Category — d. Where to Stay at Walt Disney World

I’ve updated the review of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, based on our most recent stay here—our 13th here, out of 150+ stays in Disney World-owned rooms, villas, suites, studios, cabins and campsites—in January 2018. You can find the first page of the updated Wilderness Lodge review here.

I’d already done a fairly extensive update to the Wilderness Lodge review in the summer of 2017 after our stays in brand-new Copper Creek Studio and a Copper Creek One Bedroom Villa. The net effect of the Copper Creek development was to reduce capacity and add amenities—making what was already a great choice even better.

Our January stay was in a standard woods-view room in the main Wilderness Lodge. So it includes fresh pictures in the photo tour of a standard Wilderness Lodge room that begins here. As other rooms at Disney World have their theming thinned by recent refurbs, I appreciate the theming of these small but darling rooms even more.

This was also my first stay in a higher woods view room that had fireworks views after so many trees on this side were cleared for the Copper Creek Cascade Cabins.

The fireworks view was pretty good. The distance was about the same as that from the Polynesian Village, and the viewing angle was similar to that from the Grand Floridian (although on the opposite side, of course).

See the chart, which either does, or does not, fully explain both of these points (click it to enlarge it).

You’ll find a total of seven pages in the updated review of the Lodge itself:

• An overview and summary of the Wilderness Lodge
• Theming and accommodations at the Wilderness Lodge
• A photo tour of a standard room at the Wilderness Lodge
• Amenities at the Wilderness Lodge
• The main Copper Creek Springs pool at the Wilderness Lodge
• The new Boulder Ridge Cove pool at the Wilderness Lodge
• Dining at the Wilderness Lodge

There are also separate reviews on the site of the Copper Creek Villas and Boulder Ridge Villas.

Kelly, the long-time travel agent partner of this site, can book your Disney World vacation at the Wilderness Lodge or anywhere else.  Contact her by using the form on this page.

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Last week I had the chance to check in on most of the resort refurb projects at Disney World, including Pop Century, Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, and French Quarter. Here’s the updates on what I found.

REFURB AT DISNEY’S POP CENTURY RESORT

Disney’s Pop Century Resort  is having its rooms transformed from two full bed rooms to two queen rooms, with coffee makers added!

These refurbs are now half done, complete in the 90s, 80s, and 70s sections—buildings 6 to 10.

Building 5 in the 60’s section is being refurbed.

For a photo tour of one of these new rooms, see this.

REFURB AT DISNEY’S CARIBBEAN BEACH RESORT

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is seeing major changes. Its former Barbados Village, and half of its Martinique Village, are gone, and being replaced by a new Disney Vacation Club facility.

The indoor parts of the Old Port Royale area are closed, including the dining and shopping that used to be here, replaced—at least until late summer—with temporary alternatives.

The table service restaurant that used to be here is being moved to the waterfront, and is well-along in construction.

The expectation is that the check-in area will be moved into the Old Port Royal Building—a thought supported by the addition of a Port Cochere to the front of this building.

The main entrance, I believe, will be shifted to Victory Way, near Jamaica—a guard shack is being built here.

And what appears to me to be multiple bus stop shelters (three of them) are being built in a row just to the south of Old Port Royale, maybe a hundred yards from the current Trinidad North bus stop.

Given the scope of these new bus shelters, it is my fondest hope that these will completely replace the three bus stops that current serve the three accommodations buildings in Martinique, the former Old Port Royal bus stop, and the stop that serves the three accommodations buildings in Trinidad North.

There’s more on the construction at Caribbean Beach here.

REFURB AT DISNEY’S CORONADO SPRINGS RESORT

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is seeing both a room refurb project and the construction of a new bed tower on the site of the former Cabana 9b.

Building 1 (in the Casitas) is now done, and Buildings 2 and 4—also in the Casitas—are being worked on. So completed are Buildings 1 and 3 in the Casitas, Building 7a in the Ranchos, and Building 8a in the Cabanas.

The new tower now is about 6 stories high, and although I did not get a good photo of the entry to Coronado Springs from Buena Vista, it is now tall enough to make it clear how completely it will dominate the vista of the entry road to Coronado Springs—creating a very different first impression for, e.g. those scoping out the resort for a potential convention.

