Walt Disney World

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Holiday Vacation Planning: Seven Disney Springs Hotels Offering Special Rates


Hotel Savings on Disney Springs Hotel through Dec. 31, 2015. Hollywood Studios at Christmas



When planning a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, there's always a lot of talk about staying on Disney property versus not staying on Disney property. Some people are adamant that staying on property is the only way to vacation. I call those people "Disney Loyalists." Nothing anyone else says will change their minds and they will tell you that the magic will be lost if you check-in anywhere else.

Sleeping Beauty


Whether it is a deluxe, moderate or value property, these Disney loyalists will not be going to Disney unless they are staying in a Disney operated hotel. That's great and their choice.  But, don't let the price of  Disney hotels scare you into thinking you can never take your family to Disney or that you are going to have to stay in a value resort with room doors that open to the outside world. Hello, 1970! I've only stayed in deluxe Disney properties myself. The property was fabulous and so was walking to Epcot. However, the room was not worth the $300 plus price tag.  And for the same amount of money, we could have rented a villa in Europe for the five nights we were there.  As a journalist who knows a lot of other travel writers and as someone who knows her hotels very well,  I can tell you right now that if your family stays in an area near the theme parks, your family vacation will still be magical, and definitely more luxurious than a value or moderate resort. Don't hate me, Disney loyalists, I just want to give straight up hotel facts for those who may be on the fence of going to Orlando this winter.

My friends at Luxe Recess, one of my favorite hotel websites, has a great Disney/Orlando guide for the luxury traveler.

Hotel Savings on Disney Springs Hotel through Dec. 31, 2015, Magic Kingdom at Christmas


You may have heard that Downtown Disney has been renamed Disney Springs. It's about as close to the theme parks as you can get, but none of the hotels are managed by Disney. In fact, the area is kind of like a theme park itself with shopping, dining, and entertainment.  The new name Disney Springs is Disney's way of adding a little more magic with a new name, and it's very close to Disney's own Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa and many of the value resorts.  In fact,  all of these seven hotels have the honor of being named "Official Walt Disney World Hotels"  and they provide a complimentary shuttle every 30 minutes to the four theme parks, two water parks, and Disney Springs.

November and December are magical months to visit Walt Disney World. I was there two years ago this month. Liza was four and met the Disney Princesses for the first time. We want to return again.

The hotels in the Disney Springs are offering special holiday rates so you can enjoy all that Disney has to offer this time of year.

Available from November 1-December 20, 2015, the special “Holiday Rates” are:
·         B Resort & Spa – rates from $89 per room, per night
·         Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort Hotel – rates from $69 per room, per night
·         Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa – rates from $99 per room, per night
·         DoubleTree Suites by Hilton – rates from $119 per suite, per night
·         Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista – rates from $116 per room, per night
·         Holiday Inn Orlando – rates from $89 per room, per night
·         Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort – rates from $95 per room, per night. 

B Resort and Spa in Disney Springs
See Luxe Recess Review of B Resort and Spa 

If I were to check-in, my top choices would be B Resort and Spa. I trust Robin's judgment at Lux Recess, and she has a story on the hotel in this post.  I also would consider the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista due to its previous accolades, and the rooms are more lux than most Disney deluxe properties. It also has extended theme park hours available to its guests, a character breakfast on Sunday and heated pools.  And the Doubletree Suites By Hilton Lake Buena Vista is an all-suite hotel for those families who need extra space. And we all know that families need space.  I stayed in all-suite DoubleTree in Charlotte, N.C. last month and was pleased with the hotel. I  typically choose more lux hotels for my personal vacations, but Disney is an extremely busy destination where you are not in the hotel much so I am making the DoubleTree an exception here for a Disney vacation. The brand is also nice for families.  I have never stayed in a Disney Value resort and I have no desire to do so. I would choose these properties over Disney Value Resorts or Moderate Resorts.

