Enjoy the Great Outdoors in Style at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort

I’m in no way an outdoorsy kind of girl. Going camping or on a nature walk simply isn’t on my list as a “must-do.” So, as you can imagine, the idea of staying at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge never really appealed to me. Why would I want to stay at a resort that is inspired by the great outdoors? Despite all of my hesitation, I continued to hear wonderful things about the resort so I finally decided to give it a try.

As soon as I walked into the lobby of the Wilderness Lodge, one word came to mind. Wow. The lobby is absolutely amazing. The 7-story lobby is inspired by the American Northwest and is adorned with nature and Native American designs. The detail work in the lobby is simply breathtaking. It’s also a great place to grab a seat in a comfy armchair or a rocking chair in front of the 82-foot tall fireplace and enjoy some good old-fashioned people watching.


The lobby is where guests can check in and get assistance from the concierge. It is also where you can do a little shopping at the Wilderness Lodge Mercantile. The totem pole outside the Mercantile makes for a great photo op with Mickey, Goofy, Donald and Humphrey the Bear.

The details of the resort don’t stop at the lobby. Keep an eye open as you make your way around the resort or you may just miss some of the exquisite decor! From owls and buffalo on lanterns to a moose on the fire valve; nature inspired designs are all over this resort.

This deluxe resort has 727 guest rooms that continue the theme of nature and Native American designs. Standard rooms offer two queen size beds or one king size bed. If you are traveling with a larger party, there is also the option of a room with bunk beds.

The Wilderness Lodge has three distinctly different restaurant options for you to choose from. The lobby is home to one of the Wilderness Lodge’s most boisterous restaurants, Whispering Canyon Café. Don’t let its name fool you. The restaurant is anything but quiet. The Whispering Canyon Café serves up a rowdy meal of American favorites for breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you are in the mood for a more romantic atmosphere, the Wilderness Lodge’s signature restaurant, Artist Point, may be more up your alley. Artist Point’s menu changes seasonally and serves specialties from the Pacific Northwest. If you are short on time, Roaring Fork is a great place to get a quick bite to eat. This quick service option is where you can get your resort refillable mug or a tasty Mickey Rice Crispy treat.

It’s not hard to believe that a resort that does such a great job of bringing nature and wildlife indoors would be situated on picturesque grounds. The landscaping around the resort could keep you occupied for hours just taking in the beauty of it all. Inside the lobby, you can see a spring bubbling over stones. Following the water as it flows out of the lobby, it turns into a creek that transforms again into a waterfall, which empties into the pool called Silver Creek Springs. Located between the Silver Creek Springs pool and the shores of Bay Lake, you can find Fire Rock Geyser. Every hour the geyser shoots a water plume 120 feet in the air. It’s truly a sight to be seen! The resort offers recreational activities such as fishing, bike and watercraft rentals.

Perhaps my favorite feature of the Wilderness Lodge is its location. While staying at the resort, you feel like you are somewhere in the Pacific Northwest and yet you are actually right in the heart of the magic of Walt Disney World. Located in the Magic Kingdom area, the Wilderness Lodge is a quick boat ride away from the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. You can access the other theme parks, water parks and Downtown Disney area by bus.

It’s hard to believe that a resort themed around wildlife would end up being my favorite resort on property but the Wilderness Lodge is in fact my new, favorite resort. I look forward to staying there again and enjoying more of the great outdoors indoors at this deluxe resort.

You can find more pictures of this resort by clicking here.

Ashley Lehman

Ashley has been a Disney Parks fan from an early age and loves anything vintage Disney. You can email Ashley at ashley@kingdomkonsultant.com.