Choosing A Walt Disney World Resort by Location

A look at the “Magic Kingdom” and “Animal Kingdom” Theme Park Resorts

Magic Kingdom Resorts
Proudly featuring the Magic Kingdom as their centerpiece these five uniquely themed Magic Kingdom Resorts nestled around Bay Lake and Seven Seas lagoon share some of most magical, memorable and recognizable real estate in all of Florida.

Without a doubt there is something undeniably special about staying in one of these Magic Kingdom Resorts. Although only three of these resorts the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Polynesian Resort and Contemporary Resort provides a direct view of the Magic Kingdom, each one in its own distinct way affords their guests the feeling that they are part of the magic.

From the incomparable elegance of the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa to the good old fashioned elbowroom found at Fort Wilderness join us and see why some Disney Travelers would not consider staying anywhere else

The Monorail Resorts
Location, Location, Location

These three Deluxe Disney Resorts that are nestled around Seven Seas Lagoon have as part of their transportation the Walt Disney World Monorail system, which allows guests direct transportation by monorail to the Magic Kingdom. When guests want to head to World Showcase, Test Track, Illuminations and everything else that Disney’s Epcot has to offer they simply transfer to the Epcot monorail at the Ticket and Transportation Center. Other transportation options include a leisurely boat trip to the Magic Kingdom from The Grand Floridian and The Polynesian Resort, while buses can be boarded in front of each of the resorts for all other destinations.

So despite this obvious convenience and way coolness is there anything else special about these resorts?

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
The flagship of Walt Disney World Resorts, with it’s immaculate grounds and white framed buildings, is situated on a forty acre site on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon.
The 900 guest rooms carry the Victorian theme and are found in a combination of four and five story buildings situated throughout 40 acres of immaculate landscaping and sandy white beaches.

Guests can enjoy a character breakfast in the morning at 1900Park Fare and dine that evening at Victoria & Albert's Disney’s most elegant restaurant. Victoria & Albert’s offers an intimate dining experience matched only by the food, which is prepared by some of the best culinary talent found anywhere. The resort's other restaurants include Citricos, Grand Floridian Café and Narcoossee’s each offering a great dining experience with its own special ambiance and style.


Disney’s Polynesian Resort
Lush tropical plants, winding paths and white sandy beaches nestled along the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon all help to create this island paradise.

The two and three story buildings called longhouses are scattered throughout this tropical resort like the islands of the South Pacific from which they are named.
While some guests enjoy a character “family style” breakfast at Ohana’s with Minnie, Chip & Dale other guests may treat themselves to a Native Polynesian Island dinner show displaying authentic Polynesian dancing, which highlights a dancer with twirling flaming batons all presented in a PG Disney fashion.
Ohana’s also offers a dinner buffet, while breakfast, lunch and dinner can be found at the Kona Café.
Although the dining options are more limited than the other two “Monorail Resorts” with the convenience of the monorail that easily transports guests to The Grand Floridian and Contemporary Resort this should not be a deal breaker.


Disney’s Contemporary Resort
This icon of Walt Disney World with it’s A-framed design and monorail service that passes directly through the resorts fifteen story atrium sets it apart from the other “Magic Kingdom” resorts.

Dining at this deluxe resort is as contemporary and exciting as the resort itself. Starting with a character breakfast at Chef Mickey’s known for it’s reputation for a “celebration of fun” and finishing with a late night meal at the California Grill with it’s combination of fine food and excellent service, dining here will have guests talking about their vacation long after they return home. Other dining options include the Concourse Steakhouse open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Even when I stay at other Walt Disney World resorts I will often find myself making a priority seating at either Chef Mickey’s or the California Grill.

Tell Me A Little More
Recreation at all three of these “Monorail” resorts is abundant and wet. With Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon as assets water sports are king. Of the three the leader in this form of aquatic relaxation and fun is The Contemporary Resort.

Each resort is family friendly with The Polynesian Resort and The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa offering on site children’s activity centers and clubs that afford parents a night out.

So with the Magic Kingdom always in site and a transportation system that is possibly the best at Walt Disney World, it is no wonder why for some guests, staying at one of the “Monorail Resorts” is staying at Disney.

Far from everything but only minutes from the Magic?

The two remaining Magic Kingdom Resorts are to be found on the shores of Bay Lake. Both are connected by watercraft to the Magic Kingdom and by bus transportation to all other Disney destinations.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Possibly the best themed of all the Walt Disney World Resorts

The Wilderness Lodge sits comfortably among the evergreen pines and other natural vegetation that surrounds it. Here Disney pays tribute to the U.S. National Park lodges built and patronized at the turn of the century.

