d. Where to Stay at Walt Disney World
By Dave Shute
OVERVIEW: WHERE TO STAY AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Stay in Disney’s Polynesian Resort if you can afford it, or in a standard room at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort if you are on a tight budget.
If neither of these works for you, see Next Best Resort Choices.
STAY AT A WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT
You should stay at an official Walt Disney World resort hotel, as doing so gives you special privileges that your itinerary takes advantage of.
- Being able to pre-book as early as seven days before check-in Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass rides, compared to three days for almost everyone else, helping you get low wait access to the most popular rides.
- Access to free extra time in every park every morning that most other guests can’t use via Disney World’s new Early Theme Park Entry program, which replaces its old Extra Magic Hours offering. (Those staying in the most expensive Disney hotels also get extra evening access.)
- Reliable park transportation with proper hours.
- Earlier access to the most popular dining reservations.
- Access to the Disney Dining Plan which can save some families a bit, and lets others control their budgets.
- Free parking at the theme parks and the hotels, and no resort fees.
- Fun theming and good convenience
CRITERIA FOR PICKING AMONG DISNEY RESORTS
This site selects from among the 25 or so possible Walt Disney World resort hotels based on two criteria:
- Appeal to kids (for obvious reasons) and
- Transportation convenience, because of all the trips you will be making back and forth from your resort to the various parks, attractions and shows.
KID APPEAL
Kid appeal is principally visual, and it means whether the look of a resort has features that speak to kids of whimsy, playfulness, and adventure, signaling that that this resort was designed for them! (And not necessarily for their parents…)
The resorts with kid appeal are, in order
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- (Near-tie with #1) Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Disney’s Polynesian Resort
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- (Near tied) Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and Disney’s All-Star Movies, All-Star Sports, and All Star Music Resorts.
None of the other resorts has enduring, whimsical kid appeal. See this for more on kid appeal.
CONVENIENCE
These resorts noted above with kid appeal break into two categories.
- The first 3 are classified by Walt Disney World as “Deluxe” resorts, and
- The rest are classified by Disney as “Value” resorts
(See this for details on what you get in each resort category.)
Because the price difference between these categories is so high, separate hotels are recommended within each of the two categories. (Other categories exist, but are not recommended for first-time visitors–see Where Not to Stay for why.)
Within the kid-appealing Walt Disney World resorts, the tie breaker is transportation convenience, particularly to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot theme parks, as you will be making more trips to these parks than any others.
Of the three kid-appealing deluxe resorts, the Polynesian is far and away the most convenient.
- It is one of only three resorts served by the resort monorail that directly connects to the Magic Kingdom, and the only one of the kid appealing resorts to do so
- Is the only resort within easy walking distance of the Epcot monorail that directly serves Epcot, and
- Is the only resort for which you can take the express monorail back from the Magic Kingdom, walking from where the monorail stops at the Transportation and Ticketing Center back to the hotel–and saving often 10 to 30 minutes.
Among the Walt Disney World value resorts with kid appeal–the All-Star Music, Movies and Sports Resorts, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort—Art of Animation and Pop Century tie as convenience winners, but the choice is not so clear cut.
Collectively, transportation is less convenient at the All-Stars than at Pop Century and at Art of Animation. What really sets Pop Century and Art of Animation apart is their access to Disney’s Skyliner gondola transportation to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
See this for more on convenience.
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258 comments
I had the same views as you but I’m probably reading to much on the Internet. Some say if you want a good room you should not do online check in. Others say that if it’s your first time, you shouldn’t do on line checking . I also read that if you are to arrive prior to check in that you have more chance of having your room ready. We are arriving around noon so I may go ahead and do the online check in. Thanks. I look up your site regularly to see if you’ve added new stuff. 🙂
Hi Ginette!
I’m not gonna say that those other opinions are totally wrong–I can imagine why some would draw those conclusions.
But the fundamental difference is that your paper is all pre-assembled rather than gathered piece by piece. Your room, which may be pre-assigned in both apporaches, is still changeable, and upgrades are still request-able. Just 3 weeks ago my family got upgraded from a one bedroom to a two bedroom villa at OKW!
So let me know how things went for you yesterday and if based on your experience you’d recommend on-line check in or not…
We will be staying in a standard room in the Little Mermaid Resort this Feb.
