What’s more magical than staying at a Disney Vacation Club Resort? Staying at five Disney Resorts in five days! We love Disney and we love staying in timeshares, so earlier this year we decided to put the two together to create a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. And that’s saying something for us: We’ve been timeshare owners for almost 15 years, and our travels not only inspired our YouTube channels Destination Timeshare and Taziar Travel, but we also became travel agents ourselves (follow our journey on our Instagram page). We travel — a lot! In fact, last year we spent 26 weeks staying in timeshares. We love learning ways to maximize our points, find the best deals (off-peak is usually more affordable and less busy), and pack so we’re ready to take off at the drop of a hat. We even have a list of kitchen items to take with us (yes, the air fryer comes along).
Above all, we love Disney. Melissia fell in love with the Magic Kingdom as an eight-year-old, and the romance is still going strong. Being Disney Annual Pass holders, we wanted to immerse ourselves in a DVC property for a few days. The problem was which one to choose: Disney Vacation Club has 15 resorts in Orlando, each with a different theme and atmosphere. That’s when it hit us: Why not stay at five, and experience five magical worlds of Disney in one visit?
We decided to trade a week of our timeshare with another owner who had 67 DVC points expiring this year that she wasn’t able to use. We were able to arrange a swap and start planning our vacation, picking out the five resorts we most wanted to explore.
The relaxation started before we even set foot in a resort: Disney’s online check-in process meant we could avoid starting our vacation waiting in line. (It also helped minimize contact with other people, a plus during the pandemic.) We simply filled out an online form, linked our Disney Magic Bands to our reservations, and updated our credit card information. Then, once we were at Disney World, we headed each day to our resort, explored the grounds, and received a text when our room was ready. It was truly magical to open the door to our room by simply holding the Magic Band up to the lock!
- We Loved: Tropical vibe, large rooms, access to the water.
- Good to Know: Only one restaurant, quieter vibe than other DVC resorts.
Fittingly, we began our adventure with a night at the very first DVC property, Disney’s Old Key West. Located near Disney Springs, it opened in 1991 and has a tropical island vibe, complete with palm trees, pastel-colored buildings, and fruity drinks. That helped put us immediately into vacation mode, as did the room, the largest studio-style room of our trip. It had two queen beds — with a space for our luggage underneath, a clever touch — a table and chairs, and a kitchenette.
After we settled in, we explored the property, which features four themed pools (one with a waterslide) and even a working lighthouse. We checked out the island-inspired Olivia’s Cafe (try the crab cakes and banana bread French toast) and the Gurgling Suitcase bar, where my drink came with a red, light-up Mickey Mouse ice cube! The resort offers a full roster of activities— including golf, bike rentals, tennis, and more — plus plenty of stops for the bus to Disney’s theme parks.
That night, we sat on the resort’s dock, watching the reflection of the lighthouse on the water as the sun set and the stars came out. We were glad we chose to start our adventure here — after less than 24 hours we were already on “island time.”
- We Loved: Grandeur of the lobby, tucked-away seating areas, grounds with waterfall, lake, and geyser.
- Good to Know: Parking can be far from the room; boats take you to Magic Kingdom, Fort Wilderness Campground, and the Contemporary.
We woke up bright and early on Day 2 and headed to our next resort: Disney’s Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at the Fort Wilderness Lodge. Located near the Magic Kingdom, this complex includes the Fort Wilderness Lodge resort, and two timeshare resorts, Boulder Ridge and Copper Creek. We had full access to all of the pools, restaurants, and other amenities of Fort Wilderness — though there was plenty to keep us occupied at Copper Creek itself!
Copper Creek celebrates American wilderness and the transcontinental railways — a particular interest of Walt Disney himself — and the furniture, lighting, and artwork all contributed to the resort’s rustic lodge vibe. There’s an 82-foot stone fireplace in the timber-lined lobby, and a boulder-lined pool with a waterfall. You can rent a boat to take out onto the lake, or stroll past the pool to watch a geyser erupt 120 feet into the air every hour — just like Old Faithful in Yellowstone.
Our room, a deluxe studio with a kitchenette, was also nature-inspired: We loved the wood headboard, which looked like it had been carved from a tree, the log-framed mirror, and the lantern-like lamps in the bathroom. Our balcony had views of the grounds, including a waterfall that made us feel like we were staying at one of the great National Park lodges. We had dinner that night at Geyser Point Bar & Grill, where we could watch the sunset over the lake while enjoying our bison burger, s’mores brownie, and apple cider sorbet. Ah, Wilderness!
- We Loved: Elegant decor, people-watching on the boardwalk, carnival-themed Luna Pool.
- Good to Know: Epcot is walking distance. Most boardwalk shops and restaurants are currently closed due to the pandemic. Studios have kitchenettes; all other suites have full kitchens.
