Fans of Disney's Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World almost always comment on how much they love the themed music that is played in the lobby of the hotel. Many of us have asked the Wilderness Lodge staff if it's possible to buy a CD of the music, but unfortunately they don't sell one. A few people have been given a typed list by the hotel's front desk, but after looking at several of those lists, I can say they are not completely accurate. (Or possibly the music has been changed slightly over time.)

I wanted to compile a soundtrack of all the Wilderness Lodge music for my personal use. Armed with the lists that appeared at one time or another on some unofficial Disney-related sites, most of which I believe originated from the list distributed by Wilderness Lodge staff, I started doing some research.

An accurate list of Wilderness Lodge music can be found below. This list is the result of extensive detective work, with which I've been helped by several MouseSavers.com readers.

Best Way to Compile the Soundtrack

There are 29 tracks that are almost certainly played at Wilderness Lodge. About 25 of those tracks are available through downloads from Apple iTunes. I have compiled an iMix list of Wilderness Lodge music that will save you time in finding the tracks.

Another Way to Get Wilderness Lodge Music

Don't want to download? If you buy a few easy-to-get CDs, you'll have about half of the music played at the Wilderness Lodge:

• Aaron Copland: Billy the Kid and Rodeo Suite / Ferde Grofé: Grand Canyon Suite - contains 6 (possibly 7) tracks from the list

• The Wild West: The Essential Western Film Music Collection - contains 6 of the tracks from the list, plus some similarly themed recordings from soundtracks and composers who appear on the list

• Dances With Wolves soundtrack - contains 2 tracks from the list

The List

Here is the complete list, as far as I can determine, with annotations and links to sources:

"Introduction: The Open Prairie"
"The Open Prairie Again"
"Street in a Frontier Town"
"Prairie Night/Card Game"
Aaron Copland
(from the ballet Billy the Kid)

"Buckaroo Holiday"
Aaron Copland
(from the ballet Rodeo)

"Walk to the Bunkhouse"
Aaron Copland
(from the music of the film Red Pony)

Selections from Appalachian Spring
Aaron Copland
(from the Appalachian Spring concert suite)

Selections from The Heiress Suite
Aaron Copland
(from the music of the film The Heiress)

Aaron Copland was a great American composer and there are many recordings of Appalachian Spring, Rodeo and Billy the Kid to choose from, some of which are better than others. The Bernstein Century recording is especially nice and includes a lot of the tracks above.

Unless you are a highly discriminating classical music fan, however, I suggest the Aaron Copland: Billy the Kid and Rodeo Suite / Ferde Grofé: Grand Canyon Suite recording, because it also includes Ferde Grofé's Grand Canyon Suite and thus allows you to buy more Wilderness Lodge music for less money. This album is also available on Apple iTunes now, so you can download the tracks you want for 99 cents each!

There is an excellent recording of the music from Red Pony and this collection also includes some selections The Heiress Suite, so that's a nice "twofer."

I'm not sure which parts of Appalachian Spring are played in the Lodge, but Part I (Very Slowly) seems familiar, as do some other sections. You can pick and choose the ones you like at Apple iTunes.

By the way, some other lists say "Walk to the Bunkhouse" is the Mark Isham composition from the soundtrack of Of Mice And Men. The soundtrack (which is out of print, but now available on Apple iTunes) has a song called "The Bunkhouse" but I definitely can't recall hearing it at the Wilderness Lodge. MouseSavers.com reader Tim M pointed out to me that this really should be the Copland piece, and on listening to it, I'm certain he's right. Thanks, Tim!

Some other lists suggest "Prairie Night" is the version by Bill Frisell (from the album Have a Little Faith). However, that is an avant-garde jazz interpretation of the piece and I don't believe it is played at the Lodge. Several readers have written to tell me they agree that the traditional Copland version of this track is the one played in the lobby.

"On The Trail"
Ferde Grofé
(from Grand Canyon Suite)

You will instantly recognize "On the Trail" as the music from the Grand Canyon Diorama at Disneyland (which you pass through on the Disneyland Railroad). Grand Canyon Suite was also used as the soundtrack to a short live-action film made by Disney about the Grand Canyon.

One of the best recordings of the Grand Canyon Suite is also very attractively priced. Unless you are a highly discriminating classical music fan, however, I suggest the Aaron Copland: Billy the Kid and Rodeo Suite / Ferde Grofé: Grand Canyon Suite recording, because it also includes Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring, Rodeo and Billy the Kid and thus allows you to buy more Wilderness Lodge music for less money. This album is also available on Apple iTunes now, so you can download the tracks you want for 99 cents each!

Some lists indicate Grofé's "Grand Panorama" is played in the Lodge. I can't find any evidence that Grofé wrote anything called "Grand Panorama" and it is not a part of Grand Canyon Suite as the other lists suggest. However, it's possible the Wilderness Lodge soundtrack includes an additional selection from Grand Canyon Suite.

"The Buffalo Hunt"
"Ride to Ft. Hayes"
John Barry
(from the film Dances With Wolves)

You can purchase the original soundtrack of Dances With Wolves, or you can download the tracks you want from Apple iTunes.

An alternate track from Dances With Wolves, titled "The John Dunbar Theme," appears on The Wild West.

"The Last of the Mohicans" (Main Title)
"Top of the World"
Trevor Jones/Randy Edelman
(from the film The Last of the Mohicans)

The first track, "The Last of the Mohicans" is included on The Wild West. The individual track can be downloaded from Apple iTunes).

