Welcome to Be Our Guest Vacations - Tips, Tricks and More! The official blog of Be Our Guest Vacations. On here we will give you much more than you get on our Facebook page or on our website. Sure those outlets are great, but here you will get tips, and tricks and more! I will post all sorts of helpful information here for you!
Let's take a look at the Art of Animation Resort! The newest Disney resort! Filled with family suites and a small section of stander rooms, there is something for everyone!
Welcome to....
Home of iconic Disney characters and some newer ones too, this resort really showcases Disney Animation!
Have I personally stayed here?
No, we have not stayed here. As a family of 4, we don't need the suites and the standard Little Mermaid rooms are never included in the discounts. What I like about it:
I love the location of the resort. Just like the Pop Century, it is so very centrally located. It takes no time at all to get to most parks on property. Again, like Pop Century it does not share a bus with another resort, which when utilizing the bussing system at Disney is a huge plus! The food court is fantastic! One of the best quick service locations on Disney property!! We have walked over from Pop Century and eaten there several times and we have never had a bad meal. The theming of the resort is amazing as well and the pools look like a lot of fun!! What I don't like:
It's a value, but priced more in the moderate level when booking a family suite. I hate that the Little Mermaid standard rooms are never part of ANY of the promotions because I will not pay full price!
Would I stay here?
If the price was right, yes! Or if we needed the space that the rooms offer.
Let's take a look at POP Century Resort! What is your favorite decade - 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s or 90s? Looking to relive some of your childhood? Check out the Pop Century Resort!!
Welcome to....
Home of tye dye cheesecake, large icons from several decades, groovy tunes, and fun times!
This awesome map is courtesy of a great thread on disboards.com dedicated to Pop Century. It shows the details of the different room locations! I used this exact map in planning my last trip!
Have I personally stayed here?
Yes - Our family has stayed there on our last four Disney vacations. What I like about it:
I love the location of the resort. Although it is listed as being in the Hollywood Studios resort area it is so very centrally located. It takes no time at all to get to most parks on property. I enjoy that it does not share a bus with another resort, which when utilizing the bussing system at Disney is a huge plus! The rooms work for us, as we are only there minimally to sleep and midday rests. The quick service restaurant - Everything POP - has a large variety to chose from and can accommodate even picky eaters. We really just enjoy the resort and the theming! Definitely my favorite value - which is another thing we love - the price is right!!! What I don't like:
It's a value and with that comes some downgrading. For us the pros outweigh the cons. For some the cons may be - double beds instead of queens. We are so tired we don't seem to notice! The rooms are smaller and there is only one sink vs the two you get when you upgrade to a moderate. The pools, while fun with the theming, do not have water slides or hot tubs. Definitely has a bit more of a motel feel.
Would I stay here again?
Of course!! In fact we are planning our next trip now and while I am pricing other options I know we will end up here! It really is becoming "home".
Today I am going to tell you a bit about the Polynesian Resort with special assistance from two readers that sent in reviews after staying there. I personally have never stayed so it was great to get their perspective on it! :-)
As has become the norm here is a little video from Disney Parks Media!
Standard Rooms - Garden, Lagoon, or Theme Park Views
Club Level Rooms and Suites
Suites
Resort Map:
Have I personally stayed here?
No I have not. I have visited the resort and eaten here at the Ohana restaurant as well as at the Luau that they have. The resort grounds are beautiful and it is awesome to be able to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the beach while relaxing as the pipe in the Wishes music. All in all, I hope to stay there at least for one night one time. The price for me is a bit of a turn off, but hey you never know! :-)
Guest Reviews:
Review Number 1 - Judy
What I like about it:I liked the fact that it was less than a minute walk to the TTC. The beach was great and you could watch fireworks from there without the crowds. The room was very nice. It held three adult women and a 9 year old boy quite comfortably. My 9 year old son was very impressed with the lobby and the pool, which I as an adult also liked. We at a two restaurants and the luau and had not a bad meal while we were there.
What I didn't like: I can’t really think of anything I didn’t like about the Polynesian, but if pressed I guess I would say I wish the gift shops had been a little bigger.
Would I stay here again: I would stay here again without a doubt. In fact I can't see myself staying anywhere else!
Review Number 2 - Melissa R.
