Staying at a Walt Disney World Resort can enhance your vacation with perks, convenience, and also a little extra layer of magic! Staying on-site gives you extra opportunities that only resort guests can take advantage of. Here are just a few of the benefits you will experience when staying at a Walt Disney World Resort:

Proximity

The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, is over 40 square miles. The resort truly is an entire world of its own! With 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, Disney Springs, the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex, and hundreds of restaurants and shops, the Disney property has something for everyone! The massive resort is also home to over 30 themed Disney Resort hotels. Staying at a Disney Resort on-property allows you to make the most out of your vacation time with easy access to everywhere on-property. Staying off-site, you lose so much precious time by having to commute on and off Disney property each day of your trip.

Transportation

Staying on-site at a Disney Resort, you can enjoy the benefit of utilizing the Disney transportation system. All Disney Resorts have buses that can take you directly to all of the theme parks, water parks, Disney Springs, and many other locations on Disney property. Some resorts even offer boat transportation to and from the parks! If you stay in the Magic Kingdom Resort area, you can even take a monorail straight from your resort to the front gates of the Magic Kingdom park! And don’t forget about Disney’s newest form of transportation to Epcot and Hollywood Studios – the Disney Skyliner, available at Disney’s Pop Century, Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach, and Riviera Resorts.

Theming

Disney World Resort hotels are known for their immersive theming and attention to detail. When you stay on-property at a Disney Resort, you get to stay within the magic of Disney 24/7! The same creative team of Imagineers that design the parks and attractions also design the resort hotels! They bring the hotels to life through storytelling and hints of Disney magic everywhere you turn. Feel as if you are staying on a tropical island at Disney’s Polynesian Resort. Discover the colorful city of New Orleans at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort. Relax in nature and luxury at Disney Wilderness lodge. Pamper yourself and step back in time to the beauty of the Victorian era at Disney Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. When you stay at a Disney Resort, you truly get to have a vacation within your vacation!

View of Grand Floridian from the water

There are lots of ways to make a Disney World vacation extra special for an ‘Adult Only’ vacation. Of course, feel free to ride all the rides, meet every character, and act like a kid yourself. That’s one of the reasons we all love Disney World; however, if you want some extra special “Adult” experiences, here are a few.

Stay at a Deluxe Resort

The following resorts have extraordinarily beautiful grounds, lovely restaurants, and tons of charm. All of these Resorts are in the Deluxe Resort category, with the addition of two Moderate Resorts. Disney’s Port Orleans – French Quarter, which offers some pretty unbeatable charm of its own in the Moderate Resort category. And with the addition of the Gran Destino Tower, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort also made the list.

Most Adult-Friendly Disney Resorts:

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (Deluxe )
Disney’s Boardwalk Inn (Deluxe)
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort (Deluxe)
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (Deluxe)
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (Deluxe)
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter (Moderate)
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort – Gran Destino Tower (Moderate)

Eat & Drink in Epcot’s World Showcase

Walking…no, strolling around the World Showcase lagoon in Epcot is incredibly romantic. You are taking a quick jaunt to 11 different countries, tasting incredible small bites and drinking plenty of beer, wine, and cocktails. Take in some of the country’s shows and enjoy some upscale shopping. For an extra treat, have dinner at one of the more Adult restaurants.

Most Adult-Friendly restaurants in the Epcot’s World Showcase:

Le Cellier (Canada)
Bistro de Paris (France)
Monsieur Paul (France)
Spice Road Table (Morocco)
Tokyo Dining (Japan)
Rose & Crown – outdoor patio (United Kingdom)

Monorail Crawl

There are about a million ways to do this. Here is just one…

Monorail Crawl:

Start at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort – Trader Sams for drinks & small bites
Monorail to Grand Floridian, enjoy a drink at the Enchanted Rose lounge / stroll through the grounds with a glass of wine
Monorail to Contemporary – California Grill for drinks, desserts, and fireworks view
Bonus: Boat to Wilderness Lodge – Geyser Point for drinks & small bites, beautiful lake view

Evening at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn

Simply walking along the Boardwalk at night is amazing and you’ll feel transported back to the turn of the century when life was Grand. Have dinner at the Flying Fish, followed by drinks at Jellyrolls to watch the Dueling Pianos. Jellyrolls is one of the only “21+” venues at Disney World, and it’s so much fun!

