Magical Adventures & Memories
We check out the newest Disney Vacation Club property, the Riviera Resort, inspired by the beauty of the European vacations of old! There’s lots to see, so join us while we explore!
Disclosure: Disney hosted us for this event, but these opinions are our own!
If you follow me on instagram and facebook, you know that we got to experience a preview of the newest Walt Disney World Resort transportation system: the Disney Skyliner. I was super excited and yes, a little nervous to try this newest way to travel in Walt Disney World, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
Being of the “Magic Kingdom Skyway generation” (aka over 30), I remember a time when riding the Skyway from Tomorrowland to Fantasyland (and back) was my favorite thing to do in the Magic Kingdom, and something I did every single visit. I was pretty heartbroken when the Skyway closed back in 1999, and even more so when I finally learned just how cool the Disneyland Skyway was, knowing I’d never experience sailing through the middle of the majestic Matterhorn. But this new Skyliner is not an attraction, at least that’s not why it was built, it is a convenient and easy way to transport guests from certain WDW Resort hotels to either Epcot or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. (But you can still ride it for fun if you want, which is exactly what we did last night.)
Before I get into the facts and figures, I will say it was a wonderfully enjoyable ride on the Disney Skyliner. Right after we took off from the Disney’s Hollywood Studios station, we paused, right after passing the parking lot. Of course stopping like that mid-air was a little scary at first, but at no time was I worried we’d fall or the cable would snap or anything.
The main concern was that being stopped meant almost no air-flow through the vents of the cab, and yes, it did get a little toasty. This was at 6:30 at night, and the sun was directly shining on us, but it wasn’t as hot as a 3pm in-the-middle-of-summer day. That said, the time we stopped was only a few minutes, and it wasn’t unbearable. Most guests concerned with the extreme heat at Walt Disney World have some sort of personal fan or cooling device, so I think those that are worried will probably be prepared, and those that can handle direct sun for a few minutes will be okay. The good news is even if the wind isn’t flowing through because you’re not moving, the vents ARE still open, so you are still getting air, it just may not feel like it. The most common question whenever anyone asks about the Skyliner – “Is it air conditioned?” Well, once we were moving, the breeze was constant, and it was even windy in the cab. I’ve definitely been on the monorail when the “AC” wasn’t really helping matters at all, at least in this case, you will have that breezy cross-ventilation as long as you aren’t stopped.
My other concern was loading and unloading the cab from the platform. I’d heard it was a little wobbly and it was, but, nothing so shaky that it caused panic. Yes, the cab moves a bit as you step on, but it is very sturdy and stable, and you feel that as soon as you step on. I do feel like some guests with less mobility or balance may benefit from a handle of some sort, but I’m sure that was looked into and may have caused more issues if people held onto it too long while getting out. So my suggestion if you have balance issues or walk slowly, is to have someone go out first and then give you a hand to help you out. It is slow enough that it should not be an issue, but of course, if you need additional assistance, or are in a wheelchair, they can stop the cabs to allow you more time to get in or out. The good news is the platform aligns perfectly with the floor of the cab, so there is no need for ramps or additional maneuvering to assist guests needing more time.
As I noted on instagram, we were lucky enough to time our visit to the sunset, and boy was that serendipitous! The views were amazing last night, and watching the sky dissolve from a bright blue, to hints of pink creeping in, to full on golden orange, followed by a dark purple and deep orange, was amazing. Christian has a video at the end of this post, so you can see how scenic it was, but I was really blown away by how beautiful it was and it’s been a while since I experienced a sunset like that from such a unique vantage point. If you are planning to ride the Skyliner just for fun, I definitely recommend doing so around sunset!
Skyliner Stations: 5 – Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort/Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort, Epcot (see map above for line routes)
Skyliner Capacity: 10 guests, or 6 with a wheelchair. The seats are two wooden benches and you slide over to make room, similar to a Monorail-sized bench, but everyone gets a seat, there is no standing.
Skyliner Stroller Policy: If you have a single or tandem double stroller (not side by side), you can board normally and don’t have to fold it up. The stroller or mobility aid must fit within a 30″ by 48″ area, so you may need to fold it up if you can’t fit your stroller in that space. We asked a cast member and they hadn’t gotten a double-wide stroller yet, so they were kind of unclear on how they’d handle that, but keep in mind, this is still in the technical rehearsal stage so they may have more info as they open to all guests.
Skyliner Food/Drink Policy: We asked about bringing food and drinks into the Disney Skyliner cab, and were told that everything was allowed except alcohol. I hadn’t really thought of bringing anything on, until we passed the Joffrey’s Coffee kiosk at the Caribbean Beach Station, and thought “ooh, coffee…” (and whoever thought to put that there, brilliant!) it’s the perfect spot for it because the Caribbean Beach Station is where you would switch to go to Pop Century or Art of Animation, or on to Epcot or the Riviera Resort, so everyone has to get out here, and go to a different spot to re-load – why not stop and get a drink and a snack?
