The Most Comfortable Place to Stay at Walt Disney World: 1. The Options
By Dave Shute
This is part of The Comfortable Guide to Walt Disney World
OVERVIEW: THE MOST COMFORTABLE PLACE TO STAY AT WALT DISNEY WORLD: THE OPTIONS
This site provides precise instructions elsewhere on where to stay at Walt Disney World. These instructions are designed for typical first time family visitors who are not sure whether or not they will ever return.
This page is one of several on where to stay at Walt Disney World for a subset of first time visitors: those seeking the most comfortable visit.
It is part of the most comfortable way to visit Walt Disney World. Its companion series is about the most inexpensive way to visit Walt Disney World,
I am publishing both series at the same time so that they also help those who are looking for bargains and deals on some things, so that they can spend more on others!! Links to everything in these two series are at the bottom of the page.
There are two options for the most comfortable place to stay at Walt Disney World:
- Suites, which are available at all of the Walt Disney World deluxe resorts, and
- One-bedroom and larger villas at the Disney Vacation Club (“DVC”) resorts. These villas are currently reservable at all Walt Disney World deluxe resorts except for the Polynesian, Grand Floridian, and Yacht Club resorts.
DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN WALT DISNEY WORLD DELUXE RESORTS SUITES AND DISNEY VACATION CLUB VILLAS
The basic differences between suites and Disney Vacation Club villas are as follows:
- There are many, many more villas than suites, making villas much easier to reserve
- All suites provide concierge level services, but essentially no villas do. (A few of the villas at the Animal Kingdom Lodge provide concierge level services, but these are usually snapped up by Disney Vacation Club members, making them unavailable to the general public.)
- All one-bedroom and larger villas provide full kitchens; no suite (that I am aware of) has stoves or ovens, though many suites have all other kitchen gear (fridges, sinks, and microwaves).
- Many one and two bedroom suites provide a larger and more livable non-bedroom area than the one and two-bedroom DVC villas do.
- While there are different types of DVC villas (One bedroom, Two bedroom, Treehouses, and Grand Villas) they essentially vary by number of sleeping spaces. There are, however, two very different kinds of suites.
- What you might call “standard suites” provide more rooms, and more square feet, than standard rooms.
- “Top-level” suites provide a lot more room, and sometimes additional spaces (such as offices, or separate sitting rooms separate from the parlor) as well.
- These top level suites include spaces like the King Kamehameha Suite at the Polynesian, and the Royal Asante Presidential Suite at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and others, all suitable for heads of state, potential investors in this website, and other nabobs and potentates
As I have provided elsewhere details on the accommodations of the Disney Vacation Club resorts (start here), the rest of this material focuses on suites at Walt Disney World deluxe resorts.
SUITES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
This material continues here.
32 comments
Hi staying at OKW next August, 2 bed villa. 4 adults 2 teens. We would like to be top floor and quite near to main pool etc., what no`s are best and who should i make requests to is it disney or OKW. thanks
June: see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/where-to-stay/next-best-resort-choices/walt-disney-world-resort-features-by-price-category/review-disneys-old-key-west-resort-continued/#comment-59566
We are looking for accomodation for three adults and three young adults. We would like somewhere with not too much “character” stuff but still fun and family orientated, and two bathrooms. Close proximity so that it is easy to get everywhere. We have been to Disneyland many times, so in your opinion do we concentrate more on the other parks? Or is there no comparison. Dates are hard because of school and university but will end of August be unbearable as far as weather? Thanks so much.
Hi Bonnie–some of the options that fit precisely six have some shorter beds–how tall are the three young adults?
Of the 4 WDW parks, MK and HS have the most overlap with DLR, and Epcot and AK the least. I would aim for at least a day in each of the four parks, with an extra day to return to your favorite.
Late August is typically very hot, very humid, and is also in the peak of the hurricane season. See this for more on August–it’s 2012, but the basics will be the same in 2013: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/01/22/august-2012-at-walt-disney-world/
HELLO..WE ARE TRYING TO DESIDE IF STAY IN DISNEY IN 2 VALUE RESORT ROOMS OR OUT OF DISNEY IN A 2 BEDROOM SUITE. WE HAVE MYSELF AND HUSBAND AND 11 & 10 & 8 & 7 &7 & 4 & 1 YRS OLDS…WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST…THANKS FOR ANY HELP.
