A Disney Resort
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This Deluxe Hotel has an elegant Victorian feel.
This fabulous hotel whisks you away to the Pacific Islands. The buildings are designed to resemble Polynesian long houses and the atrium of the Grand Ceremonial House has a waterfall that tumbles and cascades over volcanic rock, and lush tropical foliage into a pool in the main lobby three stories below.
The Polynesian is particularly
beautiful after dark when the grounds and pathways are lit by flaming Tiki Torches. From time to
time Polynesian entertainers can be seen in the lobby. Restaurants and shops including a Wyland
Art Gallery invite you to browse. Recreational activities include a sandy beach, walking trails,
and
boat rentals.
This massive a- frame concrete building is stark looking compared to the rest of Disney's deluxe hotels. Don't let this fool you. The Contemporary has a lot to offer. It has a unique feature in that the monorail actually runs right through the middle of the hotel and has a station inside on the Grand Concourse.
As well as shops and restaurants, the Contemporary is home to more activities than any other resort. These include parasailing, waterskiing, boat rentals, volleyball, tennis and more. Parasailing and waterskiing are not cheap activities but they are tremendous fun and are unique to the Contemporary.
This breathtaking structure looks like it belongs in a national park in the Pacific Northwest. Attention to detail of this huge log building is tremendous right down to the two 55ft high totem poles that grace the impressive log walled lobby. Even the plants and trees of the beautifully landscaped grounds are native to the Pacific Northwest.
Wilderness lodge has its own geyser that erupts sending a plume of steam and water over 100 feet into the air on the hour every hour. A spectacular swimming pool starts as a bubbling stream in the lobby and winds its way outside plunging through rocky canyons and over a waterfall before flowing into the main pool and eventually out into the lake.
Recreational activities include bike rentals, boat
rentals, walking trails, and a beach. Although not on the monorail there is a boat dock from
where you can take relaxing boat rides to the Magic Kingdom, Contemporary Resort and Fort
Wilderness.
Leave Florida far behind and enter a world of exotic cultures and even more exotic animals!! Like the Wilderness Lodge, the Animal Kingdom Lodge is incredibly detailed with its thatched roof and earth colors. It looks every inch the African game lodge it was designed to resemble.
The Animal Kingdom Lodge may be a little off the beaten track (it is only accessible by bus or car) but it is worth the trip. While it has no monorail or boats, it has something very unique: IT'S OWN PRIVATE GAME RESERVE! Giraffes, Zebras, Thompson's Gazelles and other animals roam freely over a 33 acre savanna and guides from different regions of the African Continent are available to answer questions.
The best thing
of all NO CROWDS ! AND NO PARK ADMISSION REQUIRED! The interior of the hotel is
also impressive with its high vaulted ceilings and
displays of African artwork and masks. There is only one shop but it is huge and carries African
themed merchandise that you won't find anywhere else. The store also carries Disney
merchandise ,snacks,
drinks, and sundries.
Visit the New England Coast without leaving Disney property. These twin resorts are very different but are both modeled on hotels built on the New England seashore around the turn of the 20th Century. The Yacht Club has the feel of an elegant upscale nautical club of the period, polished brass and mahogany are everywhere along with hardwood floors and etched glass.
The Beach Club has a more casual laid back atmosphere in line with its fun beachy theme. Rattan furniture pastel colors and beach scenes surround you, all in a light and airy setting. The Yacht and Beach Club share a pool complex probably the best pool anywhere on Disney property. It covers a 3 acre area and is really a mini water park complete with a water slide disguised as a shipwreck . Note: This pool is for the use of hotel guests only, but is fun to look at even if you can't swim .
Recreational activities include boat rentals, walking trails, a sandy
beach, tennis, and volleyball. The Boardwalk with its clubs, restaurants, and shops is a short
walk away, as is the International Gateway, the back door into Epcot. Friendship boats sail back
and forth across Crescent Lake to the Boardwalk as well as to MGM Studios and the
International Gateway.
Located on Crescent Lake across from the Yacht and Beach Club the Inn fits right in with the Carnival theme of the surrounding Boardwalk area. The Coney Island theme is very much in evidence with detailed models of roller coasters and ferris wheels scattered throughout the lobby. The main pool has a water slide that terminates in a huge clowns face with the riders being ejected out through the clowns mouth and into the pool.
There is a very pleasant lounge that has old fashioned radios playing classic shows from the 1930s and1940s that entertain while you enjoy a pleasant drink. The Inn doesn't have a restaurant but is only a stones throw from the many dining options available on the Boardwalk.
Recreational activities include bike rentals, surrey bike rentals, and walking trails. Equipment
for shuffleboard, badminton, and croquet may also be rented. Friendship boats ply the waters of
the lake providing free transportation between the various resorts as well as Epcot and the Yacht
and Beach Club.
For complete details on the restaurants, nightclubs, shops, and other entertainment options on Disney's Boardwalk Click Here
These hotels are not operated by Disney and are pretty standard, deluxe convention style hotels. They are interesting architecturally though because of the huge art deco models of swans and dolphins that sit atop the respective hotels. They also have two top class, if expensive, restaurants in Todd English's Blue Zoo and Shula's Steak House. If sushi is to your taste, Kimonos Lounge has some of the best around.
