Mouse Extra

Tucked away inside the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge, hidden from view from even most of those who stay at the resort, is one of Walt Disney World’s greatest tributes to the man who inspired the Mouse.  The Iron Spike Room serves basically as the lobby for the Disney Vacation Club annex to the Lodge, but it is much, much more than just a lobby.

Walt Disney had a love for trains, so do I, and that love was a big part of his life.  So it is certainly fitting that when Imagineering wanted to decorate this portion of the Wilderness Lodge with the mode of transportation that brought Americans to the West that they would choose to include Walt Disney in the idea.  After all, no one appreciated the aura and importance of steam trains quite like Walt.

Walt loved trains so much that he built one of the most elaborate backyard train layouts you will ever see.  He called it the Carolwood Pacific Railroad, and it was a one-eighth scale model spanning over 2600 feet of track and one that was large enough so people could actually ride on the cars.  To learn more about Walt’s passion for these trains, check out the website of the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society.

Thankfully, the folks at the Disney Vacation Club have put together a terrific collection of train treasures.  The real centerpiece is two of the original cars that ran around Walt Disney’s backyard, pictured above and below.  I can only imagine the people who sat on the tops of these cars, including Hollywood stars and Disney Legends.

Besides the cars, there are other pieces of memorabilia ranging from those about Disney and general history of train travel.  One I really enjoyed was the map pictured below.  It shows the great trains lines that brought Americans out west, and it’s highlighted with some wonderful classic Disney characters.

Looking around the Iron Spike Room and you seem to keep finding fascinating pieces.  This painting of Walt in his barn where he did all the work on his trains is just terrific.  It’s tucked in a corner and easy to miss. 

And there is so much more here.  So if you ever find yourself at the Wilderness Lodge, get yourself away from the amazing lobby there and walk across the breezeway to the villas building.  The Iron Spike room will greet you to a quiet and fascinating little corner of Walt Disney World.