Every year, ahead of Christmas Eve, Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with their elf Candy Kane, take a relaxing vacation at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin. Even though this is their annual vacation, they make time to meet with guests. Liliane Opsomer, coauthor of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids,…
Category: Resort Hotels at Walt Disney World
Everything About Walt Disney World Resorts
A Weekend Stay in the Gran Destino Tower
The Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is one of the most recent additions to the Walt Disney World resort family. I had the chance to spend the weekend there recently and thoroughly enjoyed my stay. It’s a beautiful resort with great amenities, making it a great choice for couples and families. The Gran Destino Tower…
Five Hidden Gems at Gran Destino Tower
The new Gran Destino Tower, part of Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, is all the buzz right now. With the upgraded touches all around the lobby, rooms and grounds, this moderate level resort feels more like a deluxe resort. So, with all that Gran Destino has to offer, what are some special touches you might miss?…
A Look at Walt Disney World’s Wilderness Lodge
Though it might be hard to think of at first, there are some moments where guests would like to take a break from the Walt Disney World parks, rope dropping, dining reservations, parades, attractions, etc. Not everyone will agree on this, but there have been multiple moments where I have met people, as well as…
Disney Vacation Club Top of the World Lounge
What is Top of the World Lounge? Disney Vacation Club’s Top of the World Lounge is a lounge located on the 16th floor of Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. This area is specifically designed for and available to members of the Disney Vacation Club to enjoy drinks and light bites to eat. It…
Value Resorts at Walt Disney World
So, you’re planning a visit to Disney World and you’ve decided to stay on-site at a Disney-owned resort! Great idea! For the budget-minded among us I wanted to do a little compare-and-contrast to each of the Value resort options. There’s 6 to choose from! Let’s start cheapest and work up. I’ll quote 2020 pricing below….
Making the Most of Your Disney Resort
You have decided to visit Walt Disney World. Now you have to choose a resort. Since so much deliberation often goes into this decision, I encourage you to consider making the most of your Disney Resort. Sometimes your budget and family size can narrow down the selections too. Often times your style of…
Camping at Fort Wilderness
Camping at Fort Wilderness is, for our family, the absolute best way to visit Walt Disney World. Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground combines a top-notch camping experience with all those extra Disney magical touches. Together, they create an atmosphere that is both exciting and laid back. You might think that camping, even at Disney,…
Preparing Children for Walt Disney World
As a “non-childless” millennial, the last several Disney World trips I’ve taken have included my children. (No judgment to those who take Disney trips without kids! I also know how great that is!) I’ve compiled some tips on preparing children for Walt Disney World that have helped us greatly over the years. Plan Plan Plan…
The Old Faithful Club at Wilderness Lodge – A First-Timer’s Review
If Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is a bustling center of vacation goodness, the Old Faithful Club at the Wilderness Lodge is a quiet and peaceful oasis. I was lucky enough to stay for the first time at the Old Faithful Club for four glorious days recently on an annual sister trip. I can honestly say that…
The Magic Behind Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
I cannot even begin to explain how excited I am to be discussing one of my favorite resorts on property – Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Everything about it is absolutely stunning, down to the last detail. The rooms are immaculate, making sure you feel a part of a magical story every single second during…
Managing a Split Stay at Walt Disney World
Dreaming of a stay at Grand Floridian? A split stay might make it possible! What is a split stay? Simply stated, when guests divide their trip to stay in two (or more) different accommodations, they are splitting their stay. For example, a guest might stay at Disney’s All Star Movies for the first part…