Hilton Lake Buena Vista


You can compare all hotels at the main website: DisneySpringsHotels.com and you can view special rates plus in some hotels, children eat free. 
Hotel Savings on Disney Springs Hotel through Dec. 31, 2015, Epcot at Christmas


special events at the Walt Disney World® Resort include:
·         Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival, presented by Chase® -- September 25-November 16, 2015, at Epcot®
·         The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights presented by Siemens – November 6, 2015-January 3, 2016, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®.
·         Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party – select nights November 8-December 18, 2015, at the Magic Kingdom® Park
·         Holidays at Disney SpringsTM – November 13-December 20, 2015, at Disney SpringsTM
·         Holidays Around the World at Epcot® – November 27-December 30, 2015, at Epcot®
·         Candlelight Processional – November 27-December 30, 2015, at Epcot®

Taking advantage of the special hotel rates also will enable you to enjoy such other benefits of staying at one of the seven Disney SpringsTM Resort Area Hotels as:
·         Disney tickets available to purchase at each hotel
·         Advance tee times and discounts at all Walt Disney World® golf courses
·         Disney Merchandise store located in each hotel
·         The ability to book advance dining and dinner show reservations for all restaurants across the Walt Disney World® Resort.

Well underway in its transformation, Disney SpringsTM already has many new offerings that are already open, including the upscale waterfront restaurant The Boathouse (from the creator of T-Rex CaféTMand Rainforest Café®), Morimoto Asia restaurant, Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, a dozen new shops, Exposition Park (home to four Disney-owned food trucks), and a new parking garage with 4,000 spaces.

Disney SpringsTM Resort Area Hotels (DisneySpringsHotels.com) is a consortium of seven Official Walt Disney World® Hotels that includes:  the stylish B Resort & Spa, opened in June 2014 with 394 newly renovated guest rooms and suites, the full-service B Indulged® AVEDA Spa, and American Q signature restaurant; the 18-story, 325-room Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort Hotel, overlooking Lake Buena Vista and the Walt Disney World® Resort, and offering two restaurants, lounge, and wireless internet; Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa, offering 1,014 guest rooms and suites, three pools, tennis, basketball and sand volleyball courts, five restaurants/lounges and a full-service spa; the luxurious and spacious 229-suite Doubletree Suites by Hilton, the only all-suite resort hotel in the Disney SpringsTMResort Area; Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista, walking distance to Disney SpringsTM and the only Disney SpringsTM resort offering Extended Theme Park Hours; the Holiday Inn Orlando, the only Holiday Inn located in the Walt Disney World® Resort Area and featuring elegant rooms with modern Florida décor;  and Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort, featuring 626 guest rooms (which each feature a refrigerator), the Oasis Aquatic Playground with two pools and interactive water features, and six dining options. 
Hotel Savings on Disney Springs Hotel through Dec. 31, 2015



Love hotels? Be sure to subscribe to my hotel newsletter. Can't stand the thought of staying offsite or need help with tickets, visit Magical Adventures Travel with Jennifer Eacret. She teaches at my children's school by day and plans Disney vacations at night.




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Holiday Vacation Planning: Seven Disney Springs Hotels Offering Special Rates
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A Traveler’s Look at the Yacht Club Resort at Walt Disney World

The Yacht Club Resort at Walt Disney World


As a mom to two kids, I know a lot of parents. When people find out I am a travel writer and learn my travel focus is on the hotel industry, people ask me about Walt Disney World hotels more than anything else.

I have never been an invited guest to Walt Disney World as a working member of the press, so my experience there is like any other vacationer.  However, I am no ordinary vacationer. You all know that.  I probably borderline on the verge of “crazy” when it comes to the research I do on a property and destination before I visit.

Sleeping Beauty and a very happy little Hines

To make a long story short, we wanted to take my daughter to Disney at the age of 4. We did the same trip when my son was 4, too.  When you start to throw in park tickets, airline tickets, dining plans, and magical transportation, I felt better having a travel agent book my vacation as opposed to my doing it myself. There are just a lot of loose ends with this type of travel, and we’re talking about serious money, folks, especially for the Deluxe hotel categories.

