My Treehouse Adventure!

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As a child visiting WDW, we would change up our accommodations from year to year. In the beginning, choices were few. We would rotate between the Polynesian and the Contemporary. As the resort expanded we added the Grand Floridian which was a trip into luxury for sure.

 

As our next trip would approach, I would voice my opinions as to our accommodations. I wanted to stay in the Treehouses. Come on, what could be more exciting than living up in the trees? I never had a treehouse as a kid so this was just an amazing concept to me.

 

The closest we ever came was staying in the Townhouse Villas that were located NEXT to the treehouses in an area which is now Saratoga Springs. I have fond memories of that condo. The best involves a pier and my Dad and hanging the contents of his wallet out to dry but that is another story.

 

My husband hasn’t been to WDW as much as I have so he doesn’t have the same kind of bragging rights as I do – except in this area. HE HAS STAYED AT THE TREEHOUSES! (Don’t tell him how jealous I am). Anyway, he and his family were able to stay there for one trip. Unfortunately, as he looks back, it wasn’t that great.

 

When he was little, it was everything he had hoped for. He enjoyed climbing upstairs and living in the trees, just as advertised. When he talks about it from an adult perspective, he says they were kind of dumpy and the lower level wasn’t very livable. Rustic living was a kind description. So what’s the deal with the original Treehouses?

 

I did a little digging to make sure my memory was accurate. Thanks to Scott Liljenquist of Mousketrips.com for having the history available. The original Tree Houses (6o) were built in 1975 as part of a permanent residential area first called Lake Buena Vista. In 1996, the Tree Houses were absorbed by Michael Eisner’s brainchild The Disney Insitute and after 2001 were closed to the public. They were used for international cast member housing and storage.

 

Now, you may be asking, why didn’t Disney tear them down? Why isn’t that area just part of Saratoga Springs now? I’m so glad you asked! The Warren S. Henderson Wetlands Protections Act of 1984 came along. That area is protected from having ANY human intervention that could destroy the environment. The actual physical buildings were grandfathered in with stipulations that they can be maintained, improved or renovated under very strict guidelines (expensive).

 

Thanks to modular construction and some great crane drivers, the new Tree Houses were constructed off site in three separate pieces and brought in to be assembled on site (much Contemporary Resort was).

 

Now back to the recent past! My family was planning a unique adventure with a four generation theme to it. We were to be a party of 7. Great grandpa making his first WDW trip ever at the ripe age of 88, my in laws party of 2 and our family of four with then 6 year old Kate and 2 year old Ally. We are members of the Disney Vacation Club so ideally we stay at those locations. We tried booking at the new Treehouse Villas but to no avail. They put us on a waiting list and we reserved a two bedroom at Old Key West.

 

(Drum roll please and pixie dust sprinkled)

We got the call that we got into the Treehouses due to a cancellation!! WOO HOO!

February 2010 we checked in to a gorgeous unit near the front entrance of the resort.

 

There are a couple of down sides to staying here. I will be short and sweet. You are only allowed to park one vehicle and we were two. Buses run from Treehouses to Saratoga Springs so using Disney transport isn’t efficient. Enough of the negatives.

 

The units are still small when compared to other two bedroom units but the space is so well used! We had three bedrooms. A master suite with bathroom which held hubby, me and 2 year old in a pack n play. The second bedroom was at the other end of the unit which my in laws took. Bedroom 3 had a set of bunkbeds that great grandpa and my 6 year old shared. This bedroom is TINY but you’re only sleeping in there.

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The living space had walls of windows with a great view of the gorgeous trees and the Sassagoula River. The trees offered the privacy needed to keep the drapes open.

 

Each morning of our trip we would gather at the full dining table to eat our various breakfasts. At night we would relax in the living area watching some tv or prepping a late night snack at the galley style kitchen.

 

For that week in February, I was living in rustic luxury. Disney calls it “treetoptopia” and I think I can agree. If you get a chance to stay in these lovely Treehouses, do it and enjoy your tree top living!!!

 

Dis Savvy