Disney's Wilderness Lodge

Hello and welcome to Part 3 of my Disney Resort series! Today, I'll be covering the ins and outs of my favorite deluxe resort, The Wilderness Lodge.

So, you've registered for a runDisney race and now you need a room? Well, you've come to the right place! So far in this series, I've reviewed:

• Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort 

My husband and I LOVE the Wilderness Lodge (so does my mom)! We've stayed here for several race weekends (and non-race weekends) over the past few years and have always enjoyed our visits!

We love the decor and overall atmosphere of this resort! 

A few facts about the Wilderness Lodge:

• Disney Deluxe Resort
• Disney Vacation Club also located on property
• Tours of the Wilderness Lodge are given Wednesdays-Sundays at 9 a.m. by Ranger Sam (I haven't had the chance to do this yet but it's definitely on my list!) 
• Boat and Bike rentals are available to rent (and a fun way to not only see the Wilderness Lodge but also Fort Wilderness as well!)
• Several dining options located on property
• Various modes of transportation available

These fellas greet you as you drive up to the lodge!

The exterior of the lodge is beautiful and grand and was modeled after the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park.

One of my favorite parts is the sounds of nature that appear at night! How does Disney do it? Guess it's magic! :)

Speaking of sounds, if you enjoy the music that's heard throughout the lobby of the resort, a soundtrack list is available here!

Another favorite of this resort is the lobby!

 Inside the lobby, you'll find:

• Beautiful woodwork
• Gorgeous 80 ft tall fireplace complete with rockers so guests can enjoy the warmth
•  Bubbling hot spring that flows out to the waterfall/pool area
• Hilarious and incredibly fun restaurant entitled "Whispering Canyon Cafe"
• Gift Shop

Checking in, please! 

 A popular tradition among guests at the Wilderness Lodge is to rub Humphrey the Bear's nose. Yes, it's true and I'm guilty!

I also might have made this a little mini-tradition by accident! Ah well, at least Donald's gettin some love!

A Fire Rock Geyser is located outside on the path to the boats and erupts daily from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. (on the top of each hour)! 

Like other Disney resorts, the Wilderness Lodge includes a running trail that begins at the Wilderness Lodge and goes to Fort Wilderness! It's such a peaceful path to run and if you're lucky, includes lots of wildlife along the way (deer and rabbits)! 

Another favorite (we have so many) of the Wilderness Lodge is the variety of transportation available.

Apart from buses, guests can also take  a boat to either Fort Wilderness, Contemporary, or the Magic Kingdom!

Transportation begins bright and early in the morning and continues late into the evening -

• Red Flag Boat to the Magic Kingdom transports guests a half hour before park opening and an hour and a half after park closing
• Blue Flag Boat travels between Wilderness Lodge/Fort Wilderness/Contemporary and transports guests from 6:45 a.m. until 11:30 p.m.! (How nice for an early breakfast reservation at Chef Mickeys!)

We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge for my first Disney Marathon which made spectating an easy process for my husband! He was able to take an early boat to the Contemporary where he then boarded a monorail to the TTC and watched me run by....then walked over to the Polynesian and waited for me to run by again! Love those boats, I tell ya! 

Another perk of taking this mode of transportation? Beautiful Florida sunrises over Bay Lake!

A beach is located on property as well and is a great place to watch the Electrical Water Pageant at night!

 Looking for food? Well, you've come to the right place! This resorts hosts a variety of dining experiences that range from:

• Roaring Fork (Quick Service)
• Whispering Canyon Cafe (Table Service) - a GREAT place to eat dinner after running a marathon...take my word for it! Hehe!
• Artist Point (Signature Dining)

How about the rooms? Well, there's a variety of those on property, too!

 

We've stayed in rooms ranging from Queen beds to a King bed to bunk beds! Club level is also available at this resort as are a variety of "views".

I wanted to take this guy home with me! :)
 

Disney friends are even included in the decor!

The Wilderness Lodge is beautiful at night. We love sitting out near the pool while listening to the waterfalls and crickets (both fake and real...that Disney magic, I tell ya)! 

Have you ever stayed at the Wilderness Lodge? If so, what's your thoughts on this resort?
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Don't forget - I'm hosting a giveaway on non-slip headbands...and it ends TONIGHT at midnight! Enter now before it's too late!!