food IS a theme park
There are Disney World splurges that feel glamorous in theory and then mostly just leave your wallet lying face-down in the street. And then there are Disney World splurges that actually make your vacation easier, calmer, and dramatically less sticky.
©Disney
Enter: the poolside cabanas at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin.
There is a very specific kind of Disney vacation heartbreak that happens when you start out browsing resort rooms “just to look” and then suddenly find yourself staring at a fireworks-view Deluxe room that costs roughly the same as a small appliance, a nice handbag, and part of your dignity combined.
Fireworks over the Swan and Dolphin
Because yes, watching fireworks from your hotel room sounds dreamy. Magical. Effortlessly glamorous. Like the kind of vacation move made by people who never panic-buy ponchos or eat a granola bar in line for Peter Pan’s Flight. But here’s the little loophole hiding in plain sight: you do not necessarily have to book one of Disney’s most expensive Deluxe resorts to get that elevated, fireworks-view, Deluxe-perks kind of trip.
There are two kinds of Disney World hotel “hacks.” The first kind is smart. Efficient. A little smug, maybe, but in an earned way. These are the tricks that make you feel like you just outfoxed the vacation gods with a cold brew in one hand and a Lightning Lane in the other.
Disney’s Beach Club
The second kind? That’s where things start to wobble off the rails. And nowhere is that more obvious than the EPCOT area hotels.
The weather is one of the unavoidable truths of Disney World. The subtropical climate of Central Florida means that rain is pretty much a given the vast majority of the year.
Magic Kingdom
As anyone who has ever been to the resort will tell you, you can basically set your watch to an afternoon rainstorm each day during the warmer months of the year. If you happen to be getting ready for your first trip ever to Disney World, you have to take this into account, and not make the one weather-related packing mistake we see all too often.
Did you know there are some secret Halloween activities in Disney World that don’t require a park ticket?
Walt Disney World Dolphin
We’re big fans of the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels because they get many of the same perks as Disney Resorts, while also having pretty decent pricing (they’re literally right next to Hollywood Studios — you can’t beat that location for the price!). But one of the extra fun things about this resort is that it has specialty Halloween offerings, and you don’t even have to go to a theme park to participate!
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort is going through a transformation of its own — and part of it has officially been completed!
Swan and Dolphin Hotel
The Marriott-owned hotels previously announced a $275 million transformation featuring a new 120,000-square-foot event space expansion, along with upgrades to its existing space, and guest room renovations. While many of these renovations are still in the works, the guest room renovations are now complete and we’re sharing a peek!
Disney World has been a constant hive of activity for a while now.
Walt Disney World Swan
We’ve seen attractions open, a bunch of major park expansions coming over the next few years, and even new hotel additions. So, needless to say, there are a whole host of things to look forward to on your next trip to Disney World. Speaking of something to look forward to, if you’re going to be staying at a Disney World hotel in December, you’re in luck because there are 3 hotels that will have brand new rooms you can stay in!
Some big hotel changes are coming to Disney World!
Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resorts
We’re constantly seeing Disney Resorts get renovations, whether on rooms, the lobby, or restaurants. And recently, a BIG update was announced for the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin. The 3-hotel complex will be getting new convention center space, technological updates, and some renovated rooms!
Disney World is constantly growing and changing these days.
Spaceship Earth at EPCOT
We’re getting several major park expansions in the next few years, as well as some hotel additions. You’ve got to accommodate the growing crowd of people planning their vacations to The Most Magical Place on Earth! And now, another Disney World location has announced a major expansion.
We know this is a “what’s new at Disney World’s hotels” post, but we’ve gotta start out with an honest confession — we’ve been thinking about Halloween all week!
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
We have to blame Disney for that and their Halfway to Halloween event, which brought us spooky snacks that you can get RIGHT NOW, announcements about the return of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party AND Oogie Boogie Bash, and a sneak peek at all the new merchandise we’ll see this year for Halloween. But it’s not all Halloween in Disney World just yet. This week, we’ve spent some time at Disney World’s hotels and there are lots of updates from these spots, including news about BEIGNET EARS?! WHAT?! Let’s go through all the news from the resorts right now!
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