Archive for the ‘Resorts’ Category

It’s a Walt Disney World treasure, and one that’s often overlooked – the magnificent miniature carousel located in the lobby of Disney’s Boardwalk Inn.

Years ago, salesmen carried mini versions of large items as samples so that prospective buyers would not need to purchase sight-unseen.  These tiny, perfect replicas or “salesman samples” were used to demonstrate the features and selling points of an amazing array of merchandise including furniture pieces, farm equipment, the household “technologies” of the day such as stoves and washing machines, coffins and canoes, shoes and eyeglasses, weathervanes, and various patented machinery.

Small, intricate reproductions of fabulous carousels were brought to fairgrounds around the country; used as a sales tool for the full-sized amusement rides.

There seems to be some conflicting information about the beautiful example on display in the resort.  Some sources claim it was made in the 1920’s by famous artist Marcus Illions, and there is wording on the piece itself to that effect.  Others insist it’s of a newer vintage – circa 1980 – reproducing one of his full-scale works.  Since Illions was a carver of full-sized pieces, it’s possible that this is a copy of one such ride.  It is very much in the style of the artist featuring the sense of natural motion, the lively poses, and the intricate detail that he was known for.  In either case, it has certainly been touched with pixie dust to suit its Disney home.

Most guests barely give it a second glance and, indeed, it’s somewhat difficult to see.  With a current value of more than $80,000.00, it’s perched up behind a circular seating area and protected by plexiglass. Sitting in opulent silence, it will suddenly burst into life, playing Disney themes and slowly moving as hundreds of tiny twinkling blue lights turn it into a scene from a fairytale.

The detail is extraordinary – jaunty and jewel-studded with a gaily-striped canopy, lavish gold embellishments, and gilded poles.  A dappled mare hides Hidden Mickeys on her coat and there is a splendidly subtle Hidden Mickey on another horse that’s a challenge to find.

In response to the demand for more Family Suites, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is now accepting reservations for 2012.  Guests can immerse themselves in classic animated films with a stay at this new Value Resort.  The resort is made up of four wings, three of which have family suites and one which features standard rooms.  It’s being opened in stages with the suites being offered first.  The property will ultimately include 1,120 family suites, and 864 standard rooms.

For arrivals beginning June 1, 2012, guests can stay in a Finding Nemo Family Suite.  Cars Family suites are available for dates from September 1, 2012, and on October 1, 2012, The Lion King Family Suites will be added to the roster.

An interesting element of these new suites is the addition of an Inova TableBed, a dining and work table that can quickly be converted into a double bed.  Suites will continue to offer a queen bed in the separate master bedroom and a double sleep sofa in the living room, as well as two bathrooms and a kitchenette with small refrigerator, microwave, and coffeemaker.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort will also include standard category rooms in The Little Mermaid wing which will be opened for occupancy later in the year.

All images – Walt Disney Imagineering Concept Art

 

For the men who shop, or the women who shop for the men who would prefer a root canal treatment, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa features one of the few shops devoted to the Disney male – Commander Porter’s.

The shelves are filled with golf apparel and accessories, crisp, button-down shirts, and Grand Floridian logowear.  Elegant Hawaiian shirts, swimwear, and tastefully subdued Disney ties tempt shoppers.  There is casual clothing with labels bearing the names of Ralph and Tommy, well-known fragrance lines, cigars, lighters, and other manly merchandise.  Commander Porter’s, open from 9:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, is found on the second floor overlooking the main lobby.

Water is one of the key elements in Native American culture and it is charmingly represented at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge in the form of Silver Creek.  From its source inside the lobby, the bubbling stream travels under the wooden bridge and outside, flowing over pebbled beds as it makes its way towards the rocky outcropping.

There it becomes a waterfall that cascades over the rocks before seeming to flow into Silver Creek Springs pool.  Finally, it gurgles past the wildflowers and butterflies, seeking the freedom of beautiful Bay Lake.

In keeping with the theme of the majestic National Parks, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge offers a unique feature for the entertainment of visitors.  On the hour, from early morning until about 10:00 p.m., Fire Rock Geyser erupts, forcing a column of water more than 120 feet in the air to catch the light and delight guests.

With a nod to its inspiration, the iconic Old Faithful, Fire Rock appears peaceful, gently steaming, until the clock strikes the hour and hissing and bubbling, a column of water bursts up towards the sky.

There is much talk about the depth of theming at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, but the attention to this single element, the water path, is astonishing.  It serves no purpose other than to add interest and beauty to the property, yet it represents an extraordinary effort in terms of planning and execution.  The frothing hot spring in the lobby with its arched bridge; the stream beds, plantings, and the elaborate rock work underpinning the falls; the infrastructure that results in a regularly-scheduled display; this enormous undertaking simply to please a few of the more observant guests.  It is precisely this type of endeavor, so creative and imaginative, that draws us back to Disney again and again!

