1923 Main Street: Snow Skate Surf and Travel Style

Disney Deluxe Villas: What Are They and Why Would You Stay in One Instead of a Hotel Room?

Disney Deluxe Villas are a separate category of accommodations that are part of the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) suite of properties. (DVC is Disney's version of a timeshare program). There are villas at Walt Disney World, Disneyland and other destinations away from Disney Parks. What many people don't realize, however, is that these upscale accommodations are available for booking by non-DVC members, making them a great option to consider particularly in three specific scenarios. 

I often describe the Deluxe Villas as being the Disney equivalent of a condominium, so you can picture these villas as Deluxe Disney condos.

Most of the properties at Walt Disney World are linked to a corresponding Disney Deluxe Resort, but there are three  standalone villa properties as well. Villas are available in several configurations, including studios (similar to a standard hotel room), one-bedroom villas, two-bedroom villas and grand villas, which are the largest. There are also several very unique options among Disney Deluxe Villas: including the Bora Bora Bungalows at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, the Cascade Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge and the Treehouse Villas at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa.

Why Might You Consider Staying in a Disney Deluxe Villa?

Now that you know a little bit more about what they are, the question is: why would you stay in one?

There are three main reasons why you might consider staying in a Disney Deluxe Villa instead of a traditional Disney Deluxe Resort hotel room:

1. There is no hotel room availability at the hotel of your choice, but you would still like to stay on that property.
2. You have a large family or group and you would prefer not to have to book multiple rooms.
3. You like the idea of having kitchen facilities and laundry options during your stay.

There are other great benefits to the Disney Deluxe Villas as well (listen to the episode for more details), but these are three common reasons as to why may wish to consider the Villas as an option for your next Walt Disney World or Disneyland vacation.

Where are Disney Deluxe Villas Located?

At Walt Disney World:

• Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort
• Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge
• Copper Creek Villas and Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge
• Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo House
• Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village
• Disney's Beach Club Villas
• Disney's Boardwalk Villas
• Disney's Old Key West Resort
• Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
• Disney's Riviera Resort
• Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

There are also Disney Deluxe Villas located at destinations beyond Walt Disney World Resort.

These include:

• Disney's Vero Beach Resort (Florida)
• Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort (South Carolina)
• Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa (Disneyland, California)
• Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa (Oahu, Hawaii)

Amelia and I Thank You for Listening

Amelia and I thank you very much for listening to this episode -- we hope that you enjoyed it. If you did, we would be very grateful if you could rate, review and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Spotify, or on whichever app you choose to listen. A brief review about what you liked most about an episode truly helps to keep the show going by exposing it to new listeners. We look forward to continue producing new episodes for you each and every week.

Contact 1923 Main Street

Thank you for listening to the Daddy Daughter Disney Travel Podcast at 1923MainStreet.com. As always, we love to get feedback and questions from our listeners and to hear your suggestions and ideas for future episodes.

Please be sure to follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Thank you for listening and have a magical day!

Mike Belobradic and Amelia Belobradic

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Media provided by Pond5

Picking Between Any Two Walt Disney World Deluxe Hotels

Walt Disney World Deluxe Resort Hotels are the top tier onsite hotel properties at Disney World. But with so many great choices from which to choose, how do you know which Walt Disney World Deluxe Resort is right for you?

Amelia and I try to help with your decision making by giving our takes on which hotel we would choose based on head-to-head comparisons of some of the most common this or that hotel decisions faced by Walt Disney World travelers. Having stayed in each of these hotels many many times over the years, we have strong opinions on all of them, and we're not shy about sharing what we think.

We rate each Walt Disney World Deluxe Hotel on five criteria:

1. Hotel Theming
2. Onsite Dining
3. Things to do
4. Getting around
5. The grounds

You may not agree with what we think, but our debate should help you to make your own decisions as you try to find just the right Walt Disney World hotel for your next Disney vacation.

The Walt Disney World Deluxe Hotel pairings that we cover:

• Disney's Grand Floridian Resort vs. Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney's Polynesian Village Resort vs. Disney's Contemporary Resort
• Disney's Contemporary Resort vs. Disney's Grand Floridian Resort
• Disney's Wilderness Lodge vs. Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge vs. Disney's Wilderness Lodge
• Disney's Yacht Club Resort vs. Disney's Beach Club Resort
• Disney's Boardwalk Inn vs. Disney's Yacht/Beach Club

Listen to the show to hear our perspectives on each of these Deluxe Disney Resort hotels and hear which ones we think come out on top in head-to-head battles.

More About Helping to Choose a Walt Disney World Deluxe Hotel

For further reading on picking a Walt Disney World hotel, be sure to read these posts from my Luxury Disney Travel Blog. 

• This or That: Which Walt Disney World Hotel Should You Choose?
• Disney's Grand Floridian Resort vs. Disney's Polynesian Village Resort: Which is Better?
• Disney's Contemporary Resort vs. Disney's Polynesian Village Resort: Which is Better?
• Disney's Wilderness Lodge vs. Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge: Which is Better?
• Disney's Beach Club Resort vs. Disney's Yacht Club Resort: Which is Best?
• What are the Best Hotels at Walt Disney World?

