In planning a trip to Walt Disney World, staying on-site offers a number of unique advantages that off-site guests do not enjoy: complimentary transportation, early entry to the parks, extended evening hours at select parks (for deluxe resort guests), etc.
Where you decide to stay on-site can be just as daunting in vacation planning as what rides to go on and where to eat inside the parks. Sure, vacation budget can sometimes be a big factor in that decision, but if you have some leeway in that department, the sheer number of resort choices can be overwhelming!
I decided to make a list of the top 5 Walt Disney World resorts that I personally really enjoy staying at. Now mind you, I haven’t stayed at all of the resorts, only 80% of them, so this list could theoretically change should any of those All-Star resorts knock me off my feet.
If you’re having trouble deciding on a resort to stay at for your vacation, perhaps consider this list for suggestions.
5. Art of Animation
Choosing a number 5 for the list was harder than I originally thought it would be! In fact, this could have been a tie with another resort but I decided to ultimately go with Art of Animation. Considered a moderate resort by Disney, Art of Animation is a great example of being immersed in Disney. While predominantly family suites, Art of Animation is divided into 4 themes: Little Mermaid (not suites), Lion King, Finding Nemo, and Cars.
Why I love it!
It’s Well Themed! You’re pretty much surrounded by Disney and Disney animation art. If you want to feel like you’re at Disney and really be in that Disney bubble, this is one of the best places for it.
The Skyliner! For two of the 4 parks, taking the Skyliner is a fun ride in itself! Mind you, it can break down some times. For the other two parks, the only option is the Disney bus.
The Family Suites! Family suites are great for a family of 4. There are two bathrooms, a separate bedroom for the parents, and a table with chairs that converts to a Murphy bed. Also included is a kitchenette with a refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, and a sink. For a solo traveler, it’s almost like having an apartment at Disney.
It’s pet friendly! Art of Animation is one of the few resorts at Disney World that is pet-friendly, meaning your fur baby can stay in the room with you instead of having to board them at the nearby Best Friends Pet Resort. Disney has specific rules to follow about having a pet in the room, which I won’t get into here, but I will provide a link for more information. Currently, dogs are the only pets permitted.
Why it’s not so great.
The Food: the Art of Animation food court has a variety of options where everyone should be able to find something to eat, but in my opinion, I thought the food was just okay. Some hits, some misses, and some of the resort-exclusive cupcakes look great in pictures but don’t taste that great.
Little Mermaid Rooms: while the family suites are great and I highly recommend them, the regular rooms in the Little Mermaid area are similar to the rooms at Disney’s value resorts. Also, while the Little Mermaid area is great in theme, it’s bad in proximity. It’s the furthest area away from everything.
4. Coronado Springs
Coronado Springs Resort really feels like 4 resorts in one, because each area of guest rooms has a completely different feel to it. Considered a moderate resort by Disney standards, Coronado Springs offers a good location, decent restaurants, some great views, and some great prices!
Why I love it!
The Southwest Theme. While not Disney immersive, Coronado Springs is southwest immersive. Each area of rooms feels like a different resort. There’s the luxurious Gran Destino Tower. The stately Casitas area. A more rustic Ranchos area, and the resort-like Cabanas.
The food! Coronado Springs has some great restaurant options! Of course there’s a food court, El Mercado. But there’s also several sit down restaurants that I’ve written about, most notably Rix Sports Bar and Maya Grill. Out in the middle of the lake is another restaurant, Three Bridges, which didn’t impress me as much, but it has a great location!
It has a Club Level! Until recently, Disney only offered Club Level rooms and amenities at their deluxe resorts. When Gran Destino tower opened, Disney brought that deluxe resort amenity to their first moderate resort. Chronos Club is located in Grand Destino Tower and offers amazing views from it’s near top-floor location. Like other Club Level lounges, food and snacks are offered during multiple times of the day, and select free beverages are available during lounge hours. If you’ve always wanted to stay Club Level at Disney but couldn’t afford the deluxe resort price tag, consider Coronado Springs.
