The Yacht Club has one of my favorite Christmas displays of all, a meticulously crafted Christmas village featuring a working train. It reminds me of the train set in Germany at Epcot. Every time I look through these pictures I see something different. I have a real soft spot for this display! The tree and wreaths at Yacht Club are also very neat, as they are themed with boats and other nautical items. I hope you enjoy seeing these photos as much as I enjoyed taking them.
Resorts
All posts in the Resorts category
Christmas at the Beach Club Resort
Published December 25, 2012 by Disneyways.comIt’s not all gingerbread houses – how about an enchanting holiday carousel, crafted of gingerbread, chocolate, and fondant? The carousel is a holiday tradition at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. There are also some sculptures to enjoy, and even a little shop where you can buy some Christmas goodies to take with you.
Related articles
- Christmas at the Contemporary (disneyways.com)
- Christmas at the Grand Floridian
Christmas at Animal Kingdom Lodge
Published December 24, 2012 by Disneyways.comThe most widely spoken language in Africa is Swahili. “Jambo!” meant the cast members over at Animal Kingdom were saying hello to me, NOT calling me fat, as I originally thought.
Visiting Animal Kingdom Lodge at Christmas time means you may find the cast members saying “Kuwa na Krismasi njema!” – or – “Merry Christmas!” in Swahili. The decorations at Animal Kingdom Lodge are lovely, understated, and of course African themed, as you will see here.
To check out Disneyways Animal Safari Sundays series click here.
Christmas at the Polynesian
Published December 23, 2012 by Disneyways.comMele Kalikimaka and welcome to the Polynesian during the Holiday season.
A tropical island Christmas? Sure, why not?
Video of Christmas in Hawaii – for comparison purposes only.
Christmas at the Contemporary
Published December 23, 2012 by Disneyways.comAt Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the Grand Concourse holds a 17-foot Gingerbread holiday tree, complete with edible ornaments and presents – and, of course, hidden Mickeys to spot. If those ornaments look irresistible, you can buy ones just like them to sample or take home, plus an assortment of holiday cookies and baked goods. If the look of this display seems familiar, it’s because it was inspired by the art of Disney Legend Mary Blair (you can see her style in the it’s a small world attraction, and in the mural that dominates the Grand Canyon Concourse of Disney’s Contemporary Resort).
New at the Grand Floridian!
Published October 12, 2012 by Disneyways.com
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, seen from the monorail station at the Magic Kingdom. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
New offerings at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
It’s really hard to pick – but the Grand Floridian may just be my favorite resort. Sure I may look ridiculous, red-faced and sweaty…wearing Mickey ears over my wild blonde hair that’s been frizzed out by the humidity. It really doesn’t matter. When I walk in to the Grand Floridian – I am welcomed by the waft of refreshing A/C, and maybe my friend Christine the harpist playing a beautiful tune. All of a sudden I become a classy, refined, lovely lady from the Victorian Era…well…in my own mind that is.
Could they really make this place any better?
Walt used to say he wanted to “plus” things. He loved taking his work just a step further to really delight Disney guests. I think it may be in that tradition that the Grand Floridian has added some enhancements recently.
The new Beaches Pool Bar and Grill is an outdoor quick-service location with style. After you place your order at the window, a Cast Member will deliver your made-to-order meal to you. This added convenience allows you to lounge by the pool or watch your children splash in the new water activity play area instead of waiting in line for food. Take THAT Tomorrowland Terrace.
Not just your average pool bar, everything at Beaches is made fresh, completed after you place your order. Looking for an adult beverage? Let’s go visit the pool bar, equipped with a TV, signature drink selections and the option to order food from the grill. Soon, the bar also will offer local and micro brews. Beaches Pool Bar and Grill is open 7 a.m.-11 p.m., offering breakfast, lunch and dinner. Times and offerings are subject to change.