What I like about it:
There’s a long list of things I love about the Polynesian Resort. One of the main reasons we stay there is the theme- the decor and tropical vibe make us feel so relaxed and ready for the most memorable vacation the second we enter the lobby. Also, it is in a great location! You can take the monorail or boat to the Magic Kingdom and can walk to the Transportation Center to take the monorail to Epcot. There are also great restaurants at the Polynesian. Tonga Toast and a pot of French Pressed Kona Coffee at Kona Café are a great way to start the day before hitting the parks. Captain Cook’s is also a good place to grab a bite to eat – although it is a Quick Service restaurant, it offers delicious, unique menu items.
What I didn't like about it:
The rates are among the highest in the Deluxe Resort category. But, if you can take advantage of a discount, it is well worth the higher price. Also, it is very tough to get a reservation at O’Hana. I thought resort guests would get some sort of priority, but not such luck.
Would I stay there again and why:
Yes, my family and I would definitely stay at the Polynesian Resort again. The convenience, theme/decor, great food and the fond memories we have of our magical vacations at the resort will keep us coming back!
Sit back and get ready to RELAX! If camping is your style then this is the resort for you! I grew up staying here and to this day it still holds incredible memories and will always be one of my favorite places to stay!
Welcome to....
Here are two videos from Disney Parks Media - one is the campsites, one is the cabins! :-)
Have I personally stayed here?
Yes - more times than I can count!! We camped here in our family RV when I was a kid growing up. Once we got rid of the RV we started staying in the cabins.
What I like about it:
I think my opinion is slightly clouded since this particular resort is filled with childhood memories, but there is definitely something special and different about Fort Wilderness. You won't get the feeling that you get here anywhere else you stay on property. When you stay in the cabins you feel like you have your own little house - driveway and deck included! Camping is as good as it gets as far as camping goes! Amenities galore! There is also the proximity to the Magic Kingdom! It is just a boat ride away! Not to mention that there is so much to do at the resort - lots of bike riding available and pony rides, the stables, great food - Trails End is one of our favorite meals! - and of course the campfire and movie nightly with Chip and Dale!! Also a very important PLUS - the cabins sleep 6!! What a great option for those bigger families!! :-)
What I don't like:
The internal transportation! UGH - I don't like it AT ALL!! I hate to say this because when I was little the transportation was great. I thought maybe I was just remembering wrong, but I asked my parents and they also agreed that it was better way back when. They used to have trams that ran, now it is buses. To get to the buses for the parks you have to take a bus (depending on your location), same with getting to the boat or the restaurant. When we go we rent a golf cart, which is fun for sure, but it is also a bit pricey. The only other downfall - no counter service. :-(
Would I stay here again?
Of course!! In fact I really want to camp for a couple nights here and then move from here and stay at a deluxe or something. "Rough" it for a couple days you know! :-) I can also definitely seeing us stay in a cabin again.
Next up....Disney's Polynesian Resort - with TWO special fan reviews!! :-)
(The Bay Lake Tower section of the resort will be reviewed separately. This was a very recent addition to the Contemporary Resort and is a Villa Resort!)
Have I personally stayed here?
I have only stayed here once for one night back in 2002. So I cannot tell you much about what the rooms are like, especially since when I stayed there the rooms were not yet redone. Anyone that has stayed here for a full trip PLEASE comment below and I will post a guest post from you with a more personal detail about it! :-)
What I like about it:
I LOVE the location!!! You can walk to the Magic Kingdom! Can't complain about that feature, right?! And it isn't a long walk, maybe 10 minutes. The views are fantastic if you pay for the upgrade or if you get upgraded for free - hey it happens when you are checking in! You could have a view of Cinderella's Castle from your balcony...imagine that! I also love that the monorail stops there, and it doesn't just stop there it drives right through the hotel! You won't find this at any other resort on Disney property. There is something to be said for being on the monorail loop. One of our favorite restaurants and most popular in Disney is also located here - Chef Mickey's. All in all there are a lot of great pluses for the Contemporary Resort!
What I didn't like:
I am not a fan of the decor or theming. I am not a contemporary person, so that design for the rooms and such was not for me. The lobby is kind of cold in my opinion, especially compared to the other resorts on property. All of this though does not take away from the pluses in my opinion!
Would I stay here again?
If the price was right I would DEFINITELY stay here!! Like I said that walk to the Magic Kingdom in and of itself is a HUGE selling point right there! Plus I would love to stay on the Monorail loop!
Next up.....Disney's Fort Wilderness
Have I personally stayed here?
