For the amount of money you’ll wind up spending on your Disney World resort, you’re BOUND to fall in love with it immediately… right? RIGHT??

Well… not exactly. To be frank, not everyone goes absolutely ga-ga over the Disney World hotels they wind up booking. So today, we’re talking about the Disney resorts with the MOST controversy and criticism under their belt (while also giving you a few solid alternatives that you might wanna consider instead).

Disney’s All-Star Movies and Sports

Sorry, All Stars — but we’re throwing you under the bus FIRST. Disney’s All Star Movies and Sports are part of the All Star Resorts trinity. And, despite them being some of the least popular resorts to visit, they also still happen to be some of the most popular resorts for guests to book.

It’s not quite the contraction you might think it is.All Star Movies and Sports are some of the most affordable (if not THE most affordable) Disney-owned resorts of the bunch — with room prices getting as low as $130 per night, depending on when you visit. Because these resorts are cheaper, they’re a good fit for families who want to spend less on a resort stay and focus more on their park visits (especially if they only plan on using their hotel room as a place to crash each night and take a shower).

Kids will also love this resort because of all the COLORS and over-the-top character statues/larger than life props that make these places BOLD and BRIGHT and fun to look at.

But HERE’S where the trouble comes into play. At Disney World, you get what you pay for. So, even though these All Stars WILL give you direct bus transportation to the parks, as well as the Early Theme Park Entry benefit (which is available for ALL Disney resorts EVERY day, and allows you to enter ANY parks 30 minutes), you’re also gonna get limited amenities, too.

For starters, all the rooms at All Star Movies and Sports are standard — meaning you’ll be able to sleep up to four guests between two beds, and you’ll only have one bathroom to share with your whole group.

Bus transportation can also be rather time consuming between the parks. Since this is the only free transportation service you can use here, those lines for the buses get rather lengthy at the very beginning and end of the day. So you might be better off just DRIVING yourself to the parks to save time — or using a premium rideshare service (like Uber or Lyft).

And as far as food is concerned? Again, very basic, run-of-the-mill food court offerings. These offerings WILL be good for picky eaters, but as far as food quality? Expect very basic theme park eats — nothing to write home about. Because of their affordable pricing, these resorts are also prime real estate for BIG school functions — like band trips and cheerleading competitions. So expect these hotels to get pretty rowdy during certain times of the year with excited students.
In short, even though these resorts might be the most affordable Disney-owned option, you’re still gonna wind up paying a premium price for a very basic experience (just with Mickey Mouse slapped across some things to try and make you forget that, at the end of the day, it’s a regular ol’ motel).

If you’re still wanting to go the value resort route, but you want an experience that might give you a little more bang for ya buck, you may wanna try the THIRD All-Star option instead — All-Star Music. While All-Star Music has many of the same downfalls as its two siblings, it also has the cheapest family suites available.

For around $400 (or potentially less) per night, you can stay in a suite that’ll sleep up to 6 guests, with a separate bedroom/living area, TWO bathrooms, and a little kitchen area (in case you wanna prep your own food instead of constantly eating at different expensive disney restaurants for each of your meals).

While Disney’s Pop Century Resort doesn’t have the family suite option, it DOES have Skyliner Access! Thanks to the Generation Gap bridge, guests staying at Pop Century can walk right on over to Disney’s Art of Animation Skyliner station and hop aboard a gondola to quickly ride over to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios (without all the bus hassle).

Disney’s Art of Animation

Now, I KNOW this is a VERY CONTROVERSIAL choice. Because — well — so many guests really DO love Disney’s Art of Animation with their whole heart (and for good reasons, too)! But there are also many guests out there who’d actually rather stay at one of the All Stars over THIS resort (for equally good reasons). Out of ALL of Disney World’s value resort options, Art of Animation is — by far and away — the most expensive. (Often being referred to as a “value plus” resort instead.) While Art of Animation is the SECOND value resort that offers family suites, they’re not EXACTLY what we’d call a “value” price point.

