The Magic of Wilderness Lodge: Copper Creek Villas & Boulder Ridge Villas

I could barely believe my eyes when I was introduced to Wilderness Lodge! The Copper Creek Villas and Boulder Ridge Villas are a treasure cove! Well, it’s a treasure for those of us who enjoy nature and all the wonderful recreational activities that come with nature – you can rent a sailboat (or motorboat), go biking, hiking and even fishing while you stay here! Not only that, but it has a great story behind how they refurbished it in 2017, which also means they are the newest DVC Resorts until Riviera opens in December 2019!

Truly though, Copper Creek and Boulder Ridge should be a mecca for the nature lover – especially if you married a Disney lover like I did! This is the place where our two hearts collide! He gets to be super close to the Magic Kingdom and stay at a deluxe Disney resort, and I get to imagine I’m actually on a trip to Montana, enjoying the gorgeous outdoors!

Just in case nature isn’t enough, my heart skipped a beat when I boarded the water taxi to get to the Magic Kingdom!!! WHY DID YA’LL KEEP THIS PLACE A SECRET?!!! Seriously. A water taxi?! For those of you who think I may be overreacting. Ok – maybe slightly…but I’m sure I’m not the only one who pretends I’m Pocahontas, gliding through the water right to the shores of the Magic Kingdom!! Not only that, but my husband always sings “Just Around the Riverbend” every time we are in a boat or kayak or any water related transportation…so of course I’m taking a water taxi if it’s offered!! In other news, the water taxi was a short 10 minute ride to the Magic Kingdom.

Copper Creek’s Theme

Disney does a lot of things well, and one of the best things they do is theme their different resorts…and when I say theme…they go all out! Disney describes Wilderness Lodge’s theme as Pacific Northwest – so think Oregon, Washington or Montana…all the waterfalls, geysers, trees and mountains! Drop in some wild animals and train decor (because Walt loved trains!)…and this place truly feels like you are at a lodge in the Pacific Northwest! Well done Disney!

I’ll be honest, the mountains are more like boulders here…but let’s be real- you can’t really build a mountain in Orlando, Florida. However…Disney did build a geyser! Yep – it’s called Fire Rock Geyser, it erupts every hour, and it goes 120 ft up in the air – much like “Old Faithful” in Yellowstone! It’s on a path right behind the pool, and it overlooks Bay Lake. I wasn’t lucky enough to get a picture of it erupting, but here it is at rest 🙂  

Luxury meets wilderness at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins and Boulder Ridge! You aren’t camping like you would at Fort Wilderness, but you still get to enjoy a campfire while staying in spacious rooms with all the amenities. They have BBQ Pavilions where you can grill up some hot dogs or hamburgers and even make a few s’mores!  

A Little More Pixie Dust at Copper Creek Villas & Boulder Ridge

Wilderness Lodge boasts several great eating opportunities: Geyser Point Bar, Territory Lounge, Whispering Canyon Cafe, and Artist Point. Geyser Point Bar has your typical bar food with great adult beverage options, appetizers, and burgers. Territory Lounge is a sweet stop for appetizers and drinks – their small plates make for excellent mid-day snacks or even a light lunch if that’s what you desire. Whispering Canyon Cafe offers a buffet and also a menu to pick individual fare for breakfast, lunch, or dinner…and don’t forget to ask for the ketchup while you are eating here!

Artist Point has a great Storybook dining (dinner only) where you will get to meet Snow White, the Evil Queen, Dopey, and Grumpy! A Hunter’s Pie made with chicken, black truffle, and stone fruit preserve is served, followed by a winter squash bisque presented in a cauldron!! Possibly the best part of the night, dessert…comes in four treats. The first tray of desserts has a Blueberry Crumble Cupcake, a Gooseberry Pie, and a Poison Apple (which is a mousse with edible pearls).

The last dessert that appears in a fog, consists of chocolate hearts and caramel toffee popcorn on dry ice! What a delight!!

Copper Creek Cabins or Polynesian Bungalows?

Both the Copper Creek Cabins and the Polynesian  Bungalows sit on a body of water – the cabins sit on Bay Lake, and the bungalows sit on the Seven Seas Lagoon. Now, the Polynesian Bungalows have prime seating to view the fireworks show from Magic Kingdom, and I highly recommend the bungalows if you want to take advantage of this…however, if you want to watch Happily Ever After in the Magic Kingdom, and you like to stay on water…then Copper Creek Cabins is going to be your best choice financially.

(Polynesian Bungalows)

Let’s break it down – the bungalows at the Polynesian are on average 143 points per night and the cabins from Copper Creek are on average 117 points per night. This means, you save, on average, 26 points per night for choosing to stay at the Copper Creek Cabins instead of the Polynesian Bungalows.

After staying at Boulder Ridge, this is what Lauren had to say,

“Being able to stay at the Wilderness Lodge – Boulder Ridge was a dream come true for my family. We would not have been able to afford it without DVC Rental Store. From the moment I walked into the lobby, I never wanted to leave. Jennifer was the best! She helped me every step of the way. We can’t wait to plan our next trip.”

If you love nature and you love Disney, I highly suggest you try Copper Creek Villas and Cabins or Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge! If you’ve already stayed at one of these resorts, I would love to hear what you think! What are the pros and cons to staying here? If you want to book at Boulder Ridge Villas or Copper Creek Villas for your next Disney vacation, fill out our availability request form! We hope you have a Magical Day!