Planning your magical Walt Disney World vacation can be quite the undertaking. Between making advance dining reservations, FastPass+ selections, and getting your resort room squared away, there’s a lot to plan!
If you count all of the individual locations, Disney World has 31 resort hotels to choose from. Don’t let that number scare you, because finding your home away from home is easier if you just start with one question: what do you want the most? We’re here to help with a few of our favorite picks!
If you love food, then stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge.
There’s a whole world of food out there to explore, but foodies should definitely think about staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge. The restaurants at this resort offer up some more interesting options than the typical theme park fare.
If you just want to stuff your face, you can eat all you want at Boma, or dine on African and Indian flavors at Sanaa. For a signature dining experience, check out Jiko. The quality of the food is on another level, and they even offer special wine tastings and safari dinners.
If you want some recommendations, the Tandoori Chicken Sandwich with Indian Bread Service is not to be missed at Sanaa, and the Oak-Grilled Filet Mignon at Jiko is an excellent cut of meat.
If you’re a fan of Magic Kingdom, then stay at the Contemporary.
One of the OG resorts at Disney World, the Contemporary makes for a great stay if you want to be as close as possible to Magic Kingdom. You are literally within walking distance of the Most Magical Place on Earth and the first Monorail stop back at the end of the day if you’re tired.
One of the best reasons to stay at the Contemporary is that it offers prime areas for viewing the Happily Ever After fireworks. If you get a reservation at California Grill, you can watch from the tippy top of the Contemporary while you eat.
There’s also a bridge connecting the Contemporary to Bay Lake Tower next door that you can watch the show from. Disney even pumps the music in so you can get the full experience.
If you want to get close to the great outdoors, stay at Wilderness Lodge.
Wilderness Lodge’s location makes you feel like you’ve taken another step away from reality. Inspired by national park lodges of the Pacific Northwest, this one is perfect for you if you love outdoor activities.
In addition to the jogging and biking trails, you can spend a few hours fishing or rent motorized boats to take for a spin on Bay Lake. They even have Firerock Geyser that erupts on the hour, but the real treat can be found in the hotel’s lobby.
If you’ve never stepped foot in the lobby of Wilderness Lodge, you’ll be overwhelmed by the size and detail the first time you walk in. The lobby is filled with an 80 foot tall fireplace, totem poles, and authentic artifacts from the Pacific Northwest.
If you want to have it all, stay at BoardWalk Inn.
Accessibility is key in a place as big as Disney World, and you have pretty much everything you need by the Boardwalk Inn. You want to be within walking distance of two of the theme parks? You can easily get to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
You want a wide variety of dining locations? Big River Grille, Trattoria al Forno, and Flying Fish are right there just to name a few. Then there’s the nightlife.
You can pop into Jellyrolls to hear the dueling piano players battle it out or dance the night away at the Atlantic Dance Hall. Staying at the Boardwalk Inn will give you a lot of flexibility when it comes to how you want to spend your day.
What’s your favorite Disney World Resort hotel to stay at? Let us know in the comments below!
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For a reasonable but not giving up upscale stay is at the Riverside. The rooms are well appointed and there is added privacy with a bathroom sliding door. There is piano entertainment in the bar loung, the sit down restaurant is very good but the best option is the quick serve which in my opinion has the best quick serve of any resort and comfortable sitting. Additional pros are if u like to shop and eat Disney Springs is a boat ride away. Added bonus if u travel with a pet the Best Friends kennel is across the street, makes for an easy visit both morning and night since they openand close 1 hour before and after the 1st and last park open as nd close. Again the price is reasonable since it’s a moderate hotel but is the most upscale of th ED moderates