What a view!
I love a great view! The view from this new restaurant along the Boardwalk has a magnificent view of the lake. I mean, are you kidding me with that sunset?! I know that views are important to me so when we travel to Disney I almost always choose rooms with views like this during our trip. But should you? If having a great view is important to you, keep reading because I’m going to highlight my favorite views on Disney property!
Decisions, Decisions…
Once you’ve narrowed down your top choice for a resort, you might get confused about the potential room choices and whether or not it’s worth spending the extra dollars to upgrade to an enhanced view. There are tons of options, so it can be a tough choice. Here’s one of my favorites, the Contemporary.
View vs. Location
Alright, let’s get the obvious out of the way. For the purposes of this article, we’re focusing on the VIEW itself and less on the LOCATION of the room from the main lobby. This will help us avoid nitpicking the preferred location at resorts like Caribbean Beach Resort and the All-Star Resorts. Let’s be honest: You aren’t staying at the All-Stars for a view of the football field!
The All-Star Resorts, the cabins at Fort Wilderness, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach, Art of Animation, Port Orleans, Beach and Yacht Club (yep, I said it), and Old Key West will all be left out of this conversation because, in my humble opinion, the views here leave a bit to be desired! While I LOVE these resorts for different reasons, I’m not sitting out on my balcony with a glass of wine here.
This isn’t to say these aren’t great resort choices. If you’re taking a vacation where you’re prioritizing something other than the view (spending more time in the parks, proximity to the parks etc.), these might be the perfect choices! We’ve stayed at most of the above resorts and have thoroughly enjoyed them. For those types of trips, I suggest not splurging on the view and re-allocating those funds somewhere else.
What makes a view worth it?
What constitutes a view? For me, it’s water, sunsets, fireworks, and landmarks (Cinderella castle, I’m looking at you).
You can get all of these must-haves at the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian, making them some of the best resorts on property to pay for that enhanced view. If you get the right room, you’ll be able to see nightly fireworks over Cinderella Castle on the Seven Seas Lagoon. However, these are pretty obvious choices because who doesn’t love these resorts?!
For some not-so-obvious views, though, let’s go to the other side of Lake Buena Vista to a little resort I love called Coronado Springs! Staying in the Gran Destino Tower is going to give you fantastic views of the lake nestled in the center of the resort. Not to mention, the sunset from the tower is magnificent! It’s a bit of a hidden gem in an often-overlooked resort. The downside here is that you won’t have a balcony in these rooms, just huge picture windows to take it all in (which just might be a comfort for those with climbing toddlers).
Nighttime Spectaculars
If you want to catch fireworks from your balcony specifically, a couple of spots often get missed; yes, the monorail resorts are obvious, but the Riviera and Wilderness Lodge both have room categories that’ll get you overlooking the nightly fireworks spectaculars. However, you have to be positioned JUST right! This is a great chance to splurge on a room with a view you won’t regret!
Now, before we get to my FAVORITE view on all of WDW property, I want to throw out my honorable mentions below. When should you consider these types of resorts? I love to recommend these options when you’ll be staying on property for a few days, but you might not be going into the parks. Cruising out of Port Canaveral? Take a few days to enjoy the Disney bubble and snag one of these room types!
The Boardwalk Inn: Selecting a room that overlooks the Boardwalk is a truly unique experience. This area is lit up SO beautifully at night, and you CAN get a fireworks view from some of these balconies. I love this resort location in general, so with or without the view, this is one of my prime vacation spots with or without the view.
Animal Kingdom Lodge: You know what’s coming here- Savanna view rooms! This drives the cost up at this resort a substantial amount, but I’d encourage you to stay in these rooms when you might be taking a slower approach to Disney so you can fully enjoy it. There truly isn’t anything like taking your coffee while watching the giraffes have their breakfast.
Saratoga Springs: This resort often gets overlooked but is comparable to the Riviera in terms of aesthetics; it’s gorgeous! If you choose a preferred view in the Congress Park area, you’ll be just across the lake from Disney Springs—a great location and view of all the action at this dining and entertainment district.
Now, for my all-time favorite view, the Lake View room at the Contemporary!
The view that gets all the attention here is the theme park view, but I personally love the view on the opposite side of the building overlooking Bay Lake. This is where you can sit, enjoy your coffee, and watch the sunrise—it’s gorgeous! If you decide to splurge on the fireworks view, you’ll overlook the Magic Kingdom each morning from your balcony. The only drawback for me is that the parking lots are between you and the park.
What makes this view even sweeter at the Contemporary is if you choose a Club Level lake view room, then take your dessert each evening from the Lounge for the fireworks and get the best of both worlds!!
Will your view at your resort make or break your vacation? Likely not! However, it can truly enhance your time on property and give you some memorable moments.
Stay tuned for future articles where I’ll share even more details on how I make that decision for my family!
Are you asking yourself all of these questions and still confused about your resort choice? I’ve got a solution! You can get your quote here! I’ve stayed at LOTS of resorts on property with a view (and without) and can help you navigate that tough decision.
My services are complimentary, and I’d love to help you find the resort that best suits your family. So much goes into planning a Disney vacation; it doesn’t hurt to work with an expert that has your best interests in mind.
To follow my adventures, visit Smart Moms Travel with Jennifer Nash.
Let’s go to Disney, friends!