"Top of the World" is only available by purchasing the soundtrack album of The Last of the Mohicans. The Last of the Mohicans soundtrack is also downloadable from Apple iTunes.

"The Big Country" (Main Title)
Jerome Moross
(from the classic film The Big Country)

Included on The Wild West, or download from Apple iTunes.

"How The West Was Won" (Main Title)
Alfred Newman
(from the classic film How The West Was Won)

Included on The Wild West, or download from Apple iTunes.

"Silverado" (Main Theme)
Bruce Broughton
(from the film Silverado)

Included on The Wild West, or download from Apple iTunes.

"Wyatt Earp"
"Wagon Chase"
James Newton-Howard
(from the 1990s film Wyatt Earp)

The "Wyatt Earp" track is included on The Wild West and can be downloaded on Apple iTunes.

If you want the "Wagon Chase" track, which is excellent, it will be tougher, because the Wyatt Earp soundtrack is out of print. You might find a used copy on Amazon.

"The Magnificent Seven" (Main Theme)
Elmer Bernstein
(from the film The Magnificent Seven)

Included on The Wild West, or download from Apple iTunes.

On other lists this song is reported to be "The Wild Ride" from the The Magnificent Seven, but MouseSavers.com reader Tim M correctly points out that "there is no 'Wild Ride' track in The Magnificent Seven or even The Return [of the Magnificent Seven]." Reader Brian P seems to have solved the mystery: "I have listened to the Main Theme song from The Magnificent Seven... and that song is definitely played in the Wilderness Lodge. As there is no other song from The Magnificent Seven soundtrack mentioned, I think it's safe to say that the album is not listed incorrectly, but rather the song title." I agree with Brian -- this track is played at the Lodge.

"Duel in the Sun" (Main Theme)
Dimitri Tiomkin
(from the classic film Duel in the Sun)

This soundtrack has been out of print for a long time. You can get a so-so version of the main theme from an album called The Great Westerns, available on Apple iTunes. In all honesty I can't remember ever hearing it in the Lodge, but it is in the right style to fit in with the other tracks.

"Field of Dreams"
James Horner
(from the film Field of Dreams)

A beautiful track and the rest of the Field of Dreams soundtrack is very good, too.

"The Wave"
Randy Edelman
(from the film Angels in the Outfield)

A terrific piece and one I definitely remember hearing in the lobby of the Wilderness Lodge. Unfortunately Angels in the Outfield is out of print (though you can buy used copies), but MouseSavers.com reader Jeff D points out that this song is now downloadable from Apple iTunes.

"Mountain Dance"
Dave Grusin
(from Mountain Dance)

This song was not on any of the original lists I consulted, but a Cast Member who works at Wilderness Lodge tells me she is sure it's played in the lobby. This song was used in the soundtrack of the film Falling in Love. I've listened to a sample online and it sounds like the kind of thing I've heard in the Lodge. The Mountain Dance album is readily available and the track can be purchased on Apple iTunes. Thanks for the info, Kendra!

"Sand Creek Memories"
Peter Kater and R. Carlos Nakai
(from the soundtrack of the television special How The West Was Lost)

If you are not familiar with these Native American musicians, you should really check out this soundtrack of How The West Was Lost. It is lovely and haunting. If you just want the one specific track, you can download it from Apple iTunes.

"Creation"
Brian Keane
(from the soundtrack of the PBS television miniseries The Way West)

Available on Apple iTunes. This is really a beautiful soundtrack.

"Theme for Earth Day"
John Williams
(from The Green Album)

MouseSavers.com reader Jim S suggests this is the "Earth Day" track played at the Lodge. I agree -- it definitely sounds right. This track is easy to download from Amazon, or you can buy the CD if you prefer.

Some lists include the track "Earth Day" by Joe Roccisano (from the album The Shape I'm In), but it is a traditional jazz number and I don't believe it has ever been played at Wilderness Lodge. It sounds more like something you might hear at Disney's BoardWalk Inn.

"Appalachian Morning"
Paul Winter Consort
(from Earth: Voices of a Planet)

A wonderful album that uses instruments from around the world, plus nature sounds.

"Dodge City" (theme)
(from the 1930s film Dodge City)

A soundtrack recording of Dodge City was released by Brigham Young University's Screen Archives and you can buy it directly from them.

There is also an import soundtrack of Dodge City.

MouseSavers.com reader Jeff D. points out that this track can also be found on Captain Blood, a compilation of scores from Errol Flynn movies.

"The Map is Real… And On Fire!"
Marc Shaiman
(from the film City Slickers II)

This CD is out of print and I have not heard the track, so I can't confirm that it is really played at the Lodge. You can often find a used copy of the soundtrack on Amazon.

A good substitute is the Main Title from City Slickers, which is downloadable from Apple iTunes.

"Siyo Tanka"
Tim Crawford and Paul Stavenjord
(from Guardian Spirits)

Practically impossible to find and I can't confirm that it is used in the Lodge. This CD was recorded on a small label called C&S Productions (which is probably the artists' own company, I'm guessing). A few New Age shops seem to carry it.

As an alternative, there is a Native American flute track called "Siyotanka Boy" by Douglas Spotted Eagle that would fit in very well with Lodge music. It can be downloaded from Apple iTunes.

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