Am I correct that there is a mini frig, but no facilities for coffee/ tea making or microwave?
Thanks so much.
Yes Khay, that’s right–and see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/10/23/review-standard-little-mermaid-rooms-disneys-art-animation-resort-p3/#comment-118661
Hi Dave,
Thank you for providing such wonderful insight on everything. My boyfriend and I(no kids) are thinking about going to Disney World from 12/26-12/30. He is in the US Navy and we do realize these will be the “blackout dates”. Right now we are looking at the Beach Club/Port Orleans Resorts. Do you know if there is ANY type of military discount we can get during these days? Or do you suggest any other place? We would like to stay in a Disney Resort hotel because of all the wonderful perks(I stayed in Boardwalk Inn last Spring with my friends) but any dollar saved would be helpful! 🙂 Thanks!
Hi Christine, and thanks!
Since that’s the most crowded week of the year, no discounts are offered, and hotel prices skyrocket to 50-90% higher than at other times of the year… (See https://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/09/04/walt-disney-world-2013-price-seasons/ ) DO you really have to go then–to pay 50% more to stand in 2 hour lines?
If you must go then, the value resorts are cheaper than POR/Beach Club. For couples, among the values I recommend All Star Music. See https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/07/27/review-disneys-all-star-music-resort/
He’s eligible for Shades of Green, which will be even less expensive than a value resort, and has much nicer rooms. See https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/02/22/review-shades-of-green-resort-at-walt-disney-world/ At Shades you do get Extra Magic Hours but not the other Disney perks…
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Hi there. Thanks for having this site. Very helpful! I plan on being at Disney on April 25th for 1 week. It will be two adults and two children(9 and 2). We would like to stay at the Art of Animation but we are in between a Nemo and Cars Room. My youngest likes both Nemo and Cars. What do you suggest? We might also be renting a car during the middle of our stay. Thanks!
Hi Albert and thanks! The Nemo rooms are closer to the main pool and bus stops and dining. But they can also be–partly because of that–noisy, especially the first floor rooms. So it depends on how you trade off a little more convenience vs. the possibility of noise…
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Hi Dave! I have checked the prices for the All Star Music against the Art of Animation. Do you know why they wouldn’t be the exact same price? ASMu is $4200 (10 days) and AoA is $4700. In your opinion, which one would be better? I’m pricing out the family suites. There will be three adults and two children in our room. Also, the rest of our party will be booking standard rooms at the same resort. Would we all end up in the same building for ASMu?
Hi Jennifer!
The short version is because people are willing to pay more for AofA. There are real differences, but AofA is not the better of the two for every single family. See this for more on the differences: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/09/05/review-the-family-suites-disneys-all-star-music-resort/
Disney will try to put you in the same building at ASM, but won’t guarantee it…
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Thanks Dave! If it were you, which one would you pick? I read that the ASM is slightly bigger as it has exterior doors, and it has a better sleeping arrangement.
Jennifer, it really depends on the family, which is why I have the details in the link, but for most–but not all–AofA is better.
Hi Dave, great site.. we are planning our first trip to Disney this July 2013. We are booking a standard Room in Polynesian for 4 nights. We are a family of 5 – three boys aged 9, 7 and 1. Whcih longhouse would you recommend? I would like to request the hotel for a room with a nice view. I like the Tahiti, but saw that it will be renovated in 14-Jul-2013. We would be there first week of July, do you think its ok to stay in Tahiti? What do you recommend?
Hi Saira! Tahiti really is the best combination of views, room size, balcony possibilities, and convenience, particularly if your trip has some Epcot elements. See this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/05/19/review-disneys-polynesian-resort/ But if you can’t get in, then you’ll have to sort out what matters more. The link helps a bit with that, but if views really are your thing, and if you can’t get into Tahiti, then Hawaii is your next best choice…
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Dave, thank you for the very quick response. I will go through the link.
Hello Dave, we understand that the Grand Floridian is one of a few hotels that has a photographer you can hire to take a family portrait at the hotel. The million dollar question is how much does this cost or is there a site we can look up prices and services. Thank You
Mike, I dunno about the GF photographer, but for scheduling family portraits in all kinds of places see this: http://www.disneyeventphotography.com/portraits/
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Thank you Dave, looked at the site and 150 bucks for 20 min. Is a little much. We will use another tourist. That you again
Mike, if I’m around, I’ll take your photos for only $90!
