Disney World Hotels – EverythingMouse

Walt Disney World Free Dining Summer 2011

May 10, 2011 By Alison Leave a Comment

There is a new offer for a Walt Disney World free dining plan for summer 2011. If you book the new Memories Vacation Package between May 2nd and August 27th 2011 you will receive free Disney dining.

Travel must be between August 28th and September 24th 2011

The Memories Vacation Package must be booked for at least 5 nights and 6 days at select Walt Disney World Moderate, Deluxe Resort or Disney Deluxe Villa Resort. The booking window is from now until August 27th.

The package includes Walt Disney World Resort hotel accomodation, a Magic Your Way Base Ticket and a 20 page Disney PhotoPass Photo Book.

Although this Disney World Free Dining offer is rather more limited than some of the specials we sometimes see, it is nevertheless a great way to save money on a Disney World Vacation Package if you can travel between those late summer dates.

Here is a guide to the Walt Disney World Hotels to help you make your selection!

Filed Under: Disney Tips, Disney World Hotels Tagged With: disney world deaqls, disney world discounts, Disney World Hotels, disney world specials

Walt Disney World Hotels

April 14, 2011 By Alison 6 Comments

Are you wondering which of the Walt Disney World Hotels you should choose? There are many reasons to stay in a Disney World resort but actually finding which one is the best for your family vacation can be a difficult process. So here is a guide and quick overview to help you choose between the resorts and hotels which Walt Disney World offers.

Walt Disney World Deluxe Hotels

If you are looking for the best locations and the largest, most luxurious rooms then the place to start is the Disney World Deluxe hotels. There are 8 different resorts to choose from, and each has their own very distinctive theme and character.

Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge

This has to be one of the most unique hotels in North America. How many hotels give you the chance to see a giraffe from your balcony? This deluxe Disney hotel is set in a 40 acre savannah where over 200 species of animals and birds roam freely. There are 1,293 guest rooms most of which are 344 square feet in size.

The savannah view rooms are of course the ones which are the most sought after.

The one downside of this amazing hotel is it’s location. It is located right next to Disney’s Animal Kingdom so is on the edge of Disney property and therefore the least convenient for the other parks and attractions. However it is an amazing hotel with excellent facilities and of course those very unique views.

Click here for a comprehensive guide to Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge

Disney’s Beach Club Resort

This is an excellent choice if you want to be within walking distance of Disney’s Epcot theme park and The Boardwalk restaurants and entertainment. It is also well placed for boat and bus access to the other Disney parks.

This friendly upscale resort is designed to be reminiscent of a turn of the century New England style resort. The standard rooms are a generous 380 square feet and sleep up to 5 guests. Disney’s Beach Club Resort also has one of the very best swimming pools on Disney property, Stormalong Bay.

Here is a guide to the Disney Beach Club hotel.

Disney Boardwalk Inn

The Disney Boardwalk Inn is very conveniently located within walking distance of Epcot and just a boat ride away from Disney Hollywood Studios. The setting for the Boardwalk Inn is alongside the beautiful Crescent Lake. The theme for this 378 room hotel is the elegant 1940s Atlantic City era.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

The theme of Disney’s Contemporary Resort is a modern future and the exterior design is certainly very different – a monorail runs through this futuristic A Frame design.

The Contemporary Resort is one of the Disney Monorail Hotels so very conveniently placed for access to Magic Kingdom. You can even walk to Magic Kingdom from the hotel.

The Contemporary has recently been renovated so all of the 394 square feet rooms are newly decorated in a modern style. Each room will sleep up to 5 guests and also accommodate a child under 3 in a crib. Some guests feel that the resort is not quite ‘Disney’ enough as the furnishings are contemporary with few hints of the Mouse. But if you are looking for a great location with good facilities then this is an excellent choice.

For more information you can check out this Disney Contemporary Resort guide.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

This is Disney’s flagship premier resort hotel so if you are looking for the most luxurious (and yes the most expensive) Disney resort then the Grand Floridian is the one for you.

Themed for a Victorian grand sea side resort hotel the Grand Floridian is located on the shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon. Many of the rooms have views of the Magic Kingdom Cinderella Castle.

The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa has 867 rooms including 25 suites. The average standard room size is 440 square feet so a very generous size.

It is another Disney monorail hotel so access to Magic Kingdom is quick and easy. You can also travel by monorail to Epcot, or take a bus to Disney Hollywood Studios and Disney Animal Kingdom.

Even though it is a luxury resort it is very much a family hotel and everyone will feel welcome.

Here is a guide to Disney World Grand Floridian

Disney Polynesian Resort

The Polynesian Resort is also located on the monorail loop at the side of Seven Seas Lagoon so it offers very easy access to Magic Kingdom.

This luxury Disney hotel not only has a great location but also offers some of the largest hotel rooms in Disney World. The theme is a relaxed South Seas location with a welcoming tropical atmosphere. The Polynesian offers excellent restaurants and also hosts the very popular Polynesian Luau Dinner Show.

If you want to know more then see our guide to the Polynesian Resort Disney World Florida

Walt Disney World Wilderness Lodge Resort

If you want to feel as though you have escaped completely to a luxurious National Park Lodge then the Wilderness Resort is the place for you. It has an excellent location just a boat ride away from Magic Kingdom but once you step through it’s doors you feel as though you have entered a land a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of the Disney parks.

The Wilderness Lodge has 728 rooms which at 340 square feet in size are some of the smallest of the Walt Disney World hotels deluxe resorts. But they are beautifully furnished. Disney Wilderness Lodge has a wonderfully themed swimming pool and a good choice of restaurants including the very popular Artist’s Point.

For more details on this excellent deluxe resort here is a guide to Walt Disney World Wilderness Lodge Resort.

Disney Yacht Club Resort

The Disney Yacht Club is the sister hotel to the Disney Beach Club Hotel and they share the very popular Stormalong Bay resort pool. The Yacht Club is very conveniently located within walking distance of Epcot. You can also take the boat to Disney Hollywood Studios or the bus to Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom park.

The theme is of course a nautical one with a relaxed East Coast sea side theme running through the resort. The Yacht Club has 630 rooms and the standard rooms are around 380 square feet, so a good size. Each room sleeps up to 5 guests.

The attraction of the Disney Yacht Club Resort is of course the location, the luxurious rooms, and Stormalong Bay swimming pool. You are within very easy reach of lots of restaurants including of course the Epcot World Showcase offerings.

Walt Disney World Moderate Hotels

If you are on a more moderate budget then the Walt Disney World Moderate hotels can be an excellent choice. Rooms are smaller than the deluxe resorts, and their locations, whilst still convenient, are not as amazingly ideal as the luxury hotels. It can be a great choice for a family to experience all the advantages of a good Disney World hotel.

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

Colorful and fun are two words which best describe Disney’s Caribbean Beach Hotel. It is a large resort with 2112 rooms on a 200 acre site. The rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach are 314 square feet. Most rooms have 2 full size beds although some have a King. The resort is very large so be aware that you may have to walk a long way from your room to the central Old Port Royale where the restaurants and lobby is located.

All rooms are motel style with outdoor corridors. The swimming pools are a lot of fun and there are plenty to choose from as each of the buildings has it’s own pool. The Caribbean Beach Hotel does have it’s own full service restaurant and a food court.

For more details check out our Disney Caribbean Beach guide.

Disney Coronado Springs Resort

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is the newest of the moderate resorts and it’s basic design was based on the Caribbean Beach. The Coronado Springs has 1,921 rooms located in three themed beautifully landscaped areas set around a 15 acre lake Lago Dorado. The theme is Spanish Colonial Mexico. Lots of bright colors, and even a Mayan ruin themed pool.

Just like Caribbean Beach the resort is very large and you may be located a long way from El Centro with the restaurants and shops. There are 1917 rooms at the Disney Coronado Springs. All were renovated in 2009 and most are 314 square feet and have 2 Queen beds.

The location is good but perhaps not quite as good as Caribbean Beach as it is more towards the edge of Disney property closer to Disney Animal Kingdom. Really though there is not much difference and you should pick the theme which you prefer.

Here is a comprehensive guide to Disney Coronado Springs Resort

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort French Quarter

This moderate Disney resort takes it’s inspiration and theme from New Orleans French Quarter. The location of Port Orleans is close to Downtown Disney, so convenient for all the parks and attractions. The resort has just over 1000 rooms which are 314 square feet. The resort has motel style rooms with outdoor corridors.

Port Orleans is very nicely landscaped and has a great choice of swimming pools. The one downside is that there are no full service restaurants, only a food court.

