We are headed back to Territory Lounge! FINALLY!
The lounge, located in Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort, is pretty much the definition of awesome when it comes to Disney resort bars and lounges.
We’ve talked about the pub grub here in the past, and it’s no secret that every time I stay at WL I find myself down here at least a few times. So during a recent stay I was excited to dig in and share the latest updates with you.
So kick back for a relaxing visit. Let’s begin by taking a look around.
Atmosphere
You’ll find the Territory Lounge tucked off to the left side, way past Whispering Canyon Cafe, as you enter the lobby of Wilderness Lodge. It’s fully separated from that animated restaurant, so don’t let its close proximity put you off. It’s fairly quiet in here.
There’s sort of a nostalgic hunter’s lodge feel about the Lounge, matching the feel of the whole resort. Wood paneling, paintings of wildlife, and antiqued walls give that sense that you’re in a bit of a man cave.
Intimate tables for two along the wall offer that “didn’t-get-here-early-enough-to-get-the-easy-chairs” seating. 😉
I love the shadowboxes that hang just above these tables. They’re full of interesting expedition objects, and the faint glow provides nice light.
But, of course, I always seek out the comfy seating in a Disney lounge, and Territory doesn’t disappoint. Curling up in these easy chairs with a nightcap seems like the perfect way to end a Disney Day.
Be sure to check out these guys, too! The carved bears beautifully convey the Arts and Crafts spirit epitomized in the Wilderness Lodge Decor.
All in all, the space is on the small side, but that only lends to its feeling of comfort.
Eats
As you know, on my Disney trips I just pretty much eat all day, so I was really just looking to have a drink and maybe a snack or two.
You’ll find the trendy Moscow Mule on the newest Standard Disney Bar Menu, and I’m sure it’s been a hot seller.
On this visit, I went for the Blue Mule.
The plain version is a bracing combination of Russian Standard Vodka, Fresh Lime Juice, Agave Nectar, and Ginger Beer. The Blue Mule adds Blueberry Flavor to the mix. I enjoyed it, though the ginger beer taste was pretty strong. Don’t choose this one if you’re not a Ginger fan!
Although I wasn’t starving, I was still having a bit of trouble coming to a decision about what to order food-wise. And that’s where my awesome server stepped in! Really, the staff here are some of the best in the business. They’ve all worked here for years, and they make every visit to Territory extra special.
When I couldn’t decide right away what to order, my server brought me a small tasting portion of the “PNW” Nachos to try!
When I visited they featured Pulled Pork, along with Apple-Cranberry Salsa, Sharp Cheddar Cheese, and Sour Cream. While they were delicious, I ultimately decided to go with a couple of other choices. (Incidentally, the current menu swaps out Buffalo Chili for the Pulled Pork.)
There was something not 100% awesome about these nachos. I think I wanted more cheese, and the tanginess of the cranberries was a little much.
Now, if you’ve read my previous Territory Lounge review, then you know all about their incredible Fondue. I couldn’t help but order it again.
Previously, the ingredient list featured Beer, but now it’s offered as an Oregon Pinot Grigio Fondue. You may find them interchanged, depending on the seasonal whims of chefs. No matter. They are equally delicious and I highly recommend both!
The Fondue is served in a small cast iron pot with lots of dippers accompanying it. These are usually sturdy Bread Cubes as well as Seasonal Fruits. My assortment included Sourdough, Fresh Apple Chunks, and Dried Fruits.
All of the items were great complements to the rich, tangy cheese.
You cannot set foot into Territory Lounge and not try this. Seriously.
But I’m not finished strongly recommending items yet. Because while I had enjoyed the Fondue before, the next item was new to me.
Truffle Fries with Roasted Garlic Aioli have joined the line up since I last snacked here. And I had to see how they compared with other similar offerings.
And the answer to that question is……….EPICALLY. Yup, these are some of the best Truffle Fries that I’ve had at Disney. But you guys know me — it’s all about the sauce. The Roasted Garlic Aioli is outrageous.
In fact, since we’re all friends here, I’ll tell you a dirty little secret. Later in my trip, I asked the cast members at Territory to box up an order of these for me — with two sides of sauce — and I took them up to my room and ate them all alone. Yes. Yes I did. Feel free to refer me to your favorite therapist.
And guess what? Those truffle-scented fries also went beautifully with the fondue. (Another recommendation from my awesome server.)
Because fries and cheese.
With that, I called it a night, having added another incredible Territory Lounge visit to the long list.
Overall
It’s always fantastic to visit one of my favorite spots with the intention of making sure it’s still fabulous — and find that it’s just as good as it’s ever been. I know that if you’re staying at, say, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, you probably aren’t going to make a special trip to Wilderness Lodge just to have a nightcap at Territory. But if you did, it would be worth it.
Truly, if you are looking for a special place to meet with friends and enjoy some delicious dishes, give Territory Lounge a try. The staff, the ambiance, and the food and drink offering combine to make this spot something very special.
Have you stopped by Territory Lounge for a nightcap or a bite to eat? Share your experiences with us in comments below!
Logan says
AJ, it may upset you to know that all fries in New Zealand come with aioli. 🙂 Magic!
Jenny says
I love how you take pictures of not only the wonderful food you are sharing with us, but where you are eating. I think that’s why I enjoy your blog so much.
🙂 Thank you
The nachos looked really good, so did every thing else.
One thing I find fun is the cast iron pot for the cheese.
Melissa says
Based on this site’s reviews, we ate her in November and it was delicious! I also had the Moscow Mule and we really enjoyed the nachos and fondue. The atmosphere is great as well.
Hannah says
Thank you, thank you! Once again a fun review, as usual. We have stayed at the Wilderness Lodge a couple times and relaxed in the Territory Lounge. We had our first Sam Adams Oktoberfest here many years ago, and now it’s one of our favorite beers. It’s so nice seeing a lot of our favorite places on your site in between our Disney visits. We go through withdrawals at least once a month.
Georgeanne says
I have to say, reading this review made me a little homesick. Last summer was the first time we stayed at WL, and I believe that we ended almost every day in the Territory Lounge. The food, service, and drinks were always lovely. There are even some really nice, unique wines by the glass. I actually loved the pork nachos, but I loved everything we had there! It is also great that there are several treats from Artist Point available. Can’t wait to get back to Territory Lounge.
Dani says
We ate twice at Territory Lounge in January…LOVED IT! The mushroom soup was to die for and the cobbler was delicious! And the service was outstanding…my husband liked it so much that he volunteered to go do laundry while on vacation so he could stop by the lounge and have a bloody Mary 😉
Joel says
Love going there for the offerings that are on their menu that are also on the Artist Point menu – the cobbler and the mushroom soup. =D
Rich Bernato says
Chelsea is a great server!
Evelynn says
We have not been there yet, but will be making a trip in October to get some of that fondue!:D