How to Pick Your Walt Disney World Resort

We have already established why you should stay in a Walt Disney World owned Resort (Do It Right, Stay On-site), now we need to choose which resort you should stay in! The Walt Disney World Resort offers fabulous themed experiences, dining and recreation options that you can stay in. Seriously, you are surrounded by Disney Magic twenty-four hours a day!

View of Magic Kingdom from Bay Lake Tower

Kid's splash pool area at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort

Here are the 3 main points I like to start off with my Guests. Rank the importance of the following with "1" being most:
Amenties & Recreation
Price
Location


If you rank the amenities and recreation options as number one at your Walt Disney World Resort, then you're looking at a Moderate or Deluxe resort experience. Moderate Resort amenities include refrigerator and coffee makers in the rooms, slides at the pools, sit down restaurants and larger rooms. Disney's Deluxe Resorts put you closest to the magic and add luxuries such as spas and fitness facilities, childcare options, themed pools, valet parking ($$), more than bus transportation options to the parks and character dining experiences not found at the other resorts.

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort

Pool slide at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort

If you ranked price as your number one priority as part of your Walt Disney World Resort vacation stay - there's a variety of hotels to suit every taste and budget—each offering Disney quality service and style. If you are looking to spend the least amount possible on your resort, are looking for quick, inexpensive dining choices on the go or are looking really just for a place to lay your head at night, but want the service and benefits you expect from Disney, then a Value Resort experience would suit you just fine! Disney’s Value level properties were built for the budget conscious in mind. They put you in the middle of the magic for less. You'll forgo the luxuries, but enjoy colorful Disney theming. Disney's moderate level properties are mid-tier Resort hotels that add a few extra amenities and more space in the room over Value resorts, but still keep the price affordable.

Location, location, location. If you rank location as the number one factor considered when you look for a resort for your Walt Disney World Resort stay, then a Deluxe Resort is for you! There are 3 Deluxe Resorts (Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney's Polynesian Resort and Disney's Contemporary Resort) that lie on the monorail system that ties directly to Magic Kingdom. In fact, you will see Cinderella's Royal Castle from the beach of all 3 of those resorts.
Would you like to walk through the International Gateway in Epcot between France and United Kingdom and be 5 minutes on foot from your resort room? Then Disney's Beach & Yacht Club and Disney's Boardwalk Resort is where you need to be! Not only can you walk, but you can take a boat and continue straight on to Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Disney's Polyneisan Resort - Garden view

Guest Room at Disney's Polynesian Resort

Pirate Theme Room at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort

Bedroom is Fort Wilderness Cabin

Standard Room in Disney's Wilderness Lodge

Newly updated bathrooms in Disney's Contemporary Resort

Monorail opening in lobby of Disney's Contemporary Resort

Disney's Contemporary Resort from Bay Lake Tower

One of the fantastic character dining locations at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort

Quiet pool at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort

 

With 22 Disney owned themed resorts, there’s an experience for everyone! From taking a stroll on a seaside Boardwalk, to meeting wild zebras and giraffes on the savannah, to submersing yourself in a classic movie to a tropical Caribbean Island, to eating breakfast with Lilo & Stitch, swimming in a Grand Slam pool to discovering your cabin in rustic wilderness, the Magic lasts and lasts!

Me on the beach, looking at Disney's Boardwalk Resort