Resorts and Dinner Shows

As I mentioned in my introductory comments, I believe that the best (even if not the least expensive) way to enjoy a Walt Disney World vacation is to stay at one of the hotels on the WDW complex. There are many advantages that WDW resort guests enjoy over visitors to the parks who stay in an outside hotel. WDW provides accommodations to fit every budget and every level of personal preference. Here's a quick guide to the WDW resorts as of early 1998. [Note: For more detailed official information, please consult either Birnbaum's Official Guide to Walt Disney World or the Official Walt Disney World Web Site.]

          Resort Name                     Theme           Price Range
-------------------------------  -----------------------  -----------
Value Resorts:                                                       
Fort Wilderness Campgrounds      Frontier Settlement      $ 34 - $ 80
All-Star Sports                  Sports Complex           $ 77 - $124
All-Star Music                   Music Hall of Fame       $ 77 - $124
All-Star Movies                  Movie Sets               $ 77 - $124
Pop Century                      20th Century Icons       $ 77 - $124

Moderate Resorts:                                                    
Port Orleans - Riverside         Missippi Bayou           $133 - $219
Port Orleans - French Quarter    New Orleans              $133 - $219
Caribbean Beach                  Caribbean Islands        $133 - $219
Coronado Springs                 American Southwest       $133 - $219

Deluxe Resorts:                                                      
Wilderness Lodge                 American Northwest       $194 - $500
Animal Kingdom Lodge             African Safari           $204 - $595
Villas at Disney Institute       College Campus           $214 - $550
Fort Wilderness Homes            Frontier Cabins          $224 - $314
Contemporary                     Ultra-Modern             $234 - $525
Old Key West                     Florida Keys             $249 - $755
Boardwalk Inn and Villas         New Jersey Shore         $289 - $990
Yacht and Beach Clubs            New England Seaside      $289 - $640
Polynesian                       South Pacific Islands    $299 - $650
Swan and Dolphin                 Fine Art/Contemporary    $299 - $650
Grand Floridian                  19th Century Florida     $329 - $815

Caribbean Beach Resort

As I've mentioned earlier, we've made four family trips to WDW. On our first visit (1983) we stayed at a Holiday Inn not far from the main entrance to the Magic Kingdom. On the three most recent visits (1989, 1992, and 1997) we stayed at the Caribbean Beach Resort. Although the Holiday Inn was certainly a nice hotel, we feel that the atmosphere of being on the WDW property (especially during our two Christmas time visits) and the special perks that were available to us as WDW resort guests (one of the most important of which was the convenient and free transportation) outweighed the slightly higher cost at staying at a WDW resort.

Our primary criteria in selecting the Caribbean Beach Resort was the relatively low cost and the peaceful atmosphere surrounding the lakeside buildings. We felt completely at ease and safe walking around the complex at any time of the day or night, and the ducks, cranes, and other birds that populate the lakeside area added to the relaxing atmosphere. We can honestly say that we looked forward to returning to the overall peace and quiet at the Caribbean Beach Resort after a hectic day at the parks.

The relaxing quiet of the Caribbean Beach Resort beckons

As far as eating choices, the Caribbean Beach Resort's dining area and gift shop are located in a single building called Old Port Royale. Here you'll find a reasonable variety of cuisines in the fast-food court. And, for a special meal, there's the Captain's Tavern, where we enjoyed hearty portions of top quality prime rib on our first night there during our most recent Christmas 1997 stay. At poolside, which is built to resemble an old Spanish fort, there's also a bar called Banana Cabana. During our stay, we were pleasantly surprised on a couple occasions when a lively group of resort staff members paraded into the food court singing traditional Puerto Rican and other Caribbean Christmas songs!

