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!

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