Overview of the Disney World Resort Hotels

Trying to decide on the best Disney World Resort hotel to stay at can be daunting! There are so many options (and even more price points). That’s why, today, we will be discussing an overview of the Disney World Resort hotels to make this decision making process easier!

Be sure to read all of the benefits to staying on-property at Disney World!

Disney World Resort Categories

The hotels are grouped into 4 main categories based on the amenities including: Value, Moderate, Deluxe, and Villa resorts.

Value Resorts

The Value resorts typically have larger-than-life theming, swimming pools and playgrounds, arcade rooms, and standard amenities.

Rooms

Each room can sleep up to 4 guests plus one baby in a crib (~260 square feet). The bathrooms include a shower/tub and toilet in their own room with a door. The sink is just outside. Rooms come with either 2 double beds or a single king bed. Some Value resorts also have family suite accommodations that can sleep up to 6 guests plus one baby in a crib (~560 square feet). The family suites have 2 bathrooms and the bed size depends upon which resort you choose. For example, Art of Animation suites have 1 queen bed, 1 double sleeper sofa, and 1 double pull-down bed. Kitchenettes are also in the family suites.

Dining Options

The Value resorts have a quick service location (in the form of a food court), but do not offer any table service dining options. In-room pizza delivery is available along with poolside bars.

Transportation

The primary mode of transportation are Disney buses. On September 29, 2019, guests staying Art of Animation and Pop Century will have access to the new Skyliner system!

Cost & List of Resorts

Cost per night ranges depending on the season. This can be as little as $96 USD to as much as $210 USD per night. Here are the Value Resorts:

• All-Star Movies
• All-Star Music
• All-Star Sports
• Art of Animation Resort
• Pop Century Resort
• The Campsites at Fort Wilderness Resort

Moderate Resorts

The next stop on our overview of the Disney World Resort hotels are the Moderates! The theming at a Moderate resort is more subdued compared to the Value hotels. The Moderates have pools, arcades rooms, and the standard amenities. There are some “extra” experiences offered such as a horse drawn carriage ride at the Port Orleans- Riverside resort!

Rooms

The resort rooms tend to be larger compared to the Value rooms at ~314 square feet. These rooms sleep up to 4 adults and 1 baby in a crib with 2 queen or 1 king bed (some rooms also have a twin Murphy bed). The bathroom typically has a tub/shower combo (newer accommodations have just a shower!) and a toilet together in a room with a door. In newer accommodations, the shower and toilet are separate (see pictures below). A double sink is just outside and is separated from the main area with a curtain or other partition. The Fort Wilderness Cabins are ~540 square feet and can sleep up to adults and 1 baby in a crib. With the opening of the new Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs resort, club-level access and suites are now available.

Dining

The Moderate resorts have a quick service location set-up like a food court. There are poolside bars, at least 1 indoor bar, and at least 1 table service location for a sit down meal. In-room pizza delivery is also available!

Transportation

The primary mode of transportation to the Disney theme parks is by bus. At the end of September, 2019, Coronado Springs guests will be able to use the new Skyliner system! Transportation to Disney Springs can be by bus or boat.

Cost & List of Resorts

Cost for a room at a Moderate resort varies based on season and hotel location. This can be as low as $200 USD to as high as $410 USD per night (The Cabins can get as high as $610 USD). The Moderate resorts include:

• Caribbean Beach Resort
• Coronado Springs Resort
• Port Orleans Resort- French Quarter
• Port Orleans Resort- Riverside
• The Cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort

Deluxe Resorts

As the name implies, the Deluxe resorts are deluxe! The theming here is subdued but elegant. These hotels have the standard amenities, swimming pools, arcades rooms, and much more. They all include the use of a health club, some have access to spa services, and others even have water recreation options and bike or surrey rentals!

Rooms

The rooms at the Deluxe resorts vary greatly from standard rooms (~344 square feet) to full-blown suites of ~1,000 square feet! A typical room sleeps up to 5 adults (only 4 at Fort Wilderness and Animal Kingdom Lodge) plus 1 baby in a crib. These standard rooms have bathrooms with a tub/shower combo, toilet, and double sink. Some locations have the toilet in the same room as the shower/tub while others have a toilet in its own room. There are usually 2 queen sized or 1 king sized bed per room (some have a twin Murphy bed as well). The suites vary in bed sizes and number of bathrooms available! Club-level access is available for an additional fee.

Dining

The Deluxe resorts have a quick service offering as well as multiple table service locations. Some hotels also offer character dining! There are poolside bars and indoor bars/lounges. A full menu is available for in-room dining.

Transportation

Transportation options vary depending upon where you are staying. Some Deluxe resorts are close enough to the theme parks where guests can walk. Others offer transportation via bus, boat, or monorail.

Cost & List of Resorts

The cost for a Deluxe room varies based on season, resort location, and room type (standard to suite). Thus, the range is very large starting at $310 USD per night and going as high as $3,000 USD! The Deluxe resorts are:

• Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Beach Club Resort
• BoardWalk Inn
• Contemporary Resort
• Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Polynesian Village Resort
• Wilderness Lodge
• Yacht Club Resort

Villa Resorts

The last option in our overview of Disney World Resort hotels is the Villa resorts! Just like in the Deluxe resorts, the theming in a Villa resort is subdued but elegant. The amenities offered at the Villa resorts are virtually the same as the Deluxe locations. Two of the Villa resorts are stand alone locations (Saratoga Springs and Old Key West) while the others share their amenities with the adjacent Deluxe resorts.

Rooms

There are studio, 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom, and 3 bedroom villas available that range in size from ~315 square feet to over ~2,500! Most sleep up to 4 adults and a baby in a crib. Studios have a kitchenette while the larger villas have full-sized kitchens. Studios have 1 bathroom whereas the larger villas have 1-3 bathrooms depending upon suite size and resort location. The villas with a bedroom all have a jacuzzi tub.

Dining

The Villa resorts have quick service dining as well as table service locations. There are poolside bars and indoor lounges. In-room dining may be available.

Transportation

Just like before, transportation options vary depending upon the Villa resort. Some are close enough to the theme parks where guests can walk. Others offer transportation via bus, boat, or monorail. A few Villa resorts offer boat service to Disney Springs (most are by bus).

Cost & List of Resorts

Cost for a villa varies greatly depending upon season, resort location, and villa accommodation. The range is wide as starts at around $550 USD per night and goes as high as $4,000 USD per night. The Villa resorts are:

• Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort
• Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge
• Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Wilderness Lodge
• Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
• Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
• Beach Club Villas
• BoardWalk Villas
• Old Key West Resort
• Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
• Riviera Resort
• Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• The Villas at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

I hope this gives you an overview of the Disney World resort hotels! Don’t forget to read more about ticket and Annual Pass options for your next vacation.

Until next time… Cheers!!