Resorts

Walt Disney World is home to thirty resorts, containing some of Florida’s most unique and entertaining hotel options. In many cases, Walt Disney World resorts can be a destination unto themselves. They have a wide variety of recreation options, on-site dining options, shopping options, and just about everything else you might want to just relax and enjoy your vacation.

The resorts are split into multiple categories, which are based on room rates or special designations. These are Deluxe Resorts, which offer the most in terms of services, amenities, and of course, cost. The Moderate Resorts are the middle of the road option, with beautiful landscaping and settings, restaurants, recreations options, and shopping. The Value Resorts are Disney’s inexpensive option, but don’t get these confused with “cheap” hotels. These are creatively themed hotels with a large cafeteria restaurant, multiple swimming pools, arcades, and other fun options. Disney Vacation Club operates two resorts at Walt Disney World, there is a campground, a military-only resort, and eight independently owned “affiliated” resorts, including six on Hotel Plaza Boulevard.

Of the thirty resorts at Walt Disney World, seventeen are fully owned and operated as regular resorts by Disney. Disney operates the Shades of Green Resort as a military-only resort. The Dolphin and Swan Resorts are considered as Deluxe Resorts under the Disney title, but are actually run by independent entities. The Old Key West Resort and the Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa are Disney Vacation Club resorts and are only available to members. In addition, there are villas at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Beach Club, Boardwalk Inn, Contemporary Resort, and Wilderness Lodge that are also part of the Disney Vacation Club. Ten resorts on Walt Disney World property are not directly owned or subject to strong oversight by Disney. These are the six hotels on Hotel Plaza Boulevard, along with the Bonnet Creek Resort and the Hilton Resort that are separated from the main attraction areas near I-4.

The resorts are also separated into some general location designations. These include the Animal Kingdom Resort Area, the Downtown Disney Resort Area, the Epcot Resort Area, and the Magic Kingdom Resort Area.

There are many benefits to staying at a Walt Disney World resort. These include a level of service and friendliness that will be hart to match outside of Walt Disney World, access to Extra Magic Hours at the theme parks, guaranteed admission at times when the parks are closed to others (although there might be times during extreme attendance seasons when the parks are closed to everyone), the ability to board your pets overnight at Walt Disney World kennels, charging meals throughout Walt Disney World to your resort room bill, free parking at the theme parks, making priority golf reservations, charging purchases throughout Walt Disney World to your resort room bill and having those items delivered to your room, and unlimited use of the Walt Disney World transportation systems.

One of the best benefits to staying on Walt Disney World property is the relative ease of getting to other parts of the complex, including the theme parks. For example, if you stay at the Yacht Club, you can walk or take a boat to the Epcot entrance (International Gateway in the World Showcase) or to the entrance of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Or if you are staying at the Polynesian Resort, you can ride the monorail to the Magic Kingdom or Epcot. The Walt Disney World resorts are all closer, and in most cases considerably closer, to the main attraction areas and theme parks than resorts outside the complex.

We agree that there are some truly incredible resorts outside of Walt Disney World, and we encourage you to consider trying those too, if you have the time. But we would strongly encourage you to find a way to spend at least part of your trip at a Walt Disney World hotel. They are unique, fun, and will provide you an experience you won’t soon forget.

To reserve a Walt Disney World resort room, call (407) 934-7639, go online to the Walt Disney World website, or contact a travel agent.