With the prices at Disney World always on the rise, one area where many guests are looking to cut back is on accommodations.

A hotel stay is a big vacation expense, no matter whether you choose to stay in a Disney-owned hotel, or another hotel nearby. If your heart is set on staying at a Disney resort you might be interested to learn which ones are easier on the wallet! Plus, if you’re open to staying in a non-Disney hotel you can often save even more.

This guide goes over a variety of more budget-friendly accommodation options, both Disney and non-Disney, so you can see what option works best for you.

Value Resorts

Disney’s Value Resorts are the least expensive options for staying “on property” at Disney World. Many of them have more strong Disney-theming than other Disney resorts, so if you’re traveling with kids, these may be a great choice.

All-Star Sports

Disney World’s All-Star resorts are three Value Resorts with bright decorations and plenty of massive statues that fit the theme. The All-Star Sports Resort not only has areas dedicated to a variety of sports (with huge fields to boot), but it also has two pools, a food court perfect for picky eaters, and other fun amenities.

Rooms here are around $200 per night, but we’ve seen them as low as $132. Each area has a different sports theme, like football, surfing, or basketball. The rooms are fairly basic, and if you want to see one up close check out this room tour! If you’re sporty or have kids who are, this could be a good option for your trip.

All-Star Movies

The All-Star Movies Resort is where you’ll find giant replicas of characters from a variety of Disney movies. One thing that guests love about this resort is its inclusion of classic Disney films, like Fantasia and 101 Dalmatians. It even has a Fantasia-themed pool with Sorcerer Mickey!

The average price here is around $200 as well, but you can save even more by booking in the off-season. Value Resort rooms are smaller than other resorts on Disney property, so keep that in mind when choosing where to stay (see what a room is like at All-Star Movies here!). However, if you are mostly using your room to crash after a long day in the parks that might not be a big issue!

All-Star Music

The final of the All-Star trio, All-Star Music is near Animal Kingdom and has areas themed to different music genres. From Broadway showtunes to jazz to rock ‘n’ roll, there’s a little something for everyone here. If you find yourself needing a day at your resort, All-Star Music has plenty to keep you and the kiddos busy, like their pools, arcade, and even movie nights under the stars.

One thing you may want to check out here are their family suites. These suites sleep up to six, have two bathrooms, and also include a kitchenette perfect for crafting your own meals. We did a tour of one of these suites, so you can see what they look like here. The suites can cost as low as $300 a night, which is a pretty good deal considering how many people you can fit inside!

Pop Century

This Value Resort is themed after different eras of pop culture. If you’re traveling with people from a variety of generations, they will get a kick out of the fads from each decade featured at this resort. Disney’s Pop Century Resort has three pools, each themed after a different decade, and you can even enjoy Movies Under the Stars at the Hippy Dippy Pool (for the 1960s, of course!).

There are plenty of Disney touches too, with Disney movies from each decade included in the decor, so if you’re looking for a Disney resort to stay at this will fit the bill. Another great thing about Pop Century is its Skyliner station, giving you a fun option for getting to and from the parks. Again, the rooms themselves are pretty small, so if you’re used to a lot of space, prepare yourself. To see what their rooms look like, check out our room tour here!

Art of Animation

Do you love The Little Mermaid? Then the Art of Animation Resort is for you! This resort has plenty of character (literally). Tons of Disney movies are represented here, but the standard rooms are all Little Mermaid themed. You can also enjoy other characters at their Finding Nemo pool or Cars pool, or take  a walk on their trails.

Art of Animation is a little bit more expensive than the other Value Resorts. This resort was refurbished in 2021, so many of the rooms and amenities have been updated. They also have family suites, and you can check out a tour we did of their Lion King suite here.

Bonus: Camping in Fort Wilderness Campgrounds

For those who are used to roughing it or may want a change of pace, you can skip the usual hotel option and instead opt to camp! At Disney’s Fort Wilderness, you can book a space and stay in your tent, RV, or trailer, whatever works for you. This is one of Disney World’s most economical options.

Fort Wilderness has plenty of places to eat, relax, and have fun, so you aren’t completely giving up the Disney amenities when you stay there. They even have WiFi! The cheapest option is a standard tent campsite, which starts at just a little over $100 per night. Even their priciest lot (which comes with extra amenities and a meadow view) can be rented for as little as $190 per night. To learn more about camping at Fort Wilderness, this post covers what you need to know.

