Walt Disney World - What resort should I choose? Value, Moderate, or Deluxe
There is much to decide when planning a visit to the Walt Disney World Resort, and one of the most important decisions is picking your resort hotel!
Walt Disney World classifies, and prices, its hotels in four different categories: Value, Moderate, Deluxe, and Villa.
Value Resorts
This resort category is perfect for those looking to travel on a budget with the most affordable pricing of the Disney categories
Resorts
All-Star Movies
All-Star Music
All-Star Sports
Pop Century
Art of Animation
Price
$120 – $220 per night, with the exception of Family Suites which are usually around $300 – $450 per night
Resort Rooms
The typical standard room, sleeping up to four guests plus a baby in a crib, is approximately 260 square feet. The typical family suite (at All-Star Music or Art of Animation), sleeping up to six guests plus a baby in a crib, is approximately 520 square feet
Bathrooms
For standard rooms, there is one sink, one toilet, and one shower/tub combo. Typically the toilet and shower are contained in a room with a door, while the sink is located in the open. The value resort family suites (at All-Star Music and Art of Animation) have two bathrooms. Additionally, family suites will have a bar sink in the kitchenette area.
Beds
In standard rooms, two queen beds (one is a pull-down table bed) or one king-size bed. Family suites at Art of Animation have one queen-size bed, one double sleeper sofa, and one double pull-down table bed. Family suites at All-Star Music have a queen-size bed, a double sleeper sofa, a twin-size sleeper chair, and a twin-size sleeper ottoman
Dining
Food court. Poolside bar. In-room pizza delivery available in the evenings.
Transportation
All Disney-provided transportation to theme parks and Disney Springs is via bus at the All-Star resorts. At Art of Animation and Pop Century there is bus transportation to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs, as well as Skyliner service to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Pools
Themed pools. May have some water play or interactive elements
Recreation
Pool, poolside games/entertainment, playground equipment, movies under the stars.
Moderate Resorts
This category is best for those who want a little bit of luxury, slightly larger rooms and some extra amenities but without the deluxe prices.
Resorts
Port Orleans Riverside
Port Orleans French Quarter
Coronado Springs
Caribbean Beach Resort
Fort Wilderness Cabins
Price
$220 a night – $350 per night
Rooms
Typical standard rooms at Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, and Port Orleans are approximately 314 square feet. These rooms sleep up to four guests, plus a baby in a crib. There are some rooms at Port Orleans Riverside equipped to sleep up to five guests plus a baby. There are some suites at Coronado Springs. The Fort Wilderness cabins, which sleep up to six guests plus a baby, are approximately 504 square feet.
Bathrooms
Most rooms have a two sinks, one toilet, and one shower/tub combo. Typically the toilet and shower are contained in a room with a door, while the sinks are outside the door. Often the sink area can be separated from the main room via a curtain, sliding door, or other partition.
Beds
In standard rooms, two queen-size beds or one king-size bed. Some rooms at Port Orleans Riverside have an additional child-sized Murphy bed.
Dining
Food court. Poolside bar. At least one table service dining option. At least one indoor bar or lounge. In-room pizza delivery available in the evenings.
Transportation
Disney-provided transportation to the theme parks is via bus or Skyliner (Caribbean Beach resort only). There may be boat transportation to Disney Springs (Port Orleans resorts) or to Magic Kingdom (Fort Wilderness cabins).
Pools
Themed pools and “quiet” pools. May have some water play or interactive elements. May have medium-sized water slide.
Recreation
Pool, poolside games/entertainment, playground equipment, movies under the stars. Health club available at Coronado Springs. Water recreation and bike rental may be available. Horse drawn carriage rides at Port Orleans Riverside. Free character singalong at Fort Wilderness. Horseback riding, trail rides, and Horse drawn carriage rides at Fort Wilderness.
Deluxe Resorts
This is Disney’s top-tier accommodation where guests will enjoy decadent theming and extra amenities.
Deluxe Resorts
Grand Floridian
Contemporary
Polynesian
Beach Club
Yacht Club
Boardwalk
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Wilderness Lodge
Villa Resorts
Old Key West
Saratoga Springs
Riviera
Price
$400 – $1000+ per night depending on resort & room category
Rooms
There are a variety of room types and sizes at the deluxe hotels. These range from standard rooms of about 344 square feet at the Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge (rooms sleeping four plus a baby) on up to suites of more than a thousand square feet. Typical rooms at the Grand Floridian sleep up to five guests plus a baby in 440 square feet.
There are studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom villas. These range in size from a 316 square foot studio at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, to a nearly 2,500 square foot three-bedroom grand villa at the Boardwalk. Most studio rooms sleep up to four guests plus a baby. The grand villas sleep up to 12 guests plus a baby.
Bathrooms
Standard rooms have two sinks, one toilet, and one shower/tub combo. In some cases, the toilet will be in its own doored room. Suites may have several bathrooms in a variety of combinations.
Studios have one standard bathroom. Depending on the resort, the studio bathroom sink/vanity may be inside or outside the bathroom door. Studios have one bathroom sink, but they all have a bar sink in the kitchenette area. Depending on the resort, one-bedroom villas have one or two full bathrooms. Two-bedroom villas have two or three full bathrooms. Three-bathroom villas have three or four full bathrooms.
Beds
Some standard rooms have two queen-size beds or one king-size bed. Many standard rooms have an additional twin-size daybed.
Bedding varies depending on room type. In most villa rooms, there is a combination of traditional beds and pull-down Murphy-style beds.
Dining
Food court. Poolside bar. Multiple table service dining options on site, many other table service option easily accessible. Full room service menu available throughout the day. At least one indoor bar or lounge. Character dining may be available on site.
Studio villas include a kitchenette. Larger villas include a full kitchen.
Transportation
Multiple transportation options depending on your destination. Some deluxe resorts are within walking distance of a theme park. Transportation to the theme parks may be via bus, boat, monorail or Skyliner.
Pools
Themed pools and “quiet” pools. Will have water play or interactive elements. Will have at least one water slide. May have bonus water features such as waterfalls or sand play areas. Will have hot tubs.
Recreation
Pool, poolside games/entertainment, playground equipment, movies under the stars. Health club available. Spa services may be available. Water recreation and bike rental may be available. Outdoor evening entertainment at the Boardwalk resort.
We hope you’ll find this rundown of Disney World’s Value, Moderate and Deluxe Resorts helpful when making your Disney plans. Here are a few extra perks to staying onsite!
Free parking at the theme parks
Free Disney Transportation to the theme parks, resorts, and Disney Springs
Extra Magic Hours – Allowing onsite guests to enter the parks before they open to the public
Early access to Disney Genie+ Individual Lightning Lane Attractions (additional fee)
No matter where you choose to stay when visiting the Walt Disney World resort, we know you are going to have an amazing time!