If your looking for a little bit of good old southern hospitality you've found the right place This huge picturesque resort is really two different resorts each with a very different southern theme. On one side is the Riverside which brings to mind the old south of stately mansions and southern belles and on the other is the French Quarter which as the name suggests is a recreation of the Old French Quarter of New Orleans. Although Disney classes this as a moderate resort they certainly spared no expense when it came to the architecture and landscaping. This is one of the most visually stunning of all of Disney's Resorts.
The Riverside's main building is designed to look like the booking hall of a steam ship company and is light and airy. Just off the main hall is a shop, an arcade, a table service restaurant Boatwrights, and a huge food court Riverside Mill. This food court is designed to resemble an old fashioned cotton mill and has great food, but what makes it interesting is the massive working waterwheel outside with all the cogs and gears that it turns exposed to view powering the working cotton press inside.
The French Quarter has a turn of the 20th century feel to it. The wrought iron trellis work and lush vegetation that greet you on entering the grounds conjures up images of the Mississippi Delta. On approaching Port Orleans Square, the image changes to that of the old French Quarter of New Orleans. The main building is based on an old mint and feels like a bank. In fact, the clerks in the check- in area are seated behind old fashioned bank teller windows. Along with the check- in area there is a shop, an arcade, and a food court housed in the main building.
The main attraction of this huge sprawling resort is the beautiful landscaped grounds that both hotels share, bubbling brooks and streams stocked with tropical fish are crisscrossed with little bridges. Walking trails and bike paths abound inviting exploration. At the Riverside Resort there is even a fishing hole where for a few dollars you can rent a cane pole and fish. (Strictly catch and release). Each resort has numerous pools, the biggest of which is Ole Man Island at the Riverside. There is a marina on the Sasagoula River where all manner of water craft are available for rent .Bikes and 4 person quadracycle surrey bikes are available for rent and a evening carriage ride is available the cost is around $35 for a 25 minute ride for up to four adults. A pleasant cruise down the Sasagoula River to downtown Disney leaves from the marina and is absolutely free. This is one of my families favorite places to stay and visit. We love it.
The theme of this resort, as the name implies, is the Caribbean. As with everything else Disney touches, the attention to detail is astounding. Set around a 45 acre lake the guest rooms are arranged into villages each representing a different island, Martinique, Barbados, Trinidad, Aruba, and last but not least Jamaica. The pastel colors of the buildings with their vividly colored metal roofs and white railings are very appealing and almost make you forget you are in Florida! The Old Port Royale Town Centre is at the heart of the resort and is Disney's version of a Caribbean market. It houses the restaurant (Shutters), a food court, lounge, arcade, and two shops.
There are many recreational activities available at this huge resort include swimming(for hotel guests only).The main pool is themed around a Spanish colonial fort complete with slides, waterfalls, and water cannons. There is also a quiet pool for each of the five villages. Bikes and all manner of boats are available for rent at the Barefoot Bay Boatyard and Bike Works. A stroll or bike ride around the 1.4 mile perimeter of the lake is a pleasant way to get a little exercise and boating on the lake and is a great way to pass a hot Florida afternoon. There is also a white sand beach for sunbathing but not swimming.
Experience the spirit of the Mayans and Incas at this resort with its themes from the American Southwest and Northern Mexico. The architectural styles range from low two and three story buildings that would not be out of place on many a southwestern cattle ranch to imposing Spanish colonial style structures of a type that can be found in many of Mexico's cities. There are Mayan influences in both the main restaurant (The Mayan Grill) and in particular at the main pool which has a Mayan Pyramid as its main focal point with water flowing down its steps and into the pool.
The main building with its decorative fountain tile floors and mosaics on the ceiling is home to an arcade, a lounge, the Mayan Grill restaurant, and the Pepper Market food court. The Pepper market is well worth a visit designed to look and feel like an open air marketplace. There are multiple food stations to choose from serving everything from tacos and tortillas to pizza, pasta, bakery items and more. It differs from a standard food court in that a hostess will seat you and gives you a card that gets punched at each food station visited and is totaled up at checkout. It also gives you an opportunity to interact with the chefs cooking your food. A 10% gratuity will be added to your check.
Built around a 15 acre lake, there are many recreational opportunities. The main pool area is known as the dig site with its imposing Mayan stepped pyramid and giant sandbox where young explorers can unearth Mayan artifacts. There is also an arcade and a pool side bar . There is also a short nature trail, and bike and boats can be rented at the marina to explore the pathways and lake. The Coronado is very large but fun to explore and as in most Disney Resorts there are topiaries everywhere in all shapes and sizes.
The All-Star Movies,and The All-Star Sports
These are Disney's Value Resorts. They are all huge sprawling properties but for families on a budget they can't be
beat.
What makes them worth a visit for guests at other Disney Resorts or those not staying on Disney
property at all, are the larger than life representations of classic Disney characters like Buzz
Lightyear and Woody from Toy Story each close to 40' tall these along with many other pop icon
figures make
great souvenir photos. Other than swimming, there is not much else to do here. These are after all
no frills resorts. They do, however, still manage to capture that unique Disney
magic and at a very reasonable cost. Although the guest rooms are small, it is possible to get two
rooms here for the price of
one at a moderate or deluxe resort. There are no table service restaurants but each has a very
large food court with a good variety of food and drinks.
