Luxury travel advisor Michael Holtz, CEO of SmartFlyer calls the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World, “Disney done right.” He specifically recommends the Royal Suite (up to 9 bedrooms) for its views of the nightly fireworks, and it seems the holidays are a good time to visit the epic theme park, combining all things Disney with holiday cheer. You can also buy out the entire floor (see floor plan below), which provides 21 rooms for up to 53 guests and is $66,000 per night.
I visited when the resort opened a couple years back, and I liked it for five reasons: There’s the Four Seasons level of service. The hotel is a respite from the mayhem of staying in directly in the park, but is minutes away. It has a separate adult pool, but also an extensive water park that even adults will enjoy, and it has some terrific suites that can be combined for large families and extended groups. As a last point, there is Disney activation on site, so you don’t have to wait for the park to get your Disney on.
Highlights for the holiday include “a decadent gingerbread display in the lobby,” poolside family movies, a 12-foot-tall Christmas tree, wreaths and columns wrapped with garland, holiday-inspired floral arrangements, and more. The holiday décor will be in place from December 1, 2016 through January 3, 2017.
The specific programs include Kids For All Seasons, a complimentary kids camp, open daily for ages 4-12 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, with activities from candy cane scavenger hunts to animal visits, make-your-own reindeer food, design-your-own sleigh, timed races in the Lazy River (water park), snowman sack races, face painting, etc. Classes such as pizza making and cookie decorating are also available.
The Resort offers a Good Morning Breakfast with Goofy and His Pals every Thursday and Saturday morning at its restaurant, Ravello, and select Tuesdays during the festive season: December 20 and 27, 2016 and January 3, 2017.
In addition to the character breakfast, you have the option of hosting a private event at the hotel, in one of the event spaces, and character visits can be arranged for entertainment. According to the hotel, “Four Seasons Resort Orlando has a special relationship with the creative teams at Disney to offer incredible on-property events with added Disney touches.”
Specifically on suites, Holtz’s favorite, the Royal Suite is 3,300 sq. ft. (above), including a vaulted great room, a master bedroom, a media room, a private office and a pantry kitchen. Connecting up to as many as nine bedrooms, it has a wrap-around terrace featuring views of the nightly Magic Kingdom Park fireworks. The Presidential Suite replicates a Mediterranean villa at 2,750 sq. ft. and includes a great room, master bedroom, master bathroom, private office and pantry kitchen. Two additional bedroom units and one guest room suite enable the Presidential Suite (below) to expand to a four bedroom residence.
Guests in Royal and Presidential Suites get eight hours of butler service per day. Additional hours, including round-the-clock service, are available for an added fee. Guests can use the butler’s assistance to gift wrap presents, decorate the suite, create a memorable in-suite holiday dinner party, arrange for a holiday movie with cookies and cocoa, etc.
For more information about taking over the entire top floor, contact Kevin Stracke, reservations manager at +1.407.313.6918.