There are three different family suite styles you can choose from, based around popular Disney animated films like Finding Nemo, Cars, and The Lion King. And, listen… if you’re looking for wiggle room for your family AND you wanna give your kids that quintessential Disney experience, Art of Animation’s suites can do that for you. You might find it worth the price JUST to open up your family suite for the first time and see your kiddos’ mouths drop open — because the Disney theming here is ON POINT.

But what are you PAYING for that jaw-dropping experience? Ohhhh… between $500-$700 per night. (This is why the term “value resort” can be misleading.)

There is a standard room option, themed around The Little Mermaid, but — again — you’re looking at one of the most EXPENSIVE standard room options across the value resorts (with prices that usually sit around $250+ per night). Not only that, but the two queen beds that you’ll find in these rooms take up SO MUCH SPACE all trip long. (Meanwhile, if you stay in one of the recently-renovated value resort rooms at Pop Century or All Star Movies, you’ll have the ability to fold one of those beds up into the wall to transform it into table space during the day (if you need somewhere to eat a quick breakfast or play a card game in the evenings).

In the same vein as the other value resorts, the Landscape of Flavors food court here is… unimpressive. Earlier on, this food court USED to have a lot more unique offerings that weren’t too shabby! But, as of late, you’re gonna find the same basic offerings here that you’d find at the All Stars or Pop Century quick service, too.

With all that being said, people still LOVE it here. I mean, you step foot in that lobby for the first time, and you’re IMMERSED in Disney theming. All the concept art and sketches that decorate the walls isn’t just gorgeous, it’s also INSPIRING. And the Disney theming continues ALL throughout the resort — including over at the THREE resort pools, too!

The Big Blue Pool is what Art of Animation is most known for — since this Nemo-inspired feature pool is the BIGGEST feature pool across ALL (you heard me, ALL) the Disney World resorts. But even its leisure pools (AKA: the “quiet” pools) have fun character theming, too. You’ve got the Flippin Fins’ Pool over in Ariel’s neck of the ocean, and you’ve got the Cozy Cone Pool over in the Radiator Springs area (which also has these GIANT orange cone cabanas that are first come, first served — and are also FREE to use, at that).

And let’s not forget about that BIG selling point, the Disney Skyliner! While Pop Century’s rooms tend to be more affordable and also have Skyliner access, if you get a preferred room over at Art of Animation, then you might only be a few steps away from these sky gondolas at ALL times.

Now let’s say you don’t really CARE about the Disney Skyliner or the super-neato character pools, and what you REALLY care about is having more hotel room space for your family without having to break multiple piggy banks in order to make it happen. What do you do THEN?

This might be a good time to look into some of the Good Neighbor Hotels! Good Neighbor Hotels aren’t owned by Disney, but they do PARTNER with Disney to give guests a more affordable hotel room stay with SEVERAL of the same Disney Resort perks… and then some.

Oftentimes, we’ve been able to find family suites at Good Neighbor Hotels for around the same price (if not CHEAPER) than what you’d pay for a standard room at Disney’s Art of Animation. (Mind blowing, right?) Not only that, but a HANDFUL of Good Neighbor Hotels ALSO have continental breakfasts — to guarantee you one free meal each day. Some also have free drink coupons, complimentary happy hour snacks, and discount booklets that you can redeem at nearby Orlando restaurants for some extra savings on your meals!

There are over 40 different Good Neighbor Hotels around the Disney World vicinity that you can explore on the Good Neighbor Resort website… BUT make sure you’re reading about ALL the amenities and offerings BEFORE you book your room at any of these locations. Not all of them will be as close to the Disney bubble as you like, not all of them will have all the same Disney World perks, and not all of them will give you the most bang for your buck. If you wanna know WHICH Good Neighbor Hotels tend to have VERY similar Disney resort perks, you can find a FULL LIST of participating hotels on the Disney World website!

Disney’s Caribbean Beach

Not all beach-themed getaways are created equally. And when it comes to Disney’s Caribbean Beach, it might be one of the least-loved beach-themed resorts of them all. That’s not to say Disney’s Caribbean Beach is a BAD moderate resort choice. There’s still a lot to love about it.