Disney Port Orleans Riverside Hotel

Photo by Express Monorail

This is the sister hotel to Port Orleans French Quarter. It is a larger resort with just over 2000 rooms. The theme is the Mississippi Old South. Again the rooms are motel style and most have 2 double beds.

The Disney Port Orleans Riverside does have a full service restaurant so for some this gives it the edge of convenience over the French Quarter.

Walt Disney World Value Hotels

If you are looking for a very reasonably priced way to stay on Disney property then the value resorts are a great way to go. Expect a good standard motel type room with over the top Disney theming and you won’t be disappointed!

At the moment there are 4 Disney Value Resorts with a 5th planned for 2012 (Disney’s Art of Animation Resort).

The basic idea of all the value resorts is the same, but of course the theme of each is very different.

Disney Pop Century Resort

The theme is pop culture from the 50s to the 90s so here you will find giant Lady and the Tramp characters, a giant Rubik Cube and a huge Mickey Mouse telephone. At 260 square feet the rooms are comfortable but can be a tight fit for a larger family.

There is a food court area for a quick snack, but you will need to travel for full service dining. The swimming pools are a lot of fun but can of course get very crowded and as this a resort which attracts families with young children, rather loud!

Disney’s All Star Movies Resort

Larger than life and a whole lot of fun is the best way to describe Disney All Star Movie Resort. With a 35 foot tall Buzz Lightyear and a 40 foot tall Dalmation, this hotel is definitely designed to be fun!

The rooms are the smallest of the Disney World hotel value resorts at just 260 square feet so don’t expect a whole lot of space. The almost 2000 rooms are in one of 5 areas: 101 Dalmations, Fantasia, Toy Story, Herbie:The Love Bug and The Mighty Ducks.

As with all the Disney Value Resorts there is no full service dining, just a food court.

Here is a complete guide to Disney All Star Movies Resort

Disney’s All Star Music Resort

Not surprisingly the theme for this Disney hotel is music. The design is basically the same as All Star Movies but the buildings are themed on Calypso, Jazz Inn, Rock Inn, Country Fair, and the Broadway Hotel.

A great feature of Disney’s All Star Music Resort is that it has some family suites available. These are a great option for larger budget conscious families as they offer 520 square feet of space including a kitchenette which will sleep up to 6 guests.

Disney’s All Star Sports Resort

The theme is of course sports so you will find giant tennis racquets, footballs and surf board and the like at this motel style Disney resort. There are almost 2000 rooms each sleeping up to 4 in a 260 square foot room.

Again you will not find full service dining, just a food court. As with all of the value resorts if you expect a good motel style room, located very conveniently for all the parks with the advantages of the special Disney Magic then you will not be disappointed. Luxury it is not, but they are most definitely good value.

Disney Cabins and Campgrounds

This is sometimes an option which is overlooked but you can stay on a camp site in a tent or recreational vehicle, or even rent your own log cabin on the Walt Disney World resort.

Offering 748 camp sites, RV hook ups and 409 log cabins Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort is spread over 740 acres of mainly pine forest, within easy reach of all the magic of Disney World.

Here is a complete guide to Disney World Fort Wilderness Cabins

As you will see there is a lot of choice of Walt Disney World Hotels. There are also a number of Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts if you are looking for larger accommodation. Each Disney World Hotel has it’s own character, and of course price level. Have fun choosing!

Filed Under: Disney Parks, Disney Tips, Disney World Hotels, Hotels Tagged With: disney hotels, Disney World Hotels, walt disney world hotels

Disney Monorail Hotels

January 16, 2011 By Alison 3 Comments

The Disney Monorail hotels are some of the most sought after on the Walt Disney World resort. If you are looking for the perfect hotel resort location for your Walt Disney World vacation then you should take a look at the monorail hotels.

The Disney monorail hotels are all deluxe resorts which are located on the loop around the Seven Seas Lagoon between the Magic Kingdom and the Transport and Ticket Center. This makes them the ideal location. Not only can you walk out of your hotel room and step on the monorail to be transported to Disney’s Magic Kingdom but you also have very easy access to the other parks and resorts via the Transport and Ticket Center. You can also easily travel to Epcot on the monorail if you change lines at the TTC.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney Contemporary Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Resort are all monorail hotels. Each has a very different character so take a closer look at each before you decide which one is best for you. These hotels were all part of Walt Disney’s original vision for his new theme park.

Photo by expressmonorail

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Hotel and Spa

The Disney World Grand Floridian is Disney’s premier hotel. This is the obvious choice for those looking for absolute luxury and elegance. On the surface it would seem to be a very ‘grown up’ hotel but this is Disney after all and families are made very welcome. You will feel just as at home in Mouse Mouse Ears and a Goofy shirt as you would in evening dress.

The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa has 867 rooms including 25 suites. The views from the rooms include Magic Kingdom views. The rooms are a generous 440 square feet and most have a balcony. The price that you pay will depend upon the room type and of course the view.

Disney’s Grand Floridian has two excellent swimming pools, a beautiful sandy beach, a Wedding Pavillion, numerous restaurant choices, and of course all the convenience of being steps away from the monorail. Your journey to Magic Kingdom is quick and easy.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

There can’t be many hotels in the world which have a monorail running right through the lobby but Disney Contemporary Resort does! The Contemporary was one of the original Walt Disney World resort hotels and has been extensively refurbished to offer modern, very comfortable rooms. The modern design is not to everyone’s taste and some may think it just not Disney enough – but if you are looking for a high standard, exceptionally located Disney hotel then you may want to give the Contemporary a closer look.

The Contemporary Resort has 2 distinct sections. The main building with the monorial running through it, the main lobby and the restaurants. This is the Tower building. The second, separate building is The Garden Wing. There are various view choices including the most popular – a Magic Kingdom View.

The standard rooms at Disney’s Contemporary Resort are 394 square feet. Each room will sleep up to 5 guests and also accommodate a child under 3 in a crib. The resort also offers suites and concierge level rooms.

There is plenty to keep you occupied in the resort. Disney’s Contemporary is home to a number of restaurants including the ever popular character buffer Chef Mickey’s and the fine dining favorite California Grill.

There are two swimming pools at the Contemporary but they are probably the least themed and most disappointing of all the resorts at Disney. If this is an important aspect of your stay then you would probably do best to consider the Grand Floridian and Disney’s Polynesian which both have excellent pools.

Disney Polynesian Resort Hotel

Photo by expressmonorail

The Polynesian Resort Disney World Florida is ideally located on the monorail system just minutes away from Magic Kingdom. Step into the lobby and you will be transported to a different world. This South Seas themed Disney resort has a lot to offer and is a great choice of Disney monorail hotel.

The rooms are large by Disney deluxe hotel standards. At between 410 to 476 square feet some of them are larger than Disney’s Grand Floridan hotel. All of the rooms were refurbished in 2006. Prices vary according to room type and of course the view. Magic Kingdom and Lagoon views are the most popular and highest priced.

There are 2 swimming pools at Disney’s Polynesian Resort. The most popular pool is the Nanea Volcano Pool complete with water falls and a slide. This is not a particularly large pool for the size of the resort and it does tend to get crowded at peak times. Guests can use the fitness facility at The Grand Floridian if they wish.

Walt Disney World Polynesian Hotel also offers a good choice of restaurants – well worth a look even if you are not a guest of the hotel. It is home to the very popular dinner show Spirit of Aloha Polynesian Luau .

All of the Disney Monorail hotels are excellent choices for a stay at the resort. The ease of traveling to Magic Kingdom really does make a huge difference as you can so quickly get to and from the park from your hotel. This is particularly important if you are traveling with young children and want to center your stay around visits to the Magic Kingdom.

Each Disney monorail hotel has it’s own theme and it really is a question of personal choice as to which one would be the perfect destination for your Walt Disney World vacation.

Walt Disney World Swan

December 19, 2010 By Alison 1 Comment

Are you thinking of staying in the Walt Disney World Swan hotel? The Swan has an excellent location within walking distance of Disney’s Epcot. Whilst it is not owned by Disney itself (the resort is a Westin hotel) it does most of the benefits of a stay at a Disney resort hotel.

The Walt Disney World Swan has a sister hotel, the Dolphin. Very similar in design but of course with the dolphin as a theme, guests of each hotel can use the facilities in either hotel.

The big draw of course is location. It is a short walk or boat ride to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Staying onsite at Disney World is a great idea and it may be more within your budget than you imagine. The Walt Disney World Swan hotel is a luxury hotel but often has prices much lower than the other Disney deluxe hotels. So it is always worth checking out the prices when considering which Disney World hotel to choose.

