Last updated on March 20th, 2024 at 04:36 pm
When you stay at one of the Disney World Resorts at Walt Disney World in Orlando, you’re always in the middle of the magic! Disney resorts offer amenities, theming and conveniences you just can’t find at other hotels off-property. But how do you know which Disney resort is the best choice for your family? Here’s a guide to help you decide.
Choosing the Best Disney World Resort
It’s a common question for guests planning a trip to Walt Disney World – where should we stay? And if we stay on-property, do we choose value, moderate or deluxe accommodations?
A value resort will save you money, but a deluxe resort delivers fantastic theming, higher-end dining choices and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. And the Disney moderate resorts…they meet somewhere in the middle. So the key is to decide what is most important to you (and your budget).
Some things come standard at all Disney Resort hotels, so rest easy. You’ll enjoy these perks no matter at which Walt Disney World Resort you stay:
- A pool (or several pools)
- Retail shops and food court on site
- Ability to make dining reservations in advance
- A mini-fridge in your room
- Free baggage transfer between Disney Resort hotels
- Extra Magic Hours
- Complimentary wi-fi
- Laundry facilities
- In-room refrigerators
- Complimentary transportation to the theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs
Disney’s Value Resorts
If all you’re looking for is a bed to sleep in and a shower to bathe in, a Value resort may be for you! Value Resorts have smaller rooms and oversized, somewhat garish decor. But they are clean and convenient and cover all the basics a family needs on vacation.
What You’ll Find at Disney Value Resorts:
- Fun, bright, kid-friendly theming
- Food courts and pizza delivery available, but no Table Service restaurants
- Themed pools but no water slides
- Rooms open to outside corridors
- Large, spread out layout making for long walks to the bus stop
- No doors separating the sink area from the bedroom (there is a curtain)
- Bus transportation to all parks and Downtown Disney (and only 1 internal bus stop)
- Skyliner station at Art of Animation and Pop Century Resorts
- Inexpensive room rates
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is a slight exception. It is the newest and has mostly suites, a bigger food court and common areas, and therefore has a higher rate.
Disney’s Art of Animation and Pop Century share a Skyliner station, which makes them one step better than the All-Star Resorts, just in terms of east of transportation to Epcot and Hollywood Studios parks.
If we had to pick one All-Star Value Resort, it would be All Star Movies. The building exteriors showcase some of our favorite Disney Movies (101 Dalmatians, Love Bug, Toy Story), making this a fun but not overly-cheesy resort. But of all the Value Resorts, Pop Century is definitely the favorite.
Value Resort Hotels:
- Pop Century Resort
- Art of Animation Resort
- All-Star Music Resort
- All-Star Movies Resort
- All-Star Sports Resort
For a great stay off property at a value price, check out Orlando Marriott Village Near Walt Disney World.
Disney’s Moderate Resorts
Like with most things at Walt Disney World Resort hotels, the more you pay, the more you get.
A Disney Moderate Resort is a huge step up from Value, but of course not quite as high-end as what you’ll find at a Deluxe property. Disney World Moderate hotels tend to have a more subdued atmosphere. The rooms are lovely, the grounds beautifully landscaped, and the hotel’s lobby and common areas all add to the ambiance.
What You’ll Find at Disney Moderate Resorts:
- Beautiful theming with a grownup feel
- Lush landscaping
- Rooms that open to outside corridors
- Table Service restaurant (except at French Quarter), food courts and pizza delivery available
- Multiple pools – a main themed pool with a water slide and other quiet pools throughout the property
In the Moderate category, my favorite is the Port Orleans French Quarter. One of the two Port Orleans resorts, It is one of the smallest, which makes it easy to navigate, It is one of the smallest, which makes it easy to navigate. It features a lovely New Orleans style architecture and is quite charming.
The Port Orleans Resort – Riverside offers Royal Guest Rooms, located in two the Magnolia Bend mansion buildings. If your Walt Disney World vacation includes little girls, you’ll definitely want to check out this Disney World Moderate Resort!
Moderate Resort Hotels:
- Caribbean Beach Resort
- Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
- Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
- Coronado Springs Resort
- The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Disney’s Deluxe Resorts
Disney World Deluxe Resorts are detailed in their style and architecture – from elegant Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa to the modern Contemporary Resort to the African vibe of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Deluxe resorts will give you the largest rooms, the fanciest bath products, and many include balconies or patios. And, Deluxe resorts have the best pools with the biggest water slides. Guests staying at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge can even boast views of wildlife grazing out their windows!
When it comes to dining, you’ll find the most variety at deluxe resorts, including highly-themed, upscale restaurants. Deluxe resorts feature signature restaurants and experiences.
