It seems that Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is often unknown or overlooked by potential vacationers.  I actually spent years avoiding this resort because I wanted to “see palm trees” when I’m in Florida, and let me tell you – what a mistake!

Even though Wilderness Lodge is not on the monorail, it has the advantage of two boat services that make staying here super convenient.  One side of the dock sends guests to the Magic Kingdom on a 10 minute straight-shot boat ride.  The other side goes to the Contemporary where they can catch the monorail to Epcot.  In addition to close proximity to the Magic Kingdom, guests are a 5 minute cab ride from the Grand Floridan and Polynesian if dining at one of those resorts is on the itinerary.

We decided to give Wilderness Lodge a try last year and from the moment we walked through the doors we loved every minute of our stay.  The lobby is a cavernous, awe-inspiring space and pictures don’t even do justice to show how truly magnificent it is:

The view from an upper balcony is even better:

All of the details around the lobby had us enamored at every turn:

The pool is a nice size and has a children’s splash area adjacent to it:

Let’s talk about the food situation at Wilderness Lodge.  If you’ve met me or have read other articles on here you will know that I love food, a good sit down dinner, and a nice glass of wine.  Honestly, the food choices at this resort are not my number one favorite, but they get the job done.  And, you’re in Disney so there are basically hundreds of other places to eat aside from the hotel.

One recent big change to the dining surrounds Artist Point, a long-standing signature restaurant, but it seems the following has not been large enough to sustain it.  Disney recently decided to move the restaurant over to a character experience, which has been quite the divisive topic among Disney fans. A Storybook Dining with Snow White, Grumpy, Dopey, and the Evil Queen will replace the fine dining restaurant.

If you are looking at deluxe resort pricing on property you will be happy to know that overall I have seen the rates for Wilderness Lodge come in slightly lower than the monorail resorts and even the Boardwalk area hotels.  A little hidden gem for sure; next time you want to stay by Magic Kingdom without monorail prices check out Wilderness Lodge and escape to the Pacific Northwest in the middle of sunny Florida!

by Ellen Volpe – Co-Owner of ET Family Travel