By the co-author of The easy Guide to Your Walt Disney World Visit 2020, the best-reviewed Disney World guidebook series ever.

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(Next Best Resort Choices)

By Dave Shute

NEXT BEST CHOICES FOR WHERE TO STAY AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

This site recommends here the Polynesian for those who can afford it, and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort for those who can’t.

For those who can’t, or won’t, stay at one of these two resorts, below are the next best options, in order, by price category.

See this for details on the features of the various resort price categories (Deluxe, Moderate, Value).

SUMMARY: BEST WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT CHOICES IN ORDER

Value Resorts:

Standard 4-person rooms:

  1. Art of Animation
  2. Pop Century
  3. All-Star Movies
  4. All-Star Sports
  5. All-Star-Music

Six-person “Family Suites”

  1. The Family Suites at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
  2. The Family Suites at All-Star Music

Moderate resorts (not recommended for first time visitors, see this for why):

(The first four rankings are close, especially 3 and 4.)

Deluxe Resorts:

  1. BoardWalk Inn

(These rankings are NOT close.)

Disney Vacation Club resorts (not recommended for first time visitors, see this for why):

  1. Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows (studios only)
  2. Copper Creek Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
  3. Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
  4. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas–Jambo House
  5. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas–Kidani Village
  6. Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
  7. The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
  8. Disney’s Riviera Resort
  9. Disney’s Beach Club Villas
  10. Disney’s Boardwalk Villas
  11. Disney’s Old Key West Resort
  12. Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, main resort
  13. Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort, Treehouse Villas

(These rankings are NOT close.)

Campgrounds: (not recommended for first time visitors, see this for why)

WHY THESE ARE THE BEST CHOICES

The thumbnail (click to open, when open click again one or two times to enlarge) shows the basis of these recommendations: the resorts grouped by rankings of convenience and kid appeal.

See this for more on kid appeal, and this for more on convenience.

See this for details on the features of the various resort price categories (Deluxe, Moderate, Value).



42 comments

1 Gayle { 06.29.14 at 11:48 am }

Dave, We’re going to WDW the early part of Feb. 2015. Our daughter, son-in-law and their 3 year old will be with us. We’ve made reservations at the Polynesian, but our daughter is having second thoughts due to the fact that she thinks there will be better dining options for them at the Contemporary, since they’re all vegetarians. Also, she thinks the Contemporary will be just as convenient (important with a 3-yr-old) and less expensive than the Polynesian. What do you think? Also, I’ve read that Contemporary is noisier. Also, I’m worried it’s too late to change our reservations and still get desirable rooms should we decide to change. Help!

2 Dave { 06.30.14 at 7:19 am }

Hi Gayle! The Contemporary is more convenient for MK, and less typically expensive–though it varies by view and season, and 2015 prices aren’t out yet.

I don’t have an opinion on vegetarian options, but see this: http://goflorida.about.com/od/wheretoeat/a/wdw_Vegetarians-Guide-to-Disney-World-Resorts.htm

Moreover, construction at the Poly likely won’t be done then.

All things considered, for the specifics of your group, I agree with your daughter! I don’t foresee an issue in getting a great room that far from now…

3 norma { 03.23.15 at 7:57 pm }

Thanks that was pretty helpful!!

4 Anonymous { 07.03.15 at 9:20 am }

i will be visiting Disney with my family (4no), 2 kids (16 and 12) , my wife and I and will stay at Melia orlando suitehotel at celebration and would like to know activities in disney for kids of thier age and cost. we plan to be there later this month (july).

5 Dave { 07.03.15 at 5:24 pm }

See this.

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