Exploring Disney World’s Resort Hotels: Deluxe Resorts

Deluxe resorts are the third category up for discussion in this series. When you are picking a resort to stay in you want to make sure that it is somewhere that fits what you are looking for and what you can afford. If you are not as concerned with cost as you are with having space and more amenities at your hotel, then the deluxe resorts are for you!

Deluxe Resorts

In the first two parts of this series we discussed the Value Resorts and the Moderate Resorts. Now it is time to focus on the Deluxe Resorts that Disney has to offer.  Of course, the Deluxe Resorts will run you at least a few hundred dollars a night (unless Disney is offering one of their 30% off deals), but they are beautiful resorts. There are 8 different resorts in this category and they are: Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Contemporary Resort, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Yacht Club, Beach Club, Boardwalk Inn, The Wilderness Lodge, and Polynesian Village Resort.

 

Themes

Just like the Values and the Moderates, each Deluxe has a theme for the resort. The designs for the Deluxe Resorts are a little more sophisticated than the values, with less in-your-face decor. The themes are still fun though:

• The Grand Floridian has a beautiful Victorian theme and once you enter the lobby you will understand why “Grand” is in the title of the resort.
• The Yacht Club and Beach Club are designed after New England style resorts and are known for having the best pool on Disney property. 
• The Contemporary Resort has the A-frame tower that the monorail actually goes through, it’s pretty fun to be inside the Contemporary and see the monorail come through.
• Animal Kingdom Lodge has, you guessed it, animals. This beautiful hotel has giraffes, zebras, and other animals roaming the Savannah, so if you have a Savannah view room you can have your morning coffee while watching the animals.
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort has a fun tropical theme. The lobby is more open with the recent refurb, which is nice. Plus, it has one of the best restaurants (‘Ohana) on Disney property in its main building.
• You will find a rustic Northwest theme at the Wilderness Lodge. The hotel has a very impressive lobby.
• The Boardwalk Inn is designed after a turn-of-the-century Atlantic City. This resort has a lot of fun entertainment found right outside its doors.

Recreation

The Deluxe Resorts have lots of activities available for the guests. At check-in they will give you a sheet that will list out everything that is available to take part in for that week. Some things you have to pay for and other things just come with your stay.

The resorts that are located on a body of water offer boat rentals, so you can spend some time on the water. There is child care offered, for an hourly rate, at Deluxe Resorts, so mom and dad can have a night out.

Here are some of the other things offered at the Deluxe Resorts:

• Jogging Trail
• Arcade
• Playground
• Campfire Activities
• The Pirate Adventure Cruise
• Safaris (at Animal Kingdom Lodge)
• Parasailing (Contemporary)
• And more.

To see what is offered at each resort just look under the “Recreation” tab and the “Amenities” tab on each resort page on Disney’s website. There is so much to do at these resorts, you can have a resort only trip and never get bored! In addition to all the activities offered at the resort, each one has a good sized gift shop.

Pools

Moving on to the pools at the Deluxe Resorts. Each of the resorts has a very nice and good size main pool, as well as other quiet pools. The main pools all have a fun waterslide for guests to use:

• The Yacht and Beach Club’s slide is a sunken ship and the slide is down the mast of the ship.
• The Boardwalk Inn you will slide down a “roller coaster” and come out through the mouth of a (kind of scary) clown.
• The Contemporary has a 17-foot-high twisting waterslide.
• The Polynesian Village Resort has a volcano, a waterfall, and a 142 ft. slide.
• You can slide down a mountain at the Grand Floridian’s main pool, all 181 feet of it.
• The Wilderness Lodge has a stream that starts in the lobby, flows outside, and goes into the pool via waterfall. The water slide is built into the rocks.
• The Animal Kingdom Lodge has a small water slide, but it is located along the Uzima Savannah, so you can check out the animals while you are at the pool.