The hotel itself is larger than life. The design is anything but subtle on the inside, but you may be glad to know that the inside is rather more what you would expect from a good Westin hotel. The Walt Disney World Swan hotel is not difficult to locate – you can see the 46 feet tall swans on the top of the building for quite a distance! The Michael Graves design is not to everyone’s taste but it is certainly innovative and very distinctive.

Walt Disney World Swan Hotel Rooms

There are 758 rooms at the Swan with a choice of views. The Standard views are the least expensive but in general the views are not great (often of either the roof or the parking lot). If you can upgrade to one of the Lake or Resort views. The very best views are of Epcot and Disney Hollywood Studios. Some of the Epcot view rooms also have balconies.

The rooms are beautifully furnished to a high standard. The decor is contemporary with crisp white lined and muted tones. Each standard room has either a King or 2 Queen beds. As the Swan is a Westin hotel it features the excellent Heavenly Bed. I often stay in Westin hotels and always find that this is one of the most comfortable hotel beds available.

The standard rooms have everything you would expect from a high quality hotel. They have a 32″ flat screen TV, mini bar,safe and high speed internet access. The bathroom is standard and fairly small. The rooms are nicely furnished, but don’t expect any Disney touches.

The daily resort package is $10 per day and includes 60 minutes of local calls, 20 minutes of domestic calls, access to the Swan and Dolphin Health Clubs, internet access and two bottles of water.

The Disney Swan has a innovative environmental initiative which offers a $5 food and beverage voucher or 500 SPG Starpoints if you decline housekeeping.

One annoying charge is the parking fee. None of the Disney owned hotels charges a parking fee but this Westin owned hotel is $9 per day for self parking, $12 for valet and $16 for overnight. I know that hotels often still charge for parking in many areas but it really does just in my opinion annoy guests right for the very start. Why not charge a realistic room rate instead of adding resort and parking charges?

Members of the Westin SPG program should always check rates and benefits through this membership program. There may be discounts available.

Walt Disney World Swan Restaurants

The Swan and Dolphin have a good choice of Signature Dining restaurants. The Swan has Il Mulino New York Trattoria This restaurant features traditional Italian cuisine. The prices are very reasonable and the standard of the food is good. The menu offers traditional favorites pizza, risotto, pasta and steak. There are also Family Style options which are served for parties of 4 or more with choices such as Tortellini Alla Panna, Gnocchi Bolognese and Pappardelle with Tomato and Basil Sauce. No Italian meal would be complete without dessert. Choose from a good selection including Tiramisu, Cheesecake Italiano and Zabaglione.

If Japanese cuisine is more to your taste then be sure to visit Kimonos which offers a good selection of sushi.

In the Dolphin you will find Shula’s Steak House and Todd English’s bluezoo.

If you dine in a Signature Restaurant in either the Swan or Dolphin you can have 2 complimentary hours for the children in Camp Dolphin.

Within very easy walking distance of the Walt Disney World Swan are the restaurants of Disney’s Boardwalk and the Epcot resort hotels. And of course you are also very close to the fabulous restaurant choices in Epcot’s World Showcase.

The Swan also has casual dining choices including Garden Grove character dining restaurant. Dine with Rafiki and Timon on Monday and Friday, or Goofy and Pluto all other evenings. You can breakfast with Goofy and Pluto on Saturday and Sunday. This is one of the quieter Disney character buffets and you may find you can get reservations here simply because it is the least known of all.

One of my favorite Disney buffet restaurants is Fresh Mediterranean Market in The Dolphin hotel. This buffet offers lots of healthy options and a particularly good juice selection for breakfast and lunch.

If you just want a quick snack then head to the Java Bar in the Swan. It offers coffee and pastries. The Splash Grill is open seasonally and features pizza, snacks, coffee and ice cream.

There are more choices in the Dolphin including the Picabu which is a quick service dining venue serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, cafeteria style. The Splash Terrace is a pool side snack bar which is also open seasonally.

Walt Disney World Swan Recreation

The Swan has one of the best pools in any of the Disney World resort hotels. The 3 acre Grotto is a beautiful pool with tropical landscape, waterfalls, a slide and hot tubs. It is a fabulous place for the family to have fun or simply to relax around the pool. Both the Swan and the Dolphin also have a lap pool.

There is a huge sandy beach at the side of the lake. You can rent watercraft or just sit on the beach on one of the sun loungers.

If you want to be a little more active there is a health club at both the Swan and the Dolphin. Or you can play tennis on one of the 4 tennis courts. Fantasia Gardens which offers two 18 hole golf challenges is just across the road from the Swan.

Camp Dolphin offers supervised activities for children aged 4-12 from 5:30 p.m. to midnight. It is $10 per child per hour. Space is limited and reservations are required. If you need to cancel then do so at least 2 hours prior or you will be charged in full.

Walt Disney World Swan Transportation

It is easy to walk to both Epcot and Disney Hollywood Studios. The walk to Epcot is around 10 minutes and to Hollywood Studios around 20 minutes. If you want to save your energy for the theme parks (and you probably will) then the easiest way is to take one of the boats for Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Access to Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Downtown Disney are by bus service.

If you are staying at the Swan then think carefully whether you really do need a car. Remember that parking charge and also keep in mind which parks you will be visiting. It really is a breeze to get to Epcot and Holllywood Studios.

Overall the Walt Disney World Swan offers a great choice for those on a Disney vacation. The location is excellent, the rooms are of a good standard, although nothing particularly special, but the price is often very tempting. So always have a look at the rates and of course if you want us to help you then just Contact Us for completely free advice and help.

Filed Under: Disney Tips, Disney World Hotels Tagged With: disney world dolphin, Disney World Hotels, disney world swan, disney world swan hotel, walt disney world swan

Disney Beach Club

September 27, 2010 By Alison 5 Comments

The Disney Beach Club Resort is the perfect place to stay if you are looking for a deluxe hotel in an excellent location within walking distance of Epcot and Disney’s Boardwalk. The Beach Club swimming pool Stormalong Bay is also thought of as they very best of any of the Disney World resort pool’s.

As soon as you approach the Beach Club you will be struck by just how imposing and impressive it is, but as with all the Disney resorts, it is not imposing. This friendly upscale resort is designed to be reminiscent of a turn of the century New England style resort. It is joined with, but very different from, the Disney Yacht Club next door – they share the Stormalong Bay pool.

Photo by expressmonorail

Disney Beach Club Rooms

Photo by gator-chris

What are the rooms at Disney’s Beach Club like. There are 576 guest rooms at the Beach Club. In addition there are 282 Beach Club Villas which are part of Disney Vacation Club.

Rooms are either 2 Queen’s, 2 Doubles or a King. Some rooms also have a daybed. Most of the rooms sleep up to 5 guests and are 381 square feet in size. If there are more than 2 adults in a room then there is an additional charge of $25 per extra adult.

The rooms at the Disney Beach Club have a either a Standard or a Water View. The Standard view can be over the parking lot, the roof or gardens. The Water View can be of Stormalong Bay, The Quiet Pool or Crescent Lake. Most of the rooms have balconies and most of the ground floor rooms have a patio. Be aware that the top floor rooms have enclosed balconies which are rather small and with limited visibility. Concierge rooms and suites are also available.

Rack rates for a standard room at Disney Beach Club range from $340 to $550 per room per night plus tax. A Water View room is from $420 to $615. A one bedroom suite starts at $600 to $860 per night.

Every room has a free, small refrigerator. Rooms are also wired for internet access but there is an additional fee for this.

Disney World Beach Club Transportation

Photos by expressmonorail

One of the big advantages of staying at Disney’s Beach Club is the location. You are literally steps away from The Boardwalk and of course Epcot. If you do not want to take the short walk to the International Gateway Entrance to Epcot then you can always take the boat. Access to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is also by boat – a short and very pleasant ride which also makes stops at The Boardwalk and The Swan and Dolphin Hotels. Or if you want to you can even walk to Disney Hollywood Studios from The Beach Club. The walk takes around 15 to 20 minutes.

To access Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom there is a bus service. An alternative route to Magic Kingdom is to access the monorail via Epcot but the bus route is a lot quicker. There are also buses from the resort to Downtown Disney, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Some of the buses may make additional stops so the journey times can be a little longer than you might expect.

Disney Beach Club Resort Recreation

Photos by expressmonorail

One of the biggest reasons to stay at the Disney Beach Club is the Stormalong Bay swimming pool which it shares with the Yacht Club next door. Each of the hotels has a separate section to the pool but guests from each can use both sides. The pool became so well known that Disney had to build a fence around it to stop non guests using it! Now it is fenced off and you need your room key to access the area.

