Reading the Resorts: Your Guide to the Disney World Properties- Deluxe Resorts Part 1: Magic Kingdom
You know how sometimes you know things but you don't really know them until suddenly you know you know them? That would describe me this week as I've delved into my research for the WDW Deluxe Resorts. Here's what I've learned: there are eight of them. Eight. On some level, deep in the back of my mind, I realized this, but it didn't really click until my notes started to exceed five pages and I'd only researched half of them.
Eight is far too many resorts to adequately cover in a single blog post. So in order to maintain a semblance of organization I've elected to split this into two separate posts. This post will cover the four resorts that make up the Magic Kingdom Deluxe Resorts: the Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge, the Polynesian, and the Grand Floridian. The remaining four (Animal Kingdom, Boardwalk, Beach Club, and Yacht Club) will be covered in part 2.
But, you may argue, you covered five resorts in the posts on the Value and Moderate Resorts and eight is only a few more. This is a true statement; however, the difference lies in the fact that four of the six properties discussed in the Value resorts post are the All-Star Resorts which are essentially, with the exception of the decor, the same resort; and, unlike the Value Resorts, the activities and theming offered at the deluxe resorts is so varied from one resort to the next that I would be doing you, dear reader, a disservice if I didn't give them the credit they are due. And while five may be pushing the boundaries a bit, eight is definitely too much.
 |
| Magic Kingdom Deluxe Resorts Map |
The Magic Kingdom Resorts are so called because they are built in extremely close proximity to the Magic Kingdom at the northern end of Disney property. They are all built on either the shores of Bay Lake (Wilderness Lodge or the Contemporary) or Seven Seas Lagoon (Grand Floridian or Polynesian Village), making the Magic Kingdom accessible by boat. Additionally, three of the four are located on the monorail loop connecting them to Epcot, the Magic Kingdom and each other. The best part of this is that the guests of these resorts not only have access to their resort, also the restaurants and amenities of the other resorts on the monorail loop. To get a closer look at the MK resorts, you can visit WDW's interactive map here. For up-to-date information regarding room rates, promotions, etc. for each of these resorts, we recommend that you visit the Official Walt Disney World Website or contact your travel agent.
Given that there are eight deluxe resorts spread across Disney property, there is literally something that will appeal to everyone with a variety of price points. The least expensive of these properties is Wilderness Lodge starting at approximately $300+ per night and the rates go up from there with suites and villas in the $1,000+ per night price range.
There are some commonalities amongst the deluxe resorts so let's take a look at what that means:
- Lobbies and theming are true wow factors at these resorts. Rooms are decorated in keeping with the overall resort theme.
- Feature pools are beautiful and include water slides and hot tubs/spas.
- All deluxe resort rooms have mini-fridges. Villas/bungalows/suites may have kitchens.
- All deluxe resorts have a variety of very expensive suites.
- For dining options, all deluxe resorts offer:
- At least one moderately-priced table-service restaurant (many offer more than one).
- An upscale fine-dining restaurant.
- A counter-service restaurant.
- Room service
- A lounge bar
- A pool bar
- Finally, deluxe resorts offer club-level rooms with private club-level concierge. These rooms obviously cost more, but club-level access gets you:
- Continental breakfast
- Hot samples from resort restaurants
- Evening wine and beer selections
- Desserts and cordials
- All deluxe resorts also include accommodations for Disney Vacation Club members. Typically, these are villas or bungalows, but they can be booked by non-DVC guests.
The Contemporary
Disney's Contemporary Resort was opened in October 1971 on the shores of Bay Lake making it one of the oldest hotels at Walt Disney World. Even if you've never been to WDW or stayed at a WDW resort, you probably recognize the Contemporary's distinctive monorail-bisected A-frame building. TripAdvisor classifies the Contemporary as a 4-star luxury hotel, and average guest reviews rate it a 4 out of 5. The Contemporary is the least-themed of the deluxe resorts, but the architecture is interesting and this means that most guests either love the modern minimalist decor (which can be appealing after spending your days in the parks), or simply don't care for it. The Contemporary offers a 115,000 square foot convention center, and this may, for some reason, explain the 1970s decision to keep the Contemporary more sleek and modern. The Disney touches are still there, but some guests report that they feel as though they are simply staying in any other resort hotel.
The Contemporary is a complex of three buildings. The main A-frame tower and the Garden Building which house 655 guest rooms, and Bay Lake Tower which is comprised of another 295 DVC properties/guest villas. Most of the guest rooms are not in the main building but rather the Garden Building but all were renovated in 2013. The Contemporary does offer some of the best views in Walt Disney World of both Bay Lake and the Magic Kingdom.
