Walt Disney World was my daughter’s top choice for a family winter break holiday. She also chose to leave the world-famous theme parks after lunch and return to the Four Seasons Resort Orlando each day.
It is the only Four Seasons in the Orlando area and a AAA Five Diamond resort. This Four Seasons was designed to make a high-energy vacation easier and more luxurious for guests. The resort includes amenities like a grab-and-go cafe, a magnificent spa with a princess-and-knight dress-up service for kids, a kids’ club, and one of the most epic pool areas I’ve ever seen.
Now that it offers Early Theme Park Entry, it will be the only resort I choose for my next family vacation to Disney World. Many of my clients feel the same way. Learn why in my Four Seasons Orlando review and how to secure some extra benefits.
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The lakeside Family Pool -
The peaceful lazy river -
The Splash Zone -
The Oasis, the adults-only pool -
Golden Oak View Suite living room -
The spa’s dress-up closet for kids -
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Book With VIP Benefits
Book as a Four Seasons Preferred Partner Guest
The best way to make Four Seasons Orlando reservations is to book as a Four Seasons Preferred Partner guest. The program is exclusive to a small group of luxury travel advisors, it costs nothing extra, and it is how I have booked my own Four Seasons stays for many years. This resort is also one of the Four Seasons properties we book most often for clients.
Daily Breakfast
For two people per bedroom
Hotel Credit
Per stay; varies by room, suite, or residence
Room Upgrade
One category, subject to availability
1Send me your dates. Share your dates here, and I’ll tell you what’s available, which room categories make sense for your family, and whether any Preferred Partner seasonal offers apply.
2I take it from there. After you book, I confirm your VIP amenities, request your upgrade, and arrange priority early check-in and late check-out. You’ll also receive my pre-arrival email series, tied to your check-in date.
One note on the breakfast benefit
The Preferred Partner breakfast covers the standard daily breakfast for two. It does not apply to the character breakfast.
What I Love
- Walt Disney World Resort hotel benefits at a Four Seasons (like Early Theme Park Entry 30 minutes before the parks open)
- Floating along the lazy river
- Massive spa built with tired parents in mind (and character dress-up for kids)
- Character breakfast buffet with Goofy
- Excellent food for those too tired after long theme park days to go out
- An oasis from theme park crowds
Good to Know
- Disney Planning Center on-site, staffed by Disney Cast Members
- Scheduled complimentary shuttle service to the four Disney parks
- King rooms have queen-sized sofa beds that can sleep two kids
Also Featured In
The Location at Golden Oak
Location, location, location. The resort’s location alone makes it a prime place to stay. The Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort is located inside the private Golden Oak community, designed by Walt Disney Imagineers. It’s surrounded by natural beauty and protected wetlands, and it feels like a tropical paradise.
It took us about 45 minutes to drive from Orlando International Airport (MCO) by private car. Deer were the first to greet us upon driving through Golden Oak’s gates for the first time, as if right on cue. Wildlife roams freely here, and the resort’s golf course is even Audubon-certified.
I regret not being able to fight jet lag enough to wake up early for a sunrise walk, as I suspect birds, deer, and more might be out and about.
Things to do in Orlando with kids or without are nearby. Disney Springs takes about 10 minutes to reach by car, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios takes less than 15 minutes. Attractions are easy to get to via Uber, taxi, or the resort’s complimentary luxury motor coach shuttle to the four Disney theme parks. For Magic Kingdom, the coach drops you at the Ticket and Transportation Center for a short monorail ride into the park. You can pick up the daily shuttle schedule at the Disney Planning Center in the lobby.
Insider Tip · Getting Around
Rental cars. Most of our guests skip them. The hotel can arrange your airport transfer, with a car seat if you need one, the shuttle covers the parks, and resort parking is valet only, for a fee. Unless you have plans well beyond Disney, you really don’t need one.
Guest Rooms and Suites (How to Choose)
We checked into a gorgeous Golden Oak View Suite just before sundown, which offered exactly the amount of space that our family of three needs since we all have different sleep schedules.
The living room is completely closed off from the bedroom, and rooms can be adjoined to make the suite two or even three bedrooms.
At turndown service, housekeeping transformed the living room sofa into a bed. In the morning, I enjoyed coffee on our balcony. I also loved the light fixtures and tiles in the bathrooms (yes, there are two).
Four Seasons Orlando Room Selection Tips
I talk to readers quite a bit about Four Seasons Orlando rooms, so here is the bottom line.
