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.

On this week’s Must Love Travel Chat video series, we talked all about Disney’s Contemporary Resort! One of our Travel Advisors, Jerren, recently came home from a personal vacation and was kind enough to share her experience.

Not only is Disney’s Contemporary Resort so close to the Magic Kingdom that you can walk, but the Resort offers amazing amenities, excellent dining, and a super fun pool.

Check it out! And to catch up on past Travel Chat episodes, you can view them all on our Must Love Travel Chat page.

The beautiful Enchanted Rose Lounge is now open at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. I recently had the opportunity to check it out, and it was stunning!

I would say Enchanted Rose is more “inspired” by the movie, unlike the heavily themed restaurant Be Our Guest. Enchanted Rose is subtle. If you weren’t familiar with the movie, you might not even catch all of the details. But if you are a big fan of Beauty and the Beast, take the time to search for the details.

I don’t want to give too much away, but check out the chandelier over the bar. Doesn’t it remind you of Belle’s yellow dress she wears while dancing with the Beast?

During the day, the feel is a bit more bright and cheery. At night, the lighting is darker, and you may miss some of the details. My suggestion is to visit both during the day and at night, to compare the experience.

I’m going to share day and night photos for you to compare! And if you are interested in planning your own Disney vacation, be sure to reach out to your Travel Advisor!

Daytime photos of Enchanted Rose

Evening photos of Enchanted Rose

Here is the view from the outdoor seating area during the day —

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!

I’m sure we’re all sad that Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will be closed until summer 2021. It is one of the most popular hotels at the Walt Disney World Resort. So let’s take a walk down memory lane!

Last year, I spent one day and one night at the Poly, and we had a wonderful time. We started our day with a delicious coffee in the lobby, then an adult beverage at the Tambu Lounge. We then took a boat ride on the Seven Seas Lagoon, had another adult beverage at Trader Sam’s (outside), followed by an afternoon at the pool.

It was Disney perfection!

Late morning coffee in the lobby after we arrived. Full disclosure – we were waiting for the bar to open!

The most beautiful lobby. I wonder what it will look like after the renovations!

Finally, and adult beverage at the Tambu Lounge!

We then decided to do something we’d never done before, and rent a small boat to explore the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. What amazing views of the resorts and other boats!

Trader Sams is known for its indoor bar. But there is also an outdoor lounge area, where they have a Hawaiian musician playing a ukelele with tiki torches lit everywhere. It’s a beautiful place to relax with a drink!

Pool time means a spiked Dole Whip!

All in all, we had an amazing day. And yes, I will admit…including the spiked dole whip at the pool, I had a total of three dole whips!

Walt Disney World offers almost 30 different resort experiences. There are budget-friendly family resorts, cabins in the woods, 5-star luxury resorts, and everything in between. One category you may not be aware of are Disney’s Deluxe Villa Resorts, offering condo-style home-away-from-home accommodations.

Deluxe Villa Resorts are Disney Vacation Club properties, meaning you can buy into them as part of Disney’s timeshare program. But that is not the only way to stay at one of these resorts! Disney releases inventory to the general public, so if you’d prefer this style of accommodations but are not ready to invest in a (costly!) timeshare program, you can book a Deluxe Villa resort with your Travel Advisor.

Some Deluxe Villa Resorts are part of or connected to a Disney Deluxe Resort. For example, Bay Lake Tower is adjacent to Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Other Deluxe Villa Resorts are completely separate, such as Disney’s Riviera Resort.

Villas come in 4 sizes. Let’s break them down —

Deluxe Studio: Perfect for a couple or small family. Most studios sleep 4 and have one queen bed and a queen sofa bed. Some studios sleep 5 with a small pull-down murphy bed designed for younger children. Studios come with a Kitchenette, including a small refrigerator, microwave, toaster oven, and coffee maker.

One-Bedroom Villas: Perfect for small families who would like more space, these villas sleep 4 or 5. There is usually one king bed in the bedroom, with additional bedding for 2 or 3 in the living room with a sofa bed, some with a chair that converts to a single bed. Most have one bathroom, although some have two. All one-bedroom villas come with a full kitchen and a washer/dryer.

Two-Bedroom Villa Floor Plan

Two-Bedroom Villas: Perfect for larger families or small families who would like a second full bedroom for the kiddos. With extra sleeping space in the living room, some two-bedroom villas can sleep up to 8 or 9. All two-bedroom villas have a full kitchen, washer/dryer, and at least 2 full bathrooms. Some have a third full bathroom in the living/kitchen area.

Three-Bedroom Grand Villas: These villas are huge! Some sleep up to 12 guests. There are 3 full bedrooms, all with their own bathrooms. All have giant living spaces, with a full kitchen, dining area, washer/dryer, and multiple living spaces.

Three-Bedroom Grand Villa

One of our Travel Advisors recently stayed at three different Deluxe Villa Resorts and shared her experiences in an episode of Must Love Travel’s weekly video series Travel Chat. Take a look!

If you are interested in booking a Deluxe Villa Resort for your next Walt Disney World vacation, reach out to your Must Love Travel Planner to get started!

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!

My wife Leslie and I recently stayed at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The Walt Disney World Resort is a place that we’ve visited often and that really does feel like “home” to us.

I must say though, in our new world of Covid-19, social distancing and face masks, home felt a little different. Different, but good. Good to be back, great to feel comfortable there.

When we checked into our room at the Grand Floridian, there was a sign to let us know about the enhanced cleaning Disney has implemented.

Everything looked great and we felt completely comfortable with our accommodations and being there.

Good to see our old friend the Keurig coffee maker is still available.

Cups were wrapped and protected

The TV remote was cleaned, sealed, and protected. Now, this is a good idea!

Disney is still providing upscale bathroom amenities to make your stay more comfortable.

We loved the convenience of taking the monorail to the Magic Kingdom from Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.

There were signs to help with keeping our distance on Disney transportation.

Each monorail car had a partition to separate the sections

And as I said in the last post, if you’ve had enough of signs and masks, there are places you can find to just be alone, or with your favorite travel companion and enjoy just being back home and back in the magic. The Grand Floridian is a great place for just relaxin’.

Travel Safe, Enjoy the Magic!

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!

Ultra-modern and vintage aren’t often used to describe the same thing. But there is no better way to describe Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

The iconic A-frame Tower Building is recognized by pretty much anyone who has visited Walt Disney World. The image of the Monorail running through the building is timeless. Inside the large lobby is a 90-foot tall mural by Disney legend Mary Blair, known for designing the “it’s a small world” attraction. You’ll also find Chef Mickey’s, one of the most popular restaurants at Walt Disney World. And don’t forget that Disney’s Contemporary Resort is currently the only Disney resort hotel that offers a walking path to Magic Kingdom.

The guest rooms of the resort are where you’ll see the ultra-modern touches. Rooms are huge and have been renovated in a sleek, modern style. Pictures speak louder than words; check it out!

California Grill of the most popular Signature restaurants at Walt Disney World and sits on the top floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, with a stunning view of Magic Kingdom, the Seven Seas Lagoon, and Bay Lake. This upscale modern restaurant is only available via a private VIP elevator, and reservations are tough to get. The food is to die for, the wine list extensive and impressive, and the atmosphere lively. It’s a perfect date spot, or bring a group of friends and have one of the most memorable meals of your life.

Reach out to your Must Love Travel Planner when you are ready to plan your next magical vacation! We are ready and happy to help.

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!