The rooms at the Contemporary are an average of 394 square feet and can accommodate up to five adults (plus 1 child under three in a crib). This makes them fairly spacious compared to what you'll find in the Value or Moderate Resorts. Each room has either two queen beds plus a day bed or one king bed plus a day bed. There are some suites available which can house up to eight adults.
Accommodations in Bay Lake Tower, which opened in 2009, offer studio, 1- and 2-bedroom units as well as 2-story, 3-bedroom Grand Villas. It offers its own check-in desk as well as its own private pool and pool bar (the Cove Bar) and the Top of the World, a DVC-only lounge. The exclusivity of the Tower might make up for the fact that the studio units are only 339 square feet which makes them significantly smaller than the standard rooms of the Contemporary, whereas the Grand Villas top out at 2,044 square feet. Bay Lake Tower is almost a stand-alone hotel except that they share their dining options with the main tower.
No doubt the deluxe resorts offer the most variety of resort dining, and unlike their value and moderate counterparts, there are no food courts (though there are buffets at some resorts which are kind of like upscale food courts). The fine-dining restaurants do accept Disney Dining Plans but almost all of them are two dining credits with the exception of Victoria and Albert's which doesn't accept any of the Disney Dining Plans (more on this later).
The Contemporary offers no shortage of quick-service options (The Contempo Cafe, Contemporary Grounds [which offers coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and baked goods], and The Sand Bar) and lounges (The Wave Lounge, Outer Rim Lounge, and the Lounge at California Grill) plus one of the best-known fine-dining restaurants on Disney property, California Grill. Add to those the more casual The Wave...of American Flavors and, of course, one of Disney's most popular character dining experiences, Chef Mickey's. Strictly speaking, Chef Mickey's is a breakfast, brunch, and dinner buffet with characters appearing for all three. Because of this, breakfast can be very loud with children's squeals of delight and the atrium of the Contemporary is big and essentially an echo-chamber. If you choose to stay in the main tower, be aware of this and request a room away from Chef Mickey's if you don't want to be awoken early in the morning.
Maneuvering around the Disney property is fairly easy from the Contemporary. Guests can walk to the Magic Kingdom in 15-20 minutes or catch the monorail from the main tower or the bus. Epcot is accessible by monorail but guests must transfer at the TTC. Buses are available to Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Disney Springs, and the waterparks. Boat transportation can take you to Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground.
 |
| The lobby of Wilderness Lodge |
The Pacific Northwest-themed Wilderness Lodge opened in May 1994 on the shores of Bay Lake. The huge pillars in the lobby put you in mind of the Giant Sequoias of the west coast, and the massive fireplace in the lobby looks inviting even in the heat of summer. TripAdvisor rates Wilderness Lodge as a 4 out of 5 luxury hotel with the average guest review being 4.5 out of 5. Hidden among the pines, you really can believe that you've stolen away to the forests of Oregon or to a posh hunting lodge in Wyoming. Until you step outside and the heat and humidity of Florida brings you back to reality.
Average guest rooms are 344 square feet and can accommodate up to four adults plus a child under 3 in a crib. Most of these rooms feature two queen beds or one king with a few offering one queen plus a bunk bed. There are two DVC offerings at Wilderness Lodge: Boulder Ridge Villas and Copper Creek Villas and Cabins which recently opened. The 3-bedroom Grand Villa at Copper Creek can accommodate up to twelve adults.
 |
| View of the pool from a guest room balcony |
Looking for something else to do? Wilderness Lodge offers a fitness center, bike rentals, motorized boat rentals, guided fishing excursions, and a 2.5-mile jogging trail that extends through the resort grounds. For more, catch the boat over to Fort Wilderness Resort and try horseback riding, volleyball, and more!
While the dining options are somewhat less varied than you'll find at some of the other deluxe resorts, food is nonetheless plentiful. Artist Point, the resort's fine-dining restaurant, has a beautiful atmosphere while Whispering Canyon Cafe, the more casual table-service restaurant, can only be described as fun as kids race each other around the dining room in hobby-horse races and ketchup bottles pile up on your table. For quick-service dining, visit Geyser Point Bar and Grill, the Roaring Fork, or the Trout Pass Pool Bar. Visit the Territory Lounge for a relaxing drink before dinner.
Indeed, the only major complaint guests typically express have about Wilderness Lodge is the Disney transportation to and from the parks. The fact that Wilderness Lodge is not on the monorail loop really puts this resort at a disadvantage compared to its other Magic Kingdom deluxe cohorts. Travel to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and the water parks is by bus only; the Magic Kingdom can be accessed via boat as well as bus. During the busy season, though, waits for either the boat or buses can be lengthy and guests would be smart to plan their travel accordingly--especially if their plans include being in the parks at rope-drop. Two resorts can be accessed directly from Wilderness Lodge: both the Contemporary and Fort Wilderness Resort are just a boat ride away (or you can take the short walk to Fort Wilderness Resort), making Chef Mickey's, Mickey's Backyard Barbecue, and Hoop-Dee-Do Musical Review reasonably accessible.
