Disney Resorts
Benefits to staying on-site at a Disney Resort:
- Magical Express: Complimentary transportation to and from the airport
- Free parking everywhere
- Guaranteed admission to the parks even if they reach maximum capacity
- My Magic Plus: a service that allows you to book Fast Pass + ride times up to 60 days in advance of your trip, to guarantee you ride everything you want!
- Magic Bands: colourful bracelets that act as your room key, park ticket, charge card and more.
- Extra Magic Hours: Certain parks open earlier and stay open later for Disney resort guests only!
- Disney Dining Plan options
- Charging to your room privileges
- Free delivery of purchases directly to your room (so you don't have to carry them all day)
Walt Disney World Resorts break down into categories, depending on price, room size & amenities. - Free parking everywhere
- Guaranteed admission to the parks even if they reach maximum capacity
- My Magic Plus: a service that allows you to book Fast Pass + ride times up to 60 days in advance of your trip, to guarantee you ride everything you want!
- Magic Bands: colourful bracelets that act as your room key, park ticket, charge card and more.
- Extra Magic Hours: Certain parks open earlier and stay open later for Disney resort guests only!
- Disney Dining Plan options
- Charging to your room privileges
- Free delivery of purchases directly to your room (so you don't have to carry them all day)
PLEASE READ: There are often discounts to be had on Disney resorts!!! When you look at the Disney World website, they are listing their "Rack Rates" for their rooms. These are the most expensive posted rates. But there are often deals going on where you can get 25-40% off the Rack Rate... and of course they're only listed in fine print, in hidden corners of the Disney website! To get the most updated listings of Disney resort discounts, I recommend Mousesavers.com. You can even sign up for their newsletter and once a month you'll be given secret discounts on resorts, dining, and whatever else is available! Check it out!
Click on each resort to see videos and floorplans courtesy of AllEars.net:Disney Value Resorts (least expensive):
Disney Value Resorts are perfect for families and guests on a budget. Each room has either one King or two Full Size beds, and can accommodate up to 4 guests plus one child under 3 in a crib (upon request). Average room size is 260sq.ft. (excluding Family Suites, which are 520sq.ft. and can sleep up to six). All Value Resorts have two pools, a quick service food court, gift shop & arcade.
All Star Movies
All Star Music (offers standard rooms and Family Suites)
All Star Sports
Pop Century
*NEW!* Art of Animation (offers standard rooms and Family Suites)
Disney Moderate Resorts (moderately priced):
A step up from the Value Resorts, Disney's Moderates offer a few more amenities for your dollar. Each room has either one King or two Full Size* beds (*all rooms at Coronado Springs have Queen sized beds, as well as newer refurbished rooms at both Port Orleans resorts), double sinks, mini-fridges included in each room, and can accommodate up to 4 guests plus one child under 3 in a crib (upon request). Port Orleans Riverside does have rooms available with a rollaway cot for a 5th person if need be. Average room size is 314sq.ft. with Caribbean Beach Resort having the largest at 340sq.ft. All Moderate Resorts have full service restaurants, food courts, pools with slides, arcades & gift shops.
Coronado Springs Resort
Caribbean Beach Resort (also offers special Pirate Themed Rooms for an additional fee)Port Orleans - French Quarter
Port Orleans - Riverside (also offers special Princess Themed Rooms for an additional fee)
Also in this category is the Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground which offers some unique accommodations. You can enjoy a home-away-from-home in their cozy Wilderness Cabins, which have a full kitchen, full bathroom, living room with murphy bed, one bedroom with a double bed & bunkbeds, and outdoor deck. Or, if you prefer living among the trees, you can camp in your RV, trailer or tent for very reasonable rates! There are two pools in this resort, plus a beach, marina, horseback riding, fishing, nightly campfire singalongs and movies, and so much more!
Disney Deluxe Resorts (luxury accommodations):
For something really special, Disney offers their Deluxe level of resorts. Room sizes are much larger than the other resorts averaging 388sq.ft., with the Contemporary Resort having the largest at 422sq.ft. Benefits to staying at a Deluxe Resort include full service restaurants, room service, luggage service, valet parking, numerous swimming pools, beach access, on-site recreation, on-site childcare, and at the Contemporary, Polynesian and Grand Floridian resorts there is the added benefit of monorail service. Most rooms sleep 4, with room for an additional cot for a 5th person if necessary. These are the most expensive of the regular resort rooms at Walt Disney World.
Animal Kingdom LodgeBeach Club and Yacht Club
Boardwalk Inn
Contemporary Resort
Dolphin and Swan
Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Polynesian Resort
Shades of Green
Wilderness Lodge
WANT SOMETHING BIGGER? Larger, more expensive suites are available at Walt Disney World. These include multi-bedroom villas at Disney Vacation Club Resorts that sleep up to 9 guests. For information on these "Home Away From Home" options, click here to visit WDWInfo.com and scroll to the bottom.
Off-Site Accommodations
Things to consider if you choose to stay off Disney property:- No complimentary transportation from the airport to your hotel
- You can only schedule Fast Pass Plus ride times 30-days in advance of your trip.
- Difficult to get to the Disney parks if you don't have your own car (motel shuttle service is sporadic, usually only offered a few times a day)
- If you do have your own car, or even if you take a taxi, you'll have to pay for parking at Disney World:
Car/Taxi/Shuttle/Limo/Motorcycle --- $14.00/day
Camper/Trailer --- $15.00/day
Bus/Tractor Trailer --- $18.00/day
- Hotel amenities lacking the legendary Disney quality & theming
If you feel that staying off-site is still the best option for your vacation, you'll want to look for hotels that are in Kissimmee Florida (not Orlando - that's further away from Disney World). There is a long strip of hotels, motels, restaurants and shopping centres all along the I-192 in Kissimmee, with many chain hotels being called "Maingate" because of their close proximity to the main gates of Walt Disney World. Some do offer shuttle service to the parks, but please remember that often the shuttles only run 3-4 times a day, and if you miss the shuttle back to your hotel, you'll be paying for a cab or waiting several hours until the next shuttle comes along!
Alternatively, there are many popular hotels located in the Downtown Disney area, though they are not affiliated with Disney. For a full listing, check out the Downtown Disney Hotel website.
Another option is to rent a full-size vacation home in the Kissimmee area. All Star Vacation Homes offers full size houses in safe neighbourhoods, often with private swimming pools and multiple bedrooms and bathrooms to accommodate larger sized groups.
Have you made your decision on what resort you'd like to book?
Then move on to Step #4 - Park Passes!