Now there is news of brand new Disney Vacation Club Treehouse Villas coming to Walt Disney World’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa in 2009.   As part of the Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, Disney Vacation Club guests of the new Treehouse Villas will be able to use all of the amenities the resort has to offer in addition to a private Treehouse Villa pool.

The Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa will be elevated 10 feet from the ground and include sixty 3-bedroom/2-bath guest units which will each accommodate up to nine guests.   Despite being called “treehouses” the new villas will feature updated amenities, including flat screen TVs, granite kitchen countertops and cathedral ceilings in the living rooms.  Two of the bedrooms in each villa will have queen beds, and the third will have bunk beds.  The living room will include a queen pull-out couch and a sleeper-chair.  The kitchen will include counter-seating for 3 and a table for 6.

I’m sure the new Treehouse Villas will be very popular!  I always wanted to stay in the Treehouses in the 1970s when I was a child.  I had a friend whose family stayed there once, and she loved it.  Perhaps I’ll get a chance to stay at the new Treehouse Villas after they open. 

How about you?  Would you like to stay at the new Treehouse Villas?

Source of image of an original treehouse: Flickr

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I do wonder though if the infrastructure (i.e., the monorails and buses) can handle all of the additional people that will be using them once the tower opens.

Photos: Susan Gunelius

Post from: The Disney Traveler

“We want to be the restaurant that’s available for that adult experience,” said general manager Israel Perez.  What would Walt think?

While I can certainly understand providing a variety of dining experiences to meet the needs of different guests, didn’t Walt Disney originally develop the Disney theme parks to be a place that parents and children can enjoy together?  Regardless of the fact that Victoria & Albert’s is Disney’s only five-star, AAA-rated restaurant, I think banning children runs counter to the entire purpose of Disney.

Rosemary Rose, Disney’s vice president of food, beverage and merchandise operations said only about three families a month brought young children to Victoria & Albert’s.  So what’s the big deal? 

I’m always shocked and disheartened when I’m at Walt Disney World and I hear adults complaining about children.  I want to ask them, “What are you doing in Disney if kids bother you?”  I just don’t get this decision by Disney.  Walt would be so disappointed.

What do you think?  Did you ever think you’d hear the words “Disney” and “bans children” in the same sentence?

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Here’s a warning, there are no gears on the surrey bikes, so you can only pedal up to a certain speed.  That means you can only gain a certain amount of momentum as you prepare to ascend a hill.  There are two large hills on the route around the lake at the Boardwalk Inn, so if you’re not in great shape, you might want to rent a surrey bike at a different location with a flatter path.  Surrey bikes are also available for rental at the Caribbean Beach Resort, Coronado Springs Resort and Port Orleans Resort - Riverside and French Quarter.  They are also available for rentals of various lengths of time and in various sizes to accomodate larger groups.  Of course, prices vary based on the length of time and bike size you rent.

If you need a break from the parks, renting a surrey bike is a great diversion and a lot of fun!

Post from: The Disney Traveler

 The following Walt Disney World resorts have playgrounds that are open 24 hours per day:

Animal Kingdom Lodge
Beach Club
Boardwalk Inn
Contemporary
Polynesian
Wilderness Lodge
Yacht Club

The following resorts have playgrounds with varying hours:

Caribbean Beach
Coronado Springs
Port Orleans – French Quarter
Port Orleans – Riverside
All-Star Movies
All-Star Music
All-Star Sports
Old Key West
Fort Wilderness Campground

It’s important to remember that young children are required to be supervised while using a Walt Disney World resort playground.

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2.  Coronado Springs: The theme of the main pool, the Dig Site, at the Coronado Springs hotel is an archeological adventure.  Parents and children can slide through a Mayan temple, lounge in a huge spa or participate in group games with Disney cast members.

3.  Port Orleans Riverside: Ol’ Man Island is the main pool in the Louisianna bayou-themed Port Orleans Riverside hotel.  A slide and spa are highlights, but the canopy of trees surrounding the pool provide the atmosphere that makes this pool stand out.  A nearby fishing hole provides a unique family-friendly activity for guests.

4.  Polynesian Resort: The main pool at the Polynesian is aptly called the Nanea Volcano Pool and features a towering volcano as the main focal point.  Guests can enjoy the pool’s twisting slide that descends through the grotto of the volcano, and children will enjoy the wet play area. 

5.  Animal Kingdom Lodge: Uzima is the main pool at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, and it is beautiful.  The main attraction for children is the 67-foot water slide.  The pool features a zero-depth pool entry making it very easy for children to get in and out by themselves.  Smaller children can play in the wading pool, and of course, two spas offer a fun alternative for children and a moment of relaxation for Mom and Dad.

Post from: The Disney Traveler