The gift shop in Old Port Royale is well stocked with the little essentials (like toiletries, over-the-counter medications, and food snacks) that you might otherwise have to go out to find, and there was also a very extensive collection of Disney memorobilia right there at the hotel (meaning we didn't have to buy them at the parks and lug them back with us). There was also 2-hour photo processing service that allowed me to see the results of my picture-taking soon enough to make any film-type or camera-setting adjustments before it was too late. And one last thing, every building within the Caribbean Beach Resort has a large and clean guest laundromat so that you don't have to bring too much clothes with you.

Old Port Royale's food court looks authentically
West Indian

Contemporary Resort

Although we've never stayed at a WDW resort other than the Caribbean Beach Resort, we've made it a point to visit one or two other resorts on each trip so that we can at least get a feel for what they're like and what they have offer. Unfortunately, Disney keeps building new resorts faster than we can visit them, so there are still many that we haven't seen.

During out latest vacation, we visited four resorts. First, the Contemporary Resort, with the monorail running right through it, remains a good example of ultra-modern luxury. We enjoyed a fine Christmas Day lunch at the Concourse Steakhouse, taking a break from a visit to the Magic Kingdom.

The Contemporary Resort was Disney World's first hotel

During the Christmas season, the Contemporary Resort hosts the Jolly Holidays Dinner Show. This musical extravanganza features Mickey and all of the Disney characters, plus a fine cast of singers and dancers, in a real Christmas time treat. Everything from traditional Christmas carols to an abbreviated version of the Nutcracker Suite kept us entertained as we enjoyed a fancy Christmas dinner of fresh baked turkey, honey-baked ham, and all the fixings.

Mickey and friends put on a great Jolly Holidays show

Polynesian Resort

Another of the original WDW hotels is the Polynesian Resort. Like the Contemporary, the Polynesian is easily reached via the monorail from the Magic Kingdom. The architecture is realistically South Pacific in style and the building complexes are named after different Pacific islands groups. The Coral Isle restaurant serves tasty Polynesian dishes, which we sampled for lunch on our last full day at WDW.

The Polynesian Resort brings to mind
South Seas solitude

A special highlight for me, as the various dinner shows go, was the Polynesian Luau, and I think the photo below explains why. ;-) A very authentic Polynesian menu delights the stomach while the pounding of the Polynesian drums and swaying of the hula girls delight the ears and eyes. The show takes you on a narrated trip through the islands of Polynesia, explaining the traditional dress and different styles of dance. A spectacular finale is a dangerous fire dance, in which a male dancer twirls, throws, and catches two flaming knives at dizzying speeds. A word of warning, however, is that because this is an outdoor affair, inclement weather can cause cancellations. This happened to us, but we were lucky to still be able to reschedule for another night, even at the last minute.

Swaying to the gentle sounds of the South Pacific

Grand Floridian

Third of the three WDW resorts that are connected by the Magic Kingdom monorail is the Grand Floridian. The hotel exudes luxury, with its almost intimidating 19th Century Victorian architecture and plush Grand Lobby. I doubt we'll every be able to afford a stay at the Grand Floridian, but it's nice to dream.

The Grand Floridian Resort is 19th Century
elegance at its finest

Fort Wilderness

The last of the WDW resorts that we visited on this trip was Fort Wilderness, which is actually only a short boat ride away from the Magic Kingdom. The rustic log-constructed buildings of the main campground complex are a sharp contrast to the elegance of the Grand Floridian. In addition to Pioneer Hall, where the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue (see below), is presented, the facilities include the Trail's End Cafeteria and the Settlement Trading Post.

Fort Wilderness takes you to the days of
the Old West

The Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue is a "rootin' tootin" country affair that will keep you laughing throughout. The lively cast of performers involve the audience along the way, often stepping down from the stage to joke with guests. Meanwhile, guests chow down on all-you-can-eat barbecued ribs, fried chicken, corn, and potatoes, with healthy servings of strawberry shortcake for dessert. All in all, a very enjoyable evening in the wilderness frontier.

The lively Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue is fun for
the whole family

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Last Updated: January 1, 2003