The press release contains complete information about current Walt Disney World Resort ticket prices, resort hotel rates, special savings for Florida residents and more.

Magic Your Way: Facts On Walt Disney World Prices (PDF)

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, nestled on the picturesque shores of Seven Seas Lagoon between Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Polynesian Resort, welcomed its first modern-day time-travelers in mid-1988.

The 867-room hotel featuring complete resort facilities recalls the days when John D. Rockefeller, Thomas Edison and even President Theodore Roosevelt led the annual winter pilgrimage to the land of friendly sunshine, where rowboats and palm fans replaced snow shoes and pot-belly stoves.  Canary palms, southern magnolias and richly colored gardens complete the historic theme.

Often referred to as “the jewel in the crown” of Disney’s Vacation Kingdom, Disney’s Grand Floridian also may be the first resort of its kind since the golden era of Henry M. Flagler and Henry Plant.  But this time, it has all the advantages of 21st century living — including monorail service that stops right beside the 19th century Grand Lobby.

Complementing the guest accommodations are restaurants, lounges, snack bars, an arcade, shopping, swimming pools, children’s playground, marina, beauty salon and 10,000-square-foot spa and health club.  The luxurious, full-service spa offers an array of fitness and beauty treatments from aromatherapy body wraps to citrus zest massages.

Like Disney’s other resorts, Disney’s Grand Floridian has a distinctive theme that carries through architecture, landscape, furnishings and costumes.

The style of the buildings is reminiscent of the Victorian era but is more playful and relaxed — embellished by intricate lattice work and balustrades and 120 miles of scrolls, turnposts and curved moldings.  Snow-white towers and red-shingle roofs make a dramatic first impression on guests.

The resort accommodations are among the most luxurious on Disney property.  The club-level and suite rooms with private elevator access in the 225,000-square-foot Sugar Loaf Key building include in-room facilities such as a wet bar and lavish decor.  One of the resort’s five lodge buildings also features personal concierge service.

In the main building, the third-floor concierge lobby includes two concierge desks designed to provide personalized services such as check-in/check-out, reservations, information, etc.  The fourth-floor concierge lobby includes a quiet seating area where club-level guests can enjoy, at no additional charge, continental breakfasts and evening cocktails.

Throughout the hotel, guestroom decor, as it did a century ago, enhances the atmosphere of a refuge from harsh winters and the hectic big-city pace.  Features include soft, spring-like colors and printed wall coverings, armoires and other furnishings in light woods, marble-top sinks with old-fashion fittings, and Victorian woodwork.

Most rooms include two queen-size beds plus a day bed.  Suites include a parlor plus one to three bedrooms.

An open-cage elevator, aviary, palms and ferns set the mood in the sitting area of the Grand Lobby, which reaches five stories to a Victorian ceiling adorned with three illuminated stained-glass domes, ornate chandeliers and metal scrolls.

Shops carry on the theme in displays featuring turn-of-the-century toys and clothing.

Shopping options are abundant at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. On the first floor, the newly refurbished Sandy Cove Gifts & Sundries carries food, drinks and snack items, plus medicine, suntan lotion, stamps and other various sundries. Resort logo items for adults and various Disney Parks merchandise make Sandy Cove Gifts & Sundries a must see. Summer Lace – a ladies’ shop – offers upscale designer clothing, hair accessories, costume and fine jewelry, watches, swimwear, casual shoes, fragrances and Guerlain makeup in an elegant and airy setting. Resort logo items for women can also be found here.

On the second floor, M. Mouse Mercantile is just a few steps from the monorail.  There’s toys, costumes, Disney Pin Trading, costume jewelry and children’s apparel. On the same floor, Commander Porter’s – a men’s shop – carries Disney golf shirts and assorted accessories. Upscale items by various designers, plus cigars, watches, casual shoes fragrances and more are offered.

Dining opportunities at Disney’s Grand Floridian are diverse — from flatbreads, pizzas and grill entrees at Gasparilla Grill and Games to intimate, candlelight, gourmet dinners at Victoria & Albert’s, with elegant service fit for royalty.  The largest restaurant is Cítricos featuring sun-drenched Provençal colors and an open-air kitchen.  1900 Park Fare hosts character dining at breakfast and dinner plus the popular Wonderland Tea Party.  Grand Floridian Cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.  My Disney Girl’s Perfectly Princess Tea Party is offered daily in Garden View Lounge.

