By Renuka Christoph
What is it that makes Disney magical? It is part brilliant planning and design and part truly magic. The parks, resorts and shops are always impeccable, despite droves of visitors everyday. Every square inch is Disney quality. It is a place where young and old embrace favorite characters, often wearing accessories of them. This is why the park has returning visitors year after year.
There are so many options within the area and within Disney itself on where to stay. Recommended is Disney’s Beach Club. The resort is within walking distance to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Water taxi is also available. Bus transportation is available to all of the parks and Downtown Disney.
The resort embraces the cottage lifestyle with Northeastern flavor throughout the property. Designed by architect Robert A.M. Stern, who is best known for his East Coast seaside homes, the pristine resort offers the delicacy and charm of the post-modern style.
Beach Club offers 576 rooms, all designed with the ocean in mind. French doors lead to outdoor porches or balconies with stunning views of the private white-sand beach. Disney’s Beach Club Villas provide studios to three bedroom villas.
Stormalong Bay
Resort guests have full access to Stormalong Bay, an outdoor paradise. There are three lagoons ranging in depth. All are connected with lush landscaping surrounding the area.
All ages will enjoy the waterslide. A spiral staircase on a massive shipwreck leads adventurers up a 150-foot mast, to access the fast moving slide.
A tile-lined, 12-person Jacuzzi, reminiscent of the famous old health spas, is the centerpiece of Ship Shape Salon and Fitness Center. Adults can also choose from a steam bath, sauna, a relaxation room and five treatment rooms. There is also a weight room and aerobics room with staff trained to keep that belly off.
After pool activities, hit the Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, an old-fashioned ice cream parlour. Enjoy a burger or go straight to dessert and choose from favorites as a banana splits, frozen hot cocoa, floats, shakes and malts.
Visiting during September or October lends itself access to a great lineup of festivals, including the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival and a Halloween fest.
The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival takes place Sept. 19-Nov. 10. The festival celebrates Puerto Rico and Patagonia during Hispanic Heritage Month
Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
The 53-day culinary extravaganza will welcome guests to a global tasting event that includes a Puerto Rico experience featuring popular island sips and bites, the new Patagonia marketplace with flavors from Argentina and Chile and the popular Mexico marketplace. The festival, which also will present Hispanic and Latin culinary stars hosting dining events and demonstrations is now at Epcot.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Not-so-spooky ghosts and goblins return this fall – while dastardly villains unleash some mischief — during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, delighting fun-seekers of all ages in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort.
On 26 select nights from September 1 through Halloween night October 31, the Magic Kingdom will host this spooktacular after-hours party from 7 p.m. – midnight.
Disney villains take center stage in 2014 with “Villains Mix & Mingle – Live on Stage” castle show; and Club Villain, an all-new nightly character dance party experience takes over the Diamond Horseshoe Saloon in Frontierland. Mischievous villains will be available for guests to meet all night long in locations throughout the park.
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party features Disney characters donning their favorite Halloween costumes, while partygoers navigate treat trails and candy galore throughout the Magic Kingdom themed out for happy haunts. Partygoers can show their Disney Side and dress up in favorite costumes and explore classic Magic Kingdom attractions as well as the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
Eerie entertainment features the twice-nightly “Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade,” at 8:15 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. and “HalloWishes,” a green and orange fireworks spectacle complete with Disney villains, caps the evening festivities at 9:30 p.m.
For more information and to plan a great vacation, visit Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.
Travel In Style
J. Jill offers a spectacular clothing line for travel. It will become a favorite for travel or work with a versatile collection of slick designs. There are plenty of options to choose from offering style and comfort.
The J. Jill Wearever Collection is a travel hit with wrinkle free skirts, pants and jackets. No need to take time out to iron or match clothes with complicated patterns and prints. The collection offers neutral colors and can be easily paired with an assortment of materials and styles.
The Ponte Knit Collection is described as “comfortable with a touch of stretch.” Choices from the collection include pencil skirts and stunning tunic tops which can be dressed up with a chic scarf. All sizes will love to shop and explore all that J.Jill has to offer. Shop in convenience online at www.jjill.com or visit the store at Green Hills Mall. It’s a great choice for travel and makes for light packing.
Travel Tip
A cost feasible travel route from Nashville to Orlando is to fly from Nashville (BNA) to Jacksonville (JAX). With a late flight, stay at Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott located on 1300 Airport Rd. Jacksonville, FL. It makes for a great journey providing rest and relaxation before some full days at Walt Disney World Resort. Arrive within two and half to three hours to Disney, refreshed and ready for some magical fun.
Featured Image Caption: Turn-of-the-century seaside cottages at Martha’s Vineyard are recalled in Disney’s Beach Club Resort, a deluxe-category hotel at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Featuring crisp colors, seashell motifs, french doors and a white sand beach, this waterfront getaway offers 576 luxurious rooms and suites and a 73,000-square-foot convention center. It is located on Crescent Lake in the heart of Disney property.
Photo by: Garth Vaughan