One of Walt Disney World’s most family-friendly hotels just got a dazzling makeover, and we stayed there to check out the redesigned space.

The Swan hotel, part of the legendary Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, has renovated all 756 guest rooms and suites, making them brighter, cozier and more comfortable for families. The renovation is part of a $275 million transformation project that will also expand the hotel’s event spaces.

Our family of five stayed in a multi-room suite during a recent trip to Orlando’s Walt Disney World. Here’s what we loved most, plus what to know before planning your own trip.

A Resort with a Celebrated Disney Legacy

One of three hotels that comprise the iconic Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort (along with the Dolphin hotel and the Swan Reserve), the Swan hotel has been beloved by guests ever since its opening in 1990. At the time, the resort was the largest hotel convention space in the Southeastern U.S.

With a distinct postmodern design by the late architect Michael Graves, the turquoise-and-coral resort has long been a famed Walt Disney World Resort landmark. The Swan hotel is topped by two towering swan statues, while the Dolphin hotel features rooftop dolphin statues. The Swan Reserve, which opened in 2021, offers a more contemporary and minimalist design.

Are you ready to explore more Disney? Let us inspire you!

The Room Updates That Make a Big Difference for Families

While the Swan hotel’s exterior hasn’t changed, its lobby, hallways, guest rooms and suites have all been updated.

Gone are the rooms’ luxe carpets, regal headboards and elegant drapes. In their place are beautifully bright and stylish living spaces, with high-quality wood furnishings, modern lighting and a cozy design.

Our suite featured two bedrooms, three full bathrooms and a giant living room, perfect for playtime and lounging. There was also a dining room and bar area, ideal for entertaining and eating together as a family. My kids (ages 8, 5 and 5) loved the chance to spread out and play.

A Location That’s One of Walt Disney World’s Best

While there are many fabulous resorts at Disney, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort boasts an exceptional location.

Centrally located along Disney’s Crescent Lake, guests can walk to both EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and the resort is only three miles from Disney Springs (with complimentary bus transportation to Disney Springs and the theme parks).

The resort is also just steps from one of my favorite spots: Disney’s BoardWalk, a Coney Island-style waterfront promenade of restaurants, shops and nightlife. There, you can find nightly “Movies Under The Stars” outside Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, and street performers entertain along the promenade.  

Family-Friendly Dining at the Swan and Dolphin

The Swan and Dolphin hotels are connected by a covered causeway across a scenic lagoon; the Swan Reserve is located across the street. It’s easy to walk between the three hotels, and with 23 restaurants and lounges onsite, there are plenty of dining options.

At the Swan hotel, we savored Belgian waffles and omelets for breakfast at the stunning, light-filled Garden Grove restaurant: a tranquil space with a 25-foot tree as its centerpiece. For dinner, we strolled to the Dolphin hotel for guacamole prepared tableside and sizzling fajitas at Rosa Mexicano, a lively restaurant framed by vibrant murals.

Little Perks and Surprises You’ll Only Notice If You Stay Here

With incredible architectural designs found throughout the resort (including prominent swan and dolphin water fountains in each of the hotel lobbies), there are plenty of surprises to be found.

At the on-the-go dining venue Fuel at the Dolphin hotel, we were thrilled to find a self-serve yogurt area serving the famous Disney treat Dole Whip. There are also five swimming pools, a kids club, three fitness centers and a spa; right next door is a Fantasia-themed miniature golf course.

SheBuysTravel Tip: The resort offers complimentary boat access to Disney’s BoardWalk, EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Even if you’re not headed to the theme parks, don’t miss the chance to take a relaxing evening boat ride on one of Disney’s Friendship Boats.

The Benefits of Staying at Either the Swan or Dolphin Hotels

Our suite’s balcony featured stunning views of EPCOT’s nightly fireworks display, the Dolphin hotel and the scenic bridge to Disney’s BoardWalk.

Part of the Disney Collection, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort is in a category of its own. It’s considered a Deluxe Disney Resort yet is managed by Marriott, so travelers can enjoy the benefits of both.

While guests may not get all the perks of staying at a Disney-operated resort (a Disney MagicBand+ won’t work as a room key here), guests do enjoy many of the same benefits, such as access to Disney’s early theme park entry and extended evening theme park hours.

Pro Tips for Booking (and Scoring the Best Rates)

Since the resort is a Marriott property, guests can book with Marriott Bonvoy points when booking or through credit card travel portals like Chase Travel. The hotel’s rates are often more affordable than Disney-owned Deluxe resorts, making it a great choice for families looking to balance budget with convenience.

It’s impossible to decide which of the resort’s three hotels are better. You can’t go wrong with any of them; they’re so interconnected that it’s easy to enjoy the resort’s many benefits at any of the three (though we’re partial to the Swan hotel’s gorgeous renovations!).

SheBuysTravel Tip: The resort often offers exclusive discounts for special seasons and for guests in specific professions like nurses, teachers and first responders; be sure to visit the resort’s special offers page for the latest deals.

Read More

Read More

• 10 Reasons to Stay at the Swan and Dolphin Disney World Hotels
• Bring on the Magic: 11 Best Disney Resorts for Kids
• Walt Disney World Resorts – Value vs. Moderate vs. Deluxe vs. Deluxe Villas
• Best Off Property Disney World Resorts With Luxury Perks

The post This Newly Renovated Walt Disney World Hotel Is Great for Families — and Here’s Why appeared first on She Buys Travel.

A new hideaway for Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members has opened at Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom — and we got a first look inside the magical space.

McKim’s Mile House provides a private escape just for DVC members and their guests. Nestled in Frontierland near Country Bear Musical Jamboree, the spacious lounge offers cozy seating and complimentary soft drinks, coffee and snacks, plus free Wi-Fi, charging stations and access to onsite advisors for DVC membership needs.

Here’s everything you need to know before you visit this hidden gem, and why it might become your favorite hangout spot at Magic Kingdom.

What’s Inside McKim’s Mile House

McKim’s Mile House offers a serene retreat away from the park’s hustle and bustle. Amenities include cold air conditioning and plenty of comfortable seating options, including low top tables, plush chairs and booths with window views of the park. The lounge is well-staffed with DVC advisors, and charging cords are available upon request.

There are two complimentary touch-screen Coca-Cola Freestyle machines offering cold soda and juices; my kids enjoyed trying different fruit-flavored drinks, while my husband and I enjoyed the bubbly refreshment of AHA flavored sparkling water. The beverage station offers a plentiful supply of Joffrey’s coffee and tea, and free snacks include bags of chips and chocolate chip cookies.

Are you ready to explore more Disney? Let us inspire you!

A Refined Retreat in the Wild West

The retreat is named for Disney legend Sam McKim, a beloved Imagineer whose artistic legacy helped shape much of the park’s early design. Many of McKim’s works are displayed throughout the lounge, and the second floor features boarding room doors steeped in Disney history: “M. Davis,” honors famed Disney animator Marc Davis, while “B.T. Bullion” is a nod to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad lore. “Hoot” refers to Hoot Gibson, an audio-animatronic owl once dreamed up for the park’s never-built Western River Expedition attraction.

Lounge Access and Entry Details

Once inside, guests can stay as long as desired. During our visit, daily hours were 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; we joined the waiting list at 4 p.m. and were granted access within 20 minutes. No automatic re-entry is permitted, so guests who leave the lounge must follow the same entry procedures to re-enter.

SheBuysTravel tip: While there are no restrooms inside the lounge, guests can find nearby facilities just around the corner at the Adventureland Breezeway.

Who Can Visit McKim’s Mile House

The lounge is very family-friendly and open to all ages. A DVC member can bring in up to four guests per membership card, or the number of guests on their resort reservation booked within their membership. All guests must be accompanied by a member with a valid membership card and photo ID.

SheBuysTravel tip: If there’s a DVC member in your group, have them stop in and put the group on the list for entry; a cast member will contact them by phone or text once space is available.

DVC Lounges at Walt Disney World Resort

Elsewhere on Walt Disney World Resort property, there are two DVC member lounges: Top of the World Lounge, a rooftop bar and lounge located on the 16th floor of Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort; and Gateway to Discovery, located at Disney Springs. Disneyland Resort in California also boasts a DVC lounge: Tomorrowland’s Star View Station.

How to Find McKim’s Mile House at Magic Kingdom

The lounge’s signage is discreet, and it feels a bit like a well-kept secret; an exclusive club that guests will only notice if they’re looking for it. The retreat provides a welcome respite from the Florida heat, and outside food is permitted (for members who may have bought food elsewhere in the park).

SheBuysTravel tip: The space is a perfect place to watch parades. Our family snagged prime window seats for the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade. Afterwards, we stepped outside and joined an impromptu post-parade celebration with Disney characters, just steps from the lounge.

What to Know About DVC Membership

For guests who may be interested in learning more about DVC properties like The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort or Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows, there are DVC cast members inside McKim’s Mile House and stationed at the information kiosk located just outside the lounge’s entrance.  

Read More

• You’re Tempted — But Is The Disney Vacation Club Worth It?
• How DVC Points Work: Everything You Need to Know
• Help! How Many DVC Points Do I Need?
• Save Money On A Luxury Disney Vacation By Renting DVC Points
• Magic Kingdom Must-Do’s: Essential Experiences for Preschoolers and Young Children

The post Step Inside the Newest Hidden Gem at Disney’s Magic Kingdom — A Luxe Lounge Reserved for Disney Vacation Club Members appeared first on She Buys Travel.

Portions of this trip that were hosted are listed at the end. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Having traveled to Disney World over ten times in the last two years, I’ve seen my fair share of hotels in the area. Even the “value resorts” on Disney property can get expensive and often have rooms too small for families with children.

Luckily, there are lots of great options when it comes to staying off-property. Delta Hotels Orlando Lake Buena Vista hotel is right by Disney Springs and offers quick and easy access to all four Disney World parks. You won’t feel far from the Disney Magic during your stay here.

Overall Impressions

This hotel is perfect if you want to enjoy a Disney vacation without the stress of expensive accommodations. There’s no question that a Disney World vacation can add up, from park passes to Disney Genie+ to dining reservations.

This hotel is best suited for parkgoers who plan to spend most of their day in the parks. This may not be the preferred hotel for those seeking a luxury experience or who want to spend all day at the hotel. Instead, it’s a perfect, affordable place for a comfortable bed, clean shower, and enjoyable experience.

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Pros

• Located only 6-8 minutes from Disney Springs
• Within 15 minutes of all four Disney World parks
• Affordable rates
• Heated pool for chillier days
• Convenience store in lobby
• Complimentary high-speed wifi
• Earn Marriott Bonvoy reward points for a stay
• Later 12 pm check out
• Manned front desk
• Hotel suites available for more spacious rooms

Cons

• Limited dining options
• No free breakfast or coffee is included
• Parking fee of $20 per day
• Pets not allowed
• Disney World transportation is not included

SheBuysTravel Tip: Taking an Uber or a Lyft from here is simple and affordable to any location on Disney World property. However, if you’re looking for a cheaper way to get around, take an Uber to Disney Springs and hop on a resort bus nearest your ideal park. For example, you can take a bus from Disney Springs to Beach Club Resort to enter Epcot’s World Showcase. This will cut down on Uber’s costs slightly.

Accommodations

The suite room at Delta Hotels Lake Buena Vista was spacious and comfortable. I often find myself claustrophobic in tight hotel rooms, so I appreciated the extra lounge and desk space in this room. The additional space will be helpful for those traveling with an infant or young one. I also liked that the desk made it easy to get some work done during my mid-day park break.

Overall, the room had everything I needed to enjoy a pleasant stay. I didn’t know the room had a full-size hair dryer, so I did not need to pack that travel blow dryer. The shower also comes equipped with body wash, shampoo and conditioner.

Dining

As a coffee lover, I was immediately drawn to the coffee shop in the hotel lobby. Serving Peet’s Coffee, this coffee area is the perfect way to start your day. There is a coffee maker in the room. However, you’ll need tap water unless you have enough bottled water.

The coffee options were extensive here, along with pastries like muffins and bear claws if you want to grab a quick bite before heading to the parks. I liked that the coffee options here were affordable, unlike other Disney World hotels I’ve stayed at that charge over $5 for a basic cup of coffee.

Delta Hotels Orlando Lake Buena Vista also has D-Flats, a restaurant/bar in the lobby’s center. You can grab basic bar drinks or food like pizza, burgers, and sandwiches here. However, this location doesn’t open until 4 p.m.

A breakfast buffet is also located adjacent to the lobby. Breakfast passes may be included depending on the room package you’ve booked. Otherwise, guests can pay around $15 to dine here for breakfast. The buffet has a great selection of cereals, bread, juices, coffee, and other typical hotel breakfast food.

Amenities

As a fitness enthusiast, I appreciated this hotel’s updated 24/7 fitness center. The fitness center faces the pool and consists of a good selection of cardio equipment and strength training gym equipment. I started every day with a short jog to wake me up and burn some calories from the Disney food I consumed the night before.

Unlike many other hotels in the Disney Springs hotel, this hotel also offers a noon checkout instead of 11 a.m. While this may seem small, the extra hour can be helpful when getting an entire family out the door. If you’ve ever had a long Disney park day, you know the next-day exhaustion is almost guaranteed.

The heated outdoor pool offers a vibrant and fun atmosphere for the little ones in your travel group. Take a break from the parks for half a day to enjoy the spacious pool. There’s plenty of lounge and seating space around the pool. The D-Flats bar also offers a good selection of “pool-type” frozen adult (and mocktail) drinks like Pina Coladas and Strawberry Daquiris.

What’s Nearby

Delta Hotels Orlando Lake Beuna Vista is in a bustling area near many other hotels and restaurants. Various restaurants are within walking distance of the hotel, including IHOP, Olive Garden, and Subway. The real appeal of staying here is the proximity to Disney Springs and the Disney World parks. If you plan on heading to Disney Springs often, you’ll love the fact that this hotel is only a quick ride away.

Disney Springs offers a huge selection of things to do, in addition to lots of bars and restaurants to explore. Be sure to check out the Coca Cola store, Splitsville bowling, and the Cirque de Soliel show.

