Roaring Fork at Disney's Wilderness Lodge Now Open!

The rustic Roaring Fork at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is open again, one of those spots favored by vacationers looking for a creative, quick bite that’s above the average. Located in the main building with patio seating near Copper Creek Springs pool area, it’s a convenient stop for breakfast, lunch or dinner, with spacious seating inside – or you can get your food to go and head outdoors as the weather cools.

Breakfast is served 6-11 a.m., and while there’s plenty of grab n’ go options such as fresh fruit, pastries and sandwiches, the new Banana Foster’s French Toast and 10-hour Pulled Pork Cheese Grits with a poached egg are worthy of a leisurely start to the day. The popular Breakfast Flatbread returns, this one with sausage gravy, ham, eggs and Cheddar.

For the first time, Roaring Fork is offering specialty beverages like the Gold Rush Latte (vanilla latte with caramel) previously featured in Territory Lounge, and now on the daily breakfast menu.

Lunch and dinner is served from 11 a.m.-midnight, and the big winner on the new menu is Chef Michael Bersell’s Brisket Burger with cheddar, cranberry barbecue sauce, cast-iron onions and frisée served on a sweet brioche bun. Or try the Grilled Chicken on Focaccia with roasted peppers and fresh mozzarella. A Gourmet Grilled Cheese features cheddar, arugula, tomato and onion jam on multi-grain bread. Flatbreads are back with two new options: Fennel Sausage and Pepperoni with caramelized onion and goat cheese, or an Asiago Grilled Chicken topped with peppers and onions.  Fans of the popular Wilderness Salad with chicken, walnuts, apples and cheddar will still find both in the grab ‘n go area – or they can be made to order.  Roaring Fork is open daily.

To book your Walt Disney World Resort vacation, email me - lauren@magicaltravel.com. Or use this fast and easy form to request a free quote!

I'm a Disney Vacation Planner with hundreds of satisfied clients and I want to help you plan a magical vacation for your family at no extra charge! You won't pay one penny more to book with me but you'll get personalized help, tips, advice and much more (which you're not going to get if you booked on your own).  

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Copper Creek Villas & Cabins Opening in July

As we’ve previously shared, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World® Resort is currently undergoing enhancements.  

These enhancements include Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, the latest Disney Vacation Club property. Offering the widest range of accommodations found at Walt Disney World Resort, Copper Creek Villas & Cabins features 220 modern, nature-inspired vacation homes, including one-and two-bedroom Villas and three-bedroom Grand Villas, which sleep up to 12.

Copper Creek Villas & Cabins also includes 26 all-new private, luxurious waterfront Cabins, which sleep up to eight Guests.

Beginning March 21, 2017, you can book Copper Creek Villas & Cabins for your vacation when they are not in use by Disney Vacation Club Members. Please note there may be limited availability for the cabins.

In addition to Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, the recently opened Geyser Point Bar & Grill offers picturesque views of Bay Lake, as well as explorer-worthy feasts and trails-end spirits in an open-air lounge. Roaring Fork, the resort’s original quick-service restaurant, will reopen later this year with a refreshed look and expanded outdoor seating.

Later this summer, enjoy the laid-back relaxation of the new Boulder Ridge Cove Pool, part of Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge. This modern-day swimmin’ hole features a zero-depth entry.

Those in search of extra pampering will want to stop by the all-new Salon by the Springs (formerly Trout Pass Pool Bar) for pool-side manicures, pedicures and hair services scheduled to open this summer. A brand-new sports court, BBQ pavilions and a refurbished fire pit and movie area also join the lineup of resort amenities slated to open in the summer.

The resort, which is the latest Disney Vacation Club property, has a scheduled opening date July 17. 

To book your Walt Disney World vacation, email me at lauren@magicaltravel.com. As a Disney Vacation Planner, my FREE services will help you find a Disney World resort and room that fits your family's needs and wants! I'll help you plan Advance Dining Reservation and FastPass+ reservations (essential to making the most out of your vacation) more! Plus all of my Walt Disney World clients that book a Package with me gets a FREE Disney Gift Card to use on souvenirs or extra snacks while on vacation! Email me today to start planning your vacation today!

