Disney World Value vs. Deluxe Resorts — How To Decide What’s Best for YOU

Whether you are planning your first or your one-hundredth trip to Walt Disney World, selecting the perfect resort to fit your needs is a big job. But with over 30 hotels from which to choose, it can be hard to whittle it down.

Today we’re letting AllEars readers be our guides by taking a look at the best and worst Disney World Resorts based on your reviews. 

Since Disney Resort hotels really do offer something for everyone, we’re sharing your rankings for each hotel within Disney’s three hotel categories — Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. We’re going to pit the Value and the Deluxe resorts head-to-head to see which category reigns supreme.

Would you rather spend a week in Disney World staying at a value resort, or a few days in Disney World staying at a deluxe resort?

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) February 12, 2023

Let’s first review what we’re working with here, and then get into the results!

Value Resorts

1) Art of Animation

Coming in at number one for the Value Resorts, we have Disney’s newest Value Resort, Art of Animation. This Resort is recommended by 88% of our readers with a rating of 8.20. Many of you noted that this resort’s theming was the key factor in giving it such a high rating. One reviewer states, “This is the most Disney resort in Disney! The art, sculptures, and theming all fit Disney and their corresponding movie themes.”

Art of Animation offers The Little Mermaid-themed standard rooms which are designed to accommodate four guests and range from $180 to $330 a night. You’ll also find family suites themed to The Lion King, Cars, and Finding Nemo that range from $428 to $764 a night. Family Suites can accommodate 6 guests and include two separate bathrooms, a separate bedroom, a sofa bed, a Murphy bed, a mini kitchen, and two flat-screen TVs.

It’s also worth noting that this is a pet-friendly resort, so if you plan to bring your furry pal(s) along, Art of Animation is a solid option. 

2) Pop Century

Disney’s Pop Century Resort is a favorite for guests who love to step back in time, and with a rating of 7.9, this resort came in at number two!

Each section of Pop Century is themed to different decades from the second half of the 20th century — the 1950s to the 1990’s.

Standard rooms range from $154 to $316 a night while preferred rooms range from $171 to $338.  Some of our readers feel that this resort is a great bang for your buck while others feel it is overpriced for the amenities offered. Keep in mind that this resort is connected to the Disney Skyliner and shares a station with Art of Animation, so transportation to and from EPCOT and Hollywood Studios from your top two resorts is a big plus!

3) All-Star Movies

Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort snagged the ranking of third place with a 7.70 rating and a recommendation from 91% of you!

Quite a few of our readers noted their love for the Toy Story rooms, the sections which feature larger-than-life statues of the movies’ beloved characters.   

Standard rooms range from $119 to $241 a night while preferred rooms range from $137 to $266 a night.

4) All-Star Music

Coming in at number four, AllEars readers gave Disney’s All-Star Music Resort a cumulative rating of 7.57. This resort offers standard rooms ranging from $119 to $241 a night and preferred rooms from $137 to $266 a night. 

All-Star Music is the only All-Star also to feature family suites that can sleep up to 6 people. 

5) All-Star Sports

Poor All-Star Sports. This resort is truly at the bottom of the Value Resort barrel. Rated at 6.93, 81% of readers still recommended this resort. If you have a sports enthusiast in your family, he or she will marvel at the sight of the massive sports structures that are part of this resort!

Similar to the other two All-Star Resorts, All-Star Sports’ standard rooms range from $119 to $241 and preferred rooms range from $137 to $266.

Deluxe Resorts 

1) Wilderness Lodge

Though it was close, Wilderness Lodge wins the gold star for being the BEST of the Deluxe Resorts according to you! Wilderness Lodge features rustic-but-elegant rooms that can sleep up to five guests (some even have bunk beds!), and the DVC side of the resort is home to cozy Villas and Cabins.

Of all the Deluxe Resorts, Wilderness Lodge was the most highly rated at 9.1 with 95% of our readers giving it a thumbs up. The titular Lodge embodies the majesty of the Pacific Northwest and was ranked as the AllEars team’s second favorite lobby. When you see it, you’ll know why. 