Using a Travel Agent for Disney Vacations

I turned to a former colleague of mine, Judy Julian, who is the owner of Go 4 Less Now Travel, in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area.  She worked with Disney to arrange my reservations, but I was able to get insurance through her, and she handled all of my deposits. Working with Judy did not cause my vacation package to be more expensive, nor did it cost me extra money. There was no fee to use her. She even worked to find me additional savings by suggesting we purchase a package sold by an airline, but it was for a studio Deluxe villa at Saratoga Springs Resort with one queen bed and a sleeper sofa.

I really prefer having beds for everyone, even if we are in the same room, because I do not want to pay a lot of money and somehow end up on a sleeper sofa, which is a risk you take when you have younger children so I passed on that option,  but the bottom line is that she will work with you to make your vacation perfect. And if she can handle me then she can handle anyone. 

Chairs on the Verandah at the Yacht Club Resort at WDW


This was my third trip to Disney in the past 14 years. I have stayed at the Walt Disney World Swan Resort, the Walt Disney Beach Club Resort, and for this trip, I chose the Walt Disney Yacht Club, which is in the exact same location as the other two resorts near Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Out of the three resorts, the Yacht Club is my favorite.


Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

The lobby of the WDW Yacht Club Resort


The common areas at the Yacht Club Resort are beautiful. We were there pre-Christmas, so the resort was stunning in its holiday attire.  The one thing that I tell readers about Disney-owned hotel properties is that you are paying for the Disney theming, location, children’s clubs, and other perks. You are not paying for luxury and poshness when it comes to the guestrooms.  

Even though these “Deluxe” hotels offer room service, full-service restaurants, and beautiful pools, the rooms are in the upper-upscale category for hotel chains and are not considered luxury properties. The prices per night will fool you into thinking it is a luxury property because they can run from as low as $325 to as high as $600 per night for a room, depending on demand and time of year. If you choose the club level rates then rates go even higher. 

The Yacht Club Resort is a full-service Deluxe hotel on Disney property.

Many upper-upscale chains such as Marriott, Westin, or Hilton may have rooms and bathrooms more plush for a better price.

But, with all of that said, the location for this property cannot be beat.  It is awesome, and that is why the price is higher, and in more of a "luxury" category for price. 

The Rooms at the Yacht Club Resort

Standard Room at the Yacht Club Resort 

Our room was spacious. The décor was nice, and it was clean.  Those are all good points.  Our bedding was nice, and we all slept well.  I really cannot complain. It was a nice experience.

However, our closet door was broken and basically would not stay on track. The built-in cabinet door to the mini-fridge was damaged, and one lamp wouldn’t work.  Hello.  You don’t usually find things like that in rooms that cost over $400 a night.

The bathrooms are the typical older-style chain designs with an exterior sink and small room for the tub and commode.  They were clean and had a cute Disney-themed shower curtain.

Double-sink vanity outside the bathroom

The problem with Deluxe Disney hotels is that you can’t compare them to other luxury properties, but when you are paying $400 or more for a hotel room and you have stayed in other hotels that cost less money per night and have killer bathroom, guest rooms, and turndown service, it’s truly hard not to compare. But you shouldn’t. 

There is no doubt that staying on Disney property enhances your Disney experience. Goofy called us to welcome us to the hotel. We were given special buttons at check-in to show we were celebrating a birthday, and to show that my daughter was a first-time visitor to Walt Disney World. But, typically in hotels with this price point, kids are usually given a nice amenity as a travel keepsake from the hotel or guests receive a special note or small welcome from the hotel complimentary. These types of things are all add-on expenses at Disney properties. 