Dinner & Drinks at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Jiko at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Animal Kingdom Lodge is a popular Disney resort for adults and also home to a wonderful, upscale restaurant, Jiko. With an award-winning South African wine list and master chef, this is an incredibly romantic venue. Arrive early for a drink at Victoria Falls, the lounge overlooking Boma. Ask the bartender if they know how to make a “Victoria Falls Mist”. This drink hasn’t been on the menu for almost 20 years; however, a few of the bartenders still know how to make it. You’re welcome!

Evening at Disney Springs

This may seem like a no-brainer, but if you don’t know where to go, you could end up feeling like you’re at a mall on a Saturday night *cough – Marketplace – cough*. Start in The Landing – you’ve got lots of lakefront venues to enjoy drinks and small bites. Some favorites are Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar (go all the way through to the outdoor bar in the back), The Boathouse, The Edison, and Wine Bar George. Head over to the West Side for shopping and shenanigans.

I just returned from a Walt Disney World vacation, and this is the first time I’ve spent Christmas at the Most Magical Place on Earth. It was amazing!

One thing I was obsessed with during this vacation was the Christmas Trees. They were everywhere! Here are a few of my favorites from my vacation.

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort had a nautical themed tree. The lobby was recently renovated, and the deep blues and golds are stunning.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has one of the most stunning Christmas Trees in all of Walt Disney World. It doesn’t hurt that it happens to sit in the middle of one of the most beautiful lobbies at Walt Disney World!

Magic Kingdom is famous for the large Christmas Tree at the start of Main Street, U.S.A. Taking a picture in front of this Christmas Tree is a great way to start your park day!

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort’s rustic, 5-story Christmas Tree was an amazing centerpiece to this already beautiful lobby.

Disney Springs has a beautiful Christmas Tree in Town Square. What is even better is the “snow” that is falling as you gaze up!

The holiday season is in full swing! There is no better place to celebrate than at Walt Disney World.

This week’s Travel Chat features one of Must Love Travel’s advisors, Jill, who recently spent a week at Walt Disney World with her daughters. She had a great time, taking in all of the holiday decorations and festive, magical touches sprinkled throughout the theme parks and resorts.

Her favorite experience was Minnie’s Seasonal Dining at Hollywood and Vine, a character meal in Hollywood Studios park.

Check out our Travel Chat video to hear the excitement in Jill’s voice as she shares her holiday Disney vacation!

You can now upgrade your Walt Disney World package to include Disney’s Memory Maker Photo Package. It’s so easy!

If you add Memory Maker to your vacation package, the cost to you is $169 plus tax. If you buy it after your vacation begins, the price is $199. You can save $30 just by adding it to your vacation package!

Disney Memory Maker includes:

• Digital downloads of your Disney PhotoPass photos and videos

• Select attraction photos and videos

• Iconic, professional photos taken by Disney PhotoPass photographers

• Magic Shots – featuring Disney characters and more, added to your photos

Disney Memory Maker is a great way for you to capture more memories than ever before.

Talk to your Must Love Travel Planner about adding the Memory Maker Photo Package to your Disney Vacation package!

One of my favorite things to talk about is all of the unique ways to find romance throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. Because as we all know, Disney is not just for the young but also the young at heart! 

Main Street USA in Magic Kingdom is one of the most romantic spots, especially for true Disney lovers. You can grab fun pictures in front of Cinderella Castle and poke down the tiny alleys between shops for a break from the crowds. You can hire a Photopass photographer for a private session, grabbing some extra special shots with your loved one. This is also a great way to capture a surprise engagement! Magic Kingdom is not the only spot to hire a private Photopass photographer. You can choose your favorite spot in Disney World. Mine would be Epcot’s World showcase!

Epcot is another one of my favorite places to find romance at Walt Disney World! Certain countries in Epcot’s World Showcase offer extra romance and quiet spots to tuck away from the crowds. Japan has a beautiful koi pond, with some quiet tables tucked away behind them. It’s a great place to sit and have a drink or relax for a few minutes. Germany has an adorable Miniature Train VIllage that is very romantic. And the United Kingdom has some beautiful gardens tucked behind the stores. You may even find a character hiding back there, just waiting to say hello. There are also some very romantic restaurants, such as Chef de France and Monsieur Paul in the French Pavilion and San Angel Inn in the Mexico Pavilion.