Skyliner Routes: As mentioned above, you do have to disembark and re-embark at some stations to get to your final destination. The only place you don’t have to get off and get back on (right now) is Disney’s Riviera Resort, because it’s not open. I’m not sure if when that resort opens they will make you get off and back on, but I can’t imagine they would because most people at that point would be heading to Epcot. So to get to Epcot or Disney’s Hollywood Studios from either park, you will have to get off and get back on, because those lines do not connect.
Going to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a straight line from the Caribbean Beach Resort Station, that line does not connect anywhere else. Then from the Caribbean Beach Station, which really is the main “hub,” you can choose to take a line that goes ONLY to Pop Century/Art of Animation, or another line that goes to Riviera and Epcot. Similarly, if you are coming from Epcot, you’ll need to transfer at Caribbean Beach if you are trying to get to Pop/AoA, or Hollywood Studios. It sounds confusing at first, but once you ride it once, it all makes sense.
Skyliner Special Needs: As mentioned above, if you need special assistance to get into the Skyliner cab, they can definitely stop the movement for you and assist. They are slower than I thought they’d be, so that is good and should eliminate most potential issues with boarding. There is also an extended loop at all the stations except the Riviera Resort where cabs can be sent to completely stop, to help those that need additional assistance. Separate from that, if you have serious motion sickness or vertigo, dizziness, or equilibrium problems, or are just generally really scared of heights, you may want to avoid this method of transport.
I note on the video that at first I did feel a little dizzy, but I do have some equilibrium issues with some movement (I can’t ride Expedition Everest, for example, without my brain rattling around my head for a few days after). I quickly got used to the movement though. I have no problems with normal (non-upside-down/backwards) roller coasters, and don’t usually ever get sea sick or anything. So, your mileage may vary, but I think the majority of guests will be just fine. Just know your limits because there is a chance you will pause mid-air, and if that will set off a panic attack, you should be aware that it’s a possibility. There is a call box on each cab in case of emergency.
Skyliner Weather: So let’s talk about Florida weather. It is as predictable as it is ever-changing. You know it’s going to be in the mid to high 90’s in the summer, you know it’s going to rain every day at around 3pm-ish during the summer, and you know there will be very few days with low humidity. How will the Disney Skyliner handle that weather?
Here’s what I know: I know that Disney has thought of and tested and accounted for alllll of the crazy central Florida weather we all “enjoy,” so I’m not at all worried that they would put a transportation system out there that wasn’t made to withstand it. I also am not worried that in extreme cases, they will cease operation for the safety of guests. Yes, lightning strikes and storms can seem to appear out of nowhere sometimes, but I am confident Disney will have planned for that and has an appropriate course of action. (Also, having grown up going to the Boston Museum of Science and the Lightning Theatre there, I know that being in a metal box can actually be the safest place to be in a lightning storm. That’s why I’m never afraid to be in my car when that happens. The metal will conduct the lightning if it hits, and the tires will send the current back out. I think the same would apply here, and you’d be sitting on a wooden seat, which would not conduct electricity. Anyway, I’m clearly no scientist, but I feel safe).
Similarly, with rain, I assume Disney has tested this. The openings for the vents do have covers to close, so if it was raining, the rain would probably hit those first, and not be directly getting anyone inside wet. We’ll just have to wait and see on that one though.
Skyliner Attraction?: We’ve talked about the facts and figures and rules and regulations, but bottom line, would you or should you ride the Disney Skyliner…just for fun? My answer is yes. I think, if you are the type of guest that isn’t running from Fastpass to Fastpass and wants to do something a little different, get some amazing views, and get from point A to point B (with some stops along the way), why not take a trip on the Skyliner just for fun. I think it would be a great way to see resorts that some guests may not otherwise go to if they were just visiting without a car and staying at one resort. I also have no doubt that in no time at all, we’ll be seeing “Disney Skyliner Crawls” to try foods and drinks along the route – just remember no alcohol on board and maybe being drunk while way way up in the air isn’t the best plan so let’s not ruin this for everyone guys. 😛
Skyliner Merchandise: In the gallery above, you can see a preview of the coming merchandise for the Disney Skyliner. There will be a Funko Pop coming out in November, some DVC Member only and Passholder exclusive merchandise, as well as open edition merchandise, so something for everyone! Some of the shirts are really cute, I may have to pick one up myself!
Skyliner Operating Hours: Ending on a positive note, as mentioned a few times now, riding the Disney Skyliner at sunset is not to be missed. It really is worth it for some perspectives we’ve never seen before at sunset. The operating hours will vary depending on park hours, but it appears to be opening at 9 or 10 am some days and staying open till 11pm most nights, with some 1am opening hours to account for Extra Magic Hours. So it doesn’t appear like Disney wants the Skyliner early morning capacity to be tested, but this is a great option for those staying at Caribbean Beach or Pop and Art of Animation that may not be rope dropping, but want a fun way to get to the parks.
Click to enlarge the photos below of the amazing Skyliner sunset!
