In my final post in the “Choosing a Resort” series, I’m going to focus on the Deluxe Villa Resorts, also known as the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) resorts. There are 10 Deluxe Villa properties at Walt Disney World, with an 11th scheduled to open in Fall 2019. One upside to these resorts is the space- the villa resorts offer great accommodations for up to 9 guests (sometimes more if you can snag one of the elusive grand villas!).
In addition to space, the Deluxe Villa resorts are located in close proximity to the theme parks or Disney Springs. While these properties are considered Deluxe Resorts, there are some amenities you will not get here, such as Club Level service.
How to Book
There are a few options for booking a stay at a Deluxe Villa Resort. The first way is to book with cash- just call your travel agent or Disney and book your stay! It works the same way as if you were booking any other resort with Disney. You’ll still get to make your dining reservations 180 days from your start date, and Fastpass+ reservations at the 60 day mark (as long as you have park tickets).
The second way to book a stay at a Deluxe Villa Resort is to be a DVC owner and use your points. If you own at that property, you can use the points there more easily, but it’s generally easy to use your points at a resort you don’t own as well.
The last way to book at a Deluxe Villa Resort is to rent points. Sometimes DVC owners can’t use their points so they are willing to rent them out to others. There are several websites that broker these deals for guests. The cost for this is set by the DVC owner and the website for rentals. But word to the wise- when you do this, you’re entering into an agreement with the individual owner, not with Disney, so you’re paying them and trusting them to make your reservation for you.
When paying with cash you also get daily housekeeping, but when paying for the villas with points (whether buying or renting) you get limited housekeeping services, depending on your length of stay.
Disney Springs Area Deluxe Villa Resorts
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Disney’s Old Key West Resort was the first DVC resort to open. As a result, the rooms are very large! The two-bedroom villas can accommodate up to 9 adults, with a full kitchen, washer and dryer, and most rooms have large balconies or patios.
Dining can be had at Olivia’s Cafe, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and there’s a quick-service restaurant called Good’s Food To Go.
Transportation to Theme Parks and other guest areas is available via boat or bus.
Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa
This resort is nice because it also has a spa, which is a really nice treat. There are studios, one- and two-bedroom villas, and there are also the Treehouse Villas which can accommodate up to 9 guests.
Artist’s Palette is the restaurant and grocery at this resort. It offers quick service meals, snacks, and merchandise.
Transportation to Theme Parks and other guest areas is available via boat or bus.
Magic Kingdom Area Deluxe Villa Resorts
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Located next to Disney’s Contemporary Resort, this tower offers great views as well as spacious rooms. There are Deluxe Studios that can accommodate up to 4 guests, and includes a kitchenette. The One- and Two- Bedroom Villas both have a full kitchen as well as a washer and dryer in each room. The two-bedroom villas can accommodate up to 8 adults.
There aren’t really any dining options at Bay Lake Tower, other than a pool bar and the Top of the World Lounge (which is only available to DVC members), but the Contemporary next door has plenty of options.
Transportation to Theme Parks and other guest areas is available via monorail, boat, or bus.
Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
As the name implies, these Villas are right next to the Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. The lobby has a beautiful fountain with the Mary Poppins penguins, and the rooms are themed with Victorian features like in the Happiest Millionaire.
There are Deluxe Studios that can accommodate up to 5 guests, and includes a kitchenette. The One- and Two- and Three-Bedroom Villas both have a full kitchen as well as a washer and dryer in each room. The two-bedroom villas can accommodate up to 9 adults, and the three-bedroom villas can accommodate up to 12.
Transportation to Theme Parks and other guest areas is available via monorail, boat, or bus.
Wilderness Lodge- Copper Creek and Boulder Ridge
These Villas and Cabins are right at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, offering several options from Studios to Two-Bedroom Villas. Not only do they share an area with the Wilderness Lodge and all of those amenities, but there’s a new outdoor restaurant called Geyser Point Bar and Grill that adds a great touch to this charming resort.
Transportation to Theme Parks and other guest areas is available via boat or bus.
Polynesian Villas and Bungalows
These Villas are right at the Polynesian, with their very own longhouse for the Studios. The Deluxe Studios can accommodate up to 5 guests, and includes a kitchenette. The Bungalows are over the water, offering great views of the Magic Kingdom. They can accommodate up to 8 guests and have a full kitchen, washer/dryer, and a plunge pool.
Transportation to Theme Parks and other guest areas is available via monorail, boat, or bus.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Area Deluxe Villa Resorts
Animal Kingdom Lodge- Kidani Village or Jambo House
While these are technically two different resorts, they are both under the umbrella of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. The Villas in Jambo House are in the main Animal Kingdom Lodge building, but still have the studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom options. Kidani Village is a separate resort, and unlike the other Villa Resorts is not accessible by foot to the main hotel with which it’s associated. Kidani Village is home to one of the best restaurants at Walt Disney World, Sanaa.
Transportation to Theme Parks and other guest areas is available via boat or bus.
Epcot Area Deluxe Villa Resorts
Disney’s Boardwalk Villas
The Boardwalk Villas are on the Disney’s Hollywood Studios side of Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and offer garden or lagoon views. One really neat thing about these Villas is that the Grand Villas offer some two-story villas that will accommodate up to 12 adults.
Transportation to Theme Parks and other guest areas is available via boat or bus.
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
The Beach Club Villas are located on the Epcot side of Disney’s Beach Club Resort, making this an ideal location for anyone who wants to be close to Epcot. There is a pool for the Villas, but guests of the Beach Club Villas also have access to Stormalong Bay, which is a mini-water park pool area.
Transportation to Theme Parks and other guest areas is available via boat or bus.
Disney’s Riviera Resort (coming soon)
Coming soon to the Epcot area is Disney’s Riviera Resort- there will be studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom villas, as well as a rooftop restaurant called Topolino’s Terrace.
Transportation to Theme Parks and other guest areas is available via bus or the new Disney Skyliner.
That’s it for all the hotels! Next week we’ll get into the logistics of what to decide on next!