Safety Features

Delta Hotels Orlando Lake Buena keeps a staffed front desk to ensure safety. All amenities, such as the pool and fitness center, require hotel key card access to enter.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to a Walt Disney World vacation, there are a lot of places to spend your money. At under $100 per night on most nights, Delta Hotels Orlando Lake Buena Vista offers a comfortable and affordable place to stay. This hotel is ideal for travelers who want to be near Disney Springs or do not need top-end amenities during their stay.

Read More:

• Fun Ways to Reveal a Disney Surprise to the Kids
• Essential Disney World Transportation Guide: Getting To, From and Around Disney
• Orlando Beyond the Roller Coasters – Hike These Scenic Byways!
• From Disney Castle to Sand Castle: Best Beaches Close To Disney World

Comped

• Two hotel nights

The post Delta Hotels Orlando Lake Buena Vista Review appeared first on She Buys Travel.

The writer was hosted.

The first thing to know about staying at a Disney resort is that it will spoil you. The proximity to the parks, the first-class service, the easy transportation, the themed family suites and amenities will make you want to book a Disney resort every time, from now on.

You will find yourself googling things like “Disney annual pass,” “Disney resorts” and “Disney cruises” on the way home. You will start to dream about returning.

And really: isn’t that the best kind of vacation? The kind where you dream about going back?

Our family of five recently visited Disney’s Art of Animation Resort near Orlando for our first Disney trip. Since this was our first time staying at a Disney property (and my kids’ first visit to the famed theme parks), we checked in to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort for a four-night stay.

Disney World resorts are classified by price as Value, Moderate or Deluxe properties. Disney’s Art of Animation is a Value resort but boasts luxurious amenities (like the largest Disney resort pool) that feel very high-end.

Here’s our review of the resort and everything we experienced during our stay.

Why Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Works for Families

• Deluxe-themed family suites for families up to six people
• Welcoming atmosphere
• Three pools, including the largest resort pool of all of Florida’s Walt Disney World resorts
• A Finding Nemo-themed playground
• Fun common areas for kids to explore
• Expansive food hall with five casual dining restaurants and kid-friendly menu options
• Nighty family campfire and movies under the stars
• Disney Skyliner transportation to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Easy bus transportation to the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom
• Colorful arcade
• Exceptional service, including online check-in
• 24-hour self-service laundry rooms
• A high-value resort for all if its conveniences, especially for those visiting Disney for the first time

Where to Stay at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort offers elaborately themed standard rooms (that accommodate up to four people) and family suites (that accommodate up to six people).

With three children, we often have trouble finding options that can accommodate a family of five. Not here. The resort offers a wide selection of both standard and family suites, each meticulously themed to Disney’s The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo or Pixar’s Cars.

We booked a Cars Family Suite and found ourselves transported to a mini-neighborhood within the resort where lifelike outdoor sculptures of animated cars and large-scale movie-themed signage guided the way. Cars-themed décor and artwork lined the hallways to our third-floor suite.

Our suite was equally themed to the max for fans of the animated classic (complete with traffic cone-themed lamps and headboards) and came complete with a Murphy bed, sofa bed, kitchenette, living room, two full bathrooms and master bedroom.

Our seven-year-old had fun answering Disney trivia questions via the in-room “Hey Disney!” voice assistant, and the kids all enjoyed watching vintage Mickey Mouse cartoons in the mornings on the living room TV.

While I didn’t get a chance to check out any of the other suites, I’m sure they’re just as spectacularly themed. My daughters are already requesting the Little Mermaid rooms for our next trip to Disney.

How to Get to Walt Disney World’s Theme Parks

Perhaps the best part about staying at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is its amazingly easy transportation options to the four theme parks. You won’t need to drive at all while staying at the resort, so leave the car behind and enjoy it.

Our favorite form of transportation was the Disney Skyliner, a gondola system that offers thrilling views from private gondolas while soaring through the air to Disney’s EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. If we’d had more time, my kids could have easily spent hours riding on the Skyliner just for fun.

SheBuysTravel Tip: The Finding Nemo section of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort offers the closest proximity to the Skyliner, though ours was also an easy walk (not more than five minutes).

We used the frequent buses to get to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom (accessible via a bus stop in front of Animation Hall, the main building at the resort), and used Disney’s Monorail system to park hop between the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT.

How to Get to Other Disney Properties

Located just across a small bridge from Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort offers easy Skyliner access to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney’s Riviera Resort. The central Disney Skyliner station at International Gateway at EPCOT is also just a short walk from Disney’s BoardWalk entertainment district, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. 

If you’re seeking more dining and entertainment options, there is direct bus service from Disney’s Art of Animation Resort to Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney), an outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment complex. There are frequent family-friendly festivities at Disney Springs, and if we’d had an extra day, I would have loved to check out the weekend fun at Disney Springs Kids Club.

Another transportation perk: complimentary boat service is available from the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT and throughout Walt Disney World Resort. While we didn’t take a water taxi or ferry during our stay, we met another family who told us they loved the after-dinner boat ride taken during a visit to Disney’s BoardWalk.

Top Things to Do at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

For families looking for activities, Disney’s Art of Animation has you covered, with three pools, a splash pad, playground and ongoing recreation activities for kids.

The largest pool of all of Disney’s Orlando resorts, The Big Blue Pool offers a sizable Finding Nemo-themed pool where kids can swim alongside giant sculptures of Nemo, Crush and other characters from the animated film. For younger children, the pool’s adjacent Schoolyard Sprayground offers an equally fun splash pad, complete with pop-up fountains and more characters from Finding Nemo.

The resort’s two other pools include The Little Mermaid-themed Flippin’ Fins Pool and the Cars-themed Cozy Cone Pool. For a little shade, relax inside your own orange-traffic-cone shaped cabana at the Cozy Cone pool.

My kids loved playing at the resort’s imaginative Finding Nemo-themed playground after breakfast each morning. They also enjoyed browsing in the resort’s huge gift shop.

While we ended up staying at the theme parks and not catching any of the resort’s recreation activities, the resort features a nightly old-fashioned family campfire (complete with s’mores!) and movies under the stars at The Big Blue Pool. When my kids are a little older, I’d love to return and make time to enjoy all of the planned activities at the resort.

Where to Eat at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Open daily from 7 am to 11 pm, the resort’s Landscape of Flavors food hall offers a food court-style dining area with plenty of delicious options.

My kids loved the breakfast waffles printed with Disney characters, and the late hours saved us when we arrived home hungry from watching fireworks. I can’t remember the last time I ate dinner at 10 pm, but hot grilled sandwiches and crispy fries were just what we needed after a long day on our feet.

Landscape of Flavors also offers many to-go options, which helped keep us on track to the theme parks in the mornings. We grabbed coffee, breakfast sandwiches, freshly-baked pastries and fruit, as well as mouse ears-shaped cheese crackers to snack on throughout the day.

I didn’t get to try the bakery’s specialty desserts (Disney-themed delicacies of all shapes and colors), but they looked amazing — perfect for families celebrating a birthday or other event at Disney.

For those looking to grab a bite or drink by the pool, The Drop Off Pool Bar near The Big Blue Pool offers sandwiches, salads, cocktails and a full bar.

The Guest Experience at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

The service we experienced at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort was phenomenal.

The check-in process was quick and smooth; I checked into the resort prior to arrival via the My Disney Experience App on my phone (which I highly recommend!) and got a notification within minutes that our room was ready. I opened our suite door using my MagicBand+ (linked to my account), and a guest services cast member at the front desk answered my questions quickly and efficiently.

Our suite sparkled each time a housekeeping cast member refreshed our room, and my kids were thrilled to find towels sculpted into the shape of Mickey Mouse ears on their freshly made beds.

Quick service is an understatement. When one of our suite’s hair dryers wasn’t working, I called the front desk and a new one appeared within minutes. Towels magically appeared whenever we requested them. When we needed to mail home a bulky package, a cast member appeared to help us transport the box to the front desk. Every cast member I encountered at the resort was helpful and friendly.

How to Get To Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is located southwest of Orlando at 1850 Animation Way, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, 32830-8400.

The resort is 30 minutes by car or charter bus from either the Orlando International Airport, the Orlando Brightline station or the Orlando Amtrak station. Parking is free for resort guests.

If you plan to spend your time onsite at the Walt Disney World Resort, you won’t need a car. Transportation via Skyline, bus and Monorail is complimentary, with private Minnie Van transportation available via Lyft in a whimsical red and white polka-dotted “Minnie” van (for a nominal fee).

We didn’t drive at all during our trip; we took a Brightline high-speed passenger train from our home in South Florida to the station at the Orlando International Airport, then took the Mears Connect charter bus service to the resort (and then the reverse on the way home). The experience was hassle-free and 100 percent worth it.

The post Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Review: Fantastic Fun for Families appeared first on She Buys Travel.

Want to live it up at Disney? A Walt Disney World vacation doesn’t need to be just resorts and quick service restaurants. If you’d prefer a more upscale stay to level up that bucket list trip we’ve got you covered. The Disney insider secret that will get you into a deluxe hotel for less? Renting DVC points. It will cost less and give you extra perks. We cover how to rent Disney Vacation Club points whether you’re visiting Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or Aulani.

If you’re not ready to commit to buying a Disney Vacation Club membership but you want the wow factor and perks that go with it, rent someone else’s DVC points.

How Do You Rent DVC Points?

It’s simple: The person who is a Disney Vacation Club owner agrees to rent their DVC points in exchange for a certain sum of money. The owner makes the room reservation in the name of the renter.

That’s it. Really.

This same process applies if a DVC Member wants to book a room for someone else. For example, if I wanted to gift my daughter and her family a three-night stay, I could make the reservations for her in her name and she’d check in and have fun. The rental process follows these same lines.

Of course, this process assumes you know a DVC member that has points they are willing to rent. Can you still rent DVC points if you don’t know a Disney Vacation Club member? No problem! Check out this forum that connects people who are looking to buy and sell points.

While making a deal with an individual comes with some risk, this forum is well-structured and managed.

Read More: How DVC Points Work – A Full Explanation

The Safest Way to Rent DVC Points

SheBuysTravel recommends David’s Vacation Club Rentals for saving money on deluxe Walt Disney World resorts, including two of our favorites, Animal Kingdom Lodge and Saratoga Springs. David’s is an established company with a very good reputation. The company offers a wide selection of rooms and the process is laid out very clearly.

If I were renting points, I’d prefer to deal with a company versus an individual. That’s a personal choice.

Read More: Is David’s Vacation Club Legit?

What Are the Pros of Renting DVC Points?

Renting DVC points is a great way to maximize your Disney dollars. You’ll get deluxe-level perks at moderate at value-level pricing. Who doesn’t like that?

The nightly rate for a one-bedroom Deluxe Villa booked directly through Disney averages about $600. You can get the same level of luxury for about half the cost by renting someone’s points. Easy choice. The number of points required varies depending on the resort.

Using rented DVC points to book that Deluxe Villa will cost about the same amount per night as staying at a moderate Disney resort. I think the level of amenities between a moderate resort and a deluxe resort is substantially different.

Read More: Walt Disney World Resorts – Value vs. Moderate vs. Deluxe vs. Deluxe Villas

But the cost savings is just one reason to rent DVC points for your accommodations. You might save more by staying in a non-Disney hotel, but you lose out on the perks. Renting DVC points gets you on property at a bargain price. Why not stay in a one-bedroom villa for the price of a standard hotel room?

Will I Get the Same Disney Perks when Renting DVC Rooms?

Yes!

You are just another resort guest when you rent DVC points. Staying “on property” for your Disney trip entitles you to all of the resort-guest-only amenities. Disney transportation, early entry into the theme parks, and Extended Evening Hours.

Disney resort guests also get earlier access on the My Disney Experience app to purchase Individual Lightning Lane (a la carte) time slots. On-property guests can book at 7 am vs. off-property guests who can only purchase ILL when the park opens.

SheBuysTravel Tip: One GIANT perk of the room types offered through DVC point rental is that they all come with a kitchenette or full kitchen. You can even have groceries and snacks delivered before you arrive for your Disney vacation!

How Much Can You Save by Using Rented DVC Points?

In short, quite a bit. If you’re using David’s Vacation Rentals, our recommended vendor, it’s an easy process. When you’re looking for your DVC villa through David’s there are two ways to make reservations. You can:

• Rent points, then choose your Disney Vacation Club Resort and dates.
• Find the best deal by searching the Dedicated Reservations section at David’s Vacation Rentals. These are reservations that already have specific dates set. It’s where you can save the biggest on your vacation. The lowest prices we’ve seen have been on last-minute reservations.

David’s Vacation Club Pricing Levels

David’s pricing structure encompasses three levels premium, regular, and advantage. The pricing depends on both resort and timing.

• Premium points are $25/point and include a specific list of resorts booked 7-11 months in advance.
• Regular points are $23/point. This price point includes Bay Lake Tower and Animal Kingdom’s Kidani Village and Jambo House OR any of the premium point resorts booked 0-7 months in advance.
• Advantage points are $20/point. Two Walt Disney World options fall into this category, Saratoga Springs and Old Key West, as well as Hilton Head Island and Vero Beach.

BUT Dedicated reservations? Those can be found for way less. They can be found on the DVC Guests Drop Down menu under confirmed reservations. We’ve found reservations there for as low as $17/point!

We looked through the confirmed reservations and found an offering in May 2024 for 5 nights at Disney’s Old Key West Resort. The cost was $17/point or $2,890 for the stay. It’s in a two-bedroom villa that can sleep up to 9 people. With a total cost of $2,890 this is a smoking good deal. In fact, you’d spend TWICE as much booking directly through Disney.

That same stay booked through Disney would cost a whopping $5692.50. By using point rentals you save $2802.50. That almost covers the cost of 4 days of Park Hopper tickets for 3 members of your party!

Check these deals BEFORE picking your travel dates so you can save the most money on your Disney vacation.

Which Disney Resorts Have Disney Vacation Club Rentals?

