Several weeks ago, we took our oldest son, Miles, to Disney World for the first time. I wrote about that in a separate post, as it was quite an experience going there as an adult. During our time visiting Disney, we spent three nights at the 443-room Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World.
While I shared some initial impressions of our stay, in this post I’d like to write a detailed review. If you ask me, this property sums up what the Four Seasons brand does so well. Despite its large size, the hotel has impeccable service, and couldn’t be more kids friendly (as you’d hope, in Orlando!). Perhaps what impressed me the most was the extent to which this property is a destination in and of itself, thanks to the incredible water park, plus the excellent dining (including a Michelin-starred restaurant).
If you’re looking for a great experience in Orlando and don’t mind paying the price, I’d highly recommend the Four Seasons. Just make sure you leave some time to actually enjoy the resort, and aren’t just using this as a place to sleep while visiting Disney.
In this post:
Booking the Four Seasons Orlando
Pricing at the Four Seasons Orlando varies greatly throughout the year, though it’s no doubt priced at the top end of the market. Rates vary seasonally, and start at under $1,000 per night for a base room, but go up to around $2,000 in peak season. You can always check Four Seasons’ website to see what offers are available, as there are sometimes free night offers, bonus credits, etc.
As you’d expect, a lot of affluent people take family trips to Orlando, and the Four Seasons is kind of the place to stay, which is how the hotel is able to command those rates.
The best way to book any Four Seasons hotel is through a travel advisor affiliated with the Four Seasons Preferred Partner program. When booking through Preferred Partner you pay the same rate you’ll find directly on Four Seasons’ website, but you’ll receive extra perks, including the following:
- A room upgrade, subject to availability
- Complimentary daily breakfast
- A hotel credit to use during your stay
Four Seasons Preferred Partner is generally combinable with promotions being offered directly through Four Seasons, including advance purchase rates, free night offers, and more.
Full disclosure — through his travel agency, Ford had a voucher for a Four Seasons stay to redeem that was expiring shortly, so that was used for this stay, as we figured it was a great opportunity to visit Orlando with our son, while checking out a property that has intrigued us. All opinions expressed are my own.
Four Seasons Orlando location & transportation
The Four Seasons Orlando is located within Golden Oak, which is a gated community within the Walt Disney World Resort property. We drove from Miami, but if you’re arriving at Orlando International Airport (MCO) either by plane or via Brightline, you can expect that it’ll be around a 25-30 minute drive to the resort.
As you enter Golden Oak, you first go through a gate (which will be opened when they confirm you’re a hotel guest), and then it’s a roughly five-minute drive to the resort. The Four Seasons consists of one main building, and from the outside, it looks pretty typical for a big Orlando luxury hotel.
As you’d expect at Four Seasons, service was great from the moment we arrived. The bellmen helped us with our bags, and valeted our car (which costs $42 per night). We were then pointed toward check-in, located inside the lobby and to the right.
For context, below is a map of the resort, to give you a sense of the layout. While all the rooms are located in the main building, it’s a surprisingly sprawling property, so offers lots of amenities.
In terms of transportation to and from Disney World parks, there is a complimentary shuttle service, which operates pretty frequently. While this obviously isn’t as convenient as being at a hotel connected to the parks by monorail or other transportation, we found this to be quite seamless.
By the way, the buses used for this service are super luxurious, and oddly, every time we used them, we were alone.
Four Seasons Orlando lobby & check-in
The Four Seasons Orlando lobby has a lot of marble and feels like a traditional grand, luxury hotel. Admittedly this isn’t exactly my favorite design aesthetic, if I had to choose, but it feels very well maintained, and this general style seems really popular in Orlando, for whatever reason. The lobby is huge, set across one main corridor, which provides access to most parts of the hotel.
The lobby had plenty of seating, and since we were visiting before Christmas, there were lots of decorations.
The reception desk was big and well staffed, and as usual, the front desk associates were friendly.
There’s even a fun twist here on the traditional check-in experience, as there’s a special kids check-in area, where they can complete their “registration” process, and then get a lollipop. Being remarkably kids friendly is one of Four Seasons’ biggest strengths, and that’s especially evident in Orlando.
Soon enough we had keys in hand, so we headed to the elevators at the far end of the lobby, and went to the 11th floor, where our room was located (the hotel has 16 floors).
Four Seasons Orlando suite
Once out the elevator, we turned to the left, and then our room was immediately to the right.
We were assigned room 1116, a Park View Suite, marketed as being 825 square feet (77 square meters). Let me mention that this is one of the more recently renovated room products, as that’s a project that’s currently underway.
The suite was very spacious, with a proper living room, and separate bedroom. Upon entering the room, a full second bathroom was immediately to the right, and then the living room was straight ahead.
The living room was beautifully and functionally designed, with a living area that had a couch (which could be converted into a pull-out bed), plus a chair. Then there was a table with a chair in the far corner, a wall-mounted TV, and even a dining table back toward the entrance, with a banquette and two chairs.
