There's no place like home...except Disney's Wilderness Lodge!

I was strolling along the Disney BoardWalk one day and I saw a sign that said “Open House.” I couldn’t imagine what was there to see, so in I went. Truth be told, at that point in my life I didn’t even know what was behind and above all the shops and restaurants on the BoardWalk. (I was not yet an expert in all things Disney back then.) I walked in and discovered a beautiful hotel suite…or condominium. I wasn’t quite sure what it was at first until a cast member introduced me to the Disney Vacation Club. I had heard of timeshares all my life and had heard many horror stories, so I was quite skeptical. I listened politely and took their brochure. I even accepted an invitation to visit their preview center a few days into my trip. Well, after a few minutes I knew this was for me and signed up on the spot. Since that time, my family’s DVC points have been increased twice. One of those increases included the addition of a second “home resort” to our account. There are many reasons why we DVC members join…which will provide topics for many future articles, but today I want to focus in on what is most special to me. It can all be summed up in three words: Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Actually, as a DVC member I get to stay in the Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, which if possible, is an even more special experience than the main lodge. I can’t say it enough…I LOVE Disney's Wilderness Lodge! It is so beautiful, peaceful and relaxing. After a fun day in the parks it is so nice to retire to the natural beauty that surrounds the lodge & villas. There are so many special elements to a stay at Wilderness Lodge. When I turn onto Timberline Drive and approach the resort, there is an arch that I drive under announcing the resort. As the natural wood and green roof of the main lodge comes into view, I know that I am home. When I walk up the sidewalks and see the “hoof prints” and “paw prints” in the concrete, when I see the flickering lanterns that line the walkway between the lobbies of the main lodge and the villas I get this warm feeling deep in my soul that says, “Brandon, you are home.” When I walk into the grand lobby of the main lodge with those soaring tree-poles that support that amazing ceiling and see that fireplace made to remind me of the Grand Canyon…when I see the light fixtures made like Native American Teepees…and when I see the water that springs up from beneath the floor that flows out over the rocks and into the pool, again, I know that I am home. When I hear western-themed music both outside and in the lobbies, I know that I am home. This is not just a place to lay one’s head between visits to the four parks and other Disney World attractions. This truly is a resort destination in and of itself. Every aspect of the stay at Wilderness Lodge is special, from the ferry boat rides to Magic Kingdom, the Contemporary and Fort Wilderness to the unique charm of Ranger Stan and his guided tour (more like a stationary history lesson) about the architecture and construction of the lodge.
The walking trails, pools, the geyser, the watercraft rentals, the restaurants are reason enough to stay at this resort. How can I describe the experience of eating dinner at my favorite restaurant at Walt Disney World? Well, it’s like the best food you can imagine being served while riding on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad! Whispering Canyon Café is one of those Disney experiences that all should have. This is not just a great meal, it is great entertainment. Not, it’s not a dinner show like the Hoop-de-do Review or the Luau over at the Polynesian…the dinner IS the show! I’m not sure if it is the wait staff throwing napkins and straws or the gigantic refill glasses they sometimes bring that I like the best. Perhaps it is the birthday boys and girls…and men and women…who ride stick horses around the restaurant to celebrate their special day. Perhaps it is the Canyon Skillet with mountains of food that keep coming to the table until you tell them to stop! Whatever it is, the Whispering Canyon Café is classic Disney experience that is not to be missed!
The lobbies of the main lodge and the villas are fabulous! Few things in this busy world are quite as relaxing and calming as a walk through the lobby of the Villas capped off with a visit to the Iron Spike Room with its exhibits of Walt’s own memorabilia plus a cozy seating area with rocking leather chairs in front of a roaring fire. Just thinking about that room makes me want to pack a bag and gas up the car! Just outside the lobby of the lodge is one of the most beautiful swimming pool areas of any resort I’ve ever seen. The waterfall starts as a spring in the lobby empties into the pool, which seems to keep going through the Old Faithful Geyser, which erupts 100+ feet every hour. Beyond the geyser is the walkway through the wilderness out to the boat dock, where all the charming boats arrive to take you to the Contemporary, Fort Wilderness or over to The Magic Kingdom. Even the boat rides enhance the experience of staying in the magnificent lodge. They have busses to Magic Kingdom and the other resorts, but the boat are so much more special.
It’s true; anyone can stay at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge or even in The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge with a traditional cash reservation without a membership in DVC. For me, there is something special, something alluring and assuring that I know that since I am part of Disney Vacation Cub, I own a little piece of the magic. I know that I will return to this special place over and over again, because it’s not just Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, it’s Brandon’s Disney’s Wilderness Lodge! That just makes me happy!

