Showing posts with label Resorts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Resorts. Show all posts
Monday, May 20, 2013
Grand Floridian DVC Sales Begin This Month!
Sales of DVC points for The Grand Floridian Villas starts on May 23rd for current DVC members and on June 19th for the general public.
Are you excited??
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Disney's Art of Animation Resort Opens Today May 31, 2012 - Enjoy my not so sneak peek!
On May 14th I had the absolute pleasure of touring the Disney's Art of Animation Resort in Walt Disney World, Florida. The resort had not yet opened to the public so the tour was very special in deed.
In honor of the Art of Animation Resort Grand Opening today May 31st, I would like to share some photos. We can call it a "not so sneak peek ;-)
This is a peek at the Little Mermaid section of the resort. I di dnot take these photos, they are from Disney but I didn't want to exclude this section from the post.
The family suites are absolutely amazing, but I know there are plenty of families like mine who don't need all of that extra room but would still like to stay at this new and awesome resort.
The Little Mermaid standard rooms are the perfect solution for those guests.
I did not get a chance to see the Lion King Family Suites section since it is not complete yet, but Disney has released some images of what those rooms are going to look like. I love how well Disney stuck to the them of each area, making each section feel like a different resort without totally taking away from the over all animation theme. Look at the shower wall! It's amazing.
The Cars Family Suites section is another area I did not get to tour up close. Disney has released some images of the rooms, and I was lucky enough to get close to the outdoor themed area. The photos of the room are from Disney, the photos from the outside are taken by me.
I think it's amazing how well the outdoor areas transition into one another. Looking at the Cars section really made me feel like I was in Radiator Springs. I love that they have the characters there, in life size. I kept expecting them to start talking to us. I really felt like I was transported from central Florida to Route 66 in California.
Something else that I think is AWESOME is that the traffic cones that are part of the "motel" are actually pool cabanas. I love that they aren't just decoration, they serve purpose and allow guests more interaction with the scenary and theme of the resort.
Now on to the section of the resort I got a very good look at.... The Finding Nemo Family Suites Section!!
The collage to the left has a photo of the new Inova Beds that Disney is using in this resort while it is down as a table. The picture to the right of it lowered as a bed. The little orange plastic chairs around the table are light weight and stackable which makes the transition from table to bed nice and easy. The bed in the lower left corner is in the "master bedroom". The middle bottom picture is the overhead light in the rooms, and the bottom right corner is the end table with phone and Jelly fish themed lamp.
One of the awesome things about the suites
(I say awesome a lot, don't I??) is the little kitchenette area. It has a fridge, a sink, a coffee maker, and a microwave. The collage to the right shows the fridge while open and while closed to give you an idea of how much room you have.
The bottom left photo in the collage is of the tv and dresser as well as the area where you can hang your clothing and store items. The little bench seat opens up so you can place things inside. The photo in the bottom right corner is the sofa that folds out into a bed.
Something that familes will enjoy about the suites is that they have 2 bathrooms. One of them is themed in the animation fashion, I call that the "kids bathroom" even though it's the one I would choose to use. It has a single sink vanity, a toilet, hair dryer, and shower/tub combination. We were told during the tour that the shower curtains would be sold in the resort's gift shop. You know what that is? It's AWESOME. The "adult" bathroom is located off the master bedroom and has a very nice stall shower, toilet, and vanity.
The pool in the Finding Nemo section of the resort is the largest pool on Disney property outside of their water parks. It has a zero entry and there is underwater music/sound so that you can hear Nemo and his friends frolic along with you while you "just keep swimming". It is this kind of attention to detail that puts Disney leaps and bounds above the rest of the travel industry. There is a children's splash area as well as a play ground in the Finding Nemo section as well.
I wanted to just curl up and live in the playground. Squirt is just so cute, and the ground was so squishy soft. They almost had to drag me out out kicking and screaming!
Speaking of attention to detail, look at the landscaping!
Even the little grasses and bushes are meant to make you feel like you are under water with Crush, Nemo, Dory and pals...
It really does feel like you jumped right into the movie with them.
If I had to choose a section for myself to stay in, I would have a hard time choosing between Cars and Finding Nemo. I think Nemo would win though, just because it's got the coolest pool I've ever seen and seriously, just look at Squirt's little face!