Yes - we have stayed here 3 times now. Twice in a studio and once in a two bedroom villa. Each time we have stayed in the same area - The Grandstand. We like the location as far as not being in the busy part of the main building of the resort, but we were close enough to walk easily to the main building. We had a nice pool right outside our room, but again we were just a short walk to the main pool. It was a great location.
Here is a look at a map of the resort - as you can see it is large and spread out. Similar to a moderate in layout.
What I like about it: We are big fans of the upstate New York and travel to Lake George every summer. Lake George is just a short drive to Saratoga. We really like the look and atmosphere of the resort. Our rooms were very nice and spacious. The decoration was simple and elegant and the colors were soothing. The studio was the perfect size for our family of four plus my mother - my son was just 3 months, so we were allowed to have 5 in the room. When we went and stayed in the 2 bedroom, well I just cannot say enough about how much I LOVED all the space. It was awesome!
The pool by the Grandstand section that we stayed in was very nice and relaxing. There is a small area for the kids to play here and a drink station. The laundry area was also located right by the pool, all in all a great location. We had a car, but I also liked that we were the first picked up on the bus when going to the parks and the first dropped off coming back. The main pool is fantastic! There is a great "big kid" slide - although any age can go on it - even Moms and Dads! They also have a "little kid" slide, which my, at the time 2.5 year old, daughter really liked. The main pool is also a zero entry pool, which is always nice for the little ones.
The quick service dining option is very nice and has great choices, with specials every night. At the tables they have easels with crayons to keep the kiddos busy while you are finishing up eating.
What I didn't like:
I don't particularly care for the location of the resort. It's not that it is far from everything because it really is not, but I don't know why. I guess it is just a preference. Maybe it is that it is so close to being off Disney property and that makes it a mind over matter thing, who knows! I really don't, but as I have said many times before picking a resort is such a personal decision, and this just goes to show how true that is.
I also don't care for the fact that it is set up like a moderate - meaning very large, outside entry (you don't enter a lobby and go down halls to your room and take elevators, etc. But instead enter motel style with your room's main entry outdoors.) and lots of bus stops. This is not something that can be changed, but just something I don't care for - again no rhyme or reason. I guess it is just when I am paying deluxe prices I expect deluxe accomodations, and that is not just the room, but all of what the resort has to offer.I guess this is why I researched so much and found the Grandstand building to be the one I always request and cross my fingers to get when I stay here. This way I don't have to experience the largeness of the resort. I know it is a long bus ride to the park with it being the first stop, BUT you have a seat and I would rather have the long ride there then the longer ride coming back from a long park day. Again just my opinion.
Lastly - there is not enough seating in the quick service place at all and it is very congested in the ordering area. Food is good, as I mentioned, and there is a pretty good selection. The store, which is connected to the quick service, sharing registers (problem right there) is small and has a very small selection.
Would I stay there again?
For the right price, probably. I swore after the first time that I wouldn't, but it really is nice and if I get a good deal I will take it, any day. However it will never be my first choice, probably not even my second or third. But be sure to look at all the information that I have shared at the beginning here. This could be the PERFECT resort for you and your family. :-)
Is this the right resort for you? Well if it is and you were thinking of traveling to Disney this summer then book TODAY!! Currently Deluxe Villas are some of the only rooms that are part of the only special available right now! Check out the special offer here.
Are you a fan of this resort? I would love to get another opinion, as I am sure others here would as well! Please email me at info@beourguestvacations.net with your review of the Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa and I will post it here!
Ok I am going to start doing this a little different. More like a fact sheet with a brief review from me. :-) Kinda like how I am doing the favorite rides. I was just a bit overwhelmed with the reviews I was doing and I know that I cannot go as in depth with them all. I was able to get all that information on the Pop and Wilderness Lodge because those are the ones that we have stayed at most recently and were so fresh in my mind. I am very open to guest reviews and will be happy to copy and paste some into the postings with credit to you!
Please contact me if this is something you would be interested in doing. :-) I am thinking a small paragraph about what you liked/didn't like. Email me the information to info@beourguestvacations.net. Don't be afraid to say both positive and negative. Resort choices are a very personal thing, so really just because one person LOVES it, someone else may really hate it! Thanks so much!!!
Yup that's right Disney is building another Value Resort! One with over 1000 family suites! It will be based on Animation and I think it all sounds very exciting! Read on...
From Disney:
Scheduled to open in May 2012, Disney's Art of Animation Resort hotel promises to be the ultimate in family fun. This Value Resort is planned to feature over one thousand family suites, specially designed to accommodate up to six guests, as well as standard guestrooms. The Resort hotel will draw its inspiration from four classic Disney Animated films: The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Disney·Pixar's Finding Nemo and Cars.
