Pros and Cons of Deluxe Tier Resorts Part Three

When I visit Walt Disney World, you’ll almost always find me at a Deluxe Tier resort.

I joined a Disney program specifically so that I could stay at these hotels during my vacations. It’s that important to me.

If you’ve been following along with MickeyBlog, you’ve been reading my assessments of Disney’s various luxury resorts.

Today we’re up to two of my favorites, one of which I choose above all others. So, what are the pros and cons of these three Deluxe Tier resorts?

Disney’s Old Key West Resort

I don’t fit the profile as someone who hasn’t had an alcoholic beverage in more than a decade, but I’m a diehard Parrothead.

Not coincidentally, I adore Old Key West Resort, which often plays Jimmy Buffett music at the pools.

Disney does this because the resort’s theme celebrates a bygone era in Florida history.

Once upon a time, artists flocked to Old Key West to get as far away from the rest of society as possible.

Legends such as Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, and Buffett all spent time at the Southernmost Point of the Continental USA.

Old Key West celebrates this illustrious history with its sunshine aesthetic.

When you think about basking in Florida’s superlative weather, Old Key West should spring to mind.

Pros of Disney’s Old Key West Resort

For adults traveling without children, Old Key West is one of Disney’s finest resorts.

The amenities here focus on outdoor activities such as pickleball, tennis, and golf.

Many of the rooms overlook Disney’s Buena Vista golf course, so much so that I’ve had a golf ball hit off the wall outside my room.

Guests love sipping their morning coffee and watching duffers shank a tee shot and then loudly complain about their clubs.

Okay, that’s mean and I’m mostly joking, but it does happen.

The bigger pro here is the size of the rooms, especially the one-bedroom villa. At a spacious 942 square feet, it’s a luxury accommodation at a surprisingly affordable price.

You can often stay in these rooms for cheaper than at a basic studio at a Monorail resort.

The standard rooms at the hotel are also nice, but the villas are where you effectively gain apartment living while on your Disney vacation.

A dear friend of mine ONLY books these rooms at Disney World and has done so for 15 years now. They’re that good.

The other pro applies specifically to Disney Springs fans.

A boat dock in the Hospitality House area offers free transportation to and from Disney Springs.

This serene trip only takes a few minutes and drops you off at the shopping mecca.

Cons

Old Key West and its nearby sibling, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa share the same negative.

Disney designed both to host thousands of nightly guests.

So, each resort includes a large number of hotel buildings.

Just to emphasize this point, we often stay in building 64 at Old Key West.

It’s in the Hospitality House area, my preferred part of the hotel campus.

Should you stay in a different area of the resort, the internal bus system can be the bane of your existence.

During one of our recent stays, we waited eight minutes on a bus just circling the Old Key West campus before we ever headed to a park.

The logistics of some of these buildings are less than ideal, which can create headaches for people who ping-pong back and forth between your hotel room and the theme park.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

In 1971, Walt Disney World opened as a media spectacle for the ages.

Walt Disney himself had stealthily purchased this land in the early 1960s but hadn’t lived long enough to see it open.

Journalists and celebrities alike flocked to the Orlando campus to determine whether Disney World justified the hype.

Disney directed all of its most famous and important guests to one location — the Polynesian.

That tells you everything you need to know about this hotel’s quality, and it has stood the test of time as a perfect Disney vacation spot.

The theme of the Polynesian is that you’re traveling to the South Seas for an exotic island vacation.

You’ll buy into this illusion even though you can stand on the beach and look at Magic Kingdom’s landmarks.

In December 2024, Disney added new hotel rooms in the Island Tower.

This luxury 10-story building provides guests with modern style if they prefer that to the classic rooms at the Polynesian longhouses.

Pros of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

My favorite part of the Polynesian is the Great Ceremonial House, the welcoming two-story hotel lobby that reinforces the island theme.

You really don’t need to go anywhere else on the Polynesian campus.

