The Cons of Disney Resorts that No-one Mentions

Walt Disney World Resort hotels are a significant part of the Disney experience for many Guests. Whether you are a Disney Resort hotel Guest or are just stopping by for a Disney dining reservation or browse around a Resort, it’s a chance to break way from the crowds, and enjoy Disney design and architecture in a whole new way.

Staying in a Disney hotel can add a new level of magic to any vacation in Lake Buena Vista. From having Disney dining experiences on your doorstep, to stunning pools to chill at, and a themed hotel room. You won’t regret choosing to stay at a Walt Disney World Resort, even if it does cost you a few more dollars than other hotels in Orlando. However there are a few cons that we’ve discovered that nobody ever mentions.

Keep reading to find out about things you may want to consider before making a reservation at a Disney World hotel…

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Located around the corner from Disney’s Animal Kingdom, this Deluxe Resort hotel offers Guests an experience like no other. Who wouldn’t want to wake up to a view of the savannah every morning of their Disney vacation? Staying here, you’ll also have easy access to several delicious restaurants, a grand lobby and a pool area that has flamingos as it’s neighbor. 

There’s just one problem though – location. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is a fair distance away from the rest of the Walt Disney World Resort. As such, you can expect time to nap on the Disney Transportation System, when travelling back to Animal Kingdom Lodge, after a day in Magic Kingdom Park.

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground offers Guests the chance to camp on Disney property, or stay in spacious log cabins amongst the trees. However, the sheer size of this Disney Resort means that you really do feel like you are deep in the wilderness. Fort Wilderness covers 750 acres, and so, Guests are likely to need to use the internal bus loop to access any of the amenities at the Resort. This will include using the Disney Transportation System to get to the Disney Parks and Disney Springs, unless visiting Magic Kingdom, which can be accessed via the boat across Bay Lake.

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Blending Spanish, Mexican and Southwest American cultures, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is a lakeside oasis. Including the recent expansion of Gran Destino Tower, the Disney hotel has 1951 Guest rooms available. Whilst that may seem a lot, it makes sense given that this Disney Resort hotel is also a convention center. Whilst this won’t affect most Guests, it is worth checking to see if there are any conventions being hosted at the Disney Resort during your planned Disney vacation.

If there is a convention taking place during your visit to the Walt Disney World Resort, and you have a reservation in Disney’s Coronado Springs, then we highly recommend doing one of two things:

• enquire about transferring your reservation to a different Disney Resort
• requesting that your Guest room be located in a different part of the Resort to the convention Guests’ rooms

Speaking from experience, staying in Coronado Springs during a convention can bring about extra traffic to the Resort. As such, the Disney hotel may not feel as relaxed as you would like. Convention Guests are also likely to have early starts, that may result in movement and noise outside of your Guest room when you’ve planned for a lazy morning. 

Magic Kingdom Resort Hotels

When staying on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon, Guests have access to three modes of transport: the Disney Transportation System buses; the Disney Monorail; and the boats across Seven Seas Lagoon. Whilst Guests may find it really easy to get to Magic Kingdom from the Grand Floridian, Polynesian Village and Contemporary Resorts, it may make it a little more difficult getting to and from EPCOT. 

Due to the Disney Monorail service between the Ticket and Transportation Center and EPCOT, Guests staying in the Magic Kingdom Resort hotels can expect less frequent Disney buses available to transport them to EPCOT, and back to their Resort hotel. Whilst this may not be an issue during the day, it may result in a line for the Disney Monorail following EPCOT park closure. 

EPCOT Resort Hotels

It could be said that Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, Yacht Club and Beach Club Resorts are in the perfect location within Walt Disney World, because they are within walking distance of two of the four Disney Parks. Of course, Guests can also access the FriendShip Boats across Crescent Lake that can transport Guests between the Deluxe Resorts, EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Whilst this mode of Disney transportation is perfect during the day, it may become a little frustrating when leaving Disney’s Hollywood Studios at park close. Guests may experience a long line for the FriendShip Boats at this time, when everyone is leaving the Disney theme park. It may be quicker to walk back to the EPCOT Resorts, but that’s easier said than done when your feet are sore after all the walking you have done during your Disney day.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

This Disney Value Resort offers Guests the chance to stay in themed family suites, surrounded by larger-than-life Disney characters. It also offers Guests an additional mode of Disney Transport to the Disney Buses, as it is at the end of the Disney Skyliner line. 

Whilst staying in a family suite provides you with easier access to the amenities in Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Guests choosing to stay in a regular Resort room can expect around a 10 minute walk to the amenities. The Little Mermaid section is placed at the far end of the Resort, which will add plenty of steps to your Disney vacation! With this in mind, we’d recommend staying in Disney’s Pop Century Resort, unless you are looking to stay in a Family Suite.

