Walt Disney World Deluxe Resorts 101 Part 1

Welcome to part one of our series on the deluxe resorts at Walt Disney World! There are so many deluxe resorts that we decided to do more than one episode so we can properly cover them all! This episode is all about the Magic Kingdom area resorts! The deluxe resorts are the highest tier of resort options at Walt Disney World that offer a truly high end, luxury experience but with the same Disney magic you expect at any Walt Disney World Resort hotel!

We get asked a lot of questions about the deluxe resorts from are they really worth the price to which one is our favorite and why? There are eleven deluxe level resorts and villas on Disney World property but today we are chatting about the Magic Kingdom area resorts and the remaining will be covered in a future episode!

All About Deluxe Resorts:

There are four deluxe resorts in the Magic Kingdom area:

Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

The deluxe resorts is the top level of resorts at Walt Disney World and they do come with a large price jump from the moderate level. But there are also some amenities and things that you get from a deluxe resort that you cannot find anywhere else. Generally these resorts have a smaller footprint than the moderate or value resorts so it’s easier to get around your resort and most of them have interior hallways rather than outdoor room access (though there are some exceptions that we’ll discuss).

Deluxe rooms are anywhere from 350-450 square feet while a moderate is about 330 square feet and a value room is about 260 square feet. These resorts also boast more restaurants then their moderate and value counterparts as well as higher quality restaurants. They also have amazing pool areas and generally the location of a deluxe resort is closer in proximity to a park or transportation option. For example three of the four resorts we’re discussing in this post are just a short monorail ride away from the Magic Kingdom and Epcot!

All of the Magic Kingom area deluxe resorts also offer Movies Under The Stars, campfires, either a jogging trail or fitness center (more on that below) and most of them offer arcades as well. Each resort also has hot tubs and waterslides in their pool areas, similar to the moderate resorts!

The Contemporary Resort

This resort is one of the opening day resorts which is so cool! Fun fact, Tyler’s mom stayed here in 1974 and the rooms were around $75 per night which at the time was pretty astronomical but sounds so inexpensive compared to hotel prices today! This resort is comprised of the main a-frame building, the south garden wing and Bay Lake Tower, which is officially a Disney Vacation Club resort but anyone can book rooms there. You will find that staying in one of the outer buildings does offer a bit of a different vibe and you can experience different views as some of them face other water ways and you might catch a glimpse of the ferry boat traveling to and from Wilderness Lodge!

One of our favorite things about this resort is that you can actually walk to the Magic Kingdom, there’s a pathway that connects the resort and the Magic Kingdom entrance that only takes about 10-15 minutes. This resort also has a large convention center and it was in one of these rooms, The Ballroom of the Americas, that Richard Milhous Nixon gave his very famous “I am not a crook” speech in November of 1973.

When you enter this resort you’ll find the check in desk, walk out to the pool area, Contemporary Grounds (coffee shop), and the entrance to Steakhouse 71 on the first floor; the second and third floor house the convention center as well as the check in area for California Grill; and the fourth floor is probably the most recognizable, The Grand Canyon Concourse, where you’ll find the beautiful 90 foot mural by Disney legend Mary Blair, Chef Mickey’s, Contempo Cafe, gift shops, the sundries shop as well as the monorail! That’s right - the monorail runs THROUGH the resort! Then when you look up around you, you’ll see the remaining floors are all rooms that look down on the concourse. In our opinion, this resort feels like a bit of a hodge podge when it comes to theming in the main areas. There are tons of different styles, textures and colors that seem a little mismatched. Unlike other resorts it doesnt feel like a cohesive theme. Though they did recently refurbish the rooms and the main floor so it’s our suspicion that a refresh might be coming!

Rooms are this resort offer either a theme park view or a bay view and both are beautiful in their own way. The newly refurbished rooms are also Incredible themed which is very cool! There is also a club level option which is more expensive but comes with access to a concierge lounge which includes unlimited drinks including wine and beer, light food including snacks, treats etc. While most rooms are a standard occupancy you will find 1 bedroom suites in the south garden wing as well as 1 or 2 bedroom suites at the club level and 1, 2 or 3 bedroom villas in Bay Lake Tower.

There are two pools at this resort, the Feature Pool is the main one with fountains, water spouts and a 17 foot waterslide! If you’re looking for something a little more chill you can always venture to the Bay Lake Pool where it tends to be a bit quieter and more relaxing.

Dining at this resort is fantastic! The Contempo Cafe is a quick service offering breakfast, lunch and dinner; Contemporary Grounds is a coffee shop serving java and pastries; Outer Rim is a lounge offering a wide variety of cocktails and a stunning view; The Sand Bar and The Cove Bar are both pool area bars; Chef Mickey’s is the character dining option serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with some of your favorite Disney pals; Steakhouse 71 used to be The Wave but has been recently reimagined into a luxe steakhouse serving up classic American dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner; and California Grill which is a table service option that offers fireworks viewing! They do offer an outdoor viewing area as well so if your table isnt ready or even if you had a reservation earlier in the day you are able to return and view the fireworks from the outdoor area.