Polynesian Village Resort
This South Pacific-themed resort opened in October 1971 on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon making it, along with the Contemporary, one of the first two Walt Disney World resort hotels. TripAdvisor classifies the Polynesian as a 4 out of 5 luxury resort hotel, and average guest reviews also rate this resort as a 4 out of 5.
The Polynesian is a complex of 11 two- and three-story long-houses named after Polynesian islands. Three of the eleven long-houses have been converted to DVC bungalows and villas which has reduced the number of standard hotel rooms to less than 500. This can make snagging a room at this resort a little more challenging so guests should either plan to book early or have a back-up plan in place when booking. Typical standard rooms are 415 square feet with either two queen beds or one king plus a day bed meaning that most rooms will accommodate up to five adults. Bungalows are approximately 1,650 square feet and can sleep up to 8 adults while villas are only 460 square feet and accommodate up to five adults.
Aquatic recreation is abundant at the Polynesian with two pools: the Oasis Pool which is a relaxing leisure pool and the Lava Pool which features a volcano with water slide. Enjoy the resort's beach, motorized boat rentals, volleyball, jogging trail, and fishing excursions. While the resort does not offer its guests a health club, the health club at the Grand Floridian is a short 2-minute monorail ride away.
Transportation from the resort to the parks is either by monorail, boat, or bus. The Magic Kingdom is, by far, the most accessible of the parks which can be reached by either boat, bus, or monorail. Epcot can also be reached by bus or monorail, though a transfer at the TTC is necessary if you choose to travel by monorail. Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom are both only accessible by bus.
Kids aged 3-12 years of age can enjoy Lilo's Playhouse Children's Activity Center at the Polynesian. This is a great option if parents want to go out to a special dinner by themselves or attend a special event. All Disney resort guests are welcome to enjoy the children's activity centers located at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Beach Club Resort, Polynesian Village, and the Dolphin though reservations are recommended. Rates, times, and restrictions are available on the official Walt Disney World website.
Dining at the Polynesian is extensive, but does not offer a fine dining option the way the other Disney deluxe resorts do. However, you can experience 'Ohana, a family-dining style restaurant where you can enjoy a character breakfast with Stitch, or enjoy the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at Luau Cove. If none of that appeals to you, you can visit Kona Cafe or one of the five quick-service restaurants on the property (Capt. Cooks, Kona Island, Barefoot Pool Bar, Oasis Bar and Grill, or Pineapple Lanai). Also remember that all the fine dining restaurants at the Contemporary and the Grand Floridian are available to Polynesian guests via monorail.
Grand Floridian
Our final stop on this week's tour of deluxe resorts is Disney's flagship resort, the Grand Floridian which opened in June of 1988 and the associated Villas which opened in 2013. The standard rooms got a much-needed refurb in 2013 as well. TripAdvisor classifies the GF as a 4.5 out of 5 luxury resort hotel and average guest reviews rate it as a 4.5 out of 5. It is, by far, the most expensive of Disney's deluxe resorts, featuring a Victorian seaside theme on the Seven Seas Lagoon. So, think flowers, ruffles, lace, stripes, and ornately carved furniture. On the lobby balcony, you can hear the Grand Floridian Society Orchestra which plays ragtime, Dixie, and jazz. While YouTube videos show that the orchestra is great (because, let's be real, Disney doesn't hire bad musicians), I don't know that I feel like ragtime/Dixie/jazz music fits with the overall Victorian seaside feel of the resort. When the orchestra isn't playing, you can enjoy the Grand Floridian pianist instead.
Standard rooms are 440 square feet. which makes it the largest standard room on Disney property. These rooms have two queen beds plus a day bed or a king bed and a double-size sleeper sofa. Maximum occupancy is up to five adults. The 2013 refurbishments definitely updated the rooms with somewhat more contemporary elements without necessarily minimizing the Victorian seaside feel. This was a good move on Disney's part as the rooms sort of screamed "1990's" prior to the refurb. If you want to see good before and after photos of the GF standard rooms, this post at A Touch of Pixie Dust is excellent. Let's talk about the villas for a moment: A studio villa at the GF is 374 square feet. For those keeping score at home, that's 66 square feet less than the standard room. They feature one queen bed, a murphy bed, and a sofa bed. They still accommodate up to 5 adults, and the only big difference between the two is a small kitchen sink. For me, those extra 66 square feet are a big deal so before you book the studio (also called deluxe) villa, consider a standard room.