Stormalong Bay has an excellent water slide. Of course at busy times the line can get rather long unfortunately, but it is worth the wait. Another fun feature is the river part of the pool which has jets of water which push you around the pool – you can rent tubes and noodles to help you along it you want. Some guests do complain that you actually have to pay for the tubes. In a luxury hotel at a premium price this is a charge too far for some.

There are also hot tub’s, a sandy beach area and a wading pool. Something to keep all members of the family entertained.

If you are looking for a less busy area then try the Quiet Pool which is open 24 hours a day. The Beach Club has other recreation options including a health club. The Ship Shape Health Club is free for guests of The Beach and Yacht Club hotels. There is also a volleyball court and a jogging trail.

Disney Beach Club Restaurants

Photo by sanctumsolitude

Perhaps you want to sample The Kitchen Sink (pictured above)? Head to Beaches and Cream for this $23.99 delight which includes 8 scoops of ice cream. Best to get someone to share! Beaches and Cream serves sandwiches, burgers and of course a wide variety of ice cream creations.

Cape May is a buffet restaurant offering dining for breakfast and dinner. Breakfast is a character meal. Goofy’s Beach Club Breakfast is priced at $18.99 for adults and $10.99 for children aged 3 to 9 for an all you can eat breakfast offering the usual favorites of Mickey waffles, eggs, bacon, pastries and fruit. There is a good selection although the buffet tables can get a little crowded so there can be a long wait. To while away the time the kids (and you of course) can draw on the paper table cloth. The Clam Bake Dinner Buffet is $26.99 for adults and $12.99 for kids aged 3 to 9 for an all you can eat buffet. If you like seafood then you will love this buffet which has clams, snow crab, mussels and shrimp. Meat lovers are also taken care of with steak or prime rib and pork. The selection of salads is good and of course the desserts are very tempting!

The Beach Club Marketplace offers a limited selection of made to order sandwiches. Some guests to comment that the lunch options at the Beach Club are rather limited.

You are of course within easy walking distance of the restaurants of The Boardwalk, The Yacht Club and The Swan and Dolphin hotels. You are also just a short stroll from the Epcot World Showcase Restaurants. So whilst the dining choices at Disney’s Beach Club are limited, you are surrounded by other options.

Is The Beach Club the one for you? Location is obviously a very big plus point. As is the high quality of the rooms and the overall deluxe experience. Stormalong Bay is a big attraction particularly for families with children. The downside? A lack of dining choices within the resort itself (but there are many a short stroll away), and the bus service only to Magic Kingdom.

If you want help planning your Disney World Vacation just contact us here at EverythingMouse Travel.

This post was featured in Disney Blog Carnival

Filed Under: Disney Parks, Disney World Hotels Tagged With: disney beach club, Disney World Hotels

Disney Coronado Springs Resort

September 14, 2010 By Alison 5 Comments

Are you considering staying at Disney Coronado Springs Resort but want to know more about it before you make a choice? The Coronado Springs is one of Walt Disney World’s moderate resorts. You will have all the advantages of staying at a Disney World resort and with room rates starting at around $154 a night it can be a great option. But is it the right place to stay for you and your family?

The first thing that you will notice about Disney’s Coronado Springs is how large and spread out the resort it. Coronado Springs has 1,921 rooms located in three themed beautifully landscaped areas set around a 15 acre lake Lago Dorado.

As with all Disney hotels the theme is wonderfully carried throughout the resort. You will find all of those Disney touches that you expect. But this hotel was built with convention business in mind so the Disney theme is perhaps not as prominent as some vacation guests would like.

There is a large main building El Centro which houses the lobby,restaurants,shops and convention center. The hotel does have a lot of convention center business so theme park guests will rub shoulders with business convention guests. This seems to work well so neither feels out of place.

The hotel rooms are housed in one of three distinct area which surround the huge Lago Dorado Lagoon. These areas are the Casitas, the Ranchos and the Cabanas. The Casitas and Cabanas are located closest to the main building with the Ranchos being a large walk from lobby, but closer to the main pool.

I know I keep saying this but The Coronado Springs resort is large. Very large! This can involve a lot of walking around the resort to get from your room to the parking lot and El Centro. But in many ways this is a big advantage. The resort just never seems to feel crowded which of course is a huge plus.

Photos courtesy of mrkathika

Disney Coronado Springs Resort Rooms

There are 1917 rooms at the Disney Coronado Springs. All were renovated in 2009. Most of the rooms are 314 square feet and have 2 Queen beds, and work area with table and chairs. All of the rooms have a flat screen television. Internet access is available but there is a fee.

The single vanity sink is located outside the bathroom – making the space much more usable for families. Most of the rooms have 2 Queen beds. There are 224 rooms with a King bed, so as you can see not a high number. Make sure if you want a King room to request this at the time of your reservation. There are also 99 accessible rooms.

Each standard room sleeps up to 4 people plus one child in a crib.

There are suites available at the Coronado Springs which will sleep up to 6 guests and a child in a crib.
The resort also has Concierge Club guest rooms. These are a very new addition but are located in Cabana 9B which is one of the closest blocks to the El Centro building. They offer extra in room amenities such as DVD player,robes and coffee maker. They also have a dedicated Front Desk service, continental breakfast and snacks.

Where are the best rooms in Disney’s Coronado Springs? You have to take into account the location of the room because of the size of the resort. The Rancheros buildings are the furthest away from the El Centro lobby building with it’s restaurants and shops but is is closest to the main pool area. Disney has recently started to tackle this by providing internal transportation around the Coronado in golf carts! If you like a quieter spot then you may want to choose the Rancheros – but you are going to be limited on views. There are limited water views available from rooms 6103,6203,6303,6225,6226,6326,6245,6246 and 6600 to 6604.

The Cabanas do offer some nice lake views. The advantage of Cabanas 9A and 9B are they are closer to El Centro and some also offer good views. The disadvantage may be that they are noisy.

The Casitas are located to the left of the El Centro lobby. The closest is Building 1 and the furthest is Building 5. Some of these rooms offer great views of Lake Dorado – try 4230 to 4266.

The address of the Coronado Springs Resort is 1000 West Buena Vista Drive; Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830. The direct phone number for the Coronado Resort is 407 939 1000.

Rates at Disney Coronado Springs

The Coronado Springs Resort is a moderate Disney hotel. It is quite a big step up in quality and amenities from a Disney Value Resort and can be a great option. Rack rates start at $154 per room per night plus tax in Value Season for a Standard View. Rates rise to $269 per night in Holiday Season.

Water View rooms at the Coronado Springs have higher rates. They start at $179 in Value Season rising to $269 for a King or Queen room in Holiday Season.

The maximum occupancy of a standard Queen room at the Coronado Springs is 4. If there are more than 2 adults in the room there is an additional charge of $15 per additional adult per night. For King rooms the maximum capacity is for 2 guests.

The Club Level rooms start at $210 for Value Season rising to $310 for Holiday Season.

There are some Junior Suites with a maximum occupancy of 6 guests which start priced at $350 and rise to $575 per room per night.

The One Bedroom Suites Value Season rate is $655 for Value Season rising to $885 for Holiday Season. The One Bedroom Suites accommodate up to 6 guests.

All of the rates are for 2010 and do not include taxes. To get the very best rates you can always contact EverythingMouse Travel and we will take care of all the details for you – our service is always free of charge.

Recreation at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

The Coronado hotel pool is located at The Dig Site. This wonderful Mayan pyramid themed pool also features a 123 foot long Jaguar Water Slide. The Coronado pool Dig Site also has a very large hot tub which will fit up to 22 people, an excellent playground,children’s pool a sand volleyball court and that essential ingredient – a great pool bar called Siesta’s.

There are also 3 more pools located around the resort. The main pool can get pretty crowded so sometimes it is a great option to go to one of the smaller, but generally quieter pools.

The La Vida Health Club is the only fitness facility at a moderate Walt Disney World hotel. This excellent 3,000 square foot facility is free for resort guests. If you are staying at a different Disney reosrt then you can purchase a day pass for $12 per day. The spa is a 200 square space which offers a sauna, pedicure, manicures, massage and personal training. Use of this facility is of course at additional charge.

The recreation at Coronado Springs is right outside your room – just walk around the beautiful resort trail, walk on one of the sandy areas around the lagoon or relax in a hammock. You can rent bikes, Surrey Bikes, kayaks and pedal boats too.

