When it comes to planning a Disney World trip, there are a lot of things you need to keep track of.

And, if you’re not an expert it can be difficult to figure out which parks to visit, where to eat, and which hotel to stay at when you visit. There are dozens of hotels on Disney World property and we’ve stayed at them all — but you should do yourself a favor and avoid these in particular!

How do you choose which Disney World hotel to stay in if you’ve never been? Don’t worry — that’s what we’re here for!

All-Star Sports

Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort is one of three similarly named hotels (Music and Movies being the other two) and is a Value Resort — meaning you’ll get a pretty good bang for your buck here compared to other hotels. But, the theming isn’t super Disney-centric and if you’re not a big sports buff, the theming is kind of pointless. Like the other All-Star hotels, there are larger-than-life statues dedicated to several different sports which are interesting, but there are plenty of other hotels to stay at that have better theming for similar value.

Not only that, but All-Star Sports is a common hotel for groups — think sports teams and school bands — which can mean you might have to deal with an influx of crowds at this hotel. If you’re not interested in looking out your hotel window and seeing large groups of cheerleaders practicing their competition routines, you might want to avoid this one.

Who should stay here? Sports fans and people traveling in large groups.

Complete Guide To Eating at All-Star Sports

Grand Floridan

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is known for being, well, grand, at that grandeur comes at quite a hefty price. This is one of the most expensive hotels on Disney World property, but other than being within walking distance to Magic Kingdom, you can find a nicer experience elsewhere. Because of this, we often find that the Grand Flo just isn’t worth the price.

The theming is pretty outdated and although some rooms have undergone recent refurbishments, the overall vibe of this hotel is just a bit stuffy. Other than the updated guest rooms and certain areas, the rest of the resort could use a solid facelift. It’s also not overflowing with Disney theming, and if you’re traveling with kiddos that can be a big dealbreaker.

Who should stay here? People looking for a classic Disney World hotel within walking distance of Magic Kingdom

Complete Guide To Eating at Grand Floridian

Caribbean Beach

Looking for a Caribbean getaway smack dab in the middle of Disney World? Look no further than the Caribbean Beach Resort — unless you’re looking for a quick walk to amenities and transportation. Sure, having a Disney World Skyliner stop at this hotel is a major plus (the Skyliner is Disney’s gondola transportation system) but having to walk a mile to get to it certainly isn’t.

The Caribbean Beach Resort is expansive — there are multiple different villages with guest rooms, pools, eateries, stores, and more spread out across quite a large area, and if you get stuck in a room all the way at the end of the resort it could make a long park day even longer at the end of the night. We will give this hotel points for the tropical vibes, moderate pricing, and access to the Skyliner, but if that’s your main draw we recommend Art of Animation or Pop Century instead.

Who should stay here? People looking for a Moderate Resort with access to the Skyliner

Complete Guide To Eating at Caribbean Beach

Coronado Springs

Another Moderate Resort we have similar gripes about is Coronado Springs. Don’t get us wrong — we love this hotel for plenty of reasons, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have some critiques. This hotel is huge with lots of spread-out buildings and amenities — including a restaurant in the middle of a lake! And, things get even more spread out when you consider the Gran Destino Tower addition.

Coronado is also commonly used for business conferences and things like that, meaning you may have to contend with an influx of suits from time to time. Another con on our list for Coronado is the lack of transportation — buses are your only option here, and you also have to deal with the dreaded internal bus loop.

Who should stay here? People looking for a Deluxe Resort feel at Moderate Resort prices

Complete Guide To Eating at Coronado Springs

Riviera Resort

Disney World’s newest hotel is also one of its most controversial. Riviera Resort is absolutely beautiful and features access to the Skyliner, which is already a huge plus for many folks. But, it’s another Deluxe Resort that can often be seen as not really worth what you’re paying. There is minimal Disney theming here, and it’s not as exciting as other hotels.

Not only that, but there aren’t as many things to do or places to explore around this resort which can be a dealbreaker for those looking to really enjoy all that Disney World hotels have to offer.

Who should stay here? People looking to splurge while still staying on the Skyliner route

Complete Guide To Eating at Riviera Resort

Stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney World news and planning tips for 2024!

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