Most Luxurious Resort Disney’s flagship resort, The Grand Floridian, with its red-gabled roofs and Victorian elegance, draws inspiration from grand Florida seaside “palace hotels” of 19th-century America’s Gilded Age. Just a short monorail ride to Magic Kingdom, it spreads along shore of Seven Seas Lagoon, offering spectacular views of Cinderella’s Castle and Wishes fireworks display. You’ll also be treated to some of Disney’s very best restaurants along with two sophisticated pools, a crescent white sand beach, a full-service health club and spa, tennis courts, and sophisticated shopping. Most Atmospheric Resort Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is a stunningly faithful celebration of African wildlife, culture, cuisine, and art. Here atmosphere literally pulsates with beat of drums throughout 33 acres of glorious savanna filled with hundreds of roaming exotic animals. The lodge’s 5-story, thatch roof lobby is a wonder with its massive overhead chandeliers formed by resplendent Masai shields overlooking safari chic seating. Don’t even consider a room without a savanna view, well worth every penny for its front row view of wildlife. The resort boasts an 11,000 square foot pool overlooking savanna, a full service spa and fitness center, and one of Disney’s loveliest restaurants, Jiko, serving international food with an African flair.

Best Resort For Romance Disney’s Polynesian Resort’s lush grounds and white sand beaches with views of Cinderella’s castle are a dream come true. Tangerine and mahogany tinted longhouses are scattered throughout this luxuriant property where ducks and ibis roam dense vegetation and thick, grassy lawns. Meandering pathways lined with volcanic rock are tiki torch-lit at dusk, and soft Hawaiian melodies set mood for memorable nights. Come nightfall, pick a hammock on one of three beaches for a spectacular vista of Magic Kingdom fireworks.

Best Resort For Nature Lovers I challenge you to keep your jaw from dropping on your first encounter with awesome eight-story lobby at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Sheer walls of ponderosa pine logs, an 82-foot fireplace, and authentic Pacific Northwest totem poles overlook rugged stone and hardwood floors topped with Native American rugs, teepee chandeliers, and a bevy of “park ranger” staff who roam lodge attending to guests. Outside is a breathtaking scene of roaring waterfalls, rushing creeks, towering pines, and a boulder-lined, hot springs-style swimming pool, one of Disney’s best. On shores of Bay Lake, Wilderness Lodge’s very own geyser is surrounded by a steaming expanse of geothermal activity and erupts hourly from early morning until late night.

Best Time of Year for a Disney Vacation If at all possible plan a trip to Disney during slower seasons of year when you’ll find half-filled parks, little waiting in line, and lower hotel rates. If you can stand guilt and your children are good students, take them out of school, whatever, to avoid busiest times of year. If not, summer months or holidays are certainly better than nothing and, with a bit of planning and a lot of energy, can be more than enjoyable. These are least busy times of year: second week of January through first week of February (avoiding Martin Luther King holiday weekend in January); third week of August until beginning of October; month of November excluding Thanksgiving weekend; week after Thanksgiving until week of Christmas, a special time when parks and resorts are festively decorated for holidays.

Best Deluxe Resort Disney’s flagship resort, The Grand Floridian, with its red-gabled roofs and Victorian elegance, draws inspiration from grand Florida seaside “palace hotels” of 19th-century America’s Gilded Age. Just a short monorail ride to Magic Kingdom, it spreads along shore of Seven Seas Lagoon, offering spectacular views of Cinderella’s Castle and Wishes fireworks display.

Best Home Away From Home Property Disney’s Home Away From Home Resorts are a great choice for those who want a vacation with all amenities including a full kitchen, living room, and a bath for each bedroom. For outstanding atmosphere choose Villas at Wilderness Lodge with its Bay Lake location and national park character or new Beach Club Villas conveniently located next-door to Epcot’s International Gateway.

Best Resort For Access to Parks Disney’s Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian Resorts offer monorail access to Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Ticket & Transportation Center.

Best Resort For Nature Lovers Wilderness Lodge is Disney’s dramatic depiction of an early 1900s national park resort. In its awesome eight-story lobby are walls of ponderosa pine logs, a massive 82-foot tall fireplace, and two authentic 55-foot Pacific Northwest totem poles. Outside is a breathtaking scene of sparkling waterfalls, rushing creeks, towering pines, and Disney’s very own geyser. And it’s all only a boat ride away from Magic Kingdom.

Best Resort Pool Stormalong Bay, eye-popping free form, mini-water park complex at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club, is simply divine. Three acres of winding, watery delight, it offers sandy bottom pools, a giant “shipwreck” water slide, a tidal whirlpool, bubbling hot tubs, a kiddie pool with its own slide next to beach, and enough waterway to float lazily in inner tubes to your heart’s content.

Best Resort Lounge California Grill Lounge on 15th floor at Disney’s Contemporary Resort offers unrivaled views of Magic Kingdom and Seven Seas Lagoon along with cocktails, sushi, and a view of Wishes fireworks display.

Best Disney Attractions For Thrill Seekers For a shot of adrenaline head to Disney-MGM Studios, where thrill junkies beeline it to Tower of Terror for a 13-story bungee-style plummet. Next-door is Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster that rockets from 0 to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds then loops and corkscrews in dark through a Hollywood night. It’s a scream come true!