Disney’s Coronado Resort Transortation

The bus transportation system at Disney Coronado is an efficient way to get around. There are 4 bus stops around the resort and buses will take you to Disney Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Disney Animal Kingdom, Typhoon Lagoon, Magic Kingdom and Blizzard Beach. Journey times are from 5 minutes to Blizzard Beach, to around 20 minutes to Magic Kingdom. Other resort and Downtown Disney are accessed via the Transport and Ticket Center.

Restaurants at Disney’s Coronado Resort

There are a number of dining choices in Disney’s Coronado resort.

The Maya Grill is Disney’s Coronado resort’s only full service dining restaurant. Breakfast favorites include omelets, pancakes and a Kobe Brunch Burger. The service is good. Ask for a table by the window so that you get a nice view of the resort.

The Maya Grill also serves dinner from 5pm onwards. The entrees average around the high $20 mark and include Chipotle Chicken Breast, Salmon al la Plancha and Steak and Portobello Skewer.

For counter service food the Pepper Market is the choice at the Coronado.for breakfast lunch and dinner. I am not a big fan of this venue – mainly because it can get very very crowded. When you enter the Pepper Market you are shown to a table and given a ticket. You then walk around the various stations and select what you want to eat. It is then brought to your table and you pay when you exit. The cuisine will suit most tastes with a selection of pizza, pasta,salads,sandwiches and Mexican food. Entree pricing ranges around the $10 to $15 mark.

Other dining choices at the Coronado Resort are room service available 11am to 11pm, the Siesta Pool Dining and Grill located next to the Dig Site. The Ritz Lounge is in the El Centro building and is open from 5pm to 2am with a full service bar and appetizer menu.

For me the restaurant and eating choices are rather limited as the Maya Grill is one of my least favorite Disney restaurants. But Coronado Springs is still my favorite moderate resort – you can always eat somewhere else!

Overall Disney Coronado Springs Resort is a great choice for families and couples on a Disney vacation. It has a good location, good pricing and is a beautiful relaxing resort. But for those looking for none stop Disney they may be a little disappointed with the theming – but perhaps you will get more than enough of that in the parks!

If you want help with planning your Disney vacation don’t forget that you can contact us here at EverythingMouse!

Filed Under: Disney Parks, Disney World Hotels Tagged With: disney coronado, disney coronado springs, disney coronado springs resort, disney hotels, Disney World Hotels, disney world moderate hotels

Polynesian Resort Disney World Florida

August 27, 2010 By Alison 3 Comments

Are you considering staying at the Polynesian Resort in Disney World Florida? The Polynesian is a deluxe Walt Disney World resort hotel which is conveniently located on the Seven Seas Lagoon just minutes from Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Travel on the monorail or by boat and you can be in the Happiest Place on Earth in just minutes.

This luxury hotel not only has a great location but also offers some of the largest hotel rooms in Disney World, a relaxed South Seas theme with a welcoming tropical atmosphere, a sandy beach, excotic waterfalls, excellent restaurants and recreation facilities. But is this the right choice of Disney hotel for your vacation? Browse through this guide to find out more of what the Polynesian Resort Disney World has to offer.

Photo by expressmonorail

Polynesian Resort Hotel Over View

Disney Polynesian Resort tropical theme

The Polynesian was one of the original Disney hotels and opened in 1971. The hotel has been extensively refurbished in recent years. The rooms were all updated in 2006 and the pool area in 2001. The Polynesian was part of Walt Disney’s original vision for the ultimate theme park.

As soon as you step into the lobby you are in a different world. Leave the chaos of the theme parks behind and be transported to a tropical paradise. You will find lush landscaping both inside and outside the resort. The lobby is a tropical rain forest with a relaxing water fountain as a center piece. The lobby is a great place to sit and people watch when your feet are tired from a day in the parks!

The Great Ceremonial House is four stories high and houses the lobby, restaurants, shops and some hotel rooms. Most of the Polynesian’s rooms are in one of the eleven ‘longhouses’ located around the resort. Each longhouse has either 2 or 3 floors.

Photo by mrkathika

Polynesian Resort Hotel Rooms

Photo by troybthompson

The Polynesian Resort has some of the largest hotel rooms in Walt Disney World. So if you are looking for space this is a good choice with standard rooms being around 410 square feet, with he 476 square feet rooms are located in the Tokelau, Rapa Nui and Tahita longhouse buildings.

Each room can sleep up to 5 with 2 Queen beds and a daybed. A child up to the age of 3 can also be accommodated in a crib.

Suites are also available in the Hawaii longhouse. Concierge rooms are in the Tonga and Hawaii buildings.

One disadvantage of the Polynesian is that not all of the rooms have balconies. If you have your heart set on a balcony then make sure that you request one at the time that you make your booking. What most of the rooms do have is good views. The location of the Polynesian Resort Hotel is of course one of the very best in the whole of Disney World , and many rooms overlook the Seven Seas Lagoon and some even have unobstructed views over Magic Kingdom.

Garden view rooms are sometimes misnamed! They can have a view over the gardens, the pool, the marina or the parking lot. So be sure to specify exactly which view you want and are expecting. The better views are of course at a higher price, but it is confusing that you book a Garden View and end up looking at a parking lot, so be sure to be clear with your request. As with all room requests they are not guaranteed but you do increase your chances of getting what you want if you request at time of booking and follow up with a fax to the Polynesian Resort on 407-824-3174 to specify the room view you want.

Which are the best rooms at the Walt Disney Polynesian Resort?

A view of the beach and longhouses at Disney's Polynesian Resort

Rooms and the Polynesian Resort Hotel rack rates range from $365 to over $900 a night depending on room type and season. Suites at the Polynesian start at around $630 and go to over $3000 per night.

The first thing to remember is that not all of the rooms have balconies so if this is important then you must request one to increase your chances of getting one!

There are 11 longhouses with different pros and cons. For families who want to be close to the resort pool then Samoa is a good choice. If you like to be nearer to the Grand Ceremonial House building with restaurants, shops and the monorail stop then Fiji, Tonga, Rarotonga, Niue and Samoa are your best bets.

Are there any rooms to avoid at Disney’s Polynesian? It is best to avoid rooms in the Rarotonga longhouse which are on the monorail side and the parking lot view rooms in Rapa Nui.

Photo by chslaw

Disney Polynesian Resort Concierge Rooms

Disney Polynesian Resort Hotel Lobby

Guest of the Polynesian speak highly of the concierge service. Although the rooms are essentially the same you will enjoy free breakfast, afternoon snacks, evening hors d’oeuvres, hot appetizers and wine. There is a dessert service from 8pm to 10pm every evening and this gets particularly good reviews! Some may say of course that the extra perks of the food and concierge service are not worth the premium price but it really depends on how prepared you are to pay for that bit extra.

There is an additional reason to choose concierge rooms at the Polynesian. The location of the second floor lounge has a fabulous view of Magic Kingdom Castle. This is the perfect place to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks and concierge guests are the only ones who have access to this lounge so this is an excellent perk.

Polynesian Hotel Transport to Walt Disney World

Disney Polynesian Resort Hotel Boat Dock

The location of the Polynesian Resort is one of the best in Walt Disney World as you have a choice of monorail and boat to get to the Magic Kingdom. It is possible to walk to Magic Kingdom from the Polynesian but it is a long way as you have to walk almost completely around the Seven Seas Lagoon. You may want to save your energy for walking around the parks instead!

Guests can also take the boat across the Seven Seas Lagoon to Magic Kingdom from the Polynesian Resort. This is one of my favorite ways to arrive at the Magic Kingdom!

Disney Polynesian Resort Monorail

Photo by expressmonorail

The monorail will also transport you from the Polynesian hotel to the Transport and Ticket Center which is the hub of the monorail and bus transportation for Disney World. You can easily get to Epcot on the other monorail line from the TTC. Buses to all the theme parks, water parks, Downtown Disney and the other resort hotels leave from the TTC.

There are also Disney buses from the Polynesian Resort bus stop outside the Grand Ceremonial House which will take you to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and Downtown Disney. These buses may also pick up guests at the Grand Floridian and Wilderness Lodge Resorts. Unfortunately these buses can sometimes be crowded and take a while to reach their destination so you may find that at busy times in particular you want to get the monorail to the TTC and then a bus onwards from there.

Photo by mrkathika

Polynesian Resort Disney World Recreation Facilities

Disney's Polynesian Resort Swimming Pool

The landscaping both inside and outside of the Polynesian has a relaxing tropical feel. There are 2 swimming pools. The Nanea Volcano Pool is one of the nicest of any of the Disney World resort hotel pools. It has a waterfall, a slide and even a volcano! This is also a very popular pool and it is not exactly very large so it does get crowded sometimes. If you want some peace and quiet there is another pool at the resort.