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort 

The buildings of this Disney Moderate Resort are fairly spread out, and so generally require a walk for Guests to access the hotel amenities at Old Port Royale. If your Guest room is located in the Trinidad section, then expect a longer walk than other sections have. Typically, this is where the Pirate Rooms are located. If staying in Trinidad, you may be more reliant on the internal bus service that operates around the Disney Resort. That being said, this is a beautiful Disney Resort to stay in, and is just a short walk away from Disney’s Riviera Resort as well. You can experience the best of both Resorts, particularly if your Guest room in Disney’s Caribbean Beach is located in the Aruba section.

Disney’s All-Star Resorts

Whilst the All-Star Resorts are generally the cheapest Disney Value Resort to stay in, Guests are guaranteed a comfortable stay, right in the heart of the Disney magic, surrounded by larger-than-life Disney characters. Due to their affordability, you will likely find the All-Star Resorts to be busy, particularly when using the Disney Bus stops. If staying in the Disney theme parks until park close, expect a longer wait at the bus stop when returning to your All-Star Resort.

Disney’s Saratoga Springs and Old Key West Resorts

Being part of the Disney Vacation Club, these Resorts offer Guests the chance to stay in larger Guest rooms, in the form of Studios through to a Deluxe Villa. However, they are fairly large Resorts. As such, Guests may need to make use of the internal Resort bus loop to access the hotel amenities. You may also tour the Disney Resort before arriving at the bus stop closest to your Guest room, when returning from a Disney Park.

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

This Deluxe Resort offers really easy access to EPCOT, by entering the Disney Park through International Gateway. Likewise, the Disney Resort is in close proximity to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and so Guests can travel to the Disney Park via FriendShip Boat, the Disney Skyliner, or by foot. As a Guest of Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, you have easy access to many restaurants and quick-service locations, as well as entertainment and activities. 

The only downside to staying in Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is the access to a refill station if you are planning on purchasing an Unlimited Refill Cup during your vacation. These cups allow Guests to have access to unlimited soda and hot beverage refills during their Disney vacation, around the Walt Disney World Resort hotels. The refill station at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is located in the BoardWalk Bakery. This quick-service location is generally open from 7:00 a.m. through 10:00 p.m. daily, offering an earlier closing time than other quick-service locations around the Disney hotels.

This leaves Guests with two options in terms of their refillable cup:

• make sure that you are visiting the refill station before you leave the Disney Resort for the evening, when planning to return later than 10:00 p.m. to ensure that you have a beverage to enjoy through the night
• or go without using your refillable cup, and instead pick up a beverage from a Disney Park before you leave.

Of course, Guests can use the refill station in the Beach Club Marketplace at Disney’s Beach Club Resort or The Market at Ale & Compass in Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, but expect at least a 20 minute round trip to top up.

Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort

Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter Resorts are ideally located in Lake Buena Vista; they are close to three of the four Disney theme parks; and are just a short boat ride away from Disney Springs. French Quarter is the smaller Port Orleans Resort, and therefore, only has one central bus stop. This may result in lines for the the Disney Transportation System Buses to the Disney Parks, particularly in the morning ahead of park opening times. If you are wanting to rope drop Disney’s Hollywood Studios or another Disney Park, you’ll certainly want to set an alarm for an early start, to make the first bus from French Quarter.

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Not only does this Disney hotel have access to the Disney Skyliner, but it’s also the smallest of the Value Resorts. Guests staying in their Resort will only have a short walk to the Classic Hall, Hippy Dippy Pool and bus stop, making it an ideal Resort to stay in. You have to be quick though to secure a reservation in Disney’s Pop Century, particularly during peak seasons, as it’s often the Value Resort that will have limited or no availability if you are booking a last-minute Disney vacation.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Tucked away on the shores of Bay Lake, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is grand and majestic. From delicious dining offerings to stunning scenery, and a lobby that every Guest should have the pleasure of standing in, it’s a real pleasure to stay here. The only con to this Resort is the bus service. From our experience, the wait for the Disney Buses can be quite lengthy at times. Location may play a part in this, as the Deluxe Resort is located close to Magic Kingdom, which is a little way out from the rest of the Walt Disney World Resort. When staying at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, be sure to check the Disney Bus times using the screen at the bus stop, as this may help you plan time at the Resort before leaving for another Disney Park, a little later on.

Whilst we have mentioned cons of Disney Resorts here, there are plenty of pros for each Resort that will likely outweigh any cons. These are just things to consider if you are struggling to decide between multiple Disney Resort hotels to stay in. It’s also helpful to be aware of cons ahead of your Disney vacation so that you can plan for potential ways to make adjustments to your time in the Walt Disney World Resort, to avoid the cons affecting the magical time you will have. 

Regardless of the Resort hotel that you choose to stay at, you’re guaranteed a magical time!