So, you’ve decided to stay onsite… Which Walt Disney World Resort should you stay at? That is a very complicated question. Walt Disney World has various levels of resorts with various themes. There are the value resorts, the moderate resorts, the deluxe resorts, the deluxe villa resorts, and the campgrounds.
The Walt Disney World value resorts consist of: The Pop Century, All-Star Movies, All-Star Music, and All-Star Sports. Additionally, the All-Star Music Resort has both regular rooms and suites.
The Walt Disney World moderate resorts consist of: Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter, Caribbean Beach, and Coronado Springs.
The Walt Disney World deluxe resorts consist of: Animal Kingdom Lodge, The Contemporary, The Grand Floridian, The Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge, Yacht Club, Beach Club, and Boardwalk Inn.
The Walt Disney World deluxe villa resorts, aka Disney Vacation Club Resorts, consist of: Old Key West, Bay Lake Towers (at The Contemporary), Boardwalk Villas, Beach Club Villas, Villas at Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Villas, Kidani Village (at Animal Kingdom Lodge), Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, and Tree House Villas (at Saratoga Springs).
The Walt Disney World campgrounds have tent and RV campsites and cabins for rent. The Cabins are considered a moderate resort, although their pricing does not fall in line with the moderate pricing, which is why I list it separately with the campgrounds.
To further confuse matters, there is also located on Walt Disney World property off the boardwalk, The Swan and Dolphin Hotels. They are considered Deluxe Resorts, but are not owned or operated by Walt Disney World. The Swan and Dolphin hotels do not receive any Walt Disney World perks.
There are certain things you can count on just based on a resorts category. The value resorts at Walt Disney World are pretty basic. The layout is similar to a Motel-8 design. The theming is bare. It consists of a bedspread, one picture/poster on the wall and a lamp. The closets are small and there is almost no additional storage space. They are a tight squeeze and hold a maximum of four people, plus a baby under the age of 3. The value resorts have no frills—a refrigerator must be requested and then is provided if available for an extra charge. The suites at the All-Star Music Resort are two rooms, modified. Value resorts offer a food court and no sit-down restaurants or room service. Each room opens to the outside. The suites, which will fit 6 people plus an infant under the age of 3, will give you a separate bedroom and a sitting area (with a pull-out couch) and a kitchenette. There are also two bathrooms in a suite
Moderate resorts at Walt Disney World are slightly larger. Just slightly. Most of them also only sleep four, plus a child under the age of 3. The exception is some rooms in Port Orleans Riverside have a small trundle and can sleep a small/young child making its room occupancy 5, plus a child under the age of 3. While still dorm room size, all rooms come with a complementary refrigerator. Theming is a little more detailed, especially for certain rooms in the Caribbean Resort. There is a food court, sit-down restaurants, and pizza delivery service. Doors still open to the outside; no interior hallways.
Deluxe Resorts at Walt Disney World are much larger. The rooms are considerably larger, have interior hallways, have room service, full service restaurant(s)—causal and fine, bars, complementary refrigerators, intense theming, and most sleep 5 plus an infant under the age of 3. There are also pricier suites and concierge level.
Walt Disney World campgrounds have camping spots for both tents and RVs. The rest stations are quite nice, the laundry services plentiful, and there are full service restaurants onsite. Preferred sites have cable. You can also rent cabins, which sleep up to 6 people, plus a child under the age of 6. You get a full kitchen that is fully stocked (minus food), an eating area at a full table, a living area, a bedroom, one bathroom, plenty of cabinet storage, a small closet, a private parking spot, a large deck with a grill and picnic table, and lots of privacy.
Lastly there is the Walt Disney World Deluxe Villas, which are also Disney Vacation Club (DVC) residents. You may either rent points from a DVC member or book directly through Walt Disney World (much pricier than renting). The Villas come with a full kitchen (stocked, minus the food), a living area, and one to three bedrooms. Theming is over-the-top, and will match Deluxe Resort rooms, if available at that resort.
Which category you pick depends on your needs and your budget. But once you decide on a category, you can pick a specific resort.
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