• Animal Kingdom Villas at Animal Kingdom Lodge (Kidani Village and Jambo House)
• Magic Kingdom area resorts including Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Polynesian Villas and Bungalows at Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian
• Copper Creek Villas and Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• EPCOT area resorts including Boardwalk Villas and Disney’s Beach Club Villas (walk to EPCOT!)
• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort and Saratoga Springs Resort

DVC Resorts Outside of Orlando, Florida

Did you know you can rent DVC points for Disney vacations outside of Orlando, Florida?  Points can also be used at:

• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa (Disneyland)
• Disney’s Vero Beach Resort (Vero Beach, Florida)
• Hilton Head Island in South Carolina
• Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa in Ko Olina (Oahu Hawaii)

What Can Go Wrong When Renting DVC Points?

There really aren’t any negatives, except for the slim possibility that the DVC owner will flake out on you or rip you off if you don’t book through a service. This is why we recommend using a reputable company like David’s Vacation Club Rentals.

If you prefer to rent directly from an owner, it’s a smart idea to use a credit card that offers some protection in case things go south. You should also buy travel insurance to cover cancellations outside your control.

The post Save Money on a Luxury Disney Vacation by Renting DVC Points appeared first on She Buys Travel.

If you’re a Disney family then you’ve probably considered Disney Vacation Club a time or two. But the ultimate question of “Is the Disney Vacation Club worth it?” is a complex answer. This club comes at a price but pre-pays for your Disney vacation and ultimately locks in your rate for 50 years. Add in special DVC member perks and access to deluxe resort villas and it starts to sound like a great idea. But is Disney Vacation Club membership right for your family? Here’s how to decide.

What is the Disney Vacation Club?

The Disney Vacation Club (DVC for short) is a timeshare operated by Disney. The program offers resorts at Walt Disney World and Disneyland and also in Hawaii, South Carolina, and Vero Beach, Florida.

Like any timeshare, you pay into the program and schedule your vacations according to the program rules. Your DVC contract outlines the rules along with your annual dues.

Read More: How DVC Points Work

How Does the Disney Vacation Club Work?

The Disney Vacation club operates on a points system. You purchase a certain number of Disney Vacation Club points – a one-time buy – and then use them at DVC resorts. If you purchase points directly from Disney (or if you purchased resale points prior to March 21, 2011) you can also use those points at Disney Resort Hotels in California, Florida, France, Hong Kong, Japan, the Disney Cruise Line, and other non-theme-park vacations.

You can buy out someone else’s DVC membership – which also means that if it ends up not being a fit for you, you can sell it – but to get the very best of the perks, you need to buy directly from Disney.

We are newish DVC members and, while we appreciate the flexibility, we’re seeing that the most bang for our buck is using our points toward trips at actual DVC properties at Walt Disney World. We recently took a Disney Cruise. It was tempting to use some of our points to minimize our travel costs, we decided it wasn’t the best fit for us to use our points on the cruise.

I recommend number crunching each time you’re planning a vacation. There are lots of variables and I always find it worth my time to do a little bit of legwork to ensure we get max benefits. There are many ways to use points including Disney Cruises and Adventures by Disney but they may not be the best use of your points. If you are a DVC member planning an Adventures by Disney vacation, it is definitely worth doing some cost comparisons.

How Much Does the Disney Vacation Club Cost?

We’re not going to mince words. It’s expensive. A DVC purchase is a major one and an investment for your future. You’re buying your family vacations for the next 50 years. You purchase a set amount of points to use in a calendar year. The minimum number of points you can buy is 160 and the max is 2,000. We bought 250 points and our total investment was close to $40,000.

For us the decision to purchase meant we were locking in 2018 resort prices for 50 years. It also ensured that we were keeping ourselves in the deluxe resort category for those vacations. Disney has a resort for just about every price point. I’m not knocking the value resorts at all, but when planning trips we found we were steering towards the deluxe resorts for the space. Sometimes plans had to get very creative to make that happen when paying out of pocket.

SheBuysTravel Tip: If you’re thinking about buying into Disney Vacation Club purchasing while at Disney or on a Disney Cruise is smart. We purchased while aboard a Disney Cruise and additional incentives to purchase on the ship.

Disney Vacation Club Financing and Fees

Disney offers financing. We’re currently paying less than 10 percent interest, which is good for a personal loan. You can refinance with your own bank if a lower rate is available.

Some important financial things to consider about DVC Membership:

• There’s no penalty for early payoff
• The initial buy-in cost is about 10% of your total purchase price.
• You can sign into their portal and build your ideal membership to estimate the cost.
• There are two separate fees after purchase that you’ll pay monthly- membership and maintenance fees.

SheBuysTravel Tip: If you plan ahead, you can do the initial 10% down on a credit card to earn points or miles.

Not Sure About DVC Yet?

If you aren’t quite ready to jump into DVC membership you can take it for a test drive. Whether you’re looking for a membership or just a great price on a Disney vacation, you can rent DVC points.

SheBuysTravel Tip: SheBuysTravel recommends David’s Vacation Rentals for discounted DVC points rentals.

Is the Disney Vacation Club Worth It?

Do you plan to vacation at Walt Disney World at least every other year?

If the answer is “yes” then the DVC is something you need to consider, especially if you’re a young family. My husband and I honeymooned at Walt Disney World. We considered DVC membership back then (and OH HOW I AM KICKING MYSELF) but decided it wasn’t a fit for us. We married in our early 40s. With one daughter in high school, I didn’t see frequent trips to Disney in the cards for us.

Welp.

Surprise, surprise. We became parents again in our late 40s and frequent trips to Disney suddenly became more attractive.

However you look at it, “frequent trips to Walt Disney World” are definitely on the table. If that doesn’t sound do-able to you, then you might want to take a hard look at whether DVC is right for you.

Read more: Everything You Need to Plan the Best Disney World Vacation Ever! 

Sidenote: Where You Live Matters

When you’re ultimately deciding whether Disney Vacation Club is right for you, geography will come into play. We live in San Antonio, which is SMACK in the middle of the country, making it easy to fly to Orlando from where we live. It’s also equally easy to fly to Los Angeles and Disneyland. If you live in Florida, Georgia, Alabama or any place within a comfortable driving distance to Walt Disney World, then getting there for those frequent visits becomes easier and cheaper.

We can get a direct, early a.m. flight to Orlando and be at Disney before lunch. That said, flying a family of four to Disney twice a year gets expensive. We’re able to make it work but how you’ll get to Disney to enjoy your DVC membership is something you need to ask yourself before you sign on.

Does DVC Membership Mean a Nicer Room?

YES! DVC villas offer more amenities that your standard hotel room. Your room will be better if you’re a DVC member. There are three levels of resort accommodations at Walt Disney World: Value, Moderate and Deluxe. Disney Vacation Club Villas are in the Deluxe level resort category.

Even the smallest DVC units available, the studio units, are roughly the size of a Deluxe level hotel room (355-412 square feet) and include a mini fridge and a microwave making some small in-room meals are possible. Studios sleep four.

DVC Villas at Walt Disney World include:

• The Copper Creek Villas and Cabins and Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness
• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House and Kidani Village
• Saratoga Springs Resort
• Disney’s Beach Club Villas (best pool ever, btw)
• BoardWalk Villas
• Disney’s Old Key West
• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

If you’re looking to stay outside of Orlando you also have options. There are DVC Villas at Disneyland, Vero Beach, Hawaii and South Carolina.

• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel
• The Villas at Disneyland Hotel
• Disney’s Vero Beach Resort
• Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas, Ko Olina, Hawai’i
• Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort

What If You Want a Larger Room?

If you need more space than a studio, look at the one and two bedroom villas. Most one-bedroom villas sleep four (and one baby in a crib), with a king bed and a full-size pullout sofa in the living room. My family of four (two adults and two children) is very comfortable in a one-bedroom villa. If you need more room, check out the two or three bedroom villas or the bungalows, cabins, or treehouses available. The idea behind Disney Vacation Club is for you to truly feel at home.

Obviously, larger rooms require more points. We’re able to make the points in our contract go further by staying in the smaller units. We love the one-bedroom villas for now. As our kids get older, we know we’ll need more room and more privacy. In the future we can purchase additional points as needed.

Is Anything Different About My DVC Stay?

One thing to note is that housekeeping services are a little different at DVC properties. You don’t get the same daily “mousekeeping” service that you do in a hotel room. You get a “trash and tidy” every four days, which is fine with us. Since you’re in an apartment/home-like setting, you don’t really need housekeeping service like you would in a hotel room. There also are washers and dryers in all units except for the studios (washer and dryers are available on site for studios, just not in your room) so you can wash your towels if you need to.

Benefits of DVC Membership

DVC Member Services is awesome. They offer vacation planning assistance to include help with flights, car rentals, room requests, and priority seating for meals. I consider myself very knowledgeable on all things Disney but the DVC Member Services peeps know way more than I do. Their suggestions and thorough question answers help us plan better vacations.

You can also arrange for groceries to be delivered to your room via Member Services, although in this day and age, most people use Shipt, Instacart, or Amazon. Ordering through the DVC gets your food INTO your room. Ordering through other delivery services gets your food to the concierge. You then have to arrange for them to deliver it. This isn’t a difficult process but it’s nice to walk into a room and already have milk and water in your fridge.

One of the things I love most is having a full kitchen. Now, I don’t love the idea of cooking on vacation. However, it’s nice to be able to make sandwiches and simple breakfasts. We also love doing things like baking cookies or making popcorn on vacation.

Pool Hopping

Members also have pool-hopping privileges at Walt Disney World. That means you can use a pool at a resort you’re not staying at. Over the years the list of excluded pools has gotten longer. The pool hopping option is not valid for the following Walt Disney World Resorts:

• Bay Cove Pool at Bay Lake Tower
• All pools at Disney’s Art of Animation
• The leisure pool at Disney’s Beach Club Villas
• Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Beach Club and Yacht Club
• All Pools at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• The Lava Pool and leisure pool at Disney’s Polynesian Resort
• Riviera Pool and Beau Soleil Pool at Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Boulder Ridge Cove Pool and Copper Creek Springs Pool at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

It’s always good to check listed membership benefits before traveling to another resort. Pool hopping exclusions are subject to change. When you arrive at another resort you need to check in with the front desk host or hostess. There can be capacity restrictions and blackout dates.

Although I like the idea of pool hopping in theory, I’ve never really been compelled to do it. If you’re staying at a DVC Resort, your pool will be amazing. All the pools have a slide, a whirlpool, and a poolside bar/restaurant.

DVC Discounts That Members Get

DVC members also get discounts on everything from golf to shopping to dining (individual meals not dining plans) to spa treatments to rentals of all kinds (beach cabanas, wave runners, surrey bikes, beach chairs). While DVC members do receive discounts on water park tickets, they do not get a discount on regular Disney Park tickets. Occasionally, annual pass discounts may be offered but they are not always available.

My best advice is to pop that card out anytime you’re buying anything and ask if you get a discount. If you have questions on whether you’ll get a DVC member discount on something, a call to Member Services will get you the answer. I recently attended the Senses of Africa Breakfast at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, which is breakfast and a private tour of the savanna. This is a luxury, special occasion experience. After asking about DVC member discounts, I was able to get 20 percent off. Winning.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Heading to Disney Springs? Don’t forget to ask businesses there. Many retailers and restaurants have DVC member discounts available.

Disney Files Magazine

DVC members also get a free quarterly magazine called Disney Files. In addition to member news, Disney Files covers information on what’s new and hot across Disney companies, including movies.

DVC Member Lounges

There are also two member lounges at Walt Disney World, one inside Epcot and one at Disney’s Contemporary Resort’s Bay Lake Tower.

The lounge at EPCOT is located on the second floor of the ImageWorks merchandise location in the Imagination! Pavilion. It gets hot in Florida so having access to A/C, WiFi, and complimentary soft drinks is great way for hot days. It also provides a great spot to make the most of a rainy day at Disney.

The lounge at Bay Lake Tower is a truly special experience for members. Top of the World Lounge- A Villians Lair, offers amazing views of Magic Kingdom’s fireworks. Open nightly from 6pm until midnight, there is a menu of food and beverages available to order from. Members do pay for food and drink at this lounge.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Top of the World Lounge- A Villians Lair is a very popular spot for fireworks. We recommend arriving very early.

There are also member lounges and opportunities outside of Disney World at Star View Station in Disneyland Park.

Disney Vacation Club Member-Only Events

There are also other member-only events offered throughout the year, including Members Only Cruises. Obviously, these are exclusive events that come with a price tag and not free events. It is cool as a DVC member to get these exclusive opportunities that the average visitor doesn’t get. Besides, Disney Vacation Club Members are a pretty cool bunch and it’s been fun getting to know them!

Special Offers and DVC Member Opportunities

Other benefits are always popping up. In 2025, a waterpark benefit has been added. DVC members can get complimentary admission to either Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach on their check-in day. It’s the perfect way to start off a Disney vacation.

Related Post: Save Money on a Luxury Disney Vacation by Renting DVC Points

My Best and Most Important Advice?

Take your time, do your research, and don’t make an impulse purchase- unless you’re in the habit of making impulse purchase that are in the $20K+ range.

You’ll see people in the Disney Parks, in the resorts, and on the Disney Cruise Ships offering to give you a presentation on the Disney Vacation Club or even take you to tour a property. You might be offered incentives, such as free meals in exchange for attending. While they’re not going to be those obnoxious, high-pressure sales people, their objective is to sell you something that costs a lot of money while you’re in a happy place enjoying yourself.

While there’s nothing wrong with going to a presentation to get more info about the DVC – that’s why they exist – if you’re seriously considering membership read up on the process (like you’re doing now!) before you say that big “I do.”

I had done my homework on the Disney Vacation Club before we went on our cruise. I knew it was a fit for our family. Waiting to join while on a Disney Cruise because of incentive pricing was intentional. I’d done my research before I ever scheduled the presentation. I still had questions but I was able to make the decision based on knowledge and not being caught up in the moment.

Disney Vacation Club Membership Has an End Date

Even though you’re technically buying real estate (as with any time share, and your purchase is deeded) there is a date your membership will expire. The person who sold us our membership explained this really well and it will be in your contract that you sign. The length of our contract is 50 years and there are provisions that allow us to transfer or leave our membership to our children, or mention it in our wills.

Value Changes with the Season

The time of year and season will impact how much your points are worth. For example, staying during Christmas is going to use more points than staying during January because Christmas is one of Disney’s peak crowd periods.

