The range of hotel options at Walt Disney World Resort is designed to appeal to every type of traveler. But for clients looking for a luxury experience at the most magical place on earth, Florida’s Four Seasons Orlando is the perfect choice.
The first and only property in central Florida to receive the AAA Five Diamond Award, the 443-room Four Seasons Resort Orlando combines the brand’s signature luxury experiences with Disney’s signature brand of magic to create a “best of both worlds” family vacation. As an added perk, Four Seasons Orlando guests have access to Walt Disney World Resort’s Extra Magic Hours benefit, which means clients can enjoy even more time at the theme parks — and a private shuttle from the property to the theme parks makes transportation a breeze.
"It’s two iconic brands in one seamless booking," said Kristin Miller, director of travel industry sales for Four Seasons Resort Orlando. "The benefit of our in-house Disney Planning Center allows agents to email or call for assistance with Disney Dining, ticketing or FastPass+ selections.”
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As expected, the resort’s guestrooms are spacious and luxurious — or “fancy,” as my teenage son described it — and our balcony provided a panoramic view that included Epcot and the Magic Kingdom. The property’s on-site amenities also offer plenty to do if families need a break from theme park fun, including a Splash Zone with a choreographed fountain that shoots water 30 feet into the air; Drifters, an 11,008-square-foot not-so-lazy river that features two spray cannons, a 9-foot waterfall and a rapids section; and two 242-foot waterslides (guests must be 42 inches or taller to ride). Plus, every Saturday evening and select Thursdays, families can watch a movie on the Starstruck Dive-In screen while swimming in the family pool.
In addition, The Hideout is a cool indoor spot for kids to get out of the Florida sun and play video games, pinball and billiards. The complimentary on-site Kids For All Seasons kids’ camp is also available for children ages 4 to 12 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The program, housed in “The Mansion,” offers indoor and outdoor activities that young guests can enjoy for a couple of hours or for the whole day. It even has its own interactive volcano. Evening programming is available for an additional fee.
The six dining options at the resort serve a variety of cuisines; standouts include PB&G, a poolside bar and grill; Ravello, an Italian restaurant with indoor-outdoor seating and an open kitchen; and Capa, a Spanish steakhouse that offers full entrees, tapas-style small plates and, most importantly, a spectacular rooftop view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks in the distance.
My teen is a foodie, so we ordered a variety of small plates that included Carne (beef carpaccio), Pulpo (grilled octopus) and Coliflor (cauliflower with caper and egg). But Capa also has two kids’ menus for less-adventurous eaters: One offers standards such as chicken tenders and macaroni and cheese, but the other menu — for “young culinarians” — caters to more sophisticated palates with dishes like roasted chicken with truffle and white asparagus or seasonal fish with sunchoke and salsa verde.
One of the most popular activities on any Disney family vacation is a character dining experience, and at Four Seasons Orlando, the Good Morning Breakfast with Goofy and His Pals is a fun-filled way to start the day. The buffet breakfast features a huge selection of breakfast favorites (as well as a special kids’ buffet), and a professional photographer is on hand to capture all the magical moments. Miller notes that guests can also arrange for a private meet-and-greet with any of their favorite Disney characters.
“Four Seasons guests will surely enjoy more fun in the parks provided by the Extra Magic Hours,” said Thomas Steinhauer, regional vice president and general manager of Four Seasons Orlando. “Plus, with the on-property diversions, guests will be ensured an unforgettable vacation.”
The Details
Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort
www.fourseasons.com