The Walt Disney World resort is approximately 30 minutes southwest of downtown Orlando, Florida, and draws tourists to its attractions year-round, due to the warm climates in this region of the state. The resort is split into four areas: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center and Disney's Hollywood Studios. Each of these areas have themed hotels and restaurants that range from luxurious to moderately priced. Walt Disney World also provides public transportation, which offers guests quick access around the resort.
All-Star Music Resort
The All-Star Music Resort is in Disney's Animal Kingdom area, and the themed d cor and furniture pieces are based on various music genres, including jazz, Broadway show tunes and calypso. This hotel is one of the least expensive accommodations within the Walt Disney World Resort. Both outdoor swimming pools also are musically themed, with one pool shaped as a large guitar and the other patterned after a grand piano. On-site dining is available at the cafeteria-style Intermission Food Court, which serves lunch and dinner every day.
The closest attractions to the All-Star Music Resort are the wildlife exhibits in the Animal Kingdom area, and Blizzard Beach, which is the area's water park. Both sites are available by bus, approximately 10 minutes from the hotel. Nearby off-site dining is available at many sites within the Animal Kingdom, including the Tusker House Restaurant, which is in the Africa section and features ivory tusks and other safari-related fixtures in its decor.
Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort
The Bay Lake Tower is in the Magic Kingdom area of Walt Disney World and a Disney Vacation Club Resort. Guest rooms in this high-rise accommodation offer views of Bay Lake and roller coaster rides throughout the resort. This hotel is the first accommodation in Walt Disney World to be accessible only by the hotel's guests. Each guests receives a security gate key with their guest room key. The two-floor lobby features contemporary-style d cor, such as glass-wrapped columns. This hotel is fairly expensive, with room rates starting at $385 per night, as of fall 2010. Guests have access to the hotel's large swimming pool, which has a 148-foot water slide.
On-site dining is available at Chef Mickey's, which offers buffet-style breakfasts and dinners, while the Wave...of American Flavors is a trendy nightclub-style eatery with American cuisine options. The attractions in the Magic Kingdom are accessible from the hotel via the resort's monorail system.
Port Orleans Resort--French Quarter
Situated in the Downtown Disney area, the moderately priced Port Orleans hotel is patterned after the famed French Quarter district in New Orleans, Louisiana. French Quarter characteristics include lamp-lighted sidewalks with actual French Quarter street names, including Bourbon Street and Royal Street, magnolia trees and vine-covered balconies. The hotel provides a tranquil atmosphere, which is suitable for couples looking for a romantic getaway.
New Orleans-style jazz and dixieland music are provided at the Scat Cat Lounge, and Creole cuisine, which includes gumbo and jambalaya, is available at the Sassagoula Floatworks Food Court area. The hotel features the Doubloon Lagoon swimming pool, which has a "Sea Serpent" slide.
Bus transportation is available at the hotel, and offers access to other areas of the park. The hotel is within walking distance of Downtown Disney's shops and restaurants. Some of Downtown Disney's attractions include the Marketplace mall and the House of Blues, a live music entertainment venue in the Downtown Disney's West Side.
Animal Kingdom Lodge
The Animal Kingdom Lodge in Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom is a luxurious African-themed hotel. The guest rooms have tribal-printed bed covers and marble-furnished bathrooms with murals of antique maps on the walls. Private balconies allow guests to view wildlife species, such as giraffes and bongos, in the 43-acre wildlife preserve that surrounds the hotel. During the evening, the hotel will take guests on tours to observe the animals' nocturnal activities.
The large Uzima outdoor swimming pool area has a sundeck and tiki hut used as a snack bar. The pool area is surrounded by a quarter-mile jogging track that goes through a jungle-like setting. On-site dining is available at Jiko, a fine dining restaurant that serves American cuisine with African flavors and spices. African-themed souvenirs, such as hand-woven clothing and masks, can be purchased at on-site Zawadi Marketplace. The hotel is 10 minutes from the wildlife species exhibits at the Animal Kingdom's Wild Animal Park.
Tags: Animal Kingdom, Disney World, Walt Disney, Walt Disney World, dining available, Downtown Disney