I hope that this has given you all the facts and figures and help you need to plan your Disney Skyliner transportation! If you have any questions, feel free to comment and ask here or on any of my social media accounts. I’ve added our video below so you can see some of this info in action. We hope you enjoy it!
If you’d like to see what we all thought as we rode and see the Disney Skyliner in action, watch this!
We thank you for your support and for sharing the love!
As I’m sure you’ve heard and seen by now, Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs is now open. We shared video and photos over on our social channels and Christian and I discussed our thoughts on the highlights of this amazing new resort in our latest resort video. But there is something else you must see before you visit or check-in to Gran Destino Tower…
Salvador Dalí first met Walt Disney at a Warner Brothers studio party in 1945. He had come to Hollywood to work on a dream sequence in Alfred Hitchcock’s Spellbound. The pair struck up what may seem to some as an unlikely friendship, but in reality made perfect sense. Disney had already been pushing the boundaries of art and animation for years. Pink elephants on parade from Dumbo, and the frightening forest scene from Snow White to name a few. Of course, Fantasia itself was a lesson in taking feature animation to a higher plane. So a common bond of creative envelope-pushing, combined with boundless self-promotion, naturally brought these two men together. The next logical step was to collaborate on a project combining Dalí’s surreal vision and Walt Disney’s gift for animation.
Here is an excerpt from Salvador-Dali.org about the origin of the Destino project:
On January 14, 1946, Salvador Dalí signed a contract with Walt Disney to make a short animated film entitled Destino. To work on the project, the painter installed himself in the Disney Studios in Burbank, California, where he set about drafting the screenplay and creating a series of drawings and oil paintings. The main characters, a dancer and a baseball player who is also the god Chronos, develop Dalí’s original concept, which revolves around the importance of time when we are waiting for destiny to enter into our lives. The song chosen for the soundtrack of the film, ‘Destino’, by the Mexican Armando Domínguez, was a major inspiration for Dalí in the development of his work.
The short, intended as part of a package film, was to have a running time of between 6 and 8 minutes, but only 15 seconds were made and it was not until 2003 that Disney resumed and completed the project on the basis of Dalí’s first ideas and original sketches.
Despite having 135 storyboards and 22 paintings from Dalí’s eight months in the studio, the project was abandoned when the Disney Studios could not continue funding it. The project was shelved and forgotten until Roy E. Disney, Walt’s nephew, discovered the artwork while working on Fantasia 2000. He secretly sent the project to be completed in France by a team of animators and a director, Dominique Monféry, who attempted and succeeded in continuing the story that Dalí and Disney (and Imagineer John Hench, who is credited as a writer as well) set out to tell. It was released in 2003, and nominated for an Oscar that year for Best Animated Short. If you haven’t seen it before, here it is below in its (2003) entirety:
If you happen to own the Fantasia/Fantasia 2000 Blu-Ray + DVD Movie Collection set, there’s a bonus. Destino is actually on the Fantasia 2000 disc! Also included is an 82-minute documentary, Dalí & Disney: A Date with Destino. There you’ll hear more about the collaboration between these two artistic geniuses.
Additionally, the always-impressive Taschen has published a few books on his elaborate dinner parties. Taschen Diners de Gala and the Wines de Gala, if you want to delve deeper. And of course, The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida is an amazing place to explore Dalí ‘s life and work. It’s also not too far from Walt Disney World, if you want to extend a vacation and see something new.
Getting back to Gran Destino Tower, when you first approach the tower from either the parking lot or the Lago Dorado side, the inspiration of Destino is more than apparent. The shapes and designs throughout the resort come straight from the art in the short. Dahlia, and her morphing into a bell shape in the film, is directly represented in the lamps in guest rooms, and the designs in the Dahlia lounge on the 16th floor. The Dahlia lounge in particular is entirely inspired by the film, with Dahlia’s hair represented in waves on the ceiling, the dandelion images in a painting on the wall, and the seed heads floating away and becoming the light fixtures on the ceiling.
So before you head to this gorgeous new resort, watch the 6 minute short, and then see how many representations you can see as you explore and discover. Whether Surrealist art is your thing or not, the artistic vision and creativity is undeniably impressive. Gran Destino is enjoyable and breathtaking even without viewing Destino, but seeing it and the inspiration, is, in my opinion, worth your time. I’m sure Disney history buffs, animation and art fans will agree. Kudos to the Disney team for transforming art into function and honoring the work of Salvador Dalí as well as Walt Disney. I’m so excited that Destino has been brought to life for all to see and enjoy in a new way.
Have you visited Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort? What was your favorite part of this newest area of Walt Disney World?
*Disclosure: some links above are affiliate links.
Today Christian and Zanna are checking out all the details of the brand new Gran Destino Tower at the Coronado Springs Resort in WDW. Let’s see what this new place has to offer!
For more info, and for current room rates, please visit: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/res…
Disclosure: Disney hosted us for this pre-opening stay and grand-opening celebration, but our opinions and thoughts are our own! We just really liked this new option at WDW. Thanks for watching!