 

Perhaps even more iconic than its enormous 55-foot counterparts in the main lobby, the character totem welcomes shoppers to the Wilderness Lodge Mercantile.  The store features merchandise with a decidedly woodsy flair.  Look for characters in their best “ranger” attire as well as outdoor-themed clothing and gift items.

It’s certainly one of the most attractive and inviting resort shops, and really shines during the holiday season when the fireplace is crackling and the signature red and black buffalo plaid lends a colorful continuity to the displays.  Even the shop windows are highly-themed and imaginative.

There are coonskin caps for all budding Davy Crocketts and “Fish Fear Me” t-shirts for the sportsmen in the family.  The presence of the adjacent Villas at Wilderness Lodge signals an expanded selection of grocery items as a convenience for those staying in accommodations with full kitchens.

The Lodge’s mascot is Humphrey the Bear  and bears are a recurring theme throughout the resort.  Guests will find Humphrey holding up his friends from the base of the character totem, as well as carved and plush versions on the shelves.

While hours may vary with the season, the Wilderness Lodge Mercantile is typically open from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Walt Disney World visitors looking for a different kind of souvenir might consider posing for a caricature.  Unlike the traditional portraiture available at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, caricature artists showcase their subjects in a truly unique way.

One of the most well-known permanent locations is at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, but other kiosks can be found at all four parks as well as Downtown Disney, the Boardwalk, and many of the other Walt Disney World resorts.

Guests can choose black-and-white or full-color portraits, and there are options for heads only, or head and body with a playful background.  Artists’ hours vary by location but are typically longer in the parks and run from late afternoon through the evening at the resorts.  Prices can change at any time but currently, they range from about $18.00 to $56.00 for one subject .

Familiar dishes, simply prepared; pleasant surroundings and prompt, cheerful service; the Turf Club Bar & Grill is another relatively unknown restaurant tucked away in a Disney Vacation Club property.

While it’s popular with the guests staying at Disney’s Saratoga Springs and Spa, the Turf Club is often seen as little more than a default choice when other, more popular, venues are not available.  In fact, the food is as good as, and often quite a bit better than, what is available at other locations in the Downtown Disney area.

Guests enter through a charming lounge that exudes a sense of clubby goodwill in keeping with the racing theme of the resort.  It features comfortable seating, a pool table, and the equestrian art and memorabilia found throughout the property.

Well-placed mirrors make the deceptively small dining space appear larger, and there is a covered, outdoor terrace which is a nice option during good weather.  Seldom busy, it offers a haven for those looking for a change from the chaos of character buffets.

Review: Dining at the Turf Club is an event that seems to polarize guests.  We seldom hear moderate reviews of this restaurant.  Instead, people are typically extremely positive or negative.  And yet, it is a moderate experience in almost every way.  The menu is strongly “American” with the somewhat bland offerings and seasonings that the term often implies.  The ambiance is relaxing while lacking the unique personality many of us look for in a Disney restaurant.  During my last visit, I found the service to be excellent and listening to others around us, it was clear that guests who made the trip more than once during their stay were greeted and treated like old friends.  If not for the food, it may be worth a special trip for the quiet, unhurried surroundings.

Menus

Lunch

Dinner

Dessert

The Turf Club Bar and Grill

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa

Lunch 12:00 p.m. to 4:55 p.m.

Dinner 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

It was a theming opportunity too good to miss – Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort has gone pirate!  Not all guests will take advantage of the wonderful Pirate Rooms with their masted headboards, shipping-crate-and-barrel furnishings, and walk-the-plank carpeting.  But, everyone staying at the resort can enjoy the atmospheric Old Port Royale complex based on the “Pirates of the Caribbean” attraction and movies, with its amazing pool.

Styled after a Spanish fort with domed turrets, “crumbling” stone walls, rambling staircases, and hidden passageways, the pool now has a zero entry feature making it easily accessible to all guests. Rustic window grilles, balconies, iron gates, and lookouts add to the fortress ambience.  Significantly larger than the previous theme pool, it boasts hot and cool spas, two slides, a shower, and ample seating.

A “shipwreck” feature in the children’s play area includes three slides and some extra water fun as the large barrel fills and then dumps its contents.

Each of the six villages that make up Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort also has its own quiet pool.  Main pool and spa hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. with the lifeguards, slides, and aqua play area available until 8:00 p.m.  The quiet pools are open 24 hours.

Stepping into Olivia’s feels like a warm hug – sunny and bright and, well, just plain homey.  Patrons can expect the friendliest of welcomes and a casual, relaxed atmosphere.