When you are done hanging out in the pool you can grab a drink at "The Drop Off" the pool bar/snack area. You could also grab a bite to eat at Landscape of Flavors which is a "create your own" style food court.
The Pixel Play Arcade is designed for families to be able to spend time together with a neat little lounge in the front for parents to hang out in while the little ones go and play. Games for younger children will be closest to the lounge while games for the older children will be in the back.
Located directly across from the arcade is the Ink and Paint Shop where you can buy all sorts of fun resort specific and Disney World merchandise.
According to our tour, this is the first value resort to have resort specific clothing. They also have a ton of branded merch like pens, cups, and of course, pins! In fact, the Art of Animation logo with Crush that I use in the collages is the resort logo pin.
How cute are the cast member's costumes?! Love the use of color!
The soda selection at Landscape Cafe is large, but unfortunately does not include Cherry Coke. If you're like me, you know how hard it is to find Cherry Coke at Disney World. So far Pop Century is the only place I KNOW I can get it. I did notice that Art of Animation has Mellow Yellow so that's a fun option at least.
The Art of Animation Resort lobby is different from any other lobby at Walt Disney World. Instead of having one large check in desk/counter, they have implimented individual kiosks. They are hoping that this will enhance the guest/cast member interaction and help the guests feel more welcome and at home.
The art in the lobby is not to be missed. Even if you are not staying at this resort, I suggest you head over just to see the actual artist concept art and finished story boards from the movies the resort is themed around. The chandelier is an amazing piece of art all on it's own.
I hope you have enjoyed my cyber tour of Disney's Art of Animation Resort! If you were lucky enough to be at today's opening ceremony and would like to share some photos with me and my readers please send me an email. I'd love to share them!
LadyInWonderland (at) gmail (dot) com
The family suites are absolutely amazing, but I know there are plenty of families like mine who don't need all of that extra room but would still like to stay at this new and awesome resort.
The Little Mermaid standard rooms are the perfect solution for those guests.
I did not get a chance to see the Lion King Family Suites section since it is not complete yet, but Disney has released some images of what those rooms are going to look like. I love how well Disney stuck to the them of each area, making each section feel like a different resort without totally taking away from the over all animation theme. Look at the shower wall! It's amazing.
The Cars Family Suites section is another area I did not get to tour up close. Disney has released some images of the rooms, and I was lucky enough to get close to the outdoor themed area. The photos of the room are from Disney, the photos from the outside are taken by me.
I think it's amazing how well the outdoor areas transition into one another. Looking at the Cars section really made me feel like I was in Radiator Springs. I love that they have the characters there, in life size. I kept expecting them to start talking to us. I really felt like I was transported from central Florida to Route 66 in California.
Something else that I think is AWESOME is that the traffic cones that are part of the "motel" are actually pool cabanas. I love that they aren't just decoration, they serve purpose and allow guests more interaction with the scenary and theme of the resort.
The collage to the left has a photo of the new Inova Beds that Disney is using in this resort while it is down as a table. The picture to the right of it lowered as a bed. The little orange plastic chairs around the table are light weight and stackable which makes the transition from table to bed nice and easy. The bed in the lower left corner is in the "master bedroom". The middle bottom picture is the overhead light in the rooms, and the bottom right corner is the end table with phone and Jelly fish themed lamp.
(I say awesome a lot, don't I??) is the little kitchenette area. It has a fridge, a sink, a coffee maker, and a microwave. The collage to the right shows the fridge while open and while closed to give you an idea of how much room you have.
The bottom left photo in the collage is of the tv and dresser as well as the area where you can hang your clothing and store items. The little bench seat opens up so you can place things inside. The photo in the bottom right corner is the sofa that folds out into a bed.
The pool in the Finding Nemo section of the resort is the largest pool on Disney property outside of their water parks. It has a zero entry and there is underwater music/sound so that you can hear Nemo and his friends frolic along with you while you "just keep swimming". It is this kind of attention to detail that puts Disney leaps and bounds above the rest of the travel industry. There is a children's splash area as well as a play ground in the Finding Nemo section as well.
I wanted to just curl up and live in the playground. Squirt is just so cute, and the ground was so squishy soft. They almost had to drag me out out kicking and screaming!Speaking of attention to detail, look at the landscaping!
Even the little grasses and bushes are meant to make you feel like you are under water with Crush, Nemo, Dory and pals...
