Reviews of Wilderness Lodge (Deluxe Resort)
Reviewed by Hamill04 Review Date: 09/23/2013
Rating: (8) Recommended
We stayed here for the first time September 15th-20th. The resort itself is beautiful-everything is clean, plenty of lifeguards, pool activities, dining options. Our housekeeper did an amazing job keeping everything stocked. The boat to the Magic Kingdom takes about 5 minutes to get there and is a beautiful ride. We previously stayed at Pop Century and it seems that except for the buses, you really get what you pay for. Pop was literally a motel with bus service- food court was a mess, we constantly had to call for more towels/shampoo, no activities that I saw. Buses, however- I'm all for saving money where you can but I think a Deluxe resort should have Deluxe bus service. We never really had to wait for a bus(maybe 5-10 minutes tops) but the bus makes multiple stops before you reach your destination. Our trip to Animal Kingdom took 40 minutes!!! We had to stop at either the Floridian or the Campgrounds, then the water park and then on to the Kingdom. I might be a little biased because I have horrible car anxiety but if you can get a direct bus at a Value, you should be able to have it at a Deluxe.
Pros:
Beautiful ResortCons:
Bus routesReviewed by Gadawggirl Review Date: 02/17/2013
Rating: (8) Recommended
Our first time at the Lodge and it's soooo nice! I hope to be able to stay there again. We have stayed in the value and the moderate resorts and this place blows them out of the water! Quite and relaxing place. Only disappointment was that the 6th floor balcony is a wall and not a rail so you have to stand up to see the view. We had a courtyard view.
We took our bikes this year and was able to ride them to Ft. Wilderness Campground where we ate breakfast one morning.(de-lish) We rode about 10 miles just looking around the campground.
You can see the light parade from the beach at night.
Buses were good and I enjoyed that you can take the boat to Magic Kingdom.
Roaring Fork was a great place to grab a quick bite.
Pros:
Room, decorations, lots to do.Cons:
6th floor balcony, boat hornReviewed 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 Cheesetony Review Date: 11/21/2016
Rating: (7) Recommended
The Wilderness Lodge has been on my bucket list for a long time, so perhaps my lower rating should be taken with a grain of salt. I'd built up expectations for years. The resort is beautiful. The theme is great, and you really feel like you're in the Pacific Northwest from the moment you enter the lobby. We especially loved the pool, and the splash area was perfect for my 3 yr old DD and 8 month old DS.
Unfortunately, I was really surprised by how thin the walls were, especially for a deluxe resort. Our neighbors were night owls, and they woke us up every night when they returned from the parks and the cranky kids argued about going to bed. One morning, I had to call down to the desk because we could hear their alarm going off for about 15 minutes.
I loved having the option of taking a boat to the Magic Kingdom, which we did several times. They also had boats to Ft. Wilderness and The Contemporary. We took advantage of this one night to eat dinner at Chef Mickey's.
If we decide to stay at a Deluxe Resort again, I will probably save a little longer and try to choose something on the monorail loop.
Pros:
Location, Transportation, BeautifulCons:
Construction, Thin wallsReviewed by brian222202 Review Date: 08/12/2015
Rating: (7) Recommended
Second stay at Wilderness Lodge. We had a great room (5167 if anyone wants a primo view of Bay Lake). But with WL rooms, expect significant noise from pool, boats traffic, movies on beach, and water pageant. Rooms were adequate but sparsely decorated. And furniture looked worn and old. WL rooms surely need an upgrade, and quick. AND, most disturbing, was lack of adequate charging stations for electronics and phones. Most hotels now have as standard charging stations on desks for multiple electronic devices.
Check-in/out and concierge staff was efficient and friendly, bag handlers at beginning and end were talkative, attentive and friendly.
Pool was nice, and well-staffed by lifeguards.
Whispering Canyon this trip was good, not great. No wait staff on our night seemed really into it, not just ours, just seemed a rather dead night. Roaring Forks is adequate, but nothing to rave about, in the least.
Boats were a hidden joy, riding the boats back from MK at night while watching WISHES may have been the highlight of our trip. Buses on other hand were sporadic and often crowded, and I cannot believe the amounts you pay for DELUXE RESORTS and you cannot get your own bus. Deluxe Resorts should not have to share buses in my opinion.
All in all, still a great resort, just nothing that stood out. There were no magical moments--for instance the one towel animal received was a simple one-rag mouse (adequate but not memorable)--although there were really good moments. This resort still is impressive, and I would even say worth the Deluxe prices, BUT there needs to be an upgrade in service to provide those magical DISNEY memories.
This seemed to be a theme throughout our vacation. Everything was very good, but nothing this time around that was truly magical--with exception of Yak & Yeti, San Angel Inn, and Rose & Crown. WDW was great, just needs that extra little bit that they are known for, it seemed missing this trip.
Pros:
Views, Friendly Staff, Trans. to MK & lake resorts, PoolCons:
Trans. to everywhere else, Roaring Forks,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 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 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
