With just under 30 on property resorts (not including nearby Disney Springs hotels, Bonnet Creek or the Four Seasons) it can be hard to figure out just which resort is right for your family! To get started, let’s talk about the difference in resort categories; Value, Moderate, Deluxe and Deluxe Villa
Value:
At this resort level you get to enjoy all the amenities of being on property including free transfers to and from the airport as well as everywhere on property. You’ll receive the amazing guest service Disney is renowned for as well as Disney perks like Extra Magic Hours, the ability to purchase a dining plan and much more! At this level you’ll find double beds, a small table and chairs and a split bath with single sinks. These rooms offer bare amenities…they don’t even have coffee makers (rumor has it they are coming soon to Pop Century)!
The resorts themselves also offer minimal amenities. There are no table service restaurants, just food courts. While they do offer several heated pools, don’t expect to find slides. They offer a few different locations but only bus service is offered to the parks and nothing is within walking distance. These are the least expensive resorts.
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and Disney’s All-Star Music Resort also offer family suites. These are a great option for families of 5 to 6 or families that are just looking for a little extra space .The Master bedrooms have Queen beds and the suites offer 2 bathrooms plus a kitchenette.
Technically The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort are included in this level but those are campsites only and the above room descriptions don’t apply
Moderate:
At one of Disney’s Moderate Resorts you’ll enjoy a few upgrades! First of all the rooms start off slightly larger than the category below. You’ll enjoy 2 Queen Beds instead of doubles and in a few rooms at Riverside and Caribbean Beach, those with families of 5 will also get a trundle bed! These resorts are a bit more subdued in themeing without the larger than characters and very vibrant colors. The pools are a bit more themed and include a slide and sometimes a splash pad. These properties also have both counter and table service options and the Port Orleans Resorts offer a boat to Disney Springs in addition to buses to the parks.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
The above does not apply to The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. The Cabins sleep up to 6 with a full kitchen are part of the Campgrounds.
Deluxe and Deluxe Villas:
The creme de la crem of the Disney Resorts is the Deluxe and Deluxe Villa level. These resorts are the most elaborately themed, closest to the theme parks and offer the most amenities. These resorts offer multiple dining options; quick service, table service and signature dining. The grounds are more sublty themed like the moderate resorts. They offer themed pools with slides as well as quiet pools. There are a variety of room types to choose from and unlike the motel style of value and moderate resorts, where you access your room from the exterior, these rooms you will access from interior. This means you will enjoy a variety of amazing views from private balconies.
Several of these properties also have a Villa side, which is part of Disney’s timeshare program, Disney Vacation Club. While owners get first “dibs” these studio, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom Grand Villa options can be booked like any other resort option (based on availability).
These resorts are also closest to the parks and often have other modes of transportation like monorails or boats…or are simply within walking distance to a park.
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 Village Resort
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Once you have determined your budget and which amenities are important to your family, there are several resorts within each category with a variety of themes and locations. Be sure to take your time to decide what, if any amenities are important to your family and just how much time you’ll be staying in your room!
