We are going to Disney in April. I am taking my granddaughter and grandson This trip we decided to stay at Wilderness Lodge.I am concerned my grandaughter will not enjoy this as she is 17 ,it seems more in tune for my grandson . Should I try to book another resort so both will enjoy the trip? Also any tips on resturants should we decide to stay here?

:DWe are going to Disney in April. I am taking my granddaughter and grandson This trip we decided to stay at Wilderness Lodge.I am concerned my grandaughter will not enjoy this as she is 17 ,it seems more in tune for my grandson . Should I try to book another resort so both will enjoy the trip? Also any tips on resturants should we decide to stay here?

Hi Sherry,
I don't know your granddaughter, but IMO, at 17, I wouldn't worry about her not enjoying the theme. I think she'll appreciate the beauty of the resort, and its location. I mean, it's just breathtaking! There's a spa right there, so she can go get a manicure, if she likes. Plus, at this age, she'll appreciate her brother's enjoyment of the resort. They'll both love the trip!

Well, while the WL is a great hotel (and my fave, to be honest) it's hard to say if your granddaughter will like it since you dont mention much more than her age. Also, how old is your grandson? Considering they have a lot to do there, and have a great pool, a lot will depend on what you plan on doing at the resort itself. If you dont have much time scheduled away from the parks, then it may not be all that big of a deal.

If you would like, please elaborate on your plans for your trip (who's all going, and how long are you staying) and maybe we can provide some additional feedback.

As for restaurants, you might want to post the question over at the WDW: Good Eats (http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/forumdisplay.php?f=68) forum and include any specifics that might help us help you.
But I will say that the WL has some good choices for family dining, both with Whispering Canyon Cafe for a table service, and Roaring Forks for a counter service.

I've never thought of the WL as being in any way stodgy, or unappealing to a teen, any more than any other hotel, with the exception of the Grand Floridian. I say go for it, and if she gives you any lip send her home on a slow bus!

We will be staying 8 days this is our 3rd trip 1st was at Boardwalk ,last year Animal Kingdom. But my granddaughter has never been she thought it was to young for her HA HA little does she know.She will love it

Wilderness Lodge is my favorite of the WDW resorts (in fact, I'm posting this message from a room there now...), so I certainly would tend to be pretty fast to recommend it. It is a bit hard to really address your specific concerns, though, unless you elaborate a bit more on why you think your granddaughter might not like the resort. If a teen were to have a problem with the resort, my first guess would be that it might be due to it having a somewhat more serene, tranquil atmosphere than you would find, say, at the Boardwalk or at the somewhere like the All Stars.

Generally, the recreational activities at Wilderness Lodge tend to be more focused on outdoorsy stuff such as hiking, biking, swimming, etc. There are also two table service restaurants there, Artist's Point, which tends to be a pretty sophisticated, adult-oriented place and Whispering Canyon which is a pretty raucous, western-themed BBQ place. Depending on the teen's personality, I could see her enjoying either or both of those quite a bit, but you would probably know her preferences.

One thing to consider, though, is that the resort choice ultimately may not matter that overwhelmingly much from the perspective you are describing. This is especially true for a first-time visitor. There is a pretty good chance that the vast majority of time you will all be at the parks or at places like Downtown Disney. If there isn't too much that appeals to your granddaughter at the resort where you stay, it really isn't that difficult to find transportation to one of the parks, Downtown Disney, or somewhere else that might have more things for her to do.

-Jeff

JeffG, can I ask a different question, since you are right there?
what are the beds like? We are booked there for ten days Jan/Feb and the only thing I am at all concerned about are the beds; I can't sleep on hard beds, I end up in pain. Are the beds pillowtop? Can you feel the springs through the padding etc? thanks! emma

The beds seem comfortable to us, but my wife and I both prefer a fairly firm mattress. They definitely are not pillowtop. I can't say that I've been able to feel the springs through the mattress at all. I should note that we have only been here for one night, though, so my experience with it so far is limited.

I should also mention that we are staying in the DVC villas. I don't know if the mattresses used in the regular rooms are similar or not.

-Jeff

Our favorite resort is the Wilderness Lodge. We have our Time share there. In fact, we will be there the second week of January. Our whole family is going from 67 years old down to a 9 month old. There is something for everyone at the Wilderness lodge. Whispering Canyon is good and so is Artist Point, although we prefer the Canyon. You can also hop on the boat or bus and eat somewhere else. Try O'hana at the Polynesian Hotel. Make reservations now. Have a great time.

NJT