Geyser Point Bar & Grill at Wilderness Lodge Now Open

At Disney’s Wilderness Lodge there is a new restaurant - the Geyser Point Bar & Grill. Grab a bite and enjoy the resort’s rustic beauty. Located along the water’s edge, Geyser Point is designed with cedar beams and natural stone to fit into the design that’s reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest.

At the bar, artisanal sips add an authentic touch to beverage menus, including drinks which feature Pacific Northwest brewers and distilleries, and wines focusing on heritage varietals grown in Oregon and Washington. Small plates include crispy fried oysters with miso tartar sauce; edamame with chili salt; cheesy barbecue brisket with house-made chips; “Shrimp on a Wire” with miso-lime vinaigrette, togarashi (Japanese spice mixture), shishito peppers and chili-aioli; salmon rillettes with sourdough crisps, and handcrafted charcuterie.

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, a quick-service walk-up window next to the bar makes it easy to order and dine alfresco.

Breakfast includes scrambled eggs with sausage and bacon, crab cakes Benedict, maple-cinnamon pancakes and more. For a lighter bite, seasonal fruit is served with lavender honey-yogurt, and steel-cut oatmeal is topped with dried fruit and nuts. For kids, scrambled eggs, buttermilk pancakes and granola with apples, strawberries and honey-yogurt dip is on the menu.

The quick-service lunch and dinner menu, available at the walk-up window includes:

• Bison burger with Tillamook Cheddar, sweet onion straws and marionberry barbecue sauce
• Classic bacon burger with Tillamook Cheddar
• House-smoked turkey sandwich with cranberry mayonnaise
• Lump crab cake sandwich with house-made Canadian bacon and spicy cabbage-carrot slaw
• Grilled salmon BLT with lemon-caper mayonnaise
• Salad with grilled Portobello, zucchini, roasted red peppers, tomato and multi-grain salad with goat cheese dressing
• Grilled chicken or salmon with arugula and romaine, apples, seasonal berries, hazelnuts and red wine vinaigrette
• Seasonal fruit plate with lavender honey yogurt
• For dessert there’s seasonal pie and a chocolate brownie mousse with caramel popcorn and toasted meringue

Kids’ all-day menu:

• Grilled chicken strips with dipping sauces, apple or veggie sticks
• Finger Food Sampler with sliced smoked turkey, Tillamook Cheddar, spiced apple jam, grape tomatoes and sourdough crisps.

To book your Walt Disney World Resort vacation, email me - lauren@magicaltravel.com - a Disney Vacation Planner. 

As a Disney Vacation Planner, I'll help you plan the most magical vacation - all for free! You won't pay one penny more by booking with me but you'll get more help and advice than you would if you booked on your own.  

Just a few of the few things I'll do for FREE: help to find you the perfect Walt Disney World Resort; I'll make your Advance Dining Reservations and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Reservations; make your FastPass+ selections; and free tips and tricks!  

Plus my clients that book a vacation package get a free Disney Gift card and more! With all of these things from me, and all of the great things happening at Walt Disney World in 2017 - you're bound to have a magical vacation!

Disney's Wilderness Lodge - A Disney Resort Review

If I had to describe Disney's Wilderness Lodge, at Walt Disney World, in one word it would be impressive.  This Deluxe Resort is a favorite for many guests for many reasons, a big one is its proximity to the Magic Kingdom - only a boat ride away.  Guests also like it because it feels like you've been transported somewhere else as soon as you drive onto the resort's grounds.  As soon as you turn onto Timberline Drive off of World Drive the scenery around you almost instantly changes and you feel like you're no longer in Florida.  The palm trees turn in stately, lush green trees - similar to those you'd find much further north.  You've turned onto a street located in the middle of the woods in the Northwest.  Just where the 'backstory' of Disney's Wilderness Lodge wants you to be.