For example… Caribbean Beach is the home of the Skyliner HUB (so if you request a preferred room near to it, you can get to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios pretty easy-peasy throughout your vacay).

It’s also got a beautimous feature pool — the Fuentes del Morro Pool — which is themed like a colonial Spanish fortress.

There are BRAND NEW 5-person Little Mermaid rooms currently being added to your list of room options here (if you want a Little Mermaid-themed room with MORE space than what Art of Animation will provide).

And — y’know what — that Banana Cabana pool bar is an absolute vibe. Gimme a cocktail alongside that Pineapple-Coconut Bread Pudding any day, and I’ll be one happy duck. You’re also really close to the Riviera Resort to indulge in their fancy dining.

So what’s NOT to like about this resort? Weeeeellllll…A big thing for MANY guests is the lack of elevators you’re gonna find here. If you’re placed in a room ABOVE the first floor, you’re gonna have to use the stairs, since there are NO ELEVATORS across this ENTIRE resort

This may not SEEM like huge deal to you at first — but if you’re planning on taking a stroller into the parks, or your kiddos want you to carry them back up to the room after a long day, or you’re trying to get all your luggage to and from your home away from home, then the stairs will become a bigger and bigger pain in the you-know-where, And despite what Texas says, bigger isn’t ALWAYS better — which Caribbean Beach proves tenfold.

This resort is HUGE. So huge, in fact, that you might be better off heading to the Riviera skyliner station rather than the Caribbean Beach one, since it might ACTUALLY be closer to where you’re staying. Since this resort is so expansive, if you DON’T book a preferred room (and/or put in a room request), you could wind up in a building that’s far away from ALL the resort’s amenities (including the feature pool, lobby, Skyliners, etc.).

Much like ALL of Disney’s larger resorts (such as Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, Port Orleans, and Coronado Springs, too), Caribbean Beach’s buses rely on an internal shuttle service. What this means is that you don’t have just ONE bus stop in your resort’s route to worry about — you have SEVERAL.

Fortunately, you can use these shuttles to get CLOSER to the resort amenities if you’re in a room that’s a bit further out, but because Caribbean Beach has the MOST internal shuttle stops — with SIX total — you might wind up having to ride over to ALL SIX STOPS to pick up MORE guests before you finally head out to the parks. And THAT can really eat a good chunk of time out of your morning — so plan to get to the bus stop pretty early, ESPECIALLY if you’ve got a dining reservation that you don’t wanna be late for over at Magic Kingdom or Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Although there are a few different places you can eat around Caribbean Beach (with Banana Cabana probably being my favorite of the bunch), the rest of the dining here is just… okay. Sure, Sebastian’s Bistro is one of the cheaper family-style sit down restaurants you’ll come across on property — with dinner costing $35 per adult and $19 per kid — but it’s not exactly a meal you’re gonna remember long after your trip concludes.

That being said, you can always hop on the Skyliner and ride over to a DIFFERENT resort for a bigger selection of dining options — like over at the Riviera or the EPCOT area resorts (ie: Boardwalk Inn or Yacht and Beach Club).

For hotel options that are…still super close to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, are less expansive, provide better dining options, and — best of all — have deluxe benefits at a moderate resort price point…you might be better off looking for a room over at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels rather than over at Caribbean Beach.

The Swan and Dolphin Hotels are owned by Marriott, which MEANS if you’re a Marriott Bonvoy member (totally free to join, mind you), you’ll be able to use your Bonvoy Points at either locations to cut down on your room cost EVEN MORE! (What can I say? We love ourselves a good savings opportunity!)

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort And Spa

Turns out, there are a lot more hard feelings toward this classic Disney World resort than you might’ve originally realized. Grand Floridian has some of the MOST expensive Disney World rooms across property. Know how I mentioned that Art of Animation’s family suites were steep because of their potential $700+ price range? Well, that same price point just so happens to be Grand Floridian’s standard rooms… during non-peak seasons.

On average…Standard rooms at Grand Floridian range around $700-$900+ per night. Deluxe rooms (with club level access) cost around $1200-$1500+ per night. And 1-to-2 bedroom suites have the potential of being $1600 to a whopping $4000+ per night (depending on the season and room location).

