You have made the decision to take your family to the most magical place on earth, Walt Disney World, and the planning begins. So what do you do now? Well, it’s time to choose your resort and choosing your Disney resort is a very important part of the planning process. Walt Disney World offers a large variety of hotels on the property to suit the lodging needs of all of their guests. Sometimes your most difficult decision when planning your trip is not whether you SHOULD stay on the Disney property but rather WHERE you stay.
Value, Moderate, Deluxe or Deluxe Villas? Monorail or bus? Spa or family pool area? Food Court or table service, themed dining? So many things to consider with each level of resort. I’ll start by telling you that no Disney resort is the “best” choice – they are all wonderful and chock-full of Disney magic, theming and amenities. Choosing the perfect resort for your family is a personal choice since every family is different and looking for different amenities to fit their needs. As your needs change for each vacation, you may find that you make a choice to stay in different resorts and tiers creating a different Disney experience with each visit.
So, how do you choose your Disney resort? Well, let’s take a few factors into consideration:
- What’s your budget? It’s no secret that a Disney vacation can be expensive. Disney’s resorts are grouped into 4 different pricing tiers – Value resorts, Moderate resorts, Deluxe resorts and Deluxe Villas – designed to meet a variety of budgets.
- How many people are in your party and what room size are you looking for? The number of members in your travel party definitely plays a large part in deciding which Disney resort will be the best choice for your vacation. If you are a group of 2-4, any of of the resorts will fit your needs based on your budget. Larger families of 4 or more who prefer to have a “home away from home” atmosphere may choose the deluxe villas to accommodate their party.
- What type of amenities are you looking for? If you like concierge services, fine dining and luxury accommodations, Disney’s Deluxe resorts offer world-class amenities and and services. If you are a family who wants to spend the majority of their time in the theme parks and the pools and will only use your room for sleeping, then Disney’s Value resorts just may be the right place for you.
Regardless of the level of resort that you choose, each of the Disney resorts offer complete access to the following conveniences:
- Free parking at your resort and the parks
- Free transportation throughout Disney World resort including buses, monorails and boat transportation
- Free transportation to and from the Orlando Airport via Disney’s Magical Express
- “Extra Magic Hours” in the three parks which allow Disney Resort Guests extra hours either before opening or after regular closing hours in the parks
- Magic bands for the convenience of managing your room key, your park tickets, your dining plan, your Fastpass+ reservations and room-charging abilities.
So now let’s take a look at all of the tiers of the Disney Resorts:
Value Resorts
The Value resorts are for the budget-minded and those who don’t plan on spending a lot of time in their rooms. The Value Resort rooms are similar to a typical hotel room but are adorned with Disney theming in the bedding, carpets, furnishings and the artwork. The landscaping and theming of the resorts are always second to none and with themed swimming pools, this tier of resorts is perfect for families. All of the Value resorts also offer gigantic foot court areas with a wide selection of dining choices to satisfy every palate in your party.
The Value resorts include:
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Max occupancy is 4 guests – except for the Art of Animation and All-Star Music Resorts’ Family Suites that can accommodate up to 6 guests
- Rooms are approximately 260 sq ft and 520 sq ft in the Family Suites
- Colorful theming throughout the grounds, beautiful landscaping, comfortable themed guest rooms, oversized themed pools and food court dining options
- Bus transportation available
- Room rates starting at $85 per night
Moderate Resorts
Disney’s Moderate Resorts provide a little extra room for their guests with more options of amenities in the rooms. With lavish landscaping, increased theming, featured pools with slides and interactive play areas, and table-service restaurants as well as food courts, guests feel as if they are truly in a resort atmosphere. If your family is looking to spend a little more time relaxing at the resort, the Moderate Resorts are a perfect choice for an affordable yet beautifully-themed resort in the heart of the Disney Magic.
The Moderate Resorts include:
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
- Max occupancy is 4-6 guests
- Rooms are approximately 314 sq ft and 500 sq ft at the Fort Wilderness Cabins
- Beautiful themed grounds and guest rooms, impeccable landscaping, table service restaurants, food court, whimsical pools with slides and river and lake-side locations
- Bus and boat transportation available
- Room rates start at $162 per night
Deluxe Resorts
The Deluxe Resorts take Disney’s magic to a whole new level with the creation of some of the most elegant resorts around. Each resort is unique and provides the ultimate luxury vacation experience for it’s guests. All of Disney’s Deluxe resorts are a vacation destination all in themselves with luxurious amenities, concierge services, and wonderful themed or unique fine dining choices. Choose from top-notch resorts that transport you to America’s Northwest at The Wilderness Lodge, the African Savannah at The Animal Kingdom Lodge or tropical Polynesia at The Polynesian Resort. If you are looking for a totally luxurious experience, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa’s victorian theming offers the finest in amenities and services to it’s guests.
The Deluxe Resorts include:
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney’s Polynesian Resort
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Disney’s Dolphin Hotel
Disney’s Swan Hotel
- Max occupancy is 4-5 guests
- Rooms are approximately 345-440 sq ft
- Spectacular landscaping, exquisite grand lobbies, lavishly decorated themed rooms, table-service and fine dining choices, concierge services, balconies or patios and beautiful feature pools with slides and quiet areas.
- Bus, monorail and boat transportation available
- Room rates begin at $284 per night
Deluxe Villas
Disney’s Deluxe Villas offer the finest amenities and locations at the Deluxe Resorts but also offer accommodations and the comforts of home for larger parties. Choose between studios and one, two or three bedroom grand villas for home-away-from-home accommodations.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Disney’s Boardwalk Villas
Disney’s Contemporary Bay Lake Tower
Disney’s Grand Florida Resort Villas
Disney’s Old Key West Resort Villas
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa Villas
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Villas
- Max occupancy depends upon Villa type
- Rooms are approximately 339-2491 sq ft ranging from studios to 3-bedroom grand villas with kitchens and kitchenettes
- Spectacular landscaping, exquisite grand lobbies, lavishly decorated themed rooms, table-service and fine dining choices, concierge services, balconies or patios and beautiful feature pools with slides and quiet areas.
- Bus, monorail and boat transportation available
- Room rates begin at $318 per night
Visit www.capturing-the-magic.com for a preview of the stunning coffee table book, Capturing the Magic and purchase your copy today.
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