One of the first decisions you have to make when it comes to your Walt Disney World vacation is where to stay. Figuring out where your home away from home is going to be during your Disney vacation is a big decision.
To help with this decision-making process we have some key things you should think about as you think about what Walt Disney World Resort will be the best for you and your family during your Disney vacation.
Pricing
The first, and possibly the most important, thing to take into consideration is pricing. One of the first steps of planning a Disney vacation is the set a budget and you will want to make sure your Disney Resorts stays within that budget.
Walt Disney World offers Disney Resorts in a variety of price ranges to help Guests find something that works for them.
Value Resorts, which includes Pop Century, Art of Animation Little Mermaid rooms, and all three All-Star Resorts, are the most budget-friendly options at Walt Disney World. These rooms will be basically offering a place to sleep and shower. The Resorts as a whole offer basic amenities as well.
Moderate Resorts are the middle ground when it comes to pricing. Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, Port Orleans Riverside, and French Quarter as well as the cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness all are classified as moderate Resorts. These Resorts offer slightly larger rooms with more accommodations and amenities throughout the Resort itself. Some of these Resorts also offer pull-out sleepers giving room for a family of five to sleep.
Deluxe Resorts are the high end of the price range when it comes to Walt Disney World Resorts. There are numerous options to choose from in this category ranging from the monorail Resorts at the Magic Kingdom to those that surround Crescent Lake between Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT.
The rooms and amenities are top-notch at the deluxe Resort providing families a lot more room as well as a lot more dining options and a great location to the Parks.
No matter what your budget is, the first step in choosing where to stay is to be aware of the price point of the different categories and determine which fits into your budget.
Location
The next big thing to think about when choosing a Walt Disney World Resort is where the Disney Resort is located. Walt Disney World is huge meaning getting between Resorts and the Disney Parks can take anywhere from five minutes to twenty minutes depending on where your Resort is located at.
Think about where you are going to be spending the majority of your Walt Disney World vacation. Our family tends to end most evenings over at Magic Kingdom making a Disney Resort near Magic Kingdom a prime spot for us to stay.
If you are looking to spend a lot of time at EPCOT enjoying a festival, think about a Resort that is within walking distance to the Park or on the skyliner for quick access.
Thinking about where your Resort is within the Walt Disney World Resort Property can help narrow down your selection and help you be closer to the Theme Park of your choice.
Transportation
Similar to location is to think about the transportation offered from the different Resorts. It is great that Walt Disney World offers free transportation; however, not all transportation is created equal.
If you are wanting quick, direct transportation to select Parks, think about staying on the monorail line or the skyliner line. These two transportation options are typically quick and easy to use.
Boats are another fun transportation option offered in Walt Disney World from select Resorts. Even though the boats aren’t the fastest mode of transportation, it is super calming and a fantastic way to see Walt Disney World in a different way.
No matter where you stay at Walt Disney World, you will have free transportation provided for you which is a fantastic perk of staying on property at Walt Disney World.
Space and Amenities
The final big thing you need to think about before booking your Walt Disney World Resort is what the room layout looks like and what amenities are offered.
When looking at the room layout, not all rooms are created equal in Walt Disney World. Both Value and Moderate rooms are typically basic rooms with beds, typically a shower, and a vanity area. Some of these Resorts split the shower area from the vanity which can be a huge perk when getting ready for the day.
The deluxe Resorts offer more options when it comes to rooms. From the standard rooms to the three-bedroom suites, there are a variety of Resort rooms at the deluxe Resorts to fit a variety of needs.
If you are kids that need their separate sleeping areas, think about booking a Resort that offers separate rooms. Need more than one bathroom, make sure you look at Resorts that offer this as well.
Finally, make sure you think about what amenities are important to you when it comes to your Resort. If you are just looking for a place to sleep and shower, you might not need to stay at a Deluxe Resort.
Is having a sit-down restaurant at your Resort important to your family? Then you are going to want to look at the moderate and deluxe options; however, if you are happy with grabbing food at a food court then the Value Resorts are perfect.
All Walt Disney World Resorts offer swimming pools for Guests to enjoy, but like the Resorts themselves, they aren’t all created equal. For swimming pools that have slides, you will need to look at both moderate and deluxe resorts.
Figuring out where to stay at Walt Disney World is a big decision. We hope that helping you think about these key things will help you determine where you want to stay.
