Deciding where to stay for a Walt Disney World Resort vacation can be a big challenge. After all, you’re probably spending thousands of dollars and you want to have the most magical trip possible. So how do you determine which Disney Resort hotel is right for you? Here is a breakdown of each of the three resort categories that Disney offers, and a broad overview of all of the Walt Disney World Resort Collection hotels you can choose from if you stay on Disney property for your Walt Disney World vacation.
Walt Disney World Resort hotels are broken down into three different categories: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe (which also includes Deluxe Villas). These categories group hotels based on things such as price, proximity to parks, and amenities. For example, if a resort pool with a water slide is a must for you, you’ll need to book a room at a moderate or deluxe category resort, as water slides are not available at value resort hotels. One of the most important perks Disney Deluxe resorts have over the other options is Extended Evening Hours. Extended Evening Hours allow Guests staying at a Deluxe resort extra time inside the theme parks on select nights. As you can probably guess, the value category is typically the cheapest, with Deluxe being the most expensive, and moderate resorts priced in the middle. HOWEVER, this is not always the case. For example, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is considered a Value resort, but many of its available rooms are more expensive than many of the moderate resort rooms.
Disney Value Resorts are typically the most affordable options for hotel rooms on-site at Walt Disney World. Standard rooms at these resorts have exterior facing doors (open to the outside, not an interior hallway). There are limited restaurant options at these resorts, but they all have cafeteria-style food courts with lots of different food options for grown-ups and picky-eaters alike. You will not find character meals or fine/signature dining at these hotels. The pools offered at these resorts have no water slides, but some do offer splash pads. The overall theming at these resorts is larger-than-life, fun themes for kids. They are typically located further away from the theme parks. While a few Value resorts have skyliner access (Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and Disney’s Pop Century Resort), the others are limited to Disney’s bus service as their only means of free Disney transportation. Each of the Value Resort hotels offer multiple buildings for accommodations. Some are quite a hike from the main building, which is home to the food court, main lobby, gift shop, and Disney bus stop. If a shorter walk is a priority for you, consider choosing a preferred room, which will cost a little more than a standard room but will put you closer to the main building. Most Value resort rooms sleep up to four adults, but family suites that can accommodate up to six Guests are offered at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and Disney’s All-Star Music Resort. These family suites offer more space and a small kitchenette, however, they do come at a higher price tag. If you have a larger group and are looking to save the most money possible, consider booking two separate standard rooms, which is usually the cheaper option.
Disney Moderate Resorts hotels typically fall in the middle price-wise between the Value Resorts and the Deluxe Resorts. Standard rooms at these resorts have exterior facing doors (open to the outside, not an interior hallway). The rooms are, in most cases, slightly larger than standard rooms at Value resorts. There are many more restaurant options at the Moderate Resorts, some even having more options than Deluxe Resorts. Some of these restaurants are excellent, and some are just okay. While Moderate Resort hotels do offer quick-service and table-service dining options, you will not find character meals or fine/signature dining at these hotels. Each Moderate Resort hotel has a pool with a water slide and some have splash pad play areas. Most of the Moderate Resorts have a feature pool with a few other smaller leisure pools around the resort. The theming at the Moderate Resorts is much more understated than at the Value Resorts; inspired more by relaxing and/or luxurious vacation destinations than over-the-top Disney characters. One of the biggest complaints about some of the Moderate Resorts is their size. Most of these resorts are spread out over a large area with multiple buildings, which can make it a pain if you need to head to another section of the resort. However, many of these resorts utilize an internal bus loop, which can save you from having to walk across the whole resort to one central bus stop, but can mean more time circling around your resort on the bus to multiple bus stops before you are actually able to head out to your destination. The Moderate Resorts offer more transportation options with some having access to bus, boat, and the Disney Skyliner. Since Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is located at the Disney Skyliner Station, it is the only resort that gives you direct access to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios via the Disney Skyliner without having to transfer at another station. Disney’s Port Orleans – French Quarter and Disney’s Port Orleans – Riverside offer boat transportation to Disney Springs. Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort only offers bus transportation, so consider a Deluxe Resort or one of the Skyliner Value Resorts if an additional means of transportation is important to you. Most rooms at the Deluxe Resort hotels will sleep four or five adults. These rooms typically offer more space than a Value Resort hotel room but are not quite as spacious or luxurious as a Deluxe Resort hotel room. Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is the only Moderate Resort at Walt Disney World that offers club-level service and a fitness center; it is considered by many to give you a Deluxe-feel, while being more budget-conscious than a true Deluxe Resort.
Disney Deluxe Resort hotels are typically the most expensive resort hotel option that Disney offers. They include the most amenities and typically have the closest proximity to the theme parks.
These hotels often have perks that other Disney resorts do not. Guests who stay at Deluxe Resorts have access to Extended Evening Hours, which allow Guests extra time inside the theme parks on select nights with very low crowds and typically shorter wait times than you would experience on a normal park day. You should definitely consider taking advantage of this perk if you are staying at a Deluxe resort. Standard rooms at these resorts have interior facing doors (they open to an interior hallway, rather than the outside). Disney’s Deluxe resorts have a plethora of restaurants to choose from, including fine/signature dining options and character dining options at some resorts. However, at some of the Deluxe resorts, grab-and-go/quick-service options can be more limited than at other resorts, so you may want to plan to eat at the parks if this is the type of meal you prefer.
Each Deluxe Resort hotel has a pool with a water slide and some have splash pad play areas. Most of the Deluxe Resorts have a feature pool with a few other smaller leisure pools around the resort. The theming at the Deluxe Resorts is much more understated than at the Value Resorts, and typically much more upscale and luxurious as compared to the Moderate resorts. The Deluxe resorts typically offer the most options for transportation including bus, boat, Disney Skyliner, and monorail. Some of these resorts are even located within walking distance to one or two parks. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (including Jambo House and Kidani Village) is the only Disney Deluxe Resort hotel that only has one mode of transportation and/or is not within walking distance to a theme park or Disney Springs.
Located at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Resort area you will find Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Epcot Resort area hotels include Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Villas, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, Disney’s BoardWalk Villas, Disney’s Riviera Resort, and Disney’s Yacht Club Resort (these resorts are also closest to Disney’s Hollywood Studios). Located near Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort you will find Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village. Disney Springs Resort Area hotels are Disney’s Old Key West Resort and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa.
If you are accustomed to staying at five-star hotels, the Disney Deluxe hotels are probably not quite up to this standard, but will be your best bet if you are wanting a Disney-owned hotel. Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort is another nearby option, but does not offer all of the same perks as Disney Resort hotels.
There are a few hotels located on Walt Disney World Resort property that are not owned and operated by Disney. These resorts do receive some of the same perks that Walt Disney World Resort hotels receive, but sometimes, not all of them. These resorts include: