Choosing your resort is one of the most exciting parts of booking a Walt Disney World vacation. However, with so many resorts to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start. If you can’t decide between a value, moderate, or deluxe resort for your next trip, we’re here to help you get one step closer to picking your next vacation resort.
How Much Time Are You Going to Spend in the Room?
When it comes to deciding between the Walt Disney World resort categories, one of the first considerations should be how much time you are going to spend in the resort. While some visitors will always stay in the same resort category, if you are going to be in the parks all day, you may feel a deluxe resort is not worth the expense. The deluxe resorts offer extensive facilities and beautiful swimming pools for relaxing. If you’re not going to spend any time in your room or resort, you might want to consider saving money by opting for a value or moderate resort. These resorts still offer great Disney-themed rooms and amenities, without the price tag of the deluxe resorts.
Dining Options
As you go up the Disney resort categories, you’ll find the dining choices improve significantly. If dining is a huge part of your vacation, you may want to consider staying at some of the most popular deluxe resorts. For dining, we love Disney’s Boardwalk Resort, Polynesian Village Resort, or the Animal Kingdom Lodge, all of which offer unique dining options. After a busy day at the parks, coming back and enjoying a relaxed table-service meal in your resort is the perfect way to end the day. However, if your family is happy dining at a quick-service location every day, you may be content with a value resort.
Disney Theming
For families traveling with younger children, immersing them in the Disney theming is often the top priority. For a complete Disney experience, we recommend the value resorts, especially the Art of Animation Resort. Young children will love seeing their favorite characters from Finding Nemo, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, and Cars and staying in a room themed after one of these movies. Alternatively, Port Orleans Riverside offers the Royal Guest Rooms, themed after The Princess and the Frog.
Resort Amenities
Each resort offers its own unique amenities, so you’ll want to decide what’s most important to you for your family’s vacation. If your kids love to swim every day, we recommend staying at the Yacht or Beach Club Resorts, which share Stormalong Bay. This three-acre pool complex is without a doubt the best on property and is almost like a mini water park in your resort. For a unique vacation, opt to stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, where you can wake up every morning and watch the giraffes and animals who call this resort home from your balcony. For a truly luxurious stay, the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa appeals to guests of all ages and is considered the property’s flagship resort.
Accommodation Options
Your party size will have a big impact on the resort you opt for, and if you are traveling with more than four people, you’ll want to consider looking at resorts that offer family suites or larger accommodation. The Art of Animation Resort and All-Star Music Resort both offer family suites, which sleep up to six people but are still generally quite affordable for larger groups. Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground is a fun option for larger families, where you can stay in a rustic cabin in the woods. Finally, consider the Deluxe Villas for a larger party, where you can choose from one, two, and three-bedroom villas. These are available in all of the Disney Vacation Club resorts, but you don’t have to be a DVC member to stay in these rooms.
Of course, your budget will probably be the final consideration for your Walt Disney World stay. You’ll want to take the time to consider the packages and deals available to your family when it’s time to book your vacation. Wherever you choose to stay, all of the Walt Disney World resorts offer fantastic levels of service and a wonderful experience to completely immerse you in the magic of this vacation destination.