Additional Points Can Be Added at Any Time

When our boys are older we plan to purchase more points. When they’re teens, we’ll want a two-bedroom villa. Purchasing more points can make that happen.

You Get an Allocated Number of Points During Your “Use Year”

You can bank and borrow points, meaning you can move your points forward or dip into next year’s points. Want to splurge on a cabin or a tree house? How about squeezing in an extra trip this year? You can. You can also do a one-time buy to cover a special or unusual trip. If you want to stay in a three-bedroom villa with two separate entrances and a pool table overlooking the Savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (all that sounds dreamy, right?), you can. Just buy extra points specifically for THAT vacation.

You’ll Be Assigned a “Home Resort”

We had the choice between Copper Creek at Disney’s Wilderness Resort Canyon and Aulani in Hawaii (O’ahu). We chose Copper Creek. On our 2020 Disney Cruise, prospective DVC members were being offered the choice between the new Riviera Resort and Aulani. You have to pick from what they give you. This means you can’t just randomly decide you want to call Animal Kingdom Lodge “home.”

If you’d like to stay at other properties besides your home resort, you can. The rules for making reservations are different. You can make reservations at your home resort up to 11 months in advance. If you want to make reservations at any other DVC resort, it’s seven months. These time standards are no joke. We were able to reserve at our home resort right at the 11-month mark. But when we tried to book a room four months in advance, we had trouble finding anything. In the end, we split our stay between two different properties.

You Can Use Points at Non-Disney Properties

There are thousands of properties at destinations around the world available through Interval International for a vacation exchange. You’ll be given access to a site where you can view and book properties. If you’re not feeling Disney on a particular year but still want to take a trip, you can. But back to what I said earlier, if an every-other-year trip to Disney World doesn’t sound like something you want to sustain- DVC membership probably isn’t for you. Try renting DVC points instead of buying.

You Can Buy Points From a Reseller

You may pay a lower price per point but you may also not get the same benefits you’d get buying from Disney. Be sure to research what membership benefits you’ll miss out on.

In the end the decision to purchase a Disney Vacation Club membership is one that you’ll need to make with your families needs in mind. That is the only way to know if it is truly worth it for you.

The post You’re Tempted – But is the Disney Vacation Club Worth It? appeared first on She Buys Travel.

The only thing that makes a Disney vacation even better is if you can ramp up the luxe. Whether you’re looking to visit Disneyland in California, Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii, or one of the Walt Disney World resorts, renting DVC points is the way to have a champagne Disney vacation on a beer budget. Scoring a lodging deal with David’s Vacation Club Rentals can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars while you stay at one of Disney’s most beautiful resorts! Here’s how to do it.

Is David’s Vacation Club Rentals Legitimate?

David’s Vacation Club Rentals is our go-to lodging trick. The hidden bonus? Not only will you save money, you’ll get more perks for the cash you do spend. David’s DVC Rental is legit.

Here’s how to book, our tips and what to consider when planning your Disney vacation. If you already know all of that, skip on down to the sections titled How Does Booking with David’s DVC Rental Work or Your DVC Points Check-In and Theme Park Experience.

Read More: How to rent DVC points

What is David’s Vacation Club Rentals?

The Disney Vacation Club is Disney’s vacation ownership program — the company’s “timeshare, division, if you will. David’s DVC Rental is a company that helps you book Disney Vacation Club rooms that DVC owners aren’t going to use.

You can read all of the details about Disney Vacation Club, including a discussion of whether it’s worth the price, in this post.

Renting DVC Points: Why Should I Use a Service?

Disney Vacation Club members pay for a certain number of points per year. If they don’t use all of them for their own family vacation, they can recoup some of that cost by “renting” the points to non-DVC members.

You might be asking if DVC members can rent out their points to vacationers, why should I use David’s DVC rental service? Safety and the security of your vacation funds are the major reason to use David’s Vacation Rentals.

If you do a private Disney Vacation Club point rental directly with a DVC member, there is risk involved on both sides of the transaction. The DVC member can be responsible for damages by the renter (for example if someone smokes in the room). Meanwhile, you’re reliant on someone else doing everything correctly for your vacation to go smoothly.

What are the Benefits of Using David’s Vacation Club Rentals?

We don’t just recommend David’s DVC Rentals, we’ve used the service personally. Our trips have ranged from hosted trips where we can see the experience to personally funded family vacations where we’re trying to make our own vacation dollars stretch further.

SheBuysTravel contributor Tami used David’s Vacation Club Rentals for her family trip and was impressed with the entire experience.

Fans of renting DVC points often claim you can score Deluxe Disney Resort reservations at Moderate Disney Resort prices, so I decided to take the plunge. They were right! And I was pleasantly surprised with how easy the process was through David’s Vacation Club Rentals.

I was booking only 3 months in advance so, unsurprisingly, there was no availability for my first choice resort. David’s immediately emailed me a list of great alternatives. The email communications were all prompt and clear, eliminating any confusion I may have had as a first-time renter.

Within 24 hours of booking and payment, the company emailed me a confirmation number. I was able to enter it into My Disney Experience and see our reservation.

I will definitely book again through David’s Vacation Club Rentals, and have no qualms recommending it to friends. Next time we’ll need to book a bigger room. We found a DVC Studio with one queen and a full-size murphy bed was too cramped for our family of four.”

– Tami Mittan, SheBuysTravel.com contributor and owner of ColoradoMountainMom.com

What Perks Are Included with Disney Vacation Club Resorts?

This is where the savings really multiply. A Disney Vacation Club room isn’t just a hotel room. DVC rooms are all located in Disney’s deluxe resorts. We have a complete rundown of the Disney World Resort property levels that helps break down the differences.

Honestly, being able to stay in at a deluxe resort for prices closer to the moderate level alone makes it worth it to me! I’m a value-oriented girl. That’s money saved that I can put towards my annual pass, snacks and drinking around the world at EPCOT (priorities). As the guest in a DVC room you’ll have access to some extra perks and savings, such Extended Evening Hours and free resort parking. Owners’ dues cover the cost of parking.

Also, we were able to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind during the previews while staying in a DVC property. I had signed up for a slot as an annual passholder but after looking at my friend’s DVC hotel booking they let her through as well since DVC members were also previewing. This, of course, is not a guaranteed perk, but we were very glad it happened during our visit!

Which Resorts are Available from David’s Vacation Club Rentals?

David’s DVC Rental currently lists point rental reservations at the following Walt Disney World resorts in Florida:

• Animal Kingdom Villas at Animal Kingdom Lodge (Kidani Village and Jambo House)
• Magic Kingdom area resorts including Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Polynesian Villas and Bungalows at Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian
• Copper Creek Villas and Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• EPCOT area resorts including Boardwalk Villas and Disney’s Beach Club Villas
• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort and Saratoga Springs Resort

Properties in other areas are:

• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa (Disneyland)
• Disney’s Vero Beach Resort (Vero Beach, Florida)
• Hilton Head Island in South Carolina
• Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa in Ko Olina (Oahu Hawaii)

CHECK RESORT PRICES / AVAILABILITY

How Much Does David’s DVC Rental Really Cost?

There is a little math involved in figuring out how much a stay will actually cost. Most costs are listed per point. You need to determine how many points per night you’ll need and multiply that by the number of nights you want to stay.

Luckily, David’s Vacation Club Rental has a cost calculator that will allow you to figure out how much you’ll spend on your stay. Quoted prices even include taxes and fees.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Are your dates flexible? Maybe you’re looking for a spontaneous last minute Disney experience? Be sure to sign up for David’s Last Minute Specials Email List for access to special deals!

Our Points Rental vs David’s DVC Rental Cost Comparison

Here’s one example I found as I was researching this post: a Disney World visit from May 26- June 3, 2024, David’s has a dedicated reservation to Beach Club Villas available. It’s a one bedroom that sleeps up to 4 adults. With David’s DVC Rental you’ll pay $5,934 (258 points at $23 per point, including taxes).

That same room isn’t even available for those 8 nights through Disney. A traditional hotel room runs $871.34/night before taxes. Your total after taxes for the stay would be $7842.02. That is $1908.02 more than renting DVC points! You can buy a lot of Mickey pretzels and Dole whips with that.

What’s the Booking Process for DVC point rentals?

Planning is key here. Rentals go quickly and looking at dates that are further out increases your chances of success. You aren’t going to “book a room,” you’re going to fill out a reservation form online. This form is going to list your dates, resorts and rooms in order of interest and all of your travel party’s information.

You’ll also pay a $105 deposit when submitting your request.

CHECK RESORT PRICES / AVAILABILITY

Why Does David’s Vacation Club Rentals Charge a Fee to Book?

This is one of the things that people get hung up on, and rightly so. No one wants to be the victim of a scam.

Resorts book up far in advance. Your $105 payment is not a fee. It is a partial payment. Having a partial payment on hand allows David’s to immediately start the booking process if one of your desired resorts is available. The company will refund your money if there aren’t any reservations available. If your resort choice is available they’ll book it. That $105 goes towards your total cost.

I can personally attest to this. I tried to book a stay with points early last December. It was definitely a long shot at a busy time of year, but it was worth a try. Unfortunately, nothing was available. I got my money within 36 hours.

We ended up staying at Disney’s All Star Music Resort (not my fave). I will look earlier in the future.

What Happens When My David’s Vacation Rental Request is Accepted?

When your request is accepted, the company will apply the partial payment to your booking.

You then complete the online payment form and pay the remaining balance. This final payment serves as acceptance of the DVC rental contract. Check your email for the confirmation number and get ready to enter it into your My Disney Experience account so you can start planning!

SheBuysTravel Tip: Double and triple check your My Disney Experience account before booking. You must use the same email address used for MDE in order to link the reservations.

Two Major Things to Know about DVC Point Rental

1. It’s Nonrefundable

Traditionally you have not been able to cancel or change dates and get your money back.

Vacation points rental is still best if you know your dates are solid. However, David’s Vacation Club has created their Deferred Dreams Cancellation policy for bookings secured after March 18, 2024.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Buy travel insurance and make sure it covers illness of you or someone in your party. This way if you need to cancel due to an emergency, you can put in for a reimbursement from your travel insurance company.

2. The Money is Due When You Book

You will be required to pay for the entirety of your lodging within 24 hours of getting the booking. Regular Disney hotel rooms only require you to pay a deposit equivalent to one night’s stay.

David’s pays DVC owners the day the reservation is booked. This means that you need to pay David’s. Accepted payment methods are Visa, Mastercard and PayPal.

David’s Vacation Club Deferred Dreams Cancellation Policy

There is now a way to book with a little more peace of mind. David’s has added a Deferred Dreams Cancellation policy. Your reservation must have been secured after March 18, 2024. Partial travel credits for the future are available for cancellations based on how far out you are.

If you’re more than 120 days away from check in you’re eligible for a Deferred Dreams travel credit for the full value of your reservation, minus your $105 deposit.

Is your check in date less than 14 days away? Sorry, no refund or credit will be available. Everything else falls in between. David’s recommends that you still purchase travel insurance just in case. Travel insurance can also cover other expenses like your tickets, dining reservations and more.

Make sure that you read all of the details. Cancellation requests have very specific procedures. They have to be in writing and the timing has to be before 5:30p. You have 36 months to use the travel credits.

Before You Travel To Your Disney Points Rental You Should

There are several things that will make your Disney vacation go smoother. After your reservation confirmation use this checklist.

• Connect your My Disney Experience account to your reservation.
• Book your park tickets and park reservations!
• Put in your MagicBand order (on My Disney Experience) so they are waiting for you when you arrive. You can also set up your passcodes for charging if you’d like to pay for things like food with your MagicBand.
• Book your Disney Dining Plan.
• Make dining reservations.

Your DVC Points Check-In and Theme Park Experience

During a girlfriend getaway to Walt Disney World, David’s Vacation Rental hosted my friend Breeze and I so we could check out the entire process.

We definitely got the full experience, including a slight hiccup with our lodging. I’ve always wondered what happens if something goes wrong with a DVC point rental room. Will you still get the same Disney customer service as a “normal” guest?

Well, when the My Disney Experience app told us our room was ready, we happily brought our luggage over. However, when we opened the door, it wasn’t clean. Bedding was a mess, there was trash around the room and towels were strewn about. Obviously, Mousekeeping hadn’t performed their magic.

This was a bummer. After drinking our way around EPCOT (hey, it was an assignment!), we were ready to lay down for a bit before trying to catch the Magic Kingdom nighttime show.

I phoned the Disney customer service line from outside the room. They promised to start working on a solution and call us back. To our surprise (and delight) we were upgraded to a 2 bedroom villa! It was incredible. We each got our own bedroom and I did my laundry in the unit before flying home. We can attest that if something goes wrong, Disney Cast Members will take care of you.

Theme Park Perks for Deluxe Resort Guests

Guests of all Walt Disney World resorts get the early entry perk which gets you into the theme parks 30 minutes ahead of other guests. However, deluxe resort guests get the perk of Extended Evenings, too. That gives you hours of extra time in the park at the end of certain scheduled days.

There was no discernible difference between booking as a points rental guest and as a traditional guest. Booking a points room gives you access to all of the same benefits of booking a Walt Disney World Resort hotel room on your own.

Overall, it’s one of our favorite ways to save money and give your Disney vacation an upgrade.

Would you book a room with points? What questions do you have? 

The post Is David’s Vacation Club Rentals a Legit Disney Deal? appeared first on She Buys Travel.

Whether you’re new to the Disney Vacation Club world or you’re a long-time Disney Vacation Club member it’s always good to do a quick review of how it works. While the main need-to-knows don’t change drastically, there are annual changes (price increases) and new property openings as well as returning favorite perks (Moonlight Magic!) that you’ll want to stay on top of. Read on for what we like to call our “How DVC Points Work 101”. We’ll help you understand the ins and outs of using DVC points for your Disney trip.

I’ve been a DVC member since 2018 and I’ve stayed at DVC villas at the following resorts:

• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (both Jambo House and Kidani Village)
• Disney’s Beach Club Villas
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

The following resorts are still on my bucket list:

• Disney’s Grand Floridian
• Bay Lake Tower (Disney’s Contemporary Resort)
• Disney’s Riviera Resort

So far, Kidani Village and Wilderness Lodge tie for the top spot.

