From the Disney Parks Blog and written by: Libby Champion
While I love all our Disney Resort hotels, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World holds a special place in my heart.
There’s nothing quite like that special feeling when you enter the lobby and see the grandness of the turn-of-the-century, American Northwest architecture. If you’re an outdoorsy person who also enjoys a little bit of elegance, like me, it’s the perfect place to escape and rest your head after a day in the parks!
Did you know this resort recently celebrated its 30th anniversary? On May 28, 1994, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge opened its doors, and over the years, thousands of guests have chosen this resort for its grandeur, beauty and spectacular detail.
To celebrate the lodge’s milestone anniversary, we’re bringing you a few of the incredible hidden details you may – or may not – have noticed!
Wood You Believe It?
As Disney’s Wilderness Lodge was constructed, 85 truckloads of lodgepole pine logs were delivered to bring the resort to life.
For sustainability purposes, this wood was taken from standing dead forests in Oregon and Montana. If placed end-to-end, the wood would stretch nearly 40 miles!
The Layered Look
If you’ve ever had the chance to see the Grand Canyon, you’ve probably noticed the varying colors of rock that make up the 1.6 billion years of the canyon’s strata.
Next time you’re at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, take a look at the towering, 82-foot fireplace in the lobby and you might find something similar! This fireplace stands as a tribute to the Grand Canyon, with more than 100 colors and fossilized remains of prehistoric plant and animal life.
Walt’s Fair Weather Route
Just off the lobby of Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge – part of Disney Vacation Club – is the Carolwood Pacific Room. A space to unwind, play a game of checkers or relax in a rocking chair, this space is a dedication to Walt’s love of trains and the great American railway system.
Along the back wall of the room, you may spy a unique piece of Disney history. In the 1950s, Walt Disney built a scaled down railroad on the Walt Disney Studio lot and then transferred it to the backyard of his Los Angeles home. Named the Carolwood Pacific, Walt would entertain friends and family with rides on the railroad.
On loan from the Walt Disney Family Museum are two original pieces of that train, along with a piece of authentic track.
Carve Out the Details
As you’re taking in the gorgeous lobby of the resort, be sure to keep your eye out for the hand carved figures of Pacific Northwest wildlife. There are 16 figures carved from lodgepole pine, and each is placed according to its “life zone.”
“Mouse”-ter of Disguise
It wouldn’t be a Disney resort without a few Hidden Mickeys to search for, and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge has lots to discover! My favorite one just might be the stone Mickey hiding in the main fireplace in the lobby.
Can you solve this riddle to find the one pictured above on your next visit to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge?
When exploring is your aim
You’ll find Mickey has staked his claim
You only need to find the pot
When you’ve done that, you’ve found the spot
These are just a few of the many details and hidden gems you can find at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. But just like the greatest expeditions through the untamed wilderness, there’s always more to discover and see! Every visit to the lodge is a chance to uncover something new.
Ready to saddle up and start your own Disney World adventure? You can learn more about Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and book your own Disney vacation, at DisneyWorld.com.
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