Three new Disney resorts open

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Traveling even out of Florida these days is too expensive for some families. But you can stay in town and relax at three 3 new family friendly resorts courtesy of Walt Disney World.

Get lost in the African Savannah without ever leaving Orlando. Try booking a villa in the new Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. “The term “Kidani” means necklace in Swahili. And we laid the project out in terms of a water buffalo if you look at it from aerial photography,” says Imagineer, Bill Hanus.

Choose from studios, 1, 2, or 3-bedroom units, all under thatched roofs with handcarved furniture.
Not to mention your next door neighbors are the continent’s wildest animals.
For something completely different, book your next staycation in the Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

“What is contemporary today? What will it look like in the future? And then, how do we respect the great design that was originated at the hotel in 1971 when it opened? I think this building ties all those things together,” says Brian McFarland, Disney Imagineer.

These rooms boast the most dramatic views at Walt Disney World. You can overlook Florida beauty, the family-friendly courtyard, or the Magic Kingdom, where you can watch fireworks every night from your modern accommodations.

Finally, back to the wilderness, where wetland living just got comfortable. Try the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. “We had a very large crane that sat out in the roadway. We lifted everything up over the trees and dropped the units down through the trees,” says Todd Thomasson, Disney Imagineer.

All 60, 3-bedroom vacation homes have been themed: “cabin casual.” They’re elevated 10 feet off the ground on pedestals that blend into the forest.