THE ULTIMATE FIVE-STAR HOLIDAY GETAWAY : THE FOUR SEASONS RESORT- ORLANDO AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

The Four Seasons Resort At Walt Disney World- Orlando, Florida
Address: 10100 Dream Tree Blvd, Lake Buena Vista Florida U.S.A. 32836
Phone: +1 (407) 313-6868
Web: https://www.fourseasons.com/orlando/

If you’re going to spend time at a hotel during the holidays, where better to do it than at The Four Seasons? In our case, we were at The Four Seasons in Orlando, Florida, which meant not only was everything beautifully decorated for the Yule tide season, but it also meant that we, as New Englanders, got to swap pine trees for palm trees for the first time ever. Of course, there was still a giant Christmas tree in the hotel’s sparkling lobby, so despite the drastic difference in degrees outdoors, we still felt right at home.

Four Seasons Resort

This was our second visit to the FS Orlando and from the moment we arrived, we loved it just as much as our first time there. This trip, we were meeting some of our best friends so that we, along with our kids, could all spend some festive time together in the wonderful World of Disney.

Both of our families had beautiful suites with oversized balconies that overlooked the resort pools- along with all of the Disney parks- and Universal Studios- making it the optimal viewing place to watch the nightly fireworks…without any of the crowds. In true Four Seasons fashion, the beds were heavenly and each bathroom had spacious, tiled walk-in showers, with big glass doors and a rain shower head above.

While we all slept incredibly soundly, taking a shower definitely came in close second for the relaxation factor. Though when we weren’t sleeping (or showering), most of our time was spent by the pool. There are a number to choose from at the resort, but our favorite was the pool where “Dive In Movie Nights” are held. Having little children, the gradual beach-like entry to the water is ideal and we were always able to find chairs together in the shade. Needless to say, the Lazy River was also a crowd-pleaser, where we also floated much of the day away.

“Explorita,” a milky coconut, tequila and lime drink

It’s hard to say which was better- the food at the resort, or the drinks. My mouth waters just thinking about the flavorful black bean burger and hot and crisp hand-cut waffle fries that we had poolside… And the “Hassarita,” a creamy Avocado-based margarita with a spicy pepper-rimmed glass, is now my number one cocktail of choice, although I know it won’t be easy to find. (The runner-up would definitely be the “Explorita,” a milky coconut, tequila and lime drink that simply tastes like the tropics.)

The “Hassarita,” a creamy Avocado-based margarita with a spicy pepper-rimmed glass

Ravello, the hotel’s upscale Italian restaurant, hosts a fun character-filled “Breakfast with Goofy” two days a week, with a great buffet selection and visits from Mickey, Minnie and of course, Goofy himself. We all got plenty of face-time with each of the famous friends, and got a kick out of their preppy golf and tennis attire.

We also enjoyed a lovely dinner at Ravello with different and pastas to go around, and the tomato and mozzarella focaccia was so good, it left us fighting over the last piece…Ravello also has an extensive wine list and a selection of more Four Seasons’ signature crafty mixed drinks and martinis. The coconut panna cotta with its decadent brown butter caramel sauce was the perfect icing on the cake to top off a wonderful meal.

Absolutely everything about our stay was top notch and I think it’s safe to say our friends are now also hooked on the “Four Seasons Disney experience” themselves. Fortunately, it seems that the general population is starting to catch on that one can stay at a non-Disney resort (this one in particular) and still get that magical feeling that people travel from all over to experience in Orlando. The Four Seasons does a magnificent job at subtly, and not-so-subtly, incorporating the world’s most famous mouse into the decor, on-site activities and overall atmosphere while providing transportation to and from the parks, as well as one of the best viewing locations for the various nightly fireworks.

This is by far the most luxurious yet family-oriented hotels in the area, and anyone looking for an upscale take on an old childhood tradition should be staying at the Four Seasons Orlando. You’ll never want to stay anywhere else again!

A traveler since childhood, Juliana Fraioli Wilson has always had a love for exploring. She is a published writer and an accomplished business owner with a background in music and art. Join Juliana, her husband Ryan, and their two kids in Wanderland! Follow along as they share tips, tricks, recipes and reviews from some of the most beautiful travel destinations in the world.