What I Loved about the Yacht Club Resort

I loved the fact that I could walk home from Epcot nightly after dinner.  Their transportation system to the parks ran like clockwork.  It was effortless.  Cast members were friendly and courteous. The little hidden Mickeys in the resorts are fun to find. The new Disney bands open your hotel rooms which is great. And walking on the grounds makes you feel as if you have transported yourself to the most magical place on earth.  Well, you did. Additional park hours, magical transportation to and from the airport, and other perks to Disney hotel guests make you glad you made the investment.

Can you find the hidden Mickeys?


For instance, the Disney Dining Plan was a huge savings, and that is only available when you stay at Disney Resorts.

Ale and Compass Lounge in the Yacht Club



We ate a quick breakfast daily at the Ale and Compass Lounge before heading out to the parks daily. It’s a tight space, but we usually found a table. The typical morning delights like juice, yogurt, cinnamon rolls, and coffee will cost a family of four about $27 per day.  You can use your dining plan quick service or snack credits here, too. The food is good, and the rolls were huge. 

It is important to note that when you book a Disney vacation through Walt Disney World, you usually get a free “refillable” mug for coffee and drinks. This is a great perk to save on coffee, but I rarely used my mug for coffee while at Ale and Compass because we wanted to get on the bus immediately after breakfast. 

Refillable mug


The Yacht Club is big, and I’m serious when I tell you that it was almost a 20-minute walk back to our room from the lobby. I didn’t want to lug the mug around in the parks. It leaked in my purse one day when I put water in it so I typically paid for a fresh cup of coffee each day just so I wouldn’t have to go back to the room to drop off my mug. It is a fabulous perk if you are hanging out at the pool though. 

The Pool Area at the Yacht and Beach Club

The pool between the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts


The pool at the Yacht Club is also shared by Beach Club guests.  Hands down, it’s a dynamite pool at the resort, and probably the best of all the Disney hotels, which is another reason rooms are higher here during peak swimming times. We didn’t visit Stormalong Bay at all in November, but the pool area alone is a good enough reason to skip a day at the park and have fun at the pool.  There’s a casual eating area and full-service bar by the pool, too, which also accept the dining plan.

Beaches and Cream Soda Shop is a Hines favorite


Beaches and Cream Soda Shop is also located in the Beach Club and is a very short walk from the Yacht Club lobby. It is a favorite restaurant of mine.  It’s small in size but worth the wait for a table.


I did not frequent any other restaurants at the hotel during my November stay, but I did have the character dining with Goofy, Minnie, and Donald at the Beach Club Resort in the Cape May Café in 2009. It was a fun breakfast experience.  I would do that one again.

My experience at the Captain’s Grill, a full-service restaurant in the Yacht Club, was mediocre in 2009, so I skipped it entirely in 2013. I bought a park-hopper theme park ticket this time, so I booked most of my dining at Epcot, which is a quick and easy walk from the hotel. 

I have never dined at the signature restaurant, The Yachtsman, but it gets great reviews and would be a culinary treat.

Would I stay at the Yacht Club Again?



Absolutely, but I would try to get the best price possible on the hotel. During certain times, it’s listed around $325 per night. That’s more like it. When we stayed last year, Disney was offering free dining packages with the hotel, and our rate was close to $400 a night. That was a huge savings and helped make up for the cost of the hotel.  I love the location of this hotel, the lobby décor, and it is certainly my favorite of the three Disney properties I’ve stayed in thus far.  

The Yacht Club Resort overlooks Disney's Boardwalk. The location is fabulous. 

However, when prices start to hover around $500 a night, I’m not sure if it is the best way to spend hard-earned vacation dollars unless free dining was included.  And if $500 a night is nothing for you to sneeze at for a hotel room, then you probably won’t think it’s lux enough either to warrant the price.  You may want to go up to $700 a night and stay at the Grand Floridian.  They have turn-down service.  For true luxury lovers, the new Four Seasons to open later this year on WDW property will give luxury travelers more of a luxury experience for the price with awesome bathrooms. Prices will be more in line with the Grand Floridian Resort. 