Read More: Disney Saratoga Springs Review

How DVC Points Work: The Basics

Before we dive in let’s review some of the basics of how DVC points work.

The Disney Vacation Club is a flexible timeshare program operated by Disney and designed for people who take frequent Disney vacations (not just to Walt Disney World). This points-based program gives you a very tiny slice, or stake, in Disney real estate.

One of the most frequently asked questions I get when I tell people I’m a DVC member is “How much does it cost?” The answer is “it depends”. Pricing changes based on when you buy and how many points you buy. The initial fee cost our family about $35,000. Then we pay annual dues, which are around $1,000. That entitles us to 175 points to use each year.

SheBuysTravel Tip: It should seem fairly obvious but if you’re not super interested in taking regular Disney theme park vacations then DVC membership probably isn’t right for you. If you want the perks of the Disney Vacation Club without the long-term commitment you may want to try renting DVC points.

What are the Perks of DVC membership?

Obviously membership has its perks. Many families find DVC villas to be more comfortable than a standard hotel room. Most villas have kitchens and an in-room washer and dryer. The DVC Deluxe Villas are at Disney’s most upscale resorts so if top-tier accommodations are a must-have vacation experience, membership is one way to get it at a better price.

Don’t forget when you’re budgeting, DVC membership just gets you the accommodations. You’ll still need to buy park tickets!

Read More: Walt Disney World Resorts- Value vs. Moderate vs. Deluxe

How Many Disney Vacation Club Points Do I Need?

The answer to this is also “it depends.” It helps to have a vision of how you want your future Disney vacations to look. How many days do you want to vacation per year? How large is your family? Do you plan to invite others to vacation with you regularly?

Knowing the answer to these questions before you buy is important because it helps determine what you’ll need to aim for. DVC looks different for a couple that vacations one week per year than it does for a family of six who vacations two weeks per year and wants to bring the grandparents.

The person who sells you your initial points and the representative you’ll be assigned once you’re a member will help you decide the number of points you’ll need.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Remember that the DVC rep’s goal is to sell DVC memberships! DVC presentations are friendly and low-pressure but it remains a sales pitch. Do your own research so you’re prepared to share your vacation style.

How We Use Our DVC Points

Our family of four has 175 points to use in our “use year.” That gets us a week – give or take – in a one-bedroom Deluxe Villa at a DVC resort each year. I say “give or take” because points have different values at different times of the year. A room might be 16 points a night during non-busy periods but that same room might be 40 points a night during peak season.

You can flip through the 2024 DVC points chart and the 2025 DVC points chart. If you know exactly what resort you’re looking for it may be easier to pick the specific PDF on this page.

Read More: Is the Disney Vacation Club Worth It?

Is Buying DVC Resale Points Safe?

You can buy points from members who want to unload their membership. You can get some decent deals from motivated sellers, but don’t forget to read all of the fine print before you write a check.

When you buy resale points directly from Disney, you should get full member benefits. Buying them from a third party could leave you without some member benefits, such as merchandise discounts and the ability to use those points to make reservations at new resorts.

In 2021, a new requirement was instituted to be eligible to receive a Disney Vacation Club Membership Card. In order to be eligible DVC membership had to be purchased directly from Disney Vacation Development Inc. The DVC Membership Card gives access to Membership Extras like hotel exchanges, discounts, offers, and special events.

SheBuysTravel Tip: You can also rent DVC points from members directly. We recommend using a reputable third-party service, such as David’s Vacation Rentals.

Read More: How to Rent DVC Points

Establishing your Home Resort for Disney Vacation Club

You will be assigned a home resort based on availability when you first buy into DVC membership. When we bought our membership, we were offered Copper Creek Cabins and Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge or Aulani in Hawaii. We chose the former. Your home resort does not change. This is the Disney property that you have a real estate interest in. Your annual dues go towards the upkeep and real estate taxes of this resort.

You can’t pick Animal Kingdom Lodge as your home resort just because you like it. But you can still use your points to stay at the Animal Kingdom Villas or other resorts. DVC members are not locked into staying at their home resort. However, if you do stay there, you get perks, like getting first dibs on reservations.

Read More: Is David’s Vacation Club Rentals Legit?

When Can You Make DVC Reservations?

This question could also be called “How Does the Home Resort Priority Period Work?” Remember how we said you get first dibs on reservations at your home resort? You can book at your home resort 11 months ahead of your desired reservation. Knowing when you can book is a big part of how DVC points work. I recommend marking your calendar or setting a reminder so you do this at exactly 11 months out because this ups your chances of getting what you want.

But what if you don’t want to stay at your home resort? You can book other resorts seven months out.

No matter what your strategy is, I recommend booking as soon as your window opens. My home resort is Copper Creek but my family enjoys staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Instead of waiting until seven months out to book that, I book Copper Creek at 11 months and adjust at the seven-month mark, if another resort is available. I never wait until seven months out. It could mean no room at all for the week we want to visit Walt Disney World!

It is possible to make last-minute plans using DVC points but you might not get the resort or room you want. We once took a deluxe studio room versus a one-bedroom villa because that was what was available. Aside from the busiest periods, your odds of finding something are decent. You can also do split stays, which means dividing your time between two different resorts. Disney will even move your bags.

Read More: Disney Vacation Club Secrets

Understanding Your DVC ‘Use Year’

Your use year refers to the time each year when you receive a new allotment of vacation points. For example, we receive our allotment of points each September, as defined by our contract. Your use year might begin in a different month. Understanding the importance of your use year is a big part of how to use DVC points

Your use year determines when you can bank and borrow points. If you add on to your initial allotment of points, I recommend you align your use years. You don’t have to but it will make it much easier to keep track of your DVC contracts.

Banking and Borrowing DVC Points

Life happens and some years you may not make it to Disney. This is where banking points comes in. Banking your points means rolling them over to the next use year. If you don’t use the points during your use year and don’t bank them by the deadline, you’ll lose those points.

If you find yourself short on points, you can borrow from the next use year. Reasons for borrowing include things such as deciding to take an extra vacation or a longer one. Or you want to take friends or relatives and get a larger villa. You can do that by borrowing points from your next year’s allotment.

If you’re planning a bigger or special trip (hello grand villas and overwater bungalows at the Polynesian!) you could do that by:

• banking this year’s points to next year,
• using your “use year” allotment of points, and
• borrowing points from the following year.

That’s three years’ worth of points to use on one mega vacation. You can also purchase one-time use points if what you’ve got on hand won’t quite cover what you want to do.

One-time use points are not refundable and you cannot bank them for a later year. DVC members can purchase up to 24 one-time use points annually at the currently published member price. They will only be valid for the use year they are purchased in.

You might not bank or borrow every year but it’s important to understand options and deadlines. This is a big part of understanding how DVC points work.

Keeping Track of Everything with Your DVC Membership

Monitoring your points and making sure you understand what you have and what dates are important is on you. Member services are great at breaking things down if you’re unclear. But if you don’t understand the system, you need to ask for help on how to use DVC points.

Here’s a snapshot of my DVC dashboard during 2023:

As you can see, I used all my points from use year 2022 and I’ve already used some of the points from 2023. You can’t tell from this, but 14 of my points showing up in use year 2023 are banked from 2022. I can move my 2023 points into the following year, except those 14 that have to be used in use year 2023.

Understanding the points system and how DVC points work can seem complicated. But, it’s not impossible to learn.

What if You Can’t Use Your DVC Points?

One of the big components of how to use DVC points is having a “what if” plan. Banking points will only get you so far down the road. If you don’t use your points, you will eventually lose them.

One option is to gift a stay to someone else. As the DVC owner you can make reservations for family or friends. You can also offer your unused DVC points for someone else to “rent.” There are third-party DVC rental companies that will handle this for you and you’ll be able to recoup your investment versus watching your points go to waste. Just be sure you’re using a reputable company, such as David’s Vacation Rentals.

If you’re not yet a member, you can rent points to check out a DVC property and live in the villas to see if it’s right for you.

Booking Your DVC Vacation is Easy

Making your reservation and “obligating your points” — that’s DVC speak for booking the room with points — is simple. The DVC website has a “book my vacation” calendar that’s similar to the main Walt Disney World or Disneyland reservation sites.

The booking system will know if you don’t have any points available. Make sure you borrow or top up any points before you try to book. The system won’t let you continue through the booking if you don’t have the points available.

Once you make your reservation, your points will go into holding. You won’t be able to obligate them against another reservation or bank them while they are in holding.

Your DVC Resort Experience

You can easily add your DVC reservation number into the Disney World app, My Disney Experience, to manage your plans and link up park tickets you may have purchased.

You can associate a MagicBand or MagicBand+ with the reservation and link a credit card at check-in if you choose. Your room is covered by whatever accounting you used to buy your points. Any credit card you link to your reservation is a convenience for incidentals.

Read More: Everything You Need to Know About MagicBands

How to Use DVC Points Outside Walt Disney World

Up to now, I’ve only discussed using points at Disney World because that’s all I’ve used mine for to date. However, I know I can use these points at other places.

Other Disney Resorts

Eligible members can use points at all resorts affiliated with Disney parks worldwide (including Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, and Tokyo Disney Resort; Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort and Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii.

Using DVC Points for Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, and National Geographic Exploration

You can use points on Disney cruises and other epic adventures. Points don’t go as far and it is unlikely you’ll have enough points in your allotment (even with banking and borrowing) to cover an entire cruise or an Adventures by Disney trip. Compare the cost of a hotel suite for a family of four versus a 10-day international trip with activities and food included and it’s easy to get your head around the difference.

I am currently looking at an 11-night Antarctica and Patagonia exploration cruise with Adventures by Disney (swoon!) that costs 1364 points per person. My family’s entire allotment for points for three years is 525 points so obviously, our points would only cover a small portion of this trip. If we decide to go, we can buy additional points or book with points and cash.

Read More: Complete Disney Cruise Packing List

Interval International

If you want to use points at non-Disney resorts, there’s a selection of Interval International resorts on the DVC website you can book. You’ll find them under Vacation Exchange.

Disney has established strict vetting procedures to ensure you’re getting comparable quality accommodations to what you’d get if you used the points at Disney. The current selection of resorts includes properties such as The Fairmont in San Francisco and the Hyatt Regency Maui, so I’d personally have no qualms about the level of property as compared to Disney.

The post How DVC Points Work: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on She Buys Travel.

Be one of the upper class – at least for a night – at the Gilded Age hotel Henry Flagler built so his wealthy friends and socialites could escape blustery New York to a palm-filled Florida oasis. As Flagler envisioned 100 years ago and has remained so until today, The Breakers Palm Beach is the choice of former presidents, modern-day industrialists, and billionaire National Football League owners.

Despite its cultivated elegance and Italian Renaissance design, The Breakers is hardly stuffy or pretentious to its guests. While it seems like everyone is wearing pink, green, or orange in the winter season, there’s a relaxed party atmosphere, especially at any of the four pools, outdoor patios, and bars at almost every corner of the building. Best of all, there are no resort fees or hidden charges.

Taking up a wide swath of Palm Beach island, The Breakers and its Ocean Gold Course are situated on 140 acres of oceanfront property on the island of Palm Beach, Florida. It’s the smallest and most exclusive of The Palm Beaches which includes West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Shores, Palm Beach Gardens, and North Palm Beach. Call it four stars or five stars – however best you want to describe it – this is the Palm Beach hotel.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Not staying at the hotel but want to peek inside? Present an ID at the main gate and then park for free. Non-guests can wander through the main public rooms, shop, eat at restaurants, and use spa services.

Read More:

• Fun in the Sun: Top Resorts on the West Coast of Florida
• Fab Florida Weekend Getaways
• Best Places to Visit in Florida

Open the Door into History

After traversing the lushly landscaped 1,040-foot, palm-lined main drive past the resort’s Florentine Fountain, park your car for free, or drop it off with the valet. Walk inside the breathtaking lobby that is influenced by the Great Hall of the Palazzo Carrega in Genoa. The hotel has a remarkable number of indoor and outdoor spaces throughout the north and south wings where guests sit in comfortable chairs and use the hotel’s free Wifi or just peoplewatch.

Experience Subdued Luxury in the Guest Rooms

There are 534 guest rooms with 72 suites (two Imperial Suites and four Royal Poinciana Suites). Each room offers views of the Atlantic Ocean or resort grounds with décor inspired by but not overwhelmed by the Palm Beach palette of bright colors that can be seen in some of the upstairs corridors. All rooms feature a flat-screen TV, refrigerator, mini-bar, ironing board, and iron, hair dryers, a safe and specially created Sea Grass shampoo, body wash, conditioner, and lotion.

Complimentary rollaway beds and cribs are available for those staying in Premium and Atlantic Guest Rooms, as well as most suites. Rollaway beds are not permitted in Deluxe guest rooms and suites, nor in the Flagler Club. Pets are not allowed.

For a more exclusive option within the hotel proper, The Breakers offers a private-access 21-room boutique hotel, the Flagler Club, atop the resort on the 6th and 7th floors.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Hotel staff recommends the Flagler Club for women traveling solo. Guests can customize their experience based on preferences and gather with other Club members during cocktail hour.

Pools a Plenty

An extensive area south of the main building is chock full of guests sunning, swimming, relaxing, reading, and enjoying the beach. There are four oceanfront pools and six whirlpool spas and hot tubs including an adult-only pool and a family pool with a gradual slope. Available for rent are 25 poolside bungalows, each with a private, full bathroom with a shower and individual climate control. Pools are open from dusk to dawn.  

SheBuysTravel Tip: Plan ahead.  Most people change clothes in their rooms because there’s a small bathhouse with only three showers and a few lockers near the children’s pool.

Splash in the Sand or Take in the Sun at the Beachfront

There’s a long private beach in front of the hotel with lounge chairs and umbrellas at no additional fee. Beach watersports are complimentary, including kayaking, paddle boarding, and boogie boarding.

SheBuysTravel Tip: The lifeguards at the beach regularly fly flags to advise water conditions. There’s also a purple flag that indicates “dangerous marine life,” typically meaning there are stinging jellyfish in the water rather than sharks.

Kids Will Love This Place!