Booking dates for this family-friendly resort have not been announced yet. Please continue to check back for more information and details.
Back to me:
I cannot wait for this resort to open!! Owen AND Emma will love it here! Here are a few artist renderings of the resort and some more information!
General Information:
There will be 1,120 family suites that will sleep up to six guests and 864 guest rooms that will sleep up to four guests. Dining options will include a pool bar at the main pool, a food court area, and pizza delivery to your room from 4pm to midnight. There will be 3 pools, the main pool will be located in the Finding Nemo courtyard and will include a water play area.
I am VERY excited to try out this resort in 2012! How about you???
Hello everyone! Welcome to another edition of my resort review! Today I am going to talk about the Animal Kindgom Lodge and Villas.
I have only stayed here once and it is a SUPER popular place to stay. I really enjoyed my stay here and I think I will do it again at some point. It has its pluses and minuses. But all in all it is fantastic! Lets start with a great video tour of the resort, as always, provided from by http://www.travelriggers.co.uk/. (AllEarsNet didn't have a video of this fabulous resort yet!)
But they did have a video of the Kidani Village - the all new villa section! Check it out!
AKL Jambo House Lobby - photo courtesy of AllEarsNet.com
The theming is obviously completley different than the Wilderness Lodge Resort that I reviewed previously, but you can see that the entrance and lobby are a similar design. The Animal Kingdom Lodge's lobby is grand and inviting. The African theming and music is exceptional. Off the lobby you will and entrance to an outdoor viewing area of the savanna as well as many halls that you can walk down. (They take you to the guest rooms.) Take a walking tour of the resort and you will see that there are several locations to look out on the savanna and see animals - giraffes, zebras, etc. - roaming freely. This has to be one of the coolest things about this resort and a reason to stay here or at least pay it a visit while you are in Disney!
The main building of the Animal Kingdom Lodge is the Jambo House. This is the original portion of the resort, built back in 2001. A few years ago Disney decided to add villas to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The first converted several of the regular guest rooms over in Jambo House. While this was being done, construction was also taking place on a whole new section of the resort - the Kidani Village. These are all strictly Villas - studios, one and two bedrooms. It is about a 10 minute walk in between the two buildings - important to know since the Kidani building does NOT have a quick service restaurant.
Jambo House Main Pool - photo courtesy AllEarsNet.com
The two main pools at the Animal Kingdom Lodge are incredible!! The Jambo House Pool features a zero entry - great for the little ones to sit in play in an inch of water! There is also a water slide featured with this pool. Around you, you will also find viewing areas of the Savanna. My daughter and I were swimming here one day and walked over to our chairs and looked out and there were two giraffes eatting from a tree! It was so cool!!
Kidani Village Pool - photo courtesy AllEarsNet.com
Over at the Kidani Village you will find a pool area that is out of this world!! The kids will love it! I know mine did! The one minus, if there is one, about this pool area is it's location. To get to it you have to walk out the lobby and down past the valet area. It isn't that it is a long walk, it is just the walk itself and that it isn't convienent that I found to be a downer, but the pool area more than makes up for that! This is one of the few pools on resort property that is off limits for pool hopping - which is ONLY allowed to DVC members!
Water Play Area at Kidani Village Pool - Photo Courtesy of AllEarsNet.com
There are different room view options at the Animal Kingdom Lodge - standard view, pool view, and Savanna view. If you are going to spend the money and you have it to spend - do the savanna view! We stayed in a standard view and looked at an oh so lovely parking lot. One night we got to stay in a savanna view and WOW it was AWESOME!! Like the Wilderness Lodge they have an option to have bunk beds in your room, which is nice with kids since it gives you more floor space., plus what kid doesn't LOVE bunk beds!!
If you have ever dreamed of visiting Africa, but aren't sure how to swing it, give the Animal Kingdom Lodge a try! I don't think you will regret it!! For more great information about this resort check out the following links - More Pictures!, Fact Sheet, Kidani Village Fact Sheet
Is this the resort for you? Have you stayed here before? Let us know below your thoughts on the Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Welcome to the resort that is full of Southern Charm! The Port Orleans Riverside is the sister resort to the Port Orleans French Quarter (review later) and has to be my favorite of the moderates! As with the other reviews take a look at this great video from AllEarsNet!
