What to expect: Celebration, a residential community created by a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, includes pastel-colored downtown shops and restaurants.

With its early 1900s Florida-coastal architecture, Celebration Hotel is a tranquil image along the town's lakefront: a three-story building with a brick courtyard in front and a veranda offering wicker-and-leather seating beneath woven, big-paddle ceiling fans.

The lobby includes more fans, along with wood rocking chairs, plush divans, a piano, and rugs on hardwood floors.

Amenity highlights: A sunning-and-sitting deck overlooking Celebration's lily-pad lake runs along the rear of the hotel. A small pool anchors one end of the deck; an eight-person spa tub anchors the other. In between, street lamps illuminate night strolls, umbrella tables provide daytime shade, and a sculpture of Chief Osceola reminds guests they're in Seminole country.

Between the hotel lobby and the deck is a cool, brick veranda furnished with wood rocking chairs and ceiling fans for relaxed contemplation of the water and of joggers/walkers using a path encircling the lake.

What to expect: Located a half-mile from Walt Disney World® Resort, this resort and convention center welcomes business and leisure travelers and families with a sweeping tiled lobby, wood-framed arched doorways, and hanging lanterns. A 4.5-acre, glass-domed atrium celebrates several Florida regions with a replica of a historic fort, Ponce de Leon’s fountain of youth, a 60-foot sailboat reminiscent of Key West, and Everglade-style swamps and cypress trees.

Amenity highlights: Family-friendly amenities include a freeform outdoor pool with octopus water slide and sandy play area, supervised children's' activities (surcharge), and scheduled shuttle service to Disney theme parks (surcharge). A health spa features a fitness center, salon, and a range of services (surcharge), including massage therapy, facials, and body wraps. The Gaylord Palms Resort has 400,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including three ballrooms.

Insider tip: For a midday break from theme parks, guests can have their hands stamped for park re-entry, grab a shuttle back to the resort for a nap or a dip in the pools, then return to the parks for evening fireworks.

What to expect: Three lushly landscaped golf courses with small ponds, mature trees, and plentiful wildlife highlight this 2,300-acre resort located in a quiet, secluded area southwest of Walt Disney World® Resort. Villa neighborhoods offer a variety of architectural styles, from Key West to Colonial. Arriving guests are welcomed by a personal concierge who accompanies them to their villa and assists them during their stay.

Amenity highlights: Ginn Reunion Resort offers three 18-hole golf courses: Tom Watson’s Independence course, Arnold Palmer’s Legacy course, and Jack Niklaus' Tradition course. The Seven Eagles Pool Pavilion features a large, sloped-entry pool, two spa tubs, an activity center, complimentary fitness center, and poolside refreshments. A tropical-style water park includes a lagoon pool, lazy river, and water playground.

Insider tip: This 2,300-acre resort is home to abundant wildlife, including two herons who station themselves at the front gate.