Nearby, our kids (48 inches or less) can splash in the new ”Alice in Wonderland”-themed water activity play area. This zone, with lifeguards, features a metallic green dump bucket fashioned after the Mad Hatter’s top hat; it pours gallons of water over the jungle-gym structure and children playing on and around it. Two slides, three pull-string sprayers and a shallow pool complete the water wonderland. This area is open 10 a.m.-8 p.m., with operation times changing seasonally.
Perhaps Alice and Wonderland with all her fanciness and Tea over in the Garden View Tea Room (also located in the Grand Floridian) is the one that inspired things to continue to get “curiouser and curiouser” all through the fall and winter seasons. Soon we will see additional refurbishment of Sandy Cove Gifts & Sundries merchandise location, Gasparilla Grill & Games quick service spot, and the Courtyard Pool.
Pinkies up ladies!! Now if you’ll excuse me – I’ve got to take my refined self to the ladies room and straighten my Mickey ears.
Related articles
Where in the World are we?? Resort and Theme Park addresses for your GPS
Published September 9, 2012 by Disneyways.com
World Of Disney (Photo credit: Definitive HDR Photography)
Disney (Photo credit: wickedboy_007)
I love my GPS – but sometimes it has a hard time finding things in Disney.
Here are the addresses for all the Disney owned theme parks and resorts in the Walt Disney World area – customized to be used for a GPS – and put into resort categories.
The color coding indicates what theme park or area the World you are closest to. This serves as a great planning tool to help you book your dining etc.
Email me at DisneyWays@DisneyWays.com if you’d like to have this in a word document that is more suitable for printing!
I will send it to you directly.
Disney World GPS Address List from Disneyways.com
“Magic Kingdom Area” in Purple
“Epcot Area” in Black
“Downtown Disney Area” in Orange
*Closer to Hollywood Studios but still considered “Epcot Area” starred and underlined
Deluxe Resorts
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa: 4401 Floridian Way, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Contemporary Resort: 4600 North World Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Polynesian Resort: 1600 Seven Seas Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Beach Club Resort: 1800 Epcot Resorts Boulevard, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort: 1700 Epcot Resorts Boulevard, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Boardwalk Inn: 2101 North Epcot Resorts Boulevard, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge: 901 Timberline Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge: 2901 Osceola Parkway, Bay Lake, FL 32830
Moderate Resorts
*Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort: 900 Cayman Way, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort:1001 West Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Port Orleans – French Quarter: 2201 Orleans Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Port Orleans – Riverside:1251 Riverside Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground: 3520 North Fort Wilderness Trail, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Value Resorts
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort: 1850 Century Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s All Star Sports Resort: 1701 West Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s All Star Music Resort: 1801 West Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s All Star Movies Resort: 1901 West Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Pop Century Resort: 1050 Century Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Deluxe Villa Resorts
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort:4600 North World Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas: 2901 Osceola Parkway, Bay Lake, FL 32830
Disney’s Beach Club Villas: 1800 Epcot Resorts Boulevard, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Boardwalk Villas: 2101 North Epcot Resorts Boulevard, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Old Key West Resort: 1510 North Cove Rd, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa: 1960 Broadway, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Villas: 901 Timberline Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Theme Parks
Magic Kingdom: 3111 World Drive Lake, Buena Vista, FL 32830
Epcot: 1200 Epcot Resort Blvd. Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Animal Kingdom: 551 Rainforest Road Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
*Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 351 South Studio Drive Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Downtown Disney: 1780 E. Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Water Parks
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon: 1494 E Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
*Disney’s Blizzard Beach: 1500 W. Buena Vista Drive Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
It’s a Tall World after all!
Published April 23, 2012 by Disneyways.com
My husband is a big Starbucks fan – so I’m hoping this great news might get my Decaf Dude to come to the parks with me more often! The one and only Starbucks announced today that they will soon have a presence at all the Disney theme parks.
You’ve got to be a California girl (or boy) to be the first to see it. Starbucks says they will open the first of six Starbucks locations in June at Disney California Adventure and then Disneyland Park. Disneyland guests can enjoy their “ pick me up” at the brand new Fiddler, Fifer and Practical Café. The Fiddler location will be themed to the 1920’s vision of Buena Vista Street. Sounds pretty cool to me!