A waterside dining venue is also being added at Coronado Springs, and what I believe are the crane and pontoon barge for building it are being positioned between the Casitas and the Ranchos.

Signs and fencing are out that may at times close the path between these two areas, making the Ranchos even more inconvenient than they already were.

I have not stayed in one of the refurbed rooms here yet, but co-author Josh has a review of one of them here.

To keep up with the refurb here, check out Mario’s Coronado Springs facebook page.

REFURB AT DISNEY’S PORT ORLEANS FRENCH QUARTER RESORT

Earlier in January 2018, a room refurb project kicked off at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort, starting in Building 2.

There’s not much out there on what the new rooms will be like (we should start to get guest reports as early as later this week from Building 2, if the expected schedule is followed).

However, they are being completely emptied down to the carper, so based on recent refurb trends, expect more power points, bigger TVs, wooden floors, more structured storage, higher queen beds with luggage storage underneath, and a sliding door to the sink area.

That being said, surprises are always possible. I would swear that I saw workers unloading a stack of king beds in the construction staging area last week. I may have been wrong, or if I am right, they may simply be for the small number of king rooms that have always been here. But given what else is going on around the Disney resorts—and especially queens in Pop Century, a first for a value resort—I wouldn’t rule out entirely something very different, like a king bed and a queen sleeper sofa.

You’ll find more on this refurb as it unfolds and extends to Port Orleans Riverside on Andre’s site here.

The long-time travel agent partner of this site, Kelly B, can help you find the best places to stay in these resorts–or anywhere else. Contact her at 980-429-4499 or kellyb@destinationsinflorida.com, or fill in the form below.

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For the first page of this review of Disney’s Pop Century Resort, click here.

THE POOLS AT POP CENTURY

Disney’s Pop Century Resort has three good-sized pools, one in each themed area except for the 70s area–the Hippy Dippy pool, Bowling Pin Pool, and Computer pool.

THE HIPPY DIPPY POOL AT DISNEY’S POP CENTURY RESORT

The principal pool, the Hippy Dippy Pool, is near the center of the resort in the 60s section, on the food court side of Buildings 4 and 5.

Like other value resort pools, there’s no water slide or fancy kids splash pool, but otherwise it has more amenities than the other pools at the resort.

There’s a small kids pool on the side closer to Hourglass Lake.

You’ll also find at the Hippy Dippy pool a cornhole game…

…and a ping-pong table.

Pool games happen every afternoon, and many evenings a Disney movie is shown.

The Hippy Dippy pool at night.

The only bar at Pop Century is just outside the Hippy Dippy pool area, close to the food court.

The amenities, pool games, and general color and energy make the Hippy Dippy pool the most popular of Pop Century’s pools.  But if what you want is to play with the kids in the water, sun, or swim, the other two pools are perfectly good alternatives, and will likely be less crowded.

THE BOWLING PIN POOL AT DISNEY’S POP CENTURY RESORT

The Bowling Pin pool is in the 50s area, centered among Buildings 1, 2 and 3, and closest to Building 2.

The pool overall–perhaps not surprisingly–is laid out to resemble a bowling pin…

…just as are the stairs of these 50s buildings. The pool is big and has a large pool chair area, but like the computer pool it’s not worth a walk that takes you past any other Pop Century pool.

THE COMPUTER POOL  AT DISNEY’S POP CENTURY RESORT

The Computer pool is in the center of the the 80s and 90s area, among Buildings 7, 8 and 9, closest to Building  8.

The computer theming is a keyboard at one side of the pool and a screen (and another keyboard) on Building 8…

…the pool itself is a simple, but large, rectangle with plenty of pool deck space.

MATERIALS IN THIS REVIEW OF DISNEY’S POP CENTURY RESORT

• Disney’s Pop Century Resort–overview and summary
• Theming and accommodations at Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• A photo tour of a refurbed room at Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• Amenities and dining at Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• The pools at Disney’s Pop Century Resort

OTHER KEY PAGES FOR WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD

• Where to stay–the Basics
• Where first-timers should stay
• Reviews of all the Disney World resorts, based on my 150+ stays in them

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THE FOUR SEASONS AT DISNEY WORLD

Over the past few days I’ve updated my review of Four Seasons Orlando, the only five star resort in Walt Disney World, based on my July stay here–my third stay at Four Seasons.

