Lovely Resort!
As Disney Annual Passholders, we spend a significant amount of time at Disney annually and have stayed at nearly all of the Disney resorts. This was our fourth stay here, and it continues to be a lovely option. Every resort offers something a little different, so I’ll highlight what stands out to us. One of the biggest advantages is how quiet and expansive it feels compared to some of the other properties. The grounds are beautiful, with a charming Southern theme, lush landscaping, and a peaceful river that really adds to the atmosphere. We’ve previously stayed in the Royal Rooms with the light-up headboards, but this time we experienced one of the newly renovated rooms. The updates - IMO - are a great improvement. The older rooms had smaller bathrooms with tubs, but the renovations now include a pocket door, which makes the space feel larger, along with a stand-up shower. The lighter color palette in the room also makes everything feel brighter and more modern. Transportation was generally reliable, though one area for improvement would be bus service at park closing. The lines were quite long, and it seems like an easy fix to increase the number of buses during peak exit times. Our only other consistent drawback is the lack of a fitness center. Given the price point of the resort, it’s surprising that this hasn’t been added. It’s one of the reasons we sometimes choose Coronado instead, though we hope this is something Disney considers in the future. Yes, you can run along the paths, but it is Florida, during the summer months it can be very hot and humid and we were there in December and it was 42 degrees out in the morning, which isn't exactly great running weather either. Overall, this remains our go-to resort for its theming, atmosphere, and overall experience.
