Let’s talk Disney Resorts — there are so many to choose from with so many great perks!
It can be a really difficult decision!
So how do you narrow it down and choose the right place for YOUR family? Well, we’re guessing there are many IMPORTANT features that you’re NOT thinking about when you choose a Disney hotel. So today, we’re filling you in on a few key details to keep in mind when you’re deciding where to drop your megabucks.
Hotel POOLS!
If you’re traveling with little ones, the pool at your resort could make or break your vacation. Every Disney World hotel has at least one pool, but they certainly are not all created equal. For starters, generally, the pools at the Value Resorts don’t feature slides, but the pools at the Moderate and Deluxe Resorts do!
Big Blue Pool at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Arguably the best pool on Disney World property is Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts. The two resorts share this pool but don’t let that deter you. It’s HUGE and features a sandy bottom floor, a lazy river, and the longest slide at any Disney World resort pool!
Stormalong Bay
Buuuut, the Yacht Club and Beach Club Resorts are on the higher end of the $$$ spectrum in Disney World.
If you’re looking for a top-quality pool for the kids at a resort that won’t break the bank, consider staying at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. Their Fuentas del Morro Pool is a LOT of fun for the whole family and features awesome pirate theming, water cannons, and slides. Plus, it’s in very close proximity to the great poolside bar, Banana Cabana.
This pool is pretty awesome.
Other stand-out pools include the Uzima Springs Pool at Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Lava/Volcano Pool at the Polynesian Village Resort, the Copper Creek Springs Pool at Wilderness Lodge, and the Big Blue Pool at Art of Animation, which is the largest resort pool on property.
Check out our video on the 10 Best Hotel Pools in Disney World below!
Park Transportation
All Disney Resort hotels offer free transportation to the parks and Disney Springs, but it’s not all created equally! Some hotels offer DIRECT walking paths, monorail, or Skyliner access to Disney parks, which means you’re ready to have fun for the day in MINUTES. Others only offer the Disney bus system to the theme parks, which can mean waiting, waiting, and more waiting…and then a 20-minute crowded bus ride…and then facing what could be hours of travel back to your hotel after the fireworks.
A Pluto Bus!
So what’s best? Let’s break it down.
Monorail Access
First, there are the deluxe resorts along the Monorail line. These include the Grand Floridian, the Polynesian, and Contemporary. Hop on the monorail at any one of these resorts for direct access to the Magic Kingdom, or transfer at the Transportation & Ticket Center and hitch a ride to EPCOT!
Monorail passing by Chef Mickey’s in Disney’s Contemporary Resort
The Monorail is a fast, efficient mode of transportation to two Disney theme parks, and having direct access to it can be a life-saver, especially for guests with limited mobility or small children and strollers.
Skyliner Access
The new-ish Skyliner transportation system is a MEGA improvement for many Disney World resorts when it comes to quick transportation to theme parks. This one transports guests within minutes to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, and services the Riviera Resort, Caribbean Beach Resort, Art of Animation Resort, and Pop Century Resort.
Disney’s Skyliner
Also, with the Epcot Skyliner station located at the International Gateway, it’s a very short walking distance from Yacht Club, Beach Club, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts, and the BoardWalk Inn. These aren’t TECHNICALLY considered Skyliner resorts, but greatly benefit from their proximity to the Epcot station in getting to Hollywood Studios quickly.
Direct Walking Access
Speaking of walking distance, several hotels don’t even require transportation to get to the theme parks — just use your feet!
The Yacht Club, Beach Club, and BoardWalk are all minutes away from the International Gateway entrance to EPCOT, and if you were feeling really inspired to get your steps in for the day, you could walk to Hollywood Studios within about 20 minutes from these resorts as well.
Cresent Lake – Walk from BoardWalk to Epcot and Hollywood Studios!