The  update includes additions and corrections for things that have changed since my last stays, more than 50 new pictures, and a reorganization of the material to match how I’ve been doing these reviews lately.

The first page of the review is the overview and summary, and that’s the place to start.  In total the review has six pages:

• Overview and Summary Four Seasons Orlando
• A photo tour of a king bed room at Four Seasons Orlando
• A photo tour of a full bed room at Four Seasons Orlando
• Amenities at Four Seasons Orlando
• Dining at Four Seasons Orlando
• The pools at Four Seasons Resort Orlando

Have you stayed at Four Seasons? Let me know what you thought, using the comment form below!

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DISNEY’S PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE RESORT

With more than 2000 rooms sprawling in two different sections around Disney’s (man-made) Sassagoula River, Port Orleans Riverside is probably Disney World’s best-loved moderate resort, and has inspired a great fan site.

I’ve stayed at Riverside eleven times since I started this site, most recently in September 2019. These visits confirm that Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort remains the third best of the moderate resorts for first time family visitors.

(For what the moderates provide, and how they compare to the other Disney World resort classes, click here)

You can have a wonderful visit at any Walt Disney World resort.

However, this site recommends that first time visitors to Walt Disney World avoid the moderate resorts, while noting that these resorts are wonderful for visits after the first. (See this for why.)

That said, the moderates represent ~30% of the rooms of Walt Disney World, and will be sought by some because this site’s recommended resorts are sold out, because you are on return visits, or because–sensibly–you’re just not that into my rankings!

So I stay in them all–in 40+ different moderate rooms, eleven of them at Port Orleans Riverside–and publish reviews of each.

This review has nine pages

• The overview page you are on now
• Theming and accommodations at Port Orleans Riverside
• A photo tour of a four person standard room in Port Orleans Riverside’s Magnolia Bend section
• A photo tour of a four person Royal Room in Port Orleans Riverside’s Magnolia Bend section
• A photo tour of a refurbed five person Murphy bed room Port Orleans Riverside’s Alligator Bayou section
• Amenities at Port Orleans Riverside
• Dining at Port Orleans Riverside
• The pools at Port Orleans Riverside
• The history of Port Orleans Riverside

Note that the long-time travel agent partner of this site, Kelly B., can help you book your Disney World vacation at Port Orleans Riverside or anywhere else–contact her using the form at the bottom of this page.

OVERVIEW: DISNEY’S PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE RESORT

Resorts are ranked on this site for first time visitors based first on their kid appeal, and then on their convenience.

On this basis, Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside resort is the third best moderate resort for first time family visitors.

(Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is first; Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort second; and Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter is fourth; these results are very close.  The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort are ranked last, and this is not close.)

Themed to the riverine rural south, Port Orleans Riverside combines sweeping riverside vistas, manicured gardens, and accommodations themed as stately homes in its Magnolia Bend section (red oval on map)…

…with a more backwoods and wetland-themed area in Alligator Bayou (blue circle on map).

Joining the two, and containing most amenities, is the river-port themed area Sassagoula Steamship Company (gold circle on map).

ROOMS AT DISNEY’S PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE RESORT

More so than most of Disney World’s other moderate resorts, Port Orleans Riverside has distinct areas and room types, with varied pros and cons.

There’s two areas–Alligator Bayou and Magnolia Bend–and three different room types.

Port Orleans Riverside is undergoing a building-by-building minor room refurb project. This refurb is complete in its Alligator Bayou section, and refurbs have begun in the Magnolia Bend section, which will likely be completed in early 2020–with the Royal Rooms being done last.

STANDARD AND ROYAL ROOMS IN THE MAGNOLIA BEND SECTION OF PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE

The Magnolia Bend section of Port Orleans Riverside contains four large buildings themed as graceful southern plantation homes, with courtyards, porticoes, grand stairs, and fountains.

The northern-most of these buildings are Acadian House and Magnolia Terrace. These are the best-located of the Magnolia Bend options, being closer to the resort’s central amenities and more convenient to bus stops than the two more southern buildings.

