sure to board the Boone Bus.

Most areas of the Walt Disney World Resort are accessible by bus from other areas within the Resort, including Theme Parks*, Water Parks, the Disney Resorts and the Downtown Disney® area. Buses travel on routes throughout the Resort and do not provide direct service between all destinations.
*Magic Kingdom® Park is not accessible by bus from Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney's Polynesian Resort. These Resorts provide monorail transportation to the park.

By Boat:
The Magic Kingdom® Park is accessible by water launch from Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's Polynesian Resort, Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and Disney's Wilderness Lodge. The Disney ferryboats connect the Magic Kingdom Park to the Transportation and Ticket Center (adjacent to Magic Kingdom parking).

Epcot® and Disney-MGM Studios are accessible by boat from Disney's BoardWalk Inn and Villas Resort, Disney's Yacht Club and Disney's Beach Club Resorts and the Walt Disney World Swan and Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotels.

Downtown Disney® is accessible by ferryboat from Disney's Port Orleans Resort and Disney's Old Key West Resort.

By Monorail:
Disney's monorail runs between the Magic Kingdom Park, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's Polynesian Resort and the Transportation and Ticket Center (adjacent to the Magic Kingdom parking lot). A connecting monorail takes Guests from the Transportation and Ticket Center to Epcot.

Rates:
Just like the other WDW hotels, there are Value Season, Regular Season and Holiday Season rates. ; Rates begin at $199 a night. These are regular rate prices and do not include the 11% county tax. Rates are based on double occupancy. No charge for children under 17 years old when in the same room as the adults. For each adult over 2 there is a $25 per night charge per person. Maximum of 4 person per room.

For reservations, call (407) WDISNEY or contact a travel agent.

Extra Information:
Fireworks
• Moonlight Cruises: At night, special pontoon boats depart from the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary, or Wilderness Lodge. They cruise Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon, providing spectacular views of the Electrical Water Pageant and the Magic Kingdom fireworks. Cruise boats carry up to twelve people and rent for about $120, driver included.
• Birthday or Anniversary Cruise - Birthday or Anniversary Cruises: Pontoon boats decorated with balloons, streamers, and party favors are available to groups for special occasions. These evening cruise packages include a decorated cake and beverages. Boats depart from the Yacht Club, the BoardWalk Inn, the Contemporary, or Wilderness Lodge. The cost for the boat and driver is about $175 for one to seven people and about $230 for eight to twelve people.
• Champagne Cruise - (1 hour before Magic Kingdom Fireworks) $150 (up to 8 people) $200 (up to 12 people) Champagne, soda, bottled water and chips
• Fireworks Cruise - (1 hour before Magic Kingdom Fireworks) $85 and up - nice ride around Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon. Notice the bear face on the back side of the WL. There are two triangular window near the top of the hotel--they form the eyes; there is another triangular window lower and in the middle which makes the bear's nose.
• Picnic Cruise - Picnic Cruises: These afternoon cruises cast off from the Wilderness Lodge and the Contemporary resort for a leisurely tour of Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon. A picnic lunch of salad, sandwiches, chips, sodas, and cookies is included. There are two sailings, one at about 12:45 pm and one at about 2 pm. The cost, including a driver, is around $175 for one to four people, about $200 for five to six people, and approximately $230 for seven to eight people.
• Sunset Cruise - Available from both the Contemporary and Wilderness Lodge. Cruise takes 2 guests on a romantic cruise around Bay Lake. You are served champagne and tuxedo strawberries. Average cost is $100 per couple or $50 per additional guest.

The Wilderness Lodge Flag Family of the day gets to climb up to the roof of the Wilderness Lodge and assist with raising the flags for the day. It's a wonderful treat that can only be requested at check-in, prior reservations are not possible.

"Wonders of the Lodge" tour is offered at 9 am on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. This tour is about the architecture and how the Lodge was built, 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.

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.

There is an In-Room Doctor service available at the Disney resorts.

There is a Lincoln Log table at the entrance to Whispering Canyon.

Strollers can also roll onto the larger boats that run from the Wilderness Lodge to the Magic Kingdom, and also the larger boats that do the Contemporary-WL-Discovery Island-Ft. Wilderness Loop. The smaller boats from Ft.W and the Grand Floridian, can be rolled onto, but the CMs ask that children do not remain in the stroller for safety reasons--if the boat sinks, we don't want junior strapped to his sinking stroller... They also roll on fine and kids can remain seated on the ferryboats between TTC and MK.

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' Geyser spouts every hour on the hour from 7:00 am to 10:00 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 which sometimes joins the show.

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

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.

The Fireplace is built to scale with the geologic layout of the Grand Canyon, complete with geologic disconformities (Periods of deposition, erosion, tilting and renewed deposition on top of the older rocks). The detail is nearly perfect with the textbook diagrams documenting the geology of the Grand Canyon. Additionally, as you travel up the fireplace, you can spot fossils true to the period of deposition.

One should not overlook the landscaping. ; The immediate hotel grounds as well as the vegetation around the lake are rife with large conifer trees that ONLY grow out west.