There was a minibar area with a Nespresso machine, a tea kettle, and a variety of drinks and snacks available for purchase.
There was a lovely welcome amenity waiting on the table, including a fruit and cheese plate, a bottle of wine, and a stuffed animal and a couple of juice packs for Miles.
As mentioned above, there was a second bathroom right by the entrance. This was a full bath, and had a walk-in shower, so this suite is practical for families, especially with the couch converting into a pull-out bed.
The bedroom was then separated from the living room by a door, and had the typical signature Four Seasons bed (the most comfortable in the industry), plus an area for lounging. All room functions could be controlled via panels to the side of the bed, and there were handy outlets.
As a continuation of how kids friendly Four Seasons properties are, waiting on the bed was a turtle stuffed animal, a book with bedtime stories, plus a bathrobe and slippers that fit Miles perfectly. How cute is it to have little custom slippers for a three-year-old?! Funny enough, we took these home, and Miles still wears them around the house.
The primary bathroom was then down the hall from the bedroom, and had a soaking tub, double sinks, a walk-in shower, and a toilet in a separate room.
Toiletries were all in reusable containers, from Atelier Cologne.
The room had a balcony that stretched the width of both the living room and bedroom, and it had a dining table with four chairs, plus two loungers.
The balcony had views of the rest of the property, plus Disney World in the distance. One of the primary selling points of these suites is that you can watch the Disney World fireworks directly from your room. Unfortunately that requires staying up late enough to actually see this, so I regret to report that we were sound asleep earlier than that. Either way, the views were quite lovely, especially around sunrise and sunset.
Four Seasons Orlando spa & gym
The Four Seasons Orlando has a destination spa, spanning 13,000 square feet, with 18 treatment rooms. Since this was a family trip with visits to Disney being the primary motive, I didn’t really have the chance to check this out. That being said, you can find the treatment menu here, as the options are expansive.
Beyond that, the Four Seasons has a 24/7 gym on the ground floor. Four Seasons properties consistently have above average gyms, and this one was particularly good, in terms of the variety of equipment. There was a huge selection of cardio and strength training equipment, along with a room for yoga and cycling classes.
Four Seasons Orlando pools, water park, & kids club
The “problem” with the Four Seasons Orlando is that it’s a destination in and of itself, and you’re really missing out if you’re staying here but spend all day off property. The hotel has several outdoor pools, and a five-acre water park of sorts that’s geared toward kids, known as Explorer Island.
All of the pool areas are set along a palm tree-lined pathway at the rear of the hotel, with nicely manicured landscaping.
The first pool you’ll find is the adults-only pool. This is quite serene, and it’s rectangular in shape, with lots of seating around it, along with a hot tub.
If you keep walking, you’ll find yourself over at Explorer Island, where most of the pools and water features are located. For one, you’ll find the family pool, which is massive, at 7,590 square feet (705 square meters). The pool has a gradual entry, and a unique shape, so it really spreads people out quite a bit, and it should never feel too busy.
The hotel then has a lazy river, which is always a crowd pleaser with kids (well, and many adults). There are plenty of inflatable tubes and tubes, and even two spray cannons, a nine-food waterfall, and a bubbling rapids section.
There’s then what’s referred to as the splash zone, which is essentially a shallow area where kids can play. It includes fountains that spray water up to 30 feet (nine meters) into the air, along with fog nozzles and other features.
There’s then a tower with a rock climbing wall, plus two 242-foot (73-meter) water slides. One is open air, and the other is made of see-through fiberglass.
As is standard at Four Seasons properties, there’s also a Kids For All Seasons club, which is open for kids ages 4-12, and is complimentary.
Lastly, the hotel also has some athletic courts and fields.
What an impressive selection of amenities! As you can see, you’re really missing out if you come here and don’t take advantage of Explorer Island (especially if you have kids).
Four Seasons Orlando restaurants & bars
When it comes to dining at the Four Seasons Orlando, here’s an array of options, as follows:
- Ravello is the hotel’s primary restaurant, serving breakfast and dinner; while the breakfast is pretty typical of what you’d expect for a hotel like this, the dinner is described as “modern Italian”
- Capa is the hotel’s signature Michelin-star restaurant, and it’s located on the top floor; it’s described as a “contemporary Spanish steakhouse”
- The Lakehouse is the hotel’s daytime restaurant, open from late morning until late afternoon; it’s where all the pool service is from, and it’s described as serving “coastal Florida cuisine”
- The Lobby Bar is the hotel’s lobby bar (as you may have guessed), and it’s open in the evenings, serving drinks and dinner
- Lickety Split is the hotel’s all-day coffee shop and grab & go venue, serving everything from barista coffee to ice cream
Let’s go through each of the venues. To start, Ravello is located one level underneath the lobby, and it’s the hotel’s biggest restaurant, with both indoor and outdoor seating.
It’s definitely more of a casual eatery, which makes sense, since it’s very family friendly. So you wouldn’t feel out of place coming here after a day at the parks, even if you didn’t get changed.