If you want to visit a fitness center the Polynesian does not have it’s own but you can go to the one at the Grand Floridian Resort. There is also a 1.5 mile jogging trail which goes around the resort longhouses and passes Shades of Green Resort.

Photo my mrkathika

Disney Polynesian Resort Restaurants

The Polynesian Resort has a good choice of restaurants and of course is home to the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show.

The Kona Cafe is a full service restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner which is located in the lobby of the hotel. Breakfast here is around $10 and upwards for an entree with American cuisine. You will find the usual favorites of pancakes,steak and eggs and omelet. A popular choice is Tonga Toast a variation of French Toast with sourdough stuffed with banana served with strawberry compote. Lunch entrees are around the $15 range with dinner entrees starting at $20. Fish and steak with an Asian influence is the specialty.

Ohana offers a family style breakfast with Lilo and Stitch. Food is brought to your table and includes scrambled eggs, fried potatoes and Mickey Waffles. Prices are $24.99 for adults and $13.99 for children aged 3 to 9. Dinner is also family style but without characters. The specialty is food on skewers with dips which are brought to you by your server. There is a fire pit right in the center of the restaurant, and you will be entertained with hula hoop contests and coconut races.
If you want a quick snack then visit Captain Cook’s Snack Company. It serves scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes,Tonga Toast and Mickey Waffles. The Barefoot Pool Bar serves drinks by the pool.

Disney Polynesian Luau Dinner Show

Photo by joanna8555

A very popular dinner show is the Polynesian Luau. This how energy dinner show features Polynesian music and dancing. Food is served family style and brought to your table. The food includes pineapple coconut bread,barbecued pork ribs,roasted chicken and Polynesian rice. Dessert is Kilauea Volcano Delight. The price of the Polynesian Luau also covers drinks including Bud and Bud Lite beer, house wine and a selection of non alcoholic beverages.

The cost of the Polynesian Luau is based upon one of 3 seating categories with Category 1 being the closest to the show. The rate for adults ranges from $52.99 to $61.99 and for children aged 3 to 9 from $256.99 to $31.99. This includes tax and gratuity.

The Disney dining plan can be used for Category 2 and 3 seating only. It will use 2 Disney dining credits per guest. If you want to have Category 1 seating you will have to pay separately even if you are on the Disney Dining Plan. Shows do sell out so you must make Advance Dining Reservations. Remember that if you want to cancel you must do so at least 48 hours in advance or your credit card will be charged.

Filed Under: Disney Parks, Disney World Hotels Tagged With: disney, disney polynesian resort, Disney World Hotels

Walt Disney World Wilderness Lodge Resort

February 6, 2010 By Alison 11 Comments

If you are looking for a luxury hotel with a wonderful location then you need to consider Walt Disney World Wildnerness Lodge Resort . This deluxe Walt Disney World hotel which takes it’s inspiration from the Old Faithful Lodge in Yellowstone National Park has a wonderful relaxing atmosphere.

Even though you are so close to Magic Kingdom you feel as though you are in a quiet wilderness away from the hustle and bustle of the theme parks. You truly do seem to step into a different age as soon as you enter the resort.

Photo by Samantha Decker

Guests have a choice between the traditional hotel rooms of the Lodge and the Disney Wilderness Resort Villas. These studio, one and two bedroom villas are part of the Disney Vacation Club but can be booked by non DVC members.

The address of the Disney Wilderness Lodge 901 Timberline Dr. Lake Buena Vista, FLA 32830. The phone number is 407-824-3200 and the fax is 407-824-3232.

Photo by mrkathika

So what does the Walt Disney Wilderness Resort have to offer? Here is a guide to the best rooms, a tour around the facilities and restaurants so that you can decide if the Disney Wilderness Resort is the place for you to stay for your magical vacation.

Rooms at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort

The Wilderness Lodge has 728 rooms which are 340 square feet in size. The Lodge has the smallest sized deluxe rooms of all the Disney resorts. Expect a wonderfully themed room which will make you think that you are in a luxury log cabin. The rooms have very detailed Native American themed bedspreads and carved animals on the furniture.??

Most rooms at the Wilderness Lodge have 2 Queen sized beds, but some of the rooms have 1 Queen and 1 bunk bed. These bunk bed rooms are great for families with small children. Unfortunately you cannot request a bunk bed room. There are also a small number of rooms with a King bed. Many of the rooms do have balconies but unfortunately not all – so be sure to request a room with a balcony. As with all requests this of course cannot be guaranteed but it doesn’t hurt to ask!

Photo by caniswolfie

The bathrooms in the Wilderness Lodge have the popular configuration of the double sink vanity being outside from the bathroom with the toilet, bath and shower.

There are also some Junior Suites available. This is a great option for families and is a good alternative to the Wilderness Lodge Villas. The Junior Suites have 2 rooms with approximately 500 square feet of space. The bedroom has 2 Queen beds. The living/kitchen are has a pull out sleeper sofa. Junior Suite guests also have access to the concierge lounge Old Faithful.

If you have a very flexible budget you may want to consider the resort suites. If money is no object then the Yellowstone Presidential Suite starting at $910 and upward per night is an excellent choice for your Disney vacation.

The Villas at Wilderness Lodge offer larger accommodation which can be a great idea for families. Studios, one and two bedroom villas are available. The studios have kitchenettes and the villas have full kitchens. I am a big fan of villa accommodation as this offers families not only the chance to have much more space, but also to prepare some of their own meals. This can prove to be a big money saver and may be worth booking a villa, particularly if you have a larger family.

Photo by Samantha Decker

What are the Disney Wilderness Lodge Room Views?

There are 3 view type classifications at the Wildnerness Resort Lodge: Standard View, Wood View and Courtyard View.

As you would expect, the Standard View rooms are the least expensive. The rack rates start at around $225 to $400 per room per night plus tax depending on season. Standard view rooms generally have a view of the parking lot or over the roof of the building. However due to the excellent design of the Wilderness Lodge there really aren’t that many of these rooms and you are much more likely to get a reasonable to great view.

Woodland View rooms are an excellent option. If you can then try and get a room on the 6th floor. 6604 to 6030 have a great view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks. Strangely, the views from the 7th floor concierge rooms are not the best views. Although some do have a view of the Magic Kingdom some other non concierge rooms offer a better view. Room 7054 has an excellent view of the Magic Kingdom castle. If staying on the 7th floor then ask for a room with a Magic Kingdom view – the even numbered rooms are on this side

Most of the rooms at the Wilderness Villas have woodland views. The odd numbered villas 2351 to 2563 and 3531 to 3563 have some of the best views. The rates for the Wilderness Villas start from $315 right up to over $1300 per villa per night depending on size of villa and season.

Is concierge level at the Disney Wilderness Resort Lodge worth the extra money??

Staying at a concierge level in a Disney World deluxe hotel can be a great option. As well as the services of the concierge to assist you with anything you need during your stay, the concierge level offers a separate lounge serving drinks and snacks throughout the day.??The Old Faithful lounge is on the 7th floor. It is actually pretty small but most guests report that it doesn’t seem to get too crowded. Food is served throughout the day. If you want you can use the concierge food to save on meals at the parks – some guests certainly do this. For breakfast there is a selection of cereal,pastries,yoghurt and fruit. The daytime snacks are cookies and small snacks like goldfish. In the evening there are 2 hot items, dips, crudites,bread, crackers and cheese. Soft drinks, beer and wine are also available.

One of my favorites is dessert time in the evening! They offer cookies, brownies and a hot dessert.Room rates start at $385 per night so you are paying quite a lot more than just a standard room.

The rooms are the same as the standard non concierge rooms and many have the same views over the courtyard or woods. Guests report varied experiences with concierge staff.??Personally I have stayed at Disney hotels both on concierge and non concierge. I tend to look at the price difference between the two at the time of my stay to see if it really is worth the difference. I have a family of 5 so it can be worth it for the concierge lounge food – although these days the Disney dining plan offers such great value that this tends not to be as big of a factor any more. But if you are expecting a better room or view from concierge then you may want to think twice about your choice.

Dining at Walt Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Hotel

Artist Point restaurant at the Wilderness Lodge is one of my favorite places to dine at Disney World. The food is consistently good and the atmosphere and decor are so relaxing it it just a very special place to eat. Even if you are not staying at the resort you should consider dining at Artist’s Point.

