One of the biggest decisions you can make when planning a trip to Disney World is where you’ll stay.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney World has a TON of hotels to choose from, pretty much at every price point: value, moderate, and deluxe. The hotels are located ALL over the resort, plus some have access to transportation options like the Skyliner and Monorail. Well, we’ve told you which hotels are our favorites (you can check them out here!), so now I’m going to tell you about the ones I won’t go back to.
So this is going to be a different kind of list because I’m categorizing hotels by my Disney World trip priorities. So if your priorities line up with mine, you’ll want to avoid these, too.
Hotels that are too far away
Okay, Animal Kingdom Lodge, you are a GORGEOUS hotel, but you are just so far away from EVERYTHING except Animal Kingdom. If I were planning on spending a few days at Animal Kingdom or just wanted a great resort hotel and wasn’t too worried about visiting the parks, you would be our first pick. But you are SO far away from all the other parks and all you offer is bus transportation. That ride from Magic Kingdom at the end of the night feels like it takes FOREVER.
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Of course, depending on what your priorities are, Animal Kingdom Lodge could be the perfect hotel for you. You may feel like hotels like the Port Orleans Resorts, Old Key West, and Saratoga Springs are just too far away from everything, too. So before you book that hotel, be sure to check where it’s located!
The Amazing, FREE Things You’re Not Taking Advantage of at Disney World Hotels
Deluxe hotels when I’m on a budget
I’m not made of money, and I often visit Disney World on a budget. That means that deluxe hotels are generally out of my price range, so I don’t even look at the deluxe hotels when I’m just needing a place to sleep between park visits and want to save money. Again, this could be a decision based on your priorities: if you want a resort experience and plan on spending a lot of time at your hotel, a deluxe might be JUST what you’re looking for.
Sorry, Grand Floridian, but you are TOO expensive
I want to save more money for food and souvenirs (but mostly food), so I’m going to book a stay at one of the All-Star Resorts or at Pop Century Resort (not Art of Animation — and we’ll get to why here in a sec).
I’m on a Mission to Stay in a Moderate Hotel With My Value Resort Budget in Disney World
Hotels that are too big
The last thing I want to do after a day in the parks is to walk another mile (or what feels like it) to get back to my hotel room. That’s why I’m steering clear of larger hotels. Remember that mention of Art of Animation? Well, the standard rooms are in the Little Mermaid section and that is a VERY long walk from where the buses drop you off in front of the hotel.
By the time I reach Ursula, my feet are about ready to give out.
Another hotel that is just TOO big is Caribbean Beach Resort. If you’ve ever visited that resort, you know just how massive it is. EVERYTHING feels like a long walk there. Sure, it’s gorgeous, but no, thank you.
Disney Fans Are Calling Out the Overhyped Hotels That Are Super Underwhelming
So, yeah, based on what your priorities are, there are some hotels you should avoid at Disney World. I’m not trying to scare you away from these properties, but I do want you to know that they come with consequences. We’ve learned the hard way.
Stay tuned to DFB for more.
The Worst PROBLEM with Staying at Disney World’s Cheapest Hotels
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we usually stay at New Orleans FQ>…..nice n small ….easy walk to any part…..yes its far away from parks but compared to the prices of the deluxe which cant afford its still easy bus jump …..plus Downtown is a boatride away for eats and shopping…..IF i could afford it my choice would be Boardwalk …but sadly my pockets arent that deep…..SO FQ it is ……
I hear you on Art of Animation. I love how the hotel looks, but A) the ENORMOUS walk from the bus drop-off to my room, B) having to use the Skyliner as a solo traveler (and thus getting stuck with whole families) and C) the ENDLESS loop of the same 3 freakin’ songs is just too much at times. And considering the All Stars have the same amenities but much cheaper prices (usually adding up to $1-200 savings over the vacation), it’s a no-brainer sometimes.
I’ve also had a lot of Disneyphiles tell me to try all the super expensive resorts and NO THANK YOU- I don’t really see the need to blow the entire budget on a couple nights in one hotel when I can buy 10 nights in a cheaper one for the same price.
I wasn’t sure about the Fort Wilderness Lodge. But after exiting Magic Kingdom and going down to the boat, skipping the monorail and buses… that was a win for me. Fortunately the bus stop at the hotel is at the side entrance and it made the waddle/crawl to my room, very short.