It really does feel like you jumped right into the movie with them.
If I had to choose a section for myself to stay in, I would have a hard time choosing between Cars and Finding Nemo. I think Nemo would win though, just because it's got the coolest pool I've ever seen and seriously, just look at Squirt's little face!
When you are done hanging out in the pool you can grab a drink at "The Drop Off" the pool bar/snack area. You could also grab a bite to eat at Landscape of Flavors which is a "create your own" style food court.
The Pixel Play Arcade is designed for families to be able to spend time together with a neat little lounge in the front for parents to hang out in while the little ones go and play. Games for younger children will be closest to the lounge while games for the older children will be in the back.
Located directly across from the arcade is the Ink and Paint Shop where you can buy all sorts of fun resort specific and Disney World merchandise.
How cute are the cast member's costumes?! Love the use of color!
The soda selection at Landscape Cafe is large, but unfortunately does not include Cherry Coke. If you're like me, you know how hard it is to find Cherry Coke at Disney World. So far Pop Century is the only place I KNOW I can get it. I did notice that Art of Animation has Mellow Yellow so that's a fun option at least.
The art in the lobby is not to be missed. Even if you are not staying at this resort, I suggest you head over just to see the actual artist concept art and finished story boards from the movies the resort is themed around. The chandelier is an amazing piece of art all on it's own.
I hope you have enjoyed my cyber tour of Disney's Art of Animation Resort! If you were lucky enough to be at today's opening ceremony and would like to share some photos with me and my readers please send me an email. I'd love to share them!
LadyInWonderland (at) gmail (dot) com
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Finding Nemo Pool Underwater Sounds at Art of Animation Resort
I was lucky enough to get a tour of the Art of Animation Resort at Walt Disney World 2 weeks ago.
It was AMAZING.
I will be doing a separate post with photos of the resort but I just came across this video and had to share it with you.
One of the coolest things about this resort is the Finding Nemo pool. It is the largest swimming pool on Disney property, outside of the water parks.
When you go under water you actually hear Nemo and his friends!!
How awesome is that?!?!
I really hope this pool isn't blocked out from DVC pool hopping!!
Enjoy the video!
*I did not take this video*
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Disney's Pop Century Resort
Disney's Pop Century Resort is one of the coolest, funkiest, far out resorts I have ever stayed at.
It was seriously so much fun to just walk around and look at! The colors were awesome, the giant characters and decor were totally radical, and the nostalgic feeling the resort had for guests of all ages was magical.
My favorite section was definitely the 80's section but the whole resort was awesome. The food court is amazing and the tie dye cheesecake is not to be missed.
Look at the awesome the delicious Pop Century waffles!
Seriously, I was so impressed with the waffle that I took about 10 photos of it. You only get to see one, b/c I need to save room to show you all of the other awesome stuff at the resort.
The giant Mickey phone is one of my favorite things at Walt Disney World. I own a Mickey Mouse phone that my parents got for sitting through a horrible time share experience when I was a kid. I think they had a choice of the phone or something fabulous that they as adults could actually use but once I saw the phone, I was hooked.
Check out the gnarly action shot of me giving Mr and Mrs Potato Head a high five. It took about 20 tries to get that photo. It's one of my proudest Disney photo moments.
The bowling pin and the rubix cube are stairways for the hotel. How cool is that?!? It's the little things like that which make me love this resort.
The giant Big Wheels was so cool!! I really wanted the pedal to spin. I won't lie, I was a little sad when it didn't. Click the image to the left to make it bigger b/c that is also an action shot and I really want you to see and enjoy all of the hard work I put in to those photos to make you smile.
There is a really neat trail that goes along the water at the resort. It has signs for every year with a little bit of info about the year. Lord Hill and I were very excited when we finally came across the years of our birth. (Yes, you're seeing that correctly, I am older than Lord Hill and "robbed the cradle"
I think that the walkway with the signs is a great place for families to take some photos. It would be cute to go there every visit just to take pics of the kids with the signs as they got older. BUT I just realized a flaw in my plan, I don't think it goes past the 90's. I'm honestly not sure though b/c I got distracted by some other cool things while taking our walk and stopped paying attention to the signs.
Do you see that car?!?! How did a guy like Goofy score such a hot ride?!?
