Reviews of Wilderness Lodge (Deluxe Resort)
Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 03/27/2021
Rating: (5) Not Recommended
Not sure why this resort would be named a couples or girls weekend away. Tons of screaming kids everywhere. Restaurants are below par and rooms are bare and have no character, same with restaurants and entrance/ etc etc
Pros:
Close to Magic Kingdom. Good if you have small childten and want them running around with other kids.Cons:
Noisy, bare, without much character, below par restaurants. Would chose this as an absolute last option.Reviewed by PoorNanaPoorFather Review Date: 02/10/2021
Rating: (7) Not Recommended
This resort is absolutely beautiful, but that's about it for me. The laundry facility is poorly located and you have to walk through the main lobby with your dirty laundry. The quick service is just so-so. Also, they lost one of our suitcases, and on our last day as we were leaving I happened to see it over in a large holding area. The location is not great, especially for a Deluxe Resort. Busses are long, and the boat ride to the Magic Kingdom is long and slow. I now stay somewhere else when I visit WDW, but stop over here for dining on a resort tour day.
Pros:
Atmosphere and food. Restaurants have great food. Nice poolside bar. Great character meal with Snow White, the Evil Queen, and the Dwarves.Cons:
Location.Reviewed by derf92 Review Date: 11/18/2015
Rating: (4) Not Recommended
My fifth visit and first time at a deluxe hotel - very disappointed. bus transportation was terrible - boat transportation was great but it only goes to magic kingdom. housekeeping was awful. my sister had a woods view - housekeeping left her patio door open and when we got home later that night her room was filled with bugs and mosquitoes. quick service restaurant did not ofer many options and they were the same all week. It's an okay place if you are planning a short trip only to magic kingdom and epcot. I was excited to stay there but if given the choice between Wilderness and a moderate, I will take the moderate.
Pros:
close to magic kingdomCons:
bus transportation terribleReviewed by dandnmom Review Date: 02/11/2013
Rating: (3) Not Recommended
After trying Value & Moderate Resorts on prior vacations, booked a room at the Wilderness Lodge. The greeting was wonderful - didn't even have to check in- the package was brought to us and we were oriented to the Lodge. WOW - what incredibly beautiful surroundings. No theming detail was missed.
Paid extra for a Courtyard View - this was a waste of money! Was on the second floor - only saw trees off the balcony w/ a glimpse of the pool & nothing of the geyser or lake. Food in quick-service was very good but the actual serving area was much too small for a resort of this size. Food service staff was best we've ever met.
On second to last day, my son (who has Asperberger's type problems) had a meltdown which involves crazy levels of crying - the Manager saw this and interferred - said he couldn't have any situations where children were obviously upset by their Parents. Tried to explain son's needs and interventions - he didn't listen. He threatened to call Authorities if we didn't follow his advice and separate our son from the rest of the family for the night - ruined everything!!
Next time - will do Moderate or Value where we can spread out and have more privacy - if our son gets overwhelmed and starts to have a meltdown, will be able to just walk him around the resort which is all he needs to calm back down!!
Pros:
beautiful surroundingsCons:
manager interefered; upgraded room not worth $$Reviewed by MichiganSherry Review Date: 04/18/2024
Rating: (10) Recommended
The Wilderness Lodge is hands down my favorite resort at Disney World. It is secluded, peaceful and quiet with beautiful views. Geyser Point is my favorite spot to grab a drink and sit and watch the water taxis go back and forth. The food is very good at all the restaurants, lounges and quick service locations also. I could spend my entire trip at this resort and never even go to the parks and still have a great time. Taking the boats to Magic Kingdom is a quick, fun, beautiful ride, and this resort is much less expensive than the monorail resorts.
Pros:
Stunning lobby and grounds, less expensive than most deluxe resorts, great foodCons:
pool is on the small sideReviewed by Bryn7 Review Date: 09/19/2023
Rating: (10) Recommended
My son's first trip to Disney World occurred shortly after his 4th birthday in September of 1994. The Wilderness Lodge had just opened on May 31st of that year and it was INCREDIBLE!!! So much so we only stayed at the Lodge after that. My son, who is now 33, honeymooned there. I've been to Disney World 27 times and I've stayed at the Wilderness Lodge 17 times. I've reserved a trip there for this Christmas and I only hope my health holds out so I can make it my 18th time! I've eaten at the Whispering Canyon, Geyser Point, the Roaring Fork, and last year I was lucky enough to snag the coveted Story Book Dining at Artist Point. I love the Lodge because it is so close to the Magic Kingdom, but because it's secluded it is so peaceful. In fact, the only thing that jolts you back to reality is the sound of the boat horn that lets you know it's docking or departing for the Magic Kingdom. Bus service is also available and I've never waited more than a few minutes. I get around with the use of an electric scooter and I've never had an issue with the buses. The drivers are so sweet in helping you get on or off the bus first. As you can probably tell, I'm the Wilderness Lodge's biggest fan. Book the Lodge and I know you'll become a fan, too!
