Overview
There are many Disney World resorts to choose from - seriously, the options in Florida far exceed those at both Disneyland and Universal Hollywood, where it’s easy to look at five or so hotels and pick your favorite. Things don’t work that way in Orlando, friend! There are more than fifteen hotels to choose from, offering different prices, amenities, and perks, with some of them within walking distance of your favorite theme park. Selecting the right one can be challenging, and we at Famvia hope to make this decision a little easier.
There are many reasons to stay at a Disney World resort. Maybe you enjoy the perks offered, like the chance of arriving at a theme park 30 minutes before anyone else, or perhaps you just want to stay close and take the monorail to Epcot. Every Disney World resort has at least one perk that might be enough to make you book a room with Mickey Mouse.
There are three different categories of Disney World resorts:
- Value (the most affordable Disney World resorts)
- Moderate
- Deluxe (the most expensive options)
As you’ll soon see, staying at a Disney World resort always comes with at least one perk. Some of the more expensive options, especially the Deluxe hotels, offer additional perks, such as the ability to stay at select theme parks for two extra hours after they officially close. These hotels are also the most expensive, typically located near Disney World, where you can either walk to the park or take the monorail.
Let’s take a look at the different Disney World Resorts, including approximate daily starting prices for early February (taxes included). We will also inform you if a specific resort has any sort of special transportation. Keep in mind that prices can vary significantly throughout the year. Prices do help you see which are the most expensive hotels and the most affordable ones, though.
List of Disney World Value Resorts
- Disney's All-Star Movies ($150)
- Disney's All-Star Sports ($190)
- Disney's All-Star Music ($200)
- Disney's Pop Century (offers skyliner; $250)
- Disney's Art of Animation (offers skyliner; $290)
List of Disney World Moderate Resorts
- Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort ($320)
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort (offers skyliner; $350)
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort - Riverside ($350)
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter ($350)
- The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort ($640)
List of Disney World Deluxe Resorts
- Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House ($560)
- Disney's Wilderness Lodge ($640)
- Disney's Contemporary (0.5 miles from Magic Kingdom; offers monorail; $680)
- Disney's Yacht Club (0.3 miles from Epcot; 1.2 from Hollywood Studios; $740)
- Disney's Beach Club (0.3 miles from Epcot; 1.2 from Hollywood Studios; $750)
- Disney's Boardwalk (0.3 miles from Epcot; 0.75 miles from Hollywood Studios; $750)
- Disney's Polynesian (1.25 miles from Magic Kingdom; offers monorail; $830)
- Disney's Grand Floridian (0.75 miles from Magic Kingdom; offers monorail; $930)
Perks offered by every single Disney World Resort
We finally got to what is really important! If you want to stay at a Disney World resort, it means that you are really interested in the perks offered. Or, well, maybe you just want to eat Mickey waffles all day, and I respect that decision.
These are the perks offered by every single Disney World Resort, from the Value hotels all the way to the Deluxe options:
Early Theme Park Entry: the best perk of them all, and probably the main reason that guests want to book a Disney World resort. This perk lets you enter any Disney World theme park, any day, 30 minutes before the gates officially open. Thirty minutes might not seem like a lot, but it's incredibly important and useful to ride some of the most popular attractions without facing any lines at least once, like Tron Lightcycle Run, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. The main challenge? Waking up extra early and then saying hi to Mickey Mouse…
Free transportation: Every Disney World resort offers complimentary transportation to the theme parks. However, the type of transportation and its efficiency vary by hotel. For example, some resorts provide buses to Magic Kingdom, but they may only run every hour. Other hotels offer direct Skyliner access to Hollywood Studios or Epcot, while some are so close to the parks that you can simply walk there. As expected, Deluxe hotels offer more efficient transportation options. Another great perk? Disney transportation is the only kind that takes you directly to Magic Kingdom. Everyone else has to stop at the Ticket Center, transfer to a monorail, and then arrive at the park.
Free Parking: Disney World resort guests enjoy complimentary parking at their resort and at Disney Springs. This is a great way to save money, especially if you have a rental car and prefer driving to Disney World instead of waiting for buses.
Early Booking for Lightning Lane Passes: This perk was introduced in 2024. If you're staying at a Disney World resort, you can book your Lightning Lanes seven days before your visit, while other guests can only do so three days in advance. This advantage is especially valuable if you want to secure spots for the most popular rides a full week ahead. We're looking at you, Slinky Dog Dash!
Magic Band discounts: Guests staying at a Disney hotel can enjoy special discounts on Magic Bands, with the option to purchase them in advance before their visit. The discount is typically around $10 per Magic Band, which is helpful considering they can cost up to $40. Magic Bands make your trip more convenient, as you can link your theme park tickets, Lightning Lane passes, and more to them, so it's great that you can get a discount.
