Walt Disney World Resorts- Where to Stay for Your Budget
While there may be less expensive motels in Orlando outside the Walt Disney World area, I highly recommend that you first consider staying on Walt Disney World property in order to take advantage of all Walt Disney World has to offer. For one, all Walt Disney World resorts offer guest transportation. Whether it’s by bus or the magnificent Disney monorail, Disney’s transportation system is very efficient, and it’s a convenience you probably won’t want to do without. The Walt Disney resorts also offer to their guests Extra Magic Hours, in which one of the Disney Theme Parks opens an hour early or stays open up to an extra three hours after regular Park closing, so guests (and only guests) of Disney Resorts have the opportunity to enjoy the Park’s attractions largely without the lines that plague attractions during regular Park hours.
Once you’ve decided to stay in Walt Disney World at one of Disney’s fabulous resorts, your next decision (which one to stay at) will depend largely on your budget. Disney resorts can be pricey, some starting at $359 per night. The most costly of Disney’s resorts are classified as their Deluxe Resorts.
In my opinion, the best bargain as far as Disney’s deluxe resorts go is Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. I stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge just last year, and I was very impressed. Starting at $205 per night, the Animal Kingdom Lodge is a magnificent African-style spectacle, located near Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Do as I did, and select a room overlooking a vast wildlife preserve, where you can observe hundreds of exotic birds and animals right from your balcony. Zebras and giraffes, just to name a couple, graze right outside your window, making Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge a very unique place to stay and an unforgettable experience. The restaurants at the Lodge offer wonderful menus any time of the day, and the pools are outstanding. The only drawback to the Animal Kingdom Lodge is no monorail, but Disney’s bus system is very efficient and convenient. Buses will pick you up right outside the lodge and take you to any of Disney’s Theme Parks, and return you at anytime you wish.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort also offers good deals, with rooms starting at $249 per night. Located just across the road from Disney’s Magic Kingdom, the Contemporary offers great views and convenience at a reasonable price. Okay, so the Contemporary isn’t as “contemporary” as it was when I was a kid, but it does offer Monorail service, a tremendous plus in my opinion. In fact, the monorail travels right through the resort’s enormous A-frame. The restaurants are adequate, but breakfast and dinner with the characters (Mickey, Goofy, et al.) at the Contemporary is really something special for the kids.
If you have the money and you really want to live it up, stay at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Easily the most luxurious of Disney’s resorts, the Grand Floridian’s spectacular rooms start at $359 per night. The restaurants offer the delicious food and surreal ambiance that reminds you every second that you’re on vacation. With Victorian elegance, this lavish resort offers every amenity imaginable, including monorail service. This is the resort for you if you’re traveling to Walt Disney World to truly spoil yourself. Caution: Once you stay at Disney’s fabulous Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, you may find it difficult to stay anywhere else on your next visit. I know I did.
I also highly recommend Disney’s Polynesian Resort. This tropical paradise looks more like Hawaii than Hawaii. It’s true, I live in Hawaii now, and I confess that I imagined the islands more like Disney’s Polynesian Resort than like the islands themselves. Disney’s Polynesian boasts the spirit and hospitality of the South Pacific. The sights, sounds and smells will stay with you forever.
The only deluxe resorts that I do not recommend are the Walt Disney World Dolphin and the Walt Disney World Swan. These hotels, which are located near EPCOT Center and start at $259 per night, just don’t do it for me. They look nice on the outside, but inside they’re nothing special. If you’re going to shell out $259 per night or more, stay at one of the resorts mentioned above or check out Disney’s Beach Club Resort or Disney’s Boardwalk Inn.
If you’re looking to stay at a more moderately priced resort, Walt Disney World offers some excellent choices. You can soak in the ambiance of the tropics in one of five colorful island villages at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. Starting at $139 per night, each of the villages has its own beautiful white sand beach.
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort celebrates the culture of Mexico and the American Southwest. Breathtaking Mayan architecture makes Coronado Springs a very attractive selection, with rooms starting at $139 per night.
Or you can stay at one of Disney’s Port Orleans themed resorts. Disney’s Port Orleans Resort French Quarter offers an alluring re-creation of the historic New Orleans district, with rooms starting at $139 per night. Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Riverside boasts the experience and feel of the picturesque Louisiana towns along the Mississippi River.
These four moderately priced resorts are all so similar in what they offer, you can select solely based on what theme grabs you.
If you’re looking to stay inside Walt Disney World at a very reasonable cost, then Disney’s economy resorts are for you. If you have kids, who are going to want to rush out of the hotel at the break of dawn and not return until the wee hours of the morning, then why spend hundreds of dollars more per night on your hotel? Or maybe you’d prefer to take two vacations for the price of one?
Starting at $79 per night, Disney’s economy resorts include Disney’s Pop Culture Resort, which sends you on trip down memory lane with the biggest hits and icons of 20th Century pop culture. Disney’s All Star Movie Resort celebrates classic Disney films and icons of Disney animation. Disney’s All Star Music Resort is best for music lovers, while Disney’s All Star Sports Resort, you guessed it, is best for the big sports fan. All that differs between these resorts is the theme, so you can select based solely on that. Although these resorts offer bare bones amenities, it’s still Disney, so you can expect great friendly service and a lot of fun and magic.
In the days to follow, I’ll be publishing other articles to help guide you through Walt Disney World, such as where to eat and what attractions to visit, so be sure to check back soon.
