Is money not an issue when traveling to Walt Disney World? Well, you’ve come to the right place, my friend. If you don’t mind how much you’re spending and prioritize quality time above everything else, let me tell you, Mickey Mouse is more than ready to welcome you to paradise.
This guide is all about showing you the best hotels, rooms, restaurants, tickets, and top tips to ensure you have the time of your life at the Happiest Place on Earth. It highlights presidential suites, VIP tours, new FastPass options to save you time, and plenty of tips so you can truly feel like you’re swimming in pixie dust while enjoying your time in Florida.
Let’s start with a quick overview of the best hotels and restaurants to visit, and then move on from there.
Overview
- The hotel you should pick: Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- The restaurant you should try: Victoria & Albert’s
- The character dining restaurant you should try: Cinderella’s Royal Table
- Tickets and special add-ons: At least a regular 4-day ticket per person, VIP tours for each theme park, and a Disney Lightning Lane Premier Pass for the days you won’t be doing the VIP tour.
Hotels & Rooms
If you have a luxury trip in mind, there are several options at Walt Disney World that fit the bill. While Disneyland only has about three “official” Disney resorts, Disney World has more than fifteen, divided into three tiers: Disney World Value Resorts, Disney World Moderate Resorts, and Disney World Deluxe Resorts.
Of course we will be focusing on the Deluxe Resorts. In practice, you can’t go wrong with any of them, as they offer top-tier rooms and most feature exclusive transportation options to take you to the theme parks, such as Skyliners or monorails. For the ultimate luxury experience at Disney World, there are two standout hotels to consider: the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Recommended rooms: Grand Suite (up to 4 guests), 2 Bedroom Suite (up to 8 guests)
Known as the most iconic and luxurious hotel at Walt Disney World, the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is often regarded as the pinnacle of Disney elegance. While it may not always have the most expensive rooms (that title often goes to Disney’s Contemporary Resort), it offers an unmatched blend of sophistication and Disney magic.
The Grand Floridian provides everything you’d expect from an extraordinary Disney experience: awesome rooms, big swimming pools, and some great perks.
Another great feature is that Victoria & Albert’s - one of the best restaurants in all Disney World - is located here, making it really convenient to enjoy one of the best meals of your entire trip without too much hassle. The hotel is also connected to the monorail system, making it quick and easy to reach Magic Kingdom. Another point for the Grand Floridian!
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Recommended room: Presidential Suite (up to 8 guests)
While not the single most expensive hotel at Walt Disney World, Disney’s Contemporary Resort features some of the most luxurious and top-tier rooms available. Located just half a mile from Magic Kingdom, this resort offers unparalleled convenience. Like the Grand Floridian, it is connected to the monorail system, allowing you to reach Florida’s most iconic theme park in style.
This is also a rather luxurious resort, with two main swimming pools, a waterpark and the California Grill restaurant, which is also regarded as one of the best places to eat at Disney.
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Recommended room: Bedroom Grand Villa - Savanna View (sleeps from 5 to 12 guests)
The Animal Kingdom Lodge isn’t the most expensive hotel at Disney World, but also offers some great rooms and amenities for guests. This might be a great choice if you are traveling with children and they are huge fans of… animals! Which, let's be honest, is every single one of us.
The lodge features spacious rooms with breathtaking views of nearby savannas, allowing you to fall asleep waving to zebras and wake up to the sight of exotic birds and other wildlife roaming just outside your window.
Dinner
Disney World offers a long list of great dining options. Many of the top-tier resorts, such as the Grand Floridian, feature on-site restaurants renowned for their luxury and exquisite cuisine. A standout example is Victoria & Albert’s, which should be at the top of your list during your visit to the Happiest Place on Earth.
Victoria & Albert’s
Welcome to the most exclusive and luxurious restaurant at Disney World, located on the grounds of the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Victoria & Albert’s offers a personalized menu featuring delicious American cuisine that changes daily. Guests can choose between a 7-course or 10-course dining experience, and prices start at $295 per guest.
Please note that children under 10 years old are not permitted, and there is a strict dress code - no jeans or t-shirts allowed. So, be sure to pack your finest attire and look fancy!
Cinderella’s Royal Table
This is one of the best restaurants to try if you are all about character dining - you know, the restaurants where you have breakfast, lunch or dinner alongside Disney characters!
Breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table has a fixed price of $69 per adult ($42 for children ages 3 to 9), while lunch and dinner are priced at $84 per adult ($49 for children ages 3 to 9).
The main highlight of dining here is the opportunity to eat inside the iconic castle at Magic Kingdom while meeting several Disney Princesses. And it’s not just Cinderella, other favorites like Snow White, Jasmine, Ariel, and more often make appearances. If you’re traveling with children, this is an experience you won’t want to miss.
Tickets and special add-ons
First and foremost, we recommend purchasing at least a 4-Day ticket for each guest in your party. This will allow you to visit each of the main theme parks - Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom - at least once.
We don’t suggest purchasing the Park Hopper ticket, as it’s better to focus on fully enjoying one park per day before moving on to your next adventure the following day.
We also recommend a few add-ons to enhance your experience and make your visit even easier. These include the VIP Pass at Disney World and the Lightning Lane Premier Pass, a new FastPass option introduced in late 2024.
Disney Private VIP Tour
The VIP tour is exactly that: a chance to enjoy Disney World like a true celebrity. You’ll need to book this service in advance, and, of course, Famvia can assist you with that. You can even write down what you'd love to see, and your guide will personalize the experience to help you live your Disney dream like a true star. Guess what? Famvia can help you with that as well!
The Disney Private VIP Tour costs between $450 and $900 per hour, per guest, with a minimum of 7 hours and a maximum of 10 hours. All Disney VIP Private Tours require valid theme park admission, which is not included in the price of the tour.
The VIP tour gives you the chance to learn more about Disney, access to backstage areas of some rides, and priority access to attractions, ensuring you never waste time waiting in line for your favorite roller coaster or experience.
Lightning Lane Premier Pass
You may want to purchase a Lightning Lane Premier Pass IF you are not doing the VIP Tour. This is the top-tier Fast Pass option at Disney World, available only to guests staying at the Disney World Hotels. The Premier Pass gives you a one-time entry to each Lightning Lane experience in a theme park. No need to book anything in advance, and it’s also valid to attractions that use the Virtual Queue.
Guests can purchase Lightning Lane Premier Passes up to 7 days before the first day of their Resort stay, for their entire length of stay (up to 14 days), starting at 7:00 AM Eastern Time. Before you can purchase a Lightning Lane Premier Pass, you must have valid theme park admission.
The price for the Lightning Lane Premier Pass varies by park and date. It can range from $129 per day, per guest at a park like Animal Kingdom, all the way up to $450 at Magic Kingdom during busy months.
Need help setting up your perfect luxury trip to Disney World?
Hey, you're in luck! Here at Famvia, we can help you plan the perfect luxury trip to the Happiest Place on Earth. Just tell us what you'd love to do, and we'll arrange the ideal hotel, restaurants, and tickets to make your vacation truly unforgettable.
We can also create an amazing itinerary for you, so you can enjoy every ride without worrying about the best strategy to save time. After all, we've done this before… multiple times!