Now that’s a deal
Mike you have proved once again how smart the site’s readers are…
Pictures are a big part of every trip for us. At Disneyland, a place we frequent, we always have the staff photographers take pictures of us with their camera and ours when we see them in the parks. In the end, we can buy a picture from Disney, but most of the time, the ones they take with our camera are as good.
Not sure if this is a service at Disney World…but was always walk away with a few great group shots from Disneyland. We usually buy at least three and the rest are from our camera.
Again, do not know if this can be done at Disney World, too…but I sure hope so!
WDW has the photographers in the parks but we were looking for someone to take professional pictures at the GF where we will be staying. Never seen WDW photographers around the hotel outside of the weddings taking place. I will grab someone to take a few for us because 150 dollars for 20 min. or 350 dollars a hour is too much. Thanks Wendy but we will work something out. Dave is only 90 bucks so he is the best deal so far.
Hello,
Thank you for your in-depth website and Facebook page! We are a family of three (our son is 3 years old) planning a trip to WDW in July or August 2013 – our only option. We are having a hard time deciding which resort to book:
1. Poly – standard room
2. AK – Savannah view
3. The new Animation resort – family suite
4. The new Animation resort – TWO standard rooms with connecting doors.
I’m worried the standard rooms at the Animation resort are so small we may go stir crazy. We can’t stay outside all day because our son still naps in the afternoon; plus the heat and humidity will get to us.
Your advice and/or suggestions is appreciated.
Thank you
Hi Tanja and thanks!!
I’d rule out the fourth option as the third option is much better than it, and think any one of the first three would be great. The first two are much nicer and have much better dining, but AofA will make nap-time much easier.
You’ve likely already seen this, but detailed reviews of each are available from the links here: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/04/26/walt-disney-world-resort-hotel-reviews/
Hi Dave!
My fiancee and I have both been to WDW when we were in our teens. I wonder where is the best place for two adults on their honeymoon. We are going to go back when we have kid(s) so we may want to do the Polynesian then. We are looking for a resort with a king bed and convenient location – any thoughts? We are doing the quick dining option, if that changes anything.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Michael
I just spoke with Disney and they mentioned these 4 resorts for being able to GUARANTEE a KING bed: Port Orleans – 1) Riverside or 2)French Quarter, 3) Carribean Beach; 4) Conorado Springs. So I will have to check out the reviews on those! They also mentioned to check out the California Grill for the late night view, since we are on honeymoon so I may go with the Dining plan.
Okay after reading your amazing reviews looks like I am ready to book a package – the main question now is – I don’t get a travel agent involved if I look at renting someone’s DVC points, right? Michael.
Hi Michael–answering all three of your questions at once:
1. See this for the most romantic WDW resorts by price class: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/06/26/the-most-romantic-walt-disney-world-resorts/
2. The names she gave you are all moderate resorts–as noted in the link above, French Quarter is the most romantic of these. But for a honeymoon, there’s a lot to be said for Coronado Springs among the moderates–e.g. real room service, a spa, a nicer/more fun bar…
3. Renting points is a private transaction, so there’s no travel agent commission…so no travel agent! BTW I’m sure you already know this, but you can only rent points for DVC resorts…not for the moderates–and only the one bedroom villas (and larger) have kings in the DVC resorts…
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I did not know that about the DVC points. Thank you! And thanks for the advice on Conorado, we’re already mind set with the French quarters 🙂 all that is left is be ready to book at some restaurant that don’t ooze kid appeal , at the 180 day mark. I know you have said this somewhere on the site, but is it better to book the package or hotel only if there is a future discount (cancellation and re-book)? Thanks a bunch!
Heya Michael good call on POFQ! Because of the arcana of Florida laws about the treatment of lodging taxes, it’s much easier for Disney to transfer a package reservation into a deal than a room only reservation.
I do have to note, though, that POFQ is often left out of deals (it’s not in the current one, for example), as Disney doesn’t have a lot of trouble filling it at regular rates…
For restaurant thoughts, see the graphic here, lower right cell: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/where-to-eat/dining-alternatives/the-comprehensive-guide-to-walt-disney-world-dining/
Are there any tips you can give to improve the chances of a free upgrade to club levels at the resorts?
Hey Al, sorry, I’ve got nothing to offer….
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