The Walt Disney World chefs never disappoint when it comes to edible holiday decor. The Grand Floridian takes the cake (or egg) with edible art showpieces, from life-sized gingerbread houses to giant Easter egg displays, they have become a tradition at Walt Disney World Resort, and this year is no exception. This may be the most eggs yet!
This year, the Grand Floridian added a new feature, a shop at the former Bell Services counter, where you can buy Easter treats from chocolates to traditional hot cross buns. Scroll down to see the themes for 2019’s display – some old favorites, some new – can you name the inspiration for each one? (click to enlarge)
The eggs above greet you as you enter the Grand Floridian, but they are not the only ones you’ll find. Be sure to stroll around the entire lobby, even wandering into the Grand Floridian Cafe to see another egg on display!
Do you recognize past eggs? Here’s a brand new one, one of two eggs to celebrate the new Dumbo movie.
Lastly, here is the new shop set up to sell Easter goodies:
Will you be able to visit this majestic display? Which egg is your favorite? It’s hard to pick just one isn’t it? There are so many amazing works of art!
Thanks for visiting, be sure to follow @zannaland on instagram for any other resort Easter egg displays we come across!
The team of chefs are given complete creative freedom to come up with and execute their egg designs, and some of them have been creating Easter eggs for over 20 years! These designs took 3 weeks to create and will be on display until April 4th this year.
This season, we see some favorites from last year’s Easter Egg Display return, along with some new, captivating favorites. I was glad to see that Disney is able to save these creations and bring them back – so much work, I’d hate for them to be on display only once for a few weeks! Below I’ll share all of the amazing creations, in groups of characters and Disney favorites, as well as incredible sugar works of art. I bet you can’t pick just one favorite!
Disney character and movie Easter egg creations:
Sugar artistry statement Easter eggs:
And this chicken – this Spring Chicken gets its own little gallery. It is AMAZING! Look at the feathers! This is all in chocolate or sugar or something edible. Unbelievable!
Can you pick just one favorite?? Big thanks to Walt Disney World and their amazing chefs for sharing these incredible creations with the world!
Locals and frequent visitors alike have witnessed the Walt Disney World Resort landscape change over the past 20+ years with the addition of “Disney’s best kept secret,” or Disney’s Vacation Club (DVC) vacation ownership program. Disney Vacation Club began as a standalone resort, called the “Disney Vacation Club Resort” in 1991. With the success of the vacation ownership program, other resorts were planned and built, causing the original resort to be renamed Disney’s Old Key West, which it is still named today. The next property built was Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, which opened in 1995, followed the next year by Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort, giving owners an alternative location to use their DVC points but stay in a Disney-like resort atmosphere. A few months later, Disney’s Boardwalk Villas were opened to guests and the DVC experience began to spread its way around Walt Disney World as DVC-specific buildings and rooms were added to existing deluxe Disney resort hotel properties. In many cases, the DVC additions blended seamlessly into the established resort grounds. The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is my particular favorite as far as not disturbing theming or the non-DVC resort experience. Boardwalk also blends in nicely, and while they definitely stand out as different, it’s hard to imagine a time before the Beach Club Villas existed.
Things started getting a bit dicey with the announcement and addition of Disney’s Bay Lake Tower Resort, which now rises tall beside one the two original Walt Disney World resort hotels – Disney’s Contemporary Resort. This news was Initially met with rumblings of outrage and sacrilege among Walt Disney World purists not wanting to mar the classic landscape from 1971. The “blessing of size” that Walt Disney World espoused has been tested many times over, but messing with the 1971 skyline was a different beast. Disney’s Grand Floridian had of course changed that skyline too, and has now settled in as an accepted member of the monorail resort club. With the Contemporary moniker, there was some leeway in designing a new building that was, is actually, much more contemporary than its sister across the breezeway. And while many still miss the classic view from Bay Lake as you sail across the water bridge, Bay Lake Tower has fit in and brought not only new Magic Kingdom view rooms, but also a lovely lounge with gorgeous artwork from Disney’s original Imagineers.
There was similar concern with the news of the Grand Floridian joining the DVC family, but similar to Beach Club, in an even more seamless fashion, the new Grand Floridian Villas have, in my opinion added to the monorail resort loop, with the lovely and thoughtful additions of Mary Poppins and Sherman brothers touches throughout the resort and DVC units. The building itself matches the main Grand Floridian resort from roof to sidewalk, and we also gained a lovely waterfall between the buildings.
All of this backstory is leading up to, of course, the newest kid on the DVC block, Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows. This location has, unsurprisingly, also not been without concern or uproar. “What about the beach views?!” “But they’re SO expensive!!” And yes, they are ridiculously expensive at $2100+ per night for a bungalow. They also do block the water view for those on the ground floor of the concierge level of rooms in the Hawaii building, as well as most of the views from the buildings housing the new DVC studio rooms.
