Theme parks have never really been my idea of a vacation. Early mornings, miles of walking, long lines, and navigating crowds—only to return completely exhausted. And then it’s sleep, eat, repeat.
But when little ones travel all the way from India with a wishlist that includes the Mouse House and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you don’t say no—you plan smarter.
We chose to base ourselves at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort, knowing that if the days were going to be high-energy, our evenings needed to feel like a true retreat. And that decision made all the difference.
Located about 6 miles from Disney’s Magic Kingdom in the beautiful Golden Oaks area of Orlando, Four Seasons Resorts Orlando fills the Walt Disney World’s Luxury Lodging void.
The resort is part of the Theme Park, but a little removed from the hustle and bustle and located by a natural Everglades sanctuary that’s home to indigenous wildlife.
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A Review of Four Seasons Resort Orlando
Checking In at Four Seasons Resort Orlando
From the moment we arrived, the experience felt effortless. Our bags were quietly whisked away, check-in was seamless, and the children were immediately drawn in—handed colorful pool bags and resort scavenger hunt passports they could fill with stamps (and later trade in for treats).
But the real magic happened when we stepped into the room.
Our youngest squealed with delight at the thoughtful surprises waiting for her—a tiny tutu skirt, a sparkly wand, and a delicate tiara laid out just for her. It was one of those small, unexpected touches that instantly made the stay feel special.
Of course, the classic debate followed: who gets the “real” bed. Or more accurately, who doesn’t have to sleep on the sofa bed. That lasted all of five minutes—until they realized the sofa bed was just as comfortable as the queen beds, and arguably better positioned for late-night TV.
The rooms were beautifully furnished and opened out to a lovely balcony with sweeping views of the pool, the lake, and even the distant Everglades. Staying on one of the higher floors came with an unexpected bonus—we were told we could actually catch the Magic Kingdom fireworks right from our balcony.
That single detail immediately set off a new kind of planning in my head… mostly involving how I could convince the kids to return to the resort by 5 pm so we could “comfortably” enjoy the evening from there instead of being in the parks.
Since we were traveling with a couple of extra little ones, we opted for two connecting rooms. It worked out perfectly for our group, but a family of four could easily stay comfortably in a single room without feeling cramped.
The Grounds and Golf course at Four Seasons Resort Orlando
The grounds at Four Seasons Orlando Resort at Walt Disney World Resort were grand, set on a lake among gardens and pools, a world of water and natural beauty. The Resort’s Spanish Revival architecture, a style also known as Florida Revival, features terracotta tiled rooftops, square towers, arched windows, and colonnades.
Terraces with classical balustrades overlook the golf course and beautiful gardens planted with mature oak trees, palms and pillars of cypress. The kids loved running through the trees to the pool.
Just around the lake from Four Seasons Resort Orlando is the Tom Fazio-designed championship golf course, an Audubon-certified course managed by Four Seasons. One regret I have is: wish we had made time for golf at the 18-hole golf course!
Pool, Lazy river, Slides at the Explorer Island
The resort also boasts a 250-foot-long waterslide, an 12,000-square-foot lazy river and a complimentary Kids For All Seasons kids camp. A water play heaven – Splash Zone part of the Explorer Island keeps the younger kids entertained in shallow water.
We stopped to play here after a visit to the theme park, I wasn’t exactly sure how they still had energy after a long day at the park. Steps from the lazy river base, there is a sports-themed pool area where kids can play a little volleyball.
There is always complimentary sunscreen and plenty of towels available.
The kiddos also loved Hideout, a supervised indoor area where kids can hang out with friends.
Not interested in water activities, you can also mix it up at The Mansion, a family hangout spot with outdoor table tennis, pool tables, bocce ball, a fireplace and an observation deck that lets you take in the excitement.
Kids can slide down from The Mansion’s main tower in two 242-foot (74-metre) water slides. One slide is enclosed for a thrilling ride with a big splash at the end, and the other is made from see-through fiberglass so you can watch all the fun, inside and out.
Regardless of what you decide to do, there is plenty to keep the family occupied and entertained at the resort, so plan a No Theme park day and just relax at the resort!
Although I didn’t get to visit, there is also an adults-only pool, featuring a wide array of sophisticated elements designed to heighten relaxation including underwater audio.
Restaurants, including one that has a Disney Character Breakfast
The resort had six vibrant restaurants, including a rooftop Spanish-style steakhouse, Capa, specializing in expert cuts, tapas, and fresh Florida seafood; an Italian restaurant in an indoor-outdoor setting; a lively, southern-inspired poolside restaurant, Plancha, a golf clubhouse restaurant serving Cuban-American cuisine; a lovely lobby bar with a full menu overlooking the lake; and Lickety-Split, a colorful coffee bar.
If we didn’t have time for room service breakfast, we stopped at Lickety Split, located in the lobby, to pick up coffee and freshly made breakfast items.
Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort also has a Disney Character Breakfast on certain days when Goofy comes to visit.
Good Morning Breakfast with Goofy & His Pals character breakfast is served twice weekly at Ravello restaurant. You can catch the Magic Kingdom’s fireworks from the balcony of Capa, the steakhouse.
Spa and Stores at Four Seasons Resort Orlando
The 13,000-square-foot Spa offers advanced aesthetic services, beautiful body therapies, and fitness programs all designed to help you look and feel your best. In the Salon, expert hair and nail care are available, and Magical Moments is sure to delight little princesses and knights alike.