Although character dining was discontinued at Artist Point characters of another kind dressed as cast members can be found at the Whispering Canyon. Here a family style all you care to eat wild and fun filled breakfast, lunch and dinner can be found. An al carte menu for those not wanting to stuff themselves silly is also available.
The Northwest Lodge setting of this resort is continued in their top of the line restaurant Artist Point.
The Wilderness Lodge is also home to one of the best counter service restaurants, the Roaring Fork, to be found at any of Disney’s resorts. A little crowded at peak meal times, but that is only because the food here is so good.

Recreation is plentiful with Bay Lake making itself available to everything from boating to fishing and the near by Fort Wilderness trails are easily accessible for bikers and joggers.
The Wilderness Lodge is at the entry level of the Walt Disney World Deluxe Resorts, which along with the bunk beds found in some rooms makes it a great “family friendly” deluxe Disney Resort.

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Camping Disney Style

The over 700 hundred acres found on the edge of Bay Lake is centrally located with easy access to all the action. After a day at the theme parks guests can relax among the pine and cypress trees with only an occasional visit from one of the many rabbits, ducks, deer or peacocks that roam throughout the resort.

One of the obvious draws is the relatively low cost of a one-bedroom cabin and the ability to accommodate a family comfortably. Also with the fully equipped kitchen you can save some vacation dollars having drinks available and not eating every meal out.

Animal Kingdom Theme Park Resorts

Among these resorts there are a wide variety of choices, amenities and prices.
From the natural beauty of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge to the moderately priced southwestern themed Coronado Springs Resort to the larger than life icons found at the All Stars, there is something for every taste and budget.

These five resorts, while accessible to all Disney destinations by bus, will find the wonder and exploration of Disney’s newest major theme park the Animal Kingdom right next door. And in the case of Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge the adventure begins right outside your balcony. Also close by and always fun is the ever popular water theme park Blizzard Beach and the upside down fun of Winter Summerland miniature golf.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Explore the riches of Africa
This, the latest addition to Walt Disney Worlds luxury resorts was designed by Peter Dominick who gave us Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. The Animal Kingdom Lodge stands some six stories tall and overlooks 30 acres of an African wildlife preserve, which is divided into three separate savannah’s.

The savannah’s are open 24 hours a day and afford guests a unique opportunity to watch, photograph and familiarize themselves with nearly 100 grazing animals and over one hundred and twenty exotic birds. Opportunities to view the animals can be found as easily as walking onto your private balcony or from several specially designed viewing areas located throughout the resort. Each night the savannah’s are lighted by artificial moonlight.


Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

The drama of regions of Mexico and the American Southwest
This moderately priced resort with its blend of Northern Mexican and American Southwestern architecture and theming invites guests to follow in the footsteps of famed explorer Francisco de Coronado.

The resort complex has divided its 1,967 rooms into three regions. This combination of two, three and four story buildings are all set around a 15-acre man made lake called Lago Dorado.

The knock on the Coronado Springs is that it is largely set up to service the convention business brought in by the rather extensive on site convention facilities. However, we have never felt out of place or inconvenienced by this and in fact our family has named it our favorite Disney moderate resort.


Disney Quality at a Value Price

Disney’s All-Star Movie Resort
Brightly colored and larger than life icons from some of your favorite Disney films will delight and entertain you at this Walt Disney World Resort.

Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
Bright Calypso colors, thirty-foot cowboy boots, an over sized neo lighted juke box, and a piano and guitar shaped pools are all part of the theme and the fun of this Disney resort.

Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
Imagine a tennis ball can that would hold 9.5 million tennis balls or a Coke cup that would take 20 million 12-ounce cans of Coca-Cola to fill, well Disney has. These as well as other forty-foot sports icons, often taller than the buildings they adorn, are seen throughout and help to carry the theme as well as delight the senses.

These three separate Disney value resorts boast a combined total of nearly 6,000 guest rooms that are themed to match their namesakes and are scattered over a rather large expanse of land. Taking into consideration the number of guest rooms, the overall layout and the fact that at each resort there is only a single bus stop and food court, grabbing a quick bite or jumping on a bus to the Magic Kingdom may not be as simply as it sounds.

A Preferred Building and Room are available at each resort and will put you closer to the bus stop, Main Hall (food court, front desk, lobby) and next to one of two main themed pools. This will cost about $10.00 more per night.

Each of the three resorts will offer a food court as the only on site dining option. A slightly greater selection of items will be found at these fast food bulk loaders than you might expect. Pizza, pasta, cheese-steak subs, tortilla wraps, steak, ribs, roasted chicken are among the selections.

Try to avoid the peak meal times if you can. The crowds, waiting and noise make it more a matter of function than enjoyment. If you’re hungry and just don’t feel like another line try the room service pizza delivery.

While the kids will certainly enjoy the larger than life theming and dad will appreciate the price you can expect to encounter some inconveniences and a less personalized service than found at Disney’s moderate or deluxe resorts.