Wilderness Lodge

[thejens]

We will be at Wilderness Lodge in September!
This seems to be a favorite with so many. Just wondered what the excitement is about and what we should be sure not to miss while we are there?

[faline]

Wander the pool area and be sure to see the geyser spout.

Pick up a hidden Mickey sheet at the front desk and go on a Hidden Mickey hunt around the resort and the grounds.

Pull a rocking chair up to the fireplace and hang out for a while.

Explore some of the upstairs floors - look for hidden nooks, additional fireplaces and views of the lobby below.

Enjoy the boat ride to the Magic Kingdom.

[MrPeetrie]

Faline pretty much nailed it. This is a beautiful resort, great for exploration.

The boat ride to the Magic Kngdom (especially in the early morning) is my favorite mode of transportation. The rock work on the fireplace mirrors the striata of the Grand Canyon. Explore the paths and try to identify the animal footprints In the concrete. The more you look the more you find.

Great resort, highlighted by Samantha Brown on her Great Hotels series. You'll love it. Enjoy.

[retiredfigment]

We love this resort. We have stayed at quite a few, and love all that Faline mentioned. One other nice thing is that if it is rainy and you just need a break, you can still have fun. Also, love to walk around the grounds.

[c&d]

Walk the jogging path early morning or around dusk and watch the deer eating.

Rent a bike and pedal down to the campgrounds.

[DisneyDINK]

Walk the jogging path early morning or around dusk and watch the deer eating.

Rent a bike and pedal down to the campgrounds.

Agreed! I'm a runner, so I tend to run on the jogging trail, but it is nice no matter what speed you go.

Some of the higher Woods View rooms on the west side have an OK view of Wishes too. Of course, the view from the beach/boat launch is better.

[MississippiDisneyFreak]

I enjoyed just hanging out in the lobby especially over where the bridge is, its so relaxing

[ginger19]

I highly recommend being Flag Family if they still offer that. We did that back in 2007 and the kids still talk about it

[waymickey]

Flag Family is great definately ask when you check in. You get to raise the flags on the top of the lodge!

Go over to the villas and check out the train room. Swim in the villa pool it has "springs" that blow water up to the surface and its is fun to swim through.

Watch the light parade at night from the boat dock.

Rent bikes and explore the camp grounds.

Do the hidden Mickey hunt in the lodge.

Eat at whispering canyon cafe. It has some unique entertainment.

Walk around the upper levels to see fossils and artifacts.

It is our favorite resort!

[BhamWriter]

Artist Point is a must-do restaurant for us. I highly recommend it.

[Davy Crockett]

As you can tell we DON'T like the WL at ALL

- Movies on the beach at night
- Critters all over the place so always be on the look out for bunnies, deer, armadillos.
- Always have at least one dinner at Whispering Canyons and make sure the kids ask for Ketchup and drinking straws.
- For the true Walt Disney (the man) die hard fan, go over to the villas and look at the train collections their from his personal collection.
- Rent surrey bikes and ride over to FWC or do a Segway tour.
- Just take a little parent time and roam the different floors around the lobby area and see the working fireplaces, nooks, reading tables and such that you can disappear into to read a book if you need a "quite" moment.
- Ask the concierge about the walking tour of the resort as it is very informative
- and all the other items listed prior.
It truly is a wonderful resort if you like the National parks, the West and it is VERY kid friendly.

[VWL Mom]

- Movies on the beach at night

Don't forget the pre-movie marshmallow roast

[Davy Crockett]

Don't forget the pre-movie marshmallow roast

Excellent point as that's the MOST important part!!! At least the kids think that , Okay - Dad agrees too!

[thejens]

"quiet time" at WDW
????



Can't wait!!!

[BrerGnat]

Honestly, the WL is a beautiful, relaxing, well themed resort. While all these lists of things "to do" are great, I can say that I've honestly never done most of them, but I still LOVE the WL. There is just something about it that I feel the other resorts lack, and I can't put my finger on it.

Just being there, hearing the music, is enough for me.

We will be returning in August. We spent our honeymoon there and are bringing our kids for the first time.

It might be worth noting, I generally HATE the "outdoors", don't get the draw of national parks, think camping is the worst way to spend leisure time, etc. But, I still LOVE the Wilderness Lodge. It's so strange, and to me, that's Disney magic at its best.

[Aurora]

It might be worth noting, I generally HATE the "outdoors", don't get the draw of national parks, think camping is the worst way to spend leisure time, etc. But, I still LOVE the Wilderness Lodge. It's so strange, and to me, that's Disney magic at its best.

Natalie, didn't want to hijack the thread so I sent you a PM about this.

[Kwesty]

We were just there last September and really loved it. We rarely do anything non-park related but decided to rent a boat at the docks. We had the BEST time! We couldn't believe they actually let you drive the boat out into the lagoon by yourself. We still laugh about DH trying to dock the boat! It is also surprisingly inexpensive. I think it was $20 for an hour.

[thejens]

Thanks everyone! I am getting SO excited!
I have to say, I wish you hijacked the thread, because it made me laugh to read:

It might be worth noting, I generally HATE the "outdoors", don't get the draw of national parks, think camping is the worst way to spend leisure time, etc. But, I still LOVE the Wilderness Lodge. It's so strange, and to me, that's Disney magic at its best.

I think I fall into that camp as well.

[Jforrest2]

Ducks in the pool!
We will also be there in September.

[LudwigVonDrake]

WL is my favorite resort. The lobby is magnificent, it seems remote and far away from reality and the boat ride to the Magic Kingdom is one of my favorite things to do (especially at night)