Many of the Resorts have room categories providing beautiful views of gardens, lakes, and even Magic Kingdom. And with almost 200 different restaurants, there are plenty of places for a romantic date night.

When you are ready to plan your next romantic getaway, be sure to reach out to your Must Love Travel Planner! We are excited to help you create memories to last a lifetime.

The holidays are right around the corner, and although they may look a little different this year, the Walt Disney World Resort will still be having a massive holiday celebration! Let’s take a closer look at this year’s festivities.

It’s important to note that operating in a new environment and complying with Disney’s current health and safety measures means this year’s holiday celebrations will be significantly reimagined. But that does not mean it will not be special! Disney is going above and beyond to make the 2020 holiday season as festive and memorable as possible.

The official festivities kick off on November 6 and run through December 30, 2020. You’ll be able to enjoy the same festive decor, themed merchandise, seasonal food and beverage offerings, and holiday entertainment that you’ve known and loved for years. And don’t worry about Santa Claus, he’ll be making special pop-up appearances at all of the Disney Parks and Disney Springs. 

Character Cavalcades, flotillas, promenades, and motorcades will continue to showcase your favorite characters with a special holiday twist. Be on the lookout for some Walt Disney World holiday favorites to appear, including gingerbread men, elves and reindeer, toy soldiers, and live holiday music.

There will be a special projection on Cinderella Castle this year, creating a festive look and providing a colorful backdrop for holiday photos. 

If you want an extra special holiday meal, Minnie Mouse will be hosting a yuletide gathering at Hollywood & Vine at Hollywood Studios. The characters will be dressed in their holiday best, including Santa Goofy.

Disney Resort hotels will also be decked out for the holidays, but it is important to keep in mind that gingerbread displays will not return this year. It will also be much harder to visit hotels to view the decorations, as each hotel is minimizing the number of people allowed in. If you aren’t a guest of the hotel, the only way to visit would be to have a dining reservation. 

Starting on November 27, 2020, Epcot will begin their annual International Festival of the Holidays, with special holiday food offerings and seasonal live music.

Will the Walt Disney World Resort look a bit different this holiday season? Yes, of course. But will it still be special, magical, fun, and memorable? Absolutely! Disney loves to celebrate and will continue to delight guests, creating festive memories to last a lifetime.

As the Walt Disney World Resort continues it’s phased reopening, I wanted to give you an update of the guest experience and take a closer look at a few of the hot topics being discussed. As a reminder, this article was posted on October 2, 2020, and things continue to change so be sure to check in with your Must Love Travel Planner for up-to-the-minute information!

Everyone was worried about the character experience, and the good news is that the characters you know and love are everywhere! Although you still cannot have an official meet and greet, special Character Cavalcades continue to pop up everywhere throughout the day. You never know when a party of your pals may come by, so be prepared for lots of fun surprises throughout the day! Also, more Character Dining locations have reopened, and we expect will continue to reopen over the next few months. The experience is slightly different than you may remember, but guests have been giving extremely positive feedback!

Walt Disney World continues to enforce health and safety measures, such as temperature checks prior to entering a park and enforcing physical distancing between guests and Cast Members. Most importantly, Face Coverings are required for all guests age 2 and up. This has been strictly enforced.

Park attendance continues to be managed via the Disney Park Pass reservation system. A Park Pass and a Park Ticket are required to enter a park. Currently, you are still only allowed to visit 1 park per day, which means no Park Hopping.

There have been announcements of special Holiday celebrations that will be available for all guests November 6 – December 30. Take a look at what these celebrations will look like in this video!

The My Disney Experience App has proven to be especially helpful during this time for things like mobile ordering, checking in for dining reservations, checking park hours, opening your hotel room door, and more.

Speaking of hotels, currently, 17 Disney Resorts have reopened! Next up to reopen are Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort on October 14 and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort on November 1. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is being completely renovated and is estimated to reopen Summer 2021.

Overall, guests have given us wonderful feedback on their recent vacations to Walt Disney World. We’re all excited as more and more experiences continue to reopen!

The Travel Industry is slowly starting to reopen. Many Caribbean islands are welcoming back travelers, airlines are starting to offer more flights, and domestic travel is at an all-time high!