Each day felt like we were visiting a different place in history. But even though we joked about being time travelers, we were really just driving a few miles to the Epcot area and our next resort, Disney’s BoardWalk Villas. Here, we were transported to turn-of-the-century Atlantic City, and the vibe shifted to one of whimsical childhood fun: brightly colored rugs and carnival paintings in the lobby, a chandelier featuring horses with mermaid tails, and a warm gingerbread scent in the air. It was a complete change of pace from the Wilderness Lodge, but no less inviting.
Our room wasn’t ready yet, so we strolled the boardwalk and checked out the amenities, from the Luna Park pool with its roller-coaster-themed water slide to the bar housed in an old-fashioned carousel. Many of the boardwalk stores were still closed due to the pandemic, but we stopped by the ever-popular Pizza Window to grab a slice and people-watch.
Our deluxe studio room had a queen bed and a sleeper sofa along with a kid-sized, fold-out bed hidden in the TV stand. (When you fold the bed down, it reveals an adorable painting of Dumbo sleeping — so cute!) The bright pastel colors and cheery artwork was consistent with the resort’s carnival theme, and our balcony had a great view of the boardwalk. It’s hard not to be happy when you’re staying here!
- We Loved: Beautiful African-themed lobby, wildlife watching from our Savanna View Room and public viewing areas.
- Good to Know: Parking is quite far from the rooms and long hallways make for lots of lots of walking. Located close to Animal Kingdom; other parks are a bit further.
Resort #4 was at the top of our wish list — and boy, did it live up to our expectations! We’d heard for years how awesome it is to stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas, where you can have a wildlife safari from the comfort of your own room. Our unit, at the Villas at Jambo House, gave us a front-row seat to more than 30 types of African wildlife — giraffes, zebras, flamingoes, gazelles, and more, were all just a few hundred yards away (there’s even a field guide in the room). Definitely bring your camera!
Beyond the wildlife, the theming at this resort is over the top and very authentic. All of the trees and plants came from seeds brought over from Africa, and the hotel’s collection of African art and artifacts is one of the largest in North America. Everywhere you turn there are museum-quality displays of masks, beaded shoes, textiles, and other works with plaques explaining their significance. We loved the chance to learn more about Africa’s various cultures. Our favorite piece was the 16-foot Igbo Ijele mask, an enormous sculpture of brightly colored fabrics in the center of the six-story Jambo House lobby.
In our room, we could barely tear our eyes away from the views of the savanna, but we enjoyed the wood furniture carved with African motifs, the drum-like table, and the patterned fabrics. As in our other rooms, there was a good-sized bathroom and a small kitchenette; the Lion King–style tiles on the backsplash were a fun reminder that we were still in Disney World!
The resort’s two pool areas are surrounded by exotic-looking trees and thatch-roof buildings and include a zero-entry area (with a sloping side to make it easier to get in) and several whirlpools. But we found ourselves watching the animals more than dipping in the pools. After all, how often can you have an up-close-and-personal encounter with African wildlife in your own backyard?
- We Loved: European ambiance, location on the new Disney Skyliner, marble bathroom and other elegant finishes in the room.
- Good to Know: Disney Skyliner, located within steps of the Resort, takes you to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and other resorts. Studio Tower rooms are rather small, with a (comfortable) Murphy bed.
We decided to end our amazing Disney vacation at the newest DVC Resort: the Disney Riviera Resort. Beautifully designed with a European flair, it has hints of the Mediterranean around every corner, from the palm-lined main entrance to the classical and modern European-style furniture in the seating areas. We loved seeing paintings of characters like the Little Mermaid and Snow White, done in the style of Klimt or Van Gogh. My favorite was the huge mosaic depicting scenes from Peter Pan — it’s made of more than 500,000 hand-cut tiles!
Among the lushly landscaped gardens are gurgling fountains and pools with relaxing sun loungers and a Disney-themed splash pad for the kids. We also enjoyed visiting the French-style Le Petit Café, where we had the most delicious lemon cheesecake and a Minnie Mouse cupcake.
We stayed in one of the Tower Studios. At 220 square feet, it was quite a bit smaller than the other rooms we’d tried during this trip. But the compactness was offset by the upscale feeling of the room — like the white marble bathroom with gold fixtures — and the clever design, such as the sofa that converts to a Murphy bed at night. Despite its size, this ended up being our favorite room of the entire trip. Bonus points for being located near the Skyline gondola, which allowed us to visit many other areas of the park.
Conclusion
After surviving five days at five different Disney Vacation Club resorts, we can say for certain that each one provided a completely different experience from the last. Disney tends to each and every detail so you feel completely immersed in the environment. Whether that means watching zebras and giraffes on the savanna, having lunch on an old-fashioned boardwalk, or watching a geyser shoot up into the sky, we were able to taste the many different flavors a vacation can have — all in one destination. Even if you’re not up for staying in five resorts in a row, we highly recommend trying at least two DVC resorts on your next trip to Disney World. Sure, it takes a bit more planning, but it’s an adventure you know you’re going to enjoy. The only downside? Once you let Disney show you the many worlds it’s capable of creating, you may not want to come back to reality!
Melissia and Jeremy Taziar - Apr 27, 2021
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