In October of 2019, my family and I went on our first Family Disney Trip. We stayed at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and had the sweetest time. It was our first time traveling to Disney as a family of 4, and my husband and I’s first Disney trip together. Little did I know that this trip would be the first of many for our sweet family. Also, a few years down the road, after some career changes, would be what I would be doing for a living. At the time of travel, my children were five and three. This was such a fun age for our two’s first Walt Disney World trip. I still recommend bringing your littles no matter the age. There’s always a strategy for everything, especially if your little one gets access to the parks for free under the age of three.

We stayed in a standard resort view room and luckily had a corner room with a view of the pool, splash pad, and the geyser. On our first day, we arrived early and took advantage of the resort pools, restaurants, and shops. The first thing that I would say blew me away was the resort lobby. I had heard the Wilderness Lodge’s lobby was pretty, but I did not understand the scope of this resort’s lobby. The seven-story tall lobby is made with eighty-five truckloads of Lodgepole pine from Oregon and Montana. There’s an 82-foot fireplace with rocking chairs, which add to the coziness of the luxurious and spacious lobby. It was amazing in October. Where temperatures in Orlando can still reach the high 80s some days. However, I bet the wintertime is quite a popular spot.

We stayed on the top floor, and although the balcony was quite nice, I was still hesitant to let my kids go out there to hang out. I am sure that it was completely safe, but as a mom of littles, I didn’t want to chance anything. The zero-entry pool at Boulder Ridge was amazing for my little ones. I was able to sit back in a lounge chair as they jumped and played. After an amazing nap, we went to our first dining reservation at Whispering Canyon Cafe. It was so much fun. At the time, I wasn’t eating Gluten or Dairy, and they made my experience incredible. You learn quickly that Disney goes to the extreme for their guests and any food sensitivities or allergies that they may have. This restaurant is skillet-style, and my family loved it. The food was quite good and a great kick-off to our Walt Disney World Vacation.

Our room was spacious and comfortable. The bathroom had two queen beds and a tub/shower combo. The vanity and sink are outside of the main bathroom, which is super convenient for getting ready in the morning. There is plenty of storage space, drawers in the bedroom, safe in the closet, as well as a tea and coffee station. The mini fridge was chilled at all times. Side note: I always advise going into it with more of a drink chiller and not a fridge. We rented a stroller from Buena Vista Stroller Rentals and purchased a 24-pack of bottled water from them, which greatly helped. As a travel advisor, I still recommend using them as a rental option. They drop off and pick up at your hotel, which is convenient.

Both the resort and our resort room were styled in the rustic majesty of America’s Great Northwest. I feel like this resort is perfect in all seasons and one of the most under-appreciated of the Disney Deluxe Resorts. It’s not on the monorail but it is close to the Magic Kingdom. You can take a boat from Wilderness Lodge to the Magic Kingdom. For us, this trip was amazing. Nothing like taking a boat from Bay Lake, passing by the Contemporary Resort and heading onto Seven Seas Lagoon towards the Magic Kingdom. We had the best time, and I would absolutely stay at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge again. I’d love to stay in one of the Cabins or in a multi-bedroom suite or villa. This resort is not to be missed, and I think the holidays at Wilderness Lodge are definitely a Disney bucket list item for us!

If this sounds like something you’d like to book for your family, please contact me. This is just the beginning of where I come in.

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• Explain the complicated and assorted ticket options and add-ons.

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• Recommend and schedule your Theme Park Reservations for each park day.

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• Advise on Genie, Genie+, and Individual Lightening Lane Attractions so you know what to grab and when in the parks.

• Recommend rental service for strollers or ECV scooters (for mobility).

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All the Best,

Caroline Christiansen, Professional Advisor for Glass Slipper Concierge