PRICE:
Frommer's Exceptional

The geyser out back, the mammoth stone hearth in the lobby, and bunk beds for the kids are just a few reasons this resort is a favorite of families, though couples will find the surroundings to their liking as well. In keeping with the spirit of the Great American Northwest, the lodge has the feel of a rustic national park lodge, as it is patterned after one in Yellowstone National Park. Surrounded by 56 acres of oaks and pines, it offers a woodsy and remote setting. That geyser mentioned above \"spouts off\" periodically throughout the day just to add to the authenticity, and the nightly electric water pageants can be viewed from the shores of Bay Lake. The lodge also has an immense swimming area, fed by a thundering waterfall whose water flows in from the \"hot springs\" in the lobby. The nearest park is the Magic Kingdom, but because the resort is in a remote area, it can take some time to get there. The main drawback is the difficulty in accessing other areas via the WDW Transportation System. Note: The lodge offers a free tour touting its architecture, Wednesday through Saturday at 9am (kids will likely be bored), and each day a select family gets to traipse up to the roof to raise the resort's flag (if you're interested, ask at the front desk upon check-in).

The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge is another Disney Vacation Club timeshare property that rents vacant rooms. It offers a more upscale mountain retreat experience, and more room than accommodations at the Wilderness Lodge, though the properties share a grand lobby, amenities, and activities. The 181 one- and two-bedroom villas have 727 and 1,080 square feet, respectively.

Facilities:3 restaurants; 2 lounges; heated outdoor pool; kids' pool; 2 Jacuzzis; watersports equipment; children's club; children's and family activities; arcade; WDW Transportation System; transportation to non-Disney parks for a fee; limited room service; babysitting; guest laundry; laundry service; concierge-level rooms.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Walt Disney World & Orlando 2008, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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