Hi April! It’s very hard to find reasonably priced rooms on Disney with a gang that large, and Disney won’t guarantee that your rooms are either connected or even near each other–they will of course try, but they won’t guarantee it. See this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/12/15/lower-priced-options-for-large-families-at-walt-disney-world/ and also this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/01/27/the-tightwads-guide-to-staying-off-site-at-walt-disney-world/
I am hoping to take the kids back to disneyworld (2nd visit) in January of 2014. We have a large family 2 adults and children (at time of travel) ages 12, 10, 9, 7, 6 and almost 3. I want to stay on site because I do not want to rent a van and deal with driving and I am hoping that they offer room only discounts or free dingin plans during the time that we go (historically they have). What do you suggest as the most economical solution to our room situation?
Nikia, there’s no good lower-cost option that sleeps 7 people older than 3. Your cheapest option is probably going to be to try for two connecting rooms in one of the lower-cost hotels–but Disney won’t guarantee connecting rooms… See this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/12/15/lower-priced-options-for-large-families-at-walt-disney-world/
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Hiii, we are first time visitors to Disney. We are from the Caribbean and really excited! My family is 3 adults and a 4 yr old, 3 year old and a 1 year old! Where would you recommend us stay if we are looking for great value, not too expensive. We do have a car to get around if that might help. Also what about meal plans etc. Thanks soo much!
Hi Anu! You can only buy a meal plan if you stay at a Disney hotel. For the best least expensive choice among the Disney hotels for a family the size of yours see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/12/15/lower-priced-options-for-large-families-at-walt-disney-world/ For more on the dining plan see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/how-to-eat/
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Wanting to bookn’either 2 or 3 rooms at Poly or might be better to book 2 berm Princess suite not sure. Have read you can book 500’days out but when I called reservations 3/24/13 was told to call back in July We are planning to be in Disney for 6 nights arriving aroun the 2 may 2014 I understand they have not determined the rates but would still like to have our rooms booked as early so we can get what we want. Any suggestions would be appreciated
Linda, see this–even some WDW staff don’t know about the 500 day policy…https://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/02/21/how-far-in-advance-can-you-book-a-walt-disney-world-vacation/
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I plan to visit disney july2014 with a group of twelve want to stay at value resort eit a jooning rooms.this is my thitd visit also need shuttle and free breakfast. Does any of tye resort have that. Service. And does any resorts have com servicr from amtrack.
Karen, no Disney hotels have free breakfast, and none have free transport from Amtrak…Otherwise, my reviews of and recommendations about the value resorts start here: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/08/04/the-value-resorts-at-walt-disney-world/
Be sure to note the 6-person Family Suites (lower on the page) when you look–two of these are more expensive than three 4-person standard rooms, but there’s a lot to recommend them if you can afford them…
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Hi Dave, I am so over whelmed by the choices of accommodation, I really need help.
My husband and I are travelling with my 19 and 16 year old 6 foot 5 sons.
Plus my brother and his 18 year old son.
Do you recommend magic kingdom as the best park to go to, we are only there for a couple of days in January.
Plus what accommodation would be ideal for us, we have no car.
Thanks heaps megan
Hi Megan! First, yes, if you have only two days I’d spend both in the Magic Kingdom.
There are no extra-long beds at WDW–the best you will do is kings, and even those are hard to find.
If you can afford it, a two bedroom villa at Bay Lake Tower or the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge is the most cost-effective way of sleeping this group. See the links in the “Disney Vacation Club Resort” section at the bottom of this page:
https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/04/26/walt-disney-world-resort-hotel-reviews/
If this is too pricey (see this for prices: http://www.mousesavers.com/2014-disney-world-resort-room-rates-season-dates/ ) then you want two rooms at a moderate with queen beds. Among them, I’d recommend Port Orleans French Quarter. (Links to reviews are on the same page you found the Bay Lake Tower reviews on…)
All the Disney resorts provide transport to and from the parks, and there’s also–if you are flying–free transport from MCO to your Disney hotel. (See https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/02/28/disneys-magical-express-at-walt-disney-world/ )
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Hi! I am so thankful for you and this website!!! We are first timers. A family of 5 + my mom who is coming with us to keep the 1 year old while we spend time with the 5 and 4 year olds. I am having a hard time figuring this resort thing out for some reason. We are wanting 2 br’s 2 ba’s an ample space to “stretch out”. Especially since my mom will be at the room a lot with the baby. Please suggest the best resort to stay at, ( or better yet, your top 3 picks) regardless of price. We’d prefer monorail for convenience. Thanks a ton!!!
Candice, your best options will be two bedroom Disney Vacation Club villas. You top pick for a monorail resort is Bay Lake Tower — https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/09/13/review-bay-lake-tower-at-disneys-contemporary-resort/
Right now, the only other option at a monorail resort is the Villas at the Grand FLoridian, but there’s not many of them so they are hard to get, and in your circumstances, I think the ability to walk back and forth from MK to BLT trumps that.
