The decision to stay on site at Walt Disney World is just the beginning! Now comes the fun part (for some of you)…where to stay? There are four categories of Walt Disney World hotels. Although there are other options physically on site, for our purposes here, we’re focusing on the Disney owned and operated properties. With guests spanning the globe, amenity preferences and budgets, the Walt Disney World hotels aim to entice and please guests of all different tastes. Offering value, moderate, deluxe villa and deluxe accommodations, there is likely to be something to suit most guests.
Value Resorts
Walt Disney World offers guests five value resorts: sister resorts All-Star Movies, Music and Sports; Art of Animation and Pop Century. Family suites aside, these will offer the lowest priced rooms on property. However, they will also be the smallest and most basic. Family suites tend to be priced closer to moderate level rooms but offer more space, kitchenettes and two bathrooms. No lie…having two bathrooms can definitely justify the higher price tag for some travelers.
As far as resort amenities, these properties feature literally larger than life, colorful icons throughout the grounds. You definitely know you’re at Walt Disney World when you come face to fin with Nemo or test your speed against Lightning McQueen (spoiler: you’ll win; he’s, uh, grounded). In addition to the outdoor theming, the rooms themselves feature characters and lots of magical touches. Rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation really take this to a new level, while the renovations at the other value properties offer a more modern take on incorporating Disney animation. The whimsical surroundings can be a huge draw for families with young (or young-at-heart) Disney-goers.
Pools will feature a few fun options and, again, the larger-than-life theming (hello, giant bowling pin pool!), but you won’t find water slides or hot tubs at the value pools. Recreation options are typically limited to the pools, a playground here and there and some yard games or ping-pong near the pool area.
Dining options at the values consist of a food court that offers a variety of options. While choices may vary, you’ll typically find sandwiches, pizza/pasta, burgers, hot dogs, salads and some specialty entrees. Grab and go options are also offered in the coolers. If you’d rather avoid the hustle and bustle, typically all-pleasing pizza delivery is also available.
Another big factor in the values’ price is their proximity to the parks. Unless you have your own vehicle, your main complimentary transportation option when staying at a value resort is the bus system. Personally, I’m not a huge fan. I’d hop one if I had to, but, especially when leaving the parks in the evening, the buses can be a disaster. That said, in the mornings and afternoons, we’ve had decent luck with timeliness and comfort when having to use them.
Outside of the buses, the Skyliner is available at Art of Animation and Pop Century and offers park access to Hollywood Studios and Epcot. The popularity of rideshare such as Uber and Lyft makes staying further out a bit easier, as well. *Tap our referral links for free credits on either option!*
Tips for Staying at a Value Resort
- While the price tag for staying at a value resort is smaller, so are the rooms. Consider this when packing, especially since there is no actual closet space in a value room.
- The beds have been raised to allow suitcase storage à la Disney Cruise Line!
- Preferred rooms are closer to the resort lobbies, main pool, food court and transportation. These are a bookable category, so remember that when deciding on your room type (e.g., if you must be closer, book it, as upgrades are not guaranteed). If you have your own vehicle, a standard (non-preferred room) may actually be closer to your parking space.
- Family suites that sleep up to 6 adults are available at Disney’s Art of Animation & All-Star Music.
- The All-Star resorts are sister resorts! This means they may share a bus (usually during off-peak; but the pick-up/drop-off order is Sports, Music, Movies), but it also means you can pool hop (typically a no-no) to the three resorts’ pools.
Disney World Moderate Resorts
For those looking to up the game a bit and maybe spend an afternoon or evening enjoying the hotel, there are five moderate resorts at Walt Disney World: Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs and sister resorts Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside. Walt Disney World also includes the Cabins at Fort Wilderness in their moderate category, although they are quite a bit different than the typical moderate resorts. They’ll get their own paragraph. 😉 Moderate rooms are a bit larger than the values and are more toned down in terms of decor. Aside from specially themed rooms, like the Royal Rooms at Port Orleans Riverside or the Pirate rooms at Caribbean Beach, you won’t see much over the top character decor, but the vibe will very much match the theme of the resort itself.