I also have my eye on the Boardwalk Inn. I think it’s more intimate and would be a good place to stay as well when the price is right. The price for the Boardwalk Inn runs about the same as the Yacht Club. 



Now that I’ve been to Disney twice with kids, I would even be open to a more luxurious experience at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando off-property for a lot more luxury for your vacation dollars,  but it’s hard sometimes to give up the Disney location, airport transfers, and the dining plan perks if you are truly going to experience Disney.  It definitely has to be a personal choice on what is best for your family.

For many, Disney is the destination, and the hotel is not the destination, but you all know the Hines do it backwards.


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A Traveler’s Look at the Yacht Club Resort at Walt Disney World
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Hotels Can Put the "Merry" in Christmas #IGTRAVELThursday

My Instagram feed is filled with mulled cider, holiday cookies, lights, and trees. I love it! Looking at the hashtag #SkimbacoHolidays really puts me in the holiday spirit. I was at Walt Disney World over the Thanksgiving holiday, and there, I got a head start on feeling festive. Disney is always magical, but the resorts truly shine this time of year.


This photo that I snapped while staying at the Yacht Club wins "most popular" among my Instagram friends. I don't know if it had to do with the fact that it was one of the first photos I published on my trip, but it got one of the best responses of all.

I'll be sharing more holiday photos this month so I hope you visit the blog again in your spare time so you can see some of my favorite photos. Hotels can certainly do holiday decor well.  I plan to visit as many local hotels as I can this month to show some of the best like this one at the Grand Floridian. Now THAT is a tree!



I'll be instagramming from the Washington Duke Inn in Durham, N.C. on December 8 while I get to chat with Santa. I'll be sure to tell him that you all said hello.

I'll also be showcasing other holiday photos from hotels on IG  this month.  To kick things off, I am sharing my love for the Four Seasons Instagram account again.  The Four Seasons Las Vegas Hotel delighted me with this "Santa Sighting" this week.


I wonder if the Four Seasons Las Vegas barista can do "Elvis", too.  Well, in this case, "what happens in Vegas is definitely not staying in Vegas," because this coffee shot is too good not to share. PRESS, is the hotel's new lounge that is open morning through late night. This chic space overlooks the hotel's private pool. Not putting any pressure on the barista, but it would be fun to see a snowman, too. You can read more about PRESS on the Four Seasons Las Vegas website.

And finally, I leave with you the fastest hotel tree decorating in Instagram history. The Four Season Beverly Wilshire has 53 amazing trees throughout the hotel. With that many trees, they certainly need a magical elf to decorate in no time. Enjoy!



Join us for #IGTRAVELThursday.

Do you have a great Instagram travel story to share? Read the linky rules below and join us this week (but don’t forget to grab our logo {here} and link to at least one of hosts in your post). If you are not a blogger, but have an Instagram account tag your lovely travel moments with #IGTravelThursday. No blog, no Instagram? You can still join in the fun by reading our IG-related travel stories and by giving us some feedback love!

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Hotels Can Put the "Merry" in Christmas #IGTRAVELThursday
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Want to Experience the Magic of Disney? Don’t Leave Home without the Beyond the Attractions Guide Book for 2012

I’m at that stage in life in which I can’t log on to Facebook without seeing a status report about Walt Disney World.  A friend is either going, is there right now, or is just getting back.  If you are a parent with kids aged 2 to 10, you probably know at least one family who is making the trip this year.

Walt Disney World in 2010
Think about it.  Uh-huh! Thought so.

Disney has changed so much through the years.  My husband remembers his dad driving up to the Polynesian and getting a room on the spot in 1977.  Can you believe it?  They just drove up to it like it was a hotel on the interstate.

That is unheard of now.  Back then, things were simple. There were no dining plans, park hoppers, FastPass, and booking rooms and dining reservations a year in advance.

Now, planning a trip to Disney is like getting a second job.  There’s a lot to know.