Getting Started

You are probably reading this article for one of two reasons: #1 You have a friend, relative or significant other who wants to take you on a trip to Disney, even though you don’t have children.You are hoping against hope that there is something there for “grown-ups” to do …or #2 YOU want to go to Disney and you are trying to come up with things to do that will appeal to your skeptical adult traveling companions. Am I right? Let me assure you that I feel your pain! My family visited Walt Disney World when I was around five years old back in the days before Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Downtown Disney, ESPN and all of the resort hotels made the resort what we know it to be today. As I made my way from Tennessee to central Florida in 2007 I recall asking myself, “What am I doing? I am thirty four years old and I’m going to Disney World. I’m not a child!” What awaited me was a “world” that I truly could not imagine.
The first stop for the skeptical adult without children should be Epcot. Of the four theme parks, this is the one that I think has a theme that is best-suited to the “childless adult” park guest. If you enjoy thrill rides and technology, then the first half of the park, Future World, will be a real treat. If you enjoy history, art, culture, wines and cuisine from around the world, then the second half of the park, The World Showcase, will be an even bigger treat. Epcot has paid homage to the nations represented in the World Showcase in amazing detail including cast members (Disney employees) from each of the countries represented in each national pavilion. A short walk from the World Showcase entrance at the back of the park is a walkway leading to The Disney BoardWalk. This is another treat for the adult guest and it doesn’t even require park admission. The BoardWalk is actually a Disney resort hotel with a real lakeside boardwalk with shops, restaurants and live (night time) entertainers that will make you feel like you are on an Atlantic Boardwalk from days gone by.
Your next stop will depend on which you love more: Hollywood and thrill rides or animals and thrill rides. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a unique blend of the look and feel of the glamour and glitz of 1930s and 1940s Hollywood along with some of Walt Disney World’s very best thrill rides, including the Rockin’ Roller Coaster by Aerosmith, the Hollywood Tower of Terror, Star Tours and the wildly popular Toy Story Mania—even though that last one isn’t actually a thrill ride. The live shows at “the Studios” (as I call it) are nothing less than the quality of Broadway and Hollywood itself, including Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, Beauty and the Beast, Lights-Motor-Action and of course, Fantasmic! The other park tied for second is Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This is the newest, and at 500 acres, the largest single theme park ever built by the Walt Disney Company. If you are an animal lover, if you love visiting the zoo, this park will be a hit in your book. Animal Kingdom features exotic animals from Asia and Africa and even some from Australia and a few from right here in North America. The Africa section of the park features a safari ride through the 100+ acre wildlife reserve or “savanna” with all of your favorites including giraffes, gazelles, crocodiles, hippos, lions, and many more than I can name. The Asia section has tigers, monkeys, snakes and a host of other fauna. Even if you are not a zoo person or an animal lover as such, Animal Kingdom still has a lot to offer. This park has my two favorite musical stage shows in all four of the parks: Finding Nemo the Musical and The Festival of the Lion King. Additionally, there is It’s Tough to be a Bug which is in the base of The Tree of Life (which is the icon of the park). Beyond the animals and the great shows are the rides. Expedition Everest is probably the best themed outdoor roller coaster at Walt Disney World. Primeval Whirl is probably the most whimsical and unusual coaster-type ride in all four of the parks. Dinosaur is another adventurous ride that is packed with Disney thrills and near-misses.
And then there’s Maude! OK, actually I’m going to talk about Downtown Disney, not a TV show from my childhood! When I first heard the words “Downtown Disney” I thought it was some sort of local jargon referring to the center of the resort, or the area in front of Cinderella Castle or something of the sort. I had no idea that Downtown Disney was (and is) an immense and beautiful complex of shops, restaurants and special attractions like Cirque du Soleil, Characters in Flight (a fabulous tethered helium balloon ride), DisneyQuest (an indoor virtual theme park) and a fabulous movie theater.
I’ve saved the best for last. The true heart of Walt Disney World, the flagship of the Walt Disney Company, is The Magic Kingdom. Words fail me when I try to describe the feeling I get when I descend the monorail platform, walk through the gates and stroll down Main Street USA and see Cinderella Castle in the distance. When Walt Disney built Disneyland and drew up the plans for Walt Disney World, he wanted to create a slice of Americana that showcased America’s very best. He succeeded. Walking through the Magic Kingdom, even as an adult, is an experience that is like few others. There are many things to admire and enjoy from the amazingly intricate architectural details in the buildings to the variety of the costumes worn by the cast members. The rides and attractions, whether geared for children or adults are great fun! Some attractions may rekindle memories of your own childhood (Country Bear Jamboree) while others appeal to your adult-size sense of adventure and thrill- seeking (Space Mountain). Some attractions appeal to your love of history and nostalgia (The Hall of Presidents and the Carousel of Progress).
There are many other aspects of Walt Disney World that I could describe for you, but then I would run out of material for future articles! There are fabulous hotels, restaurants and golf courses and even a real-life NASCAR-style race track where YOU get to ride in the racecar! After my second or third visit to “the world” I remember saying to a friend, “you know, Disney World might even be a fun place to take children.”