Rooms here sleep four in two queens (and a few two person king bed rooms).

Their floor plans are typical of the moderates. For a full review of this room type, see this.

The two southern Magnolia Bend buildings, Oak Manor and Parterre Place, are where you’ll find Riverside’s Royal Rooms.

Royal Rooms are distinctively decorated to a Disney Prince and Princess theme, and are higher cost than the other options at Port Orleans Riverside. Their floor plans are very similar to those in the two other Magnolia Bend buildings. They sleep four in two queens–no king bed rooms are in the Royal Room buildings.

Families who find the added theming worth the extra ~$50-$100 per night these rooms cost may find them quite pleasant. The buildings themselves, however, are distant from the main pool and from bus stops.

A detailed review of the Royal Rooms is here.

FIVE PERSON ROOMS IN THE ALLIGATOR BAYOU SECTION OF PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE

The Alligator Bayou section of Port Orleans Riverside is on the northern and western sides of the resort. The two-story, no-elevator buildings here are themed as backwoods cabins.

These rooms are among the few “traditional” moderate rooms at Walt Disney World that can sleep 5–the only other ones are at Caribbean Beach.

The fifth sleeping spot is in a short (66″) Murphy Bed that drops down from the TV/dresser object. (There’s also a few king rooms, also with the Murphy Bed.)

The geometry of the object containing the Murphy Bed means that these rooms have both less drawer space to start with, and also that the drawers are a little hard to access if the Murphy Bed is in use. So for families that don’t need the extra bed, a room in the Magnolia Bend section at either Acadian House or Magnolia Terrace is a better choice.

See a full review of these Alligator Bend rooms here.

There’s much more on accommodations and theming at Port Orleans Riverside here.

AMENITIES AT DISNEY’S PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE RESORT

Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside has almost as wide a range of amenities as you’ll find at any Disney World moderate resort, falling short compared to the rest only in dining compared to Coronado Springs, which is much better, in spa services and workout facilities, found among the moderates only at Coronado Springs, and in its kids pool, where you’ll find much better ones at Port Orleans French Quarter and Caribbean Beach.

Distinctive amenities here–shared with sister resort Port Orleans French Quarter–include boat service to Disney Springs and horse-drawn carriage rides.

Details on the amenities at Port Orleans Riverside begin here.

DINING AT DISNEY’S PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE RESORT

Port Orleans Riverside has an indoor bar with a limited menu, a poolside bar with chips and such, a table service restaurant, Boatwright’s, and a quick-service venue, the Riverside Mill.

Each has its fans–especially the indoor bar, River Roost, with its common live entertainment from Yehaa Bob— but collectively they are about average among the moderates, and are particularly bested by Coronado Springs with multiple bars and multiple restaurants.

For more on dining at Port Orleans Riverside, see this.

THE POOLS AT DISNEY’S PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE RESORT

Port Orleans Riverside has six pools–the main pool with a fun slide, pool games, and sawmill theming at Ol’ Man River, and five smaller, un-themed “leisure” pools scattered among the accommodations buildings.

Six pools is either a feature or a bug, depending on your perspective.  There are so many because the main pool is too small to serve all who might wish to use it, and is a hike from many outlying rooms. You’ll find the same feature/bug at Caribbean Beach and Coronado Springs.

The main pool, though much loved, is uninteresting compared to those at Caribbean Beach and Coronado Springs, and the kids pool next to it is quite weak compared to the alternatives at Caribbean Beach and French Quarter.

There’s more on the pools at Port Orleans Riverside here.

KID APPEAL AND CONVENIENCE AT DISNEY’S PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE RESORT

Kid Appeal. The southern bayou and plantation theming of this resort, while charming to many adults (especially the Magnolia Bend section, whose Georgian architecture is quite lovely), will miss most kids entirely.

That said, its extra amenities bump it slightly ahead of its sister resort Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter. (French Quarter visitors are encouraged to use these amenities; the difference is that for Riverside guests, they are immediately present.)

Moreover, the Royal Rooms will have great appeal to some kids–though they are more expensive, and less convenient, than alternatives.