Disney’s Old Key West is the original Disney Vacation Club resort and many years ago, the members began bringing their family photos.  Today, some of the walls are still covered with frames of every conceivable shape, size, and color, featuring the faces of loved ones – newborns and grandparents, kids and characters, weddings and birthdays and Grand Gatherings of every sort.

Few guests who aren’t staying at this property make the trip to the “Keys” to eat here, so walk-ins are typically seated quickly.  Happily, at a time of increasingly homogeneous offerings at many of the other Walt Disney World restaurants, Olivia’s menu has retained some of its original Conch Flats flair.  Many dishes feature a dash of the Caribbean: tropical fruits, jerk spice, conch and shrimp, mojito marinade, beans and rice.   A number of the more interesting menu items have come and gone through the years, only to return, perhaps in response to guests’ complaints.  The conch fritters are back and perhaps we will see a return of the coconut shrimp.

Diners can choose to eat indoors or at one of the tables outside on the shady patio.  And the restaurant’s namesake still smiles from the top of the menu!

Review: I have always been particularly fond of the Po Boy which was off the menu for several years, so I was delighted to see it had returned when I was last there.  It’s a shrimp version and doesn’t have the wonderful french bread that the purist would demand, but the shrimp are always cooked perfectly – a simple and satisfying sandwich.  During the period when it wasn’t offered, the chef was always willing to make it especially for me, which may account, in part, for my very positive review!  While many returning Walt Disney World guests have started a tradition of a first or last meal at a character dining venue, my family and I will often make the trip to Olivia’s at the beginning of our vacation.  Somehow, the cheerful ambiance and friendly smiles seem infused with that special “Disney feeling” we love so much.

Menus

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Dessert

Olivia’s Café

Disney’s Old Key West Resort

Breakfast 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Lunch 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Dinner 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

While the majority of the more than 25,000 Walt Disney World hotel rooms feature the standard floor plan, there remains an astonishing variety of unique accommodations.  Guests can enjoy their own little cabin in the woods; sleep in a tree house, or a turret.  There are extravagant multi-room suites and villas with kitchens.  Some rooms boast large covered porches, generous seating areas, or quirky and interesting floor plans.  There are double beds, queen beds, king beds, Murphy beds, Sico beds, trundle beds, day beds, sofa beds, and even sleeper chairs.  Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, alone, has more than twenty different room categories!

But perhaps none is more intriguing that the lovely Cottage Suites at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn.  The vast majority of visitors never venture down the stairs to the secluded and peaceful courtyard which features flowers and fountains and the pleasant quiet pool.  White picket fences line a dappled walkway and gates invite guests into small, charming gardens that grace the entrances to most of the individual suites.

Although several of the units don’t include a private garden, these actually have a superior floor plan with a broad balcony rather than the small seating area outside the front doors of the “garden” accommodations.

Guests who stay during the more temperate months will enjoy sitting outside surveying their own private little world.  Otherwise, as cute as the gardens are, we recommend requesting one of the balcony units.  These have a downstairs living area which is really a room; spacious and inviting. While not closed off with a door, the bedroom upstairs is quite private and leads out through French doors to a very large balcony.

The lower floor of the units with private gardens is much more shallow and feels like an entrance area tucked under the open loft bedroom above, rather than the living room it is meant to be.  All living areas includes a sofa bed, desk and chair, tables, and armoire with flat-screen television.

It’s important to note that the Cottage Suites may not be fully family-friendly.  There is a half-bath downstairs as well as a kitchenette that includes a small sink, refrigerator, and microwave.  While the toilet and shower room in the master bath upstairs is enclosed, the vanity and whirlpool bath are open, making these suites more of an adult retreat for anyone planning to use the tub!  Some of the rooms have a small interior window over the whirlpool tub; others feature tall shutters that open into the bedroom area.  Also, children will be sleeping on a sofa bed rather than a standard bed.  Maximum occupancy is four guests.

The master bedroom has a king bed with flat-screen television in an armoire.  Again, for those who enjoy watching tv, the balcony rooms have beds which face the screen; the armoires in the garden units are off to the side.

Cottage Suites are Concierge-level accommodations with access to the Innkeeper’s Club located on the 4^th floor of the resort.  Although not as convenient to the lounge as some of the other Concierge rooms, their peaceful location is part of the appeal.  A walkway leads directly to the elevators for those not wishing to take the stairs.  All the suites are just steps from the quiet pool, one of the nicest at any Walt Disney World resort.  Because the courtyard is only accessible from the interior of Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and has no “through” traffic, it remains a hidden gem!

Read more about the Cottage Suites at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn or get the details of our exclusive package, Honeymoon Dreams!