Why it’s not so great.
It’s big! As much as I love on Coronado Springs, one teeny tiny detail that I haven’t brought up is that it’s a wide resort. Because of it’s large size, walking from some room areas (Ranchos) to the main building can be a bit of a trek. In addition, the bus transportation makes a total of 4 stops at Coronado Springs before going on it’s way. Each of the 4 guest room areas has it’s own bus stop. It’s convenient, for sure, but Gran Destino Tower is the last stop in the morning, so the bus is usually full by the time it gets there.
It holds conventions. Nothing pops that Disney bubble like seeing a plethora of business suits scurrying around, or working on laptops around the lobby, while you’re in your favorite Disney outfit. While convention goers are mostly harmless and keep to their group, it does remind you that while you are at Disney, real life is still happening on your vacation.
3. Animal Kingdom Lodge
An easy choice for the number 3 spot, Animal Kingdom Lodge is the first deluxe resort in this list. Amazing theme, amazing food, and animal spotting makes this resort, in my opinion, a must!
Why I love it!
So Much To Look At! Animal Kingdom Lodge is art and artifact packed! It feels like everywhere you look, there’s something to look at! There’s art on the walls, there’s actual pieces of African hut doors on the walls. There are masks, and coins, and flags, and shields. It has so much to look at!
The food! The food at Animal Kingdom Lodge is phenomenal! This resort offers options for every budget; from quick service The Mara, to Boma the buffet, to signature dining Jiko. A short mini bus ride over to their Disney Vacation Club villas, Kidani Village, there’s also a fantastic sit down restaurant Sanaa. Food-wise, Animal Kingdom Lodge has it all covered!
The savannah view rooms! Ever wake up from a good night’s sleep, walk out onto your balcony and see giraffes casually walking around? I thought I was still asleep and dreaming it! But no, there they were, walking over to where their morning breakfast was delivered by Disney’s zoological staff.
Why it’s not so great.
It’s out of the way. The only park Animal Kingdom Lodge is close to is, you guessed it, Animal Kingdom. For everything else, and I do mean everything else, it’s a long bus ride. Maybe this isn’t so bad first thing in the morning when you’re anxious and excited, but at the end of the night, that bus ride from Magic Kingdom feels like it takes forever.
It can be a hike to your room. In order to accommodate as many people as possible with savannah view rooms, Animal Kingdom Lodge built long hallways that really stretch into the savannah. Some times it feels like quite the trek from the resort lobby to where your room is.
Animals are people, too! While the savannah view rooms offer amazing views, some times the animals just don’t feel like being out and about. You may look out from your balcony and not see any animals in that moment. It’s disappointing, yes, but some times these majestic creatures aren’t feeling very social.
2. Port Orleans French Quarter
Yet another moderate resort in my top 5, Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter offers a wonderful combination of theme, size, and food! I love this resort very much and will not hesitate to sing it’s praises!
Why I love it!
It’s very quaint! From the wrought iron all around the resort, to the street name tiles in the ground, to the numerous fountains, Port Orleans French Quarter is a beautiful resort! You could have a room overlooking a center courtyard. Your room could be overlooking the resort in general, or you could have a water view room where a water taxi floats by periodically. The food court is well themed, the main lobby is well themed, and the jazz lounge adds to that New Orleans atmosphere.
The food! While Port Orleans French Quarter’s main food situation is a food court, I’ve had some of the best dinners here! I’ve enjoyed their gumbo. I’ve enjoyed their jambalaya. They’ve offered shrimp and grits. For a moderate resort food court, this one is my favorite by far. A short water taxi ride away is Port Orleans Riverside, which also has a food court along with a sit down restaurant Boatwright’s.
It’s a small resort! I think, but don’t quote me on this, but I think Port Orleans French Quarter is one of the smallest resorts on property. Because of it’s compact size, it’s a short walk to everything! If you have a room in one of the two buildings next to the main lobby area, it’s even more convenient.
Why it’s not so great.