Now, I get comments all the time along the lines of “We stayed at Riverside and it had great appeal for my kids!” Of course it did. All the Disney resorts have great kid appeal. My point is that some have even more than others…

Convenience. Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside is in the middle of moderates in convenience.

While often thought of as out of the way, it is in fact just across the street (or two) from Epcot, and along with Port Orleans French Quarter is the closest of the “traditional” moderates to Magic Kingdom. It also shares with French Quarter a slow boat to Downtown Disney.

The principal convenience frustration is that, since it sometimes shares buses with Port Orleans French Quarter, it can have in effect 5 bus stops. The Magic Kingdom bus is the exception–it has only four stops, as it always skips Port Orleans French Quarter.

Buses sometimes fill before they get to their final stop (although this is much less common than it used to be), and the first day or two of a visit, it can be hard to identify from inside the bus whether one is at the West, North, or East Bus Stop.

Getting off at the wrong stop matters, because Port Orleans Riverside is pretty darn big, and can be a challenge to get around.

While at my pace no room is more than a ten minute walk from the central service area and pool, this is assuming you take the most direct path, and don’t get lost. Getting lost–especially at night–in the far reaches of the Alligator Bayou section is easy. Or at least it is for me…

It’s not widely noticed, but the texture of the concrete paths in the Alligator Bayou section is meant to help with wayfinding. Where there are groups of buildings, the main path through them is textured to look like a plank road.

The texturing is meant to indicate to you that you are on a main path, and keep you from wandering off accidentally onto a building-specific path.

The image on the right side shows the texture of such a plank road.

As a final convenience point, the two story buildings in the Alligator Bayou area have no elevators.

Other distinctive features. One of only  two traditional moderates that can sleep five, in the Alligator Bayou section. (Caribbean Beach is the other, and its five person rooms are slightly more livable.) These Alligator Bayou rooms provide two queen beds and a short Murphy bed. With Port Orleans French Quarter, the only moderate with no lake, and with the French Quarter the only moderate with boat transport to Downtown Disney.

BEST PLACES TO STAY AT DISNEY’S PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE

This site suggests that first time visitors stay in standard rooms, not preferred rooms (because they won’t be spending much time in their rooms, or going to the main resort food area often; the single exception is visitors to the Animal Kingdom Lodge, who should always pay for savanna views.)

Unless you need the bed for the 5th person, stay in a top floor (quieter) standard room in building 85– “Magnolia Terrace” –in the Magnolia Bend section. This area is much lovelier than the other section, Alligator Bayou, and the storage is more convenient. And of the non-Royal options, Building 85 is the best choice–lovely, closer to the pool and central services, and with a nearby bus stop.

If you do need the fifth person bed in Alligator Bayou, shoot for a ground floor room (no elevators) in buildings 16, 17 (close to the amenities and bus stop at Sassagoula Steamship Company) or 38–better views, close to the main pool.

Room request forms for Riverside are particularly thin on options. If you booked a Royal Room you’ll automatically be put in Oak Manor or Parterre Place, the buildings that include them; if you booked five people three or older, you’ll automatically go into one of the Alligator Bayou rooms.  Beyond this, call to express your preferences.

The long-time travel agent partner of this site, Kelly B., can help you book your Disney World vacation at Port Orleans Riverside or anywhere else–contact her using the form below:

THEMING AND ACCOMMODATIONS AT DISNEY’S PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE RESORT

This review continues here.

TOPICS IN THIS REVIEW OF DISNEY’S PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE RESORT

• Port Orleans Riverside: Overview and summary
• Theming and accommodations at Port Orleans Riverside
• A photo tour of a four person standard room in Port Orleans Riverside’s Magnolia Bend section
• A photo tour of a four person Royal Room in Port Orleans Riverside’s Magnolia Bend section
• A photo tour of a five person Murphy bed room Port Orleans Riverside’s Alligator Bayou section
• Amenities at Port Orleans Riverside
• Dining at Port Orleans Riverside
• The pools at Port Orleans Riverside
• The history of Port Orleans Riverside

OTHER KEY PAGES FOR WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD

• Where to stay–the Basics
• Where first-timers should stay
• Reviews of all the Disney World resorts, based on my 150+ stays in them

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OVERVIEW: DISNEY’S WILDERNESS LODGE

In July 2017 Disney’s Wilderness Lodge completed a major refurb.  Half of its rooms–those in the southeast wing–were converted into Copper Creek Villas. The old quiet pool was completely redone into the delightful new Boulder Ridge Cove pool. The old quick service, Roaring Fork, was refurbed, and a lovely new counter service option and bar, Geyser Point, opened.

