Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge assessment

There’s a lot to like a few 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 provides sizzling tubs, a waterslide and a splash playground; and you’re solely a fast boat trip away from the Magic Kingdom.

The one factor you might not love at first look is the hefty price ticket, however there’s a not-so-secret solution 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, after all, Disney’s theme parks. Here is every thing it’s essential know in regards to the resort and find out how to ebook your keep at a fraction of the fee.

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

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 friends (like myself) pays money or hire DVC factors to cowl the price of their keep.

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

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

The way to ebook a keep at Disney’s Boulder Ridge Villas

Usually, I might inform you it is best to ebook a Disney World resort immediately by means of Disney. You are able to do this by means of Disney’s web site, over the cellphone or utilizing a certified Disney trip planner.

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

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However you possibly can normally save extra money 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 a substitute of paying money for a DVC room by means of Disney can drastically scale 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 provide you an concept of the financial savings.

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

The placement is simply minutes from the Magic Kingdom

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

Due to its proximity to the Magic Kingdom, friends staying right here even have nice views of the nightly “Electrical Water Pageant” from the waterfront space exterior 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 dwelling

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 out there). It options separate bedrooms, a full kitchen, in-room laundry and a balcony or patio. The wilderness theme was lovable, with an excellent 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 friends. 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 area and that the dwelling and eating areas had been completely separate from the sleeping areas. We additionally had two bogs: one off the youngsters room with a bathe, a conceit and a bathroom and one other off the first bed room with a bathe, a bathtub, a conceit and a bathroom.

We had 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 totally 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 youngsters delight.

Eating choices, from quick-service to character meals

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge has quite a lot of eating choices, whether or not you desire a character eating expertise or have to 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 youngsters earlier than we headed to the parks. It labored out completely that that they had 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 hen sandwich ($20) and beloved 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 may order particular person menu gadgets, however the venue is greatest identified for its family-style skillets. As a result of we had been sharing with the (considerably choosy) youngsters, we went with The Heritage ($26 per individual), which included conventional American breakfast staples and Mickey-shaped waffles. As a result of the skillets are served household model, the eatery will deliver extra if you happen to run out of something.

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

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 likely one of the hottest — and distinctive — character eating experiences. Fairly than cheerful characters clamoring for hugs, youngsters can meet the Evil Queen and even pose for a photograph along 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

Other than the lodging, the perfect 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 had been there taking images. I do not need to break the shock, however there have been some fairly uncommon characters in attendance, and it was such an thrilling solution to begin our keep.

Wilderness Lodge has two swimming pools. I appreciated that they had been pretty shut collectively, so we may travel primarily based on what the youngsters 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 is likely to 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 out there on a first-come, first-served foundation. Each swimming pools are massive and by no means felt crowded throughout our keep, so which one you select actually is dependent upon whether or not you need chill vibes or extra energetic ones.

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

Once we checked in on a very wet day, we had been additionally given a listing 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 solution 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 may not be for you

There are only some situations the place I might not suggest this resort:

• The worth: If you’re trying to spend not more than $200 an evening in your room, you will not discover that right here. You’d have higher luck at a Worth resort, one of many Disney Springs lodges or a factors resort close to Disney World.
• The theming: I typically advise folks to decide on their Disney keep primarily based on their most popular theme. In the event you love the nice open air, this resort is true up your alley. Nevertheless, if you happen to desire a whimsical, upscale theme, you may need to go for Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. For one thing beachy, Disney’s Caribbean Seaside Resort will doubtless be your greatest guess.
• The size of your keep: In the event you will not be at Disney lengthy sufficient to take pleasure in this resort’s facilities or do not plan on spending a lot time in your room, I might counsel ready to remain right here till you possibly can totally benefit from the choices.

Accessibility

All Disney resort lodges supply wheelchair- and hearing-accessible rooms. Public areas like swimming pools, eating places, present retailers, 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 resort immediately earlier than reserving to make sure it may well meet your accessibility wants.

Testing

Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort expertly marries the nice open air with the extent of service and lodging friends count on from a Disney Deluxe resort. I completely loved my keep due to its serene setting, proximity to the Magic Kingdom and implausible facilities, however I appreciated which you can save a lot cash in your keep by renting DVC factors much more.

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