Disney Resorts Part 3- Deluxe Resorts and Villas

The deluxe resorts and villas- the shining stars of the Walt Disney World resorts. These resorts feature grand theming, multiple dining locations including signature restaurants (some of Disney’s best), fun pools with waterslides and hot tubs, and more! If a deluxe resort or villa is within your budget, I definitely recommend staying at one- you will not regret it!

(Hanging out on the beach at Yacht & Beach Club Resort)

Now that summer is here, I know that some of you are planning to go to Disney within the next couple of months while the kids are on break from school. Summer is definitely a busy time at Walt Disney World, but there are ways to make the most of it. Since the theme parks are usually open later in the evening, I suggest taking a break during those HOT summer afternoons to go back to your Disney resort hotel for a swim/lunch/nap break. The water parks are also a great place to cool off during those hot summer months. Both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon water parks offer fun water activities for all ages!

(The Paddock area pool at Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa)

Speaking of going back to your Disney resort hotel for a mid-afternoon break- all Disney resort properties offer fun swimming pools, but the deluxe resorts really outdo themselves in this category. The theming is amazing, all deluxe resorts offer a fun waterslide, and one pool even has a sand-bottom (I’m looking at you, Yacht and Beach Club)! My family typically does not travel during the summer (travel is easier at other times of the year due to our jobs), but if we did, I think that we would seriously consider staying at a deluxe resort. The deluxe resorts are closest to the theme parks, making going back to the resort for a break relatively easy, the pools, as I have stated, are top-notch, and all the deluxe resorts have a quick-service location close to the swimming pool, so grabbing a pool-side lunch is easy and fun.

(Stormalong Bay pool area at Yacht & Beach Club Resort- photo from www.disneyworld.com)

Come along with me as I tell you my favorite feature and dining experience at each deluxe resort. Let's go!

Magic Kingdom Resort Area-

Resort: Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Theme: Luxury/ Florida in the early 20^th century

Dana’s Favorite Feature: The resort is just gorgeous- it’s Disney’s Flagship Resort, and everywhere you look, you see beauty- from the manicured rose gardens, to the pristine Tea Room, to the open-air cage elevator in the lobby

Dana’s Favorite Restaurant: Narcoossee’s- it’s set on the water, the service is fabulous, and the lobster and filet mignon dinner is outstanding (Update: Citrico's is our new favorite restaurant in all of Walt Disney World, with Narcoosee's being a close second!)

(Filet and lobster, anyone?)

(After a wonderful dinner at Narcoossee's, my family went outside to the balcony to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks!)

Resort: Polynesian Village Resort

Theme: The South Seas

Dana’s Favorite Feature: I love the tropical atmosphere, and the Dole Whip stand here is the only place outside of the parks where you can grab the infamous Dole Whip (Update: Rumor has it that the Dole Whip is now available at Art of Animation resort as well)

Dana’s Favorite Restaurant: Cap’n Cooks- This quick service spot offers the famous ‘Tonga Toast’ for breakfast, which can also be enjoyed for nearly double the price at the sit-down restaurant here- I prefer to save my money, and I take my Tonga Toast outdoors, which I can enjoy poolside, with a view of Cinderella Castle in the distance

(The view from an outdoor table at Cap'n Cook's)

Resort: Contemporary Resort

Theme: Modern

Dana’s Favorite Feature: The monorail actually goes inside this resort, which is ALWAYS fun to watch

Dana’s Favorite Restaurant: Chef Mickey’s Fun Time Buffet- The breakfast here isn’t bad, though if you are paying out-of-pocket (vs the dining plan), it’s a lot of money for pancakes, fruit, and omelets- the real draw here is the characters- Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy greet guests, and every so often, a fun song is played overhead, and guests are encouraged to sing out and wave their napkins in the air- it’s just a fun environment, and in my opinion, well worth 1 credit on the dining plan

(Meeting Mickey Mouse!)

(High atop the Contemporary Resort at California Grill celebrating a first birthday!)

