A Room with a Grand View!
By: Becky CriswellSeptember 12, 2017
Last year I had a fantastic vacation with friends, staying at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort. It was my first time there! I enjoyed the atmosphere in the Royal Guest Room, and the Disney magic that I experience every time I stay on Disney property.We spent the week park hopping, eating at our favorite restaurants, and spending late nights shopping in Disney Springs. On our very last night I had the opportunity to do something I never thought I would be able to do. Thanks to my gracious friends who had earned a free night at any deluxe resort, I was able to spend the night in a theme park-view room at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Talk about a WOW moment when we checked in and I first got a look at our room and view.If you have never visited the Grand Floridian, I can tell you that just stepping into the lobby will take your breath away. The pristine, classy Victorian atmosphere feels both welcoming and luxurious. The grounds are well kept, the pools are inviting, and if it weren’t for the monorail calling me to the Magic Kingdom, I would never leave! Our room was in one of the outer buildings, and was spacious and beautifully decorated. When I drew back the curtains and stepped out onto the balcony, I teared up with excitement when I saw the beautiful lagoon and the direct view of Cinderella Castle. This may not mean much to everyone, but for a someone like me who holds such a special place in their heart for Walt Disney World, it was a dream come true!
After getting settled in the room, we changed into our pajamas and decided to have a true girl’s night and take full advantage of the unique experience. We ordered room service for dinner and my glazed salmon and sticky rice, which happened to be the special of the evening, was outstanding! Our food had arrived just in time for us to set up and dine while watching Wishes from our balcony. I had seen Wishes several times from inside the park and from the top of The Contemporary. It is always fun to have a new perspective, and it did not disappoint. It was an enjoyable evening I will never forget.When we woke up in the morning, we immediately stepped out on the balcony to take in the calm morning view of the Magic Kingdom before anyone arrived for the day. We woke up just as the sun was rising over the lagoon. It was fun to watch things come to life as the morning progressed. The monorail started running, the water taxis started cruising, and eventually we saw families heading to the parks for a day of memories.
It was hard for us to leave our room. It was a truly remarkable experience. I would encourage anyone to experience this at least once. Even if you are staying at another resort, consider doing this for one night! You won’t regret it! If you want to find out more about staying at any of Disney’s wonderful resorts, contact me at beckyc@wishesfamilytravel.com, and visit my Facebook page!