The Magic of Disney with a Touch of Luxury
- Rachel Sandberg
- Jul 6, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 9, 2024
There are ways to add luxury to any vacation. Whether it's exploring National Parks, vacationing in a foreign country, or visiting the Walt Disney World theme park. Read on to hear about some of my most recent splurge-worthy Disney experiences.
Luxury Lodging at Disney's Riviera Resort
Disney has a myriad of accommodations at all price points. But the Deluxe category is where Disney truly shines. During my last visit, I stayed at one of the newest deluxe resorts, the European-themed Riviera Resort. While the lobby, pool and restaurants are everything you would want in an upscale hotel, to me, it's the guest room that really stood out.
Our deluxe studio was spacious and thoughtfully designed. The entryway is more like a mud room with a full-size closet and plenty of space to keep your luggage. It provided great separation between the front door and the sleeping area. In fact, I never heard noise from the hallway. Maybe we got lucky and were on a really quiet floor or maybe it was the room design. Either way, it was wonderful. Just for comparison, we also stayed at one of Disney's moderate resorts - Disney's Port Orleans-Riverside - for the first 2 nights of this trip. It is a cute resort but my biggest gripe is that the walls are paper thin. Don't even think about trying to sleep in or take a nap in the afternoon. From the families leaving at 6:30 in the morning to make it to the park before opening, to housekeeping cleaning all day long, you will hear everything.
Ok, back to The Riviera- The absolute best feature of our room was the bathroom area - I call it an "area" because it is essentially 2 separate bathrooms. One side has a toilet and an opulent walk-in shower with 2 shower heads! The other side has a single sink vanity and tub/shower combo. These areas can be separated by a pocket door so you literally feel like you have 2 bathrooms. This is a game changer for getting the family out the door in time for those early morning rope drops.
For sleeping, the room had a queen bed as well as a couch with a pull-down Murphy bed over it. So instead of having to sleep on a pull-out sofa, the kids get an actual bed which is much more comfortable. There is even a pull-down twin bed under the tv so the room can sleep 5.
Overall, I highly recommend this hotel. The rooms are fantastic. Everything in the resort is nice and new. It has one of the most highly rated restaurants and Character dining experiences atTopolino's Terrace. And the Skyliner to Epcot and Hollywood Studios is quick and easy. It might just be my new favorite Disney resort.
Entryway with 2 separate entrances into bathroom
Sliding door to separate toilet/shower from sink/bathtub
View from our room
Fine Dining at Disney - Monsieur Paul
I am a foodie at heart and having an elevated dining experience is one of my favorite parts of vacation. Monsieur Paul in the France pavilion at Epcot absolutely nailed it. I feel like this restaurant doesn't get talked about much and I'm not really sure why. Maybe it's the price point that scares people away or maybe it's because you can't take children under the age of 10. But let me tell you. If you want a special occasion, go here (and yes, babysitting can be arranged at your resort). It is a 7 course prix-fixe menu that Disney describes as a "gastronomic meal - one in which you devote yourself to the 'art of eating and drinking well'". Very French, indeed. Be prepared that if you take your older children, you will be paying the full price. There is no kid's menu. Also, this restaurant does encourage you to dress "appropriately", but because it is located in a Disney park, that term is used loosely. I made my teenagers wear a nice shirt (with shorts for a compromise, lol) and I wore a sun dress. We were probably the dressiest people there. But hey, I wanted to dress according to the ambiance so I was glad we looked nice.
To start your dining experience, adults are served a glass of champagne and the kids are given a virgin Cosmo complete with a unique lime foam topping and real martini glass. Definitely the most fancy drink my son and his friend have ever had. It's little touches like this that make the Disney dining experience truly memorable for the whole family. And the food. It was AMAZING. Probably the best fish course I have ever had in my life. "Snapper in potato scales with thyme sauce". Just get it. The sauce is buttery and decadent and pairs perfectly with the delicate fish. The amuse-bouche of tuna tartare and dessert -- chocolate almond cake, with chocolate cream, chocolate ice cream, and a warm chocolate cognac sauce -- (I was in pure chocolate heaven) were my other 2 favorite courses. Overall, this is a meal we will never forget and making memories is what Disney is all about.
This post just touches the surface of the many ways you can elevate your Disney vacation. I can help you and your family achieve these luxurious memories and more. Reach out to me today to create the perfect Disney itinerary.
-Rachel Sandberg, Luxury Travel Advisor
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