I’ll get into price again in a bit, but for now, let me share my thoughts on the views. In my opinion, the new bungalows are actually a wonderful new addition to the sight-line of the Polynesian Village. Why? Because it actually looks like a Polynesian village. When I was touring a bungalow and looking out onto Bay Lake, my reaction really was, “oh, the Grand Floridian kind of looks out of place…” So if you want to go for authentic view, looking out your window to see adorable bungalows makes much more sense than seeing a giant Victorian hotel or even the spires of a castle. As for the fireworks, last time I checked, they were in the sky. That’s not to say this new view is perfect. It’s just different. If you want to see some things, you may have to leave the comfort of your room and wander a bit. Hang out on the beach, or at the pool. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Getting out and exploring is part of what makes the Walt Disney World Resort such a unique experience. For those lucky enough to have views from inside a bungalow, I’m sure seeing a giant Victorian or A-frame hotel in the distance won’t be too much of a chore.
Now, on to the price. Let me preface by saying for those with an actual DVC membership, while yes, these new bungalows will eat up more points per night than you’re used to, the sting is slightly less with the additional DVC membership benefits, etc. (but it will still sting at around 110-230 points per night for a bungalow). However, for those with larger families who want to stay on Disney property, the choices are, getting two rooms, getting a family suite at a value resort, or getting a DVC multi-bedroom suite. Before having 3 kids, when we lived in the Tampa area, we’d often get a suite at Old Key West to fit everyone plus my mother in one room. Now with 3 kids, 2 of them teenagers, the sharing of rooms or beds is less than ideal and things become harder. Staying at a 2-3 bedroom DVC suite is not really in our budget, even as locals who don’t need tickets or want a dining plan. Of course, staying off property is always an option, and that’s actually what we did before moving back to the Orlando area and doing less “staycations.” There are SO many timeshare and suite properties within a short driving distance to Walt Disney World that are literally the price of one room at a value resort per night. With choices like that, it’s very hard to pick the $400+ to $700+ a night option for most of the standard villas. If you want the over-water bungalow experience, you are going to start at $2100 a night and go up to over $3000 if you want to stay during the holidays. Even dividing that among the possible 8 adults that could sleep there, it would be $263.50 a night just to sleep there. And I don’t know about you, but we don’t usually charge our kids for their share of the vacation expenses. So why is Disney making these bungalows so inaccessible to the average guest? Quite simply, because they have to.
I’m sure at the time of writing this, the Polynesian bungalows are booked through year end, or beyond. With 20 bungalows, they are in high demand, period. Can you imagine if these were affordable? It would be like trying to book a Christmas day reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table, getting an Anna and Elsa FastPass, and getting in to the new Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, all at the same time. Everyone would want to stay and it would become a huge thing plaguing the Polynesian and Walt Disney World in general. As it is now, there is a presidential suite in each deluxe resort. Most guests will never stay there, or even try to, because the price range is just totally out of reach. These bungalows are no different, they are just out in your face, tempting and taunting you to stay there and enjoy the ultimate in Disney luxury. And this is why Disney as a company is so successful. They can get people to pay $3000 a night for a 2 bedroom bungalow, when you could get a 3 bedroom condo down the street for $99 a night, or even two deluxe suites at the Four Seasons for the same amount as the bungalows. Unlike most other luxury suites of this nature, you won’t be getting a private 24 hour butler or room service…but Disney is just not known for that level of service in accommodations, so most people staying there won’t think anything of that. In fact, the DVC model is based on stocking the kitchen and making your own meals anyway. Proponents of the Disney Experience will preach that you can’t put a value on the memories you will make at a Disney resort…and Disney has answered, oh yes, you can – and we did.
So at the end of the day, where does that leave us? Well, some people will just be able to afford this, it won’t be a problem. Others will scrimp and save for years to create the ultimate Disney vacation for their family. Still others will simply use their DVC points and call it a day. Some of us will hang out with friends who book a bungalow and experience it briefly that way. Others will take a stroll around the beautiful grounds of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and enjoy the views of the new bungalows, the beach, the new volcano pool, and maybe grab a bite to eat at Trader Sam’s or one of the other restaurants at the resort. While the landscape of the resort, and indeed all of Walt Disney World is forever changed by these new accommodation options, it doesn’t have to affect our enjoyment simply because it is so far out of our price range. I know I personally love hanging out at all of the resort lobbies and grounds. They are fun places to people watch, take photos, and explore parts of Walt Disney World that we may not have realized existed. I think Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is shaping up to be, for the most part, an improvement on the original. I will still miss the lobby waterfall, and think it was an unnecessary change for the overall feel of the resort, but the remainder of the changes have all been positive from what I’ve seen and experienced.