Now is a great time to book future travel, as many cruise lines, all-inclusive resorts, and tour operators are offering amazing deals for travel in 2021, all with very flexible change and cancellation policies.

Take a look at how some of our favorite suppliers are protecting your future travel plans to offer complete peace of mind when booking your next vacation. Contact your Must Love Travel Planner for complete booking details.

Cruising

All of the major cruise lines (Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Disney Cruise Line, Carnival, Viking, AmaWaterways, and more…) have announced Flexible Booking and Cancellation Policies. This allows you to book your future cruise now, with the ability to move your sail date, sometimes as close as 15 days prior to sailing.

All-Inclusive Resorts

Many of our favorite All-Inclusive Resort brands have announced flexible “Peace of Mind” policies, along with detailed Cleaning Standards for current and future vacation dates.​ ​Some of our favorite brands are Karisma Resorts, who will allow you to change travel dates or cancel up to 48 hours before arrival (*new bookings). and AMResorts, who have implemented an impressive CleanComplete Verification 360-Degree Safety & Hygiene Protocols, elevating their standards of quality and cleanliness. 

Walt Disney World

The Walt Disney World Resort has offered incredibly flexible change and cancellation policies to existing reservations. For existing and new bookings, you have until 7 days prior to arrival to change your dates without penalty.

When the Theme Parks and Resorts reopened in July, Disney implemented a thorough checklist of new policies and procedures to keep guests safe. As the Resorts and Theme Parks have now been open for a few months, it’s clear Disney has been doing a great job of keeping their guests safe and happy, and with plenty of Disney Magic.

Walt Disney World is open and ready to welcome you back to the Magic! If you are excited to get back to the Most Magical Place on Earth to enjoy the fall or holiday season, or you just want to experience the parks with lower crowds, now is a great time to go!

This past week, Disney released 3 separate offers, all with deep discounts on hotels and park tickets. Let’s take a look at the details of each offer, all of which are available for stays most nights September 4 through December 25, 2020, when you book through December 25, 2020.

With Disney’s new “Magic is Here” offer, you can save up to $500 on a 4-night/4-day Walt Disney Travel Company room and ticket package at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels. The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Select Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts can save up to $500, select Moderate Resorts can save up to $250, and select Value Resorts can save up to $100.

If you’re a resident of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, or West Virginia, you can save up to 30% on Rooms at select Disney Resort Hotels. The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Select Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts can save up to 30%, select Moderate Resorts can save up to 25%, and select Value Resorts can save up to 20%. Proof of residency is required at check-in.

If you’re a Florida Resident, you can save up to 35% on Rooms at select Disney Resort Hotels. The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Select Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts can save up to 35%, select Moderate Resorts can save up to 30%, and select Value Resorts can save up to 25%. Florida Residents must provide proof of residency at check-in.

Florida Residents also receive additional savings on Theme Park Tickets with the “Disney Magic Flex Ticket”. Keep in mind, the dates these tickets can be used is very limited. 2-Day Tickets cost $130 plus tax and must be used by September 30, 2020. 3-Day Tickets cost $174 plus tax and must be used by December 18, 2020 (blackout dates apply). 4-Day Tickets cost 195 plus tax and must be used by December 18, 2020 (blackout dates apply). “Disney Magic Flex Tickets” are valid for Florida Residents only. When using these tickets, proof of residency is required to enter each park.

As a special bonus, you’ll enjoy added peace of mind when booking any of these offers! If your plans change, any Disney-imposed change and cancellation fees will be waived up to the date of check-in for reservations with arrivals through December 31, 2020. See Important Details.

Contact your Must Love Travel Planner to book your next Disney vacation!

If you are looking for a unique, and surprisingly affordable, way to experience the Walt Disney World Resort, consider renting a private boat! Private boat rentals are available at both the Epcot Area and Magic Kingdom Area Resorts. I recommend renting a boat from one of the Magic Kingdom Resorts, as there is so much more to see on the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake.

The Seven Seas Marinna at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort offers multiple types of small boat rentals for 2 – 10 guests. The 8 – 10 passenger boats can also include a driver if you’d prefer to just sit back and enjoy the experience. 