Not long after – Florida will be “perked-up” Seattle style in the Walt Disney World resort! More specifically, we will enjoy Starbucks in Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, AND Animal Kingdom. The new locations will serve coffee, espresso, frappuccino, signature Starbucks sandwiches, pastries, and desserts.
Please note the Swan and Dolphin Resorts on Walt Disney World property have served Starbucks for quite a while. These resorts aren’t Disney owned. Now we can make magical memories right inside the parks without sacrificing our morning cup of joe from Starbucks!
The “Art” of hearing music under water
Published April 12, 2012 by Disneyways.comI am so excited about Disney’s Art of Animation Resort at Walt Disney World that is opening soon. This will be a much needed addition to the line of “value resorts” which are often quite full due to the fact that we don’t all want to mortgage our house just to stay on Disney property! Yesterday I heard that the Art of Animation Resort will have the biggest pool on all of Walt Disney World, except for the water parks. It will be called the Big Blue – a nod to the Fining Nemo movie. I have seen some Walt Disney World resort pools, and let me tell you, none of them are what I consider small. I have a feeling the Big Blue is going to live up to it’s name. There’s another thing…we will be able to hear music when we are under water in the Big Blue. How cool is THAT?
The Finiding Nemo themed family suites will be opening first on May 31, 2012, followed by the Cars family suites on June 18, 2012, and the Lion King suites on August 10th. If you have a smaller party and don’t need all the space a suite provides, you will want to wait for the Little Mermaid standard rooms opening September 15th. It is still sweaty, sticky hot in Florida in September so make sure you leave some time in your schedule to enjoy the Big Blue. You can book your stay right now! I checked yesterday and amazingly – they are showing availability for certain dates.
Here’s a link so you can practice singing the song under water if you want to - your secret is safe with me!
My Love for a 5 Legged Goat
Published April 5, 2012 by Disneyways.com
I don’t know where I heard about him first. I do, however, remember the first time I shared him with someone. How do I remember? Because we got it all on film.
I had the video camera and I was panning the beautiful and historic mural in the main lobby of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. I was feeling so smart, and decided to impress my sister-in-law with one of my Disney “pearls of wisdom”…so I say,
“Somewhere on here there is a 4 legged goat.”
Her response…so sweetly and non-condemning…
”Don’t ALL goats have 4 legs?”
I laugh out loud because I realize I am so smitten with this goat and how he makes me feel — that I have forgotten the very trivia I was so proud of “bestowing” upon my sister-in-law!
“YES!” I respond through my laughter, “I meant FIVE legged goat…and now we’ve got that on FILM!”
Most people really appreciate him for the history and “legend” mural surrounds him. After all, it’s a totally awesome thing. The large mosaic where he lives was created in 1971 with 1,800 one-square-foot tiles and took 18 months to construct. It was designed by Disney Imagineer Mary Blair, who is also known for her contributions to the “look” of the “It’s a Small World” attraction. The legend states that Mary believed that no piece of artwork should be perfect – because only God is perfect – so she purposely created the “mistake”. I don’t know if it’s legend or truth, but what a wonderful story! To think this “mistake” has since become one of the greatest loves of my life just cracks me up.
In the encompassment of the fabulous mural itself, it’s easy to miss the five legged goat. He stands amongst the stylized denizens of the mosaic – one of many goats and other figures – just a face in the crowd.
Still, he draws MY eyes to him like a magnet. You see, he makes me so proud that I know about him, and I love the conversation and interaction with others that he creates. I always get a rush when I tell someone who has never seen him that he is there.
The reaction is pretty similar across the board. First a raised brow and a high pitched “Really?” is voiced. Then they want me to show them where he is. Finally when he’s revealed – whether they are just humoring me or not – most people get wide-eyed and whisper,
“That is SO cool!”
I am once again (in my own mind) crowned the Queen of Disney knowledge and I beam with excitement and pride.
It just goes to show you, when looking for love, not all girls are into outward perfections.
*To read more about the 5 legged goat: Dave’s Disney World Blog
