Luxury Disney World

Eight years ago, a friend shared she had convinced her whole family to dress as a character from Harry Potter for a Thanksgiving celebration. I knew I had to do something similar. It finally happened, and it was well worth the wait.How to Organize The Ultimate Harry Potter Florida CelebrationI just planned my most ambitious Orlando vacation yet. ...

Sometimes a hotel suite just doesn’t feel large enough. Sometimes you need bigger. Like a 6,000 square foot house.When Star Wars opens on August 29th, grab the whole squad. There's room.At Encore Resort, you can have it. Instead of condos or villas, everyone gets their own resort home and private pool.Encore Resort has developed a unique ...

Although Disney doesn’t have a loyalty program, there are ways to book free or discounted hotels to save thousands of dollars on a Disney World vacation.Luxe Recess has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Luxe Recess and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, ...

It's not just about skipping lines in California or Florida. Here's what to expect.There are many ways to pay for more magic while visiting the Disney World parks.I had so many questions about hiring a VIP tour guide at Disney World. How do private tour companies differ from the official Disney tours?  When are the services worth it? What ...

Considered Disney World's signature resort, The Grand Floridian has a lot of charm. But is it a luxury resort?The Grand Floridian Welcome The Cooler was a 2003 film starring William Macy, and he played a down-on-his-luck sad sack employed by casinos to loiter near the winning to turn their luck around. Disney World does the opposite of this casino practice.They ...

What are the best Disney World hotels? Orlando has so many hotel options, but here's a Disney resorts list of the absolute best.The Best Disney Hotels Reviewed For YouThe First Decision:Staying On Disney Property or off site (or both)?There are clear advantages to each choice, depending on your vacation style and budget. The best off site Disney World hotels ...

The fenced in hot tub on the porch gives off a blue light at night, and the sounds of the fireworks and Electrical Water Pageant tell you that you have found a new way to experience magic, Copper Creek Disney style.The Copper Creek Villas and Cabins at Wilderness Lodge Disney World is constantly evolving while still providing a timeless ...

To walk the lobby of Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge while hearing live drumming is transporting and a noble effort to carry us to faraway places.Animal Kingdom Lodge We finally had the pleasure of checking Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge off of our Disney resort list. We’ve long enjoyed the restaurants and grounds of Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Lake Buena ...

People ask me what has been the best hotel to feature since I launched Luxe Recess in 2014. I am not saying that the Four Seasons Orlando is my favorite, because that’s like saying I have a favorite child. Although the fact that we did just return from our sixth visit may mean our family has found its magical place.There's ...

In the end, our favorite aspects of staying at the Polynesian had nothing to do with being club levelThe front entrance of the Polynesian resort transports you to the South Pacific.Walking into the Disney Polynesian Resort you are instantly transported into vacation mode. Tropical music plays, palm trees dance gently, and a piña colada whispers your name from ...

Disney World restaurants are getting better all of the time The list of the best places to eat at Disney World grows all the time. The last three years have been exciting for foodies looking for a good meal in Disney World. The newest restaurants that have opened in the parks, resorts, and Disney Springs reflect current food trends ...

The Best Disney Springs Restaurants Disney World dining either delights or disappoints based on what city you call home. If you live in a major metropolitan area with access to great restaurants like Chicago, New York, San Francisco, or Washington DC, it's hard to get excited about dining at Disney World, particularly when the city of Orlando has such a ...

Tackling a Disney World vacation for the first time is daunting. Everyone has Disney World tips, just like they have pregnancy advice. But if you’re like me, you want to know whose advice you are taking. I am not a theme park addict, and I don't choose to do Disney World on a budget. But I care about quality and ...

Magic Village Resort is a newer Disney area villa option for the discriminating traveler, designed as a sophisticated option to convene, cook, and slumber. Magic Village is located just over a mile from Animal Kingdom Lodge. Extended family vacations are Disney World’s specialty. I see the families pass by sporting a dozen t-shirts in the same royal blue, adorned ...

The Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate really surprised me. I would say not only surprised me, it impressed me. The Omni Orlando's new wave pool opened in the summer of 2017.I had few expectations checking into the Omni Orlando.I don't typically stay at many Omni properties, and I associate them with their historic mountain resorts like the Omni ...

Why are the Disney Yacht and Beach Club are two of the most favorite resorts for Disney regulars? We'll help you decide if its the right choice for your Disney vacation. Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and Disney Beach Club are inspired by historic seaside resorts; nautical and beach imagery is everywhere. Joined together and within walking distance to Epcot, they share many ...

When to take that Disney vacation At what age do you take your kids to Disney World for the first time? Don't wait until they are older. You'll get so much more from the trip if you can see the experience through a preschooler's undoubting eyes. Most of my friends don't go to Disney World, and they have no interest. They perceive chaos, crowds, and ...

Considered the most deluxe Disney resort until the Grand Floridian came along, The Contemporary Resort boasts a guest experience few of the other Disney World Resorts can. It might be time for a rematch.Disney's Contemporary Resort The Contemporary was one of the two original resorts when Walt Disney World opened in 1971, along with the Polynesian. There are families who experienced it in the 1970's who ...

Disney offers several events requiring a premium ticket or fee. Read why Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is our favorite and enjoy some of my favorite Disney parks photos.1.  The Crowds haven't yet descended upon Orlando. The Mickey's Very Merry Christmas parties begin at the beginning of November and run through until the the Christmas holiday approximately four nights each ...

Should you stay away from Disney World?I have been following the story of the Zika virus carefully, as I travel to Florida and Orlando on a regular basis. The Zika Virus is now in proven to be carried by mosquitos in a North Miami neighborhood. The rest of Florida may be next.Although state officials feel that their spraying efforts have eliminated ...

The Waldorf Astoria Orlando  is so beautiful, so sophisticated, and so family-friendly, it is just as perfect for a Disney World vacation as it is for a mom spa break or couple's getaway.The Waldorf Astoria and its adjoining Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek are within the resort area called Bonnet Creek. Although the hotels aren't officially Disney resorts, the Bonnet Creek Resort are ...

Lots of new Star Wars experiences have been added to the Disney parks this year. Hollywood Studios is now the Mecca for Star Wars fans of every age with new character meet and greets including Kylo Ren, the Jawas, and Chewbacca. The Star Wars Dessert Party is another way to experience Disney World like a VIP.Fittingly, the park-closing entertainment at ...

My friends smile politely at me when I tell them how much I have fallen in love with Orlando. Perhaps they imagine me wearing a custom made "We're in our magical place" tee shirt and Mickey ears instead of wandering Orlando's museums and galleries surrounded by Tiffany glass or contemporary art.The vibrant food scene is one of the many ...

  The Walt Disney Swan and Dolphin ResortMaybe everyone is attached to the place they stayed when they visited Disney World for the first time. After learning of the Disney Swan Resort renovation of the guest rooms, I knew we had to return to see how it fares against the high-end options around the Walt Disney World Resort we have tried.Our first trip as a ...