Disney’s Wilderness Lodge: A COVID-19 Resort Review & More

A Boulder Ridge Villa Stay

By taking a little staycation last week, we had the opportunity to enjoy Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, which I consider to perhaps be Walt Disney World’s Best Destination Resort. We look at the total resort experience during a COVID-19 stay. We discuss how the hotel is based on the U.S. National Park Inns found in Yellowstone and elsewhere. We compare the experience to that, we look at some of the ambience of the hotels. We specifically review the Deluxe Studio Villa we had at Boulder Ridge, and we check out many of the resort’s amenities.

You can find our podcast here on Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, MyTuner, and ListenNotes. Key notes and photos are below, but you’ll find most of my commentary on the podcast.

The Inspiration

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge draws inspiration from the Old Faithful Inn and other National Park lodges out west. Here are some comparisons:

Other lodges exist in both Yellowstone and throughout the Southwest. They have all served as inspiration in some way to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.

Beyond the inns and lodges, you have to make your own comparisons of what you enjoy most. The parks at Walt Disney World is amazing, but so is the great outdoors in Yellowstone and other national parks.

The Ambience

We’ll dedicate future episodes to the ambience at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Needless to say, it is a stunning design with incredible thematic details. I discuss the following on the podcast:

Boulder Ridge section of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is also impressive in its own right.

What’s missing from the image below is the Florida otter we saw running down the path.

Resort Living in a COVID-19 World

There are a number of changes that have been made to visiting Disney’s resorts during this pandemic. We detail those in the podcast, but there are some visual references below.

Online check-in prior is one of the big differences as you arrive at the hotel.

The Room: Boulder Ridge Deluxe Studio Villa

Below, the map and photos showcase a room in the DVC Boulder Ridge section. Again, my comments–and they are not positive–are reserved for the podcast.

The Amenities

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Amenities are by and large impressive in comparison to almost all of the other resorts. Some of Walt Disney World’s best resort dining can be found here. We highly recommend Geyser Point, especially when weather is enjoyable, or during cooler evenings.

Artist’s Point was my favorite restaurant. It has been replaced by a Snow White character meal, which is not available at this time.

Whispering Canyon Cafe is also a favorite, and we’ve visited many times. Definitely make one of your meals here during your stay.

COVID-19 does not help the meals at Roaring Fork, which is open but you must mobile order. This is the chicken and waffles dish.

This is a banana foster french toast with hash. Much is left to be desired.

DVC guests can enjoy the outdoor grills as well as their in room kitchens.

One of the best retail locations in a resort hotel is Wilderness Lodge Mercantile.

Reunion Station offers plenty of recreational activities to enjoy.

Still, our favorite amenity is the pools.

Summary & More

While our Boulder Ride Deluxe Studio Villa may have been lacking in many ways, it’s hard to argue that this isn’t the best Walt Disney World Destination Resort on property. It’s ambience is amazing. Its theming is unique. The amenities are fantastic. Definitely check out this resort on your next visit to Walt Disney World.

Thanks for joining us. Make sure you check out the following:

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Book a Stay at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Meanwhile, is it time to book your next trip to Disney? The best person to answer that question is David Zanolla, owner and agent of of Out The Door Travel, LLC. There’s no cost–but it could save you a lot of time–and even money–especially when you put it in the hands of someone who really knows Disney and travel. Call today at 309-863-5469 or reach out to him via zanolla@otdtravel.com