Welcome back to another Disney Top 5.
How many times have you been somewhere you love at Walt Disney World, experiencing one of the magical moments that keep you coming back over and over again, and you think to yourself, “I wish I could be here ALL the time!” Now, for those of you out there with annual passes that live a stone’s throw away from the Magic Kingdom, your response might be, ” Yeah…already do!” But I’m not talking about living near Walt Disney World. Tons of people live near Disney. My own sons live about 20 minutes from Disney property. I’m talking about a spot on property that exemplifies just how much you love being there; someplace you’d actually consider calling home. I know I’ve thought about it. Obviously, I’ve thought about it enough to come up with a list of places that, if for some crazy, impossible yet magical reason Disney would actually let me live there, I’d be ready to move in in a blink of an eye!
Now most of my Top 5 lists over the years have been pretty real and practical. This one in no way, shape, or form falls into that category. This is “blue-sky” thinking—pure fantasyland type stuff. As crazy a fan as I am, I am grounded enough to know that none of these are ever going to come true. But let’s assume that the Walt Disney Company is going to allow me, and my wife—and yes, her agreeing to this is a crucial, yet even more unrealistic part of this fantasy—to live somewhere on property. The choice is mine. This isn’t some contest that the folks in the public relations office at Walt Disney World have dreamed up. Let’s proceed with the ludicrous notion that someone of high importance with the company has said to me, “Hey Chris…you can move in at the end of the month…anywhere on property…no strings attached…what’s your pick?” And, yes, of course…it’s all on them. I’m not buying anything. I’m not paying rent or bills. Just me and the wife, a small amount of our stuff and a dream. Truly delusional, isn’t it? That may very well be the case, but let’s take a look at my Top 5 places I’d like to live on Walt Disney World property.
A few caveats first. As far-fetched as this list is, it has to be practical and livable already, which is why most of my choices are at resorts. As cool as it would be to camp out in the Swiss Family Treehouse for a night or two, you couldn’t actually live there.The same thing goes for Main Street U.S.A in the Magic Kingdom. As far as I know, there are no actual domiciles above the Emporium. Walt’s apartment is above the firehouse in Disneyland, not Walt Disney World, so that option is out, at least for this list. And as much as my childhood self would love to live in the Darling house in Peter Pan’s Flight, that’s not a real house! The same goes for the farmhouse in Living with the Land over at Epcot. I’m told there is an actual room in there, but the rest is a set piece. I’ve actually got to live here, so let’s run with that. I will also readily admit that I have not actually been in most of these “homes.” I’ve only admired their locations and seen them from the outside. But this is dream time, so let’s go!
5 – Old Key West 2 BR Villa – Building 45
We finally stayed at Old Key West last summer, and while it didn’t make a drastic leap to the top of my resort list, I certainly get its appeal. First of all, the rooms are so spacious. I’d say it’s the biggest room I’ve stayed in on Disney property. Next, there’s a hot tub in the unit! It’s practically in my bedroom. That goes a long way for me after a day walking around in the parks. We love the main restaurant at Old Key West, Olivia’s. I’d be hard-pressed not to have a weekly brunch there on Sundays if I actually did live there. The resort has the most neighborhood feel of any of the Disney DVC resorts. It feels less like a Disney resort and more like a Disney apartment complex. That’s one of the reasons I’m not rushing back to stay there. But the big selling point for me and why I think I’d live there was our particular building and our particular deck. If you check out the Old Key West map, building 45 is right on the river with a view of wild Florida forest on the other side.
The view of our 2nd floor unit at Old Key West. Photo by Chris Barry.
All the decks in the resort are huge! A full table and four chairs, and still there’s extra room. I love that the main bedroom gets its own door to the deck as well as the main doors into the living room. I could sit out there all day waving to the boats as they pass by.
The massive deck along the Sassagoula River would be my favorite place to be. Photo by Chris Barry.
It’s one of my favorite spots on Disney property, and I could see myself living right there. It would have to be this building, though. I have no interest in a view of other buildings or the golf course. If I’m moving in, I want my river view!
4 – Saratoga Springs 3 BR Grand Villa – Congress Park
We’ve stayed at Saratoga several times over the past few years and this resort has really grown on me. It’s got a great vibe, lots of beautiful spaces to walk, and it’s right on the river and the lake, with Disney Springs just a stroll away. I’ve never actually stayed in one of the 3-bedroom Grand Villas, of course, but you can’t help but notice the huge two-story windows as you walk around the resort; they appear spacious and inviting. I’ll state up front that I’m not a huge fan of Disney Springs. When I’m on a Walt Disney World vacation, Springs reminds me too much of shopping at home. I can go to an Anthropologie at my local mall here on Long Island. I don’t really need to do that on my Disney trip. That said, if I am actually moving in, the restaurants and shops in Springs would certainly be a plus, especially given that they are within walking distance of the resort. I would choose the Congress Park section of the resort, not because of its proximity to Disney Springs, but because of its waterside location along Lake Buena Vista.