In addition to regular family programs, the hotel has a huge, 6,100-square-foot, multi-faceted Family Entertainment Center. It includes three areas:

• The Arcade features more than 20 classic and contemporary games, from Skee-Ball, Super Shot Basketball, and air hockey to a video game lounge with Xbox® and PlayStation® 4.
• The 4,500-square-foot shaded outdoor playground is designed for active kids with slides, tunnels, bridges, and mounds.
• The nine-hole mini golf course and outdoor basketball court are perfect for individual or group play.

As part of the center is the Italian Restaurant, a casual, full-service restaurant with comfort dishes and lighter fare. Outdoor patio seating is available.

Work Out at the Gym

A 6,000-square-foot, indoor-outdoor fitness center is located above the resort’s Beach Club complex, with a terrific view looking out on the ocean. There are plenty of cardio machines and some weights in a large, open area for floor workout exercises or to lift weights. The gym is open from 6 am to 9 pm daily.

SheBuysTravel Tip: There is only one bathroom and no changing facilities or locker room.

Take a Welcome Break

The Spa has 17 treatment rooms, eight salon stations, and ocean views. Guests can indulge in custom massages, facials, and premium body care treatments. If guests are looking for a steam room or sauna, an appointment at the spa is required.

Serve It Up

Perfect your serve or engage in a friendly match on one of 10 Har-Tru tennis courts. Clinics and lessons are offered. Lighted courts allow for evening play. The courts are located near the Flagler Steakhouse across North County Road from the hotel.

Play within Sight of the Hotel

Two 18-hole courses deliver variety and playability for all levels.

• Ocean Course: Discover acre upon acre of lush greens at one of Florida’s oldest golf courses. Most recently redesigned by renowned golf course architect Rees Jones, Ocean Course offers contemporary playability, inspiring players of all levels. This is the course adjacent to the hotel.
• The Breakers Rees Jones® Course is 10 miles from the resort in West Palm Beach as part of the Breakers West residential community. The course allows for flexible play with varying degrees of risk, reflecting the signature style for which the designer is known.

Shop without Leaving the Hotel

There’s a sports pro shop with equipment and apparel, a beach shop, a shoe emporium, and various clothing stores including Polo Ralph Lauren and Polo Ralph Lauren Kids. The News & Gourmet shop has a coffee shop, snacks, and quick meals to go, plus gift items.

SheBuysTravel Tip: See information below about Worth Avenue. 

Dine in Stunning Spaces

HMF: Named after Henry Morrison Flagler, this chic social club is busy most evenings for cocktails and after-dinner drinks. The menu includes shared plates, handcrafted cocktails, and an award-winning wine list.

Seafood Bar: Creating the sense of dining aboard a luxury, private yacht, this oceanfront restaurant is a dining favorite among guests and Palm Beach residents. The menu boasts the freshest seafood, inspiring cocktails, and Master Sommelier-selected wines.

The Circle: An architectural gem with arched windows that offer glimpses of the Atlantic and a soaring 30-foot, hand-painted ceiling, The Circle welcomes guests daily for breakfast. Each morning, an elaborate, artfully crafted buffet and à la carte menu are served. The restaurant’s spectacular Sunday Brunch is a Palm Beach tradition not to be missed.

Ocean House: Located at the south end of The Beach Club with pool and ocean views, this beach house restaurant with a covered wrap-around porch features a daytime menu of light bites, colorful salads, sandwiches, seafood, and refreshing cocktails.

The Beach Club Restaurant: Overlooking the ocean, this stylishly relaxed setting offers al fresco dining and drinks. An extensive à la carte menu and buffet breakfast are available daily, followed by lighter lunch fare, such as seasonal soups, salads, and sandwiches.

The Surf Break: Steps from the shore, this open-air oasis envelops guests with tranquil breezes and ocean views; guests can relax with a refreshing cocktail or light bite.

Flagler Steakhouse: Located across North County Road from the hotel and on the second floor of The Breakers’ Golf and Tennis Clubhouse, this American chophouse serves a diverse menu of outstanding steaks, fish and classic broiler items, and more. The restaurant’s climate-controlled outdoor terrace provides al fresco dining with panoramic views of the Ocean Golf Course.

 On site, room service is available for In-room dining.

Flagler Museum: Must Stop on Gilded Age Tour

To understand how The Breakers came to flourish and thrive, it seems almost mandatory to visit Whitehall, Henry Morrison Flagler’s Gilded Age mansion that sits on Lake Worth directly opposite The Breakers.

When the mansion was completed in 1902, the New York Herald proclaimed that Whitehall was “more wonderful than any palace in Europe, grander and more magnificent than any other private dwelling in the world.”

Flagler’s East Coast Florida Railroad transported visitors directly to The Breakers as Flagler sought to develop Florida as a tourist destination. Through his determination to develop what many considered to be swampland, the railroad magnate extended tracks to Miami and finally all the way to Key West. Florida wouldn’t be Florida without Flagler.

Today, Whitehall is a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public as the Flagler Museum, offering self-guided tours, changing exhibitions, and special programs. Step back in time at the opulent museum, which boasts stunning architecture, lavish interiors, and an excellent art collection.

Adjacent to the mansion is the Flagler Kenan Pavilion. Built-in 2004, this Beaux Arts-style building houses the preserved Railcar No. 91, Flagler’s private railway car. The attractive pavilion is an event space and features a tea room that is only open during the winter season.

SheBuysTravel Tip: The Flagler Museum offers the “House and Hotel Tour” – a combined tour of Whitehall and The Breakers that explores the history and the architecture of Henry Flagler’s home and resort. Call the main number for more information.

The Most Exquisite Shopping Thoroughfare in America.

While it may not be as extensive as Madison Avenue in New York City or Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, Worth Avenue’s four-block stretch of high-end shops is the most beautiful and refined shopping street in the country. Lined with high-end shops like Gucci, Tiffany & Co, Chanel and Louis Vuitton, Worth Avenue also features small restaurants, cafes, galleries, and designer boutiques.

Airport Access

Palm Beach International Airport is about 5 miles away, about 15 minutes at most times of the day. No airport shuttle is available, but the valet can help with a taxi or Uber which generally runs around $30 one way.

The Ft. Lauderdale International Airport is about an hour away. The Miami International Airport is about 90 minutes away.

The Basics

Check-in time is 4 pm. Check-out time is noon. Cancellation policy varies depending on the time of year. If a reservation is reduced in length of stay within the cancellation period, the deposit may be forfeited. An ATM is located at the south end of the building.  

Overnight valet parking is complimentary. There are electric car charging stations.

The Breakers is located at One South County Road, Palm Beach, FL 33480. The phone number is 833-253-5290.

The post Gilded Age Comes Alive at The Breakers in Palm Beach appeared first on She Buys Travel.

My family and I were recent guests of Magic Village Views Trademark Collection by Wyndham, a luxury vacation home complex in Kissimmee, Florida, located close to the Walt Disney World Resort. As the name suggests,Magic Village Views leans heavily on its location, which, depending on traffic, is about a 10-minute drive from all four Disney theme parks, Disney Springs, the Typhoon Lagoon, and Blizzard Beach Water Parks.

Inside a gated complex, Magic Village Views offers luxury three- and four-bedroom, two-story villa-style condos that are extremely well-equipped, spacious, and very family-friendly. We spent an eight-night stay in a four-bedroom villa, and found an ideal base for visiting theme parks, seeing other Kissimmee and Orlando attractions, as well as doing some shopping at nearby malls.

Here’s a look at what works for families at Magic Village Views, and a few caveats that families should be aware of.

Why Magic Village Views Works for Families

• Very well-priced for families – units sleep up to 8 people
• Very large 3-4 bedroom villa-style units, with plenty of room to spread out
• Full kitchens with dining tables and bar-style dining area
• Covered patios, most equipped with large BBQ grills and dining tables
• Every bedroom has an en suite bathroom
• Free parking
• Gated community with code access and 24-hour security
• Very convenient location minutes from Disney parks
• A short drive from water parks, mini-golf, shopping and dining
• Heated outdoor pool and hot tub
• On-site restaurant and convenience store
• Tennis court and sand volleyball court, plus a fitness center
• Small kids’ play area
• Free wifi
• Flexibility, with free cancellation up to three days before arrival
• Optional concierge services, with front desk staff available to arrange transfers, park tickets, and grocery delivery

What Families Should Know

Compared to other vacation rental resorts in the Orlando/Kissimmee area, Magic Village Views is low on-property amenities, and its public areas feel somewhat underdeveloped. The pool area has lounge chairs with umbrellas but is otherwise unshaded, and the hot tub is small. Each block of two-story villas sits around large courtyard areas, which need more shade and landscaping. Admittedly, we visited Kissimmee in early September, so the soaring temperatures weren’t really conducive to sitting outdoors, anyway, especially after long days at the theme parks.

There is one on-site restaurant that since we visited has changed to a sushi restaurant, which might not appeal to kids. There’s also a convenience store and coffee shop. But overall, if you’re looking for a vacation rental community with a ton of bells and whistles, this is not it.

All that said, if you want a well-priced, spacious, extremely comfortable vacation home very close to Disney and convenient to other area attractions, we can enthusiastically recommend Magic Village Views Trademark Collection by Wyndham. We were there to spend our time at theme parks, not at the hotel pool. And short of staying at a pricey Disney resort hotel, we couldn’t have been much closer to the action.

Luxury Villa Units at Magic Village Views

Once we went through an easy check-in process, we were given key cards, a parking pass for our free parking space, and directions to our 4-bedroom villa. Walking into the two-story unit, we all kind of gasped — it definitely had a deluxe feel, with a soaring ceiling, a full open-plan kitchen, a dining area, and a large living room with couch space for at least 7-to 8 people. The downstairs had a large bedroom with a king-sized bed and an en-suite bathroom. Another big plus — a laundry room with a full-size washer and dryer, which we got plenty of use from. The overall feel in the villa was on par with a room in a five-star hotel.

Outside, we had another dining table and a large BBQ grill — some units even have outdoor hot tubs.

Upstairs were another three bedrooms, including a sprawling king suite and two kids’ rooms with two twin beds each. Each room had its own full bathroom. All bathrooms come with towels and basic toiletries, as well as hair dryers. I’m a stickler for good mattresses and quality bed linens, and all were of very high quality and comfort.

The downstairs bedroom was especially convenient for us, as another couple joined us with their daughter. They were able to sleep downstairs and have a lot of privacy. We took the upstairs king suite, where we had plenty of room to spread out suitcases, and the girls opted to share one of the twin rooms.

All units are stocked with a starter amount of toilet paper, dishwasher detergent, and laundry soap. We arranged to have groceries delivered and while this was an extra cost, wow, was it nice to find the fridge and pantry stocked with our favorite items and incidentals.

It’s All About Location

As I’ve emphasized, the real selling point of Magic Village Views is its combination of luxury villa units and a prime location near Disney Parks. We were close enough to the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT parks that we could be there right after rope drop, take an afternoon break, come back to our villa, shower, cool off and nap, and then head back to the parks in the early evening. A vacation resort farther away wouldn’t have allowed us this convenience. We even found a back road to get us to Animal Kingdom without having to get out on the main highway.

On the days we didn’t go to Disney Parks, we headed to Universal Orlando, where we did Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure in one day. On other days, we went to the Islands H20 Water Park, stopped at a mini golf course, and dined out on American and international fare we can’t find where we live in Italy. And another perk for my Italian family — retail nirvana! Shopping areas nearby offered Walmart, Target, a Skechers outlet, and countless other options. We didn’t visit, but ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is also right nearby.

Magic Village Views Details

The complex is located at 7430 Brooklyn Drive, Kissimmee, FL 34747. It’s just off the W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy and less than five miles from I-4, the main highway that connects Tampa, Orlando, and Daytona Beach.

You’ll need a car to stay at Magic Village Views, both for hitting the parks, dining out on the nights you don’t want to cook, and stocking up on provisions. Fortunately, there’s free parking and 24-hour security in this gated community.

Rates for Magic Village Views Trademark Collection by Wyndham vary depending on the season, but are generally well-priced. We spot-checked rates for October and found a 4-bedroom villa offered at a rack rate of $317 USD per night. Divide that by a family of 6 or 8 and you’ve got a very affordable stay.

Magic Village Views check-in time is from 4 pm, and check-out time is by 10 am. A daily resort fee (currently $10.75), plus a $240 cleaning fee are obligatory. Wyndham Rewards members are eligible for discounted stays and points accrual.

The post Magic Village Views – Location & Luxury Condos Right Near Disney Parks appeared first on She Buys Travel.

Choosing the right hotel for your Disneyland vacation is key to ensuring your family has a magical experience! The best hotels near Disneyland include the three Disney-owned hotels located on property, as well as off-property hotels offering everything from bunk beds to free breakfast, water parks and many other awesome amenities.

From luxury hotels to accommodations that won’t break the bank, these are the best hotels near Disneyland in Anaheim (in the Los Angeles area of Southern California), ranging from budget-friendly to splurge-worthy.

Where To Get Disneyland Tickets and How To Book Your Off-Property Hotel

She Buys Travel recommends Get Away Today for discounted Disney tickets and vacation packages. Not only does the company have the lowest prices, it offers a best-price guarantee. If you ever find park tickets cheaper, Get Away Today won’t just match the price, the company will beat it.

After purchasing your tickets from Get Away Today someone will reach out to you to answer all of your Disney vacation questions or help you create an itinerary for your visit.

Top Disneyland Hotels

Unlike Walt Disney World in Florida, where all the hotels closest to the parks are owned by Disney, the Disneyland Resort only has three of its own properties – the Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel.

All three are steps away from Disneyland park, Disney California Adventure park and Downtown Disney, have great restaurants, killer pools and wonderful amenities. And they will all immerse you in the Disney experience, complete with starting the day with a character breakfast.

But all this awesomeness doesn’t come cheap. In fact, one night at a Disney hotel can easily cost more than $400. Or you can choose to stay at one of the many off-property hotels close to Disneyland and enjoy many of the same perks, for a fraction of the price!

Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

1600 S. Disneyland Dr.
Anaheim, California 92802

Both majestic and homey, this crown jewel of the three Disneyland Resort hotels offers a deluxe respite just a short walk from the parks. In the lobby, grab a chair next to the fireplace under the towering stone hearth and listen while a pianist plays popular Disney tunes. Or plop the kids down into one of the kid-sized rocking chairs to watch Disney cartoons while the other parent heads to the front desk for check in.

