My Favorite Disney Resort

There were 17 of us in all, ranging from 1 to 66 years young. We stayed in three, two-bedroom units, generously paid for through points by my sister who is a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) member. The units were very nice. They aren't quite as big as those of Old Key West, but bigger than Saratoga Springs or the Beach Club Villas. She had tried to get a Grand Villa and a two bedroom but there was no availability of Grand Villas during the time we were there. However, the three units were all in one building and worked out wonderfully.

Each two-bedroom unit had a bedroom with a king bed and second bedroom with two queen beds. There was a full kitchen, complete with stove, microwave, full size fridge, dishwasher, and dishes and pots enough for six people. There was also an apartment-size washer and dryer in an alcove. The dryer left a little to be desired but it did dry the clothes in a second run. In our unit we had four adults, a "tween," and a teenager and we never felt on top of each other. We all fit around the table for a meal and we could all sit and watch TV together comfortably.

Our unit was in a fabulous location. We had a wonderful view of the marsh. We were close to the community hall and the pool. We were not close to the main building but the only one who spent a lot of time there was my teenage son, who played a lot of pool. Because the resort is small, it is not a long walk.

There are tons of activities at the resort. In the main lodge, there is Ben Murggie's Den where my son played pool. In the den, there is also checkers and a TV with some very comfy couches. There is a nice playground for the younger set. There is a shuffleboard court, horseshoe pits, a basketball court, foosball table and Ping-Pong. There is a very nice pier with a fishing area at the end. And of course there is the Big Dipper pool and water slide. (I went up and down several times!) There is also a kiddie pool and a large hot tub.

Aside from all this, there are also many scheduled, guided activities. Some had a charge but nothing was outrageous. The most expensive were the kayaking trips, which were $25 for adults and $15 per child, which is a reasonable rate for activities of this type at a resort. One thing to remember is that for almost all activities, you had to register in advance. You can do this at check-in. The more popular activities do fill up.

Since we were there with such an age range, we were able to experience a number of the activities offered. Some of the activities we attended: Toddler Time Crafts (ages 1-5), Lady Bugs (ages 3-5), Dinosaurs (ages 7-10), Capture the Flag (Teens), Geo-caching (families), Mickey Tie Dye (8+ - $15 DVC, $18 guests), Shark Teeth Necklaces ($10 DVC, $12 Guests), and Secrets of the Marsh (families). On the last activity we even had a surprise visit from a dolphin!

There is a campfire every other night (one activity that did not require registration). Unfortunately, the rain didn't seem to want to cooperate on the night we attended and it was cut short, but the kids still got S'mores. On alternate nights there is Sweet Goodnights. In this, children listen to a bedtime story and have cookies and milk.

Because we were there over the New Year holidays, there were additional parties. My son participated in the Teen party ($25 DVC, $30 Guests) and had a blast. He played Dance, Dance, Revolution, and pool and had pizza, pop and candy. He met many friends which made his time on a family vacation much more fun.

If you aren't the type for group activities, there are still many other options. Disney does have a private Beach House located right on the beach across the main drag from the resort. It is a short drive over there or you can take a shuttle. We rented bikes for the week so we rode over and it was a beautiful ride. Once there you use your room key to access the Beach House. Inside there is a warm pool and a seasonal snack bar (which unfortunately was closed while we were there due to the fact that it was winter). There is an arcade and a nice warm area where we sat, watched TV, and warmed up while the younger ones played a bit longer on the beach.