 |
|
|
Best Hotel Bets
Best for Families: Every Disney resort caters to families, with special menus for kids, video-game arcades, free transportation to the parks, extensive recreational facilities, and, in some cases, character meals. Some, however, stand out in particular among the others. Disney's Old Key West Resort (tel. 407/934-7639 or 407/827-7700) offers the relaxed laid-back charm of the Florida Keys and some of the best rooms on Disney property for families. Camping at the remote and wooded campgrounds of Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground (tel. 407/934-7639 or 407/824-2900) makes for a more down-to-earth family experience. To enjoy wilderness of a different kind try Disney's Animal Kingdom (tel. 407/934-7639 or 407/938-3000), where the animals of the African savanna seemingly come right to your doorstep. If you prefer the rustic and woodsy feel of the Pacific Northwest's national parks, head to The Wilderness Lodge (tel. 407/934-7639 or 407/824-3200).
Best Inexpensive Hotels: That's easy: If you're going to stay on WDW property, you can't beat the prices at Disney's All-Star Movies Resort, Disney's All-Star Music Resort, Disney's All-Star Sports Resort, and Disney's Pop Century Resort. To book a room at any of Disney's inexpensive resorts, call tel. 407/934-7639. The Comfort Suites Maingate Resort (tel. 888/390-9888 or 407/390-9888) offers spacious rooms and plenty of amenities at reasonable rates. It's one of the nicest inexpensive properties in the Kissimmee area and is only 1 1/2 miles west of Disney.
Best Location: Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (tel. 407/934-7639 or 407/824-3000), Disney's Polynesian Resort (tel. 407/939-6244 or 407/824-2000), and Disney's Contemporary Resort (tel. 407/939-6244 or 407/824-1000) are on the WDW monorail route, providing easy access to the parks. The Portofino Bay Hotel (tel. 888/322-5541 or 407/503-1000), Hard Rock Hotel (tel. 888/232-7827 or 407/363-8000), and Royal Pacific Resort (tel. 800/232-7827 or 407/503-3000) are within walking distance of both Universal Orlando parks, and there's also boat service to the dock at CityWalk.
Best Pools: All of the Walt Disney World resorts have wonderfully whimsical themed swimming pools, and usually of Olympic-size. Arguably, the best is shared by Disney's Beach Club Resort (tel. 407/934-7639 or 407/934-8000) and Disney's Yacht Club Resort (tel. 407/934-7639 or 407/934-7000). Storm Along Bay, a 3-acre, free-form pool and water park, stretches between them, including a shipwreck for exploring and sand bottom pools for a toe-tickling experience. Outside the Disney complex, the best resort pool in Orlando can be found at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort (tel. 800/233-1234 or 407/239-1234). It's a half-acre, lagoonlike, water-world pool that flows through rock grottoes, is spanned by a rope bridge, and has 12 waterfalls and two steep water slides. The 24,000-square-foot lazy river pool shared by the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott Orlando at Grande Lakes (tel. 800/576-5760 or 407/576-5760), however, definitely provides some stiff competition. Not to be ignored is the rock-'n'-roll themed pool at Universal's Hard Rock Hotel (tel. 877/917-2682) with its underwater sound system and fantastic landscaping, or the super kid-friendly water park-style pools at the Nickelodeon Family Suites (tel. 866/422-6425 or 407/387-5437), which have towers, slides, climbing nets, miniflumes, and more.
The Best Romantic Hideaways
Disney's Wilderness Lodge (Lake Buena Vista; tel. 407/934-7639): This grand resort is reminiscent of the lodge found at Yellowstone National Park. The spewing geyser out back, the mammoth stone hearth in the lobby, the Artist's Point 360-degree view of Bay Lake, and the towering forest sheltering the resort from the rest of the world are just a few of the reasons to stay here. Some guest rooms have patios or balconies overlooking the lake, woodlands, or the meadow.
The Best Luxury Resorts
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (Orlando; tel. 407/934-7639): This magnificent Victorian inn -- Disney's best hotel -- has an opulent five-story lobby complete with a Chinese Chippendale aviary. An orchestra plays big-band music every evening near Victoria & Albert's, the resort's five-star restaurant.
Gaylord Palms (Lake Buena Vista; tel. 877/677-9352 or 407/586-0000): This destination resort features impeccable service; themed guest rooms (the Emerald Bay rooms are the best) with luxe amenities; a lush, 4 1/2-acre glass-topped atrium; and (best of all) a branch of the renowned Canyon Ranch Spa.
The Best Moderately Priced Accommodations
Disney's Port Orleans Resort (Lake Buena Vista; tel. 407/934-7639 or 407/934-5000): Here's a good value by Disney standards. It has dual Southern charm in its French Quarter and Riverside areas, and the pool has a water slide curving from the mouth of a colorful dragon.
Hilton in the Walt Disney World Resort (Lake Buena Vista; tel. 407/827-4000): It's the only official resort on Hotel Plaza Boulevard to offer Disney's Extra Magic Hour option. Other pluses include a huge variety of services, two pools, and spacious junior suites. And it has a great location next to Downtown Disney.
Staybridge Suites Lake Buena Vista (Lake Buena Vista; tel. 800/866-4549 or 407/238-0777): Close to the action of Downtown Disney and the theme parks, this resort's one- and two-bedroom suites have full kitchens and are larger and more comfortable than most of the competition. And to help you relax, the resort will do your grocery shopping for you, so you don't have to deal with the hassle.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
|
|
|