Readers note “the peacefulness of the resort is probably the best part. The lobby is much quieter than the other deluxe resorts as well.” Wilderness Lodge room pricing begins at $369 per night all the way up to $1,355 per night for a Club-Level room. But for lots of guests, being a stone’s throw away from Magic Kingdom and immersed in the truly stunning resort atmosphere is worth the price.

2) Contemporary Resort 

Next up is Disney’s Contemporary Resort. This is a classic Disney resort, complete with the Monorail track running right through the middle of the resort’s iconic A-frame! You rated this resort at 9.0, and 93% of AllEars readers would totally recommend it!

One fun fact is that the Contemporary was one of the resorts that welcomed guests on opening day in 1971! Whether it’s the nostalgia of years of visits with loved ones, the fact that you can walk to Magic Kingdom and see the nightly fireworks from many of the rooms, the dining options like Chef Mickey’s and the new Steakhouse 71, or the cool new Incredibles-themed rooms, guests are coming back here again and again!

Something else that one of you thought was important to share was “There are a large number of activities to partake in, such as boating, walking trails, and the electric water pageant, which was a wonderful surprise for us!” We, too are thrilled the pageant has returned.

You should also know that folks also recommend Bay Lake Tower if staying close to the Magic Kingdom with the full amenities of home are what is most important to you! There are a lot of different room options here, ranging from a Standard View room and a whole lot of amazing family suite options. Prices begin at $454 a night, and right now, there are deluxe suite rooms that are $4,067 per night during peak times! Bay Lake Tower prices range from  $591 to $1,202 for a Studio room, $861 to $1,554 for a One-Bedroom Villa, and $1126 to $2649 for a Two-Bedroom Villa.

3) Yacht Club Resort

At number 3, Disney’s Yacht Club has a rating of 8.5, and 87% of readers recommend it. Access to the shared Stormalong Bay, excellent proximity to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, and sophisticated style are big reasons folks like this resort.

Yacht Club recently concluded interior renovations to all of the guest rooms and its Conference Center. Every room now features marble work in the showers and nautical-themed touches. And the lobby also received a facelift, removing some of the darker interior colors, making it feel more open. 

For all the positives, a reader says, “There is one flaw to this hotel — the layout. You can feel so isolated and not in a good way.” If you are looking for a quieter stay, with beautifully re-finished, sophisticated rooms, and close proximity to EPCOT, Yacht Club may be for you! 

4) Beach Club Resort 

Sliding in at number 4 is Disney’s Beach Club Resort with a rating of 8.5 and recommended by 91% of reviewers. This resort and its sister resort, Disney’s Yacht Club, are themed after the iconic seaside resorts of the northeast.

The Beach Club is sure to win over anyone who loves to put their feet in the sand, including taking a dip in the spectacular three-acre mini–water park pool area, Stormalong Bay. With touches of seashells and soft pastel colors used throughout the resort,  a full-on clambake offered every night, and delicious over-the-top milkshakes served at the beloved Beaches ‘n’ Cream, this place will truly bring out the beach-lover in anyone.

You can choose from the traditional Deluxe style rooms, which sleep up to 5 adults, or settle into one of the three DVC room offerings: Studio, 1-Bedroom, and 2-Bedroom Villas. As a pro-tip, a bunch of our reviewers mentioned that the Beach Club is their #1 pick because distance-wise, it is the closest to EPCOT’s International Gateway, and now that means you’re also just as close to the Skyliner!

5) Animal Kingdom Lodge

Checking in at number 5 in this extremely close race is Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge — Jambo House, which 93% of All Ears readers recommend! With a rating of 8.4, Jambo House is arguably the most unique and truly immersive resort on property.

Animal Kingdom Lodge embodies the spirit of African style, artistry, materials, and environment — including a savanna populated by African animals. Sample African-inspired cuisine at one of the four restaurants on-site, or visit with a cultural ambassador who can tell you about their native country. With rooms that look directly out onto the savanna and multiple communal observation areas, you can’t miss the animals here.