You can choose two queen beds or a king bed with a queen-size sofa bed. Note the split: king rooms take the sofa bed, while queen-bedded rooms take a crib instead (no sofa bed).
The guest rooms are all the same size (500 square feet), sleep up to three adults or two adults and two children, and offer the same amenities. The view type is what differentiates them.
- Resort Rooms are the entry-level category.
- Golden Oak rooms are the most popular with readers and overlook the Golden Oak community.
- Lake View rooms boast views of the lake and pools.
- Park View rooms face the nightly fireworks show.
Insider Tips · Rooms
Fireworks noise. I have had a guest worry that the nightly fireworks would be disruptive, since Park View rooms and Capa’s rooftop look right at them. The shows are off in the distance. You might hear them faintly from your balcony or with the door open, but with the door closed, you really don’t hear anything, so they won’t wake your kids.
Connecting rooms. People ask me about these a lot. The standard pairing is a king room connecting to a two-queen room, in any view category.
Of course, those who require more space can look into their variety of suites.
Five-Acre Water Park With Pools
I couldn’t possibly provide a Disney Four Seasons review without mentioning the resort’s multiple pools. Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort’s amazing pool areas seamlessly mesh the needs of adults, who might prefer a little silence, and kids, who want to make a splash.
The pool area is called Explorer Island, for good reason, as there is so much to see and do.
Our favorite outpost was in the secluded daybeds and loungers under the palm trees near the lazy river. Despite being a family area, it was quiet and a place where we could order excellent poolside drinks and food. We stepped in and out of the lazy river at leisure. Contrary to other lazy rivers I’ve enjoyed, this one was never hectic.
The enormous Family Pool overlooks the lake, plays festive music, and features the occasional dive-in movies. There is also a water play heaven called Splash Zone, which keeps younger kids entertained in shallow water. Our family would have loved this area when our daughter was younger.
Moreover, this is the only Four Seasons I’ve ever been to with two big water slides. The two 242-foot slides, called The Drop, twist down from The Mansion tower, and riders need to be at least 42 inches tall. On check-out day, my husband and daughter skipped our planned breakfast to wedge in extra pool time and water slide rides.
The Oasis, the adults-only pool for guests 21 and older, offers a quieter sanctuary in a stunning spot overlooking the lake, complete with its own whirlpool.
Complimentary Kids’ Club and Activities
A Disney resort must have family-friendly activities. Steps from our lazy river base, we shot hoops in a sports-themed pool area and even played a little volleyball.
The Hideout, an indoor game room behind the Splash Zone, is where older kids hang out with friends over video games, billiards, and interactive touch-screen tables (children under 12 need an adult with them). In the middle of Explorer Island, there is a game area where guests can easily bounce between pools and games. We’d even head up here after dinner for a family game of pool, foosball, chess, or bean bag toss.
My daughter loved some of these games so much that I bought some of the same outdoor games for our backyard. A basketball court and a multi-use turf court for volleyball and soccer sit next to The Hideout, and the resort also has two Har-Tru tennis courts and a rock climbing wall.
A supervised kids’ club, Kids For All Seasons, gives parents of children ages 4–12 a little time off during the day to golf and spa, and it is complimentary. On Saturday evenings, the team also hosts Explorer Island Takeover, a reserve-ahead dinner-and-swim night for kids.
Outstanding Restaurants
Regarding Four Seasons Orlando restaurant reviews, I give five stars all around. One of the main reasons we stay at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts worldwide is that we spend a lot of time eating on the property.
The food is always excellent. From in-room dining to meals at Capa, the Michelin-recommended rooftop Spanish steakhouse, we ate our way through the resort.
The resort offers a nice variety of options. Lickety Split’s grab-and-go food and drinks menu, including pretty epic housemade gelato, is ideal for snacking and quick meals. This spot is a must when on an activity-packed vacation.
One evening, we unwound on The Lobby Bar patio, where options range from sushi to a ridiculously delicious French dip.
Two newer additions round out the lineup: The Lakehouse, which took over the former PB&G space in 2025 with fresh Florida seafood and lakeside views, and Epilogue, an intimate adults-only speakeasy hidden behind a library theme.
Meanwhile, Ravello hosts the fun Good Morning Breakfast with Goofy and His Pals character breakfast every Thursday and Saturday morning.