Lord Hill really enjoyed the giant characters. Along with Mowgli and Baloo pictured here there were awesome sculptures of Lady and the Tramp, Roger Rabbit and more.
The yo-yo is also a stair case.
I tried to reenact the break dancers on the building while playing twister outside my room. As you can see, I was not very successful.
In the future I will leave the dancing to the experts and I will stick to drooling over cars and posing for silly photos with my favorite characters.
Another quick but important tidbit about this resort is that it's a VALUE resort which means you get all of the above awesomeness for a low price. However, unlike the other three (four now I guess with Art of Animation) value resorts, Pop Century does not currently share a bus with any other resort. This is a HUGE plus in my opinion and I definitely recomend checking it out if you want to go to Disney on a value budget.
Contact me for more information about this, or any other Disney resort.
Kerri@MickeysDreamVacations.com
It was seriously so much fun to just walk around and look at! The colors were awesome, the giant characters and decor were totally radical, and the nostalgic feeling the resort had for guests of all ages was magical.
My favorite section was definitely the 80's section but the whole resort was awesome. The food court is amazing and the tie dye cheesecake is not to be missed.
Look at the awesome the delicious Pop Century waffles! Seriously, I was so impressed with the waffle that I took about 10 photos of it. You only get to see one, b/c I need to save room to show you all of the other awesome stuff at the resort.
The giant Mickey phone is one of my favorite things at Walt Disney World. I own a Mickey Mouse phone that my parents got for sitting through a horrible time share experience when I was a kid. I think they had a choice of the phone or something fabulous that they as adults could actually use but once I saw the phone, I was hooked.
Check out the gnarly action shot of me giving Mr and Mrs Potato Head a high five. It took about 20 tries to get that photo. It's one of my proudest Disney photo moments.The bowling pin and the rubix cube are stairways for the hotel. How cool is that?!? It's the little things like that which make me love this resort.
The giant Big Wheels was so cool!! I really wanted the pedal to spin. I won't lie, I was a little sad when it didn't. Click the image to the left to make it bigger b/c that is also an action shot and I really want you to see and enjoy all of the hard work I put in to those photos to make you smile.
I think that the walkway with the signs is a great place for families to take some photos. It would be cute to go there every visit just to take pics of the kids with the signs as they got older. BUT I just realized a flaw in my plan, I don't think it goes past the 90's. I'm honestly not sure though b/c I got distracted by some other cool things while taking our walk and stopped paying attention to the signs.
Do you see that car?!?! How did a guy like Goofy score such a hot ride?!?
Lord Hill really enjoyed the giant characters. Along with Mowgli and Baloo pictured here there were awesome sculptures of Lady and the Tramp, Roger Rabbit and more.
The yo-yo is also a stair case.
I tried to reenact the break dancers on the building while playing twister outside my room. As you can see, I was not very successful.
In the future I will leave the dancing to the experts and I will stick to drooling over cars and posing for silly photos with my favorite characters.
Another quick but important tidbit about this resort is that it's a VALUE resort which means you get all of the above awesomeness for a low price. However, unlike the other three (four now I guess with Art of Animation) value resorts, Pop Century does not currently share a bus with any other resort. This is a HUGE plus in my opinion and I definitely recomend checking it out if you want to go to Disney on a value budget.
Contact me for more information about this, or any other Disney resort.
Kerri@MickeysDreamVacations.com
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Disney's All Star Movies Resort
The first time Lord Hill and I ever went to Disney together we stayed at Disney's All Star Movies Resort. This resort is AMAZING, FUN, COLORFUL, and best of all AFFORDABLE. It's a great resort in the Value catagory and has rates starting at $82 a
night. (We stayed during the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve
so unfortunately we did not get as fabulous as a rate lol) The lobby, arcade, foodcourt, and pool bar are all movie theater themed.
The standard room has 2 double beds, a vanity area, and a standard shower/tub combo. We were lucky enough to be in the Mighty Ducks section of the resort which was perfect for us given our ages. I do think it's a little strange that they put the Mighty Ducks section in the All Star Movies resort instead of in the All Star Sports Resort since there are so many more Disney movies they could have chosen, but being a big fan of the movie we were excited.
I was even more excited when I saw the pools. Disney's All-Star Movies Resort has 2 swimming pools—the main Sorcerer's Apprentice-themed Fantasia Pool and the smaller Duck Pond pool shaped like a hockey rink and inspired by The Mighty Ducks.