Other Resorts

Moderate Resort: Coronado Springs

The next step up from Value Resorts at Disney World are Moderate Resorts. While they aren’t the cheapest option, there are some that cost less than others and may appeal to those who want something a little nicer. The Coronado Springs Resort and Grand Destino Tower are inspired by the Hotel Del Coronado in California and its Southwest American and Mexican atmosphere. This is a beautiful resort with gorgeous decorations, elegant dining, and amenities like a 24-hour fitness center.

Coronado Springs is also home to the Dig Site Pool which features a massive 50-foot replica of a Mayan pyramid! If you prefer more mature theming or are looking for a more upscale stay without blowing your budget, you can stay here for around $300 per night on average and take advantage of their many amenities. The Grand Destino Tower, which opened in 2019, has plenty of space, and you can see the room tour we did right after its opening here!

Deluxe Resort: Animal Kingdom Lodge

Looking for a more unique stay? Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge isn’t your usual hotel — here you are essentially sharing your hotel with wild animals! Animal Kingdom Lodge is right next to the Savanna where giraffes and other creatures graze. Granted, this is a Deluxe Resort, so it isn’t cheapest on property. But if you are looking to spend more or splurge for a special occasion but don’t want to commit to the top of the price range, Animal Kingdom Lodge is a great choice.

There’s also wonderful dining options here too; one of our favorite eats in Disney is the bread service at Sanaa. One unique feature at Animal Kingdom Lodge is their Starlight Safari, which takes you around the Savanna to get an up-close view of the animals. The average price per night here is around $480, putting it on the lower end of the Deluxe Resorts when it comes to price. We toured Animal Kingdom Lodge when it reopened in 2021, and you can see what we thought here!

Disney Vacation Club – Kidani Village at Animal Kingdom Lodge

Our pick for best value when it comes to Disney Vacation Club options is also at Animal Kingdom Lodge! These are villas and have plenty of room for a group of guests. You will get the same amenities as other Animal Kingdom Lodge guests, but you will stay in Kidani Village, the DVC villas at the resort.

The rooms continue the safari and jungle theme from the rest of the resort, and some even have views of the Savannah. The studios are the least expensive options, but they do have villas in several sizes, up to a 3-bedroom option. Like other DVC villas, these rooms have kitchenettes for cooking, which is another great way to save money.

Non-Disney Hotels

You don’t have to stay at a Disney-run hotel, and often just by making the switch to an off-property hotel you can save a lot on accommodations. However, that doesn’t mean you have to give up ALL of the perks you are used to! There are several hotels that, while technically on Disney property, aren’t run by Disney, and they’re called “Good Neighbor” hotels. These hotels are run by other companies but with their close proximity to the parks, Disney includes some of them in perks like free park transportation and Early Theme Park Entry.

Many of these resorts are in the Disney Springs area and have the added benefit of being walking distance to the shopping and dining district. Before booking, be sure to check the hotel’s website or call ahead to learn about what Disney perks they offer. One Good Neighbor hotel many guests love is the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. This hotel is managed by Marriott Bonvoy, which gives guests the benefit of using their Bonvoy Rewards and accruing points on their account with their stay.

Here you can pick from the Swan Resort, Dolphin Resort, or the Swan Reserve. The Dolphin Resort is the least expensive and averages around $500 per night, but can be as low as $200 in off-peak times. These are definitely more upscale hotels, but to get this level of accommodation at an official Disney resort you’d be paying MUCH more. There are of course other options, like the Holiday Inn at Disney Springs which averages around $150 per night. There’s also Shades of Green, a resort for military personnel (active duty, reserve, and retired). Besides these, you can also try out vacation home rental services like VRBO or AirBnb. These can be great for saving money, plus they’re better for larger groups or those who want to eat most of their meals outside of the parks.

Other Tips

No matter where you stay, hotel prices are going to be higher during busy seasons. Summertime is going to be busier than fall, and around the winter holidays you’ll see prices go up, too. You can cut down on costs by choosing to go on vacation during the off-season, like in February or in early October. Another way to save is by checking out special offers and discounts — sometimes Disney has promotions, and other hotel chains have rewards programs that allow you to accrue points to use on future trips. If you are a member of AAA, you can often get discounts at a variety of hotels, and many also have military discounts, as well!

There are plenty of ways to do a Disney trip, so don’t feel pressured to stay at the most expensive resort. You can often get an even better experience at cheaper options (and you’ll surely feel better knowing you stayed on budget!). For more information about Disney’s Value Resorts, you can read this post to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.

Which Disney resort is your favorite? Comment your pick below!