All major dining locations are in the main building except Narcoossee’s, a seafood restaurant on a romantic shoreline location.  Octagon-shaped and open-beamed, Narcoossee’s features a show kitchen where cooks broil, steam, sauté and smoke the catches of the day. The new Beach Pool Bar & Grill offers a grill menu and other specialty entrees.

Hotel recreation is water-oriented — white sand beaches on Seven Seas Lagoon, a marina with rental craft.  Beach Pool offers guests a natural springs setting complete with a waterfall flowing from a 27-foot-tall stone mountain. Kids can make a splash in the new “Alice in Wonderland” themed water activity play area. For the most lavish water experience, the Grand 1 offers a pampered VIP boating experience on Seven Seas Lagoon overlooking Magic Kingdom.  The 52-foot Sea Ray yacht sails on morning, afternoon or evening excursions, featuring a fireworks display above Magic Kingdom on select evenings.  For the ultimate cruise, private butler service and on-board gourmet dining is available.

The new Senses, a full-service spa and health club pampers guests with a variety of personalized treatments including massage therapy, body treatments, facials, manicures and pedicures.  Men’s and women’s sauna, steam room, whirlpool and a workout room round out the amenities.

Reservations can be arranged through the Walt Disney World Central Reservations Office:
407/W-DISNEY, a local travel agent, or at www.disneyworld.com.

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Guests can walk or go by tram from the resorts to Epcot, or travel by water taxi to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  Convenient bus service transports guests throughout Walt Disney World Resort.

The luxury club hotels on the shores of 25-acre Crescent Lake are designed by noted architect Robert A.M. Stern, best known for his East Coast seaside homes.  The resorts take guests back to the 1890s with fancy-cut shingles, French doors and other post-modern embellishments that are the trademark of Stern’s work.

The imagery follows through in Stormalong Bay, a 2 ½-acre water recreation area reminiscent of a Nantucket beach with a life-size shipwreck with water slides, snorkeling in a sandy lagoon and a meandering swimming area that seemingly flows into the surrounding lake.

There is also a 73,000-square-foot convention center adjacent to the resorts that includes a 36,000-square-foot ballroom capable of seating up to 2,800 for dinner.

Complementing each other, the three-, four- and five-story club hotels nonetheless have distinctive architectural styles.  Each hotel has its own entrance motif, main lobby, restaurants and retail shops.

New England Echoes in Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Oak floors, antique chandeliers and rich millwork and brass evoke memories of New England summer days in Disney’s Yacht Club Resort.  Cast members in navy blue blazers greet guests as they check into the silvery-gray clapboard hotel.

The nautical theme carries through in the hotel’s restaurants.  With porthole windows and a picturesque wall of moving sailboats, Captain’s Grille features regional New England foods like chowder, fresh fish and home-baked breads along with sandwiches, steaks and chicken specialties.

Yachtsman Steakhouse is inspired by Northeastern eateries with a glassed beef-aging room, open-air kitchen and hardwood-fired grills for meats and vegetables.  The dining area features a spacious rotunda room as well as a private room with seating for 12.

For hors d’oeuvres and drinks, rustic Crew’s Cup Lounge offers beers from around the world in frosted mugs.  The room is designed in reclaimed Southern pine with copper accents, and the walls are lined with art and memorabilia of Ivy League rowing teams.

The 621-room hotel offers luxurious suites, including presidential and vice-presidential suites.  Spacious rooms decorated in blues and whites carry through the nautical theme.  All have French doors that open onto porches or balconies.

An expansive croquet lawn at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort goes with the relaxed, leisure spirit of the 1870s, and the resort’s marina lighthouse welcomes guests home after a day in the Walt Disney World theme parks.

Disney’s Beach Club Resort More Whimsical

The pale-blue-and-white “stick-style” Beach Club is “a little bit of this, a little bit of that,” said Stern with a smile.  Stick style, he explained, was the prevalent architecture for seaside wooden cottages in the 1860s and 1870s, “like grandmother’s fabulous beach house — ceiling fans, chintz, gingham.”

The crisp colors open up the hotel’s lobby with white wicker furniture, 24-foot-high ceilings, natural French limestone floors and a seashell motif.  Cast members are dressed in more casual pastel knickers or dresses.

Restaurants range from an authentic clambake with a rockweed steamer in the 218-seat

Cape May Cafe to Martha’s Vineyard, a cozy 59-seat lounge featuring a wide variety of wines.