The larger than life theme does not stop at the pools. The resort features Disney icons that tower over 30 feet tall! The buildings are painted in bright colors and covered with playful details and hidden surprises.
The Disney's All Star Movies Resort will always hold a special place in my heart. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to go to Disney World but not looking to spend a small fortune. For just slightly more than you would pay at an off site location, you get a great theme and all of the perks of staying on property at Disney World including Extra Magic Hours and Free Park Transportation and Free Parking at the theme parks.
For more information about this or any other Disney resort, please contact me. It would be my pleasure to help you plan a fabulous Walt Disney World vacation while staying within your comfort zone.
Kerri@MickeysDreamVacations.com
The standard room has 2 double beds, a vanity area, and a standard shower/tub combo. We were lucky enough to be in the Mighty Ducks section of the resort which was perfect for us given our ages. I do think it's a little strange that they put the Mighty Ducks section in the All Star Movies resort instead of in the All Star Sports Resort since there are so many more Disney movies they could have chosen, but being a big fan of the movie we were excited.
I was even more excited when I saw the pools. Disney's All-Star Movies Resort has 2 swimming pools—the main Sorcerer's Apprentice-themed Fantasia Pool and the smaller Duck Pond pool shaped like a hockey rink and inspired by The Mighty Ducks.
The larger than life theme does not stop at the pools. The resort features Disney icons that tower over 30 feet tall! The buildings are painted in bright colors and covered with playful details and hidden surprises.
The Disney's All Star Movies Resort will always hold a special place in my heart. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to go to Disney World but not looking to spend a small fortune. For just slightly more than you would pay at an off site location, you get a great theme and all of the perks of staying on property at Disney World including Extra Magic Hours and Free Park Transportation and Free Parking at the theme parks.
For more information about this or any other Disney resort, please contact me. It would be my pleasure to help you plan a fabulous Walt Disney World vacation while staying within your comfort zone.
Kerri@MickeysDreamVacations.com
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa
Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa is an often overlooked and underrated vacation destination. With it's close proximity to Downtown Disney (you can walk or take a boat as well as take a bus or drive) it's a perfect location for those Disney travelers who like to stay active past 10:00pm during low season when the parks close early.
The Victorian inspired theme is simple, and elegant which some people have mistakenly called boring. Disney doesn't do boring. They just do their themes right. Anyone who has been to the racing town of Saratoga Springs, NY cannot deny how perfectly Disney has captured the look and feel of the town. The horse theme is carried throughout the resort but does not feel like a dude ranch (We'll leave that to Fort Wilderness Resort).
I will admit that when Lord Hill and I originally found out we were being moved to Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa from our originally booked hotel POP Century, we were a bit disappointed. We are young at heart with over the top personalities and were really looking forward to the brightly colored atmosphere and retro themes of the value resort. The POP was overbooked however, so Disney upgraded us to a one bedroom villa at Saratoga. How disappointed could we stay once we say the deluxe accommodations and jacuzzi tub??
Oh, and the view... The middle image below is the view from our villa's balcony. We were located in the Congress Park area and had a view of the water as well as Downtown Disney. It was also a nice quick walk from our room to the Market Place which was awesome for us since the parks closed fairly early most nights we were there that trip.
The other two images above are from the lobby. They had a framed photo of every horse from an animated Disney film. It was a very nice touch that brought the Disney feel back into the resort.
The resort is HUGE. It is sprawling really. It is like a world unto itself to be honest with you. It is located right on one of Disney's numerous golf courses, boasts it's own spa, and has several themed pools and slides. The dining is also top notch. I could definitely see someone staying at Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa and never touching foot in a theme park during the trip. (I say someone rather than myself b/c let's face it, I don't think I could enter the state of Florida without visiting the Magic Kingdom let alone stay on property and not visit Mr. Mickey Mouse)
Have you ever stayed at Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa? What was your favorite part of the resort?
The Victorian inspired theme is simple, and elegant which some people have mistakenly called boring. Disney doesn't do boring. They just do their themes right. Anyone who has been to the racing town of Saratoga Springs, NY cannot deny how perfectly Disney has captured the look and feel of the town. The horse theme is carried throughout the resort but does not feel like a dude ranch (We'll leave that to Fort Wilderness Resort).
