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Review: The Art and Amenities of the Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge



By Dave Shute

(For the first page of this review of the Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, see this.)

THE AMENITIES AND ART OF THE BOULDER RIDGE VILLAS AT THE WILDERNESS LODGE

The Boulder Ridge Villas at the Wilderness Lodge share the amenities of the next door Wilderness Lodge.

Review Villas at the Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.netAt the Wilderness Lodge you’ll find

  • A great pool themed to a mountain spring
  • A second newly-redone smaller pool
  • A pool bar, hot tubs, and the like
  • An imitation of the geyser Old Faithful
  • Indoors, three dining options and a bar, and outdoors a bar and grille.
  • All kinds of art and exhibits, with  a strong focus on Native Americans and on the geology of the west

The Boulder Villas at the Wilderness Lodge also have a few amenities of their own.

Lobby Villas at the Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net

Most charming among them is the main lobby, themed–though most won’t notice it–as a rare fully enclosed railroad roundhouse.

Lobby Sitting Villas at the Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net

There’s charming sitting areas here…

Lobby Fireplace Villas at the Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net

…including a few chairs on front of a fireplace.

Lobby Carving Villas at the Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net (2)

The ceiling beams have their ends carved with wilderness creatures…

Lobby Carving Villas at the Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net

…including a perhaps too realistic rattlesnake.

Sitting Room Villas at the Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net

Around the corner is a larger but still cozy sitting room.

Sitting Room Villas at the Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net (2)

Another view of the sitting room.

Walt Disney and Railroads Villas at the Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net

This area is filled with railroad memorabilia, much of it celebrating Walt Disney’s love of railroads and his outdoor model railroad, the Carolwood Pacific.

Railroad Mementos at the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net

Some of the railroad mementos…

Railroad Memorabilia Villas at the Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net

…more.

Railroad Art Villas at the Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net

A railroad map.

Porch Villas at the Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net

Outside this sitting area you’ll find porches with rocking chairs, some sized for little ones.

Elevator Villas at the Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net

Off the other side of the lobby you’ll find the elevators.  Note the train etching on the elevator door…

Art Villas at the Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net (7)

…and also note the train details on the hanging.

Elevator Detail Villas at the Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net (2)

The other elevator door features a moose or elk or deer or something wild and wildernessy.

Gym and Spa Villas at the Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net (2)

Also in this area you’ll find the health club Sturdy Branches.

The Villas at the Wilderness Lodge is an underappreciated gem of architecture and design.

Villas at the Wilderness Lodge Resort Floor Plan

While showing nothing so dramatic as the lobby of next-door Wilderness Lodge, the Villas have some very nice vistas from rooms on the long arm of the resort–at left in the image.

The rooms at top have views of Bay Lake, and those below of the pool and the Cascade Cabins of Copper Creek.

Lighting Detail Villas at the Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net

The Boulder Ridge Villas show the same attention to detailed theming that you’ll find in the main lodge, including these lights…

Lighting Detail Villas at the Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net (2)

…and these.

Bench Villas at the Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net

Note the woodsy theming of this bench.

Bambi Studio Villas at Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net

Also notable is the art and decoration. Art in the rooms has some Bambi theming–this from a Studio…

Bambi Pillow Villas at Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net

…and this in One and Two Bedroom villas.

Room Art Villas at Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net

Both rooms and public spaces have art with national park themes, like this…

Art Villas at the Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net (6)…and this.

Art Villas at the Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net (3)

And you’ll also find many western vistas, some with trains…

Room Art Villas at Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net (2)

…but most just of people and a view.

Art Villas at the Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net (8)

The Wilderness Lodge itself has the best, and best-executed, theming of any Disney World resort.

Art Villas at the Wilderness Lodge from yourfirstvisit.net (2)

The Boulder Ridge Villas at the Wilderness Lodge both share in and complement this theming.

 

 

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