…and a few other perks: There are additional small perks that can be quite useful. Disney World resort guests receive complimentary towels at Disney’s water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. They can also book in advance for special events like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Perks offered by the Disney World Deluxe Resorts only
Extended Evening Hours: This perk is available to guests staying at Disney Deluxe Hotels, Disney Vacation Club Resorts, and the Swan/Dolphin/Swan Reserve. Extended Evening Hours occur on select nights at specific theme parks, and you'll be informed in advance. This perk allows you to stay in a park for two hours after it officially closes, giving you the chance to experience popular attractions with little to no wait time. Keep in mind, this is different from Disney After Hours, a ticketed event that allows guests to stay for about three hours after park closing. Extended Evening Hours, however, do not require a special ticket and are complimentary for Deluxe Resort guests.
Disney World Value Resort Hotels
Good for: you are on a budget but still want to enjoy the perks offered, you don’t have an easy way to get to the theme parks.
Prices: from $150 to $300 per night, per room.
These are the most affordable options in Orlando. While these hotels tend to be simple, they are cozy, and some feature on-site restaurants and swimming pools. Don’t expect anything too luxurious, but the rooms are clean and infused with that Disney magic. Typically, these hotels have good rates and average around 260 square feet, with some resorts offering slightly larger Family Rooms at a higher price.
They are a great choice for those who want to enjoy Disney without a rental car. Keep in mind that buses from these hotels to the theme parks run every 30 minutes to an hour, and the journey may take some time, so it's best to wake up early and catch one of the first buses.
Pop Century and Art of Animation are two excellent choices for Value Resort Hotels, as they are connected to the Skyliner system. This allows you to board the Skyliner and visit Hollywood Studios and Epcot in a fun and stylish way.
Disney World Moderate Resort Hotels
Good for: you want a bit more luxury, you want slightly bigger rooms.
Prices: from $300 to $650 per night, per room.
Disney World Moderate hotels are what you would expect: a mid-tier option between budget hotels and luxurious Deluxe Hotels. Many guests prefer to save for the Deluxe option or stay in Value Hotels, as the Moderate choices don’t offer any extra perks. Rooms typically measure 314 square feet, which is larger than Value Resort rooms, and there are subcategories that include even bigger options. In addition to a food court, there’s a good chance your Moderate hotel will also have an on-site sit-down restaurant and a water playground for your family.
Coronado Springs is a solid choice for a Moderate Resort Hotel, as its rooms have recently been updated. Caribbean Beach, which was recently integrated into the Skyliner system, may also be a good option. Overall, these hotels are decent choices, but they are closer in quality to Value resorts than to Deluxe options.
Disney World Deluxe Resort Hotels
Good for: you want nothing but luxury, you want to stay close to Disney World, you want the Extended Evening Hours, you want to see unique character dining options.
Prices: from $550 to $950 per night, per room.
This is it, friends! These hotels have received an extra dose of pixie dust. The Deluxe Resorts are the best of the best and include an exclusive perk that allows you to stay in a theme park for two hours after the official closing time on specific days. These resorts are typically themed and feature something special and unique within them. For example, the Animal Kingdom Lodge offers a nightly safari that your entire family can enjoy.
Rooms typically range from 344 to 420 square feet, and these hotels also have numerous swimming pools, water parks, and some of the best restaurants in Disney World. Some hotels even offer character dining experiences. For instance, Disney’s Contemporary Resort features Chef Mickey's Family Feast, while you can meet Lilo and Stitch at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.
Another great perk of these hotels is that most are very close to the theme parks. Being within walking distance of Magic Kingdom is fantastic, I just can’t emphasize this enough. Magic Kingdom can be tricky to reach, as you need to take a monorail to get there, so being able to walk from your room is a great advantage.
What is the right Disney World Resort for me?
This is a very hard question. If you want to save money and are traveling with a large family or many friends, the Value Resorts might be a good option. They are also a great choice if you're on vacation and have a car, as you won't need to wait for buses and can take advantage of the free parking perk. If you don’t have a car, I recommend Disney's Pop Century and Disney's Art of Animation, two hotels that feature a Skyliner system, making it easier to get to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
I usually do not recommend the Moderate hotels, as they are more expensive than the Value Resort Hotels without offering much more in return. While they are larger and may have some dining options, that’s about it. However, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort might be a great choice, as it is one of the most affordable Moderate resorts and has recently undergone a nice refurbishment.
The Deluxe hotels are exceptional. They each offer something unique, including amazing restaurants, great transportation options, exclusive perks, and much more. The downside is evident: the price. If price isn’t a concern, I would definitely recommend staying here. Disney's Contemporary Resort is one of my favorites. It’s very close to Magic Kingdom, offers reasonable rates, and features a monorail system to make your life easier.
