When I booked a weekend at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando, I never doubted the experience would be exceptional. This (very fortunately!) not being my first time at one of the luxury hotel company’s properties—each one special in its own way. But I underestimated just how much the Walt Disney magic would enhance my stay. I didn’t think to expect my eyes to well up the way they did when I saw kids rush toward Mickey Mouse at the character breakfast with Goofy and pals. Nor was I prepared for the level of hospitality afforded to all guests—young and old alike. It was such a breath of fresh air to be in Orlando and within proximity of the Disney chaos but still cocooned in a peaceful, relaxed environment. Even despite the hefty price tag, I could immediately see its appeal.
This being the largest Four Seasons property in the portfolio in terms of acreage, there’s a lot of literal ground to cover on your visit. You’ll find golf (both a Tom Fazio-designed 18-hole course and a practice facility), tennis courts, basketball courts, a magnificent spa and salon, meeting rooms as well as a grand ballroom, shops, kids’ clubs and several restaurants—including Michelin-starred Capa. There’s also a five-acre waterpark called Explorer Island, comprising waterslides, a splash pad, a shallow pool for kids, a lazy river, and interactive fountains. Somewhere in between the chaos of the kiddo area and the calm serenity of the adults-only pool is the family pool next to P&G restaurant, overlooking the lake. This is where you’ll find the dive-in movies on Thursdays and Saturdays. Watching The Lego Movie in the pool was another one of those surprisingly fun moments of the weekend.
Our lake-view king room overlooked this calming scene and was an oasis in itself. At about 500 square feet, it was spacious and included a couch as well as a table and two chairs, where I enjoyed room service one night. (Time it accordingly with the nightly fireworks show, and you, too, could be eating a cheeseburger in a robe while gazing at one of the country’s most popular pyrotechnic spectaculars.) All of the usual amenities, like a Nespresso coffee machine and a mini fridge, were tucked away in nooks or behind cabinets, making the space feel bigger and free of unnecessary clutter. There’s a large doorless closet that exists as an open space between the giant bathroom (stocked with yummy Atelier Cologne products) and the bedroom. It's another thoughtful design choice for guests who’d rather not have their suitcases and bags spill out everywhere.
Experience Disney without actually going to the parks
Four Seasons Resort Orlando is located within Walt Disney World, and guests enjoy complimentary transportation to and from the parks and can enter 30 minutes before the general public. (What a flex!) There’s also a dedicated concierge on site to help you make sense of Disney’s idiosyncratic reservation and skip-the-line programs.
If going to the parks is not for you—it was not for me—there’s still so much you can do on the property to feel as if you did. First, you can pick up some merch and fairytale princess dresses at Fable. Or take it one step further with a princess or knight makeover, complete with hair styling and dress up in full royal regalia.
Then there’s the Goofy and Pals breakfast at Ravello, featuring a full buffet of sweet and savory dishes and made-to-order juices and smoothies. Mickey, Minnie and Goofy make the rounds throughout service, stopping for hugs and pictures. It’s really so cute and joyful and a bit chaotic from all of the excitement, but nothing beats walking downstairs to meet and greet the mouse himself.
My favorite way to experience Disney from the resort was the nightly fireworks show, which was clearly visible from my balcony. I was able to see Epcot’s display to my left on Friday night and Magic Kingdom’s to my right on Saturday evening. Guests not in lakeview rooms can watch from Capa, the Michelin-starred restaurant on the hotel’s top floor.
Neighborhood:
The Four Seasons Resort Orlando is located within the gates of Walt Disney World Resort and inside Golden Oak, a luxury residential community in Orlando. Every inch of the place is perfectly manicured.
Nearby:
Walt Disney Parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are a short shuttle ride away.
Time Out tip:
Take advantage of Kids for All Seasons, the hotel’s day camp for children ages 4 to 12 that’s totally free for overnight guests. From 9am to 5pm, your little one can explore the pools, play video games, make arts and crafts, and participate in outdoor activities under the supervision of the hotel staff while you enjoy a few moments alone.