After years of visiting Walt Disney World, countless trips, and a lot of hotel hopping, I can confidently say this: I’ve stayed at every Disney World resort, and they aren’t all equal.
From value hotels to deluxe villas, I’ve experienced the full spectrum of Disney accommodations. While there are so many rooms I’d happily book again, there are also a few that, despite their popularity, I personally wouldn’t choose for a return stay. Here is my list so that you can make the choice if these rooms are right for you!
Now, this doesn’t mean they are bad rooms, but depending on your priorities, budget, and travel style, these options may not deliver the best value for your money. Below are the Disney World hotel rooms I would skip booking again, with a balanced look at both the pros and cons so you can decide what works best for your vacation.
1. Little Mermaid Rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
We constantly rave about the family suites at Disney’s Art of Animation, and for good reason, but the Little Mermaid rooms are a very different experience. These rooms are packed with Disney theming, making them tempting for guests who want that full-on Disney vibe. One of the biggest drawbacks is location. These rooms are tucked away at the far end of the resort, meaning you should be prepared for a lot of walking just to reach transportation, dining, or the main lobby.
Pros:
The theming is fun, colorful, and immersive, and perfect for Little Mermaid fans. As a value resort, these rooms are more budget-friendly than moderate or deluxe options. Guests also have access to the Skyliner, which provides convenient transportation to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.
Cons:
The rooms are tiny and can feel dated. They’re far from transportation and the lobby, making them inconvenient after a long park day. Noise can also be an issue due to thin walls and nearby outdoor movie screenings.
2. Tower Studios at Disney’s Riviera Resort
Disney’s Riviera Resort is stunning, inspired by Walt Disney’s travels throughout Europe, and it’s one of the most beautiful hotels on property. Unfortunately, the Tower Studios are among the smallest rooms you’ll find anywhere at Disney World. While the modern design is sleek and the pull-down beds are surprisingly comfortable, it’s difficult to justify the high price tag for such a compact space. For couples who plan to spend most of their time in the parks, this may be manageable, but it still feels like you’re paying deluxe pricing for value-sized square footage.
Pros:
The rooms feature modern, upscale decor and feel very polished. Riviera is one of Disney’s newest hotels, so everything feels fresh. Skyliner access makes transportation incredibly convenient.
Cons:
These rooms are significantly overpriced for their size. There’s no kitchen and very limited storage, which can feel restrictive, especially on longer stays.
3. Disney’s Contemporary Resort Rooms
The Contemporary Resort is one of Disney’s most iconic hotels, instantly recognizable by its A-frame design and monorail running straight through the building. It’s historic, convenient, and undeniably impressive, but the rooms don’t always live up to the price. While some of the themed rooms are fun, they can feel a bit cheesy rather than luxurious, especially considering the premium cost. If you’re paying top dollar, you might expect more refinement than novelty.
Pros:
Walking distance to Magic Kingdom is unbeatable. Monorail access is incredibly convenient. The architecture is a standout, and the resort offers a wide range of dining and amenities. It also holds a special place in Disney history.
Cons:
The price point is extremely high. For the cost, the rooms can feel underwhelming and not as luxurious as expected.
4. All-Star Resorts: Standard Rooms
Disney’s All-Star Sports, Movies, and Music Resorts are popular value hotels thanks to their affordability and playful, larger-than-life theming. While they’re perfectly fine for a short stay or a park-focused trip, the standard rooms are not ones I’d personally choose again. They’re compact, basic, and lack many of the amenities found at other resorts. Combined with thin walls, they can be noisy, especially during peak seasons or youth sporting events.
Pros:
Fun, colorful theming that kids love. Very budget-friendly and often the most affordable option on property.
Cons:
Rooms are small and basic. Amenities are limited. Noise can be a problem due to thin walls and crowded resort layouts.
Every Disney World resort has its fans, and what doesn’t work for one guest might be perfect for another. If you want more honest hotel reviews, park tips, and planning advice to make your Disney trip even better, be sure to check out AllEars.net for everything you need to know before you book.
I myself have stayed at every disney resort, and have found pretty much every hotel has the same size room unless it’s a suite or super expensive room. A lot of the amenities in the resorts have disappeared and if available you have to pay for them when a lot of them we’re free before, which is why I would choose to stay at a disney resort. The magic of disney now is how much you are willing to pay.
As much as I love the ambience and luxury of the Polynesian, I won’t stay there again because of the shared transportation with GF that takes priority over Poly. My partner uses an ECV, and it’s happened too many times we would wait at the monorail, bus, or boat stop, only to find the transportation nearly full already with GF patrons, and all disabled spots already occupied. So we had to wait for the next one, or sometimes even the one after that, wasting a LOT of time. Coming back from the park was the same, all return transport stopped at the GF first, making our ride back longer than it should have been. Riviera is SO much better a choice because of bus and skyliner exclusivity to it.
Not a “Disney Hotel” but the Swan and Dolphin cant be beat for location and pricing. Walk or boat to epcot and Hollywood Studios. Dedicated bus to Animal Kingdom. Only drawback is bus drops off at Transportation center so have to take monorail or the ship over, bus you can easily walk next door to Boardwalk and use Disney Bus to avoid that.
Access to Boardwalk, mini golf, and comfy beds, great pool.
The Contemporary rooms were much nicer before their Incredibles make-over se eral years ago. I much prefer Bay Lake Tower if you wish to stay at the Contemporary Hotel.
The rooms in Comtemporary are mush larger than the next Deluxe rooms bc they were designed and constructed before Disney tried to squeeze as much$$$ as they could from each guest – location is prime, restaurant choices exceptional. Transportation hub, and walking to MK – it can be loud but if your tower room faces Bay Lake you feel serenity and it can be quite enjoyable watching the boats going back and forth all day.