For my overall rankings of such spaces, see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/special-circumstances/special-circumstances-large-families/more-on-large-families-at-walt-disney-world/the-disney-vacation-club-dvc-resorts-at-walt-disney-world/
Hi. Been coming to wdw since it opened & trying various resorts on-site. Been wanting to try Coronado Springs. Heard that resort has drawbacks but cannot hammer down what they are. A Disney reservation agent after almost booking a reservation there asked why i picked it……because it looked nice. She suggested riverside moderate resort…we took that. You could tell she didn’t want to say why. Can you tell us? Are there obvious drawbacks here? Thank you.
Dauna–see my review here: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2014/11/26/review-disneys-coronado-springs-resort-3/
Hi Dave,
I’m recently widowed and wanted to take the kids, two 21 year old girls and an 18 year old boy to Disneyworld in June/ July 2015 for a week. We live in San Diego so we’ve been to Disneyland many times and would now like to visit Disneyworld. We would prefer to stay clear of the resorts that are geared for the younger kids. I would greatly appreciate your recommendations?
Thanks,
Lisa
Lisa as you can imagine you will find kids everywhere. Among the values consider All-Star Music, the moderates Coronado Springs, and the deluxes the Yacht Club. For links to reviews of each, see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/04/26/walt-disney-world-resort-hotel-reviews/
Hi. We want to have a Disney holiday next year in July 2016
In our party we have myself (mum), my oldest adult daughter and her little boy who will be 3yrs old, my adult son, my younger adult daughter who is profoundly disabled, and possibly my 11 year old nephew. Obviously the only people who can share a bed are my eldest daughter and myself.
We have previously stayed at Port Orleans in the days of adjoining rooms and at Old Key West. (Minus my nephew)
Both were great holidays but Port Orleans don’t have big enough accommodation and although there were a lot of pluses about the Old Key West accommodation, not least the washer/dryer and full kitchen but we found the food, especially the Quick food menu, not very good. Also my disabled daughter had to sleep on a fold out bed which was very low for getting her washed and dressed in.
Can you advise of anywhere which is disabled friendly and also can accommodate the rest of us?
Best wishes
Yvonne
Yvonne, all the resorts offer disabled-friendly rooms, focused on issues with mobility.
I am guessing you stayed in a one bedroom at Old Key West? A two bedroom villa is likely your best choice…Those with the best dining will be attached to one of the deluxe resorts.
Love your informative site!
We are a family of 7 with kids raining from 18-8. We want to “splurge” on a Disney World on site stay. We want a 10- 12 person suite so we have plenty of room and no kids sharing beds. What resort options do you suggest we consider?
James, a Grand Villa best fits what you are looking for. They typically have at least 6 and commonly 7 individual beds–a king in one room, four queens, two each in two rooms, and one or two sofa beds in common spaces. The lower half of this page discusses many of the Grand Villa options: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2014/09/11/review-disneys-animal-kingdom-villas-jambo-house-page-5/
We are starting planning for a trip with 2 grandparents, 4 parents and 3 kids who will be about 7, 6 & 5. Will it be crazy expensive to try and stay on-property in some sort of 3 bedroom villa with a common area? What is the best thing to look at for this grouping?
David, yes, it will be. Your least expensive option will be renting a house off property. On property your options vary by amenity level. See this for links to both lower cost and higher cost options for large families.
Do you have any suggestions on a family suite for 3 adults and 2 children? We would prefer at least on of the rooms to have 2 queen beds.
Kim, in Disney lingo for multi-sleeping space spots there’s three different things: “suites,” largely in deluxe resorts, which are fancy and expensive, and don’t have full kitchens; “family suites,” in value resorts which are not fancy and much less expensive, and have mini-kitchens; and one and two bedroom “villas” which are in between in expense but as nice as the suites, and have full kitchens.
None of the family suites have two queens in a room. It’s rare for regular suites to have two queens in a room, but often you can book a one bedroom suite with a connecting standard room with two queens. Two bedroom villas typically have a king in one bedroom and two queens in the other.
Now that you know the lingo, and some of the features, lemme know what you are looking for!
Thank you your response. It looks like we may just have to get two rooms. We thought we might could save a little money but it doesn’t look like the value family suites have what we need. Thanks again!
Kim, another option worth considering if the kids are short enough for bunk beds is a one of the refurbed cabins at Fort Wilderness. These will be less expensive than two moderate rooms (which you’d need for two queens per room) but more expensive than two value room with full beds.
An overview of the refurbed cabins is here
And an overall review of the cabins–including their many negatives–is here.
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