Hello Jane,
Thanks for stopping by planDisney with your question! Finding the "perfect" resort happens to be one of the biggest hurdles for me when planning our Walt Disney World vacations. There are so many great options, how do you choose just one? The first thing I do is go to the website and
enter my travel dates, if I know them, and the number of people going on vacation. Some resorts only have rooms that sleep 4 adults, while others can accommodate 5 or more. This way I can see what's even available during my planned vacation.
Then, it comes down to three factors: budget, location, and amenities.
Budget: What are you comfortably willing or able to spend? Sure, we all want to stay in one of the luxurious suites at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, but that's definitely not in my budget. Fortunately, there are a ton of options among Value, Moderate, and Deluxe Resorts. Of course, Deluxe Resorts will offer more amenities including close proximity to at least one park, larger rooms, sometimes character dining or signature dining in your hotel, fitness centers, and more. However, all Disney Resorts have unique theming that will put you right inside the magic. Be sure to check out
Special Offers. Sometimes, you may think you can only afford a Value Resort, but there may be a deal that helps you upgrade to a Moderate or even Deluxe accommodation.
Location: If I can, I like to choose a resort that provides easy transportation to at least one park. If you are renting a car, this may not be an issue for you, but we rely solely on Disney Transportation, so we like to stay somewhere that allows us to take the monorail, Disney Skyliner, or even walk to the parks. In the past this pretty much limited our choices to Deluxe Resorts. Now with Disney Skyliner,
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort,
Pop Century Resort, and
Art of Animation Resort are some more affordable options that we often consider.
Amenities: Walt Disney World Resorts all have fantastic theming that put you inside the magic. Resorts offer poolside activities, movies under the stars, early morning entry to the parks, complimentary transportation around Walt Disney World, and a ton of other features. Some differentiators: Value Resorts only offer quick service dining, Moderate Resorts have both quick service and table service, and Deluxe often have added signature dining and character dining restaurants. Every resort has multiple pool areas, but Moderate and Deluxe Resorts have a main pool with a waterslide. Both Value and Moderate hotels typically have rooms you enter from the outside (like motels), and at the Deluxe Resorts you enter from an interior hallway (like a typical hotel). Deluxe Resorts also have a fitness center, or access to the fitness center at an adjacent resort. Bonus: if you are staying at a Deluxe or a Deluxe Villa Resort, there are
Extended Evening Theme Park Hours on select nights.
Hope this helps you get started with planning your magical vacation!
Diane