In case you’ve ever made a Walt Disney International bucket checklist (and who hasn’t?!), you’ve get a hold of what you’d do if cash had been no object, from fancy suites and different luxurious lodging to lavish extras and upcharges, and so forth. Like everybody else, we’ve dreamed about the place we’d keep if we gained the lottery (the first step: get started enjoying the lotto).
For individuals who want a little bit “lend a hand” with this workout, my having a pipe dream resolution for years was once the Yellowstone or Yosemite Suite at Desolate tract Resort with a view to have get right of entry to to Previous Trustworthy Membership. I really like Desolate tract Resort, so this must come as no marvel. Sarah has her personal most well-liked suites at different motels, with Grand Floridian plus Royal Palm Membership now being her transparent #1.
If we had been bringing alongside circle of relatives, we’d do a DVC Grand Villa as a substitute, which may well be less expensive through renting Disney Holiday Membership issues. No longer that we’ve given this numerous concept through the years or the rest. However there’s any other tricky WDW predicament we’ve additionally entertained: if shall we select any lodge, the place would we are living if shall we retire within Walt Disney International completely?
For me, the solution is apparent: Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Lodge & Spa. They’re standalone gadgets that supply the considered necessary privateness, at the side of spaciousness and wonderful perspectives, whilst additionally providing slightly simple get right of entry to to Disney Springs.
(Necessary observe: this hypothetical considerations motels. Golden Oak and the Flats at 4 Seasons Orlando aren’t motels. Additionally no longer motels are the Swiss Circle of relatives Treehouse and Cinderella Citadel Suite, for individuals who need to get in reality suave and discover a “house” within Magic Kingdom.)
Some Walt Disney International fanatics who don’t give this very critical hypothetical the extent of concept it merits could be prone to pick out one of the vital monorail loop or Crescent Lake motels, in need of to be as regards to Magic Kingdom or EPCOT. In my skilled opinion, it is a mistake.
In case you’re dwelling at Walt Disney International for the remainder of your days, you wish to have to view the lodge via a distinct lens. The serene surroundings is efficacious, as is the loss of shared partitions along with your neighbors. Additionally, you may come to comprehend the ease to Disney Springs versus the parks over an extended time horizon.
Despite the fact that we don’t spend just about as a lot time there as vacationers, Disney Springs was once our mall as locals, and we had been there so much. The positioning at the facet of Walt Disney International belongings additionally makes venturing off-site more uncomplicated. (Considered one of our largest regrets about dwelling in Central Florida was once choosing a group west of Walt Disney International versus east.)
Not like such a lot of of the cookie-cutter subdivisions round Orlando, the Treehouse Villas also are extremely distinctive. They really properties with heat and grace, versus bizarre properties. They’d be best possible for indoor-outdoor dwelling, and really feel like old skool Florida. I’d completely retire right here full-time in the event that they’d let me.
Just a few necessary meals for concept whilst you talk about this “what if” retirement house situation along with your circle of relatives or buddies. Some would possibly say there’s no proper or flawed resolution right here, however I’m telling you, Treehouse Villas are the one right kind selection for the long-term. And so they’re about to get even higher, as Walt Disney International has printed a primary appearance within the reimagined lodge rooms and shared new main points…
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Lodge is house to one of the crucial most original lodging at Walt Disney International.
Tucked away alongside the woodlands of the Sassagoula River, you’ll to find the Treehouse Villas, three-bedroom hideaways providing area, privateness, and quietness in an increased, secluded surroundings a few of the timber.
The Treehouse Villas are liked through Disney Holiday Membership individuals and visitors alike for his or her immersive theming and comfy, but spacious, really feel.
Over the following few months, reimagined Treehouse Villas will start to debut at Walt Disney International with fascinating new improvements. Right here’s an unique first appearance within.