If you would like to walk to Magic Kingdom, the easiest connection is the walking path to the Contemporary Resort. There’s also a new(ish) walking path (albeit a longer one) that connects Magic Kingdom to the Grand Floridian. With the paths between the Grand Floridian and the Polynesian, plus the Polynesian and the TTC, you could walk all the way to your car if you wanted to! (But it would take you quite a while!)
Grand Floridian Walkway
If your vacation plans include several trips to Disney Springs to soak in all the dining, shopping, and nightlife it has to offer, you might consider staying at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort! The resort is located right across the river and is a short walk to the center of the action.
Saratoga Springs
Who knew you could get so many places in Disney World just by walking?!
Boat Access
Disney World also offers boat transportation between several resorts and other destinations on property.
Port Orleans Riverside Sassagoula Boats
To get to the Magic Kingdom, the Grand Floridian Resort, Polynesian Resort, Contemporary Resort, Fort Wilderness Resort, and Wilderness Lodge all have boat transportation across Seven Seas Lagoon (and/or Bay Lake). For boat transportation to Epcot or Hollywood Studios, the Beach Club, Yacht Club, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, and BoardWalk Inn all have boat access.
Cresent Lake Friendship Boat at Disney’s BoardWalk
Finally, to get to Disney Springs, you can hop on a boat at Saratoga Springs Resort, Old Key West Resort, and Port Orleans Riverside & French Quarter Resorts.
Special Occasions
Whether you’re visiting for your honeymoon, anniversary, or another special occasion, certain Disney World resorts have specific amenities to make your experience truly once-in-a-lifetime. One way of upgrading your trip is by booking Club Level accommodations.
Chronos Club at Gran Destino Tower
Staying Club Level offers several benefits that truly make your special occasion extra memorable. Guests have access to Club Level lounges with complimentary snacks, mini-meals, beverages (including complimentary alcoholic beverages), and hors d’oeuvres as well as access to Club Level Concierge Cast Members specifically dedicated to helping plan and facilitate the visits of those staying Club Level. If you’re looking to make your trip extra special, this can be a really nice (albeit pricey!) option. It usually runs about $100-200 more per night than staying in a regular room at the resort, and it could be a good deal if you’re happy snacking through the lounge instead of dining in a pricy Disney World restaurant for a couple of meals per day.
Club Level room at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
Most Deluxe Resorts offer Club Level accommodations, including Animal Kingdom Lodge, Beach Club, BoardWalk Inn, The Contemporary Resort, The Grand Floridian, The Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge, and Yacht Club. The most price-friendly Club Level option will be at Coronado Springs, where the new Gran Destino Tower makes this resort the first Moderate Resort to offer Club Level accommodations. (Note that not all resorts have had the Club Level option return yet after reopening.)
Ya Got A BIG GROUP
Whether it’s a family reunion, a spring break trip with all of your closest friends, or you simply have a lot of friends and family in tow, it can be tricky to book hotel rooms that accommodate so many people.
Sometimes booking two adjoining rooms is your best bet, although there are some resorts that offer additional options.
All-Star Music Resort is a cheap option!
Many Disney World Resort hotels have rooms that accommodate groups of five or more. If you’re looking to stick to a tighter budget, family suites are available at All-Star Music and Art of Animation, which comfortably sleeps up to six people, have master suites, and have full bathrooms.
Lion King Family Suite at Art of Animation
The cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort also sleep up to six guests. For a little bit more money, some suites at Coronado Springs feature two connecting rooms and sleep up to six guests.
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
Several Deluxe resorts have accommodations that fit up to parties of five, including the Grand Floridian, Contemporary, Polynesian, BoardWalk, Yacht Club, and Beach Club. From there you can really splurge on Club Level deluxe rooms that can sleep up to six guests, which can be found at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, and BoardWalk Inn.
Disney’s BoardWalk
Disney Vacation Club also has a wide range of rooms available for parties of varying sizes. One, two, and three-bedroom villas are available and come with many of the comforts of home, including fully equipped kitchens, and in-room washers and dryers.
