When you're visiting Walt Disney World, you will discover that there are many, many options in Orlando when it comes to choosing a hotel room. You may choose to stay offsite for different reasons, but considering a stay at a Walt Disney World hotel and resort offers a multitude of perks and benefits to create even more magic during your stay, and offers flexible rates and financing options to fit many preferences and budgets.
Walt Disney World Resorts: The Perks and Benefits of Staying in the Magic
Walt Disney World Resorts are broken into three tiers: value, moderate, and deluxe. While many accommodations are similar across this range, some hotel reservations come with some extra perks. For instance, all hotels will have access to pools and dining options, typically a table service restaurant, a cafe or quick service restaurant, and bars/lounges. All Walt Disney World Resort hotels will grant you early access to the parks, typically 30 minutes before the park officially opens, to select areas of each park. However, staying at a deluxe resort will grant you the ability to stay past park close on select nights. Let's take a closer look at Walt Disney World Resorts and hotels!
Tiers & Benefits of Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
Below is a list of Disney-owned Resort hotels, categorized by their classification, as well as Official Disney Partner Hotels. When choosing a hotel, consider the theming you prefer, proximity to the parks, and any additional benefits that may be offered with your stay. Most Studio rooms come equipped with either two Queen-sized beds or one King, and a pull-down or pull-out sofa sleeper, potentially sleeping up to 5 guests.
A Comprehensive List of All Disney-Owned Resort Hotels
Value Resorts
Disney's All-Star Movies Resort
Disney's All-Star Music Resort
Disney's All-Star Sports Resort
Disney's Art of Animation Resort
Disney's Pop Century Resort
Moderate Resorts
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
Disney's Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
Disney's Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort
Deluxe Resorts
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney's Beach Club Resort
Disney's BoardWalk Inn
Disney's Contemporary Resort
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
Disney's Wilderness Lodge
Disney's Yacht Club Resort
Deluxe Villas
Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort
Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge
Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge
Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
Disney's Beach Club Villas
Disney's BoardWalk Villas
Disney's Old Key West Resort
Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
Disney's Riviera Resort
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Official Disney Partner Hotels
Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort
B Resort & Spa Lake Buena Vista
Best Western Lake Buena Vista
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando
Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace
Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
Holiday Inn Orlando
Wyndham Lake Buena Vista
Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista
Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
Waldorf Astoria Orlando Bonnet Creek
Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista
Why Choose to Stay at a Walt Disney World Resort?
Staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel offers guests a multitude of exclusive benefits that enhance the overall vacation experience. Here are some key advantages:
Early Theme Park Entry:
Guests of Disney Resort hotels can enjoy a 30-minute early entry to all four theme parks every day, allowing access to select attractions before the general public.
Extended Evening Hours:
Guests staying at Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villas have the opportunity to enjoy extended evening hours on select nights at certain parks, providing additional time to experience attractions with reduced crowds.
Complimentary Transportation:
Disney Resort guests benefit from free transportation options, including buses, monorails, boats, and the Disney Skyliner, ensuring convenient travel throughout the resort. Just keep in mind that the Disney parks and resorts transportation systems can get a little crowded in the morning, so plan accordingly. The Skyiner in particular can accrue a longer line in the mornings.
Priority Dining Reservations:
Guests can make dining reservations for their entire stay (up to 10 days) 60 days in advance, offering a better chance to secure spots at popular restaurants. Booking reservations at restaurants like Space 220 and Cinderella's Table is highly recommended! Just make sure to fully read the cancellation policies when booking - a no-show to a reservation can be penalized up to 100% of the dining cost.
Resort Hotel Entertainment & Enchanting Extras:
Disney Resort hotels offer unique entertainment options, such as themed pools, movies under the stars, and campfire activities, providing fun for the whole family without leaving the hotel. There are several arts and crafts classes that are offered, for a minimal fee, like at Coronado Springs and Art of Animation; horse-riding at Fort Wilderness, and much more! Enchanting Extras at the resorts are fun and plentiful.
Proximity to Theme Parks:
Staying on-site means being closer to the Walt Disney World parks, allowing for easy mid-day breaks and quick returns for evening events or dining reservations. In fact, there are several resorts you can walk to from the parks, including The Contemporary and it's close proximity to Magic Kingdom, and the Boardwalk Inn is walking distance to Epcot!
Immersive Theming:
Each Disney Resort hotel features unique theming and storytelling, immersing guests in the magic throughout their stay. If you have a particular fondness for certain Disney princesses or eras, choosing a themed resort the aligns with what you love most is a great way to steep yourself in Disney magic.
Wether or not you decide to stay at a Walt Disney World resort, visiting the Disney parks will still be a magical vacation filled with incredible moments and lasting memories. I always suggest staying at a Disney resort if you are able to, but if it's not in the cards during your next visit, you can always book lunch or dinner at one of these locations to have a bit of the resorts experience. I have stayed, at some point, at a resort of every tier; in my opinion, amenities are amenities, I personally just want to be able to book my Lightning Lanes a week prior to my visit, and get the early entry perks.
There is something so special about waking up in your Disney-themed room, drinking some Joffrey's coffee and watching The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse before heading to the parks in the morning. The resorts are also staffed with incredibly generous, helpful, and knowledgeable people who truly want to make your stay pleasant and memorable. Flat tire? Guest services can help. Lost an item? Guest services can help. Need to change a room or book an extra day? Guest services can help!
Keep in mind that if you are a Florida Resident or Annual Passholder, the rooms are frequently offered at a discount between 15-30% (or more!) to make booking a room onsite a little less damaging to the ol' savings account!
Please note that accommodations and their classifications are subject to change. For the most current information, it's advisable to consult the official Walt Disney World website or contact Disney directly.
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