The moderate resorts offer quite a bit more in terms of recreation than the values. With lakes and lagoons as a feature at most moderates, boating and water craft rental are available, as well as fishing. Of course, the feature pools at the moderate level are well-themed and boast water slides and hot tubs. The smaller leisure pools are dotted throughout the properties with most sections of the resorts offering their own pool.
Dining options are more varied, as well, with at least one table service in addition to a food court similar to those at the values. You’ll also find a number of lounges featuring libations and light snacks. Again, pizza delivery is an option.
At the moderate level the main complimentary transportation source is the bus system. However, both Port Orleans resorts offer boat transportation to Disney Springs. Of course, rideshare and taxis are options, as well.
Cabins at Fort Wilderness
Although part of the moderate family, the cabins offer a vastly different experience than the other resorts. The cabins are single entities offering their own parking space outside the cabin and are basically a small, private vacation home. Featuring a full kitchen, as well as a bedroom and living room, there is space to sleep up to 6 adults per cabin.
The campground itself offers lots of recreation. Multiple pools, sports, horseback riding, watercraft rental and more provide a mini vacation inside your Walt Disney World vacation. Trust me, I’m not a camper, and I just adore our stays at Fort Wilderness. Much closer to glamping than camping, we always have the best time! Check out our post on the cabins for more info and personal thoughts.
Tips for Staying at a Moderate Resort
- Moderate resort properties, aside from French Quarter that’s cute and cozy, can be huge! Consider taking or renting a stroller you can keep with you outside of the parks. Nothing says fun like carrying two limp noodle toddlers across the resort after 12 hours in Magic Kingdom. Additionally, if you have mobility issues, look into ECV rental options for length of stay instead of renting daily in the parks. When you book your vacation with us, we’re happy to book strollers and ECVs, in addition to your magical vacation package!
- All of the resorts, again save French Quarter ’cause she’s little, have bus stops sprinkled throughout the resorts. This can help alleviate the extra walking alluded to above.
- Some moderate rooms can sleep up to 5 adults. Look for the “5th Sleeper” option at Caribbean Beach and Port Orleans Riverside for larger parties or if you have guests who’d prefer not to share a bed.
- Moderate table service restaurants are underrated! Plan an evening to relax and enjoy dinner at your resort.
- The newest addition to the moderate family is the Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs. We’d consider this offering deluxe lite. With the addition of a proper club lounge and an upscale feel, this option will add a little oomph to your moderate stay.
Deluxe Villa Resorts
Disney Vacation Club properties are also available to guests who are not members. These are great options for those who travel with larger parties or prefer to spread out a bit more. The deluxe villa resorts are often part of deluxe resorts and share the same location and theme. Deluxe villa resorts include: Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort, Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge, Copper Creek Villas and Cabins at Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Villas (Jambo House and Kidani Village), Beach Club Villas, Boardwalk Villas, Old Key West Resort, Polynesian Villas and Bungalows, Riviera Resort, Saratoga Springs Resort, the Villas at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.
Of course, as referenced, the deluxe villas offer some of the largest accommodations on property in the form of multi-bedroom villas that feature full kitchens and living rooms. The studios are standard sized rooms with kitchenettes and a sleeper sofa instead of two beds. These would be a great option for a couple, but depending on the price point, I might opt for a standard room at a deluxe resort instead. Although the sleepers are more comfortable than foldouts of the past, most of us prefer a bed.
As most of the resorts are partnered, this information will apply to the deluxe resorts and the deluxe villa resorts. You will find the most amenities at these properties. All feature pools will showcase a water slide and hot tub. Some pools even offer cabana rentals if you want to be extra during your poolside days. Rental of water crafts and bikes, including those oh-so-fun surrey bikes, is available at some resorts. In addition, those of you in need of a morning work out can do so at these resorts, aside from the Polynesian Village (you may use the fitness center at the Grand Floridian).