You’ll find everything you need at the Great Ceremonial House.

On the first floor, you’ll have your choice of Disney’s best hotel store, Quick Service restaurant, and atmospheric bar.

The Quick Service restaurant is Capt. Cook’s, which serves delicious Polynesian cuisine, while the store is my beloved BouTiki.

Then, we have Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto and Tiki Bar, which is the place to go when you want glow drinks served with mystical spells.

Trader Sam’s is a Disney tradition, and it has only gotten better since Disney added full special effects wired to the lounge itself.

Even if you don’t order the appropriate drink, somebody inevitably will, allowing you to enjoy the spectacle. That’s just the first floor!

On the second floor, you can buy oodles of Stitch merchandise at Moana Mercantile or dine at ‘Ohana or Kona Cafe.

I love Kona Cafe so much that I’ve spent multiple birthday dinners here, yet even I know that ‘Ohana is superior.

Just past the hotel lobby, you can also order a Dole Whip at Pineapple Lanai.

So, whether you’re in the mood for a meal, a drink, or a dessert, you can find it at the Great Ceremonial House.

Another pro is that the Polynesian is a Monorail resort, and it’s the best one for EPCOT fans.

You can walk from the Polynesian to the Transportation and Ticket Center to catch the EPCOT monorail.

Note that the Pago Pago longhouse rooms have a parking lot right next to the Transportation and Ticket Center.

Cons

You will never get me to say anything negative about the Polynesian. This place is perfect.

Disney’s Riviera Resort

In 2019, Disney introduced two exciting new additions at once.

The first is Disney’s Riviera Resort, while the second is the Disney Skyliner.

Those two projects are more connected than you may think, as the Riviera hosts a Skyliner station.

So, when you stay at this hotel, you can exit the lobby and be riding a gondola in a couple of minutes.

As for the resort itself, Disney themed it after Walt and Lillian Disney’s legendary European vacations.

Family photos from those early 20th century vacations adorn the walls of the hotel.

The family’s preferred spot was obviously the Italian and French Riviera, so this resort mimics both, with a heavy focus on the Italian side.

Pros of Disney’s Riviera Resort

I’ve already mentioned one of the biggies.

Any Disney resort with immediate Skyliner access is one to prioritize.

They’re every bit as good as Monorail resorts in terms of logistics. You can exit the Riviera and be standing at the front entrance to Hollywood Studios or EPCOT in 15-20 minutes.

These are two of the three most popular theme parks at Disney World, and you can easily reach them whenever you want.

It’s a far cry better than playing bus roulette.

The other pro is the European vibe at the resort, which Disney has infused into every element of the hotel, from its drinking to dining to shopping.

The restaurants here are exquisite, with Primo Piatto being one of our preferred Quick Service lunch spots.

 

On the rooftop, Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera delights guests with its morning character meal and its evening fireworks displays.

There’s also a coffee shop here that evolves into a bar in the afternoon, which is just one of the many great ideas at this hotel.

Cons

While I disagree with the opinion, some Disney fans have expressed dissatisfaction with the theme.

They consider the Riviera to be a decidedly un-Disney resort.

For those of you who haven’t tried it yet, I’d suggest that you spend some time at the hotel during your next trip and decide for yourself.

The Riviera has become one of our favorite hangout spots.

The other con is the room placement, which was an intentional decision by Disney strategists.

Many of the hotels overlook the charming pool area.

It’s a nod to actual hotel rooms at the Italian Riviera.

However, the rooms not facing the pool receive criticism because of their less-than-ideal views.

These are definitely parking lot view hotel rooms at Deluxe Tier Disney resort prices.

Thanks for visiting MickeyBlog.com! Want to go to Disney? For a FREE quote on your next Disney vacation, please fill out the form below. One of the agents from MickeyTravels, an EarMarked By Disney – Authorized Travel Agency – Diamond Level, will be in touch soon!

Feature Photo: Disney