Though the resort is a stunning work of art and deservedly popular, one of the biggest drawbacks is that it is a bit far away from most of the parks. Also, unlike most other Deluxe Resorts, Animal Kingdom Lodge only offers bus transportation around Walt Disney World. For Jambo House rooms, prices range from $417 to $1,051 per night ranging from Standard all the way to Club Level rooms. The Villas range from $431 to $3543 between Studios, 1-Bedroom, and 2-Bedrooms.

6) Grand Floridian Resort & Spa 

All right, at number 6, the Grand Floridian has been welcoming guests for decades — and what a welcome this elegant resort offers! 

A full 83% of our readers recommend staying here and rate the Grand Floridian at 8.3. Guests can play in the Alice & Wonderland themed-splash pad area, indulge in “high tea” at the Garden View Lounge, or enjoy the electric water pageant from the sandy beach. Disney’s Grand Floridian is also home to Disney’s most expensive restaurant, Victoria & Albert’s, as well as a handful of other elegant Signature and Table Service dining locations. This is a Monorail resort, and guests can now walk to the Magic Kingdom via a walkway!

The biggest drawback some of you mentioned was simply the price tag for the room and overall resort condition. Rooms range in price from $757 for a standard garden-view room to $2,365 for a Club Level Magic Kingdom view room. Prices also vary for each room depending on the time of year.

7) Polynesian Village Resort 

At number 7, 87% of our guests would recommend Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort with a rating of 8.3. Here you’ll cast off to a Polynesian oasis, indulge in a DOLE Whip or two, and enjoy Polynesian-inspired decor and atmosphere!

One reader asserts, “The Polynesian Resort is the only hotel that my family has ever stayed in. We wouldn’t stay anywhere else!” We feel you, Poly fans! 

Whether you’re digging into some ‘Ohana Bread Pudding, learning some hula moves, or sailing down the Volcano Pool slide, the Polynesian Village Resort is a great place to lay your head.

 

8) BoardWalk Inn & Villas

Your number 8 pick (and the last of the Deluxe hotels) is Boardwalk Inn & Villas! Take a step back in time to the twinkling lights, carnival games, and streetmosphere entertainers of Coney Island and other seaside resorts from the turn of the century when you stay here.

With 83% of our readers recommending the BoardWalk and a rating of 8.0, this is yet another immersive experience for guests. One of five resorts situated on Crescent Lake, BoardWalk Inn and Villas (the Villas are the DVC section of the resort) are mere steps away from EPCOT’s International Gateway and its Skyliner station. Enjoy a delicious meal at one of the beautiful restaurants found right outside your door, or take a dip in the rethemed Luna Park Pool.

That’s right folks! The giant clown head has officially been replaced with colorful images of Mickey and Minnie.  Rooms prices begin at $491 per night for a Standard room and go all the way up to $1,464 for a Club Level, Concierge room. 

Final Thoughts

So, now that’ve seen how the resorts stack up, let’s see how they COMPARE. The Value Resorts have an average score of 7.64 with about 87% of guests recommending them to their friends. The Deluxe Resorts have an average score of 8.51, with about 89% of you recommending them to friends. So based on YOUR reviews, the clear winner is the Deluxe category.

Even with such high rankings and high rates of recommendations, when we took to social media to get your thoughts, the vast majority of you would rather spend a week in a Value Resort than just a few days at a Deluxe Resort.

Folks are torn!

One reader commented on Facebook, “A week at a value resort! You only really sleep there.” But another has a different approach, “Deluxe only. I would skip the long park days and actually relax and enjoy the resort. In fact, that sounds amazing.”

And another reader on Instagram chimed in, “Either works for me. There’s definitely a difference between the value and deluxe resorts, but the extra days at the parks will make up for it.” And Sue had some great insight, “Stay at the Value, visit the Deluxe.”

No matter which resort you choose, you’re sure to have a magical time!

Looking For More Info On Resorts? Check This Out!

Did this help you with planning your next resort stay? Let us know in the comments!

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