OverviewLocated about a 13-minute drive from Disney World, Disney's Wilderness Lodge is geared towards travellers looking for Disney-themed accommodations with a free theme park shuttle, on-site dining and two outdoor pools.
Each of the hotel's air-conditioned guest rooms offers free Wi-Fi, cable TV, an in-room safe, a coffeemaker, a desk, a mini-fridge, a hair dryer and an iron and ironing board. Rooms with a DVD player, a bunk bed and a living area with a sofabed are also available, as are wheelchair-accessible rooms.
The hotel also offers two outdoor pools, a waterslide, two hot tubs, a pool bar, a spa and wellness centre, fitness facilities, bike and boat rentals, fishing, movies on the beach, a playground, an arcade, laundry facilities, free parking and three restaurants.
A free theme park and airport shuttle are also offered, as are free water taxis (please contact the hotel for details). Pets are not permitted.
Magic Kingdom is about a 12-minute drive from the hotel, while Disney's Magnolia Golf Course can be found 6 minutes away by car. Downtown Disney Marketplace is roughly a 14-minute drive away and Orlando International Airport (MCO) is a 32-minute drive away. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)
Verified with a front desk agent: Free Wi-Fi, free parking, no pets, wheelchair accessible. (Call Date: December 31, 2013)
The GoodThe majority of the reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, with much praise going to the hotel's staff, location and rooms.
Numerous reviewers praised the hotel's staff, characterizing them as helpful, professional, efficient and friendly. One patron noted, "The staff at Disney's Wilderness Lodge were knowledgeable, courteous and very friendly".
Many lodgers were pleased with the hotel's location, describing it as easily accessible and close to Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Contemporary Hotel, the monorail and the ferry. One traveller remarked, "This is a great location to visit all parks at WDW. It's close to all attractions by bus, car & even boat!".
The hotel's accommodations were enjoyed by several guests. They found their rooms to be clean, quiet, well equipped and spacious, with comfortable beds and great lake views. A few reviewers had complaints about their lodgings, however (see below).
The Bad
While the majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, there were a few common complaints about the rooms.
Although the majority of reviewers were pleased with their clean and comfortable rooms, a few guests were disappointed with their accommodations. They reported small-sized rooms and dated decor, as well as plumbing noise and noise from guests in the hallways and adjacent rooms.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #16 of 329 Orlando hotels with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 from 1,848 reviews.
Expedia.ca guest reviews rated the hotel 4.5 out of 5 with a 94% recommendation rate from 541 reviews.
Hotels.com guest reviews rated the hotel 4.5 out of 10 from 193 reviews.
The author called the hotel on December 31, 2013 to verify some information.
