Credit: DisneyWalt Disney World is home to four theme parks, two water parks, a shopping and dining district, and a number of Disney World Resort hotels. If you are planning a Disney World vacation it can be a bit overwhelming, especially trying to choose which Resort you and your family want to stay at.
That is why we put together a complete guide to the different types of Walt Disney World Resort hotels to help you plan your vacation!
How many Resorts are located in Walt Disney World?
There are currently more than 30 Disney Resort hotels to choose from at Walt Disney World — from budget-conscious accommodations such as Disney’s All-Star Resorts and Disney’s Pop Century Resort to luxurious experiences at Disney’s Polynesian Resort or Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, there are plenty of room options to choose from.
The Walt Disney World website currently states:
There are currently more than 25 Disney Resort hotels to choose from in the Disney Resorts Collection, from budget-conscious accommodations to our luxurious deluxe Resort hotels, including:
Value:
- Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort
- The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Moderate:
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
- The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Deluxe:
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Deluxe Villas:
- Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
- Disney’s Beach Club Villas
- Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
What is the price range for a Walt Disney World Resort room?
Depending on when you are thinking of traveling to Walt Disney World, rates for the Value Resorts at Walt Disney World (the lease expensive Disney-owned hotels) could range from $95/night to $200/night. This depends on what time of year you travel (for example, traveling during peak seasons such as summertime and the holidays will cost more than traveling during non-peak season).
You can also save money by seeing what deals and specials Walt Disney World is offering when you are booking. Depending on the time of year, Disney World has promotions for Annual Passholders, regular Guests, and even for military families or Disney Visa cardholders. Be sure to check the official Walt Disney World website for the current offers.
Types of Resorts at Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World breaks its Resort hotels down into different categories — Value Resorts, Moderate Resorts, Deluxe Resorts, and Deluxe Villas.
Disney Value Resorts
A current list of the Value Resorts at Disney World is as follows:
- Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort
- The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
What is a Disney Value Resort?
The Value Resorts are Disney’s lowest-priced Resort hotels on property.
What are the advantages of staying at a Disney Value Resort?
One advantage of Value Resorts is the price. These hotels are great for those of you who won’t be in their rooms much, such as families who plan to spend most of their time in the theme parks. Another example is those with small children who are looking to visit Walt Disney World on a budget and spend their money elsewhere, such as at sit-down restaurants or in gift shops to buy souvenirs. Save your money on the hotel room by staying at a Value Resort.
Which are some of our favorite Disney Value Resorts?
If you have trouble choosing a Disney Value Resort, here are some of the ones we recommend, along with their official Disney World descriptions!
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
This Resort is described by Disney World as:
Imagine yourself sharing the spotlight with some of your favorite Disney friends, as you headline your very own all-star adventure. Stay at a Disney Resort hotel that salutes the legends of Disney films—from the dotted pups of 101 Dalmatians to the playful toys of Andy’s Room— with whimsical, larger-than-life décor.
All-Star Movies Resort also features a Fantasia-themed pool, which Disney describes as:
Sorcerer Mickey sprays water at this expansive pool inspired by the classic Disney film. For the little ones, a kiddie pool and water play area are located nearby.
Duck Pond Pool, an additional hockey rink-styled pool based on The Mighty Ducks film series, is also available for Guests looking to cool off.
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
This Resort is described by Disney World as:
Be surrounded in the artistry, enchantment and magic of Walt Disney and Disney and Pixar movies. Stay at a Disney Resort hotel that invites you to explore the storybook landscapes seen in such classics as Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid. From delightfully themed family suites to wondrously detailed courtyards, Disney’s Art of Animation “draws” you and your family in to become a part of some of your animated favorites.
Disney’s Art of Animation also features the largest Resort pool, which Disney calls the Big Blue Pool. It is described as:
Take the plunge in the largest resort pool in Walt Disney World Resort.
Cool, dude! Make a splash at the Big Blue Pool, inspired by the Disney and Pixar movie Finding Nemo. You’ll also find an interactive water play area, perfect for the little ones.
Two more pools—Cozy Cone Pool, inspired by the Disney and Pixar film Cars, and Flippin’ Fins Pool, featuring the “Under the Sea Orchestra” conducted by Sebastian from The Little Mermaid—are also available to Guests looking to cool off.
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
This Resort is described by Disney World as:
Experience the unforgettable fads of the 1950s through the 1990s all over again. From yo-yos and Play-Doh® to Rubik’s Cube® and rollerblades, this Resort hotel salutes the timeless fashions, catch phrases, toys and dances that captivated the world through the decades.
Pop Century is also home to an enormous pool with water jets! Cool off in the Hippy Dippy Pool, which Disney describes as:
Immerse yourself in the spirit of the 1960’s at the sprawling Hippy Dippy Pool, which features flower-shaped water jets. For the little ones, a kiddie pool area with a pop-jet water fountain is located nearby.
Two more pools, the smaller 1950’s Bowling Pool and the 1990’s Computer Pool, are also on hand for Guests looking to take the pop-culture plunge.
Moderate Disney Resorts
A current list of the Moderate Resorts at Disney World is as follows:
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
- The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
What is a Disney Moderate Resort?
The Moderate Resorts are Disney’s middle-priced tier. These Resorts are considered nicer than the Value Resorts and are for those of you who plan on spending more time in the room or exploring the Resort hotel. When it comes to room size, the Moderate Resorts all include standard hotel rooms, with the exception of the cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness.
Each one of the Moderate Resorts has its own distinctive character and amenities, making for a unique Resort stay.
Which are some of our favorite Disney Moderate Resorts?
If you have trouble choosing a Disney Moderate Resort, here are some of the ones we recommend, along with their official Disney World descriptions!
