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Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort, Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Disney Resorts, Disney Vacation, Disney Vacation Club, Disney World, Disney's All-Star Movies Resort, Disney's All-Star Music Resort, Disney's All-Star Sports Resort Disney's Art of Animation Resort, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo House, Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village, Disney's Beach Club Resort, Disney's Beach Club Villas, Disney's BoardWalk Inn, Disney's BoardWalk Villas, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's Old Key West Resort, Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, Disney's Pop Century Resort, Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter, Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside, Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Disney's Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort, DVC, Favorite Walt Disney World Resort, The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort, The Campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort, The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Walt Disney World, Walt Disney World Resorts, Welcome Home
As Walt Disney World starts to reopen, I’m more excited and hopeful for planning a future stay; which got me thinking, often times we’ll talk about which Disney resort is our favorite and I really just can’t choose one clear favorite, I can appreciate many positive qualities of the various different resorts, but I don’t know if I have a clear and distinct winner, at least not in the deluxe category.
Walt Disney World has so many resorts to choose from, currently over 25. Our choice usually depends on what our plans are during the visit which determine which resort to stay at, and then you have to factor in availability.
From lowest to highest cost, there are value, moderate, deluxe, and deluxe villas.
Value:
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Moderate:
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Deluxe:
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Deluxe Villas:
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
Disney’s Riviera Resort
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
I’ve been to most of the Disney World resorts as far as being on property and checking out the grounds, restaurants, and shopping; and stayed at most all the WDW deluxe resorts (except the new Riviera, or Yacht Club). Most people will agree that the deluxe resorts are king as far as accommodations go, they have fitness centers, nice pools, and theming. It is truly hard to choose a favorite among the deluxe category for me.
My favorite in the moderate category would have to be Port Orleans though, I like both Riverside and French Quarter. I’m happy with beignets and food court pizza (<- for real though).
For the value resorts, I’d say the Art of Animation would be my choice in the value category, it has a cool lobby with with animation artwork, a nice gift shop, and food court with variety. I think people will find that the value resorts of Pop Century and AoA are going to be even better after Skyliner access.
As a Disney Vacation Club member we have the ability to book our stays at any of these deluxe resorts: the Grand Floridian, the Polynesian Villas, Bay Lake Tower (Contemporary), Boardwalk Villas, Beach Club Villas, Copper Creek Villas, Boulder Creek Villas, Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, Animal Kingdom Jambo House, Animal Kingdom Kidani Village, and the Riviera. I find the Disney Vacation Club room located at these resorts to be equivalent or better than their counterparts from the same resorts, with the exception of larger bed sizes in the studios. For example in a standard deluxe room at a non-DVC room you may have a king size bed, but in the DVC room you will usually find a queen bed with a fold-out sleeper sofa (Old Key West studios have 2 queen beds). But, DVC rooms have a nicer kitchenette area in the deluxe studios.
(If you aren’t familiar with Disney Vacation Club it is basically a Disney timeshare, a simple explanation on how it works is that you get your points on your yearly contract date and then you get to use those to book your rooms for the year, whatever points you don’t plan to use, you can bank into the next year. The costs of buying a contract and owning DVC would need more explanation.)
Here are some of the things I like about the deluxe resorts. **Keep in mind some of transportation modes, restaurants, and other amenities are not in service right now due to the pandemic.**
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort:
Close to Magic Kingdom – you can actually walk there.
Nice views all around, great lake views, theme park views.
Top of the World Lounge. The 7 Layer Cake.
This is my go-to choice for any Magic Kingdom party, Halloween or Christmas, and a top pick for July 4th or New Year’s Eve.
Access to monorail/boats.
Grand Floridian Villas (the DVC counterpart to The Grand Floridian):
Very pretty rooms, very deluxe feel.
There is even a tv in the bathroom mirror?!
Close to Magic Kingdom
Access to monorail/boats.
Great splash area for the kids near DVC pool.
Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows (the DVC counterpart to The Polynesian Resort):
It’s the Polynesian! Iconic. Literally a classic resort.
The deluxe studios are so pretty, amazing choices in design and artwork.
Access to monorail/boat.
Kona Cafe, Access to Dole Whips at Pineapple Lanai, Trader Sam’s Tiki Bar, ‘Ohana
Close to Magic Kingdom and Transportation and Ticket Center.
Very cool splash area for the kids by main pool.
Disney’s BoardWalk Villas (the DVC counterpart to The Boardwalk Inn):
Location, close to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Close to Swan and Dolphin.
Great views of the lake and Boardwalk.
Nice atmosphere, great for walking.
Several places on Boardwalk make it interesting, Jelly Rolls, ESPN, Big River Grille, Abracadabar, Ample Hills Creamery, Trattoria al Forno, shops, etc.
Classic Luna Park pool (the clown pool) with a nice slide and neat old timey pool bar.
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Normally would have access to Stormalong Bay arguable the coolest pool at Walt Disney World (currently closed, hadn’t reopened yet due to covid)
Location, close to Epcot and Hollywood Studios (a bit of a walk)
Close to Swan and Dolphin
Beaches and Cream!! One of the most fun resort restaurants.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House and Kidani Village
The theming. A sprawling complex of Jambo House and Kidani Village makes this resort feel much bigger, having exotic animals makes it quite unique, the rich earth tones and design style makes you feel like you aren’t in Florida anymore but transported to an African lodge.
Short bus ride to Animal Kingdom theme park.
Access to animal viewing areas, or savannah view rooms.
Food options among the best, Boma buffet (may currently be closed), Jiko, The Mara, Sanaa (at Kidani Village).
Select resort activities only available at Animal Kingdom Lodge – Wanyama safari (limited access and additional cost) and nighttime animal viewing (free).
😉 *Zebra Domes*
Boulder Ridge Villas and Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Great location, close to Magic Kingdom via bus or boat.
Rustic lodge theme, very nice resort lobby.
New DVC pool is very nice. Nice splash area for the kids at the main pool.
Geyser Point Grill is one of the better places for quick service type dining.
*One of my personal favorites.
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Close to Disney Springs via boat.
Nice larger rooms, 2 queen beds in deluxe studios
Several smaller pools around the resort.
Olivia’s restaurant which is very good.
Close to Typhoon Lagoon.
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Close to Disney Springs, even walkable if in the Congress Park area.
Large main pool, several other small pools throughout the resort.
Decent rooms and some nice golf course or Disney Springs views.
Close to Typhoon Lagoon.
I haven’t been to Disney’s Riviera yet, but it looks very nice and upscale. The new Skyliner will likely be a draw for those who want to have access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
I know Animal Kingdom Lodge is a favorite for some of our friends and family. The most unique rooms are the savannah view rooms. Both adults and children are amazed by the animals on the savannahs, as well as the all around grandeur of the Animal Kingdom Lodge.
All things considered, I am just thankful for being able to go, choosing a fun resort is just icing on the cake. I know many people are just thrilled to be on Disney property.
Can you pick a favorite? Does one really speak to you and feel like home? Is it different than the rest of your friends or family? Do you like to go back to the same resort or try different resorts? Do you choose to stay off property?