Congress Park as viewed from the water. Photo by Chris Barry.
Despite my distaste for Springs, it does provide some nice eye candy from across the lake, especially at night. I also love the quiet pool and hot tub in Congress Park. It’s the best pool at this resort and one of my favorites on property. Congress Park can be downright peaceful, and I think I would love to sit out on the balcony of my Grand Villa, watching the boats and Amphicars ply the lake. Sounds like a decent place to settle down to me.
3 – Polynesian Village Bora Bora Bungalow
I’ll bet a lot of you reading this will be surprised that this isn’t the number one slot on my list. Believe me, it’s tempting to make this number one. We’ve stayed at the Poly three times in our lives, although never in one of the DVC villas or bungalows. The first two times we stayed there, back in 2010 and 2011, we absolutely loved it. And what’s not to love? The Poly is a classic nestled on the shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon, with beautiful grounds and views of the Magic Kingdom in the distance. It’s got a great vibe and one of our favorite restaurants, the Kona Cafe. We visit the resort quite a bit, even when we are staying elsewhere, but lately we’ve found the Poly a little hectic and a little crazy. That said, if Disney gave the word and told me to move into a bungalow on the water with my own plunge pool over the lagoon and views of the Magic Kingdom fireworks each night, I’m in for sure.
The last unit on the left there would be the perfect choice for me. Photo by Chris Barry.
I haven’t been in one, but I’ve seen videos and photos online, and they look amazing. I don’t want to be picky, but I’d especially want the unit on the end closest to the Polynesian’s volcano pool. I think sitting on that deck literally over the water at night with the boats pulling into the Poly dock and the fireworks off in the distance would be a small slice of heaven.
2 – Wilderness Lodge Cascade Cabins
We’ve only managed to stay at The Wilderness Lodge once in all the years that we’ve been going to Walt Disney World. Back in the day, when the kids were little, we were a family of 5, and the lodge didn’t have enough room for us. When we visit nowadays, it’s with our cast-member sons, and for some reason the Wilderness Lodge rarely, if ever, comes up as a place to stay. And that’s a shame because this is truly one of Disney’s most beautiful resorts. The grounds, the Bay Lake views, the theming…it’s all amazing. On a recent visit after our breakfast at Whispering Canyon, we took a stroll over to the Copper Creek Villas and Cabins, and that was the first time I laid eyes on the Cascade Cabins.
The Cascade Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge are just about perfect. Photo by Chris Barry.
Needless to say, I was pretty blown away and instantly wanted to stay there, and then when this article popped into my head, I deeply wanted to move into my own cabin on the water! Once again, I have not been inside one of the cabins, but that doesn’t matter. The online video tours are enough for me. The soaring ceilings, the screened-in porch, the double-sided stone fireplace, and, to top it all, my own hot tub out on the deck overlooking Bay Lake with distant Magic Kingdom fireworks views…do I have to say anymore?
1 – BoardWalk 3 BR Grand Villa
The Yacht Club is our all-time favorite Disney resort. It has been for a long time now. We’ve stayed at just about every one of the Deluxe resorts – only the Riviera has escaped us, but we have visited and dined there – and Yacht still wins for us hands down. So, I wanted my number one choice on this list to be one of the suites at the Yacht Club, either the Ambassador, Commodore, or Presidential. If you know the Yacht Club, they are all in that turreted section right along Crescent Lake. What I realized, though, is that none of them, not even the Presidential Suite, has a full kitchen. And as I said above, my choices actually have to be livable. So the Yacht Club has to be off the list.
If I can’t live in the Yacht Club, I can at least look at it everyday. Photo by Chris Barry.
However, I still want to be around Crescent Lake. That’s my favorite spot on all of Walt Disney World property. The ability to stroll into Epcot so easily, lap around the BoardWalk early in the morning or at night, the views of the fireworks, plenty of excellent dining options, and the overall vibe make the BoardWalk the winner for me, for sure. So the best option, hands down, is one of the 3-bedroom Grand Villas at Disney’s BoardWalk. Once again, I haven’t actually been inside one, but the online YouTube tours sold me. They look spacious. Each bedroom area has its own balcony, and that’s in addition to the huge main balcony off the living room. But most important is the view. You can’t beat the view looking out at Crescent Lake across at my beloved Yacht Club and Spaceship Earth peeking out over the treeline with a perfect view of the fireworks. All of that and easy access to everything the BoardWalk has to offer. Give me the keys. I’m moving in!
Once I realized that Yacht Club was out of contention, it was a tough battle between the Cabins and the BoardWalk. In the end, Crescent Lake has a bit more vibe and energy and the ability to walk right into World Showcase so easily, so it was the clear winner for me. None of this is reality, of course. So, I’ll have to be happy enough visiting several times a year, but if someone in high places at the Walt Disney Company wants to experiment with someone living in one of the resorts for a year or maybe longer…be sure to give me a call. You’ll have me at hello!
That’s all for this time. Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you next time with another Disney Top 5.