No longer spotting palm trees, I see buffalo!

When you pull up to this Deluxe Disney Resort, you really get a feel as to how majestic this resort really is.  From the metal green roof, to the grey stone fronting to the American flags blowing in the wind to the humongous logs making up the portico's roofing the portico as you pull up you know you've been transported somewhere magical.

Welcome to Disney's Wilderness Lodge

The portico on the Wilderness Lodge is, in my opinion, one of the largest on property - it is impressive and grand (a reoccurring theme I find at this resort).

Plenty of space here

As you step into the lobby resort, you will walk thru the larger-than-life wooden doors! If you're tall like I am you'll have absolutely no worries about bonking your head on the door frame here!

Taller than tall doors

This may be one of my favorite lobby's on property. It is just so pretty! It is a little dark but I think that just makes it so much more cozier and the lights seems to be a little warmer.  As you stand there taking it in awe, you can't help but look upward.  Upward to the ceiling with all the wood detailing.

A stately lobby for a stately resort. 

The giant light fixtures are fun to look at as are the the totem poles that add a bit of fun and whimsy to the lobby.

One of the lobby's totem poles.

One of them even features our favorite Disney characters!

How cute is Mickey?

The focus in on the star of the lobby - the gigantic fireplace, which is 82-feet tall!

Looking down at the fireplace from outside of our room.

Fireplace is a bit hard to see

Disney's Wilderness Lodge is also a home resort for Disney's Vacation Club meaning there are Villas on property.  Our room at the Wilderness Lodge was a standard room.  It was in the main lobby area, meaning whenever we stepped out of our room the gorgeous lobby greeted us - in fact we were eye level with those amazing light fixtures! The details are amazing.

The Wilderness Lodge lobby light fixture details.

My standard room was furnished with two queen beds.  The bedding, aside from the decorative runner at the foot of the bed, is the super-soft linens you will find at all of the Deluxe Resorts.  There is also a nightstand in between the two beds - remember Disney no longer provides alarm clocks so you'll need to bring a clock if you like having one in the room!

One of the two beds in our room at the Wilderness Lodge.

There was a small table with two chairs with impressive wood detailing.  It looks like the table was made out of scrap pieces of wood.  And I love the detailing over the mirror!

Table for 2 is now ready - in your room.

We had a patio on our room but it overlooked a rooftop and had no furniture to sit on, so we kept the curtains closed and I forgot to take a picture of it!.

The bathroom, like most Disney Resort bathrooms, is comprised of two spaces. Your sink area, this one has a double vanity with lots of storage between the shelving underneath the vanity and the small shelf that sits right under the mirror.  The tile, in the shower area, featured the cute Disney duo, Chip and Dale.

Double vanity with plenty of storage in the bathrooms.

One of my favorite things to do at this resort is to just walk around it! Seeing all of the amazing details and things to do.  There are giant boulders with water features.  I love sitting down in the rocking chairs in front of the fireplace on our way home for the night and just taking in the resort.

This resort is home to some amazing restaurants. The Whispering Canyon Cafe is located in the lobby and is anything but quiet!  On our stay, we stopped at the Territory Lounge and had some drinks and snacks (be on the look out for that snack review soon!).

Territory Lounge drink.

Like all Disney Resorts, there is, along with Disney's Magical Express to take you to and from the airport, free transportation to all 4 theme parks, the two water parks and Disney Springs.  Disney's Wilderness Lodge has two options for their free transportation - you can take a bus or take a boat!

Boats will take you to the Magic Kingdom and the other Magic Kingdom resorts!

With all of that being said... Disney's Wilderness Lodge is going under and extensive remodel! So I'll just have to go back and let you know what is new! Until then, what is your favorite Walt Disney World Disney Resort?

If you're interested in staying at Disney's Wilderness Lodge on your Walt Disney World vacation, email me - lauren@magicaltravel.com - for a vacation quote!