All of the 576 rooms continue the “summer cottage” ambiance with cool colors, a scattering of seashells and French doors to outdoor porches and a white-sand beach. Disney’s Beach Club Villas sit adjacent to Disney’s Beach Club Resort offering Disney Vacation Club accommodations ranging from studios to three bedroom villas. The Dunes Club quiet pool is just steps away from the villas.

Both hotels offer child-care facilities and are accessible to handicapped guests.

Stormalong Bay

Guests can splash through three lagoon areas — including one specifically designed for younger water-lovers, with a depth of 2 to 3 feet.

A spiral stair on board the life-sized shipwreck ascends to a 150-foot mast, broken and askew to serve as a flume plummeting toward a rocky outcropping where another 150 feet of spins complete a fast-moving thrill slide.

Each hotel also features a “quiet pool” in alcoves far removed from Stormalong Bay.  There also are motorized watercraft at the resort marina.

A tile-lined, 12-person Jacuzzi, reminiscent of the famous old health spas, is the centerpiece of the newly renovated  Ship Shape Salon and Fitness Center.  A steam bath, sauna, relaxation room and five treatment rooms are available.  A weight room and aerobics room both have staff trained to assist guests.

The centrally located Beaches & Cream old-fashioned ice cream parlour is the place to head after a swim or workout, where guests can order burgers and decadent desserts like banana splits, frozen hot cocoa, floats, shakes and malts.

Meeting Space Themed to Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

A 73,000-square-foot convention center carries through the oyster-gray color and architecture of Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, with elegant, “patriotic” red, white and blue interiors.  Largest space is the 36,000-square-foot Grand Harbor Ballroom.  The remaining space may be divided into more than a dozen meeting rooms.

The convention center is joined to Disney’s Yacht Club Resort by a covered walkway.

Reservations can be made by calling 407/W-DISNEY, a travel agent, or www.disneyworld.com.

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Themed to one of the most celebrated animated films of all time “The Little Mermaid” features 864 standard hotel rooms that sleep up to four guests. With a sea-inspired color palette and an aquatic motif, guests become part of her world as they plunge “under the sea” into Ariel’s secret grotto.  Playful film-inspired décor and characters from the undersea kingdom including Ursula, King Triton and Sebastian come to life both inside guestrooms and in the courtyard.

Guests can lounge poolside at the Flippin’ Fins pool, one of three pools at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.

The Little Mermaid opening completes the build-out of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort that includes, “Finding Nemo,” “Cars” and “The Lion King” family suites themed to beloved Disney Pixar animated features.

Rates start at $94 for “The Little Mermaid” rooms. For bookings, visit disneyworld.com.

Each of four distinctly designed wings celebrates rich storytelling, spirited characters, original sketches and playfulness with colorful icons and whimsical theming inspired by classic Disney and Disney•Pixar films. The three-story, value resort – now complete — began its phased opening May 31, 2012.

Three family suite wings showcase “Finding Nemo” with 320 suites, “Cars” with 480 suites, and “The Lion King” with 320 suites. All the themed areas offer elaborate storytelling both inside and out, from each beloved film depicted. Standard guest rooms make up “The Little Mermaid” wing, the final phase that opened Sept. 15 with 864 rooms.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort tells the story of the animation process in phases from pencil drawings to close-ups. It immediately transports guests into the worlds of favorite Disney characters and animated films beginning at arrival as pixilated patterns and wavy ribbons of bold colors decorate the resort’s exterior.  Inside the lively and modern Animation Hall lobby, the evolution of Ariel, Lightning McQueen, Nemo and Simba from early artist sketches to finished image — greet guests, and a whimsical chandelier composed of 77 animation storyboards enhances the scene.

“Our goal was to make guests feel like they have been immersed in the artistry and enchantment of Walt Disney and Disney•Pixar animated classics,” said Walt Disney Imagineer Frank Paris.

Giant sketchbooks filled with favorite characters seem to come to life as they pave the way to each storyline revealed throughout the lobby.  Scenic settings and icons—including a brightly-colored coral landscape, a 35-foot-tall model of King Triton, a towering Mufasa and more—immerse guests into the playful world of animation in each respective courtyard. At the “Cars” wing, a freshly paved road leads to the Cozy Cone Motel complete with a Cozy Cone pool and cone-shaped cabanas.

It’s a safari through an African landscape in “The Lion King” complete with an elephant graveyard play area that invites youngsters to seek hakuna matata time. Treasures from the human world fill Ariel’s grotto in an under- the-sea kingdom in The Little Mermaid wing.