The rooms were renovated in 2017. Disney regular Julie Bigboy found her standard room easily accommodates a family of four, and there are rooms that include a convertible sleeper bed to sleep five. Disney Vacation Club members can book a stay in one of the 50 two-bedroom vacation villas that include kitchens, living and dining areas and other home-like amenities.

The biggest perk of The Grand Californian? The hotel’s private entrance to the Disney California Adventure theme park. Extra Magic Hours means it’s easy to sneak away from the park to return to the hotel for an afternoon nap or a dip in one of the three large swimming pools, two with private cabanas. The Disneyland monorail runs through the hotel, but there’s no stop.

The Grand Californian also offers several dining options, including quick service, elegant full-service dinners and Disney character dining experiences.

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Disneyland Hotel

1150 W Magic Way
Anaheim, California 92802

This elegant, spacious property truly comes equipped with amazing perks for the perfect Disneyland trip. Located within a ten minute walk of the parks, the Disneyland Hotel offers amenities that cater to the whole family, including three swimming pools, monorail waterslides, a full-service spa, and two restaurants that elevate the atmosphere of the hotel and provide the full Disneyland experience.

Choose from standard rooms, premium rooms and suites that all include an in-room safe, premium bedding, and are all individually decorated to get that one-of-a-kind magic of a Disney adventure. Mini-fridges are available as well, so you can store any food you bring with you home from the parks. Connecting rooms are also available for larger parties. Plus, themed rooms can extend the magic of the parks further, ranging from Pirates to Fairies to Mickey Mouse!

One of the best perks of staying in this on-property hotel is the early entry to Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park. The different buildings on the grounds are themed from various park lands, so you can choose from Fantasy, Frontier, Adventure or Discovery towers to truly elevate your stay.

The multiple restaurants on-site offer a variety of dining experiences as well, from the Goofy’s Kitchen buffet to Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar and the Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill. You can fully immerse yourself in the world of Disney in every way.

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Best Off-Property Hotels Near Disneyland

All of that Disney magic comes at a price. Plus, three Disney hotels aren’t enough to accommodate all of the families who want to visit the California theme parks.

That’s why Disney partners with local hotels, designated as Good Neighbor Hotels. Each of these Anaheim resort area hotels has been inspected and approved by Disney. The majority of these off-property hotels are within walking distance of Disneyland.

While you won’t receive all the benefits of staying at a Disney property (such as character dining at your hotel, Mickey Wake-up Calls and Preferred Access Restaurant Reservations), these hotels offer quite a few other great perks. Some include shuttle service, complimentary breakfast and Disney-themed room décor.

Read More: Fun Disney Luggage for Kids

Castle Inn & Suites

1734 South Harbor Blvd.
Anaheim, California 92802 

Castle Inn & Suites is a Camelot-themed property and, as one of the closest hotels to Disneyland and the Downtown Disney district, it’s within easy walking distance. Choose from an array of guest rooms and suites. Rooms feature amenities such as coffeemakers, mini-fridges and free wifi. It is also one of the only hotels near Disneyland that offers free parking.

Castle Inn & Suites is family-owned, which makes it extra special. Rooms are decorated in rich tones to evoke the feeling of royalty, and there are several room types to choose from, including family suites.

There are plenty of restaurants and places to grab a quick snack nearby. Castle Inn & Suites is one of the most budget-friendly hotels within walking distance from Disneyland.

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Anaheim Fairfield Inn

7828 Orangethorpe Ave.
Buena Park, California 90621

Of all the hotels within walking distance of Disneyland, the Fairfield Inn by Marriott is the one my family has stayed at the most. It is located just a block up Harbor Boulevard from the main entrance.

The Anaheim Fairfield Inn is modern and comfortable, with recently-renovated rooms that include either a king or two queen beds and a pull-out sofa. Opt for an upper floor and you’ll find a Disney-themed room. The upper floors are also the best spot to view the fireworks, and you can go up to watch regardless of where your room is located.

There is a Panera and a McDonald’s just outside the hotel and a small food court with a Pizza Hut inside. All the rooms include a fridge. This is great because, unlike most other Fairfield Inns, this location does not provide free breakfast.

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Courtyard Marriott Theme Park Entrance

1420 South Harbor Blvd.
Anaheim, California 92802

As the name suggests, the Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance is just steps away from the entrance to both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure. It is located on Harbor Boulevard, just a five-minute walk from the parks.

The Courtyard Marriott Theme Park Entrance was designed exclusively with families in mind and has lots of family-friendly conveniences. Its amenities and services make it feel more like a full-service Marriott than a Courtyard brand hotel. It is six stories high with 202 guest rooms and 19 suites; many have views of Disneyland.

Aside from its fabulous location, the hotel’s biggest draw for families is Surfside Waterpark, a 20,000-square-foot water playground. Located on the hotel’s second level. Surfside features six water slides, a 400-gallon drench bucket, water cannons, kids’ wading pool, outdoor pool and hot tub.

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Cambria Hotel & Suites Anaheim

101 E. Katella Ave.
Anaheim, California 92802

Opened in 2020, the Cambria Hotel & Suites is only a short walk to Disneyland, and it features a host of great amenities. It has a 30,000-square-foot water park, hot tubs, cozy fire pits, a sports court, BBQ area, putting green, an oversized outdoor movie wall and several restaurants on property.

Another great feature of this hotel is its free breakfast, a perk that saves you money and time — breakfast for four can cost $50 or more. And the time you spend waiting in line at a restaurant is time you aren’t waiting for rope drop at the parks! Even better, the breakfast area is large, meaning you will never have a problem finding a table for your family to sit and eat and be on your way quickly.

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Homewood Suites by Hilton

Located near the Anaheim Convention Center, the Homewood Suites by Hilton Anaheim Resort Convention Center offers spacious suites with full kitchens and bunk beds. These rooms are ideal for families that need more space.

Every room includes a full kitchen, but the hotel still offers a complimentary breakfast every morning!

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Hampton Inn & Suites

10o W. Katella Ave.
Anaheim, California 92802

Less than a mile from the Disneyland Resort and within walking distance of the Anaheim Convention Center, the Hampton Inn & Suites is a great budget-friendly option for your Disney vacation.

Choose from standard rooms or family suites, which include bunk beds and a kitchen. There is a good-sized outdoor pool, complimentary hot breakfast buffet and free wifi.

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Hyatt House

1800 S. Harbor Blvd.
Anaheim, California 92802

Hyatt House is located on the corner of Harbor and Katella, about a 15-minute walk from the Disneyland entrance.

This is a great option for families that want the extra space that an apartment-style room can provide. Suites include a full kitchen and separate sitting areas, and you can take advantage of the hotel’s laundry services for extended stays!

Hyatt House also serves a complimentary buffet breakfast every morning, making this hotel a double-win.

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Candy Cane Inn

1747 South Harbor Blvd.
Anaheim, California 92802

The Candy Cane Inn is a charming, moderately priced hotel located less than a half mile from the parks.

Candy Cane Inn offers suites with either a king or two queen beds. As an older property, the décor is somewhat outdated (though in a cool retro kind of way). Overall, the hotel is clean and well-kept. Rooms include a mini-fridge and coffeemaker.

Although it is within easy walking distance to the parks, transportation to and from the parks is included, and the hotel has free parking on site. A free continental breakfast is served each morning on the pool deck. These perks alone make Candy Cane Inn a great hotel for your Disneyland vacation!

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Hilton Anaheim

777 W Convention Way
Anaheim, California 92802

With 1,572 guest rooms, the Hilton Anaheim is one of the largest hotels in Orange County. The hotel is located adjacent to the Anaheim Resort/Convention Center and just a short walk to the Disneyland Resort, or you can take a shuttle.

Though the Hilton Anaheim is primarily known as a business hotel, the great thing about this property is that when there isn’t an event going on at the Convention Center, rooms are pretty cheap! We’ve stayed there for as little as $89 a night.

The hotel features a variety of amenities, including the Mix Restaurant & Lounge, three outdoor garden decks, a pool, spa and fitness center, and a full-service business center.

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Anaheim Marriott Resort

700 West Convention Way
Anaheim, California 92802

Like the Hilton, the Anaheim Marriott Resort is located adjacent to the Convention Center and close to the Disneyland Resort. It is easily one of the nicest hotels in the area, tastefully decorated with a sophisticated lobby, lounge and pool area. However, this is Disneyland, so don’t think it isn’t kid-friendly!

We’ve stayed at the Marriott Anaheim a few times and always have a great experience. Service is great, the rooms are stylish and comfortable, and many come with balconies. This is a great option if you are traveling during a time when there is no convention in town and want to score a deal.

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Four Points by Sheraton Anaheim

1221 South Harbor Blvd.
Anaheim, California 92805

Don’t let the hotel’s location on the other side of the 5 freeway be off-putting. The walk to the Disneyland Resort from the Four Points by Sheraton Anaheim (formerly Hotel Ménage) is still one of the shortest, and there is a very safe crosswalk.

The hotel offers large, comfortable rooms. There is a restaurant onsite that has a great breakfast menu.

Perhaps this property’s biggest selling point is its patio area. The Four Points by Sheraton has a large outdoor pool, nice tropical landscaped patio and outdoor bar. Pull up a lounge chair at night and enjoy a spectacular view of the fireworks.

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Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground

1380 South Harbor Blvd.
Anaheim, California 92802

A pirate-themed water park and game room make this hotel a favorite for families with young kids. The Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel has been named one of TripAdvisor’s Top 25 Hotels for Families in the United States five times.

There is a range of room types, from studios to suites, to accommodate any size family. We stayed in a pirate-themed Kids Suite, which has separate bedrooms and is a great choice for large families (or in our case, two small families sharing the space).

The hotel’s Castaway Cove water park includes fun water slides and cannons, a wading pool for the little ones and a 30-foot pirate ship. And because it is in such short walking distance to Disneyland, the water park is great to visit on an afternoon break from the parks.

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Residence Inn at Anaheim Resort

640 West Katella Ave.
Anaheim, California 92802

Like all of Marriott’s Residence Inn hotels, the Residence Inn at Anaheim Resort features large rooms perfect for bigger families or people who like to spread out.

The Residence Inn Anaheim Resort is one of just a few hotels close to Disneyland that offer full-size kitchens. This is a great amenity if you are looking to save some money and cook meals in your hotel room, or even just extra convenient for storing beverages and late-night snacks.

Traveling with young kids? Opt for one of the hotel’s fun and colorful kids’ suites, which feature brightly-themed rooms with bunk beds and a second bathroom. More features include a rooftop pool with a hot tub, and a free grocery shopping service. The hotel also offers free breakfast, which is another great money-saver for families.

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Best Western Plus Park Place Inn

1544 South Harbor Blvd.
Anaheim, California 92802

There are actually five Best Western hotels within walking distance to Disneyland: Best Western Park Place Inn, Best Western Plus Anaheim Inn, Best Western Plus Stovall’s Inn, Best Western Plus Pavilions and Best Western Courtesy Inn. But our favorite is the Best Western Plus Park Place Inn. It is literally right across the street from the main entrance on Harbor Boulevard and probably nearer to the parks than the Disneyland hotels!

Besides being a super short walk to the parks, the Best Western Plus Park Place Inn offers views of the fireworks at night. Rooms and suites are updated and comfortable, and there are lots of options (including mini-suites with two queen beds and a sofa), so you can pick the best one for your family size and needs. The Best Western Plus Park Place Inn is a wonderful off-property Disneyland hotel!

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Sheraton Park Hotel

1855 South Harbor Blvd.
Anaheim, California 92802

Sheraton Park Hotel is located near the Anaheim Convention Center and a short walk to the parks.

The rooms are large and tastefully decorated. They also have balconies, which is always an added perk! The Sheraton Park Hotel has several onsite restaurants and bars, including one out by the pool.

Speaking of the pool – the hotel’s landscaping is a cut above, and it has a great pool with a lush, tropical feel. So if you are traveling in the summertime especially, this is a great hotel to consider!

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Grand Legacy at the Park

1650 S Harbor Blvd.
Anaheim, California 92802 

Grand Legacy at the Park is one of the closest hotels to the Disneyland Resort, and for that reason alone, it belongs on this list! If proximity is a top priority, then Grand Legacy at the Park is definitely a hotel to consider.

Formerly a Ramada property, this Anaheim hotel is older but recently underwent a major renovation, including the addition of a new wing. Rooms are large and comfortable, and the property has a big pool, Kids Splash Zone and cool rooftop restaurant and bar.

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Hyatt Regency Orange County

11999 Harbor Blvd.
Garden Grove, California 92840

Though technically located in Garden Grove, the Hyatt Regency Orange County is still only one mile away from Disneyland. A quick shuttle ride up Harbor Boulevard will get you there in no time!

I include the Hyatt Regency on this list because it is, quite frankly, one of the nicest off-property Anaheim hotels. The rooms are thoroughly modern and the beds super comfy. There are two pools, a 24-hour fitness center and several restaurants on site. Location aside, it has all the amenities of a deluxe Disney property for a fraction of the price.

Personally, I prefer to stay at a hotel within walking distance to Disneyland because I like being able to easily pop back to the room for a break during the day. BUT, if you can deal with the trade-off of being slightly farther away, the Hyatt Regency is a great choice for a luxury stay.

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Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel

900 S Disneyland Dr.
Anaheim, California  92802

Located just minutes from the front gates of the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California the Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel is a sprawling family-friendly hotel. From the elegant castle-theming, peaceful garden atmosphere, complimentary shuttle and value pricing, this hotel near Disneyland hit the mark in many ways. It’s also important to note that the Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel is a Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotel. This offers guests the ability to purchase tickets in advance at the Disney Desk.

Along with standard rooms and suites, this hotel offers fun, themed rooms like the Castle Bunk Bed Room. These rooms look straight out of a fairy tale and you’ll find that there is still lots of space to spread out, even with this bed combo.

Basic but clean and well-kept, the pool area features a relaxing hot tub. The pool bar is open during the summer months. Cabanas offer shaded places to rest but get there early in the day if you want to grab one.

