Location: Walt Disney World Area
Rating:
Category: Deluxe Resort
Overview
I was blown away by the Four Seasons Orlando after our stay at the resort. The level of service is hard to match – each and every staff member took such great care of us. They truly go above and beyond, which is what sets the Four Seasons apart.
Disney Affiliate Resort
The Four Seasons Orlando is not considered a full, on-property resort at Disney, but it offers many of the amenities that Disney resort guests receive. These include:
- Access to Extra Magic Hours at the parks (window of time when the park is only open to resort guests)
- Fast Pass selections are available 60 days out from your trip (vs 30 days for off-property guests)
- Character breakfast at Ravello with Goofy & his pals (available on select days)
- Disney Planning Center at the front desk to help with your Disney specific questions
Family Friendly Atmosphere
The resort is incredibly family friendly but maintains the high end luxury feel throughout. There are great options for both adults and kids, so I’ve broken some of those out below.
Kid Must Dos
5 acre water park complete with water slides, fountains, pools and a lazy river (that isn’t so lazy – it moves at a pretty quick pace!). The water park is designed for kids of all ages!
Complimentary kids camp (if you need some time to hit the Adult Must Dos).
Basketball and sand volleyball courts and a game area with activities and a ping pong table.
Princess makeovers available on site. It’s similar to Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, but is done at the resort.
Adult Must Dos
Adults only pool called The Oasis – it’s complete with cabanas and a hot tub.
The spa is pure heaven. I went for a massage and had the most luxurious experience enjoying the extra amenities the spa offers. Plan to spend a few hours here.
The lobby bar is a great spot to grab a drink, watch sports, or enjoy the beautiful terrace overlooking the property.
Dining Options
Ravello
Ravello serves a wonderful breakfast buffet, and as mentioned above, it’s a character breakfast on certain days (Thursdays, Saturdays, and select Tuesdays)! You can also order off the breakfast menu if the buffet is too much we ordered coffee and individual meals and everything was great. Ravello also serves a traditional Italian dinner featuring house-made pizzas and pastas. Yum!
PB&G
The pool bar & grill sits on a terrace overlooking the lake next to the pool area. The menu is full of fresh flavors and is DELICIOUS. We ate on the terrace one time and also ordered to our pool chairs another time – the veggie burger was everyone’s favorite!
Capa
This signature steakhouse is located on the 17th floor of the Four Seasons. It serves the freshest seafood and has an extensive wine list.
Capa Bar
The Capa bar sits on the 17th floor of the Four Seasons and overlooks a spectacular view of the parks – ideal for a fireworks viewing! It was a little too hot for us to sit outside with the sun beating down, but in the evening temperatures are much more manageable to enjoy the outdoor terrace.
Transportation
The Four Seasons has complimentary shuttles to/from the four main Disney parks (Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot and Animal Kingdom). They run on the half hour (approximately) and you can confirm the exact schedule a day in advance with the front desk. These are not the same as the Disney buses that run to the Disney resorts.
If you’re traveling with the kiddos, the Four Seasons shuttle is great – they will help you with strollers, etc. and make sure everyone is safe. Because we were there for such a short amount of time, we ended up taking an Uber to most places (we only went to the parks one day and it was for the 6am Extra Magic Hours!). Ubers are easy to come by and relatively cheap, so if it’s an adults weekend this might be your best option.
There is also Four Seasons transportation available (black SUV) for a charge that can take you to Disney Springs, both water parks and anywhere else you might be visiting.
You can arrange Four Seasons airport transportation for a charge as well.
WDW Park Planners’ Experience, Takeaways and Tips
We had the BEST stay at the Four Seasons Orlando. The entire staff is phenomenal and provides the highest level of service.
That being said, staying at the Four Seasons Orlando does not give you the same feeling as staying on property at a full Disney resort. It was a different vibe – which was okay – it was just different than what we were used to! You almost forget you’re at Disney when you stay there. The resort is close enough to the parks but the property itself feels very removed from Disney (even though you can see the parks from the balcony).
The price point is comparable to the Grand Floridian and The Polynesian Resorts (maybe a bit higher depending on the time of year), but the service and extra amenities are well worth the money spent.
So should you consider this resort?
If you want to be totally immersed in the Disney magic, I would recommend staying on-property at Disney.
If you’re looking for an adults-only getaway with a bit more luxury or a family trip with some time away from the parks, then this is definitely your spot.
Other questions? Send me a message!