The Ferry Dock

Image: kungaloosh, Flickr (license)

The Grand Floridian is not wanting for incredible dining, and one such venue is Narcoossee’s — a modern seafood establishment with an incredible view of the Seven Seas Lagoon. Unfortunately, the views from Narcoossee’s are contained only to its own paying customers, but right next to it, guests can find the Grand Floridian’s ferry dock, providing a scenic view of the lake and convenient transportation to the Magic Kingdom.

Walk out to the end of the dock to truly appreciate how beautiful a setting Seven Seas Lagoon can be — and, if you’re visiting at off hours when it’s less crowded — grab a seat on the bench and watch the boats sail around the lagoon. It’s nearly as serene as Walt Disney World gets, and it provides a wonderful location to take some great photos of Walt Disney World’s natural beauty. 

Bay View Gifts and the Grand Canyon Concourse

Image: Ed, Flickr (license)

If you board the monorail at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and skip the Magic Kingdom, you’ll arrive at Disney’s Contemporary Resort — specifically, on the Grand Canyon Concourse. This area, featuring iconic mosaics from Disney master artist Mary Blair (perhaps best known as the principal inspiration for the aesthetic of It’s a Small World), is the heart of the resort and a towering tribute to the Walt Disney World of yore.

While the whole concourse is worth exploring, Bay View Gifts happens to be one of the best gift shops on property, offering up a best-of selection of Disney merchandise from other areas of the resort and some excellent Contemporary Resort-branded items.

But, its showpiece truly is the selection of baked goods offered — including some of Disney’s specialties, like cupcakes and oversized Mickey-shaped cookies. Other resorts offer these baked goods, yes, but only at the Contemporary Resort can you take them with you out onto the deck overlooking the Magic Kingdom and watch the rides spin away just beyond your reach.

The California Grill Bar

Image: frankfranc, Flickr (license)

While you’re at the Contemporary Resort, you might as well enjoy the single best-kept secret at Walt Disney World. This secret is so well-kept that, in fact, I had to debate including it here at all.

The California Grill restaurant, located high atop the Contemporary Resort, is a notoriously difficult reservation to get. Its stunning views of the Magic Kingdom, the Seven Seas Lagoon, and the surrounding Orlando area are nearly impossible to describe. And, a meal at the California Grill includes access to its exclusive sky-high observation deck for the nighttime fireworks at the Magic Kingdom, including the musical accompaniment.

For all of those reasons, it’s nearly impossible to score a table here. But, if you get there early enough, the restaurant does have some first-come, first-served seating at its bar and lounge area. Whether you want to enjoy a full meal or simply sample one of the best wine lists on Disney property, the bar at the California Grill is every bit as magnificent as the restaurant in which it resides ... and you don’t have to get a reservation for it months in advance. It’s perfect for a stop on a monorail tour.