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| Fast
Facts |
| Resort Address: |
1960 N. Magnolia Way
Lake Buena Vista, 32830 |
| Resort Phone: |
(407) 827-1100 |
| Resort Fax: |
(407) 827-4101 |
| Number of Rooms: |
585 |
| Resort Category: |
Home Away From Home |
| Resort Location: |
Downtown Disney Resort
Area |
| Check In Time: |
4:00pm |
| Check Out Time: |
11:00am |
| Room Types (maximum
capacity): |
Bungalow (4), One Bedroom
Townhouse (4), Two Bedroom Townhouse (6), Treehouse
Villa (6), Fairway Villa (8), Grand Vista Homes (8) |
| Room Service: |
No |
| Valet Parking: |
No |
| Laundry Service: |
Yes |
| Fully Handicapped
Accessible: |
Yes |
| Semi-Handicapped Accessible: |
n/a |
| Wheelchair Roll-In
Showers Available: |
Yes |
| Hearing Impaired Conveniences: |
Yes |
| Non-Smoking Rooms
Available: |
Yes |
| Room Safes: |
Yes |
| VCR Available: |
Yes |
| Data Port Available: |
Yes |
| Coffee Maker Available: |
Yes |
| Microwave Available: |
Yes |
| Refrigerator Available: |
Yes |
| Full-Kitchen Available: |
Yes |
| Concierge Service: |
No |
| Monorail Service: |
No |
| Table Service Restaurant(s): |
Seasons Dining Room |
| Character Meals: |
No |
| Counter Service Restaurant(s): |
Reflections Gourmet
Coffee and Pastries |
| Lounge(s): |
Seasons Terrace Lounge |
| Services (Salons,
etc.): |
No |
| Shopping: |
Dabblers is the resort's
sundries store (at the welcome center). Downtown
Disney's Marketplace is close by, but is not really
very convenient. |
| Pool Description: |
The six pools at the
Disney Institute are unthemed. The sizes, depths,
and amenities (hot tubs, etc.) vary. |
| Children's Clubs,
Programs: |
No |
| Fitness Center: |
Gymnasium, Cybex Equipment,
Full Service Spa. |
| Other Recreational
Facilities: |
Biking, Canoes, Pedal
Boats, Golf, Playground, Tennis. |
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Click here to take a photo
tour
of the Villas at the Disney Institute!
Overview
The Villas at the Disney Institute used
to be called Disney's Village Resort. At one time, Disney had contemplated
building it's own town with houses for sale. Many of these buildings
were the first phase of that facility, but it was never implemented
in it's original form. Instead, these rooms, villas, townhouses,
and grand villas have been available for daily rent for several
years. (Note: Celebration, a new permanent ownership town, is Disney's
newest incarnation of this idea.)
The Disney Institute is the result of many, many guests
over the years asking for more detailed information about Walt Disney
World and how it operates. The Institute provides a hands-on learning
vacation program designed for the hyper-yuppie that needs more touchie-feelie
time than can be had participating in the passive activities of
the theme parks.
The accommodations themselves are available for rent
even if you aren't participating in Disney Institute programs. The
best way to describe the theme of the facility is "New England
prep school ala Florida". The accommodations themselves quiet,
out-of-the-way, and larger than most. For family reunions, and other
such large gatherings of people, the villas would be a good choice.
The Institute programs themselves have proven to be a wonderful
change from the typical vacation.
The Institute welcome center includes the Seasons
Dining Room as well as the resort front desk, Guest Services, bell
services, and the Disney Institute's program offices. Just
outside the main building is the fitness center (with a fully-equipped
spa), the outdoor amphitheater, and the auditorium used for various
night time programs.
The bungalows, townhouses, villas, and homes are scattered
across the grounds in several loops. In general, each of the
accommodation types are clustered together, so your choice of accommodations
dictates (generally) your location as well.
Room Description
Six accommodation types are available at the Villas
at the Disney Institute:
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Bungalows are a one-bedroom facility with a small
living room and kitchen. The bathroom is small, but functional.
Each unit has it's own balcony or patio and laundry facilities
are readily available.
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One and two-bedroom townhouses are available.
They are laid-out in two levels with a full kitchen, dining
area, and living room (with sleeper sofa). The bedroom
with queen bed overlook the living room. Some of the one-bedroom
townhouses are a bit larger (with an extra half-bath).
The trade-off is that the smaller units are closer to Downtown
Disney. The price for each is the same, so make your request
clear if you prefer one or the other. The second bedroom
is equipped with a pair of double beds.
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The Fairway Villas each have a pair of bedrooms
(with a queen-size bed in one and two double beds in the other)
and a living room (again, with a sleeper sofa). A full
kitchen is provided as well.
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The Treehouse Villas are free-standing structures
located in the woods along the Sassagoula river. The upper
floor has a full kitchen, dining area, living room, bathroom,
master bedroom (with a queen-size bed and it's own smaller bath),
and a second bedroom with a queen-size bed. The lower
level has another bedroom with a double bed and a laundry room.
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The Grand Vista Homes have either two bedrooms
or three bedrooms, and a fully-equipped kitchen and living room.
Preferred Room Locations
The
townhouses are all located closest to Downtown Disney, the bungalows
around the Disney Institute's main guest areas, the Treehouse Villas
to the West and very secluded in the woods along the Sassagoula
river, and the Fairway Villas and Grand Vista Homes nestled along
the golf course between the Treehouse Villas and the Welcome Center.
All of the accommodations at this resort are remote,
but like always, trade offs between pool, bus stop, and other central
resort facilities locations can be important depending on your own
interests. Don't hesitate to ask for a specific combination
of requests when you make your reservations.
One thing that really surprised me as I put together
the resort map
Food and Drink
The Seasons restaurant offers regular sit down meals
with a decent, if somewhat limited, menu. Otherwise, the Village
Marketplace has the closest alternatives. Olivia's, at the Old Key
West Resort, and Boatwright's Dining Hall at Port Orleans Riverside
aren't too far away, either.
Activities
If you're staying at the Disney Institute for the
programs themselves, there are plenty of options to keep you busy.
Approximately eighty different programs are available to choose
from including culinary arts, animation, Imagineering, landscaping,
storytelling, and many others.
If you're stay at this facility merely because the
villas are good sized (but otherwise are having a traditional WDW
vacation), your activities include bicycling, a wonderful fitness
facility, game room, golf, volleyball, swimming pools, and tennis.
Disney Transportation
All locations within WDW are serviced by Bus.
Other Comments
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Because of the large, spread-out layout of the
resort, you may find it helpful to rent an electric carts (cost
is about $40 per day).
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The Disney Institute itself offers programs in
animation, cooking, gardening, photography, and television production.
Most of the classes are 2 to 4 hours in length, but some do
take all day. You can call the Disney Institute (phone
numbers are listed in the Activities
Phone Numbers directory of this guide) for details on what
programs will be offered during your visit.
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The fitness center and spa provide the most varied
and complete services at Walt Disney World.
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The Lake Buena Vista Golf Club is based here,
so if you want to play some holes, bring your clubs.
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