The Magical Moments experience at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort is where every little visitor’s dream becomes a reality through a magical princess or prince makeover in the glamorous Salon. If the little princess or prince forgot their outfits at home, they can purchase them at the Fable boutique on site.
I saw some Mickey ears by Missoni, some Four Seasons logo apparel, as well as gifts and memorable treasures and trinkets at the boutique.
Disney Planning Services at Four Seasons Resort Orlando
Disney Cast Members are onsite at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort to help guests plan the perfect Disney itinerary.
We bought our Disney tickets online in advance of our stay but picked them up here. Based on their recommendation, we downloaded the My Disney Experience App, made some Fastpass reservations online before our visit.
This made getting to some of the popular rides so much easier! They can make dining reservations and also have Magic Bands.
But thanks to them, my little nieces thought I was like a mini fairy godmother! And that magic wand kept my niece so entertained, and her little eyes were sparkling with delight every time someone addressed her as ‘Princess’!
While located on Disney property, Four Seasons is not an official Walt Disney World Resort property. Therefore, guests do not enjoy Magic Hour privileges (one-hour early access to select parks opening to the general public).
Visit the Magic Kingdom
The first day, we took the Four Seasons complimentary shuttle bus to Magic Kingdom and did Dumbo, Mad Tea Party, It’s a Small World, The Barnstormer, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh(a family favorite), Under the Sea – Journey of Little Mermaid, Space Mountain, Tomorrowland Indy Speedway, Astro Orbiter and PeopleMover within just a few hours.
Having the fast passes helped. Once you get through the first 3, you can keep adding one more FastPass. We then headed down Main Street U.S.A. and then left into Adventureland. We rode Aladdin’s Magic Carpet and then Pirates of the Caribbean, another favorite movie.
Visiting the Disney theme Parks also involves eating foods shaped like a mouse, you can find waffles, pretzels, and sugar cookies, but the best is ice cream. Perfect treat after all that walking and waiting in line for the rides.
Quickly take pictures for the ‘gram and eat it quickly before it becomes a melty mess. We stayed for the fireworks and made our way back after a quick stop to see Mickey Mouse.
We took the bus back to the hotel, exhausted, and ordered room service. The next day, we woke up early, and we went to Disney’s Animal Kingdom to visit Pandora, the World of Avatar.
Universal and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
We had originally planned to do VIP tour at Universal Studios theme park, but kids were a little exhausted from the first two days, so we decided to take it easy and visit just the Harry Potter areas of the Park, which still required us to get the Park to Park tickets so that you can take the Hogwarts Express between Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade.
The front desk arranged for a cab, which promptly picked us up to take us to Universal. I heard Uber works fine as well, but there is no complimentary shuttle.
We took the train, tried out some spells, went on a few rides and made it back in time for some pool time, dinner at Ravello, and to catch the fireworks while enjoying some cookies.
Other things to do in Orlando
While we didn’t get around to anything other than the theme parks and resort pool, there is plenty to do in the area, from Kennedy Space Center, a kayaking tour in Blue Springs State Park, the winter home of one of Florida’s largest manatee populations, a 2-Hour Airboat Everglades Tour, and more.
See the tours and things to do in Orlando, including great rates on Universal and Disney Theme Parks.
Photos from the magic at Four Seasons Orlando Resort
What we loved: Four Seasons Orlando Resort Review
We loved our stay. The resort brings together Four Seasons luxury and Disney’s magic for families who don’t mind splurging a little on a magical vacation.
I can’t recommend the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World highly enough. We loved watching fireworks from our balcony. The Amenities that were in the room when we checked in for that extra dose of magic, was my favorite part here.
My niece held on to the wand when she wandered around the theme park, sprinkling her fairy dust. When we lost one, the staff didn’t hesitate to find her another one. When she got tired after all that walking, she would still hold that wand tight and fall asleep in the stroller.
Discount on Theme Park Tickets in Orlando
Here are some ways to save on your tickets to the Theme Parks in Orlando
- Walt Disney World
- Universal Orlando
I hope you found this review of Four Seasons Resort at Orlando helpful in planning your trip to Walt Disney World!
This trip had me dreaming of a visit to Aulani Disney Resort in Hawaii. Are you a Disney Fan?
Note: Thank you to Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort for providing us with a media room rates and enough magic to make it a fun and memorable trip. This, however, did not impact my review.
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5 comments
I haven’t stayed at Four Seasons Resort Orlando, but I was in Orlando at the end of May for a work trip. That was the first time I ever used Uber and I highly recommend using it. Orlando is a huge area, so transportation is needed pretty much anywhere you go unless you are staying at or near Walt Disney World for a few days. It’s a fraction of the cost of what a cab ride costs.
As an added bonus, whatever fare is quoted to you on the Uber app stays the same regardless of the time it takes to reach your next destination. If you get stuck in Rush Hour traffic, for example, then your fare doesn’t increase just because the time to reach your final destination increased. I will definitely consider using it for future trips and encourage others to do the same.
The few Four Seasons properties I have been lucky to stay at have all been amazing, but having all the water slides, lazy river, and kids’ club must have made your stay pretty memorable for the little ones.
The hotel looks great and I think I will be able to enjoy my vacation in there. Thanks for the introduction! @ knycx.journeying
I so want to visit Orlando, both Disney and the Harry Potter worlds. Love that you had this grand oasis to return to each day. I’m a theme park junkie too!
This would be my dream. I’ve always been a child at heart and living in Disney land! OMG I WOULD REALLY LOVE IT. You are lucky