5 Disney Resorts You Won’t Regret Booking

Disney’s hotels around the world might be an integral part of the “magic” for many, but not all Disney hotels are created equal (and there are some you just might regret staying at).

That’s right — you may be paying THOUSANDS of dollars to stay at the WRONG Disney hotels — ouch. Stop doing that! That’s your hard-earned cash, after all! Let’s take a look now at 5 Disney hotels you (hopefully) will NOT regret booking.

1 — Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

There’s perhaps no resort more closely identified with Disney World than Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, except perhaps its fellow opening day resort Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

While the Contemporary was themed to be a modern resort hotel circa 1971 (and thus isn’t so…uh…contemporary nowadays), the Polynesian was and remains something different altogether. Upon its opening, the resort was a fully-themed tropical oasis, with environments on par with any lands Imagineers had created for Disneyland or Magic Kingdom.

Over the years the hotel has been renovated several times, and there have been elements removed that many likely wish remained (RIP, lobby waterfalls, we still miss you!).

But, the current iteration of the Polynesian remains on par with Disney World’s best hotels thanks to its intricate theming, restaurants (both ‘Ohana and the Kona Cafe are personal favorites of our staff), and the east coast outpost of Trader Sam’s (Grog Grotto).

Plus, the Polynesian’s location on the monorail loop makes transportation to both Magic Kingdom and EPCOT a comparative breeze. For a full tour of the hotel check out our video below!

2 — Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

If you’re looking for something a bit more rustic than the Polynesian, there’s another location in the Magic Kingdom Resort area that we think you (likely) won’t regret booking. Opened in 1994, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is one of the most beautiful resorts on Disney property.

Themed to a massive National Park lodge, the complex features a gorgeous lobby full of cozy nooks to sit around a gigantic fireplace. The grounds also feature geysers, a themed pool, several restaurants, and many outdoor seating areas that truly replicate the feeling of being at a national park somewhere in the Pacific Northwest.

Itching to learn more about the resort and how it has changed? See our tour below!

3 — Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Villas

The Boardwalk is unique compared to other Disney World hotels in that it’s almost more a mini-theme park than it is a hotel. Themed to a turn-of-the-century beachside amusement pier — think Coney Island — the hotel features a full entertainment district including dining and nightlife, making the Boardwalk a perfect hotel for guests looking for more than somewhere to sleep between park days.

The Resort’s other claim to fame? It’s connected to two theme parks via WALKING paths, making it one of the most accessible Resorts in the World as well. Following the signs to EPCOT (and Skyliner at International Gateway) or to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’ll be in the middle of the action in no time!

See our full tour of the hotel below!

4 — Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Animal lovers get ready: we have a feeling that a stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is one you will NOT regret. The resort’s buildings surround a cultivated African Savanna that contains numerous species of wildlife (including giraffes, zebras, cranes, and antelope) which guests can see from their windows and balconies, as well as from special viewing areas around the resort.

Plus, the resort has a GORGEOUS lobby and some of Disney World’s best restaurants, including Jiko, Sanaa, and Boma.

One significant drawback to Animal Kingdom Lodge (aside from its often hefty price) is that it’s pretty far from most of the theme parks (with the exception of Animal Kingdom, of course). You can expect lengthy bus rides to and fro, which for some folks is no problem at all — especially given how stunning the resort is as a whole.

Get a tour of the resort by watching our video below!

5 — The Disneyland Hotel

For our final Disney hotel you won’t regret booking, we’re leaving the east coast confines of Disney World to fly cross-country to visit another beauty: the Disneyland Hotel.

The original version of the Disneyland Hotel opened in October of 1955 (just three months after the theme park) as the first Disney-branded hotel in the world. However, it wasn’t owned by Disney. Instead, the hotel was owned by Jack Wrather, a friend and business partner of Walt Disney.

Over the next 30 years, Wrather continuously invested in the resort and its grounds, growing the Disneyland Hotel into a popular spot. Following Wrather’s death, Disney acquired his company, including the hotel, in the mid-1980s.

These days, there’s very little of the original Disneyland Hotel left thanks to numerous renovations. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not still a dream destination for Disney aficionados. The hotel is still chock-full of Disneyland theming and references to Disney history, and (arguably most importantly to some) features Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar.

See our FULL TOUR of the Disneyland hotel below!

Do you agree that you wouldn’t regret booking these Disney resorts? Do you think that we missed any obvious ones? Let us know in the comments below.

For more hotel info, click here to go inside the rooms at EVERY Disney World hotel, and see more hotel-related posts below!

What Disney hotel do you NEVER regret staying at? Tell us in the comments.

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