The overall impact is that Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, already a great option, gained upgraded and additional amenities, but lost capacity–so fewer people are using the better amenities. In other words, it’s an even better choice than before.

Details follow…

Our most recent stay (our twelfth here–four in the main Lodge, six at Boulder Ridge, and two in Copper Creek) in July 2017 confirms that Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is the second best deluxe resort at Disney World for first time family visitors.

You can have a wonderful visit at any Walt Disney World resort hotel.

However, this site recommends that first time visitors to Walt Disney World who can afford it should stay at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, a deluxe resort, and that those who can’t should stay at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, a value resort.

(It also suggests that first time visitors should avoid the moderate resorts, while noting that these resorts are wonderful for visits after the first. See this for why.)

Compared to other Walt Disney World owned and operated resorts, the deluxe resorts are distinguished by having (on average) the most amenities, nicest views, best dining options, best transport options, largest rooms, best service, and highest prices.

Among the deluxe resorts, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge stands out for having the most stunning kid appeal, moderate convenience, smallest rooms, and lowest prices.

(See this for much more on resort distinctions by price class–value, moderate, deluxe, etc.)

In addition to the standard accommodations in the northwest wing of the Wilderness Lodge, the Wilderness Lodge also has additional room types in the two Disney Vacation Club offerings associated with it–Copper Creek Villas in the southeast wing of the main Lodge, and Boulder Ridge Villas in its own building outside Copper Creek. These areas are available to anyone to rent–you don’t have to be a member of the Vacation Club. These Villas have their own detailed reviews, at the links.

This review of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge has seven pages:

• This page, a summary review
• Theming and accommodations at the Wilderness Lodge
• A photo tour of a standard room at the Wilderness Lodge
• Amenities at the Wilderness Lodge
• The main Copper Creek Springs pool at the Wilderness Lodge
• The new Boulder Ridge Cove pool at the Wilderness Lodge
• Dining at the Wilderness Lodge

ACCOMMODATIONS AT THE WILDERNESS LODGE

Standard rooms at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge are tied with those at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge as the smallest deluxe rooms on property.

The bedroom component of these rooms is smaller than even those at the moderate resorts, being almost a foot narrower and, on the long side, 2.5 feet shorter. See this for more on comparative Disney resort room sizes.

Most of these rooms sleep four–two each in two queens.  Rooms with a queen and two bunk beds are also available.  The bunk bed mattresses are 5’9″ long, and 39″ wide.  (In real life they are not so blurry.) Rooms with one king bed are also available.

You can add to this capacity of four a child younger than three who sleeps in a crib.  A crib fits well between the closet and dresser.

Partly because of these room sizes, and partly because it is not directly accessible from a theme park, the Wilderness Lodge is also typically the least expensive of the deluxe resorts.

For more on accommodations at the Lodge, see this, and for a photo tour of a standard room, see this.

(The Copper Creek Villas and Boulder Ridge Villas at the Wilderness Lodge are reviewed separately.)

THE POOLS AT THE WILDERNESS LODGE

The main Copper Creek Springs pool at the Wilderness Lodge was refurbed in 2014 and remains one of the most delightful pools at Disney World. (It was renamed in 2017, from “Silver Creek Springs.”) For more on the Copper Creek Springs pool, see this.

The second pool re-opened in July 2017. Now named Boulder Ridge Cove pool, it has been transformed into a delightful themed space that adults will particularly like. For more on the Boulder Ridge Cove pool, see this.

DINING AT DISNEY’S WILDERNESS LODGE

The Wilderness Lodge has four or four and a half principal dining venues that collectively make it above average among the Disney deluxes for dining.