Below is a photo gallery of the 2 bedroom Polynesian Bungalow and a few shots of the opening ceremonies with Ken Potrock, DVC general manager and Tracey Powell – VP – Resort Operations – Deluxe Resorts both of whom dedicated the resort with a torch-lighting ceremony signifying the connection of the 3 points of the triangle of Polynesia. The islands of Polynesia are represented at the resort by the buildings of Hawaii (club level rooms), Niue, Rarotonga, Samoa, Tonga, Aotearoa, Tuvalu, Fiji, Tokelau, Moorea, and Pago Pago (the last two returning to their original names with the addition of DVC villa rooms – Tokelau will also contain DVC rooms). The bungalows have been named the Bora Bora Bungalows for added alliteration. All photos may be clicked on to enlarge and view as a slideshow.
The Bora Bora Bungalows are gorgeous. I instantly felt at home and wanted to just move in. The overwhelming feeling I got was that of a family cabin, and I could just picture my kids and fiance and I enjoying a wonderful stay here. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m a local or not, but I couldn’t imagine wanting to leave the cabins to go to the parks. These bungalows had everything: the latest appliances, tv’s, a spa tub, a personal plunge pool, and all the comforts of home. Seeing the water from the long windows in the master bedroom and master bath was so relaxing and comforting to me, not to mention the two decks on the water plus the front porch area. I loved it. I know my family would love it. Disney really hit it out of the park (no pun intended) with these bungalows. The studio villas are equally well-appointed and decorated. I think they will be a great hit among DVCers and regular guests alike, despite the cost.
What are your thoughts on this change to the Walt Disney World landscape? I’d love to hear what you think about any of the topics touched on here. Thank you for reading and following along on instagram, twitter and facebook at the dedication ceremony.
Click to enlarge and view all:
What I personally love so much about Fort Wilderness and its restaurant offerings (Trail’s End, Crockett’s Tavern and Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue) is that this area is really unlike any other part of WDW. You walk down the dirt path from the Tri-Circle-D Ranch and you forget all about My Magic+ and Fastpass+ and the hustle and bustle that comes with a Disney vacation these days. You are brought back to a time when families journeyed to tropical and alluring Florida and the Walt Disney World Resort as a respite from the real world and reality itself.
Shortly after Fort Wilderness opened, the Fort Wilderness Railway was finished being built and began service around the property. This is often discussed among the nerdiest of Disney nerds as one thing we all wish we’d gotten to enjoy, or could enjoy again. Sadly, the swampy land proved less-than-ideal for holding up train tracks, and the upkeep became too much to keep the railway active. Winding through some of the long forgotten pathways at Fort Wilderness on foot, you may spy a few railroad ties here and there as a marker of days long gone.
In addition to its own railway, River Country, the first themed water park, opened at Fort Wilderness in 1976. I have wonderful memories of going there with my parents, and riding all the water slides and the tube ride with my dad. River Country, along with Discovery Island, both of which are now closed and abandoned to various states of disrepair, were once the “must-do’s” of our Disney vacations. I do believe both would still be popular today if there were a way to keep them up to date and in shape. While the two current water parks and Animal Kingdom offer more modern, themed, versions than River Country and Discovery Island, there is something to be said for the sweet simplicity of an “ol’ swimming hole” and an exhibit of native Florida flora and fauna.
Other than those two spots, the Marshmallow Marsh area of Fort Wilderness is also now no longer accessible to guests. Marshmallow Marsh was originally a ticketed night-time event, where guests boarded canoes and paddled to a faraway corner of Fort Wilderness alongside Bay Lake. While paddling, they sang old Americana songs, which continued when they arrived at the marsh, around a campfire. Marshmallows could be roasted and a perfect viewing of the Electrical Water Pageant was enjoyed, as it stopped near Fort Wilderness’ banks. Guests would then paddle back to the other side to get back to their campsites. Marshmallow Marsh events ended in the early 80’s, but the area was still able to be reached by a bridge until very recently.
Despite those few changes, Fort Wilderness was, and still is, a wilderness; a place to commune with nature and the real Florida, mixed with some fun western expansion/frontier themes like Crockett’s Tavern and Pioneer Hall. It absolutely boggles my mind that there is a place in Walt Disney World where you can sleep in a tent, while your neighbor at the Magic Kingdom gate may be staying in a deluxe two-bedroom villa at the Grand Floridian. And the fact that those two things CAN coexist, is why people keep coming back and have so much varied and passionate history with the Walt Disney World Resort. The unique ability to experience a little bit of the timeless innocence of the Vacation Kingdom in the 1970’s is why Fort Wilderness is such an important place to so many.
Imagine a time when Walt Disney World consisted of just the Magic Kingdom as its only park. What else would families have to do on their vacation to Orlando, Florida? Well, back then, they may have been more likely to venture beyond Orlando to see Daytona Beach, or even Silver Springs and its glass-bottom boats, or the mermaids of Weeki Wachee. But Walt Disney World knew they had some very special 43 square miles on their hands, and went on to create a genuine vacation kingdom.