Drawing inspiration from New England–taste craftsmanship and the undying artistry of the Arts and Crafts motion, the refreshed design ties the appeal of the Treehouse Villas to the normal class of Disney’s Saratoga Springs Lodge.
A wealthy colour palette and herbal finishes like picket and stone lend a hand create an inviting retreat that feels attached to nature.
Every Treehouse Villa sleeps as much as 9 visitors and includes a complete kitchen, in-room washing machine and dryer, at the side of dwelling and eating spaces that boast all-new finishes, furnishings, and fixtures.
Non-public decks be offering households a spot to return in combination and create lasting reminiscences, surrounded through the good open air. Within, Disney storytelling stays on the middle of the Treehouse Villas, woven into the brand new design via Arts and Crafts-inspired ornamental main points.
From throw pillows to lampshades, natural parts like botanicals and animal motifs encouraged through vintage characters seem all through the textiles, reflecting the herbal attractiveness that surrounds the villas with a marginally of Disney magic.
Astute eyes will spot greater than a dozen liked nature scenes and characters from Disney animated movies and shorts.
Undying tales like The Fox and the Hound and Napping Good looks are delivered to lifestyles via wall work of art and tremendous artwork art work, whilst acquainted buddies from Cinderella seem carved into the furniture and perched top above, tucked into the structure.
The reimagined Treehouse Villas will probably be finished later in 2026. For now, right here’s a have a look at extra of the considerate main points (and forest characters) ready within the newly renovated Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Lodge:
My first impact of the reimagined Treehouse Villas may be very certain.
Despite the fact that it is a arduous items refurbishment, Imagineering has retained the defining design options of the Treehouse Villas and their current format. In so doing, they’ve taken a “don’t repair what isn’t damaged” method and feature stored the core craftsman taste, whilst changing the furnishings, fixtures, and finishings.
There’s new floor, home equipment, and thematic (and literal) window-dressing, however the Treehouse Villas aren’t wholly unrecognizable to someone who has stayed right here ahead of. There’s much more persona artwork, however it’s tastefully built-in and isn’t an alternative choice to exact themed design. I’m for my part very happy to peer the uncommon Fox and the Hound illustration (considered one of my favourite underrated motion pictures).
Right here’s a have a look at the ahead of, from our remaining keep on the Treehouse Villas:
The brand new rooms appearance contemporary and modernized, which can decrease the court cases about them being dated and too rustic, however they’re fortunately no longer bland, uninteresting, or elementary. Imagineering, Disney Holiday Membership, and Walt Disney International did a excellent process of threading the needle in this one.
I’m certain some visitors will nonetheless quibble with the result (there’s no pleasurable everybody, particularly the nostalgics), however I view this as one of the vital larger successes of this spherical of room reimaginings. This seems like an excellent compromise between first-timers anticipating “Disney” lodging and lifetime fanatics.
My hope is this may be a quasi sneak peek on the upcoming Disney Lakeshore Resort rooms. Whilst the ones will almost certainly finally end up being extra mainstream, the ingenious course of the Treehouse Villas nonetheless bodes neatly for that. I’d additionally upload that Sequoia Resort at Disneyland Paris seems to be promising, and the new-look Boulder Ridge rooms are my favourite in all of Walt Disney International. If DVC and WDI are the usage of this trio of initiatives because the stylistic template for Lakeshore Resort (with Island Tower because the substantive blueprint) the ones rooms have the prospective to be our new #1.
Whilst they’re area of interest and taste-specific, we’d upload that the Treehouse Villas belong on each and every Walt Disney International fan’s bucket checklist as a short lived position to stick due to their distinctive nature and wealthy historical past that dates again many years.
Debuting in 1975, the Treehouse Villas had been to be a part of the Lake Buena Vista combined use group (assume EPCOT 2.0) that by no means totally got here to fruition. They had been later included into the failed Disney Institute idea ahead of last to visitors, after which getting used for Global School Program housing. In 2009, they had been totally redone and rolled into Saratoga Springs Lodge.