The Deluxe Resorts that have a second main pool for Disney Vacation Club Villas are also available for guests to use, as long as you are staying at the corresponding deluxe resort. For instance, if you are staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge you can use the pool there or the one at Kidani Village.

Location

The big draw for each of these resorts is their location. To a lot of people the location is worth the bump in the price.

Magic Kingdom

First, you have the Magic Kingdom resorts. These consist of The Grand Floridian, The Contemporary, The Polynesian Village Resort, and The Wilderness Lodge. The first three are on the monorail line. So, you can just hop on the monorail from you resort to get to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot (though for Epcot you have to transfer at the Transportation and Ticket Center). The Grand Floridian, Polynesian Village, and Wilderness Lodge have boat transportation available to the Magic Kingdom and the Contemporary is a short walk from Magic Kingdom. All four of the resorts have bus transportation available to other Disney destinations.

Epcot

Next are the Epcot resorts. These are all within walking distance (about 5-10 minutes) to Epcot’s backdoor, which is officially called The International Gateway, and to Hollywood Studios (15-20 minutes). Having such a short walk to Epcot, especially with all the dining options there, is a plus for many people.

 In addition to walking there are also Friendship Boats available that can drop you at Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and the surrounding Epcot resorts.

Animal Kingdom

Lastly, is Animal Kingdom Lodge which is located near Animal Kingdom (only a five minute bus ride). This is the only Deluxe Resort that does not have transportation other than buses. However, if you are looking for a quiet place to stay this is your hotel. Since people view it as “out of the way” it doesn’t get as busy as some of the other resorts.

We have stayed at Kidani Village (the Disney Vacation Club building near Animal Kingdom Lodge) and loved it! I really don’t understand how it is “out of the way.” None of the bus rides were that long, except for Disney Springs (that’s a problem with every resort though), and the grounds at both Kidani and Animal Kingdom Lodge are beautiful. So if you don’t mind taking the buses and you want a quiet place to stay, check out Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Dining

There are multiple dining options available at the Deluxe Resorts. There are usually at least two table service restaurants, as well as a quick service. Plus, most Deluxe Resorts have a signature dining restaurant.

• At Animal Kingdom Lodge there is Jiko – The Cooking Place
• Contemporary Resort has California Grill
• The Yacht and Beach Club have Yachtsman Steakhouse
• The Flying Fish for the Boardwalk Inn
• Wilderness Lodge has Artist Point.
• The Grand Floridian actually has three: Victoria and Albert’s, Citricos, and Narcoossee’s.

The only deluxe with no signature dining is Polynesian Village Resort, but they do have a dinner show, Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show and they have ‘Ohana, which is one of the most popular restaurants on property.

Each resort also offers room service. For a review of our experience at California Grill, Yachtsman Steakhouse, and ‘Ohana, you can check out my previous posts:  

• California Grill Review
• Yachtsman Steakhouse Review
• ‘Ohana

Rooms

The rooms that are available at the deluxe level offer you a choice of a studio, one bedroom suite, or 2 bedroom suite. The studios are set up like the studios at the moderates. They have 2 queen beds, television, dresser, closet area, sink/vanity, and the tub/shower and toilet (separate from the sink/vanity). The rooms at each of the resorts may vary with what type of beds are offered. Some, like the Beach Club, have a daybed, so the studios can sleep five people. Each of these room types have different views available for different costs.

In addition, you have the option of reserving a club level room (for an additional cost). The club level rooms come with the privilege of using the club level lounge. These lounges offer food and drinks throughout the day. You also have the services of club level cast members to help you book restaurants and tours during your stay. It is a little extra pampering for you while you are on vacation.

As you can see, there is a lot to do at each of the deluxe resorts. If I were to put everything they offer in this post it would be very, very long. The best thing to do is figure out if this is the resort category for you and if it is then you can start figuring out which theme interests you the most. They are pretty expensive, but Disney does have a 30% off promotion once or twice a year for this resort category. They are all beautiful resorts, so half the fun is in the actual planning!

Thanks for reading!

*Liz*

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