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Holiday Inn Express & Suites Anaheim Resort Area, an IHG Hotel

1411 South Manchester Ave.
Anaheim, California 92802

About a 10-minute walk to the front gates of the Disneyland Resort, the Holiday Inn Express is a great off-site hotel choice. This Disneyland area hotel offers an upscale design, complimentary breakfast and the ability to walk quickly to the parks, making this hotel an excellent choice.

The lobby offers plenty of seating, likewise for the adjacent dining area. There is also a decent-sized Marketplace Deli with items like bottled water and chips for purchase. So handy when returning back to the hotel late at night and you need a bedtime snack!

There’s also an outdoor heated swimming pool and a small splash pad area for the younger guests to enjoy,

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The Viv Hotel, Anaheim

1601 South Anaheim Boulevard
Anaheim, California 92802

The Viv exudes elegance and sophistication, making it a top choice for those seeking a boutique luxury stay in Anaheim. The Viv is within walking distance of the Anaheim Convention Center and the vibrant Anaheim Packing District, as well as Disneyland, offering a complimentary shuttle service. Rooms are stylish, with a combination of suites and hotel rooms that can include bunk beds.

The variety of amenities offered ensures a relaxed, memorable stay, from the heated family-friendly pool and adults-only rooftop pool to the multiple different dining options, including a small grab-and-go market.

The Viv’s excellent location and Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotel status offer an abundance of wonderful perks for this off-property location.

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Ayres Hotel Orange

200 North The City Drive
Anaheim, California 92868

Located in the heart of Anaheim, the Ayres Hotel is only a few miles away from Disneyland, and with all of the amenities offered, it truly is an exceptional stay that caters to the whole family. Swimming in the outdoor pool is a great way to relax after long days in the parks, and a restaurant to kick back with some good food, or there is a fitness center open for guest use.

A stay at the Ayres Hotel comes with a large variety of complimentary perks, including free wifi, free on-site parking and a free breakfast in all of the rooms. That way, you don’t have to worry about paying for parking for your vehicle, and you can enjoy a wonderful breakfast before leaving the hotel.

This highly-rated hotel offers a fantastic experience for all hotel guests, and with spacious rooms that include a microwave, a fridge and a coffee machine, truly everything you may need to have a fantastic stay is provided.

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Element by Westin Anaheim Resort

1600 S Clementine Street
Anaheim, California 92802

Just over a mile away from the Disneyland Resort, the Element by Westin Anaheim Resort is the perfect property for a family vacation. This hotel offers amenities like free daily breakfast, free wifi, a 24-hour fitness center and more!

With stylish, homey rooms, the kids and adults alike can enjoy a relaxing, fun trip. Choose between suites and standard rooms, views of the Disneyland Resort, and a range of sizes that can accommodate the whole family.

The friendly staff and comfortable atmosphere add to the full experience, making the Element a great choice for guests seeking a hotel with a modern, clean feel.

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SunCoast Park Hotel Anaheim

1640 S Clementine St
Anaheim, California 92802

At the SunCoast Park Hotel Anaheim, guests can enjoy spacious guest rooms complete with a microwave and mini-fridge, an infinity pool and firework views. Plus, guests are able to enjoy exploring nearby restaurants and shops across the street at Anaheim GardenWalk.

Disneyland is only a short walk away, so the location of this hotel is perfect for those who prefer not to stay on the Disneyland site. Plus, there is a heated outdoor pool on the property with a hot tub that is perfect for relaxing after a day of walking.

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ALO Hotel by Ayres

3737 West Chapman Avenue
Anaheim, California 92868

Located less than two miles from the Disneyland Resort, relax in comfort and style at the ALO Hotel by Ayres. Featuring free breakfast, a restaurant on-site and mini refrigerators in each room, there are plenty of refreshment options during your stay.

The ALO Hotel does include a heated outdoor pool, a hot tub, a fitness center and laundry services, so there are truly amenities to fit every need. Not to mention the free parking, free wifi and ATM accessible on-site. This European-style, Anaheim area hotel truly has it all at an incredible price!

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JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort

1775 South Clementine Street
Anaheim, California 92802

The JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort offers a luxury escape one mile away from the Disneyland Resort and GardenWalk. With multiple restaurants, a rooftop bar and an outdoor pool with cabanas, this hotel is perfect for families or couples visiting Anaheim.

While parking and shuttle services do cost extra, if you’re looking for a beautiful, elegant hotel in the Disneyland area, the JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort is a stunning, luxurious modern space that can continue the magic of your Disneyland adventure even after leaving the parks.

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The Anaheim Hotel

1640 S Clementine St
Anaheim, California 92802

The Anaheim Hotel is located across the street from the Disneyland Resort and next to Anaheim GardenWalk. Families will love the comfortable guest rooms equipped with a mini fridge. Plus, many guest rooms at The Anaheim Hotel also come with a balcony or patio. Guests can enjoy the Olympic-sized swimming pool, explore the nine acres of landscaped gardens and eat at their on-site restaurant, The Pizza Press.

Both the exterior and the interior of The Anaheim Hotel exude comfort and beauty, offering a wonderfully relaxing stay. Plus, with outdoor play equipment as well as board games and puzzles available for guest use, the whole family can enjoy!

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Hyatt Regency Orange County

1640 S Clementine St
Anaheim, California 92802

Just a 10-minute drive from the Disneyland Resort, the Hyatt Regency Orange County offers a world of luxury. Kick back at one of two fabulous outdoor swimming pools, work up a sweat in the 24-hour fitness center and have endless fun playing on the Recreation Deck. Plentiful dining options and shuttle service (fee) to the Disneyland Resort make this a convenient and family-friendly option for your vacation.

Each room comes with free wifi, a mini-fridge, a desk, and you can request connected rooms for trips with larger groups who prefer to stick close together. There is truly an atmosphere of comfort with the joy and wonder that comes with travel in each corner of the hotel.

No matter where you choose to stay on a Disneyland adventure, the magic lives on!

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The post Best Hotels Close to Disneyland that Bring the Magic appeared first on She Buys Travel.

With four theme parks, two water parks, an expansive shopping district, several golf courses and countless restaurants, shows and fun things to do, Walt Disney World is the ideal family vacation spot. And to really be a part of te magic, you’ll want to stay at a Disney resort hotel. There are tons of options to choose from, with more than two dozen Disney World resorts falling into four categories – Value Resorts, Moderate Resorts, Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villas.

Here’s what you need to know about each category of Disney hotel so you can choose the one that’s right for you.

Which of the Disney World Resorts is Right for You?

How do you decide which Walt Disney World Resort is right for you?

A Value Resort will save you money, but a Deluxe Resort delivers fantastic theming, higher-end dining choices and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Moderate Disney World Resorts…they meet somewhere in the middle. If you need more space or are looking for a truly exceptional Disney experience, staying at one of Disney’s Deluxe Villas delivers everything you get in a Deluxe Resort plus a full kitchen, 2 full bathrooms and a washer/dryer.

Read on for all of the details on each hotel category and a tip on how to score a Deluxe Villa without the deluxe price!

Disney Resort Perks

Some things come standard at all Disney World Resorts, so rest easy.

You’ll enjoy these perks no matter which level of Disney resort you choose:

• A pool
• A retail shop and food court on site
• Ability to make dining reservations in advance
• Earlier access to Genie+ and Lightening Lane reservations
• A mini-fridge in your room
• Free baggage transfer between Disney Resort hotels
• Extended theme park hours
• Complimentary wi-fi
• Laundry facilities
• Complimentary transportation to the theme parks, waterparks and Disney Springs

Value Resorts at Walt Disney World

If you’re just looking for the basics, a Value Resort may be for you! Value Resorts have smaller rooms and oversized, somewhat garish décor. But they are clean and convenient and cover all the basics a family needs on vacation. Value Resorts offer a food court and pool, but no water slide or hot tub.

Transportation to and from Value Resorts used to be bus service only, but the launch of the Skyliner changed all that for the better! The Skyliner connects Pop Century Resort and Art of Animation Resort to both EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

However, this convenience comes with an added price tag, as rooms at these two resorts typically cost more than staying at the All Star Value Resorts (All Star Music, All Star Sports and All Star Music).

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort has mostly suites, a bigger food court and common areas, and therefore costs a little more. Want to know more? Read the SheBuysTravel Disney’s Art of Animation Resort review.

Which Disney Hotels are Value Resorts?

• Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort

What You’ll Find at Value Resorts:

• Fun, bright, kid-friendly theming
• Food courts and pizza delivery available, but no Table Service restaurants
• Themed pools but no water slides
• Rooms open to outside corridors
• Large, spread-out layout making for long walks to the bus stop
• Some rooms have a sliding door separating the sink area from the bedroom. Some have a curtain.
• Bus transportation to all parks and Downtown Disney (and only 1 internal bus stop)
• Skyliner transportation available from Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts
• Inexpensive room rates

Family Suites at Disney Value Resorts

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort has mostly suites, a bigger food court and common areas, and therefore comes at a higher cost.

Before the Skyliner was launched, our favorite Value Resort was All Star Movies, which has family suites that sleep up to 6 people at value prices. The building exteriors showcase some of our favorite Disney Movies (101 Dalmatians, Love Bug, Toy Story), making this a fun but not overly-cheesy resort.

Moderate Resorts at Disney

As with most things at Walt Disney World Resort hotels, the more you pay, the more you get.

Disney Moderate Resorts are a huge step up from Value. But of course not quite as high-end as what you’ll find at a Deluxe or Deluxe Villa property.

Moderate hotels tend to have a more subdued atmosphere and elegant theming. The rooms are bigger than Value Resort rooms and the grounds are beautifully landscaped. The hotel lobbies and common areas all add to the classier feel.

With the exception of the French Quarter, Moderate Resorts also feature a full-service restaurant in addition to the food court. The pools have a water slide and hot tub.

All Moderate Resorts have bus service. Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort also has the Skyliner. The Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter resorts also offer boat service to Disney Springs.

Read More: A Complete Guide to Disney World Transportation.

Which Disney Hotels are Moderate Resorts?

• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

What You’ll Find at Moderate Resorts

• Beautiful theming with a grownup feel
• Lush landscaping
• Rooms that open to outside corridors
• Table Service restaurant (except at French Quarter), food courts and pizza delivery available
• Multiple pools – a main themed pool with a water slide and other quiet pools throughout the property

In the Moderate category, my favorite is the Port Orleans French Quarter. It is one of the smallest, which makes it easy to navigate. It features lovely New Orleans architecture and is quite charming.

Many families also like Coronado Springs. The Gran Destino tower has a concierge club level — Club Chronos — that is the most affordable club level at Disney.

Deluxe Resorts at Walt Disney World

Disney Deluxe Resorts are detailed in their style and architecture – from the modern Contemporary to the African ambiance of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Deluxe Resorts will give you the largest rooms, the fanciest bath products, and many include balconies or patios. And, Deluxe resorts have the best pools with the biggest water slides. Guests staying at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge can even boast views of wildlife grazing out their windows!

Deluxe Resorts also offer the most transportation options and tend to be closest to the parks. If you are staying at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, or the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, you can take the Monorail directly to the Magic Kingdom or even walk!

Other resorts offer the Skyliner, boat, or bus, depending on which resort area you are in and where you are going. Deluxe hotels along the Boardwalk (including Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, and the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin) are within walking distance to EPCOT and Hollywood Studio, or you can take a Friendship Boat. Plus you’ve got great restaurant options nearby!

Which Disney Hotels are Deluxe Resorts?

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort
• Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

What You’ll Find at Disney’s Deluxe Resorts

• Lavish, tasteful theming with fantastic lobbies and gift shops
• Rooms that open to inside hallways
• Rooms with private balconies
• Table Service restaurants (including 1 upscale option) and Quick Service Dining
• A main feature pool with a water slide and other quiet pools
• All the hotels along the monorail line are Deluxe
• On-site gyms and spas
• Valet parking

Which Disney Deluxe Resort to Choose?

It is very hard to choose a favorite Deluxe Resort – they are all amazing! But if I had to pick it would be a tie between Disney’s Polynesian Village and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

We absolutely loved the vibe at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Although our room’s balcony overlooked the pool and not the African Savannah (a huge cost savings, by the way!), we still got to enjoy the animals from numerous vantage points around the hotel.

We loved the Polynesian mostly for the pool area, and because you could watch the fireworks from the shore. The Volcano Pool has a zero entry area by the beach and giant water slide that twists through the volcano. The Pineapple Lanai is next to the pool area, and it is always a bonus to have a Dole whip within easy reach when you’re at Disney World.

Other amenities you’ll find only at Deluxe Resorts include spas at the main pool, concierge service and lobby entertainment. In addition, Deluxe Resorts feature signature restaurants and experiences.

Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts

Disney Deluxe Villas provide the ultimate Disney vacation experience! They are the ideal choice for families that need more space but still want to stay on-property and take advantage of the amenities offered at Disney Deluxe resorts.

Disney Deluxe Villas combine the high-end amenities and conveniences of Deluxe Resorts with the comforts of home. Villas feature a full kitchen with 2 full bathrooms in addition to a washer/dryer. They range in size from studio to 2-bedroom, and can accommodate large or extended families.

Disney World Deluxe Villas are all part of the Disney Vacation Club program. The easiest way to save at a Disney Deluxe Villa resort is by renting someone else’s DVC points through David’s Vacation Rentals. Here is a post explaining everything you need to know about how to rent DVC points.

Which Disney Resorts are Deluxe Villas?

• Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
• Disney’s Beach Club Villas
• Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

A Word About Disney World Resort Transportation

You’re visiting Disney World to go to Disney parks, right? So you want to get there fast! Most Deluxe Resorts stand out in the transportation category. However, you’ll pay a premium.

The Grand Floridian, Polynesian and Contemporary resorts are on the coveted Monorail line. They also offer transportation to the Magic Kingdom via boat, as does the Wilderness Lodge. Other Deluxe hotels offer boat transportation to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, and some are even within walking distance!

Bus service is the main form of transportation for most Value and Moderate Resorts. In addition, Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter resorts offer boat transportation to Disney Springs, and the Skyliner has stops at Disney’s Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disney’s Riviera Resort.

In the world of Disney transportation – as with everything else – you really do get what you pay for!

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