Selecting a Resort on Walt Disney World Property

Staying on Disney property is certainly my recommendation. At the end of the day, Disney is about telling a story, painting a picture, and creating a complete experience, right? Well, the resorts on property certainly aren’t an exception. Each has been carefully crafted and immerses you in a story – and I LOVE that. Plus, staying on property comes with perks that hotels off-site just don’t have. Added value! However, there are SO many resorts (more than 25!). So, how do you select the one that is best for your family? Well, I’m here to break it down for you, and as we go, remember the story! A hint or indicator of it is usually in the name.

Disney separates its resorts into four categories – value, moderate, deluxe and villas (usually part of the Disney Vacation Club but can be booked for cash). Pricing usually follows this model as it sounds – value is a better price per night as compared to deluxe. Same goes for features onsite and availability of certain amenities. Let’s do a quick breakdown! (updated April 17, 2024)

Value Resorts

The bulk of rooms in this category are standard and approximately 260 square feet. There is a basic bath setup (sink often in the open and toilet and shower/tub in a separate room) and bedding could be two queens or a king. Some rooms in this category are family suites coming in at approximately 520 square feet. They have a similar setup as a standard but double the baths and add in some convertible sleeping options. From here things at both are about the same. Views can differ from parking areas and wooded areas to swimming pools – and naturally the better the view the higher the price. Speaking of swimming pools, the pools here are typically themed and could be interactive, but here’s your warning – no slides! Other forms of recreation can be limited – think poolside games, a playground, and an occasional movie outside at night. Dining options are slim too with your only options being a foot court or pool bar. Finally, transportation provided by Disney (a perk of staying onsite!) will usually be via bus.

The only exceptions to this are the Art of Animation Resort and Pop Century, which recently were added to the new-ish Skyliner route.

Includes: All-Star Movies, All-Star Music, All-Star Sports, Art of Animation, and Pop Century.

In the Value category, I recommend Disney’s Art of Animation Resort for families and Disney’s Pop Century Resort for adults-only trips. Art of Animation has fantastic theming, dedicated buses, a Skyliner station, most of the rooms are suites and it has the best food court of all the Value Resorts. Keep in mind that the Standard Rooms here are The Little Mermaid themed and are about a 10-minute walk from dining and transportation. If that’s a deal breaker, then I would recommend Pop Century. Pop Century is affordable, has fun theming, dedicated buses, Skyliner access, and easy access to Art of Animation.

Moderate Resorts

Standard rooms in this category are in the 300 square foot range with a similar bath set up as a value resort, but maybe an additional sink. Two queen beds or one king is the standard, but there might be a spot for a potential fifth person (otherwise four is the max). Views are similar as well but throw in the possibility of a room facing/near a natural body of water. Pools, other recreation, and dining options are a little more robust with the addition of “quiet pools,” water recreation, bikes, a health club (Coronado Springs), at least one table service restaurant, and a lounge. Transport here is typically bus as well, but there might be a boat service from some resorts to Disney Springs. Caribbean Beach does have Skyliner access.

Includes: Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, Port Orleans French Quarter, and Port Orleans Riverside.

My top recommendation in the Moderate Resort category is Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. It’s a beautiful resort, has numerous dining options, and has the best pool of any Moderate resort, Gran Destino Tower feels like a Deluxe Resort (at Moderate pricing) and has club-level rooms.

Deluxe Resorts

There are a variety of rooms and sizes here. We’re talking anywhere from 344 to 440 square feet. The bath situation can vary too and includes what you’ll find in a moderate, but probably in a different configuration for more privacy. If the room is larger, there might be several baths. The bedding configuration is like a moderate property with nothing smaller than a queen. However, it’s the views, recreation, dining, and transportation that sets a deluxe apart. Pools will have slides, hot tubs, or other water features. Spa services might even be available. There are more table service restaurants, room service, and maybe even character dining onsite. Lastly, these resorts are typically close to a park (very attractive to some), so transportation options open up. Buses, Skyliner, and boats could still be available, but add walking and monorails to the list.

Includes: Animal Kingdom Lodge, Beach Club, BoardWalk Inn, Contemporary, Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Polynesian Village, Wilderness Lodge, and Yacht Club.

It’s really hard to pick a favorite when it comes to the Deluxe Resorts because they are all so wonderful. You really can’t go wrong with any of them. My top pick in the Magic Kingdom Resort area is Disney’s Polynesian. Village Resort. It has so many amazing food options, it’s on the Monorail loop and has rooms with theme park views.

Deluxe Villa Resorts

We’ll keep things simple here. Villas are a part of the Disney Vacation Club program but can be booked for cash. Villas can be found at some deluxe properties, but there are also three that are dedicated to Disney Vacation Club. Rooms are villa-style with more amenities and can range from a studio all the way to a three-bedroom. Bath and bed configuration can vary by room size, but everything else is similar to a deluxe property.

Includes: Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary, Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge, Copper Creek Villas and Cabins at Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Villas at Jambo House and Kidani Village, Beach Club Villas, BoardWalk Villas, Old Key West, Polynesian Villas and Bungalows, Riviera Resort, Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, Villas at Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, and the Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort.

Just like the Deluxe Resorts, you can’t go wrong with any of these. Of the Deluxe Villas, I recommend Disney’s Riviera Resort. It has Skyliner access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, lots of food options and they’re all amazing, and elegant theming and calm environment.

Evaluate each category as described and make your selection based on the needs of your family. From there, think about the story of the resort and what resonates with you most – maybe it’s animation, the Caribbean, the South Pacific, and so on. With the breakdown above and these two tips, you’re on your way to selecting the resort that is perfect for you!

There are more reasons than ever to stay at a Disney Resort hotel, where a wide variety of amenities, programs, and exclusive benefits help make a Walt Disney World Resort vacation fun, relaxing, and worry-free. To request a free Walt Disney World quote, CLICK HERE.