Disney’s Up to date Resort is a Deluxe or luxurious tier lodge at Walt Disney World, positioned inside strolling distance of Magic Kingdom and on the monorail loop, which connects to Epcot. This overview options new Incredibles room pictures, pool & restaurant information, professionals & cons, and extra. (Up to date February 3, 2024.)
So much has modified at Disney’s Up to date Resort in the previous few years. This contains new rooms impressed by the Incredibles, a redesigned foyer, adjustments to California Grill, and the debut of Steakhouse 71 Restaurant. See Pictures & Evaluate: Up to date’s Hit & Miss Makeover for a full take a look at the adjustments.
As of 2024, work is now completed on all areas of the resort. No less than, for now. Bay Lake Tower will likely be receiving a serious room renovation mission late this 12 months and all through 2025. Moreover, the Grand Canyon Concourse atrium stage of the Up to date’s A-frame constructing is woefully dated and lengthy overdue for a cohesive replace. Regulate our 2024-2025 Walt Disney World Resort Development Tracker for updates.
By means of overview, Up to date Resort is a 600+ room A-frame tower lodge located in such a fashion that west-facing rooms have views of Cinderella Fortress and Magic Kingdom, whereas east-facing rooms have views of Bay Lake. Contained in the lodge is a cavernous and cacophonous atrium, which is residence to the lodge’s eating and purchasing.
Opposite to the identify, Up to date Resort is the oldest lodge at Walt Disney World. The architectural type is finest described as modernist or maybe brutalist, however imbues a way of utopian optimism because of the structure and monorail gliding by way of. The “pure” design has been diluted over time because of visible hodgepodge cluttering the inside. These newer additions (most from the Nineties or early aughts) have satirically aged the lodge greater than its extra timeless core design.
In the event you’re unfamiliar with Walt Disney World inns, most individuals–even first timers–will most likely readily be capable of establish the Up to date as “the lodge with the monorail going by way of it.” That alone goes to be a giant draw for a lot of visitors, and is what all the time drew me to it as a child.
It’s essential to know that many rooms on the Up to date are usually not positioned within the central A-frame constructing by way of which the monorail passes. Along with the principle tower, Disney’s Up to date Resort additionally includes a cheaper Backyard Wing in addition to the Bay Lake Tower Disney Trip Membership villas.
We’ve blended emotions in regards to the Backyard Wing. As of 2024, the entire rooms within the Backyard Wing have been up to date to the Incredibles type, a course of that took for much longer than the principle A-frame rooms. The Backyard Wing can less expensive and quieter, nevertheless it simply doesn’t pack the identical punch, so to talk, as staying in the principle A-frame and having the monorail glide by way of. It’s additionally a little bit of an extended stroll to Magic Kingdom or the monorail station, making it much less handy.
The Backyard Wing can be a bit extra secluded and never as chaotic, which may be good, and the stroll is certainly not dangerous. In the event you’re doing a bucket checklist journey and wish the quintessential keep on the Magic Kingdom monorail resort, guide the principle A-frame tower. If you need the placement and are on a tighter price range–or desire a bit extra peace, go for the Backyard Wing.
With that background out of the best way, let’s check out the lodge’s design, rooms, and facilities…
Disney’s Up to date Resort is a considerably divisive lodge: as severe structure and a contemporary marvel, it’s fairly compelling. Even with the dated elements, many visitors who need Disney perks and an amazing location are more likely to love the Up to date.
As a themed resort, it’s much less compelling. Company visiting Walt Disney World partially to flee the true world and be transported to a different time and place usually are underwhelmed by the Up to date. It has splashes of Disney and gratuitous makes use of of Mickey Mouse, to make sure, nevertheless it’s extra in regards to the structure than themed design.
Not too long ago, this has change into much more muddied because the Up to date debuted an “Incredibles Injection” to visitor rooms. These now function the movies by way of characters, plus mid-century trendy stylization, and varied nods to the monorail and different design adjustments.
The top result’s…fascinating. Nowhere else within the lodge are there any references to the Incredibles, which arguably makes the Up to date much more of a hodgepodge than it was earlier than. The rooms are lighter and brighter with a crisp look and mid-century trendy aesthetic, additionally they look low-cost.
Different new rooms at Walt Disney World have used quite a lot of textures and higher-end finishings to convey high quality alongside the character infusions. That’s not the case right here, as the brand new rooms on the Up to date are missing in that regard.
From the flooring to the furnishings to the surfaces, these rooms merely appear and feel decrease finish. They’re not Pop Century high quality, however they’re additionally not on par with the Riviera or Polynesian, which thread the character-meets-quality needle much better than the Up to date.
The rooms at Disney’s Up to date Resort are sizable at 394 sq. ft every.
The latest refurbishment makes them really feel a tad smaller, however these are nonetheless extra spacious than Worth or Reasonable Resort rooms.
On a constructive word, the loos on the Up to date are fairly good. They’re break up, which is pretty normal for Walt Disney World Deluxe Resort lodge rooms, however in contrast to most rooms, they place the twin sinks and the bathe/bathtub in a single space and the bathroom in one other space.
The sinks are extra sensible, the visually-busy design has been decluttered, the mirror is enjoyable–even the ceiling appears higher.
Up to date Resort’s Incredibles-inspired rooms have already confirmed polarizing amongst Walt Disney World visitors.
Personally, I’m not bothered by the character integration in principle, however I do assume the execution is sloppy and doesn’t actually excel at both of the issues it’s presumably attempting to do.
As a character-themed room, the brand new Up to date rooms look weak and uninspired.
As upscale lodge rooms, they’re excessive and unsophisticated. It’s onerous to check these having a ton of enchantment to households with babies or enterprise vacationers attending a conference on the Up to date.
With all of that mentioned, we’ve stayed within the Backyard Wing rooms that had been redone within the Incredibles type a few 12 months or so after the A-frame rooms, and there are a variety of little enhancements made within the course of. You may not be capable of inform by taking a look at them, however we discovered the Backyard Wing rooms to be noticeably higher (Backyard Wing photograph is the one instantly above; all others are A-frame rooms).
On a associated word, Disney can not compete with the luxurious and boutique lodge manufacturers of the world. In the event you take a look at one thing just like the Waldorf Astoria or 4 Seasons Orlando, they run circles across the Up to date–and often at decrease nightly charges.
It’s no secret that Walt Disney World costs its on-site inns at a premium as in comparison with their actual world counterparts, however the distinction with a lodge just like the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, or BoardWalk Inn is that there are not any direct comparisons to these inns. You possibly can’t level to an actual world luxurious lodge model that has a fully-fledged Victorian theme, a South Seas theme, or an Atlantic Boardwalk theme. Against this, the Up to date is a modern-luxe lodge, so it’s a direct comparability.
In equity, there’s one large “amenity” provided by Disney’s Up to date Resort that its actual world counterparts don’t have: location. In reality, no lodge at Walt Disney World (interval) has pretty much as good of a location. That is the closest resort to the Magic Kingdom (nicely, technically Bay Lake Tower is nearer, however they’re principally one in the identical).
It’s a brief monorail journey to and from the park, and a fair shorter stroll. It’s actually superior to not need to trouble with any transportation within the morning or after a protracted night time as you simply stroll 5-10 minutes to and from the Magic Kingdom. This comfort can’t be overstated–it’s a large benefit at first or finish of a protracted day, and is sufficient to trump the entire downsides of the Up to date.
Transferring alongside to different benefits, there’s the eating scene. California Grill and Chef Mickey’s are clearly the eating places with a powerful status right here, however don’t low cost Steakhouse 71 and Contempo Cafe. The latter are two missed gems that we very a lot take pleasure in.
California Grill is pricey and arguably a bit overrated, however we additionally actually prefer it. In reality, California Grill’s Brunch on the High is one in all our favourite meals in all of Walt Disney World, and we extremely advocate doing that when you’ve got the chance.
On the different finish of the spectrum, Chef Mickey’s is without doubt one of the worst eating places at Walt Disney World when contemplating worth and delicacies. Even accounting for Chef Mickey’s low high quality, Up to date Resort remains to be a prime 5 Walt Disney World lodge for eating.
Add the High of the World Lounge subsequent door at Bay Lake Tower, and you’ve got a very well-rounded lodge by way of Walt Disney World eating.
All year long, Disney’s Up to date Resort gives varied leisure and enhancements. At Christmas, there’s a gingerbread show. Round Easter, embellished eggs seem within the atrium. Throughout “regular” occasions of 12 months, there are films and different choices.
Different facilities embrace the on-site conference middle, laundry services, arcades, purchasing, childcare, health middle, and spa. Watercraft Leases (kayaks, boats, and extra) can be found to be used in Bay Lake.
The swimming pools at Disney’s Up to date Resort are one other draw back.
The lodge has two swimming pools, each of that are among the many weakest at Walt Disney World. The Function Pool, sits sits between the A-frame tower and the Backyard Wing. This space is usually unthemed, and gives a scorching tub, kiddie pool, and water participant space. There’s additionally a close-by quiet pool.
General, Disney’s Up to date Resort is a lodge about which I’m of two minds. As somebody who goes to Walt Disney World to be immersed in a themed design and escape from the true world, Up to date Resort does subsequent to nothing for me. The core design is cool, however varied “enhancements” made through the years go away it feeling dated and a bit dreary.
As somebody who additionally values comfort and site, I really like Disney’s Up to date Resort. There are few higher emotions on the finish of a protracted night time in Magic Kingdom than wanting on the lengthy bus and monorail traces…and strolling proper previous that headache to your lodge.
For many individuals, whether or not to guide Disney’s Up to date Resort will possible be a matter of comfort v. theme. In the event you love the whimsical theming of Walt Disney World resort inns, Disney’s Up to date Resort could also be a disappointment. If you need a hassle-free trip, it’ll be an amazing possibility. For us, it in the end comes right down to what sort of journey we’re taking–if we plan on spending plenty of time on the lodge, Disney’s Up to date Resort will not be the proper decide for us. If we’re spending plenty of time at Magic Kingdom, it’s an amazing selection.
Need assistance planning your dream Walt Disney World trip? Let knowledgeable enable you to totally free. Click on right here to get a quote from a advisable, no-fee Licensed Disney Trip Planner. They get their fee from Disney, so there isn’t a cost to you for them to guide your journey and enable you to plan!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about inns on our Walt Disney World Motels Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a singular take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every little thing you have to know!
Your Ideas
Do you like the Up to date or is it not your type? In the event you’re a fan, do you assume the monorail, proximity to the Magic Kingdom, and different perks make it definitely worth the premium worth? In the event you’re not a fan, is it due to the “plain” type? Do you agree or disagree with our overview? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