Don’t let me go undermining this resort, or anything. Staying at Grand Floridian is a REALLY good time — especially for those who:

• Wanna make their resort a big part of their overall vacation experience
• Are celebrating a momentous occasion (like an anniversary or baby moon or even a job promotion)
• And would like to stay close to the Magic Kingdom (since it’s got a walking path/ monorail access that’ll take ya right up to the front gates of the park)

But here are a few reasons that grandiose stay might not wind up being all that grand for your family after all. First and foremost, there’s a LOT of construction going on at the Grand Floridian right now. When all the construction wraps up, the Grand Floridian will be the proud owner of refreshed rooms and — eventually — an updated lobby space.

But for the time being, if you were wanting to hitch a ride on the monorail in the afternoon and ride back to your room to put your kiddo down for a quick nap, there’s the potential that you might hear some construction noises as cast members continue to work on these updates during the day. (Not exactly the most PEACEFUL of napping environments.)

And speaking of kiddos, Grand Floridian’s bougie nature lends it to being more of a couple’s getaway rather than a children’s playground. That doesn’t mean there isn’t anything here for the kiddos to do (because this is STILL Disney, after all), but the overall vibe here is more “high end” and won’t really give you that colorful, exciting, in-your-face Disney experience like the value resorts will provide (for WAY less money).

But for those who want a resort that’ll offer SEVERAL deluxe amenities (like spa services, luxury pool cabanas, updated DVC rooms with Mary Poppins theming, high-end dining establishments, and maybe even a view of Cinderella Castle right outside your balcony (which will allow you to watch the Happily Ever After fireworks from the privacy of your room every night)), then you’ll wanna book a room here WELL before your trip kicks off (since — despite its backlash — Grand Floridian still tends to get booked up solid MONTHS in advance).

Wanna live the deluxe resort life near Magic Kingdom, but you’re looking for the cheapest price point possible? Disney’s Wilderness Lodge might be your best option. Although you’re not gonna have monorail access to the parks from this outdoorsy resort, you WILL have boat access that’ll deliver you up to the front gates (while also taking you on a leisurely ride across the Seven Seas Lagoon).

On average, standard rooms at Wilderness Lodge tend to range around $450-$575, while club level rooms are typically around $700-$1100+ per night. For an even CHEAPER price point (with a bougie factor even your kiddos will be able to get behind), Port Orleans Riverside could have just the solution you’re after. Just like any other Disney World resort, Port Orleans Riverside has a few different room types. You’ve got your standard, your pool view, your preferred room, your King Bed room. BUT unlike the other resorts, you’ve got ANOTHER option called The Royal Guest Room.

Remember how we talked about Art of Animation’s jaw dropping decor? The Royal Guest Rooms might have ‘em beat. When you open the door of your Royal guest room, you’ll see portraits of Disney princesses hanging on the walls, Aladdin’s magic carpet sprawled out on the floor, Belle’s little footstool pup next to the TV, sinks with magic lamps, and – to REALLY hit it out of the ballpark – headboards that ACTUALLY light up with fireworks.

And the best part? These rooms are still set at a moderate price point. (We’re talking around $335-$360 per night, depending on the room view and time of year you book your trip.)

Disney’s Saratoga Springs

And now, for the Disney World DVC resort that SO MANY PEOPLE forget ACTUALLY exists… Disney’s Saratoga Springs! Most of the rooms at Disney’s Saratoga Springs feel more like an apartment complex rather than a Disney World resort. Not to mention, the outdoor hallways for the rooms give this PRICEY resort more of a motel-feel, which could cheapen that deluxe resort vibe you’re wanting to achieve.

While SO MANY of the Disney resorts have VIBRANT and EXCITING theming that you’ll wanna go out of your way to see even if you AREN’T staying as a guest there (like the tropical vibes of Disney’s Polynesian Village or the built-in savanna over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge), Saratoga Springs is about… horses.