Mr. Cool was four when we took him to Disney. We left six-month old Baby Diva with family during the trip. 
In fact, I’ve taken a little time recently to help one of my good friends plan her first trip for her 4-year-old for this fall.  As you probably guessed, I’m all about the accommodations and food.  After that, my interest wanes, but I’m not going to leave her empty-handed.  

Luckily for her, and you, I’ve just read a top-notch Walt Disney World Guide Book.  I cannot tell you how much I adore this book.  It’s called “Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers.”

Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers 2012

I wish I had known about this book when we took our first trip in 2010.  I spent countless hours researching the parks, and this book breaks everything down for you in such an easy-to-read manner.  The information in it is priceless.  

Author Lisa Battista specifically targets the book to parents, grandparents, and individuals who are traveling with children aged 2 to 5, but the book is so well planned and useful that I think it’s good for parents with elementary-aged kids, too.  She even has a section that addresses the best itinerary for parents who have preschoolers and elementary-aged children.

The book touches on prepping for the trip, lodging for families, transportation while on property, and entertaining small children while waiting for attractions.  The real substance of the book and the most helpful, in my opinion, deals with attractions at the parks, character dining, and special “hidden activities” at the park for preschoolers.  To me, this is the information that is so valuable as a parent planning a trip.  Lisa does all the homework for you.  It’s in such an easy format that you could be at Magic Kingdom, pop the book open, and the information you need is right there at your fingertips.

Beyond the Attractions gives you the scoop on all parades in the parks 

For example, I had no idea that you could take a short, free ride in vintage cars at Magic Kingdom. That would have been fun.  I also didn’t know about a talking trashcan in tomorrow land.  My son also would have loved the formal hedge maze hidden away in England at Epcot.  Well, now I know.

Disney is also conducting a lot of upgrades and renovations this year, and this book includes all of that information for 2012, plus it breaks down the attractions so you know what is best-suited for your child, based on age and height.  In the book’s “Heed the Warnings” section, it shares attractions that could scare younger children.  The book even has a section on parades and nighttime entertainment.

Epcot is my favorite park at Walt Disney World

Overall, I was impressed with the book’s section on dining.  It really gets to heart of the dining plan. For a first-time traveler to Disney, I think the plan can be confusing, but this explains it well and hones in on restaurants that are best-suited for the young child with a focus on character dining. 

This guide does not go into signature dining, and it does not serve as a review for the restaurants or hotels.  It’s for information purposes only, and only a handful of restaurants are actually listed in the book, along with some places for special treats and healthy snacks.

Reading this book made me want to go to Disney again, and after reading this I will be so much better prepared in the parks for what to see and do. Your time is valuable. This straightforward guide will truly help your visit to Walt Disney World be magical.

Yes, we got wet on our trip. The Guide Book has details to help you with rainy days, too. 

To read some excerpts or order the book for 30% off, you may visit: http://www.beyondtheattractions.com/ 

And for one lucky person, you can win a copy of the guide right here. A winner will be chosen at random via the rafflecopter system through April 4.  You can enter either through Facebook or through your email, but you must enter your information in the box in order to be eligible because the computer picks the winner based on names entered through rafflecopter only and not through blog comments.  All other entries are optional. 



Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book in order to write this review. As always, opinions are my own and were not influenced by the company.  
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Want to Experience the Magic of Disney? Don’t Leave Home without the Beyond the Attractions Guide Book for 2012
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Let's Talk Disney: Finding the Perfect Hotel at WDW

Do you remember the first time you experienced the magic of Walt Disney World?

Walt Disney World 
My first trip to Disney was in 1975.  I don’t remember much of it except the constant complaining from my dad about how crowded it was that day.  The park broke major records on our visit that year.

Walt Disney World has been providing its guests with a fairy-tale experience for 40 years now.  As a parent, nothing is more exciting than experiencing the magic of Disney through the eyes of a child. 