The design of the restaurant is inspired by the historic national park lodges. Tall windows at the end of the dining room look out to the beautiful landscape of the resort with a view of the lake and waterfall. ??Enjoy Artist Point signature dish Cedar Plank Roasted Pacific King Salmon with roasted potatoes, brussels sprouts, smoked pork belly, and honey-truffle brown butter. Their entrees are exceptional and include buffalo steak,grilled pork chop and seared scallops. Entrees start at $20 up to $42. Don’t forget to try one of the signature desserts such as Artist Point Cobbler.

Whispering Canyon Cafe is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is located just off the lobby. It is a lot of fun,particularly for families. Each table has a lazy susan in the middle where your food is placed. You can order a la carte but the family style skillet meals are popular and a good value. Breakfast serves typical favorites like waffles,omelet and the good value Canyon Skillet. Lunch offerings include sandwiches and burgers. Dinner favorites are meatloaf,roast chicken and grilled rib eye.

??The Whispering Canyon is a lively and often noisy place. Some of the guest rooms in the main building get some noise from the restaurant and guests can find this annoying. In particular if you want to sleep past 8am then you need to request a room away from this area.

The Roaring Fork is counter service with a good selection of breakfast favorites, sandwiches,burgers and pizza.

Recreation at Disney’s Wilderness Resort

Photo by mrkathika

The Wilderness has 2 resort swimming pools. The main pool actually begins in the lobby! Right there in the hotel lobby there is a bubbling geyser which runs outside to Sliver Creek Falls and finally into the pool. There is a water slide and a children’s pool. This pool does get pretty busy at times, but there is an alternative quieter pool where you can get away from the noise if you want to.

There are plenty of ways to be active at the Wilderness Resort. Work out at the Sturdy Branches health club,enjoy a one mile run on the trail to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground or rent a bike.

Wilderness Resort is one of the most relaxing resorts too – you have to experience it to realize just how reminiscent of those great lodges of the National Parks it is. One of my favorite things to do is to escape the excitement of the theme parks and just relax on the beach at Bay Lake.

The Wilderness Lodge is of course situated right there on the shores of Bay Lake so you can enjoy some water pursuits too. You can rent water craft or take a fishing trip

If the children still have some energy left from a day at Disney World there is a playground open 24 hours a day. If parents want a break then they can sign up their kids aged 4 to 12 for the supervised activities at Cub’s Den.

You may also want to sign up for the free tour around the resort – Wonders of the Lodge. The tour gives an insight into the design, architecture, landscaping and art work in the hotel. The tour starts at 9am on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Walt Disney Wilderness Lodge Transportation

One of the advantages of staying at a Disney hotel is that if you are just visiting the theme parks then you do not need to rent a car because you can use the free Disney transportation system.

Photo by mrkathika

The Wilderness Lodge’s location on Bay Lake means that one way to get to Magic Kingdom is to take the boat from the hotel dock. You can also take a bus to Magic Kingdom and all the other Disney parks.Most of the time there is not that long of a wait for a bus. There are buses to take you to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The bus to Animal Kingdom also stops at Blizzard Beach. Buses to Downtown Disney start running at 4pm. The Wilderness Lodge buses also stop at the Polynesian and the Floridian resort hotels.

Weddings at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort

IF you are dreaming of a Walt Disney World Wedding you can get married at this lovely location in Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Sunrise Terrace at Wilderness Lodge gives a beautiful view of Disney’s Bay Lake. Escape Weddings at Wilderness Lodge Sunrise Terrace start at $4500 with the amenity package.

You may also find helpful:

Top 10 Walt Disney World Must See Rides and Attractions

Disney’s Boardwalk Inn

Top 10 Disney World Hotel Resorts

Filed Under: Disney Parks, Disney World Hotels Tagged With: Disney World Hotels, disney world wilderness resort, walt disney world wilderness resort

Walt Disney World Hotels

July 2, 2009 By Alison

Are you thinking of staying in a Walt Disney World hotel but are not sure of the benefits? Or you know that you definitely want to stay at a Disney World Resort but are not sure which one to choose? Then here is a guide to give you an overview of all the Disney World hotels.

Disney's Grand Floridian
Photos used under Creative Commons from joepennistone

What are the benefits of staying at a Disney World Resort?

There are certain benefits which are only given to Disney resort guests. Some are very valuable.

Extra Magic Hours

This is perhaps the best benefit. We all know that the parks are busy for much of the year and so Disney decided to give this extra benefit exclusively to guests of it’s hotels.

Disney resort guests are allowed access to select parks for one hour earlier in the morning and up to 3 hours later in the evening. These Extra Magic Hours are available only on selected days – so check before you plan your visit.

Disney Dining Plan

Another great benefit and one which can save you a considerable amount of money – according to Disney up to 40% on dining.

The Disney Dining Plan lets guests pre purchase meals. There are a number of different plans available ranging from snacks and counter service meals, right up to 3 full service restaurant meals per day. When you check in your are given a number of ‘credits’ according to the plan that you purchased and you use these throughout your stay. It can take some working out to get the best value – but overall it does save you money and the majority of guests are very positive about it.

A Disney resort guest must purchase it as part of a Magic Your Way Package. This must consist of an hotel room stay and at least one day’s Disney ticket. So even if you have tickets already (say an annual pass or unexpired days from your last vacation) you still have to purchase at least a one day ticket.

Disney World Monorail System
Photos used under Creative Commons from auntie_rain

Disney Transportation System

Of course anyone with a Disney park entrance ticket can use the transportation system. But there is added convenience of location if you are staying on Disney property. Some of the Magic Kingdom resorts are particularly convenient as they are on the monorail system.

If you stay on Disney property you may be able to enjoy your vacation without the need to rent a vehicle. So this can mean considerable savings.

Disney’s Magical Express

An excellent free bus service from Orlando International Airport. But more that this it takes care of your bags if you are a domestic passenger without you having to go to bag clain. Simply check your bag at your departure airport and it will find it’s way to your Disney hotel room without you having to handle it in between. International airline guests can also use the service but they do have to collect their bags at bag claim.

When it is time to go home you can bypass the lines at the airport again by checking in your baggage and printing out your boarding pass at your Disney resort hotel. This facility is only available for domestic passengers on select airlines.

Disney's Magical Express
Photos used under Creative Commons from auntie_rain

Disney’s Magical Express is a great benefit for guests. The usual Disney efficiency means that your bags are waiting for you in your room, and you will also save on the hassle and cost of airport transfers.

Free Parking in Disney Theme Parks

All Disney resort guests are entitled to use the parking lots for free. This can add up to a considerable saving.

Package Delivery

Disney resort guests can have all items which they have purchased on Disney property delivered direct to their hotel room. Not that much of a perk but nonetheless it can be useful sometimes.

Which Disney Resort Hotel Should I Choose?

This is obviously a question of budget first. Prices vary by dates and resorts but range from $80 a night up to over $1000 for suites in the Deluxe Hotels.

Once you have decided on a budget you need to consider location and theme. Disney is known for it’s amazing hospitality and wonderful themes in it’s resorts. So browse though the choices and discover which one is best for you.

Disney World Deluxe Hotels

The Lobby at Disney's Wilderness Resort
Photos used under Creative Commons from auntie_rain

The very best hotel resorts which Disney has to offer. Excellent locations and these Disney resorts include some of the finest hotels in the world!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

One of my very favorites. Be transported to another world with Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort Hotel. The resort is built around a savanna filled with free roaming animals.

Choose a savanna view room and you will enjoy an amazing view of the animals. Yes you really will see a giraffe from your balcony.

The only downside? The location is not the best. It is next to Disney’s Animal Kingdom so a little remote from the other parks – and the bus system may leave you wishing you had rented a car. Other than this it is an exceptional hotel.

Disney’s Beach Club Resort

This is another one of my personal favorites. The location is excellent. You can walk to Epcot’s World Showcase entrance. This luxury hotel has the ambience of a seaside resort at the turn of the century.

The Beach Club also has what is considered the very best Disney resort swimming pool – Stormalong Bay.

Disney's Beach Club
Photos used under Creative Commons from auntie_rain

Disney’s Boardwalk Inn

The Boardwalk Inn is located just steps away from Disney’s Boardwalk entertainment and restaurant area. It is a short stroll from Epcot, and just a short boat ride away from Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Very convenient for everything.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort Hotel

There really can’t be many hotels in the world with a monorail running through the lobby. You can’t get much closer to Disney’s Magic Kingdom in this innovative A Frame design hotel. Take the monorail or walk to the Magic Kingdom.