Transportation can be frustrating. While the Disney bus is the only transportation option to the parks, some times it operates as a resort-exclusive bus, and other times it operates as a general Port Orleans bus. Some times it only stops at French Quarter before leaving for a park, other times it makes an additional stop at Riverside before leaving for a park. In the evenings after park close, in my experience, it felt like the wait time for any Port Orleans bus took forever!
Rain can close things down. Both Port Orleans resorts offer a water taxi that travels between both resorts and Disney Springs. However, when it starts raining, that service comes to a complete halt for safety. It culminated one fateful rainy evening when yours truly was stuck at Port Orleans Riverside with no easy way to get back to French Quarter!
1. Wilderness Lodge (a 3-fer!)
My number one favorite resort at Walt Disney World goes to Wilderness Lodge! Technically a 3-fer, because this also includes the Disney Vacation Club resorts Boulder Ridge and Copper Creek.
Why I love it!
You feel transported! I cannot get over how great the theme is at this resort! It’s upscale rustic with an outdoorsy charm. You feel transported to a lakeside mountain lodge. There’s a geyser, yes. The ambient music in the background is instrumental western tunes, such as “Silverado” and “How the West Was Won”. Over at Boulder Ridge is the train room, which includes two train cars from Walt’s personal model train set that he would ride around on.
The food! Wilderness Lodge also offers several great dining options. Roaring Fork is their quick service option. Geyser Point, on the lake, offers casual sit down fare with a great view of the Electrical Water Pageant at night. While the location is open air, they do have heaters in the center of the restaurant for those chilly evenings. Inside the main building is Whispering Canyon Cafe, which offers several all-you-care-to-eat skillet options, and one of the best steaks I’ve had thus far on property.
You can arrive in style! Sure, some guests arrive to Magic Kingdom on a monorail, but think of how you’ll look when you pull up to the front entrance on a boat. No, not a ferry, a boat! Wilderness Lodge offers water transportation to Magic Kingdom, Fort Wilderness, and the Contemporary Resort. While the trip to Magic Kingdom takes a little longer, seeing Walt Disney World from water level is a fun perspective to really take in the size and scope of the resort complex. You’ll even get to see the now extinct and very much off-limits Discovery Island!
Why it’s not so great.
It’s pricey. Yes, Wilderness Lodge is a deluxe resort at Disney, and with that comes the deluxe resort price tag. It’s not cheap to stay here (compared to other resorts on this list) but that price comes with some perks. While on-site resort guests benefit from early entry hours, only deluxe resort guests benefit from extended evening hours, where you can stay in a select park 2 hours after normal park closing when everyone else has to leave. Get those last few rides in!
Also in my experience, deluxe resorts do a much better job with Bell Services compared to the other resorts. Dropping off luggage curbside, and even having it brought to the room, seems to be handled quicker, easier, and more enthusiastically at deluxe resorts.
That boat is tricky for mobility guests. Yes, arriving to Magic Kingdom on a boat is a great alternative to bus or monorail, but if you’re in an ECV, getting on the boat and maneuvering inside the boat, is a task. First, you’re on the water, so there’s already the up and down motion from the waves. Secondly, the hallway to navigate is narrow and a little tight for inexperienced drivers. Third, at least for Magic Kingdom, they basically make you take the boat versus the more stable bus option.
Honorable mentions
I won’t go into details about these resorts that didn’t make the top 5, but in case you were curious, here are several other resorts that I very much have enjoyed staying at, that didn’t quite make the top 5.
- The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness
- Yacht Club Resort
- Polynesian Resort
- Contemporary Resort
- Boardwalk Resort
So there you have it! My personal at-this-time top 5 favorite Disney resorts. If you’re undecided about a resort to stay at on your next vacation, or undecided between several resorts, hopefully this article helped a little with that decision.
Keep in mind that resorts, like food, is personal preference. What works for one family may not work for another family. The best advice I could give is something I follow myself: research the resorts, determine the pros and cons, look at the room rates for when you want to go (important), and then pick the one you’re most excited about! Or flip a coin.
Disney Rover 