As you know, my husband and I were blessed with our little ones a little late in our life.  Some may even call us old farts who are set in our ways.  I’m not going to argue with that, but I will say that we had a set of unwritten rules when it came to a Disney trip. 

Honestly, my child was the last child in his playgroup to go to Disney. I almost felt a little guilty when all these children were off to see the mouse, but we held out and didn’t make the trip until Mr. Cool was four.


Here is why.
  • If we were going to spend thousands of dollars on a trip, we didn’t want to worry about naps and rigid bedtimes.  We wanted flexibility and some of the perks of having an older child. Luckily, our child was able to handle that flexibility without any issues at four.  He was actually really fun.  There was just one incident waiting in the long line for the Dumbo ride. 
Not happy in the Dumbo Ride line
LONG WAIT!
Next time we go, no Dumbo Ride for Baby Diva
We'll distract her and move on to something better.

Finding the Perfect Hotel Choice for Your Family

The great thing about Disney is that you can go to Orlando and stay at a resort off property, stay on resort property for under a $100 day, or splurge a little with your accommodations.  Um, make that splurge a lot.  Overall, Disney is expensive, but the memories are priceless, right?  Sure, let’s all believe that, and it will make us feel better about how much we actually spent for four nights of magic.

If you are a consistent reader of my blog, then you know I poured countless hours into trying to find the best deal in the deluxe category.  Would you have expected anything less? I had spread sheets.  I crunched numbers daily.  It was almost absurd, but so fun and perhaps even a little geeky.  

The  WDW Beach Club Resort

In the end, I chose the Beach Club Resort at Walt Disney World. The monorail hotels were still more than I wanted to pay for this visit.  We went in the spring when rates were also in the peak season.

Check for Special Promotions Often

Truthfully, I had a hard time with the prices of the deluxe rooms at Disney because I believed the rooms and service would not be the same quality as in a high-end luxury hotel such as the Four Seasons or Ritz-Carlton. However, the price was more than what these hotels sometimes charge per night. With that said, I wanted interior hallways, easy access to the parks, and full-service restaurant choices daily.   Those wants require your needs to be in the deluxe category if you are staying on property. 

I had stayed at the Westin’s WDW Swan several years earlier before having children and had liked the location, so my experience staying in the same area was a factor in my final decision on our hotel.  I only chose not to stay there again because the hotel is not on the Disney dining plan, and I wanted to experience something new. 

I wanted to experience the "magic" of staying on property

We originally booked our stay for the Yacht Club with the help of Small World Vacations, and what I like about this company is that they will rebook your reservation if new deals and specials come out before your vacation.  I think that is important because one tends not to go to WDW at the last minute.  Most families plan and book vacations several months in advance. I booked in October for an April vacation. 

Here’s an example. Disney is offering dining free right now with your hotel stay through March.  If that promotion was not available when you booked the first time, Small World Vacations would rebook your reservation so you could get your stay with the free dining plan.  Small World Vacations does not do air reservations, so you may find good deals with air and hotel together, but once you’re locked into that price, that will be your final price even if new deals come out.  It’s something to think about when you plan.

Since you all know I am obsessed with hotel searching and pricing things, I never stopped playing with the WDW site after our reservations were made.  A month or two later, I found new package prices on the WDW site that weren’t that easily found for the Beach Club Resort and other deluxe properties.  The Yacht Club was not part of the special. The Beach Club Resort is right next door to the Yacht Club, and they share amenities.  I called our representative immediately.  She rebooked us to the Beach Club, and we saved ourselves $800.
 
The beach at the WDW Beach Club Resort
The Beach Club Resort at Walt Disney World

I was very happy with my choice of the Beach Club Resort for our stay.  It is a lovely property.  The magic of Disney really shines when it comes to their hotel grounds. In fact, the pool area has been touted as one of Disney’s best.  I would agree.