When you walk in you immediately notice the large atrium ceiling. The grandness of the south greats you. From here you can enter into the shop, check in or down a ramp to the dining areas. Port Orleans Riverside is the ONLY moderate with a table service restaurant - Boatrights. Try it out one time for breakfast - the sweet potato pancakes are delish! There is also a bar at Port Orleans Riverside that on some nights offers live entertainment - a piano player, so be sure to take some time to enjoy this as well!!
The buses pick up right outside the lobby doors and there is also a boat ride to Downtown Disney!! Another great extra you can enjoy when staying at either of the Port Orleans resorts! The Riverside is a LARGE resort with several sections, meaning extra bus stops, so be prepared for that.
I have to say one of the biggest pluses of this moderate resort is the option for a family of five to stay here! As many with more than two children can atest too the accomodations for a family of five or more is limited on Disney property. Well for those that are a family of five, here is your solution! You will be able to have a trundle bed in your room! The Alligator Bayou section of Port Orleans Riverside is where they will like to put you first. This section is themed after the less affluent areas of Port Orleans - Cajun Country. The other section is Magnolia Bend, themed after the richer section, also known as the Mansion buildings. Not only are the outer buildings differing in themes but so are the actual rooms! Here are some pictures:
One of the Alligator Bayou Buildings - courtesy of portorleans.org
One of the Magnolia Bend Buildings - courtesy of portorleans.org
One of the Alligator Bayou rooms - courtesy of portorleans.org
One of the Magnolia Bend rooms - courtesy of portorleans.org
Ol' Man Island - courtesy of portorleans.org
Pools and other entertainment - There are several quiet pools (5 to be exact) scattered throughout the resort, but the main pool is behind the main building and centrally located. It has a waterslide - an upgrade you get when staying at a moderate over the value resorts. There is also a marina where you can rent boats and bikes! Great information can be found here! Not only that but there are pirate cruises you can take, horse drawn carriage rides, fishing, playgrounds, an arcade and more!!! Here is some great detailed information.
So there you have it - Port Orleans Riverside in a nutshell. I haven't stayed here in awhile, so I had to do my research on it! I really do love it there and hope to stay there again soon!
There is a great site I found when looking for pictures and information about the two Port Orleans resorts. Check out The Unofficial Visitor's Guide to the Riverside and French Quarter. The pictures of the buildings and pools are from this site. It also has a great FAQ and way more information then I would ever have about these resorts. They put great effort into their site and it is terrific if you are deciding to stay at either the Riverside or French Quarter, so be sure to take a look!
The Wilderness Lodge Resort - this will cover both the villas and the standard I guess you would say part of the resort.
First here is a video, courtesy of http://www.allearsnet.com/. This is really well done and really gives you a feel for the resort. (double click to make it bigger and it will redirect you to youtube.)
When you pull into the resort you will be in awe of the larger than life Lincoln Log Hotel, or as my daughter likes to call it "the green roof hotel." You will be surrounded by wilderness and pull up under a great big green roof, where you will be greeted by wonderful Disney cast members. If you have chosen to take Disney's Magical Express from the airport, you will pull up and be helped with your luggage (if you got it yourself) and then you will get to enter one of the most beautiful lobbies on Disney property!
Lobby of the Wilderness Lodge
The lobby at Disney's Wilderness Lodge is impressive to say the least and this is reason number 1 that it is one of my favorite places to stay. You enter and just look up at the massiveness of it. It goes up 7+ stories and makes you feel like you have just entered the coziest and nicest log cabin home ever. And it will be your home, for the duration of your stay. Off to the side there is a nice area for the kids to sit in rocking chairs and watch some Disney classics while you check in. There are comfortable chairs everywhere to take a rest or read a book by the fireplace. There is a small bridge and a little stream that runs out to the pool area. My kids favorite spot! (Tip: take a dollar up to the check in counter and ask for two rolls of pennies! My two love throwing coins into the stream and this will save you a lot of aggravation!) Also in the lobby area is one of the two restaurants that the hotel has - The Whispering Canyon Cafe. You can also find the hotel store here as well, where you can get anything from souvenirs to some food and drinks for your room!