I recently spent one-night after a Disney Cruise at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and we decided we did not want to do a park but rather spend the day simply enjoying our Resort and all it has to offer.  After a few hours at the pool, we decided to rent a 2-person Sea Racer from the Seven Seas Marina and spent about an hour and a half exploring the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake.

This was a very special way of seeing the Monorail Resorts on the Seven Seas Lagoon, but my favorite was sailing past Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and exploring Bay Lake. If you aren’t familiar, Bay Lake sits behind the Contemporary Resort and is where Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground is located.

We were able to get an up-close look at the new Cabins built for Copper Creek at Wilderness Lodge. You can see these Cabins from the water taxi, but it was nice to take it at our own pace and get really close.

There’s plenty of active fish and game warden’s out on the lakes at all times, making sure everyone is staying safe. And when that giant ferry comes through, they certainly make sure all of the smaller boats stay out of the way!

Our hour and a half experience cost about $80, and was worth every penny! It was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon outside of the parks. I would do it again in a heartbeat!

View of Grand Floridian from the water

This week, two of our Must Love Travel Advisors spent time at Walt Disney World. Take a minute to watch as they share their thoughts and experiences.

When you are ready to plan your next Walt Disney World vacation, be sure to use one of our Travel Planners who specializes in Disney Destinations!

In May 2019 I had the opportunity to stay in a Club Level room at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. I also booked a Theme Park View room, as I wanted to truly experience all that this beautiful resort has to offer.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort has 2 clubs: Atrium Club, which offers standard rooms and is located on the 12th floor, and the Tower Club, which offers Suites and is located on the 14th floor. I was staying in a standard room, so I was part of the Atrium Club on the 12th floor.

Being a Club Level guest, I was greeted in the lobby and brought directly up to the Club Lounge, where I was checked in via an iPad. I was introduced to the Cast Members at the Concierge desk, who are available for pretty much anything you would need assistance with during your stay.

The Club Lounge is available all-day with complimentary food and drinks (including alcohol). I’ve stayed Club Level at many different Disney Resorts, and although the types of food items available in the Club Lounges do vary by Resort, they are fairly consistent in the amount of food, and the “staples”. The menu does change daily, but there is always plenty of food available.

In the morning,  there were specialty coffees, lattes, cappuccinos, pastries, hard-boiled eggs, fruit, bagels…I could go on and on.

In the late morning, snacks come out for the remainder of the day. Snacks can range from candies, pretzels, veggies with dip, hummus, pita chips, fruit, and of course juice, soft drinks, beer, wine, and coffee are available all day long.

In the evening, the hors d’oeuvres are put out. Most of the food is similar to other restaurants found at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, such as California Grill, and The Wave…of American Flavor. I’ve seen everything, including specialty salads, macaroni and cheese, chili, soups, and tons of breads and dips. You can absolutely make a full meal out of the offerings in the evening!

Later in the evening, the desserts come out. Some of the offerings could be cookies, cakes, pudding, fruit…again, the list goes on and on. Cast Members will also put out a collection of after dinner cordials and liquors. Dessert is my favorite time of day when staying Club Level!

I stayed in a Theme Park View room, located on the 12th floor, where the views of the Magic Kingdom and Seven Seas Lagoon are to die for! The best part of my day was stopping at the Club Lounge to grab a glass of wine and a few desserts, which I brought back to my room. I sat on my private balcony, sipped my wine, and nibbled on desserts while having a front-row view of the Fireworks over the Magic Kingdom.

If you are early risers, it is also worth noting how special it was to grab a latte at the Club Lounge, sit on my private balcony and watch the sunrise over the Seven Seas Lagoon, while also watching the Magic Kingdom “come to life”.

Sunrise over the Magic Kingdom

These rooms are not cheap (approximately $900/night before any available discounts) but they are completely worth it for the experience.

As we prepare for Walt Disney World to reopen this summer, the number one question on travelers’ minds seems to be “Is there still Magic at Disney World?”

It’s true that during this transitional time of Disney World reopening there are going to be some pretty big changes to some of the experiences, but remember – change is not always a bad thing! Crowds are going to be low, and Disney is going to be working even harder to make sure every guest has a truly spectacular experience. 

Must Love Travel’s Laura and Jennie take some time to chat about this hot topic, and answer the big question: “Is there still going to be Magic at Walt Disney World?”

Take a look and let us know your thoughts in the comments!