Walt Disney World Resort of the Month
December 2002
Disney's Wilderness Lodge

901 W. Timberline Drive
Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830
(407) 824-3200

Wilderness Lodge Facts
Opening Date: May 28, 1994
Opening Date of Villas at Wilderness Lodge: November 15, 2000
Category: Deluxe (Lodge); Home Away From Home (Villas)
Rooms: 728. The Villas have 136 units.
Levels: Seven in the Lodge; five in the Villas

The Wilderness Lodge is themed as a U.S. National Park Service lodge from the Great Northwest forests. It was designed by Peter Dominick, who also designed the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Wilderness Lodge was intended as moderate accommodations but proved so popular that it was placed in the Deluxe category.

Room Categories: Standard, woods, and courtyard view. Standard view will overlook parking lots or a service area. Woods view rooms are on the sides of the resort and will overlook trees. Some top-floor rooms face the Magic Kingdom and fireworks may be glimpsed over the trees. Courtyard view rooms overlook the pool and Bay Lake. The different views are priced accordingly. All rooms are approximately 350 sq. ft. Most rooms have two queen beds. There are 40 rooms with king beds; these rooms are also handicapped-accessible and feature a large shower with no tub. Rooms with one queen bed and bunk beds are available. There are also suites, which start in the $600s.

Concierge service is available. Concierge rooms are on the 7th floor and are the same size as all other rooms. The concierge lounge serves breakfast and light evening fare and is open only to concierge guests.

The Villas at Wilderness Lodge is a Disney Vacation Club property, featuring studios and one-and two-bedroom condominium-style accommodations. The studios feature a kitchenette, and the one- and two- bedroom villas have full kitchens. These rooms may be booked through Central Reservations as a Home-Away-From-Home Resort.

The Wilderness Lodge is located in the Magic Kingdom Resort Area. The Magic Kingdom is the closest theme park. River Country (currently closed) is the closest water park.

Transportation to Disney Attractions: A shuttle boat, shared with the Fort Wilderness Campground, runs daily to and from the Magic Kingdom. Another shuttle boat runs to the nearby Contemporary Resort, for those who would like to catch the monorail. Transportation is by bus to all other destinations. The Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness are the only resorts with a bus stop at the Transportation and Ticket Center.

GUIDE TO THE WILDERNESS LODGE

The lobby of the Wilderness Lodge may be the grandest of any Walt Disney World resort.

The Grand Canyon Fireplace, with its massive metal screen, is a working fireplace surrounded by rocking chairs. The different colors of rock used to construct it are meant to signify the different rock layers of the Grand Canyon.

The Wilderness Lodge Mercantile, located just off the lobby, carries souvenirs and other sundries. Next door is the Buttons & Bells Arcade.

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