This resort offers plenty of activities including Movies Under the Stars, campfires, jogging trail, fitness center, boat rentals, arcade, specialty cruises on the bay and more. You can also view the Electrical Water Pageant which is so old school Disney and a little dated but so nostalgically Disney and wonderfully weird!

Transportation at this resort includes the monorail to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot and busses to everywhere else. Of course, you can also walk to Magic Kingdom as mentioned above!

Polynesian Village Resort

This is another opening day hotel, though it wasn’t completely finished until about a month later. The theming of this resort is of course, Polynesian inspired! This resort is made up of a main building, The Great Ceremonial House, along with eleven outer buildings and twenty individual bungalows, collectively called the Bora Bora Bungalows. The outer buildings are:

*Don’t forget to look up in the lobby at the Polynesian to see plenty of amazing decor!*

Tuvalu
Figi
Aotearoa
Tonga
Samoa
Niue
Rarotonga
Hawaii (concierge building)
Tokelau
Moorea
Pago Pago

Fun fact about this resort, it was in one of these rooms that John Lennon signed the paperwork to offically dissolve The Beatles in December 1974 while on holiday with his then partner May Pang!

Rooms at this resort are standard occupany and offer a theme park view, water view, resort view, or lagoon view. You can also stay on club level at this resort which offers a variety of suites including the King Kamehameha Suite which can sleep up to 8 adults. There are also the private bungalows over the water which are a BIG splurge but offer a really unique experience!

There are two pools at this resort. The Lava Pool is VERY cool! It has a towering volcano, waterfall and 142 foot long waterslide! There is also a more relaxed leisure pool called the Oasis Pool if you’re looking for a more chill vibe.

There are a lot of dining options at this resort! Capt’ Cook’s is the quick service option serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and in our opinion has the most interesting menu compared to other deluxe quick service options; ‘Ohana is the character dining option for this resort and it is SO fun and delicious, especially the breakfast; Kona Cafe is a fan favorite and where you can find the famed Tonga Toast; Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is a very fun place but very hard to get into (our tip is to go there at 2:00 PM to put your name on the list!); Kona Island is a coffee bar that also offers grab and go quick service options for breakfast as well as grab and go sushi for lunch or dinner; Pineapple Lanai is home to the famous Dole Whip which is a must in our opinion; and if you’re searching for a bar or lounge you can choose from Tambu Lounge, Barefoot Pool Bar and Oasis Bar and Grill.

This resort offers plenty of activities including Movies Under the Stars, campfires, jogging trail, boat rentals, and more. You can also view the Electrical Water Pageant from this resort as well!

Transportation at this resort includes the monorail to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, water taxi to Magic Kingdom and busses to everywhere else. However, our tip if you’re heading to Epcot is to walk to the Transportation and Ticket Center (the TTC) and hop on the monorail to Epcot for a bit of a quicker trip!

Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

This resort opened in 1988 and is inspired by the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego! Disney describes the theming as Victorian elegance meets modern sophistication and we have to agree! This hotel has sort of become an iconic representation of Walt Disney World and you may have seen it featured in various TV shows such as Full House, as well as Disney advertisements over the years and if you were a 90’s kid you may remember seeing it in the Sing-A-Long songs tapes! The resort is comprised of the main building, five outer buildings, the Villas at Grand Floridian as well as the convention center and the spa and health club. The five outer buildings are:

Sago Cay
Conch Key
Sugar Loaf Key
Boca Chica
Big Pine Key

There are tons of different room types at this resort. Standard occupany rooms offer theme park, resort or water views; club level rooms range from standard occupancy to 1 or 2 bedroom suites; and the villas offer studio suites along with 1, 2 or 3 bedroom villas all with a variety of view options. Currently the rooms are undergoing some updates and many of them have already been completed! (as of the time of this writing not all of the buildings have been refurbished yet.)

This resort offers plenty of shops beyond the standard gift shops you’ll find at the other Disney resorts. One of our favorites is Basin White, which is you’ve caught our Disney Springs episode or blog post you know is one of our favorite stores! You will also find various apparel shops including Curioser Clothiers, M. Mouse Mercantile as well as the sundries shop, Sandy Cove Gifts and Sundries. This resort also does have a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique location but at the time of writing it is unavailable. (check the Disney website for the most up to date info on reopening!)

*Even on a gloomy day this resort stands out on Seven Seas Lagoon.*

There are two pools at this resort. The Beach Pool has a 181 foot long waterslide and a REALLY cool splash pad area that has a big Mad Hatter hat that tips over plus the pool is overlooking the Seven Seas Lagoon which is cool. There is another pool as well called the Courtyard Pool that is a bit quieter if you’re searching for a more chill vibe. This resort also features Senses Spa which is a high end spa offering services like massages, facials, manicures, even haircuts!