Playful accents that are hallmarks of outdoor areas extend indoors. From linens and carpeting to fixtures and furniture, all details of the guestrooms tie to the storyline. In “Finding Nemo,” there’s coral-shaped chairs and bubble ceiling lights; rusty metallic tiles in the bathroom make guests feel as though they are in the submarine. Zazu takes center stage on the headboards in “The Lion King,” while Pumbaa and Timon decorate the shower curtain.

Resort dining options in the main Animation Hall include a poolside snack bar, pizza delivery and Landscape of Flavors food court. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the food court features items such as fresh smoothies, hand-scooped gelato and Mongolian barbecue. Original art backgrounds from featured films decorate the walls in the dining area, adding to the attention to detail and sense of immersion. The Pixel Play Arcade, Drop Off pool bar, and Ink and Paint gift shop round out the offerings.

Here’s a look around each themed wing of the resort:

Finding Nemo

Kids of all ages can make a splash at the “Big Blue” pool — centerpiece of the resort — and the largest resort swimming pool at Walt Disney World Resort measuring 11,859 square feet. Guests will feel like they are swimming with Dory and Nemo as underwater speakers periodically pipe in music and messages from film characters. Guests will enter scenes from the animated world and can explore the colorful reef and East Australian Current with a giant-sized Mr. Ray whose wings span 27 feet, pose for a picture with Crush or frolic with Squirt in the Righteous Reef, a dry children’s play area.  Nemo’s mates Pearl, Tad and Sheldon make a splash at the Schoolyard Sprayground, a wet play area with refreshing sprayers.

And the character sketches become three dimensional with some 2,500 sculpted figures decorating both the resort’s exterior and interior.

Inside the  spacious suites the whimsy of the film is depicted  with jellyfish lampshades, a coral reef themed headboard, and cheerful color scheme.

Kids will enjoy the daily character artist in the “Finding Nemo” lobby, plus bingo, hula hoop contests, ping pong and nighttime movies, all poolside.

Cars

Lightning McQueen, Mater, Flo and other characters from the popular Pixar film “Cars” offer high octane fun in the Cars wing. Featuring 480 family suites, a freshly paved road leads guests on the greatest road trip ever, a cruise down memory lane to small town America — Radiator Springs.  Parked at the entryway, Sheriff, and the infamous Doc Hudson, welcome folks into town, along with other car “faces” parked along the road.

There are backdrops of Luigi’s Casa Della Tires, Tow Mater Towing and the Wheel Well Motel, creating an authentic setting lifted from the super-charged adventure.

All roads lead to the 60-s style Cozy Cone Motel where distinctive orange cone-shaped cabanas invite guests to kick back and then take a dip in the Cozy Cone Pool. High-octane theming is full-throttle inside the family suites, with orange cones imprinted in the carpeting and adorning the light fixtures plus animation-inspired artwork. Guests will feel as though they walked into a scene from the blockbuster film as a pull-out bed extends from the living room sofa (whimsically appearing as the back seat of an old hot rod), the tool chest is actually the dresser and the bathroom design is inspired by a car wash.

The Lion King

The Lion King wing celebrates the journey of Simba, with landscapes and theming that reflect playful and poignant scenes from the Academy Award-winning Walt Disney Pictures animated film “The Lion King.”

Here, guests embark on a journey through Africa encountering characters and scenic moments from the film classic at every turn. King Mufasa towers atop Pride Rock while his evil brother Scar slinks in the shadows beyond the elephant graveyard. There’s Pumbaa and Timon with a young Simba dancing across a log bridge in true carefree “hakuna matata” fashion. Scar’s crazed and comical hyenas “guard” the elephant graveyard, a fun area sure to delight youngsters.

Inside the 320 family suites, the storytelling comes to life. Zazu takes center stage on the headboards while Pumbaa and Timon decorate the shower curtain. Youngsters can rest on a leaf-shaped chair or sleep alongside Simba who slumbers at the head of one of the beds.

The Little Mermaid

Guests are invited to slumber in Ariel’s colorful retreat at “The Little Mermaid” wing. Themed to one of the most celebrated animated films of all time “The Little Mermaid” features 864 standard hotel rooms that can sleep up to four guests. With a sea-inspired color palette and an aquatic motif, guests become part of her world as they plunge “under the sea” into Ariel’s secret grotto.

