Here’s Why You Should Stay at Four Seasons Resort Orlando!
The Walt Disney Company doesn’t want you to know something. At Walt Disney World, the most upscale resort is no longer Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Something even better has come along. Here are a few reasons to stay at Four Seasons Resort Orlando.
The Location
MickeyBlog has discussed Golden Oak a few times. As a reminder, it’s the exclusive neighborhood that’s located on the official Walt Disney World campus. To Disney, living here is the same as staying at an official resort. You receive the amenities that hotel guests do, and you ever get a few extras.
I mention this because the Four Seasons Resort Orlando shares the same land with Golden Oak. When you look at a map, you realize that it’s close to the center of this series of neighborhoods, albeit slightly northeast.
Also, the Four Seasons Resort Orlando is 26 acres large, which means that it’s one of the most massive resort complexes in the south. Not coincidentally, Four Seasons views this property as the flagship hotel, even though it’s only a few years old.
Four Seasons worked with Disney to construct the hotel at the same time as the earliest houses. Park officials didn’t want to confuse potential Golden Oak owners by adding an official Disney resort on the grounds.
Instead, Disney leveraged the Four Seasons brand to combine the ultra-luxurious homes with a respected hotel chain.
The Benefits
The relationship between Disney and Four Seasons is odd but convenient. The Golden Oak website champions the hotel as a partner with many terrific amenities.
Guests at this resort receive Magic Bands and book FastPasses, just like anyone staying at an official Disney hotel. Extra Magic Hours are even available to Four Seasons hotel guests.
In the lobby, you’ll find a Disney Planning Center help desk. The employees that work here are Disney cast members, not Four Seasons employees.
They have trained in all forms of Walt Disney World customer service and can help with any issue. This help desk is an invaluable resource during a hotel stay.
This resort also provides transportation to Disney parks every half-hour. So, you’ll know exactly when the next bus will arrive, something that isn’t the case with Disney resorts.
The Four Seasons even delivers park merchandise the same way that Disney hotels do, only it’s sometimes ready for pick-up on the same day!
You’ll also find a soothing spa onsite. Many Disney analysts prefer it to Senses, but you must decide for yourself.
Fortunately, the spa services are available to everyone, not just guests staying at the hotel. Fans of more active leisure sports can play golf onsite, too. This resort even comes with a practice range!
Finally, the resort hosts a character breakfast starring none other than Mickey Mouse! Let’s talk about it more in…
The Restaurants
The Four Seasons Resort Orlando operates five restaurants and two lounges.
Like official Disney resorts, some are Quick Service eateries while others are more upscale. For instance, the pool bar, PB&G, sells a bunch of entrees off the grill.
They’re perfect for lounging around the pool in an absurdly comfortable love seat or bamboo hammock.
Lickety-Split is like a combination coffee shop, café, and ice cream shop. You won’t find a lot of places that sell sushi and gelato at the same place.
That’s how impressive the menu is. And some of the ice cream options are absolutely decadent. A fun note about this place: They imported the gelato machine from Italy to guarantee that the flavor is authentic.
The Nicer Restaurants
Two of the best restaurants in Orlando reside at the Four Seasons. Capa is a steakhouse that rivals Yachtsman Steakhouse, Shula’s, or STK in terms of quality.
It’s only open for dinner, and reservations are available to everyone, not just guests staying at the hotel.
Capa mirrors two recently opened Disney resort restaurants. Like Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood and Topolino’s Terrace, it’s an elegant rooftop restaurant.
More importantly, it’s also a place where you can watch the fireworks off in the distance.
The line-of-sight on the 17th floor provides a breathtaking perspective of Spaceship Earth and the nighttime fireworks presentation at Epcot. You should absolutely plan to eat here at some point during a Disney vacation. Of course, it’s still the second-best option for Disney fans.
The first choice is Ravello, a modern Italian restaurant. Twice a week, on Thursdays and Saturdays, this establishment hosts the Good Morning Breakfast with Goofy & His Pals.
It’s a hidden gem at Walt Disney World and quietly one of the best character meals on the entire campus. It’s also extremely popular since it’s only available on certain days.
PS: the Good Morning Breakfast is open on some Tuesdays, but you’ll need to check your dates to see whether you’re one of the lucky ones.
The Pools
Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Beach Club Resort stretches across three acres. I lovingly refer to it as a mini-water park due to its size.
And I say this as a point of reference before I mention that the Four Seasons Resort Orlando operates five acres’ worth of pool areas. Yes, it’s 67 percent bigger than the pool that most would argue is the best at Walt Disney World.
The hotel offers two primary pools. The design team constructed one for families, and it comes with some lovely touches.
The two water slides here are extremely impressive and would seem right at home at Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach. The family pool also hosts weekly dive-in movies, swimming events where a movie plays on the projection screen.
The Four Seasons calls this area The Mansion, and it’s much more than just a pool. It’s also a place where kids can do some crafting and play games.
There’s a splash zone where synchronized lights and water combine to put on a show. Plus, the hotel provides a babysitting service for a fee. So, your kids can play at The Mansion while you spend some quality time with your partner.
Speaking of which, the hotel hosts an adults-only pool, too. When you’re in the mood to escape the high volume of children at Walt Disney World, this pool helps you feel like you’re on a grown-up vacation for a while. And it’s divine for couples traveling without kids.
Finally, I’d be negligent if I failed to mention the lazy river. The one here receives praise as the best in Orlando. You can watch the video above to appreciate what it’s like for parents and kids alike. Short answer: AMAZING!!!
The Rooms
No matter how much time you plan to spend in your room, you want it to seem nice, right? Obviously, a night’s stay at the Four Seasons isn’t cheap, and you must get your money’s worth. Well, I can say with confidence that you will.
This deluxe resort doesn’t sell common hotel rooms! To the contrary, the smallest rooms here include a roomy 500 square feet of space. That’s larger than the studio rooms at any Disney Vacation Club resort.
Your room will come with a living room and bedroom area. In the former section, you’ll have your choice of three different seating options: a lounger, a sofa, and a table.
As the pictures show, the décor is stunning in this area. You’ll undoubtedly feel like a one-percenter when you hang out here.
In the bedroom, you’ll have the option of a king bed or two double-beds plus a queen sofa-bed in the other room. It also comes with a dresser and another seating area. You can really stretch out at the Four Seasons.
Every room comes with a view. From your personal balcony, which is standard, you can either gaze on the sumptuous hotel grounds or stare at beloved Disney monuments.
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the hotel is its pet policy. You don’t need to leave your furry friend at home!
The Four Seasons accepts pets up to 25 pounds, and you’ll sometimes see a dog in the lobby. The hotel even provides your dog/cat with its own treat bowl and specialty dining menu! This hotel takes care of everyone in your family, human and animal alike!
I can sum up the greatness of Four Seasons Resort Orlando in one sentence. Out of the 360 hotels that TripAdvisor lists for the greater Orlando area, it’s #1 with the rarest of rare 5 out of 5 rating.