• Whispering Canyon Cafe is a raucous and fun setting for family dining
• The more sophisticated and expensive Artist Point is perfect for couples dining
• The old quick-service option, Roaring Fork, has been renovated, and remains among the best of its kind among the deluxes, but can easily become over-pressed
• The new Geyser Point combines an upscale waterside bar with new quick service options, one set from the bar menu and one set from a walk-up window, that’s particularly convenient to both pools

There’s also easy access via a boat to more great dining options at the Contemporary Resort and Fort Wilderness.

For more on dining at the Wilderness Lodge, see this.

KID APPEAL AND CONVENIENCE AT DISNEY’S WILDERNESS LODGE

Resorts are ranked on this site for first time visitors based first on their kid appeal, and then on their convenience.

On this basis, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is the second-best resort for first time family visitors to Walt Disney World.

Kid Appeal.

• Three of the deluxe resorts–the Wilderness Lodge itself, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Polynesian Resort, in that order–have spectacular kid appeal.
• None of the moderates do.
• All of the value resorts–Disney’s All-Star Sports, All-Star Music, and All-Star Movies, and its Pop Century Resort and Art of Animation Resort–have strong kid appeal.

The kid appeal of the Wilderness Lodge comes from its stunning re-creation of the grandeur of America’s great national park lodges–both inside…

…and outside.

Other wonderful elements both big and small continue the theme of the mountain west and of other western national parks, with some elements recalling the Pacific Northwest.

This is Lewis and Clark country, of great drama, history–and adventure!

The main building and lobby of the Wilderness Lodge–modeled on the Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone National Park, and featuring totem poles from Duane Pasco–set the stage.  This lobby is jaw-dropping to kids, and also to most adults.

Convenience. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is much less convenient than the Polynesian Resort in carrying out the itineraries for first-time family visitors on this site.

Transport to the Magic Kingdom is by boat and by bus. The buses begin earlier, and are more reliable for scooters and wheelchairs–not all boats can take these.

Transport to the other theme parks is by bus, each of which is shared by at least one other resort.

Boat service is also available to Fort Wilderness (convenient for the Hoop Dee Doo Revue) and the Contemporary Resort (convenient for Chef Mickey’s). These boats begin much earlier than the Magic Kingdom boats, so many families seeking an early start take the boat to the Contemporary, and then walk to the Magic Kingdom.

BEST PLACES TO STAY AT THE WILDERNESS LODGE

 This site suggests that first time visitors stay in standard rooms, not preferred rooms.

This is because they won’t be spending much time in their rooms.

The single exception is visitors to the Animal Kingdom Lodge, who should always pay for savanna views.

On the map, the Lodge is the green-roofed connected set of six to seven story high buildings, in a “Y” (or “U”) shape.

The main lodge buildings are in the upper left northwest wing of the Lodge. The new Copper Creek Villas are in the southeast wing.  The  Boulder Ridge Villas  are in the separate orange-roofed building.

More so than most Disney resorts, there are no bad rooms at the Wilderness Lodge.

Those furthest from the main lobby, restaurants, and bus stops are closest to the pools, Geyser Point, and boat dock to the Magic Kingdom, and vice-versa.

Disney is currently booking two room types–Courtyard views and Standard views.

Courtyard view rooms look into the middle area of the Lodge–overlooking either the Copper Creek Springs pool, the stream and waterfall that leads to it, or Bay Lake itself. The opening of the “Y” (or “U”!) as it approaches the pool means pool noise tends not to be an issue, and noise surprisingly isn’t really as much of a problem as you’d think for the rooms that open onto the main lobby.

Standard view room overlook anything else–but because so many trees were cut down on the northwest side of the Lodge for the Cascade Cabins here…

…a vast number of them now have truncated and distant views of the Magic Kingdom fireworks. Truncated and distant means this is no substitute for seeing these fireworks in the park…but it is pretty cool!

However, not all standard rooms have this view–some are too low, some blocked by trees, and some are just unlucky…

So pick the view you want–or hope for–most, and request an upper floor room (quieter, and better views).

BEST FOR:

Any first time family visitors who can afford it, but can’t get into or can’t afford Disney’s Polynesian Resort.

WORST FOR:

Families too large to fit its 4 person rooms.   See this for more on large families at Walt Disney World.

THEMING AND ACCOMMODATIONS AT DISNEY’S WILDERNESS LODGE

This review continues here.

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