Read all about accommodations for parties of five or more here!
Looking for the Best in Disney World Dining?
If the best in Disney World dining is high on your list, you may want to consider staying somewhere that allows you to indulge in signature dining without having to leave your resort! The one resort with multiple signature dining experiences is the Grand Floridian, which is home to Victoria and Alberts, one of the top-rated restaurants in the entire COUNTRY. At The Grand Floridian, you can also check out Citricos and Narcoossee’s, two other exceptional signature restaurants.
Citricos got a Mary Poppins theme
Other Fine Dining options at the resorts include Jiko (Animal Kingdom Lodge), Flying Fish (BoardWalk Inn), California Grill (Contemporary), Topolino’s Terrace (Riviera Resort), and Yachtsman Steakhouse (Yacht Club).
Read our top value 2020 picks for 2-credit dining options here!
When You’re Visiting During the Holidays
Disney World is extra magical during the holiday season! One of the ways you can immerse yourself during this special time of year is by staying at a Disney World Resort hotel that goes all-out with decorations. Perhaps the most iconic example is The Grand Floridian, with its MASSIVE gingerbread house in the atrium (there’s even a shop inside it some years!).
Grand Floridian Gingerbread House
The Beach Club erects its annual gingerbread carousel during the holidays as well, and you will definitely be able to smell it every time you walk through the main lobby! Other resorts have notable gingerbread displays as well, like BoardWalk Inn, the Contemporary, and more.
Beach Club Gingerbread Carousel
And, don’t forget that most of the Deluxe resorts also play host to some larger-than-life Christmas Trees in their lobbies; so even if you aren’t staying at these resorts, they’re worth a visit during the holidays!
Wilderness Lodge Christmas Tree
A less direct but still good option for enjoying the holiday decor at Disney World would be Saratoga Springs. While the resort itself doesn’t have too many holiday decorations, its close proximity to Disney Springs means that you are just a few minutes away from tons of holiday dining options, shopping, themed entertainment, and fun decor.
Disney Springs during the holidays.
Depending on your travel party and your unique interests and needs, considering some of these “perks” of each Disney World hotel could help you have an even better overall experience. Evaluating what your group wants most and seeing if you can find a resort that caters to those needs a bit more than others can make the difference between a good trip and a really great one!
See The 5 Disney World Hotels You’ve Got to Check Out in 2022 HERE!
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When we stayed at Caribbean Beach resort there was a drink refill station in our building next to the ice machine on the first floor. Hope this will become more prominent. Especially at the more sprawling resorts.
A couple of extra ideas:
For transportation, even though the monorail makes it easy for those resorts, if you’re staying at the Contemporary or Bay Lakes Tower and you’re going to the Magic Kingdom you have to first travel to the Polynesian, then the Grand Floridian, before you get to the park. It’s a fun ride and neat to see the other hotels, but if you’re in a hurry it’s faster to take the walkway from the Contemporary to the Magic Kingdom.
Similarly, if you stay to park closing and go out with all the rest of the guests, the monorails and busses can have a very long wait. If you’ve still got the energy, a short evening stroll back to the Contemporary is much nicer and faster.
It’ll be great when the walkway to the Grand Floridian opens, as well.
For large parties, you might also consider a two or three bedroom suite at one of the time share hotels. We had a party of seven – four adults and three young girls – and got a two bedroom suite at the Bay Lake Tower. We made the reservations through the normal WDW reservations phone service. We had in-room washer/dryer, three bathrooms, one with a jacuzzi, and a full kitchen (which we mostly used for some breakfasts). Just a couple of minutes walk to the Contemporary and all of its amenities. And while it was expensive, it was less expensive than multiple rooms at the Contemporary. And our stay was awesome!
Great article, but just to clarify, you can only boat from The Contemporary to either Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness. There is no boat to the Magic Kingdom, so it’s either walk or monorail