Review: Deluxe Rooms at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
By Dave Shute
DELUXE ROOMS AT DISNEY’S WILDERNESS LODGE
I’ve already published reviews of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge here and of its sister resort the Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge here.
This review is of a particular room type at the Wilderness Lodge: Deluxe Rooms.
(These rooms are sometimes called “Junior Suites.”)
Standard rooms at the Wilderness Lodge hold 4 people in 340 square feet, for about $285 a night (pre-tax, during the Fall price season—which is when this site recommends that first time family visitors go).
In contrast, Wilderness Lodge Deluxe Rooms hold 6 people in 500 square feet, for around $600 a night during that same season.
That’s 50% more people, and about 50% more square feet, for a little more than twice the cost.
Part of the cost difference comes from the fact that all the Deluxe Rooms are also “club rooms.”
(“Club room” is what Disney calls what the rest of the world calls concierge rooms.)
Regular club rooms at the Wilderness Lodge—which offer no more space and no more capacity than standard rooms—are about 60% more expensive than standard rooms.
Deluxe rooms offer 50% more capacity and about 50% more space than standard club rooms, but only cost about a third more than standard club rooms.
The upshot?
Larger families of 6 committed to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and who would have stayed in club rooms anyway will find the Deluxe Rooms a bargain.
Families of 6 looking for deluxe lodging will find these rooms their most cost effective option. Almost all other deluxe options that hold 6 (and don’t rely on getting connecting rooms, which Disney will not guarantee) are designed—and priced—to a capacity of 8 or 9.
(For more on large families at Walt Disney World, see this.)
Families of 4 who are simply looking for a more comfortable Wilderness Lodge option than a standard club room will find these rooms OK if concierge level service is what they really want.
Personally, I think such families would have even more comfort in a one-bedroom villa at the Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
While concierge service is not available in these villas, the one-bedroom villas are almost 50% larger, better laid out for a two parent, two kid family, have much more luxurious baths and master bedroom spaces, and have a full kitchen.
The one bedroom villa is also about $100 a night less expensive during the fall season.
For more on the trade-offs between club rooms and villas, see The Most Comfortable Place to Stay at Walt Disney World.
WHAT YOU GET IN A DELUXE ROOM AT DISNEY’S WILDERNESS LODGE
The Wilderness Lodge is laid out like a U.
At the ends of the U, and also at the points where the U bumps out into a wider space, you can find Deluxe Rooms.
(See the red arrows on the map–click the map to enlarge it.)
These rooms are on the corners of these spaces, and have views both out to Bay Lake and also to the sides—in most rooms, of the inner pool area, but in a few, of the outer woods.
(See the top of the page for the view from my balcony.)
They fit across the short end of the long side of the room block—which constrained the total width available to the architects.
At the far ends of the building, there’s standard rooms in the middle of the short stretch, and a Deluxe Room on each corner. (The layout in the bump out in the middle of the U is similar, but there’s no Deluxe Room on the outer corner, since there is no outer corner.)
That’s about half a room more than the space nicely fits.
As a result, the Deluxe Rooms are too narrow for pleasing proportions, by about 3 feet (2 feet in the hallway/sitting room bay, and one foot in the bedroom bay).
You get used to this.
However, because of it, the space feels wrong when you first enter the room, and continues to feel wrong until you get used to it…not a strong first impression.
My room also seemed a little tired…a few more scuff marks, scrapes, and scratches than the price suggested maybe it should have had…although it may be one Disney has not gotten to renovating, and the others may be sparkling and fresh.
You get used to this as well…and once we were used to it, we LOVED our Deluxe Room…but it would be much better if wider and fresher.
This review continues here.
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8 comments
Great review. We are Disney regulars and I just stumbled up the “deluxe room” or “junior suite” at he Wilderness Lodge. I also noticed that now some of the other deluxe hotels are offering deluxe rooms. Have you seen the deluxe rooms at the Boardwalk Inn or the Yacht Club or do you know where I might find a floor plan or photos.
Thank you!
Thanks, Joann!
The “deluxe rooms” at BC and BW have been around forever, but used to be called junior suites. “Junior Suites” creates higher expectations than they deliver, hence the name change to deluxe rooms. I haven’t stayed yet in either, but did find some floor plans for you:
Yacht Club: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1897027
BoardWalk Inn: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2463858
My family (party of five, 3 adults & 2 kids) is planning a trip to WDW for January 20-28, 2015. We are going to stay at the Wilderness Lodge, and are looking at booking the deluxe room for the added sleeping capacity. The separation of spaces is also very appealing! My question is this: how do I reserve a room as close as possible to the Old Faithful lounge? I called the reservation line and asked the same question, and they didn’t have an answer. 2015 rates have not been released, so I can’t book it online yet. I would like to reserve as soon as possible in order to lock in our room. Suggestions? Thank you very much.
Tena the deluxe rooms are all over the building, few are near the lounge, and noting will be guaranteed. Your best bet, I think, is to go with an experienced travel agent who gets to talk to a special set of reservationists at WDW. See this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2014/03/25/getting-your-disney-world-room-request/
You can always book 500 days ahead regardless of the online systems–see this https://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/02/21/how-far-in-advance-can-you-book-a-walt-disney-world-vacation/
My family of 5 likes their space- we have a Dlx Room Club Level reserved at the Wilderness Lodge. This is not our first trip so we thought trying Club level would be a treat- we also like having a sofa/sitting area rather than sitting on beds. Although I read your review about their odd layout of the Dlx Club Room. We are trying to decide if 2 connecting standard room would be a better trade for the SF, more beds & baths although no social sitting area for all of us. The villas are not available. Or is club and the sitting area worth the Dlx Room? They come our to be about the same price.
Melissa, that’s a tough call, as the sitting space is so small, and of course you’ll still need to use it as a bed, meaning its value as extra space goes away then. What about a standard (or club) room at the Poly or Contemporary?
My family will be staying in a deluxe suite 10/31 to 11/7. Just received notice of the construction. Do you know which room we should request that will be the furthest from the construction, preferably with some view? Do you think we will be affected by the construction. We have tried to change resort and can’t find rooms available that will hold 6 of us. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Love your site!
Laura, the deluxe rooms are all corner rooms. Each has a view towards bay lake, and some have an additional view to the courtyard, but some to the woods. You want a courtyard room on the north side. But there’s not a lot of those.
How old are the kids? Family Suites at Music and Art of Animation sleep six, as do the Cabins at Fort Wilderness. Deluxe rooms at the Boardwalk Inn sleep six (no link as I’ve never stayed in a six person room there), and you can try for two connecting standard rooms anywhere. Disney does not guarantee connecting rooms, but if you have two adults and four kids, all 3 or older, it’s near a slam dunk.
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