Oh, and the view... The middle image below is the view from our villa's balcony. We were located in the Congress Park area and had a view of the water as well as Downtown Disney. It was also a nice quick walk from our room to the Market Place which was awesome for us since the parks closed fairly early most nights we were there that trip.
The other two images above are from the lobby. They had a framed photo of every horse from an animated Disney film. It was a very nice touch that brought the Disney feel back into the resort.
The resort is HUGE. It is sprawling really. It is like a world unto itself to be honest with you. It is located right on one of Disney's numerous golf courses, boasts it's own spa, and has several themed pools and slides. The dining is also top notch. I could definitely see someone staying at Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa and never touching foot in a theme park during the trip. (I say someone rather than myself b/c let's face it, I don't think I could enter the state of Florida without visiting the Magic Kingdom let alone stay on property and not visit Mr. Mickey Mouse)
Have you ever stayed at Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa? What was your favorite part of the resort?
Monday, April 2, 2012
Save Up To 25% with Walt Disney World Resort's Summer Room Offer
Beat the heat this summer by staying at select Walt Disney World® Resort hotels and saving up to 25%* for stays most nights June 15 – Aug. 14, 2012.
You can enjoy a 6-night, 7-day vacation at Disney's All-Star Music Resort, including Theme Park tickets, for as low as $69 per person, per day (based on 2 adults, 1 junior and 1 child in a standard room)! That's a total package price of $1,914 for stays most nights June 15 – Aug. 4, 2012.
You can enjoy a 6-night, 7-day vacation at Disney's All-Star Music Resort, including Theme Park tickets, for as low as $69 per person, per day (based on 2 adults, 1 junior and 1 child in a standard room)! That's a total package price of $1,914 for stays most nights June 15 – Aug. 4, 2012.
Offer Details:
For stays most nights June 15 – Aug. 14, 2012:
- Save 15% at Disney's All-Star Sports Resort and Disney's All-Star Music Resort
- Save 20% at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Coronado Spring Resort, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, and Disney's Fort Wildness Resort & Campground Cabins
- Save 25% at Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts, Disney's BoardWalk, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge (standard views only), Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, and Disney's Old Key West Resort.
Ask about other great rates on stays in other Walt Disney World Resort hotels.
Booking and Travel Window:
- Book April 2 – June 14, 2012, for stays most nights June 15 – Aug. 14, 2012
For more information you can contact me at Kerri@MickeysDreamVacations.com or at Facebook.com/MickeysDreamVacationsByKerri
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Free WiFi at most Disney Resorts!
Well, some would say "It's about time!"
Disney has confirmed that free wireless internet access will now be available at almost ALL Disney World resorts. Campsites at Fort Wilderness are the exception. (Guests staying at Fort Wilderness will have access to free wired internet)
Free WiFi will be available in all guest rooms and many common areas such as lobbies, pool areas, arcades, and more.
I'm not sure how I feel about this. I don't really use the internet when I'm on vacation other than from my phone to post on twitter and facebook, but if I did need to use the internet I'd rather be connected to a secure wired connections rather than a public WiFi network. At the same time, it'll be nice to take the iPad down to the pool to read or to the lobby to update a blog post while waiting for dinner reservations or the Magical Express.
What are your thoughts?
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Mickey's Dream Vacations Blog
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Grand Floridian DVC - Rumors Confirmed!
After months of speculation, rumors, and reports, Walt Disney World today officially announced the expansion of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa with new Disney Vacation Club villas. An estimated 147 villas will open in late 2013, making the Grand Floridian the 12th DVC property. (There are conflicting reports about the opening date. Some say 2013 while others are saying 2014. Perhaps it will be like at Animal Kingdom Lodge where they convert some rooms that open in 2013 and the new villas open in 2014.)
Is anyone else as excited about this as I am?! I just hope it is not the start of a tiered DVC system.
Is anyone else as excited about this as I am?! I just hope it is not the start of a tiered DVC system.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Animal Kingdom Lodge Review
Ever since I was a little girl, it has been my dream to live in Disney World. Now, that's not very practical, although now with Golden Oaks in development in a few years it will be possible for the rich.
I never thought this dream would get to come true, and while technically it hasn't, hearing "Welcome Home" every time I visit Walt Disney World is close enough for me.