What You’ll Find at Disney Deluxe Resorts:
- Lavish theming with fantastic lobbies and gift shops
- Rooms that open to inside hallways
- Rooms with private balconies
- Table Service restaurants (including 1 upscale option) and Quick Service dining
- A main feature pool with a water slide and other quiet pools
- All the hotels along the monorail line are Deluxe
- On-site gyms, spas, and child care centers
- Superb service
- Valet parking
It is very hard to choose a favorite Deluxe Resort – they are all amazing! But if I had to pick it would be a tie between Disney’s Polynesian Village and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
We absolutely loved the vibe at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Although our room’s balcony overlooked the pool and not the African Savannah (a huge cost savings, by the way!), we still got to enjoy the animals from numerous vantage points around the hotel. And it is just a very short bus ride away from Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.
We loved the Polynesian mostly for the pool area, and because you could watch both the fireworks and Electrical Boat Parade from the shore. The newly renovated Volcano Pool has a zero entry area by the beach and giant water slide that twists through the volcano. The Pineapple Lanai is adjacent to the pool area, and it is always a bonus to have a Dole whip within easy reach when you’re at Disney World.
Other amenities you’ll find only at Deluxe Resorts include spas at the main pool, concierge service and lobby entertainment.
Deluxe Resort Hotels:
- Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Polynesian Village Resort
- Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Wilderness Lodge
- Beach Club Resort
- Contemporary Resort
- Riviera Resort
- Yacht Club Resort
- Boardwalk Inn
Disney Deluxe Villas
Deluxe Villas are the ideal choice for families that need more space but still want to stay on-property and take advantage of the amenities offered at Disney Deluxe resorts.
Disney Deluxe Villas combine the high-end amenities and conveniences of Deluxe properties with the comforts of home. Villas feature a full kitchen, 2 full bathrooms and a washer/dryer. They range in size from studio to 2-bedroom, and can accommodate large or extended families. The Villa resorts include all of the services and perks you get with a Deluxe resort.
Deluxe Villa Resorts:
- Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- Old Key West Resort
- Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
- Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
- Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
- Boardwalk Villas
- Beach Club Villas
- Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Copper Creek Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
A Word About Transportation at the Disney World Resorts
You’re visiting Walt Disney World to go to Disney parks, right? So you want to get there fast! Most Deluxe resorts stand out in the transportation category, which is one of the reasons you’ll pay a premium.
The Grand Floridian, Polynesian and Contemporary are on the coveted Monorail line. They also offer transportation to the Magic Kingdom via boat, as does the Wilderness Lodge. Other Deluxe hotels offer boat transportation to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and some are even within walking distance!
► Click here to read Everything You Need to Know About Disney Monorail Hotels.
Bus service is the main form of transportation for most Value and Moderate Resorts. Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter resorts offer boat transportation to Disney Springs, and Disney’s Skyliner has stops at Disney’s Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disney’s Riviera Resort.
The new Disney Skyliner is an incredible way to travel around Walt Disney World Resort!
This new state-of-the-art gondola system conveniently connects Disney’s Hollywood Studios and International Gateway at Epcot to the following Resort hotels: Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and Disney’s Pop Century Resort. Disney’s Riviera Resort also has a Skyliner station.
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Christina says
This is such a great explanation! We live in Florida and visit Disney World often and have stayed in every type of hotel from the value to the deluxe and I have to say, I’ve still experienced that magic in every stay. It’s also just so much more convienent to have the access to transportation staying at Disney resort (and saves you money since you’re not paying for parking!)
admin says
So glad it was helpful!
Rosemary says
I’m in California and have only visited Disneyland, many, many times. I’ve not been to Disney World but want to one day. I’ve also not stayed at a Disney hotel/resort. We spend so much time at the park and really only eat, sleep and maybe swim a couple times at the hotels that it seems like a waste (“waste” is not a good word, cause as Disney goes, nothing’s a “waste” right?!) to spend extra on their hotels too. Gonna do it soon though! Gotta experience them!
Ashley says
Great article! I have visited every resort but haven’t stayed the night in every one yet! That’s a great goal. I also have a goal to visit every state!
Sharapu says
Great explanation of the different resort tiers. We live in Florida and have only done Value resorts and, most recently, Port Orleans Riverside, which we loved. As a family of 5, we loved the extra Murphy bed!
Jennifer Herbert says
I love this comparison! We are DVC members so we usually stay at the Deluxe resorts but I’ve recently been venturing out and for shorter stays we have been doing moderates. Thanks for the great comparison!
Carly says
Great thoughts! I love WDW and finding the right resort is critical to what you want to accomplish. I want to stay at the Port Orleans Riverside in a Princess room before my little girl is too much older. So fun!
Jen says
We stayed at All Star Movies this summer and they had just renovated it. We stayed in the Toy Story section and it was fantastic! There was a murphy bed to make more space in the room, and sliding doors into the bathroom. It was really lovely! We did Animal Kingdom Resort and it was beautiful for our honeymoon, but I don’t know if we’d spring for that with the kiddos now. This is a great article, thanks for sharing!
Jaclyn says
Great review! We personally love the deluxe villas due to the extra space and privacy, but I’ve heard great things about some of the value resorts. We love the anticipation of staying somewhere new on each trip.
Nsncy says
Thank you for this. Very helpful!
admin says
Glad you found this info helpful! Have fun! 🙂