The restaurant is open daily for breakfast from 7AM until 11AM, and you can find the menu here. There’s both an a la carte and buffet selection, and we opted to go with the latter.
I found the selection to be excellent (especially by US standards), with everything from all kinds of fresh fruit (I appreciated the high quality berries), to parfaits, to cold cuts and cheese, to a variety of hot dishes, to an omelet station.
The coffee drinks were also great, ranging from cold brew to cappuccinos.
It’s worth noting that on Thursdays, Saturdays, and select Tuesdays, the hotel offers a Disney-themed breakfast, with Goofie and his pals. This is of course a huge treat for kids, and they even take professional pictures for you, so I highly recommend this if you’re staying here.
In the evenings, the restaurant serves dinner from from 5:30PM until 10PM, and you can find the menu here. To eat, we ordered a veggie pizza for Miles (we had to help him a bit with that!), I had the branzino with salsa verde, and Ford had the veal milanese.
One evening we had dinner at Capa Restaurant, which is open daily from 5PM until 10PM, and is located on the hotel’s top floor. As mentioned above, this restaurant has a Michelin star, and you can find the menu here. This is definitely much more of an elegant vibe that you’ll want to dress up for.
The outdoor seating is also beautiful, and I’ve gotta say, the Central Florida views really grew on me while watching the sunset.
We just split a bunch of things, including the yellowfin tuna, the bruschetta, the cauliflower, a fillet, and the winter squash.
For dessert, we shared a delicious chocolate tart with ice cream.
This meal was excellent, and it’s very nice to see how elevated of a restaurant the Four Seasons offers in Orlando.
Next up, the hotel has The Lakehouse, open daily from 11AM until 6PM, and you can find the menu here. As you may have guessed based on the name, this restaurant is located on the lake, basically between all of the pools.
We didn’t have the chance to eat here, but options include everything from guacamole, to calamari, to burgers, to fish tacos, and more. This is also all food that can be ordered at any of the pools.
Next up is the Lobby Bar, which is located just off the lobby, and it’s open nightly from 5PM until 11PM. You can find the menu here, and find the drink list here. This is a nice space with both indoor and outdoor seating, though we also didn’t have the chance to spend any time here.
Lastly, the hotel has Lickety Split, open daily from 6:30AM until 9PM. This is located just off the lobby, so it’s an easy place to stop in, whether you want a barista coffee, ice cream, a protein shake, or a packaged sandwich or cheese plate.
Four Seasons Orlando service
One of the things that sets Four Seasons apart from the competition is what consistently good service the brand offers. Four Seasons can’t rely on a points program to get repeat customers (“points farms”), but instead, has to rely on service.
This is the highest room count Four Seasons property in the world, and despite that, service is every bit as frictionless as at any other Four Seasons. So whether it’s calling the front desk and them picking up on the first or second ring, or housekeeping or room service coming exactly when they’re supposed to, everything was flawless, on that front.
Four Seasons employees also just consistently go above and beyond to be friendly and make sure everyone has a great stay. This is even evident in small ways, like the cute ways that housekeeping places stuffed animals on the bed after cleaning the room. Like, if a three-year-old notices what housekeeping is doing and comments on it, then they’re doing something very right.
While perhaps not directly related to service, I also appreciate the little touches to what Four Seasons offers guests, like complimentary coffee and pastries in the lobby each morning.
Select days of the week, the hotel even has a happy hour in the lobby, where guests can grab a glass of wine (or two), and/or a still or sparkling water. It’s nothing too exciting, but it’s good to see the hotel offering something extra to guests, given how much is being charged.
Bottom line
The Four Seasons Orlando is a stellar mega resort, and by most accounts, the best hotel in the area. Admittedly Orlando is a unique destination, so this isn’t like other resorts, where the property is the destination. Instead, most people come to Orlando to visit parks, and then a nice hotel is the icing on the cake.
While the Four Seasons Orlando is huge and isn’t the most architecturally striking property, it’s an incredibly well done resort, from the quality of the facilities, to the dining, to the service. In particular, I can’t overstate that if you stay here, you’ll want to actually leave enough time to properly enjoy the resort, especially Explorer Island, if you have kids.
Obviously this property is pricey, so the one caveat I’d add is that if you’re planning on being at the parks all day and just view a hotel as a place to sleep, maybe this isn’t the market where it’s worth splurging on a Four Seasons.
That simply comes down to this being a unique “resort” in that regard — at most resorts, people are on property much of the day, while in Orlando, it’s common for people to leave most of the day. If you do stay on property, that’s also a blessing, because I can’t imagine this property ever feels full (it felt deserted during our stay, even though it was close to being full).
What’s your take on the Four Seasons Orlando?
This place looks awesome to keep Americans overspending on faux luxury in Orlando means less will go abroad, and everyone around the world wins.
The plastic-like fake wood flooring looks like a Four Points by Sheraton.
The plastic-like fake wood flooring looks like a Four Points by Sheraton.