It is buffet-style with plenty of character interaction for kids. Having been to many character dining experiences, this is easily one of the most relaxed. One note: the Preferred Partner breakfast benefit does not apply to the character breakfast. For a special occasion, the resort can also arrange private character dining in its event spaces. Ask the concierge well in advance.
The Spa at Four Seasons Orlando
My Four Seasons Orlando review has to include the spa, even though I could only squeeze in a tour of the gorgeous facility. Between the jet lag and full mornings of walking, my body could have used a little rejuvenation in between park visits. I’ll definitely be taking advantage of this next time.
It is a large spa with 18 treatment rooms and four couples’ suites, plus a full-service salon for hair, makeup, and nails. Booking any treatment of 50 minutes or longer also gets you access to the relaxation lounges and the adults-only Oasis pool. It even offers kid-friendly pampering: Magical Moments makeovers transform kids ages three and older into princesses and knights. Imagine the look on their faces after this closet opens and they see all the amazing costumes they can wear.
Disney Planning Services and Early Entry
Disney benefits are another top reason to stay at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World. The resort offers benefits for theme park visitors, such as Early Theme Park Entry at any of the four parks, 30 minutes before official opening, every day of your stay. You will need a valid park ticket, a park reservation for that day, and your Resort ID.
I also loved that the resort has Disney Cast Members on-site at the Disney Planning Center, on the lobby level, to help guests plan the perfect Disney itinerary. They can also help with dining reservations, sell park tickets, and arrange extras like private VIP park tours.
Boutiques for Gifts and You
The on-site boutiques deserve a mention, too. Whether you lost your luggage or you’re looking for a special souvenir, these shops have you covered.
The three shops (Wardrobe for designer apparel, Fable for children’s toys, and the Golf Shop) have everything you might need, from swimsuits to toiletries. During our stay, that even included Missoni mouse ears. In fact, you may wish for lost luggage after browsing the racks. We knocked out some of our Christmas shopping as we picked up quite a few presents.
Speaking of Christmas, their tree was absolutely stunning.
Four Seasons Orlando FAQs
Is Four Seasons Resort Orlando inside Walt Disney World?
Yes. The resort sits on Walt Disney World Resort property, inside the private Golden Oak community near Lake Buena Vista. It is the only Four Seasons in the Orlando area, and it is independently run rather than Disney-operated, which is a big part of why it feels like an escape from the parks.
Does Four Seasons Orlando get Disney benefits like Early Theme Park Entry?
Yes. Guests get 30 minutes of Early Theme Park Entry at any of the four parks every day (a valid park ticket, a reservation for that park, and your Resort ID are required), complimentary motor coach transportation to the parks, and an on-site Disney Planning Center staffed by Disney Cast Members. The resort does not participate in Disney’s Extended Evening Theme Park Hours, which are limited to Disney’s own deluxe resorts and a handful of affiliated hotels.
Which Four Seasons Orlando room should I book?
All standard guest rooms are the same 500 square feet, so you are really choosing a view. Golden Oak View rooms are the most popular with my readers, Lake View rooms overlook the pools and lake, and Park View rooms face the nightly Disney fireworks from their terraces. Send me your dates, and I will tell you which categories are worth the difference for your trip.
Does Four Seasons Orlando have a character breakfast?
Yes. Good Morning Breakfast with Goofy and His Pals runs every Thursday and Saturday morning at Ravello. It is a buffet with plenty of character time, and it books up, so reserve before your trip.
Should I stay at Four Seasons Orlando if I’m not going to Disney World?
Yes. A lot of our guests are not going to Disney at all. Between the five-acre water park, the adults-only pool, the golf course, the spa, and the restaurants, it works as a resort vacation all on its own.
The Bottom Line
We’ve been to every Disney park worldwide. I can say without hesitation that it is as relaxing as a theme park holiday can be. I promise that you will not regret a stay here. It is one of the most well-thought-out Four Seasons properties that I’ve ever stayed in, so I can’t recommend it highly enough.
The Best Way to Make Four Seasons Orlando Reservations
Be sure to book as a Four Seasons Preferred Partner guest so these benefits attach to your stay.
Have you stayed at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort?
I’ve stayed and fell in love! I stayed for 2 nights and literally got sad when it came time to leave. I took my godsons to celebrate their 5th birthday w/ Goofy and Pals and they loved it! I am a fan of Four Seasons but this one definitely tops the chart for me. Can’t wait to return!
wow, Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort is mesmirizing. Other says that Disney world resort is only for kids but I’m a kid at heart so I’m fit for it. Thanks for the glimpse.