The Disney Vacation Club has opened up a whole new world of possibilities and experiecnes for me. Without it, I never would have stayed at my new favorite resort, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.
We visited Disney World this September and spent 8 days/7 nights in a Savannah View Studio in Jambo House. It was AMAZING. The cast members at this resort were awesome. I had so much fun talking with them that we changed our dinner plans one night in order to spend more time interacting with the cast members. The stories and knowledge that they shared made this trip so special and memorable.
We loved our Savanah view, but it wasn't neccessary since there were so many viewing points throughout the resort.
If you've read my blog before, you know that I fell in love with the zebra domes from Mara and will go back to the resort just to eat them on my next trip to Disney.
Here are some photos from our trip. Click the image to enlarge.
Have any of your Disney dreams come true? Come share it on the Disney Blog Hop.
I never thought this dream would get to come true, and while technically it hasn't, hearing "Welcome Home" every time I visit Walt Disney World is close enough for me.
The Disney Vacation Club has opened up a whole new world of possibilities and experiecnes for me. Without it, I never would have stayed at my new favorite resort, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.
We visited Disney World this September and spent 8 days/7 nights in a Savannah View Studio in Jambo House. It was AMAZING. The cast members at this resort were awesome. I had so much fun talking with them that we changed our dinner plans one night in order to spend more time interacting with the cast members. The stories and knowledge that they shared made this trip so special and memorable.
We loved our Savanah view, but it wasn't neccessary since there were so many viewing points throughout the resort.
If you've read my blog before, you know that I fell in love with the zebra domes from Mara and will go back to the resort just to eat them on my next trip to Disney.
Here are some photos from our trip. Click the image to enlarge.
Have any of your Disney dreams come true? Come share it on the Disney Blog Hop.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Disney's Old Key West Resort
I thought I'd start the blog off by sharing a few photos from my last trip to Walt Disney World.
My husband and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary and my mom's birthday there this March.
We stayed at Disney's Old Key West resort and had an amazing time. I wish I was at the Gurgling Suitcase drinking a Turtle Krawl while chatting with my favorite Disney bartender Roberto right about now...
Well, that's it for now. I will be sharing photos of our Deluxe Studio room in an upcoming post.
Have you ever stayed at Disney's Old Key West Resort? Please share your experiences with me and my readers by leaving a comment!
My husband and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary and my mom's birthday there this March.
We stayed at Disney's Old Key West resort and had an amazing time. I wish I was at the Gurgling Suitcase drinking a Turtle Krawl while chatting with my favorite Disney bartender Roberto right about now...
Disney's Old Key West resort is one of Disney's deluxe resorts. The resort features deluxe studios, one bedroom, and two bedroom villas, and 3 bedroom grand villas. There are several pools (one with a great slide!), as well as a golf course, boating, arcade, tennis, community hall and more. This resort is the first resort in the Disney Vacation Club family. The theme is relaxing and definitely takes you to another place.
Even the trash cans were themed!
The pond in the Turtle Pond section... I didn't see any actual turtles though.
The Turtle Pond "quiet" pool.
The main pool. Sadly, I did not get to go down the slide but it sure looked like fun!
The weather was bad our last day there, but it didn't take away from the great view by the Hospitality House! There is a counter service food location a bar, and a restaurant all on the water. It was one of my favorite places to sit and enjoy a nice drink.
Olivia's is the Table Service restaurant at Old Key West Resort. They participate in the Dining Plan and accept the Tables in Wonderland card. We ate breakfast one day and then a quick snack before heading to the airport our last day there. Hubby had the banana bread french toast and I had the pancakes. DELICIOUS. The onion rings are amazing, and hubby really enjoyed what he got too, but I honestly can't remember it right now. I will have to ask him later. The Gurgling Suitcase (bar) also offers a full Olivia's menu and accepts the Tables In Wonderland card. We enjoyed an order of fries and conch fritters one sunny after noon. Went perfectly with my Turtle Krawl.
This is the lobby of the resort. Notice the balloon animals? This is where I got my fishy friend as seen in the photos in the beginning of this post.
Ahh... look at this gingerbread architecture of the Conch Republic.... charming isn't it??
Well, that's it for now. I will be sharing photos of our Deluxe Studio room in an upcoming post.
Have you ever stayed at Disney's Old Key West Resort? Please share your experiences with me and my readers by leaving a comment!
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