With over 25 different resorts to choose from, selecting where to stay on your next Walt Disney World trip can become a little overwhelming. Today we look at the main differences you will find in the amenities and rooms for the three different categories of resorts at Walt Disney World.

Value Resorts

As suggested by the name, these resorts generally offer the lowest prices for a stay at Walt Disney World. Perfect for families and those on a budget or with other spending priorities, these offer the best value option on property. With these resorts you will still benefit from all the added perks of staying onsite at Disney, such as the complimentary Disney’s Magical Express service and the new park reservation service, but at a much lower cost than other resort options.

The value category comprises of the three All-Star Resorts, Pop Century Resort, and the newest addition, the Art of Animation resort. Pop Century and Art of Animation are linked by a bridge and both benefit from Disney’s Skyliner service, a great perk for a value resort. These resorts offer basic hotel rooms, however, Art of Animation and All-Star Music do offer family suite options at an additional cost. All Disney resorts benefit from Disney’s bus service to the parks.

Theming wise, these are the most ‘Disney’ resorts you will find on property. Filled with larger than life Disney characters, they offer the perfect immersive experience for young kids or anyone on their first Disney trip. Rooms still offer two double beds, although square footage of rooms naturally increases as we go up the categories. 

One of the most noticeable differences between Value resorts and the other categories is the lack of table-service dining options. The value resorts all offer expansive food courts with a wide range of menu choices, and pool bars and onsite stores. Recreation wise the resorts benefit from large family pools; however no slides are present unlike in the moderate and deluxe resorts. If you are planning to be out at the parks all day and don’t spend much time in your room, the Disney value resorts may offer a great option for your next stay.

Moderate Resorts

Moving up to the next category we have Disney’s Moderate resorts, which consists of Caribbean Beach Resort, Coronado Springs Resort and Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter Resorts. Also falling under this category is the unique option of The Cabins at Fort Wilderness, a fun option for up to six people to stay in a more rustic environment and enjoy all the facilities and grounds of Fort Wilderness. Room size increases in this category by about 60 square feet per room.

Transportation wise the two Port Orleans resorts benefit from the boat transportation to Disney Springs, and Caribbean Beach also has Disney’s Skyliner service. The resorts all feature a Table Service dining restaurant (although at Port Orleans French Quarter you will need to walk to Riverside to experience this). Recreation facilities are much improved with the moderate resorts, with slides available at the main pools and some resorts having boats and bikes for rent. Port Orleans has a charming carriage ride by night and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort offers some fun activities such as the Pirate Adventure Cruise.

Recently Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Coronado Springs have both undertaken extensive refurbishments and these resorts are now modernized in some areas. Caribbean Beach has a beautiful new lobby and food court area, and Coronado Springs is home to the Gran Destino Tower, offering modern rooms, dining and bar options. Moderate resorts are the perfect option for a little more space and amenities, without the price tag of the deluxe resorts, and these make a perfect choice for families with teenagers or couples.

Deluxe Resorts

Our final category is the Deluxe resorts, including the Disney Vacation Club resorts. These resorts naturally offer larger rooms, and the villa options allow for larger accommodations with multiple bedrooms. There can be quite a difference in price within the deluxe category, with Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge sometimes having great prices for the standard rooms.

All the deluxe resorts offer unique theming and amenities, and so it’s worth looking at which resort most appeals to you and your travel party. The deluxe resorts are generally in the most favorable locations on property, with some benefitting from being able to walk to the theme parks, or use the monorail and boat services. These extra transportation options can make for a very short and pleasant commute to the theme parks, meaning less time waiting for buses after a long day out.

The deluxe resorts take theming of the guest rooms to the next level and offer the most spacious rooms on property. Dining in the resorts naturally is much improved, with many of the resorts offering two or three table service options, as well as signature dining locations. Deluxe resorts offer the most entertainment of any resorts, including more movie nights, bonfires, resort tours and fitness classes.

A big addition to this category is the fact that some of these deluxe resorts also offer gym and spa facilities – if keeping fit and healthy on your vacation is important to you this can be an important addition. The swimming pools at these resorts are spacious and well themed, with the highlight being the Yacht and Beach Club’s Stormalong Bay – a mini water park in your resort!

Whichever category you choose for your next stay, you are bound to have an incredible trip. Walt Disney World really does offer resort options to fit every budget and requirement!

If you are looking to book your next Walt Disney World vacation or have any further questions about any of the resorts on property, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we would be more than happy to help!