The rooms were nice, medium-sized, and comfortable, but I will go ahead and tell you now that they did not meet the same quality and standards of some other luxury-brand hotels I have frequented in the past.  When we arrived our TV remote was missing from the room, and housekeeping would forget to replenish our coffee/tea area daily.  When you pay over $300 per night, you want your coffee bar restocked.  These were little things, but when you pay big prices they seem annoying at the time.  I loved having two queen beds in the room. 

Our room at the WDW Beach Club Resort

In my opinion, when you stay at a deluxe property, you are paying for location, beautiful grounds, and resort amenities such as full-service restaurants.  We did not do any signature dining on this trip due to having a four year-old with us, but we did enjoy the character breakfast at Cape May in our hotel.  The regular restaurants at the Yacht/Beach Club resorts were just okay in our opinion, and we preferred the food in Epcot and at the parks over the hotel restaurants we tried.  We had room service on our last day, and it was such a treat for our sleepyhead.


Four days at a park can be a little tiring.

Would I Stay at the Beach Club Resort Again?

Absolutely. I really enjoyed our stay here, but, truthfully, I am saving our money for a monorail hotel stay for our next trip when my daughter is four because easy access to Magic Kingdom is a must at this age.  Yes, that now means I am willing to pay even more for location and perks. 

I think the Beach Club Resort is perfect when you want to spend a lot of time at Epcot and Hollywood Studios due to the location.  However, it is still a 20-minute bus ride with all the hotel stops to get to Magic Kingdom, not to mention that you have to WAIT for the bus.  It could be five minutes, or it could be 15 minutes.  It was a lot of waiting.  Also, at this location, the bus hits five bus stops to service the Beach Club Resort plus the WDW Yacht, Boardwalk Swan, and Dolphin hotels.

We are a leisurely family. (Remember that old fart comment I made in the beginning? We like to soak in the ambience and relax. We’re not a get-up-and-go family.  Eating is just as much fun as the parks to us.  It’s all part of the experience.)  By the time we had a 9:30 a.m. breakfast and waited for the bus at the hotel, it was almost noon by the time we got to Magic Kingdom.

Character Breakfast at Cape May Cafe at WDW Beach Club Resort

But, with all that said, I asked my son what he liked about our hotel today at lunch, and he said:
  1. The breakfast with characters
  2. The pool
  3. And the bus ride to the parks
So maybe the bus ride only bothers middle-aged old farts, right?  You can't go wrong with this hotel choice especially if your desire is to spend a lot of time eating in Epcot or on the Boardwalk.   They also have great activities for older children at night.  We ran out of time on our visit, and didn't make it to the Beaches and Cream Soda shop in the hotel.  It will be on my list for a future stay.

New Options for the Future

My daughter will be four at the end of 2013 so we may not make it down to Disney until 2014.  A lot will change in three years.   Luxury lovers received great news last month when the Four Seasons Resort announced that it is building a resort on the Walt Disney Resort property with a target opening date of 2014.  The property will include 444 resort rooms and 90 residence resort club units within the prestigious Golden Oak Community.  This new resort will have a rooftop restaurant with Magic Kingdom views.  I can’t wait to learn more about this future property and just how easy it will be to get to the parks.


For families needing some additional space, Disney is now taking reservations for the new Art of Animation Resort, which is slated to open with family suites in May 2012.  This hotel will be placed in the value resorts category, and from what I’m reading now the value hotels as well as the moderate hotels have tiers in which you pay more for preferred room locations.  These hotels are spread out with numerous buildings, so that is something you will need to factor in when choosing a hotel from these categories.  A lower-priced room may include a good walk to the bus stop, restaurant, or pool.

The choice of finding the perfect lodging for your family can be fun, exciting, and even magical.

Definitely listen to what past guests had to say on the website Tripadvisor, and let their reviews help you find the perfect match for your travel budget. 



There is so much to write when you talk about Disney. It’s certainly grown in the past 40 years.  Another time, I’ll share some things that I wish I knew before I took my trip.


Linking up with Whatever Wednesday today.

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Let's Talk Disney: Finding the Perfect Hotel at WDW
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