Playful film-inspired décor and characters from the undersea kingdom including Ursula, King Triton and Sebastian come to life both inside guestrooms and in the courtyard.

Guests can lounge poolside at the Flippin’ Fins pool, one of three pools at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, situated adjacent to Disney’s Pop Century Resort, offers rates for family suites from $248 per night. The 1,120 family suites include two bathrooms, a kitchenette and three separate sleeping areas that can sleep up to six. The 864 standard rooms at The Little Mermaid can sleep up to four, with rates as low as $94.

Those staying at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort are treated to complimentary transportation, Extra Magic Hours and other benefits available to a Disney Resort hotel guest. (NOTE: Extra Magic Hours of up to two hours after park close take effect in January-February 2013).

For reservations, guests can call 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) or contact their travel agent.

About Walt Disney World Resort

Walt Disney World Resort is a contiguous 40-square-mile, world-class entertainment and recreation destination featuring four theme parks (Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park); two water adventure parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon); 34 resort hotels (25 owned and operated by Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, includes seven Disney Vacation Club resort properties); 81 holes of golf on five courses; two full-service spas; Disney’s Wedding Pavilion; ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex; and Downtown Disney. Located at Lake Buena Vista, Fla., 20 miles southwest of Orlando, Walt Disney World Resort opened Oct. 1, 1971, and is open daily, year-round. For more information, visit www.disneyparks.com.

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Themed to one of the most celebrated animated films of all time “The Little Mermaid” features 864 standard hotel rooms that can sleep up to four guests. With a sea-inspired color palette and an aquatic motif, guests become part of her world as they plunge “under the sea” into Ariel’s secret grotto.  Playful film-inspired décor and characters from the undersea kingdom including Ursula, King Triton and Sebastian come to life both inside guestrooms and in the courtyard.

Guests can lounge poolside at the Flippin’ Fins pool, one of three pools at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.

The Little Mermaid opening completes the build-out of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort that includes, “Finding Nemo,” “Cars” and “The Lion King” family suites themed to beloved Disney Pixar animated features.

Rates start at $94 for “The Little Mermaid” rooms. For bookings, visit disneyworld.com.

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The storytelling comes to life inside the 320 family suites. Zazu takes center stage on the headboards while Pumbaa and Timon decorate the shower curtain. Youngsters can rest on a leaf-shaped chair or sleep alongside Simba who slumbers at the head of one of the beds.

The Lion King wing marks the third in the four-phase opening of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Earlier this summer, 320 “Finding Nemo” family suites and 480 “Cars” family suites opened. Each of four distinctly designed wings of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort celebrates rich storytelling, spirited characters, original sketches and playfulness with colorful icons and whimsical theming inspired by classic Disney and Disney•Pixar films.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Aug. 10, 2012) -The Pride Lands of Africa is the scenic setting for the “Lion King,” the third phase of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort opened Aug. 10, 2012 at Walt Disney World Resort.  The new Lion King wing celebrates the journey of Simba, with landscapes and theming that reflect playful and poignant scenes from the Academy Award-winning Walt Disney Pictures animated film “The Lion King.”

In the new Lion King wing, guests embark on a journey through Africa with encounters with characters and scenic moments from the film classic at every turn. King Mufasa towers atop Pride Rock while his evil brother Scar slinks in the shadows beyond the elephant graveyard. There’s Pumbaa and Timon with a young Simba dancing across a log bridge in true carefree “hakuna matata” fashion. Scar’s crazed and comical hyenas “guard” the elephant graveyard, a fun area sure to delight youngsters.

The storytelling comes to life inside the 320 family suites. Zazu takes center stage on the headboards while Pumbaa and Timon decorate the shower curtain. Youngsters can rest on a leaf-shaped chair or sleep alongside Simba who slumbers at the head of one of the beds.

The Lion King wing marks the third in the four-phase opening of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Earlier this summer, 320 “Finding Nemo” family suites and 480 “Cars” family suites opened. Each of four distinctly designed wings of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort celebrates rich storytelling, spirited characters, original sketches and playfulness with colorful icons and whimsical theming inspired by classic Disney and Disney•Pixar films.

The whimsical property, situated adjacent to Disney’s Pop Century Resort, offers rates from $248 per night. The 1,120 family suites include two bathrooms, a kitchenette and three separate sleeping areas that can sleep up to six. The 864 standard rooms at the “Little Mermaid” wing, opening in September, will sleep up to four, with rates as low as $94.

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