Amelia and I Thank You for Listening

Thank you very much for listening to this episode, Amelia and I hope that you enjoyed it. If you did, we would be very grateful if you could rate, review and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts/iTunes (or on whichever app you choose to listen). A brief review about what you liked most about an episode truly helps to keep the show going by exposing it to new listeners. We look forward to continue producing new episodes each week.

Contact 1923 Main Street

Thank you for listening to the Daddy Daughter Disney Travel Podcast at 1923MainStreet.com. As always, we love to get feedback and questions from our listeners and to hear your suggestions and ideas for future episodes.

Please be sure to follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Thank you for listening and have a magical day!

Mike Belobradic and Amelia Belobradic

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Media provided by Pond5

Thinking of Visiting Disneyland Paris?

Is Disneyland Paris worth a trip to France? If you're thinking about visiting Disneyland Paris and want to know a little bit more about what it's like, Amelia and I dive in to what it's like to visit Disneyland Paris from the perspective of a regular traveler to Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort.

While the parks and atmosphere are similar, there are some key differences that are worthwhile knowing in advance.

We start with some practical tips and advice on how to get to Disneyland Paris from Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris (there's no Magical Express here) and where to stay once you arrive. We discuss staying in Club Level at the Disneyland Hotel (Castle Club) and some of the very valuable benefits that you get when you stay there.

You will also hear our take on the two parks at Disneyland Paris (Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios) and how some of the local ambiance and Cast Members differ from what you typically experience at a North American Disney Park. Plus, is Disney Village as good as (or better) than Disney Springs or Downtown Disney? Listen in to find out what it's really like.

Plus, offer up our recommendations on must-do dining at Disneyland Paris and some tips for you and your kids to help you get the most from your Disneyland Paris vacation.

More Information About Visiting Disneyland Paris

For further reading, I mentioned the following the blog posts (which can be found on my Luxury Disney Travel Blog) during the show.

• Disneyland Paris for the Walt Disney World Traveler
• Castle Club Review, Disneyland Hotel, Disneyland Paris
• A Luxury Travel Itinerary for France, for the Disney Traveler

Amelia and I Thank You for Listening

Thank you very much for listening to this episode, Amelia and I hope that you enjoyed it. If you did, we would be very grateful if you could rate, review and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts/iTunes (or on whichever app you choose to listen). This truly helps to keep the show going by exposing it to new listeners. We look forward to continue producing new episodes each week.

Contact 1923 Main Street

Thank you for listening to the Daddy Daughter Disney Travel Podcast at 1923MainStreet.com. As always, we love to get feedback and questions from our listeners and to hear your suggestions and ideas for future episodes.

Please be sure to follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Thank you for listening and have a magical day!

Mike Belobradic and Amelia Belobradic

--
Media provided by Pond5

Welcome to 1923 Main Street®: A Daddy Daughter Disney Travel Podcast

In this first episode of 1923 Main Street, get to know a little about your hosts: Mike Belobradic and Amelia Belobradic. As a dad and daughter Disney travel podcast team, Mike and Amelia share opinions and information about Disney travel based on their decades of experience of regular Disney vacations (50+ years for Mike and 10+ years for 11-year-old Amelia). You'll also learn what the 1923 Main Street name means and how it was created.

About Your Hosts: Mike Belobradic and Amelia Belobradic

Since Walt Disney World first opened in 1971, Mike has taken over 100 Walt Disney World vacations from his home in Toronto, Canada -- that's multiple weeks spent onsite at Disney resort hotels every year since 1971. At age 11, Amelia is approaching 30 Walt Disney World vacations and is well on a pace to outdo her dad (not that they compete at all, or anything...). In addition to Walt Disney World, Mike and Amelia also travel to and discuss Disneyland Resort, Disney Vacation Club resorts, Disneyland Paris and more. For three weeks each year, they're hopping on a plane to visit Disney destinations far and wide. The perspective at 1923 Main Street is from a vacationers point of view, not as a local who visits the parks (but does not stay in resort hotels or view their visits as vacations).

In addition to introducing themselves and a little bit of background information, Mike and Amelia begin to share a little about their respective points of view. You'll hear how each of them answer the following questions related to Disney vacations:

1. Favorite Disney Resort Hotel
2. Favorite Disney Park
3. Favorite Disney Attraction
4. Favorite Disney Restaurant
5. Favorite Disney Snack

Will their answers be the same? Tune in to find out. Plus, since Mike prepared these questions, Amelia surprised Mike with an unexpected sixth question. You'll definitely want to hear how that went!

Amelia and I Thank You for Listening

Thank you very much for listening to this episode -- Amelia and I hope that you enjoyed it. If you did, we would be very grateful if you can rate, review and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts/iTunes (or on whichever app you choose to listen). This truly helps to keep the show going as we look forward to continue to produce new episodes each week. Thanks again for listening!

More Disney Travel Information from 1923 Main Street

For more information be sure to visit Mike's website The Luxury Disney Travel Blog and their show website at 1923MainStreet.com

Plus you can find Mike and Amelia on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and more, so be sure to follow along for the latest news and information about the 1923 Main Street Disney Travel Podcast.

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Media provided by Pond5