Great emphasis was placed on relaxation and recreation. Swimming, boating, golf, tennis; all of these things were reasons to come and stay at Walt Disney World. By the mid-1970’s, there were enough monorail trains, ferry boats, resorts and even the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village, to encourage you to stay on property and leave the real world (and the rest of Florida) behind. The resort even boasted an official PGA-sanctioned golf tournament, the Walt Disney World Classic played on the Palm and Magnolia courses, begun in 1971.
The lure was not with rides, rides, rides, or even dining or shopping, but a lovely mix of it all. Spend a day in the Magic Kingdom, a day on the links, or enjoying the fun at River Country. End your night with an authentic Polynesian Luau, or dinner and a Broadway-style show at the Top of the World, where California Grill now resides in the Contemporary Resort. If that wasn’t your scene, you could head to Fort Wilderness and enjoy the hoopin’ and hollerin’ known only as the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. It was truly, and in every sense of the definition, a place to relax and enjoy pure family fun.
Of course, decades later, Walt Disney World Resort is still known for family fun and escaping the real world, but it has become a much different place to do so. With the addition of dozens of new hotel and villa properties, Walt Disney World was faced with the need for transportation for the millions of guests visiting each day. To keep those millions entertained and not all crowded into one theme park, water parks, deluxe dining, spas, shops, movie theatres, and more were added, making Walt Disney World one of the busiest and most diverse places to vacation.
Rather than coming to Walt Disney World to relax and escape, families were now coming to “do it all” and making sure they got the absolute most out of every minute of their vacation. It is hard to sell a vision of relaxing in the Florida sun when there are so many attractions that are must-do, special events to coincide with your visit, places to eat, and things to buy to remember it all when you go home.
At the end of the day, we all know that Walt Disney World is a business, and while that business may involve making magic for every family that walks through its gates (or touchpoints), you can bet your corn dog it also involves making sure you are spending money and coming back to spend even more next time. Is that goal different than it was in 1971? Of course, but at the same time, even in the 70’s, profit was still a goal.
While Walt Disney himself said, “Disneyland is a work of love. We didn’t go into Disneyland just with the idea of making money,” we all know, Walt Disney World Resort is not Disneyland. Although Walt may have had very different ideas for what he originally envisioned with his Florida Project, what was created was a mecca of sorts for families from all over the world to experience the now-renowned Disney magic, and stay put to experience everything else the resort had to offer. Times were different, vacationing was different, and certainly technology was different than today.
So is that simple innocence of Walt Disney World in the 1970’s still possible? The answer from me is an unequivocal YES. Places like Fort Wilderness are where you will find the purity and “Disney Difference” in theming and surroundings, which many of us grew up experiencing and now long for. For some, the Disney Difference is found with the deluxe Bibiddi Bobiddi Boutique package or Villains Soiree special ticketed-event-within-a-ticketed-event. I’m sure many have visited the parks and other resorts for years and never even stepped foot into Fort Wilderness! Each guest or family has its own wants and needs from a Disney vacation and certainly my ideal may be completely different from yours. Let’s also not forget; every Cast Member has the opportunity to uphold the ideals that Walt envisioned for his parks, and make each guest’s experience a magical one.
Parks and Cast Members aside, if you want to be transported to a different time – standing on its own as a testament to Disney Imagineers, their theming, and creativity – head to Fort Wilderness. Walk around. Away from buses, away from hula hoops and golf carts, further in to the wilderness for which this place was named. Listen to the silence that engulfs you. Soon you hear the wind blowing through the cypress, pine, and oak trees. You hear the native birds singing to each other from high up on those tree tops. In the distance, if the breeze is just right, you may hear the Walt Disney World Railroad whistle.
There is a whole other hustle and bustle of attractionsfoodshoppingbuyingfastpassing going on across the lake, but you’ve left all of that behind to be surrounded by tall trees, winding paths, and even a working ranch with horses. You may choose to go fishing, ride your bike, swim in the pool, or even go for a horse-drawn wagon ride. The fact that attractionsfoodshoppingbuyingfastpassing is going on across the lake, is perhaps why this place is so very important to Walt Disney World history and its future. There is a reason why people go on family road trips to explore the countryside or visit our National Parks. The simple pleasure and renewal of spirit found in nature – and Fort Wilderness is a perfect example of that.
By the same token, there is also a reason so many of us today are tiki fans, or love mid-century modern architecture and decor, or 70’s retro style. We long for a simpler time, when all of these things were new and undiscovered. A family from a city in the 70’s (or today) may never have known the enjoyment of camping under the stars. A family from New England or middle America may never have been exposed to Polynesian culture, music and food. Walt Disney World’s themed lands and attractions were always a place to experience places or things you may not have ever known existed, without stepping too far away from reality and the safety of a Walt Disney vacation.
The original Walt Disney World resorts just expanded on that idea, letting guests stay in a Polynesian village (with air conditioning), or an old west fort and campsite (with great food and entertainment nearby), or a modern A-frame building with a futuristic train running through it. In a world (and a World) that is constantly changing and improving and trying to do and be the next best thing, it’s comforting and peaceful to have a place where none of that matters. A place where it could be 1971, or 2021, and the feelings evoked are the same.
