This is the third page of this material on deluxe resorts; for the first page, click here.
DINING AT DISNEY WORLD’S DELUXE RESORTS
One of the best features of the deluxe resorts is the often wonderful dining venues at them.
Some of these dining venues are better for adults than for kids; moreover, for every resort other than the Animal Kingdom Lodge it’s also worth thinking about options at other nearby deluxe resorts. (The Animal Kingdom Lodge has no nearby resorts.) Sheer variety also has its virtues.
See the image for some distinctions based on these points.
A few comments:
- The monorail resorts–the Grand Floridian, Contemporary, and Polynesian–are just a short monorail ride from each other, so the great options at the Grand Floridian and Contemporary in particular are easily accessible from each of these hotels.
- The two resort meals included in this site’s itineraries are Chef Mickey’s at the Contemporary and the Hoop Dee Doo Revue at Fort Wilderness. The next best resort meal for kids is the Whispering Canyon Cafe at the Wilderness Lodge (this meal used to be in the itineraries, but I took it out a few years ago as part of a simplification exercise). The Wilderness Lodge and the Contemporary are linked to each other and to Fort Wilderness by boat, so these resorts get an extra kick on the kids meals ranking.
- The Epcot Resorts–the Yacht Club, Beach Club, and BoardWalk Inn–are a short walk from each other and from the BoardWalk. Those who have with park hopper tickets and enough days on their tickets also have easy access from these hotels to all the dining options at Epcot.
- The Animal Kingdom Lodge has three great options, but is isolated from other resorts.
For more on dining at Walt Disney World, see this.
THE FUTURE OF THE DELUXE RESORTS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
In the near term, there’s a couple of interesting developments.
- While not a Disney Resort, the Four Seasons is building a hotel on grounds–between Fort Wilderness and Port Orleans Riverside. It’ll be interesting to see what impact, if any, the Four Seasons has on the Grand Floridian, and whether it creates the option of adding to the kid appeal there.
- A Disney Vacation Club offering is being built for the Grand Floridian. This will leave only the Polynesian among the monorail resorts without a DVC option. Rumors have emerged that the Polynesian will be rebuilt from the ground up. If I were doing this, I’d first move the Magic Kingdom ferry dock a little to the east, reclaim this land and much of the east side of the Polynesian for DVC rooms, and once this is up and running take down and redo the Great Ceremonial Hall and the west side of the Polynesian.
Longer term, there’s plenty of buildable space at Walt Disney World for more deluxe resorts–among other places, both north and west of the Contemporary, west of the Wilderness Lodge (on the monorail) and east nearer Fort Wilderness, and north of the Yacht and Beach Clubs.
However, other than the developments and possibilities noted above, I wouldn’t expect to see a new deluxe except in the context of a fifth gate and/or Disney World’s 50th anniversary.
DISTINCTIONS AMONG THE DISNEY WORLD DELUXE RESORTS
- Disney’s Polynesian Resort. Only resort with both own resort monorail stop and in easy walking distance of TTC and its Epcot monorail. Only deluxe with no hot tub. Only deluxe with no fitness center–guests are allowed to share the one at the Grand Floridian. One of only a few deluxes with no spa services. Strong kid appeal
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Only resort from which you can walk to and from the Magic Kingdom. One of only two deluxes with no on-site child care programs. One of only a few deluxes with no spa services. At high end of room sizes.
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Shortest monorail ride to Magic Kingdom; longest back. Largest standard room sizes of WDW resorts. (The newer rooms at Polynesian–in the Rapa Nui, Tahiti, and Tokelau buildings–are larger, but most of the rooms at the Polynesian are not.)
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Villas. One of only two deluxes whose standard rooms sleep only 4. One of only a few deluxes with no spa service. Stunning kid appeal.
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and Villas. Greatest variety of dining options. However, breakfast–especially for kids–is awkward. One of only two deluxes with no beach or marina. One of only two deluxes with no on-site child care. In middle range of room size.
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas. Only resort with close up views of many types of wild animals. (All resorts offer views of lizards.) Only deluxe with no transportation options other than buses. Only deluxe not on a lake. One of only two deluxes without a beach or marina. One of only two deluxes whose standard rooms sleep only 4. One of only a few deluxes without spa services. Stunning kid appeal.
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and Disney’s Beach Club Resort. Best pool (shared) at Walt Disney World. Wide variety of dining options. In the middle of room sizes among deluxes.
MORE ON WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD
- For where to stay, see this
- For your next best choices, in order, see this
- For picking your resort based on appeal to kids, see this
- For picking your resort based on convenience, see this
- For where not to stay, see this
- For what you get in each resort price category, see this
- For Walt Disney World resort price seasons, see this
- For resort reviews, see this
- For the value resorts, see this
- For the moderate resorts, see this
- For the deluxe resorts, see this
- For suites at the deluxe resorts, see this
- For the Disney Vacation Club (“DVC”) Resorts, see this
- For a (geeky) overview of comparative room size, see this
- Military/DOD families should look at this
- Families seeking the most comfortable place to stay should see this
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