There are TONS of dining options here! If you’re wanting quick service you can choose between Gasparilla Island Grill serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and even late night snacks; Beaches Pool Bar and Grill; and the Courtyard Pool Bar. Enchanted Rose is a Beauty and the Beast inspired lounge that offers a wide array of cocktails, wines and beer along with a variety of small plate appetizers. And if you’re looking for a table service experience you can choose from Citricos which is a fine dining option with Mary Poppins Returns inspired theming; Narcoossee’s which is a waterfront restaurant serving delicious dishes from both land and sea; The Grand Floridian Cafe offers classic American dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner; Victoria & Albert’s which is a very high end restaurant offering high end culinary creations; the Garden View Tea Room where you can enjoy an elegant morning or afternoon tea service and 1900 Park Fare which is the character dining option for this resort featuring classic characters such as Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland and Winnie the Pooh! Please note that as of this writing BOTH the Garden View Tea Room and 1900 Park Fare are temporarily unavailable, please check the Disney website for the most up to date info on reopening!

It’s also important to note that some of the restaurants at this resort do have a dress code which can be found on the Disney website - this includes Citricos, Narcoosee’s and Victoria & Albert’s.

This resort offers plenty of activities including Movies Under the Stars, campfires, fitness center, boat rentals, arcade, specialty cruises on the bay and more. You can also view the Electrical Water Pageant from this resort as well.

Transportation at this resort includes the monorail to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot and busses to everywhere else. You can also walk to the Magic Kingdom on their newly constructed pathway!

Wilderness Lodge

This resort opened in 1994 and is inspired by the national park lodges of the American Northwest with tons of rustic elements, craftsman style architecture and the showpiece of the lobby - an 82 foot high fireplace replicating the south rim of the Grand Canyon. In fact, Imagineers even embedded the fossils in the fireplace in the correct strata based on historical data.

There are a lot of room options here and this resort is also home to two sets of villas. The Copper Creek Villas opened in 2017 and offer studio suites, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom villas along with the Copper Creek Cabins. The Boulder Ridge Villas were originally named The Villas at Wilderness Lodge and were changed to Boulder Ridge in 2000. They are currently undergoing renovations and are getting a much deserved refresh! These offer studio suites along with 1 and 2 bedroom villas.

Rooms at the Wilderness Lodge offer both standard occupancy and club level rooms with resort, water, standard or fireworks views!

There are some amazing dining options at the Wilderness Lodge! Their flagship restaurant in our opinion would be Whispering Canyon Cafe which is a western themed all-you-care-to-enjoy style restaurant where the servers have a reputation for giving a little sass! It’s a very fun, kind of rowdy place! Story Book Dining at Artist Point is the character dining option at this resort where you can meet Snow White, some of the dwarves and even the Evil Queen! Roaring Fork is a quick service restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and in our opinion has the second most interesting menu of all the deluxe quick services; Geyser Point Bar and Grill offers small bites and beverages; and Territory Lounge is a rustic bar with an array of drinks and small bites available.

This resort has two pools. The main pool is the Copper Creek Springs Pool which has a 67 foot waterslide built into the rocks as well as a kids splash pad area. There is a secondary pool as well called the Boulder Ridge Cove Pool that is quieter and a little more relaxing.

There is just one large shop at this resort that is the gift shop and sundries shop all in one called Wilderness Lodge Mercantile. So while there isn’t as much shopping here as the other deluxe resorts you can definitely find anything you may have forgotten to pack along with some really unique resort specific souvenirs.

This resort offers plenty of activities including Movies Under the Stars, campfires, fitness center (The Sturdy Branches Health Club), boat rentals, arcade, jogging trails and more. You can also view the Electrical Water Pageant from this resort as well.

One really important thing to note about this resort is that there is NO monorail here! You can take a ferry boat to the Magic Kingdom but otherwise your only transportation option is busses everywhere else throughout the resort.

Questions from the Citizens of Disneyville!

We asked y’all over on our Instagram what questions you guys had about the deluxe resorts and you gave us some good ones!

Q: What is your favorite sit down restaurant on the resort loop?
A: California Grill but Citricos would be a close second! - Tyler
A: I can’t get over how good Citricos’ food is but I think it has to be California Grill. - Jessica

Q: Is Whispering Canyon Cafe worth the antics?
A: We think so! It’s so fun and generally the servers can read your response so if you’re not totally into it they’ll back off and mellow out.

Q: Which resort gives the fastest transportation time to Magic Kingdom and Epcot?
A: Contemporary is definitely closest to Magic Kingdom if you walk and getting to Epcot via monorail is very quick as well! The Polynesian is closer to the TTC but further from Magic Kingdom so we would say if you’re worried about transportation time to both Magic Kingdom AND Epcot, then Contemporary is probably your best bet.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram to participate in polls, questions and more fun things that may show up in a future podcast episode and/or blog post!

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