The Treehouse Villas are bona-fide “Holiday Kingdom of the International Historical Landmarks” and we had been slightly relieved that Walt Disney International opted to rebuild them within the spirit of those villas’ authentic incarnations, save for a smaller ground-level footprint.
In spite of being the most obvious selection for the place you must reside at Walt Disney International, the Treehouse Villas are divisive amongst vacationers as transient lodging. If you perform a little looking, you’ll to find plenty of “horror tales” about destructive remains on the Treehouse Villas, making them sound just like the worst lodge in all of Walt Disney International, as a substitute of my long term retirement house.
Numerous vacationers dislike the Treehouse Villas because of transportation and their faraway and remoted location, utterly in contrast to different motels at Walt Disney International. They’re principally just like the Cabins at Citadel Desolate tract on steroids, a in a similar fashion taste-specific belongings.
It’s nearly crucial that you’ve a automotive in the event you’re staying on the Treehouse Villas. That by myself is a game-changer. The water taxis that supply transportation to Disney Springs are a really perfect choice, however the interior buses to the principle space of Saratoga Springs aren’t. (You’ll additionally stroll to Saratoga Springs in about 10-Quarter-hour.)
Even if the Treehouse Villas are technically a part of Saratoga Springs, they’re higher considered as a standalone lodge. The Treehouse Villas as a part of Saratoga Springs will be the similar of the Polynesian Bungalows being regarded as a part of the Grand Floridian (versus the Poly).
In mild of the above, it must be obtrusive that the Treehouse Villas aren’t for everybody. On the contrary, they’re a foul are compatible for many visitors and we’ve heard numerous court cases about them. However we really feel a large a part of this is wrong expectancies, and a lack of know-how about what makes the Treehouse Villas other from each and every different Walt Disney International lodge.
We nonetheless enthusiastically endorse the Treehouse Villas to diehard fanatics for just about that very same reason why. They’re so distinctive and in contrast to anyplace else you’ll be able to keep. All of that makes the Treehouse Villas considered one of our favourite lodging at Walt Disney International.
The Treehouse Villas are completely best possible for a no-parks taste of go back and forth, for households who most commonly need to hang around on the villa, playing their dear lodging (and one any other), and perhaps making the boat trip over to Disney Springs for the occasional meal. So believe that our “pitch” for those unfairly-maligned and underappreciated lodging, which belong for your bucket checklist with the aforementioned caveats.
We can not wait to do any other keep on the Treehouse Villas as soon as this reimagining is entire. I’ve been on the lookout for an excuse to revisit the villas after our remaining keep, and I after all have one. Now it’s time to position in combination a multi-generation go back and forth with the grandparents, which is the very best use case for our circle of relatives (neatly, ahead of we retire right here for excellent).
Like Citadel Desolate tract, the Treehouse Villas are ideal for guests to Walt Disney International who need a real holiday. They’re nice for decompressing, and a serene keep spent on the lodge with circle of relatives or buddies. They’re a deficient selection for park commandos. Numerous persons are additionally announcing they’d be a great spot to reside out your golden years. Now that’s some actual Storyliving through Disney!
In case you’re serious about becoming a member of DVC, you should definitely learn our Final Information to Disney Holiday Membership. This covers the professionals & cons, resale v. direct, what quantity of money you’ll save, and different necessary issues to understand ahead of taking the plunge. In case you nonetheless can’t make a decision whether or not club is best for you, “take a look at before you purchase” with the suggestions in Learn how to Save BIG on Deluxe Disney Lodging Renting DVC Issues.
Your Ideas
What do you bring to mind the reimagined Treehouse Villas? Assume those will be the best possible position to live completely at Walt Disney International? Have you ever stayed right here up to now? Ideas at the ahead of and after? Do you settle or disagree with our review? Any questions we will permit you to resolution? Listening to your comments–even whilst you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please percentage your ideas underneath within the feedback!
