At Walt Disney World there are 20+ resorts you can choose to stay at. It can be mind-boggling trying to figure out which one is best for your family. There are different price points, different amenities, different dining choices, different locations ect. You might be wondering how do I narrow down my choices? You don’t want to make a mistake and pick the wrong place to stay but how do you know which one is right. This guide to Disney World resorts is going to help clear up some of your confusion. Read on as the Walt Disney World resort types are explained!
Disney’s Deluxe Resort Hotels
The Deluxe resorts are Disney’s most luxurious resorts on property. These resorts are some of the most conveniently located places to stay in Disney World.
Check out the awesome features:
- Nearby transportation that makes navigating Disney World easier
- Multiple themed table-service restaurants at the resort
- Signature dining onsite
- Room Service available
- A small, quick-service marketplace
- Spacious rooms (larger than other resorts)
- Best pool areas
- Amazing theming all throughout the resort
- Rooms are accessed inside the building
- Balconies and patios in some rooms
The Deluxe Resorts are:
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Polynesian Resort
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
- Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort
- Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Let me just talk about the transportation for a moment. I think that the easy transportation from some of the Deluxe resorts is one of the big reasons to stay at one of these resorts.
Disney’s Contemporary, Disney’s Polynesian, and Disney’s Grand Floridian are all on the Monorail route. There is a Monorail station almost inside the resort with direct access to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot with one quick transfer. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge has water taxi access right to Magic Kingdom.
Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club as well as Disney’s BoardWalk Inn are a quick walk to Epcot’s International Gateway. These deluxe resorts are also within walking distance to Hollywood Studios. Connecting these resorts and these two parks is also the Friendship Boats and the Skyliner.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is the only resort that doesn’t have a mode of quick transportation to a park. BUT, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge there are animals in the Savannah right outside your balcony. That’s pretty awesome!
Disney’s Deluxe Villas
The next resort category in this guide to Disney World resorts is the Deluxe Villas. At each of the deluxe resorts, a villa resort is attached. Disney’s Riviera, Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, and Old Key West Resort are stand-alone villa resorts. The villas are mainly for Disney Vacation Club but you can book rooms in these resorts when available. The villa resorts are fabulous for larger groups and families because they have 1, 2, and 3 bedroom suites, multiple bathrooms, living area, dining area, kitchen, washer, and dryer. The villas can use the resort pools, restaurants, and other amenities.
The Villa Resorts are:
- Bay Lake Towers at Disney’s Contemporary
- Boulder Ridge Villas and Copper Creek Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas–Jambo House and Kidani Village
- Disney’s Beach Club Villas
- Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa
- Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
- Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Disney’s Moderate Resorts
The moderate resorts on Disney World property and a really nice middle of the road option. Moderate resorts are large, spread out resorts with some great features.
Some of the Moderate features:
- Beautiful landscaping
- Fun themes
- Very nice pool areas
- One table-service restaurant
- Large, quick-service dining hall
- Activities such as fishing, biking, etc.
- Moderate sized rooms
- Multiple bus stops
- Enter rooms from outside (many smaller buildings make up resort)
- Parking a little more convenient to your room as there are multiple parking lots
- Convenient transportation to one or two parks or Disney Springs (except Coronado Springs)
The moderate resorts are:
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s Port Orleans–Riverside and French Quarter
- Disney’s Coronado Springs
- Cabins at Disney’s Ft. Wilderness Resort and Campground
Many guests really like this resort category. You feel like you are staying somewhere special but its not quite as expensive. Moderates have things to do at the resort that make a stay-and-play-day a bit more fun. It is also nice to have dining options at your resort. I especially love Disney’s Caribbean Beach because of the Skyliner access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
Disney’s Value Resorts
The last category in this guide to Disney World resorts is the Value Resorts. At Disney World, these are the least expensive option. This category is well-loved by families that are only looking for a place to sleep. They spend most of their time and the parks and the place to stay isn’t nearly as important. They want most their budget to go to the parks, dining and souvenirs and not where they lay their head.
Here are a few of the Value Resort features:
- Spread out with multiple large buildings
- Covered stairwells are outside the building and the entrance to the room is also outside (except at Art of Animation).
- Larger than life outdoor
- Pools are large but simple (no slides, small splash area).
- Only a quick-service dining hall but it serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner so you won’t go hungry.
- Rooms are simple without too much decor unless you are at Art of Animation.
- One bus stop
The Value Resorts are:
- Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort
If you have a larger family the value resorts might be a great option for you. The Art of Animation has quite a few family suites that have 1-bedroom/2 baths (not full) and sleep 6. The All-Star Music also has family suites that sleep 6.
The All-Start Resorts are quite far away from all of the parks and require bus transportation everywhere. Art of Animation and Pop Century are on the Disney Skyliner route. They were already the favorites of the value category but now they are going to be in even more demand. It will be important to book these early, especially during the busy times of year.
Well, I hope that helps you not be quite as confused about which type of resort would be best for your family. Have more questions? Want info to book a Disney World stay? Click the button above and contact me!
Happy travels to you…until we meet again!
Other links that might interest you:
- 5 Magic Kingdom Restaurants to Love
- Disney World Skyliner Tips and Tricks
- 6 Unusual Things to Love at Epcot
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