Top Walt Disney World Resorts in Each Category

Disney Resort guests enjoy benefits like free transportation, early entry to the theme parks, and early access to ticket sales for popular events like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. There are over 25 resorts across Walt Disney World property, which fall into four resort pricing categories. With so many options, finding a resort that fits your family’s desires for your next dream vacation is easy—but where do you begin? Below, we highlight the top Disney resorts in each pricing category. 

Value ​

Value resorts offer the best budget-friendly options on property. They’re great for families and those who love spending as much time as possible at the parks and need a comfortable resting place for the next day’s adventures. Value resorts offer big and bold theming, larger-than-life facades, and interestingly shaped pools. Here are our favorite value resort options: 
 
Art of Animation 
Resort Area: Wide World of Sports 
Transportation Options: Skyliner, bus, walking distance to Pop Century 
 
Art of Animation features figures, drawings, and nods to animated Disney and Pixar classics throughout the years. You can stay at one of four themed areas: Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid. Many of the rooms at this resort are family suites, offering the most spacious accommodations at a Value resort. Each family suite sleeps six people and includes one bedroom, two full bathrooms, a living area, and a kitchenette. Themed suites add touches from these classic animated movies throughout the room, from lighting fixtures to bathroom decor. Art of Animation is also home to the largest resort pool on Disney property, outside of Storm Along Bay, aptly named the Big Blue Pool. 
  
Pop Century 
Resort Area: Wide World of Sports
Transportation Options: Skyliner, bus, walking distance to Art of Animation
 
Pop Century celebrates popular culture throughout the 20th century, with themed areas from the 50s to the 90s. The resort is filled with memorabilia from various time periods, from computer and floppy disk-shaped pools to four-story tall bowling pins. Standard rooms sleep four guests and include a queen table bed, a second queen bed, or one King bed. Pool-view rooms are also offered. Opt for a “preferred” room to be closer to Classic Hall, home to the hotel’s lobby, food court, and bus stop. 
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Moderate ​

Moderate resorts at Walt Disney World offer a balance of intricate theming and tranquil environments that transport you to places like the American Southwest or the Caribbean. Moderate resorts are designed with rooms in several building clusters throughout the grounds, which provides more privacy than a traditional hotel. Here are some of the best options for Moderate resorts: 

Port Orleans Resort- French Quarter
Resort Area: Disney Springs 
Transportation Options: Boat to Disney Springs, bus 

Port Orleans- French Quarter transports you to a festive Mardi Gras celebration in the middle of New Orleans. Rooms are arranged in buildings with wrought-iron balconies, and you can find your way around using replicas of New Orleans’ famous street signs. The resort’s food court features a variety of Cajun delicacies, including Mickey-shaped beignets. There is also a lounge and jazz bar in the main lobby. Guest rooms include two queen beds with various views, my favorite of which is the River View. The resort offers several recreation options, from paddle boat rentals down the Sassagoula River to horse-drawn carriage rides along the resort’s walking trail. You can also take a leisurely stroll to Port Orleans- Riverside, French Quarter’s sister resort. French Quarter has a single bus stop, and the main lobby is never more than a 5-10 minute walk from any other part of the resort, making it a great option for guests who are wanting to minimize their steps while at their resort. 

Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs 
Resort Area: Animal Kingdom Resort Area 
Transportation Options: Bus

The Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs offers upscale guest rooms on par with some Deluxe category rooms at a moderate resort price range. The resort blends Southwest American, Spanish, and Mexican cultures for a unique desert escape. The Gran Destino Tower offers standard, Club Level, and suite rooms that sleep up to four guests. Its relative distance from the parks and the convention center that caters to business professionals makes it quieter than many other resorts, while also boasting a lovely Mayan ruins-themed pool and the largest hot tub on property. 

Deluxe ​

Deluxe resorts offer high-quality theming that will take you to places like the African savanna or the Hawaiian islands. Staying at a Deluxe resort also includes added perks like Extended Evening Hours on select nights, where only Deluxe resort guests can stay after the park closes for up to two hours at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. 
  
Animal Kingdom Lodge 
Resort Area: Animal Kingdom 
Transportation Options: Bus 
 
Themed as an African village hub, Animal Kingdom Lodge offers one of the most unique resort experiences on Disney property. The resort is home to 30 African animal species, which continuously graze at the resort’s open savanna day and night. For the best views at the resort, reserve a Savanna View room. It overlooks the open plain and lets you spot exotic African animals like zebras, giraffes, and elephants from your hotel room. The resort offers standard rooms, suites, and villas.
 
BoardWalk Inn 
Resort Area: EPCOT resort area 
Transportation Options: Boat to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, walking distance to EPCOT and Hollywood studios, bus

This resort is themed after a turn-of-the-20th-century Atlantic City. The resort offers many standard rooms, suites, Club Level rooms, and villas. This resort even offers guest rooms that can sleep up to 6 guests, which is great for families who cannot fit into a typical 4 or 5-person capacity room. The BoardWalk Inn also has a thriving boardwalk entertainment district overlooking Crescent Lake. The entertainment area features several shops, restaurants, and lounges. There are also street performers that showcase their talents throughout the evenings. The Boardwalk offers a beautiful alternative viewing area for EPCOT fireworks displays. 

Grand Floridian Resort 
Resort Area: Magic Kingdom
Transportation Options: Boat, monorail, and walking path to Magic Kingdom, Monorail to EPCOT, bus 

The Grand Floridian is the most lavish resort at Walt Disney World, with detailed and extravagant Victorian beach-town theming. Standard, suites, Club Level, and villa options are available at the resort, sleeping up to 12 people. The resort offers stunning views of Seven Seas Lagoon, where you can enjoy Magic Kingdom fireworks from your room, the beach just outside the resort, or on a specialty cruise. You’ll also want to check out the Electrical Water Pageant, which performs nightly around the Lagoon. The Grand Floridian is home to some of the most elegant resort experiences on Disney property, from designer shopping boutiques inside the main building to the most exquisite dining experience at Walt Disney World: Victoria & Albert’s.  

Deluxe Villa

Villa resorts offer spacious accommodations and home-like amenities such as kitchens, washers, dryers, and multiple bedrooms that can sleep up to 6-12 people. They’re an excellent option for large families who want to stay close together and, like Deluxe Resorts, guests of these properties qualify for Extended Evening Hours. Here are some of the best Villa rooms available: 

Polynesian Village Resort Bungalows
Resort Area: Magic Kingdom 
Transportation Options: Boat, monorail to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, bus

The over-water bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Resort include a private deck overlooking Seven Seas Lagoon and a private plunge pool. The rooms provide a king bed, two queens, and 2 single pull-down beds. 
  
Disney’s Riviera Resort
Resort Area: EPCOT 
Transportation Options: Skyliner to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, bus

This European-themed resort is the newest on Disney property and has elegant theming, while still being family-friendly. Riviera is home to a variety of room layouts, from unique 2-person studios to 3-Bedroom Grand Villas that can sleep up to 12 people plus a child under 3.

Cascade Cabins at Copper Creek Villas at Wilderness Lodge 
Resort Area: Magic Kingdom 
Transportation Options: Boat, bus
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Cascade Cabins are stand-alone properties with private hot tubs that overlook Bay Lake. These tranquil retreats will make you feel like you rented a small home and feature two bathrooms, a full kitchen, a washer, a dryer, a living room, and a dining area. 

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