Dining options at the deluxes typically consist of a multiple table service locations with at least one quick service restaurant. No food courts are found at the deluxe resorts, but deluxe villa resorts will tend to have a larger variety of grocery-type items in their gift shops due to the full kitchens. Private dining aka room service is also offered at villa resorts sharing property with a deluxe resort. Pizza delivery is offered at standalone villa resorts.
Location, location, location! In most cases, a nice chunk of your price is attributed to proximity to the parks. The ability to catch a monorail, boat or even walk to a theme park is invaluable to our family, and we’re willing to pour a little more into the Disney fund to do so. Some outliers (Animal Kingdom Lodge, Old Key West, Riviera and Saratoga Springs) do not offer this perk, but you’ll notice their prices are adjusted accordingly. You’ll also see promotions almost always available at these resorts.
Deluxes and deluxe villa resorts also offer some of the most pixie-dusted views on property. Can’t get much more magical than gazing at Cinderella Castle from your patio. For those resorts not theme park adjacent, such as Animal Kingdom Lodge, they have their own special brand of room views. Waking up to giraffes nibbling leaves outside your balcony isn’t too bad, either.
Tips for Staying at Deluxe Villa Resorts
- Be flexible! Disney Vacation Club members get first crack at their home resorts (11 months out), while non-members can start booking around seven months out.
- Some companies and members rent their points out to non-members looking to save money on a deluxe stay. Although we can’t help with this (we only book with Disney properties directly), I will say READ THE FINE PRINT and be vigilant. There are stories of crooked renters absconding with money or not making the correct reservation. While many have great success with this option and most people aren’t out to steal your hard-earned vacation money, please take the time to do your research.
- Consider grocery delivery to stock your kitchen, as the gift shop food selection is absolutely subject to convenience mark-up, especially alcohol!
- Think about packing light, as washer/dryers are located in all villas. One packet of detergent is included, so bring some of your own if you plan to do more than one load of laundry.
- Make use of that full kitchen! Although we’re often out in the parks for lunch and dinner, in-room breakfasts are a great way to save a little cash. We also once got really domestic and brought all the makings for a spaghetti dinner at the Treehouse Villas before heading out to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party. Years later, it’s still a great memory. 😊
Deluxe Resorts
If you’re looking for the height of Disney owned and operated luxury, you’ve made it! Deluxe resorts offer the largest standard rooms, as well as suites and club level accommodations. Deluxe resorts include: Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Beach Club, Boardwalk Inn, the Contemporary, Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Polynesian Village, Wilderness Lodge and the Yacht Club.
Many of the aspects of deluxe resorts were covered in the deluxe villa section, but there are a few things unique to deluxe resorts. Our favorite is club level! Club level is only available at the deluxe resorts aside from Coronado Springs who upped their “business class” to club level with the addition of Gran Destino Tower. Club level accommodations feature pre-arrival planning, an on-site concierge and lounge, as well as room package delivery and complimentary turndown service. The lounge features a continental breakfast, afternoon snacks, hot evening appetizers and a dessert and cordial hour to end the day. A beta program is also being (pretty consistently) tested allowing club guests to purchase extra FastPass+.
Private dining is also available at deluxe resorts. A full menu is available from breakfast to midnight snack. If you’re staying at Disney’s Polynesian Village, consider the Twilight Feast, a small-scale version of ‘Ohana’s dinner menu delivered right to your resort room!
Tips for Staying at a Deluxe Resort
- A deluxe stay can cost a pretty penny. Schedule in a day or two to relax and really take advantage of the atmosphere and amenities your resort has to offer.
- Pay close attention to room categories, especially during promotions! Sometimes you’re able to get premium views at standard prices.
- Since there are no large food courts, quick service locations can get very crowded and busy in the mornings. Consider mobile ordering (if available) and/or sending one or two guests down to retrieve breakfast and eat in the room or another seating area around the resort.
- Most deluxe standard rooms sleep five. Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge standard rooms only sleep four.
- Suites all include club level service.
What categories have you tried? Any tips or tricks to share? Or maybe you have more questions? Slip into the comments and let us know what’s on your mind!