The Contemporary Resort has recently undergone a huge refurbishment to bring the rooms up to date (it was a little stuck in the 70s a while ago)! Altogether a great choice.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

The Disney World Grand Floridian is Disney’s flagship resort. Located on the shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon, the Magic Kingdom is just a short walk, boat or monorail ride away. The perfect location. The rooms are beautiful and well appointed. But of course you pay for the luxury and this is the most expensive hotel on Disney property.

Disney World Grand Floridian
Photos used under Creative Commons from joepennistone

Disney’s Polynesian Resort Hotel

A tropical theme awaits you at this excellent Disney deluxe hotel. Conveniently located on Seven Seas Lagoon just a short boat or monorail ride away from Magic Kingdom. Lush tropical landscaping and a South Pacific theme make this a popular choice with Disney resort guests.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Disneys Wilderness Lodge Resort
Photos used under Creative Commons from mrkathika

Along with Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge this resort is worth a visit even if you are not a guest just to see the wonderful theme and attention to detail. You will feel as though you are in the middle of a National Park instead of just a short boat ride away from Magic Kingdom.

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Hotel

Located next to Disney’s Beach Club this hotel is a beautiful resort in an excellent location. Just short walk from Epcot and a relaxing boat ride to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It also shares Stormalong Bay swimming pool with the Beach Club

Disney’s Moderate Resorts

The reasonably priced Disney moderate resorts are a great choice for your vacation. They are all nicely themed. The locations are not as great as the Deluxe hotels nor are the rooms as large and luxurious. But you get excellent value for money.

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Hotel

This Caribbean tropical themed hotel has over 2000 guest rooms. Disney’s Caribbean Beach hotel has a good location as it is pretty centrally located for access to the parks. It has a fun Caribbean theme which the kids will particularly enjoy.

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Hotel

Disney's Coronado Resort Hotel Photos used under Creative Commons from mrkathika

This is my favorite Disney moderate resort hotel. The Coronado Springs has a American Southwest theme. The resort itself is huge – it can be a long trek to your room! The resort is planned around 15 acre Lago Dorado and has a laid back atmosphere which is quieter than many resorts.

To some people the drawback is that it is a Conference Hotel and lacks the Disney ‘feel’ about it. But if you want a relatively quiet hotel with good facilities this could be a good choice.

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground

This is a great option for everyone. It is particularly good for larger families as the Fort Wilderness Cabins sleep up to 6 guests and each has a full kitchen.

The grounds are beautiful. You really do feel as though you are in the middle of the Wilderness. It is amazing to believe that you are so close to all the parks.

If you want to bring your own tent or RV then Fort Wilderness is the perfect place for you to stay. There are 788 campsites – but book early as they do fill up quickly.

Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter

This resort used to be called Disney’s Port Orleans. Themed around Mardi Gras and New Orleans this resort is an excellent choice.

Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside

Formerly known as Dixie Landings. It has a Old South feel to it. The resort is of course the sister resort to Port Orleans French Quarter.

Both Riverside and French Quarter share a bus transportation system to the Disney theme parks.

Disney Value Resorts

Disney World Pop Century value Resort
Photos used under Creative Commons from auntie_rain

A great choice for families and guests on a budget. Disney has created a wonderful fun atmosphere in these budget Disney resort hotels. All are linked to the Disney theme parks by the bus transportation system.

The All Star Complex

This group of 3 hotels is located on a huge complex close to Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Blizzard Beach. Each of the rooms on the resorts are motel style and the smallest on Disney property at just 260 square feet. So expect a tight fit for a family of 4. But also a lot of fun in a good location for a great price.

1. Disney’s All Star Movies Resort.

This movie themed Disney resort is a lot of fun. Here you will find a 35 foot tall Buzz Lightyear and a 25 foot Woody. Everything is larger than life at this resort!

2. Disney’s All Star Music Resort

It doesn’t matter if you prefer Country,Rock,Broadway,Calypso or Jazz there is something here for everyone. The All Star Music resort now offers family suites which are a great choice for families of 5. Most Disney resort hotel rooms only sleep 4 so this is a good choice to avoid the need to book 2 rooms for a larger family.

3. Disney’s All Star Sports Resort

This was the very first of the Disney All Star Resorts. The concept was so successful that Disney expanded it to build the other two resorts.

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Disney’s Pop Century resort is located close to Disney Hollywood Studios. There are 2,880 rooms available on this huge Disney Value Resort. Each has a pop music theme from either the 1950s,1960s,1970s or 1980s. You can express a preference for which building you want when you reserve your room.

Disney Vacation Club Villas

Disney Vacation Club

Many people don’t realize that you do not need to be a member of Disney Vacation Club to reserve these villas. They can be an excellent choice for all guests.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas

Available are studio,one bedroom,two bedroom and Grand Villa accommodations. The Animal Kingdom Villas are located inside the main Hotel building – The Jambo House. They have the same room categories as the hotel – value,standard,savanna and concierge. Always pick a savanna view room for the complete Animal Kingdom resort experience. It really is worth the extra cost.

Kidani Village at Animal Kingdom Lodge

This is a new building located on Animal Kingdom Lodge property. It is separate from the main hotel building. Kidani Village has one and two bedroom units, and 3-bedroom Grand Villas.

Kidani Village opened in May 2009 and construction is due to be completed on all phases in September 2009. It has it’s own savannas so guests can enjoy amazing views of the animals. Another great choice – the only downside of this resort is the location. Often guests prefer to rent a car rather than use the transportation system which can prove to be slow.

Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Due to open in August 2009. The Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort will offer studio,one and two bedroom villas and three bedroom Grand Villas. The villas have some of the best views of any Disney Vacation Club resort as they are located next to the Contemporary Resort on the Seven Seas Lagoon. Some will have wonderful Magic Kingdom views – and of course you can take the monorail or walk to the park.

Disney Contemporary Bay Lake Tower
Photos used under Creative Commons from auntie_rain

Disney’s Beach Club Villas

Disney’s Beach Club Resort has studio, one and two bedroom villas. The location is excellent. A short walk away from Epcot and Disney’s Boardwalk, and a boat ride from Hollywood Studios.

Disney’s Boardwalk Resort Villas

The Boardwalk Resort Villas offer studios, one and two bedroom and three bedroom Grand Villas. Conveniently located on Disney’s Boardwalk and a short stroll from Epcot. Or take the boat to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Disney's Boardwalk Villas

Disney’s Old Key West Resort

Disney’s Old Key West Resort has studios, one and two bedroom and tree bedroom Grand Villas.

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa

This has a great location overlooking the lakeside of Downtown Disney. Saratoga Springs offers studios, one and two bedroom and tree bedroom Grand Villas.

Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa

The Treehouse Villas at Satartoga Springs were opened in June 2009. There are 60 three bedroom homes which are built 10 feet of the ground are designed to give the ultimate luxury and style in tree house living.

The picture shown here is of one of the tree houses and was actually taken by one of my favorite Disney photographers and fellow Disney addict auntie_rain She was lucky enough to be chosen to cut the ribbon at the Treehouse Villas opening ceremony.

Disney Vacation Club Resort

Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

This was the third DVC Resort and is located in a separate building on Disney’s Wilderness Lodge hotel site – so has a wonderful location and setting. There are 136 Wilderness Lodge Villas. You can choose from studiio,one and two bedroom villas.

Other Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

There are three other hotels which are located on Disney World. They are not owned by Disney but they offer the same Disney resort privileges.

Shades of Green

Shades of Green used to be owned by Disney but was sold to the Department of Defense in 2004 . It has excellent accommodation at great rates for active and retired members of the military.

Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel Resort

Walt Disney World Dolphin
Photos used under Creative Commons from afagen

The Dolphin is owned by Westin. It has a very good location located within walking distance of Epcot. Or you can take the boat to Disney Hollywood Studios, The Boardwalk and Epcot.

This hotel is largely a conference hotel but you will also find many Disney guests there. It has a huge choice of restaurants and great swimming pools.

Walt Disney World Swan Hotel Resort

This Swan right next to the Dolphin so it too has a great location close to Epcot. Like the Dolphin it is a Westin Hotel.

The rooms are large and there is plenty to keep you occupied at the resort. It has numerous restaurants and bars. One of the best features is the swimming pool area – the 3 acre Grotto water playground.

Whichever Disney World resort hotel you choose you are sure to have a wonderful vacation. Just take some time to explore all your choices before deciding which one to book.

Filed Under: Disney Parks, Disney World Hotels Tagged With: Disney World Hotels, walt disney world hotels

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