Resort: Wilderness Lodge Resort
Theme: Pacific Northwest/ National Parks

Dana’s Favorite Feature: The majestic grand lobby- it’s especially gorgeous at Christmastime, when the fire in the fireplace is roaring, and the resort is decorated for the holiday

Dana’s Favorite Restaurant: Whispering Canyon Cafe- this fun restaurant offers and all-you-care-to-eat BBQ platter with various meats, baked beans, corn on the cob, and more- and all the antics (not to mention the Moonshine Margaritas) make for a fun night out!

(The beautiful Wilderness Lodge Resort- photo from www.disneyworld.com)

Epcot Resort Area-

Resort: Boardwalk Inn

Theme: Early 20^th Century Atlantic/ Ocean City

Dana’s Favorite Feature: No visit is complete without a stroll on the Boardwalk- grab a drink or an ice cream cone and enjoy people-watching, midway games, and my favorite resort gift shop on property!

Dana’s Favorite Restaurant: Big River Grille & Brewing Works- I’m a sucker for outdoor dining, and this location doesn’t disappoint- give me a burger and a brew with a view of the Boardwalk, and I’m one happy lady (bonus points- if you time it right, you can catch a glimpse of the Epcot fireworks here!)

(This photo was actually taken along the walkway between Epcot and the Yacht & Beach Club, but you can see the Dance Hall and the Boardwalk in the background)

Resort: Yacht & Beach Club

Theme: Martha’s Vineyard/ Newport Beach Cottage

Dana’s Favorite Feature: The amazing pool here has a huge waterslide, a sand-bottom, and is the closest thing to a water park that you can find at a Disney resort

Dana’s Favorite Restaurant: Beaches and Cream Soda Shop- While the burgers, dogs and fries are delicious, the real knock-outs here are the ice cream sundaes- I love the No Way Jose sundae with chocolate and peanut butter, but the Kitchen Sink sundae can easily feed a small army, as it’s ingredients feature, among other things, an entire can of whipped cream

(The No Way Jose sundae at Beaches & Cream)

Animal Kingdom Resort Area:

Resort: Animal Kingdom Lodge

Theme: An African Wildlife Preserve

Dana’s Favorite Feature: Strolling out on the savanna overlooks where you can watch the animals in their habitat

Dana’s Favorite Restaurant: Boma- Not everyone in my family would agree, but I love the dinner here- while some of it is ‘African-inspired’, I found it to be enjoyable, and not too spicy- I also enjoy interacting with the cast members, who have come to work here from Africa

(The beautiful and majestic Animal Kingdom Lodge lobby)

(Checking out the African masks in the gift shop)

All of the above resorts (with the exception of the Yacht Club) have a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) section, with vacation villas that, in addition to being available to DVC members, are also available to anyone paying cash. There are two resorts which have no standard hotel rooms- these resorts are strictly DVC villas, and I will cover these resorts below.

Disney Springs Resort Area:

Resort: Old Key West

Theme: Key West (Disney’s first Vacation Club resort)

Dana’s Favorite Feature: The laid-back island vibe, and the water taxi service over to Disney Springs

Dana’s Favorite Restaurant: Olivia’s Café- While it has been quite a few years since my family has eaten here, we always enjoyed the cool environment, yummy entrees, and delicious desserts at Olivia’s

(Old Key West Resort- photo from www.disneyworld.com)

Resort: Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

Theme: Upstate New York in the 1800’s

Dana’s Favorite Feature: My family fell in love with this resort this past winter- we love the laid-back atmosphere, and the walkway to Disney Springs makes trips very convenient and quick- there also is a boat launch with water taxis over to Disney Springs for those who fancy a relaxing boat ride

Dana’s Favorite Restaurant: Turf Club Bar & Grill- Enjoy a New York strip steak at this hidden gem of a restaurant, which overlooks the golf course (you may choose indoor or outdoor seating)- our service has always been outstanding, the food and drinks are delicious, and there never seems to be much of a wait to get in

(The view of the lake from our 3-bedroom grand villa at Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa)

(My friends and family enjoying a drink outdoors at Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa)

You truly can't go wrong with any of these deluxe resorts. Enjoy, and happy travels!