Where to Stay

Selecting a Resort on Walt Disney World Property

Staying on Disney property is certainly our 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 we 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, we're 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!

VALUE

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

doubles or a king. Some rooms in this category are family suites

coming in at approximately 520 square feet. They have a similar set up

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 food 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, Pop Century, and Campsites at Fort Wilderness.

MODERATE

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 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.

Includes: Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, Port Orleans French

Quarter, Port Orleans Riverside, and Cabins at Fort Wilderness

DELUXE

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. 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 in close proximity 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.

VILLAS

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.

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, or 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!