Ahhhhhh your room.....take the elevator on up to your room and be ready to relax and enjoy. If you got a standard room, meaning you didn't pay any extra to upgrade you will probably have a view of a parking lot or some other not so great view. But who really cares! You have a balcony and I have been in a standard room that while it looked out and the cast member parking it also had a perfect view of the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom every night!! Bonus!! You may have chosen to upgrade to woods view or even courtyard view. I have stayed in both. And both are nice. The woods view gives you a view of....yup the woods! And the courtyard view looks out at the pool area or Bay Lake. In the woods view and courtyard view rooms you can also upgrade to have a set of bunk beds instead of two queen size beds. I have not done this yet, but I do plan too at some point!
Regardless of the view you get a balcony with your room. Out here you will find two chairs and a small table. I find this a great spot to sit and unwind after a long day while the kids go to sleep in the room. Most rooms have two queen size beds, which is an upgrade from moderates and values that have full size beds. Some rooms do have one king size bed, which they will not put you in if you have children, don't worry! And then of course there is the upgrade that I mentioned with the set of twin bunk beds in lieu of the one queen bed.
Your bathroom is separated - you have the two sinks outside the actual bathroom where the toilet and tub/shower are. This is nice and helpful when getting ready in the morning! Your room will also have a small cube refrigerator, a closet with a safe in it, a pack in play is usually provided as well and you will have a flat screen TV. Some rooms even have DVD players in them. There is a small table and two chairs and this is where you can also plug into the Internet with a good old Ethernet cable - yes I know...where is the wireless??? Beware - the Internet comes with a NIGHTLY fee of $10/night! So there you have it your room....nice huh?
Villas at the Wilderness Lodge
But wait there is more - at the Wilderness Lodge you can also stay over in the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge. Here you will find Disney's Home Away from Home rooms. These are Disney Vacation Club rooms, but can also be made available through Disney when booking a room. Here you can have a studio, a one bedroom or a two bedroom villa. I have stayed in all of them and they are very nice. It is a bit darker at this end of the resort because it is set more into the woods. You do not have view choices, so you get what you get and it is a bit of a walk to the boat that takes you to the Magic Kingdom and to the counter service restaurant.
In the studio you will have a queen size bed and a sleeper sofa. These rooms are slightly larger than the standard rooms in the main building. You will also have a small kitchenette. No stove or anything, but you have sink. microwave, a "college" size fridge, larger coffee maker, some dishes and silverware, etc. It is a nice little area. Your closet is smaller and you get one sink at your vanity, but the bathroom area is still separate.
In the one and two bedroom you definitely get a BIG upgrade. The two bedroom is simply the one bedroom with a studio attached to it, although sometimes it is a dedicated two bedroom meaning that you will have basically a standard hotel room and not a studio attached. So what do the one and two bedrooms have that's so great? Well a full kitchen for one thing! Think stove, large fridge, counters, the whole deal. Now I don't like to cook on vacation, but this is a definite plus! Comes in handy, just for space if nothing more. You also get a large bedroom that has a king sized bed, tv, and enters into the LARGE bathroom with a jacuizzi tub with a sink. The closet is here as well. This connects to antoher part of the bathroom with a shower stall, another sink and then yet another door that leads to the toilet room! Then you get a family room, with a sleeper sofa, table and chairs, tv and the entrance to the balcony. Off of the main room is also a stackable washer and dryer - a definite plus!!
Those are the rooms you can stay in if you pick the Wilderness Lodge. I have stayed in every level of room there and I have to say I haven't had a bad night sleep!
The Pool @ Disney's Wilderness Lodge
The pool area is also to die for. There is a pool bar here and you can walk back into the hotel to the Roaring Forks - the resort's quick service restauant. There are a couple of hot tubs, a kiddie pool and a water slide. You can look out at Bay Lake while you relax on a pool side chair. Be sure to watch for Old Faithful - the geyser that goes off periodically thoughout the day. Another fun tidbit if you chose to stay at the Wilderness Lodge - ask at check in if you can be the Flag Family. It is a first come first serve extra that you can do and can only be booked when you arrive. If you are able to do it, be sure to. It is a site to see. You will have to get up early and meet a Cast Member in the lobby. Then you will be guided up to the roof, where you get to raise the flags on the top of the resort and see views that you can't get anywhere else!
I also love that the Wilderness Lodge has a boat that takes you to the Magic Kingdom. This is a major plus in my mind if you have little ones! If you get lucky and get the big boat, you don't have to fold up your stoller - hugely helpful if you have a sleeping child!!
All in all I love the Wilderness Lodge. When I walk in there I feel like I am at home. It is my all time favorite and while it is not as affordable as a value, I think it is a must do for at least a couple nights at least once!!
