Are you making the most of Disney World’s hotels?

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Ever since the Polynesian Village and Contemporary resorts opened along with Disney World in October of 1971, hotels have been an integral part of the resort experience. Over the last 50+ years, nearly 30 resorts have opened across the property, while several more have been left unbuilt. However, many guests aren’t taking advantage of everything Disney World has to offer.

While it is possible to simply use a Walt Disney World hotel room as a stopover to sleep in between park visits, they don’t need to be. The property’s hotels offer lots more than just simply rooms, with amenities including theming, restaurants, transportation methods, and even historic locations, all of which are accessible to non-hotel guests.

Let’s start with restaurants. Some of the best on Disney World property are scattered around hotels on the property, including traditional favorites like the California Grill at the Contemporary Resort, Ohana at the Polynesian, and the Michelin Star-winning Victoria & Albert’s at the Grand Floridian. There are also some newer restaurant’s like the Contemporary’s Steakhouse 71 and Topolino’s Terrace (complete with its gorgeous rooftop views of EPCOT’s nightly fireworks) at the Riviera Resort.

Look at that VIEW from Topolino’s Terrace

In addition to those well-known fining dining locations, there are also some less well-known, but equally enjoyable out-of-the-way restaurants scattered across the company’s hotels, including Sebastian’s Bistro at the Caribbean Beach Resort, which we’d argue provides one of the best – – and most cost-effective – – table-service options on property.

Sebastian’s Bistro

Beyond just the restaurants, there’s plenty to see at Disney’s hotels from an architectural standpoint. Some properties like the Port Orleans Resort are as (or in some cases more) intricately themed than some areas of the parks, to the point where one could walk around taking in the ambiance for hours.

Sassagoula Floatworks

The Contemporary and Polynesian resorts not only offer that level of theming, but also offer real world history. The former was the site of Richard Nixon’s infamous “I am not a crook” speech while the latter was the setting for John Lennon to sign the papers officially dissolving The Beatles.

Washington Post

Another Walt Disney World hotel benefit you could take advantage of? Transportation. For example, even if you’re not staying at one of the Magic Kingdom Resort area hotels on the monorail line (the Contemporary, Polynesian, and the Grand Floridan) you can head off to one of those hotels (maybe indulge in some breakfast) and then hop on the Monorail to arrive at the Magic Kingdom in the most iconic way. The same can be said for the Skyliner to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios, which can be picked up at Pop Century/Art of Animation, the Riviera Resort, and the Caribbean Beach Resort.

Skyliner at Caribbean Beach Resort

While there are many Disney World hotels that hit all these criteria, there’s perhaps none that ticks more boxes than The BoardWalk. The massive resort, opened in 1996, features (as one would imagine) a full boardwalk themed to the boardwalks of the American northeast, circa the turn of the 19th to 20th century.

Disney’s BoardWalk

Said boardwalk features shopping and dining including the newly opened Cake Bake Shop (yes, it’s expensive but it has proven to be delicious when we’ve tried it), and hoping experiences that make it an all-day experience on-par with other themed Disney locations. Plus, it’s accessible via boat from ECPOT or Hollywood Studios as well as being a short walk from the EPCOT Skyliner station.

Millionaire’s Cake

Walt Disney World’s vast network of hotels offers a slew of experiences, ranging from dining to theming to transportation, almost of of which can be taken advantage of by guests who aren’t staying at them. Stay tuned to DFB for more on Disney World’s infrastructure.

How Hotels Are CHANGING in Disney World in 2025

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