You’ve finally decided to indulge your children’s ultimate magical fantasy of a visit to The Most Magical Place On Earth. But where to spend the night? Only one of the most magical hotels in Disney World Orlando will do, of course.
From character visits to finding sneaky pieces of iconic Disney everywhere, Disney hotels extend the magic of your visits to the theme parks all the way to your room. Plus, there’s the added benefit of extended hours at the parks themselves for Disney resort guests.
Away from all the hustle and bustle of resort crowds, Disney’s Old Key West Resort is an idyllic retreat and one of the most beloved hotels in Disney World Orlando. River waterways run through the pastel buildings and manicured landscaping. Young children love the welcome balloon toys at check-in and the sandy beach located between the three pools with lifeguards on duty.
Many of the villas come with kitchens and their own jacuzzi tubs, plus kid-focused room service like the pizza delivery is a welcome treat. All units also come with cribs and many have queen size sofa beds giving off a sleepover vibe for excited youngsters.
Get whisked away to a New England seaside cottage without leaving the expansive Disney property grounds at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. Sitting behind the Epcot Park, guests are treated to a bevy of water-themed amenities including a boardwalk promenade circling Crescent Lake and a three-acre themed pool area named Stormalong Bay for its shipwreck slide, sand-bottomed pool, and lazy river. With rooms sleeping up to five comfortably, this is an excellent option for bigger families. In the evening, join the other guest for al fresco Disney movies under the stars.
Inspired by the early days of America’s great National Parks of the Pacific Northwest, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge has log-cabin-style decor, hot springs and artificial geysers erupting hourly and spilling into the swimming pools tucked away in the middle of a pine forest.
The Yellowstone-theme is continued to the pools with special children’s areas with zero-depth entry, plenty of shaded spots and whirlpool tubs for adults looking to unwind. For munchkins who love a fun meal, kid-fave Whispering Canyon Cafe has a delicious buffet serving up Old West American fare and a jolly atmosphere to match.
If your family has a taste for the exotic, a stay at Disney’s Polynesian Resort will check all your boxes. Fusion menus at the restaurants and the Pacific Island touches across the property including Tiki torches, waterfalls and the covetable overwater bungalows make this an enviably unique stay. Located across from the Magic Kingdom on the Seven Seas Lagoon, you can fish straight off your bungalow porch. The Volcano pool has been designed to be the ultimate pool for kids; a secret grotto, a waterfall, 142-foot slide, and zero-depth entry make it the stuff of children’s dreams.
Fill your day and night with the animals and an African ecosystem at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, a must-stay for animal lovers of all ages. Over 200 animals and birds like zebras, giraffes, and flamingos roam the savannah just outside your window with Wildlife Field Guides in all the rooms to help identify who you’ve spotted.
The Lodge is built in a horseshoe shape to maximize on the savannah views with rooms decorated with African art. Several tropical pools with gentle zero-depth entry are shaded by canopy trees and a themed water playground is a perfect place for the little ones to run loose and make friends.
The iconic Contemporary Resort at Disney is a futuristic hotel that includes the Disney monorail zipping through the middle. Its proximity to the Magic Kingdom means that you can watch the fireworks show from the comfort of the rooftop lounge, also boasting the best Disney World views in town. Two pools are snug against the Bay Lake with a 17-foot curved water slide, a kids water playground and for those seeking a bit of quiet, jacuzzis and private cabanas for rent.
The five-diamond Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World can be found behind the private gates of Golden Oak millionaires row, spread across 26 acres of landscaped woodland of palms, oak trees, and wetlands with an onsite golf course. Two infinity pools are designed for either families or adults-only and four sumptuous restaurants including the 17th-floor rooftop steakhouse restaurant where you can wine and dine while enjoying the nightly Disney fireworks.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is the diamond of the Disney World hotels. Designed to mimic the iconic Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego, this luxury property has unbeatable views of the Seven Seas Lagoon and Cinderella Castle.
The majesty of its panorama is matched by the period furnishing and boutique hotel ambiance with nods to Disney in the details. Despite its upmarket feel, it’s still very family-friendly with standard rooms sleeping up to five, character breakfast buffets, afternoon teas with Alice in Wonderland and dinners with Cinderella. The beach pool also has a designated toddler area. A couple more grown-up dining options including a cocktail lounge are available for adults.
Feature image courtesy of DisobeyArt