Pros:
The architecture, the scenery, the food, the friendliness of the cast members, the close proximity to everything, the peacefulness of the property,the beautiful pools,the Mercantile for gifts and souvenirs, activities for the kids, and the way you feel when staying here!Cons:
Absolutely none!Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 08/14/2023
Rating: (9) Recommended
We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge for our 50th anniversary in April of this year. It was our third stay at the WL, the first being the year after it opened, and the last being in 2014. The wilderness Lodges has maintained its excellent appearance and ambiance, and the service from check in to check out was outstanding. It is not a cheap to stay at the WL. In fact it is expensive. But value wise, I think it is a better value than the other WDW resorts we have stayed at, including the Polynesian, the Yacht club, and the Grand Floridian. We let the Disney reservation agent know that it would be our 50th anniversary when we booked the reservation, and asked for an upper floor room with a courtyard view angling towards the pool and Bay Lake. Every request was fulfilled. On check in we were given several Lightning Lane passes, and we entered our 5th floor room to find a personalized anniversary cake, two beautiful 50th anniversary soup mug, and all sort of appetizers, including a variety of non-alcoholic beverages. The night before we checked out, the Wilderness Lodge manager left us a personal note congratulating us, along with a tray of chocolate covered strawberries. We especially enjoyed the seclusion of the WL, especially after a long day at the parks. Also our short and scenic water taxi ride to the Magic Kingdom, as well as the relatively new Geyser Point bar and grill, from which we watched the Electrical Water Pageant on several evenings after returning to the parks. We are already looking forward to our fourth stay at the Wilderness Lodge in 2025. Thumbs up for the Wilderness Lodge for a third time.
Pros:
Secluded location. Beautiful theming. Excellent pool. Multiple restaurant and quick service options. Extremely friendly staff, from the front desk to housekeeping.Cons:
More frequent water taxi service to the Magic Kingdom. Walking/biking path to Fort Wilderness was closed due to new construction. We liked the Artist Point restaurant better when it was fine dining; it is now a character experience.Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 04/27/2023
Rating: (10) Recommended
I stayed at the WK 21 years ago. Things were different then—no DVC. But the overall amenities and ambiance were the same. My then-5-year-old son said it best when we walked through the doors for the first time, and heard the music and saw the lobby: Cool. Way cool! Yes, the resort rooms are a little smaller than other deluded rooms. But the theming more than made up for that. There was a flag raising ceremony back then. Do they still have it? You get up at the crack of Dawn and clim way up on the roof from the 7 th floor. The view down was dizzying. Then you did this little” boyscout-like” flag ceremony. Again. Cool. Way cool. The resort tour is definitely worth your time if you have a resort day. Whispering Canyon is hoot for young and old alike. The boat ride to MK is fast and fun. The pool is amazing. The food is great. The beds comfy. Service is superb. Wd had a truly magical stay at the lodge.
Pros:
Transportation Amenities Theming, theming, theming Food Activities Electrical Water Pageant Proximity to Fort Wildeness and it’s many activities and Hoop de do revueCons:
Standard rooms a little small fine for family of 4. But no more than 2 adults/teensReviewed by DebbieG22 Review Date: 02/06/2023
Rating: (10) Recommended
Relaxing Stay
Pros:
Atmosphere, The views , Boat rides to and from MK, Wonderful restaurants and wonderful staffCons:
Only 2 options to get to parks .Wish they would add Monorail 🚝Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 01/16/2023
Rating: (1) Recommended
Beautiful grounds and lobby etc. Have stayed at all resorts over the 20 years being a DVC owner. Last week had our credit card compromised at the front desk Wilderness Lodge. Our credit card company confirmed it happened on property. With in hours thousands of dollars charged. This is the third time this has happened at the Wilderness Lodge. No other resort. After struggling to get a manager, one finally came to our room and explain nothing they could do other than have us go to the orange county Police Department. My wife is trying hours and hours over the last couple days to get a hold of someone. She has been disconnected, put on hold no resolution.. Impossible to get a hold of anyone that can help. Very frustrating. Our adult son is planning on staying there next month and my wife and I have a return visit to Grand Floridian in March. Not sure we will keep it. Not so magical anymore