The Grand Floridian's Wedding Pavilion is one of the venue options available for weddings and vow renewals, and the Grand Floridian is definitely a perfect Disney wedding/honeymoon resort hotel. Senses Spa, located at the GF, is rated one of the best spas in Orlando. Some guests complain that the Grand Floridian is not the most kid-friendly of the resorts, and this is probably partially true. While the design and architecture of the resort is beautiful, these niceties will probably be lost on younger children. Still, plenty of families with young children still book this resort so don't expect the resort to be child-free. This is, after all, Disney!
Having said that, one of the things that guests most appreciate about the Grand Floridian is that there is a higher staff to guest ratio than at the other resorts, and this means excellent staff service when you need it. Activities available at the resort include the pool with cabanas available for rent and an Alice in Wonderland-themed splash area for kids. GF offers a pirate adventure cruise for kids aged 4-12 years of age and specialty cruises around the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. Like the other MK deluxe resorts, motorized boat rentals are available as well as fishing, basketball, and jogging. You can also visit the GF beach at the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon.
Transportation to the parks is easy. The Magic Kingdom is accessible by boat, monorail, or bus. Epcot can also be reached by monorail but guests must transfer at the TTC. Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom are by bus only.
Y'all. Let's talk food. No one is going hungry at the Grand Floridian. There are so many restaurants and so many options that if you are physically staying at the Grand Floridian and you are hungry then you must not have a mouth. Typically, I discuss fine dining first, but, in this case, I'm going to work backwards and save the fine dining restaurants for last.
If you're searching for a lounge, there are two on GF property: Citricos Lounge and Mizner's Lounge. Quick-service and casual table-service dining can be accommodated at Gasparilla Island Grill, Beach Pool Bar, and Courtyard Pool Bar or the Grand Floridian Cafe. Character dining is available at 1900 Park Fare, Share in the Supercalifragilistic breakfast buffet, the Wonderland afternoon tea party, or the Cinderella's Happily Ever After dinner buffet. Fine dining is available at Citricos where you can enjoy Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and an award-winning wine list or Narcoossee's which features coastal cuisine and a Sunday waterfront brunch.
But....
If you're the type of person in the "go big or go home" category then the place for you is Victoria & Albert's. First, know that Victoria & Albert's (named for the former Queen of England and her Prince consort, Albert) is the #1 rated restaurant in Orlando on TripAdvisor--no small feat considering that TripAdvisor indicates that there are no fewer than 2,929 restaurants in the Orlando area--and it receives a perfect 5 out of 5 average guest review. Additionally, V & A's has been awarded the AAA Five Diamond Award, and the executive chef, Scott Hunnel, has been nominated for best chef in the south by the James Beard Foundation. This restaurant is no joke even among foodies. But before you go and book that reservation, there are a few things you should know: 1) Children under the age of 10 are not allowed. Period. 2) Dinner jackets are required for men; women may wear a cocktail dress, dress, pantsuit, or a skirt and blouse. 3) Disney dining plans are not accepted at all. 4) Dinner is a minimum of 7 courses (with an option for 10) and will take approximately 3 hours from start to finish. This is a true fine-dining experience. Searching on the Disney website regarding cost will return a less-than-useful result of "$$$$" which means that guests should expect to spend more than $60.00 per adult. Further research, though, indicates that the average meal for two runs about $800. Yes, you read that correctly. Despite the cost, guests clearly love the place since its reviews are consistently glowing and guests do return, albeit not necessarily frequently.
Phew! We've finally come to the end of this post. It's a lot of information to absorb. We'll see you next week when we cover the final four deluxe resorts located near Epcot and Animal Kingdom.
External Links
- Sehlinger, Bob. The Unofficial Guide Walt Disney World 2017. Birmingham: AdventureKeen, 2017. Print.
- http://www.disneytouristblog.com/disneys-contemporary-resort-review/
- https://www.mousesavers.com/best-values-at-the-walt-disney-world-resort-hotels/#deluxe
- https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g34515-d120303-Reviews-Disney_s_Grand_Floridian_Resort_Spa-Orlando_Florida.html
- http://www.themeparktourist.com/features/20141024/29492/best-shows-you-can-only-see-disneys-hotels
- http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2010/02/28/victoria-alberts-chefs-table-review/
- http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-resorts/wilderness-lodge/
- http://www.apinchofpixiedust.com/2014/08/grand-floridian-room-review-old-vs-new.html
- https://www.disneyweddings.com/florida/wishes/venues/
- https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g34515-d465932-Reviews-Victoria_Albert_s-Orlando_Florida.html
Comments
Post a Comment