Value vs. Moderate vs. Deluxe — Which Disney World Hotel Is Right for You?

There are dozens of different Resort hotels to choose from when you stay at Walt Disney World. In addition to price and location, several other factors should be considered when you select the Resort that’s best for your family and friends.

Disney World hotels definitely are not a “one size fits all” situation, though they all have benefits and beauty.

Here are some Resorts to keep in mind, whether you’re traveling with family, traveling solo, or traveling on the cheap!

This can be a tricky balancing act to manage. You need a resort that will fit your budget, but also fulfill your family’s vacation needs. The good news is, you don’t have to do this alone! Our friends over at MEI Travel are Disney vacation planner experts and they can help walk you through all of your resort options and weigh the pros and cons of which resorts will deliver for you! 

Best Hotels for Families

If you’re traveling with the entire family, you may want to consider resorts that come with family suites.

Value Resort

You have a few options within the Value category, including Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and Disney’s All Star Music Resort. These hotels sleep up to six people, as opposed to a standard room which sleeps up to four. A child under three can sleep in a pack-n-play-style crib as a seventh person in the room.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is also really fun for families since you’ll spot statues of some of your favorite characters all around the resort grounds. Art of Animation also has a huge pool — in fact, it’s the largest hotel pool on Disney World property!

Moderate Resort

Speaking of fun pools, you can’t go wrong with Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. Its main pool, Fuentes del Morro, is among the top choices for family-fun pools (it’s got TWO slides!).

Though you won’t find family suites at Caribbean Beach Resort, there are many rooms that can sleep up to five guests. Not to mention access to the Disney World Skyliner, which is a super fun way to get to both EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Deluxe Resorts

If being close to Magic Kingdom is a priority for your family, consider staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

This hotel is literally steps away from the park gates! The Contemporary is also home to Chef Mickey’s, a character dining experience that’s great for kids.

Finally, if you want your resort to be a destination for the whole family, you may want to check out Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. This resort has its own savanna with some unique animals! You can get great views of the animals without stepping foot inside a park.

Best Hotels for Solo Trips

You may not have considered taking a solo trip to Disney World, but if you give it a try, there are a couple of hotels you should consider!

Value Resort

Location is everything, and Pop Century is located next to a Skyliner station, which means it’s SO easy to get to Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. That also means you have easy access to every other hotel on the Skyliner line, so if you want to go grab a meal at Disney’s Riviera Resort or hop on over to BoardWalk Inn for a spell, you can do so quickly and efficiently.

Okay, so we’re not “spend all our time at the resort” kind of people. We’re “spend as much time in the parks” people, for the most part. That means that we aren’t spending a lot of time in our hotel rooms. Why pay so much more for a hotel that’s only a place to sleep?

Moderate Resort

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort is a moderate level hotel and is split up into two sections — Riverside and French Quarter. The latter has Mardi Gras theming throughout, but the best secret at the resort that people often overlook is…

Scat Cat’s Club Lounge is a great hangout spot where you can grab a snack and a drink, but the best part is that there is live jazz music! 

It would not be a post about Port Orleans French Quarter if we didn’t mention Mickey beignets, right? In addition to the beignets at the lounge, you can grab Mickey beignets at Scat Cat’s Club Cafe all day long!

Deluxe Resort

A dash of luxury, a splash of fine art and culture, and so, so pretty. May we present Disney’s Riviera Resort. This hotel is along the Skyliner route, giving you quick access to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

The Tower Studios are also perfectly sized for a solo traveler who wants access to all the beauty (and good food) at this Resort.

You can also consider staying at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort!

This hotel is great for most guests no matter who you’re traveling with, but with easy access to Magic Kingdom, not to mention dining locations like Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, you’ll find that there is plenty to do to keep your solo self busy while on vacation.

Best “Bang for Your Buck” Hotels 

Most Disney World hotels will give you a run for your money! Make your vacation dollars stretch further by staying at a resort that gives you more bang for your buck.

Value Resorts

When it comes to Value, you really can’t beat Disney’s All Star Resorts. These three sister hotels (Sports, Music, and Movies) offer a great value when all you need is a place to crash at the end of a long park day.

Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort is one of Disney World’s cheapest hotels. Sure, a value resort might not have some of the more luxurious amenities you can find elsewhere in Disney World — but All-Star Movies still might be the right choice for you. This is why All-Star Movies could be worth it for your family!

Moderate Resorts

For a great steal, check out Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. This moderate hotel is not expensive, but it includes many of the same features and amenities you’ll find at a top-tier Deluxe Resort!

That’s because Coronado Springs caters to conference guests, and every guest there has access to the hotel’s two fitness centers, spas, and more!

Deluxe Resorts

Deluxe Resorts come with deluxe price tags, but you might still find a deal, a discount, or a down-right reasonable rate. One of the Deluxe Resorts we keep going back to, time and time again, is Wilderness Lodge.

This hotel is one of the most immaculately themed in Disney World, with a theme that focuses on the beauty and grandeur of the Pacific Northwest. And you can’t really snooze on the location, either. It’s just a peaceful boat ride away from Magic Kingdom. After a long day in the park, you can come back to have a nightcap at one of our favorite lounges, Territory Lounge.

Best Hotels for Nightlife

Finally, there are some great resort options to consider if you’re all about nightlife in Disney World.

Value Resort

Value Resorts aren’t exactly known for their bustling nightlife, but if you stay at the Art of Animation or Pop Century resort, you’ll have access to the Skyliner, which connects you to two theme parks and the fun and whimsy of the BoardWalk, Yacht, and Beach Club.

Enjoy your resort or one of the many that you’re connected to — the world is your oyster!

Moderate Resort

Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter are both lively and festive options with unique entertainment of live music at Scat Cat Club and at River Roost Lounge. You have a wholesome, rowdy night, all without leaving your resort.

But if you do wish to stretch your legs and explore your options, you can just hop a boat over to Disney Springs and enjoy all of the food, fun, and shopping that Disney Springs has to offer!

Deluxe Resort

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn truly comes alive at night, and just steps from EPCOT, you can hit up the bars and take part in all of the resort’s activities after your day in the park!

This resort has received a lot of TLC over the past year, and we’re excited about all the new changes, updates, and additions that we’ve seen. It’s worth a trip over here, even you decide to stay at a different resort.

Finally, if you want to spend more time in Disney Springs for its bars, restaurants, and shopping, the best hotel for you is going to be Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa. This DVC Resort is a quick walk away from Disney Springs, meaning you don’t have to rely on any sort of transportation to get you to or from the shopping and dining district! (Of course, if you want to give your feet a rest, you can ride the Sassagoula Water Taxi when it’s operational.)

We hope this gave you a few ideas for hotels you may not have considered before based on your type of travel party, priorities, or budget!

You can make any Disney World hotel work in any given situation, but these select hotels may have a slight edge in certain categories! Be sure to read up on all of the hotels on our site, and be sure to follow along for all the latest news!

Click here for the best (and worst) things about each Disney World hotel.

Which Disney World hotel is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! 

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