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
This Resort is described by Disney World as:
Discover a world where life slows to a leisurely pace and worries melt away amidst Calypso rhythms. Awash with vibrant colors and lush landscapes, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort transports Guests to a relaxing paradise that captures the essence of 5 distinct islands: Barbados, Jamaica, Martinique, Trinidad and Aruba. Celebrate the spirit of the Caribbean with blissful sights and fun-filled activities—including colonial forts, lively markets, pristine beaches, splashy florals and swaying hammocks—sure to awaken the imagination.
This Resort also features incredible Pirate-themed rooms! According to the official Disney World website:
Your Caribbean adventure continues in a room fit for a buccaneer. Leave the shores of paradise behind and set sail for the land of dreams upon a ship-shaped bed.
Discover hidden treasures and nautical details that ignite the imagination and place you and your family right in the middle of swashbuckling action.
Endless quests await as pirate lore comes to life in this unique accommodation!
But that’s not all because Disney’s Caribbean Beach is also a Disney Skyliner Resort! If you aren’t familiar, Guests can board Disney’s Skyliner — a complementary mode of transportation — and glide past one-of-a-kind views of waterways, woodlands, and two Walt Disney World theme parks — Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT.
The new Skyliner transposition is in constant motion, which means Guests arrive at their destination within minutes! Relax along the way, take in the views, and you will be there before you know it.
The Disney Skyliner allows Guests staying at Disney’s Art of Animation, Disney’s Pop Century, Disney’s Caribbean Beach, or Disney’s Riviera Resort to travel from their resort to two Disney theme parks — EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios — all while taking in beautiful views of Disney landscape.
For more information on the Disney Skyliner, visit our website here.
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
This Resort is described by Disney World as:
Celebrate the unique blend of Spanish, Mexican and Southwest American cultures at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. This beautiful lakeside oasis offers classic influences, Disney touches and modern comforts to energize and inspire.
And, Disney’s Coronado Springs is home to a pool with a waterslide! Disney World describes the pool as:
Worship the sun at an awesome aquatic area built around a 50-foot replica of a Mayan pyramid. Watch water stream down the steps of the massive stone structure into the Lost City of Cibola pool or plunge headlong into it on the spitting Jaguar Slide.
This complex, known as the Dig Site Pool, is also home to the largest outdoor hot tub at Walt Disney World Resort—with room for 22 people!
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
This Resort is described by Disney World as:
From the stately white-column mansions of Magnolia Bend to Alligator Bayou’s quaint backwoods cottages, delight in a picturesque setting that evokes the romance of rural Louisiana. Take a short walk along the Sassagoula River to Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter, known for Southern specialties like gumbo, jambalaya and beignets.
The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
This Resort is described by Disney World as:
Nestled on 750 acres of pine and cypress forest, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground evokes the timeless beauty of the American frontier. Teeming with such wildlife as deer, ducks, armadillos and rabbits, the Resort welcomes you to delight in scenic woodland trails, exciting pool areas, rootin’ tootin’ entertainment and hearty country eats.
“Rough It” in Comfort
Experience the down-home pleasures of pioneer life—with all the conveniences of home!
Settle in to your settler’s paradise—a fully furnished private cabin in the woods spacious enough to sleep 6 adults. Brimming with rustic charm, these hideaways offer a living room, bedroom, full bathroom, private patio, charcoal grill and modern kitchen complete with a refrigerator, dishwasher, convection/microwave oven and 2 countertop burners. Housekeeping even does your dishes!
Stroll to the lakeside dock for an easy 10-minute boat ride to Magic Kingdom park or rent a golf cart or bike and explore the whole darn Resort!
Fort Wilderness is also home to the fan-favorite dinner show, Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue! Disney Guests who join the Pioneer Hall players will be immersed in a wild west themed dinner show for 2 hours.
From Wild West dancing to entertaining singing to pure comedy with corny jokes, the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is guaranteed to leave you fully satisfied.
Disney describes this show as:
Join the Pioneer Hall Players for 2 hours of rousing Wild West dancing, singing and zany vaudeville comedy.
You never know what to expect when Claire de Lune, Johnny Ringo, Dolly Drew, Six Bits Slocum, Flora Long and Jim Handy hit the stage. But you do know that it’s not going to be dull! Get ready to clap your hands, stomp your feet, sing along and have a good ol’ time at rustic Pioneer Hall in Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.
In between skits and song standards, chow down on buckets of all-you-care-to-enjoy fried chicken and smoked BBQ pork ribs, as well as a tossed green salad, baked beans, fresh-baked cornbread and strawberry shortcake.
Deluxe Resorts and deluxe villas at Disney World
A current list of the Deluxe Resorts at Disney World is as follows:
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
A current list of the Deluxe Villa Resorts at Disney World is as follows:
- Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
- Disney’s Beach Club Villas
- Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
What is a Disney Deluxe Resort?
Disney Deluxe Resorts offer Guests the “best of the best”. When staying at a Delxue Resort, you can expect to receive better transportation options, incredible and upscale decor, spacious rooms, a variety of amazing dining options, one-of-a-kind pools, and more.
How much does a night at a Deluxe Disney World Resort cost?
With all of the amenities and upscale features in a Deluxe Resort, Guests can expect to pay approximately $500 per night range, however, depending on the Resort and time of year, those prices can go up well into $1,000’s.
Want to Visit Walt Disney World?
If you need help planning your next Walt Disney World vacation, the Authorized Planners at Academy Travel have you covered! Academy Travel has earned the highest designation that Disney can bestow upon a travel agency, EarMarked Diamond.
As long as you book your trip with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner you can rest assured that you will be working with an agency that Disney has vetted and is willing to associate their brand with that agency due to the knowledge and service level you will find at that particular agency.
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