So where does this leave us? Should everyone abandon their favorite resort and stay at Fort Wilderness? Maybe not, but at least visit! Should we stop trying to do/see/eat/buy it all and take a more laid back approach to a family vacation? Well, honestly, in my opinion, yes. But I will admit that as a local, and someone who has been to Walt Disney World thousands of times, my view of a Disney vacation may be very different from that of a family that has saved 5 years for a once in a lifetime trip, or even a once a year trip.
At that point, because you are investing a lot of money and precious vacation time, of course the priorities shift. You have to make your 5 year-old and your 15 year-old happy, or make adjustments for your grandma that’s coming along, or your in-laws that are joining you, or even just your friend that wants to do nothing but thrill rides. There is a lot to consider and plan and prepare for. I’m sure a rainy day, which equals a resort day, chilling out and wandering the grounds for me, may mean crying children and frustrated parents that feel like they’ve thrown an entire day and hundreds of dollars out the window. So I get that, trust me.
Consider a time where vacation success wasn’t built upon how many rides you got to do. Where you made memories outside of the ride queues and souvenir purchases? Even when I was living in Massachusetts and we’d drive or fly down for a 7-10 days in the 80’s, we would have at least one day of doing just nothing but relaxing. We’d rent a boat, or hang out at the pool, or River Country, or even spend some time at the Village (which was very different than the Downtown Disney of today). I also distinctly remember my parents having “quiet time” every day where they would relax with a book and a stiff drink and I’d entertain myself for a bit.
There’s nothing that says a Disney vacation must be some sort of a “do-or-die” checklist. Disney has these places, these nooks & crannies and off-the-beaten-path activities or spots for you to experience and enjoy. Take some time to appreciate the very different resorts and grounds at Walt Disney World. Appreciate and enjoy your travel-mates and family. Go on a stroll or a jog by yourself and savor your time away from the hustle and bustle of what a Disney vacation has come to mean.
And certainly Fort Wilderness does not own the market of places where you can relax and unwind, or appreciate your surroundings. I could spend all day hanging out at Wilderness Lodge or the Polynesian Resort. The Boardwalk Resort is one of my favorite places during the holidays, because of the 1940’s music playing in the background and the decorations that remind me of my grandmother’s house at Christmas.
Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts, both French Quarter and Riverside, offer some of the best grounds, walking paths and theming of any Disney resort, in my opinion. Not to mention unique food offerings (but seriously, turn the old Bonfamille’s into Tiana’s Place already – it’s a no-brainer!). I’m sure we all have our favorite resorts for different reasons but some are definitely more conducive to a quieter, gentler Disney vacation where you can and should stop and take time to enjoy the details that have sprung up around you as explore.
Look at the success of the Little Orange Bird‘s triumphant return to his roost. We clamor for vintage attraction merchandise – so much so that they created multiple lines on both coasts and an entire shop dedicated to selling it here in Orlando. Our Disney obsession is with finding a Disney that lets us experience the feelings we did when we were younger, and felt those feelings for the first time. Fort Wilderness is that Disney – a precious time capsule that we get to open every time we visit the Vacation Kingdom of the World. We owe it to ourselves to appreciate this special place unlike any other in the Walt Disney World Resort.
Also, you seriously can’t beat the cornbread at Trail’s End and Hoop-Dee-Doo. Trust me.
We sampled the Rotisserie Chicken, served on potato salad with dill, Beef brisket with sauerkraut coleslaw on rye , and Oysters “roc”a fella with spinach puree, smoked aioli, bacon breadcrumbs, as well as the deviled eggs with caviar. These are all things I would probably never have ordered on my own, but I always like to try things when offered like this so I can share them with you (like the seared tuna at Ravello!) and I was surprised at how much I loved everything.
The rotisserie chicken was fork tender and really easy to eat and the potato salad was a great texture and flavor, and wins points for the brown bag presentation. So adorable. The beef brisket was a little more challenging to eat, but no less delicious and a great combo of flavors. The oyster was fried (I probably would not have been daring enough to eat it raw) and tasted great. Coming from New England, I’m used to fried oysters and clams and this reminded me of that, but with a very light, unique breading. The deviled eggs were also fun, and the caviar on top was a great way to make a traditional bbq item more elevated. Families will be happy to know they have great kids options as well, from chicken fingers to bbq, served in a fun kids meal box with activity menu.
PB&G also has a full bar with beers on tap and a signature Absolut Thyme – iced tea with Absolut Peach and a sprig of fresh thyme. Refreshing for a hot Florida summer day, but also dangerously delicious! All seating in PB&G overlooks the lake adjacent to the adult Oasis pool and the family water park area. The hours are from 11am – 6pm presently, as the pool lighting as not been installed as of yet. Reservations are recommended here as well, as I’m sure it will be a very popular choice among guests. If I were staying at the Four Seasons, this would be a must-do for dining.
See more PB&G photos in this gallery (click to enlarge to slideshow):
