If you’ve ever planned (or attempted to plan) a Walt Disney World vacation, you will know that there are resort options for every family! Whether you are looking to stay on Disney property or at one of their many Good Neighbor Hotels, there is truly something for everyone.
My family and I always stay at a Disney resort. Not only do we love staying in the middle of the magic, but we also love the convenience of getting to the parks, the incredible customer service that Disney offers and all those extra little Disney touches that you just can’t find anywhere else!
Now, I will say that with so many options, choosing a resort may seem like a daunting task! There are currently 30 Disney resorts, plus Fort Wilderness campsites, to choose from! So where do you start? Here is a breakdown of the resort categories, what you can expect from each and my top picks!
🌴 Value Resorts
There are 5 value Disney resorts. These resorts are definitely designed with families in mind! They are the least expensive on-site options, but that doesn’t mean they are lacking in amenities and Disney magic. Guests of value resorts will find larger than life theming all around the resorts and each has a food court serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Most of the rooms accommodate up to 4 guests in each room; however, All-Star Music and Art of Animation also offer family suites, which accommodate up to 6 guests. Family Suites are a great option for larger families by offering a kitchenette and 2 full bathrooms! Each resort provides complimentary transportation to each park and Disney Springs. All-Stars offer bus transportation, while Pop Century and Art of Animation additionally offer Skyliner access to Hollywood Studios & Epcot!
My top pick: Pop Century! The theming of the decades, Skyliner access, Hippy Dippy Pool and awesome food court make this resort a winner for my family!
🌴 Moderate Resorts
There are 5 moderate Disney resorts. Although the resort theming is present at each of these resorts, the Disney touches are a little more subtle. Guests love the addition of waterslides at the pools and the larger square footage in each guest room. Moderate resorts offer a great value. They do not price out too much more than value resorts and offer some additional amenities. Moderate resorts have standard rooms that accommodate 4-5 guests. The Cabins at Fort Wilderness offer free-standing Wilderness Cabins that accommodate up to 6 guests and have full kitchens! All resorts offer complimentary bus transportation, while Caribbean Beach additionally offers Skyliner access to Hollywood Studios and Epcot, Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside additionally offer boat access to Disney Springs and The Cabins at Fort Wilderness additionally offers boat access to Magic Kingdom.
My top pick: Port Orleans- French Quarter! This is the smallest of all the Disney resorts, so getting around is so easy. There is also a great splash pad area, the boat ride to Disney Springs is so beautiful and relaxing and let’s not forget, the Mickey-shaped beignets that are served in the food court daily!
🌴 Deluxe Resorts
There are 8 deluxe Disney resorts. These are Disney’s luxury resorts with the most amenities. Guests can find subtle Disney touches throughout the resorts. All deluxe resorts have interior hallways, table service restaurants and a variety of activities for guests of all ages. Standard rooms sleep 4-5 guests, while there are some deluxe room options that sleep 6 and suites that sleep larger parties. One of my favorite things about deluxe resorts is the variety of park transportation options. Some deluxe resorts are on the monorail, while some are within walking distance to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, while some offer boat access to the parks! This comes in extra handy when you have a sleeping child in a stroller and do not need to take them out to fold up the stroller to board a bus at the end of the night!
My top picks (because I cannot choose just one): BoardWalk and Beach Club in the Epcot Resort Area and Grand Floridian on the monorail! Not only is the location amazing, but BoardWalk offers “street entertainment”, Surrey Bike Rentals and a Margarita kiosk! Beach Club is literally a 5-minute walk to Epcot and has the most amazing pool complex, Stormalong Bay (we’re talking lazy river, pirate ship slide and sand-bottom pool!) Grand Floridian is Disney’s flagship resort and the most luxurious resort on property! It is located on the monorail, so an easy ride to Magic Kingdom and Epcot. There is also a new walking path to Magic Kingdom, as well as boat access to Magic Kingdom….and you cannot beat the view of the castle across Seven Seas Lagoon!
🌴 Deluxe Villa Resorts
Deluxe Villas Resorts are the Disney Vacation Club properties; however, you do not need to be a DVC member to stay there! Some inventory is kept aside just for non-DVC guests. There are 12 deluxe villa resorts in total and each have several room types available: Deluxe Studio, 1 Bedroom Villa, 2 Bedroom Villa and 3 Bedroom Grand Villa. The 1, 2 and 3 Bedroom Villas are all very spacious and have full kitchens and washers & dryers. The deluxe studios are similar in size to a standard room, but also offer a kitchenette. There is even the option of an over the water bungalow with views of Magic Kingdom! Many of the deluxe villa resorts are located on the same property as their sister deluxe resorts, while others are stand-alone properties (for example, Saratoga Springs, Old Key West and Riviera Resort.) Similar to the deluxe resorts, the deluxe villa resorts offer upgraded amenities, views and convenient transportation options.
My top picks (again, there are too many to choose just one): Riviera Resort, Animal Kingdom Villas and Polynesian Villas and Bungalows (specifically the bungalow, which is on my bucket list!) Riviera is the newest Disney resort and is absolutely gorgeous. It is located on the Skyliner route and offers exquisite accommodations and dining options! Animal Kingdom Villas offer rooms with incredible savanna views…there are not too many places you can wake up, have coffee on your deck and watch the animals grazing below. Then there is Polynesian Villas and Bungalows. The deluxe studios are amazing, but my absolute dream is to stay in a bungalow. Each bungalow has 2 bedrooms, living room, dining room and full kitchen. In addition, on the deck, there is a private hot tub and when fireworks happen, the music gets piped in so you can enjoy the show from the comfort of your very own private bungalow!
So, as you can see, there is an option for every vacation type! If you would like me to help you navigate the world of Disney Resorts, please fill out my Quote Request form and we can get started with all of the magical planning!
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About the Author, Kathryn Finkelstein and Mickey Travels
MickeyTravels is a Platinum-Level, Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. If you choose to book with me, my services are 100% free! I provide full concierge-planning services, including resort, ticket and dining package reservations, dining reservations, FastPass+ reservations (when this service resumes), enchanting extras reservations, ground transportation reservations, customized payment plans, continual discount monitoring and complete itinerary planning. I am also on call before, during, and after your trip for anything you may need. My goal is to make your vacation as stress-free and as magical as possible for you…so you can enjoy every minute with your family! Follow me on Facebook for the latest Disney news, vacation planning tips and client reviews. Email me at KFinkelstein@mickeytravels.com with any questions.
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