Airlines

Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge assessment

There’s a lot to like a couple of Disney Deluxe resort like Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. The rooms are spacious and have a enjoyable outdoorsy theme; the pool space gives sizzling tubs, a waterslide and a splash playground; and you’re solely a fast boat experience away from the Magic Kingdom.

The one factor it’s possible you’ll not love at first look is the hefty price ticket, however there’s a not-so-secret strategy to keep in Disney’s priciest resorts for the price of a Average or Worth property: by renting Disney Trip Membership factors.

That is precisely what I did on my household’s latest Disney World go to. We spent two nights at Boulder Ridge Villas exploring the swimming pools, eating places, actions and, in fact, Disney’s theme parks. This is all the pieces that you must know concerning the resort and the right way to e-book your keep at a fraction of the price.

What’s Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge?

Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY

Boulder Ridge Villas is considered one of two Disney Trip Membership resort choices inside Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (the opposite being Copper Creek Villas & Cabins). Which means that DVC members can use their timeshare factors to remain at Boulder Ridge or common visitors (like myself) will pay money or hire DVC factors to cowl the price of their keep.

Wilderness Lodge as an entire is designed to really feel like an early 1900s nationwide park lodge or, as my youngsters describe it, a lodge made out of large Lincoln Logs. Within the foyer, for instance, you will discover golden brown timbers, handcrafted totem poles, a stone fireplace fire surrounded by rocking chairs and different rustic particulars. Outdoors, the buildings are surrounded by towering pines, rocky outcroppings and greenery-lined paths.

As a Deluxe DVC resort, this lodge has top-of-the-line facilities like full-service and quick-service eating places, a number of swimming pools, an exercise middle with video games and crafts for teenagers, and a health middle.

How you can e-book a keep at Disney’s Boulder Ridge Villas

Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY

Sometimes, I might let you know it is best to e-book a Disney World lodge immediately by way of Disney. You are able to do this by way of Disney’s web site, over the cellphone or utilizing a licensed Disney trip planner.


Reserving hyperlink: Lease DVC factors through TPG’s accomplice, David’s Trip Membership Leases

Day by day E-newsletter

Reward your inbox with the TPG Day by day e-newsletter

Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants


However you possibly can often save more cash when staying at a Disney Trip Membership resort like Boulder Ridge Villas by renting DVC factors. You do not have to be a DVC member to do that, and renting DVC factors as an alternative of paying money for a DVC room by way of Disney can drastically cut back the price of staying at a Disney Deluxe resort. This story walks you thru the steps, however right here is a few pattern pricing to present you an thought of the financial savings.

The money worth of a deluxe studio at Boulder Ridge Villas for Sept. 16 and 17 is $532 plus tax per evening, however you will get the identical room by renting DVC factors by way of David’s Trip Membership Leases for 13 factors per evening. At a price of $23 per level, that comes out to $299 per evening. That is an virtually 44% financial savings for only one evening. Over the course of some nights, the financial savings could be much more vital.

The situation is simply minutes from the Magic Kingdom

Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY

Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is within the Magic Kingdom resort space, and you will get to the park in lower than 10 minutes through a complimentary water taxi (bus service is accessible to all different Disney parks and Disney Springs). There may be additionally boat service to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Disney’s Modern Resort if you wish to take a look at the actions and eating at these properties.

Due to its proximity to the Magic Kingdom, visitors staying right here even have nice views of the nightly “Electrical Water Pageant” from the waterfront space outdoors of Geyser Level Bar & Grill. You might also get a glimpse of the fireworks on the Magic Kingdom from this space or out of your room, relying on its location.

Spacious lodging with all of the comforts of residence

My household stayed in a two-bedroom villa, which is the most important lodging sort Boulder Ridge has (studios and one-bedroom suites are additionally obtainable). It options separate bedrooms, a full kitchen, in-room laundry and a balcony or patio. The wilderness theme was lovely, with a superb mixture of Disney parts and conventional woodland cabin decor.

Though there have been solely 5 of us, our lodging had the capability to sleep as much as eight visitors. There have been two queen beds within the youngsters room, one king mattress within the main bed room and a queen-size pull-down mattress within the dwelling space.

With three youngsters in tow, I actually appreciated having a lot house and that the dwelling and eating areas have been completely separate from the sleeping areas. We additionally had two loos: one off the children room with a bathe, a conceit and a rest room and one other off the first bed room with a bathe, a bath, a conceit and a rest room.

We have been solely on the town for 2 nights, however that is the kind of room the place I may have gotten very comfy staying for a full week. The espresso machine may make a single cup of espresso or a full pot, the kitchen was absolutely stocked with cooking provides and dishware, and there was an in-room washer and dryer with a few small bottles of laundry detergent included.

All Boulder Ridge visitor rooms have balconies. As a result of we had a two-bedroom villa, we truly had two balconies, a lot to the children delight.

Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY

Eating choices, from quick-service to character meals

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge has quite a lot of eating choices, whether or not you need a character eating expertise or must seize one thing fast earlier than hitting the parks. Every morning, I cellular ordered iced Americanos ($3.29) for myself and my husband and to-go Mickey-shaped waffles with sausage ($10.49 for 3 waffles and two sausage hyperlinks) for the children earlier than we headed to the parks. It labored out completely that they’d one thing to snack on and we may get caffeinated whereas we waited for the water taxi to the Magic Kingdom.

Our most frequent cease was Geyser Level Bar & Grill. Its waterfront location close to the pool made it a handy cease for a fast drink, snack or dinner with a view. I attempted the crispy rooster sandwich ($20) and cherished that it elevated conventional theme park fare with a touch of spice and contemporary slaw.

We additionally had brunch on the western-themed Whispering Canyon Cafe within the foyer. You’ll be able to order particular person menu objects, however the venue is finest recognized for its family-style skillets. As a result of we have been sharing with the (considerably choosy) youngsters, we went with The Heritage ($26 per particular person), which included conventional American breakfast staples and Mickey-shaped waffles. As a result of the skillets are served household type, the eatery will carry extra when you run out of something.

I washed my meal down with a mimosa flight ($24), and I cherished the range. My favorites have been the blood orange and the passion-orange-guava mimosas.

Story E book Eating at Artist Level with Snow White. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

We did not have time on this go to, however Story E book Eating at Artist Level can also be situated at Wilderness Lodge and is without doubt one of the hottest — and distinctive — character eating experiences. Somewhat than cheerful characters clamoring for hugs, youngsters can meet the Evil Queen and even pose for a photograph together with her magic mirror (Snow White, Dopey and Grumpy are there, too, in case your youngsters aren’t fairly ready to fulfill her royal evilness).

Swimming pools and actions at Disney’s Boulder Ridge Villas

Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY

Apart from the lodging, the most effective issues about staying at a Disney Deluxe resort are the service and the facilities. Your resort turns into a lot greater than a spot to remain between park visits; it turns into a part of your trip. Once we walked into the foyer to examine in for our keep, Disney characters have been there taking photographs. I do not wish to spoil the shock, however there have been some fairly uncommon characters in attendance, and it was such an thrilling strategy to begin our keep.

Wilderness Lodge has two swimming pools. I appreciated that they have been pretty shut collectively, so we may travel based mostly on what the children wished to do. The Copper Creek Springs Pool is the primary pool the place the actions group hosts each day actions like trivia and pool video games. This pool has a 67-foot waterslide and cold and warm whirlpool spas. Do not mistake that for a cold and warm plunge; it is extra that the chilly whirlpool is at a temperature that’s comfy on a sizzling Florida day when a sizzling tub could be too heat.

The Boulder Ridge Cove Pool has a zero-depth entry space and a big whirlpool. It additionally has six shaded seating areas which might be obtainable on a first-come, first-served foundation. Each swimming pools are giant and by no means felt crowded throughout our keep, so which one you select actually is determined by whether or not you need chill vibes or extra lively ones.

Boulder Ridge Villas additionally gives actions like complimentary excursions that spotlight the lodge’s design and decor, outside yoga, nightly campfires (with free marshmallows!), films beneath the celebs and humanities and crafts at Humphrey’s Hideout close to the Copper Creek Springs Pool. We acquired a printed schedule at check-in detailing that week’s choices.

Once we checked in on a very wet day, we have been additionally given an inventory of “Wet Day Actions,” like an indoor film and a scavenger hunt. This particular contact is what units Disney aside in my thoughts. The property went out of its strategy to make the day really feel magical, even when the climate was something however.

All Disney resort lodges, together with Wilderness Lodge, have on-site arcades, however health facilities are relegated largely to Disney Deluxe resorts (the exception being Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort).

Causes Disney’s Boulder Ridge Villas won’t be for you

There are only some cases the place I might not advocate this lodge:

Accessibility

Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY

All Disney resort lodges provide wheelchair- and hearing-accessible rooms. Public areas like swimming pools, eating places, reward outlets, lobbies, health facilities and laundry amenities are additionally wheelchair-accessible, and swimming pools have accessible lifts.

Water taxis and bus transportation to the parks are additionally accessible.

TPG at all times advises that you simply name the lodge immediately earlier than reserving to make sure it could meet your accessibility wants.

Trying out

Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort expertly marries the nice outside with the extent of service and lodging visitors anticipate from a Disney Deluxe resort. I completely loved my keep due to its serene setting, proximity to the Magic Kingdom and improbable facilities, however I appreciated that you may save a lot cash in your keep by renting DVC factors much more.

Associated studying:


Supply hyperlink

Related Articles

Back to top button