More specifically, it’s themed after a “late-1800s’ New York retreat famous for its spas and horse racing” And, dude, if that’s your style, then TA-DA! I actually just found your PERFECT Disney getaway! You’re WELCOME! However, for several guests out there, this resort’s theming can feel a bit… outdated. (And, dare I say… kind of boring too?)

Saratoga Springs is also a bit out of the way when it comes to the parks. Now, if your main goal is to relax, unwind, and do a LOT of shopping at Disney Springs, then Saratoga is THE resort for YOU. Because this resort isn’t just QUIET, but it’s also got a water taxi that’ll take you directly over to the shopping district.

But since this is another really LARGE hotel (like Disney’s Caribbean Beach), you’re gonna have to book a preferred room if you wanna be close to the boat dock/lobby area. Otherwise, once again, you might be placed waaaaaaaaay out in the boonies and have to take the internal bus loop to get ANYWHERE.

One of the most UNIQUE parts about this resort is its Treehouse offerings. Saratoga’s treehouses aren’t exactly perched ON a tree, but they are elevated so they’re AMONGST the treetops. (Close enough.)

Again, Saratoga continues to be one of those most QUIET and SECLUDED options across the resorts — and that goes for its treehouses too. Since they’re not connected to other neighboring rooms and they’re out in the wilderness, they tend to stay away from all the crowds and ruckus. They’re also super spacious and can sleep up to 9 people – with three bedrooms, a full kitchen, as outdoor patio, and full living room areas.

But the thing about these rooms is that … they’re expensive. (Think $1,700 a night expensive.) They also book up really quickly, since they’re great for bigger family gatherings that can help split the bill. So if you wanna reserve one of these treehouses and live out your Tarzan-like fantasy, you’re gonna have to start looking out for these guys at least a year in advance.

Saratoga Springs isn’t the ONLY resort where you can ACTUALLY relax and unwind on Disney property. In fact, if you book a room inside Disney’s Gran Destino Tower — over at Coronado Springs — you can get a luxurious hotel experience at a much more moderate price point. When you first walk into the Gran Destino lobby, you’re going to be greeted by ART. Art… EVERYWHERE. From the scaling ceiling, to the intricate, decorative Spanish backdrops, to the marble accents, to the dripping light fixtures. ART. ALL OF IT.

The layout of the rooms mirrors more of a deluxe resort feel, too. You’re not gonna get a whole lot of colorful characters here, but what you WILL get are classy wood and metal details, a large stand-up shower, lots of storage space, a desk area, lots of places to plug-and-charge electronics, and a personalized smart television.

And – depending on which room you choose – you might also get an epic view across the shining waters of Lago Dorado. Just keep in mind that, unlike the ACTUAL deluxe resorts, Gran Destino still won’t provide you with those deluxe resort park benefits — like the Extended Evening Hours (which gives deluxe resort guests up to two hours of extra time in select parks on select nights after they close for everyone else).

Looking for a much more UPDATED DVC stay (that DOES have the extended evening hours benefit)? Then you’re gonna be THRILLED when 2024 rolls around! New DVC villas will be coming to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort NEXT YEAR! This new DVC tower will sit on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon. And, in addition to giving us more rooms, there’ll also be new recreation offerings and dining options here, too!

Wanna book a DVC room at Polynesian Village RIGHT NOW? Currently, the Polynesian has 380 Disney Vacation Club villas, including the Bora Bora Bungalows. Much like the Saratoga Springs Treehouses, the Bora Bora Bungalows can be a thorn in your side. (More specially, they’re expensive AND they’re difficult to book). But, man, if you can manage to budget AND get a reservation here? Then you’ll have the rare chance to stay in a one-of-a-kind DVC suite that juts out over the Seven Seas Lagoon, right across the way from Magic Kingdom. (Ahhhhhh… now THIS is the life…)

At the end of the day, there really isn’t a flat-out TERRIBLE Disney World resort in the bunch, nor is there a resort that’s gonna be 110% perfect ALL the time. So the best thing YOU can do for you and your family is RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH to find the BEST fit for your group.

And the second best thing you can do? Subscribe to our newsletter to get lots more Disney World planning advice, so you don’t miss a thing!