We have recently covered the Disney attractions that you have done after experiencing once and the Disney restaurants you have done after dining at once. So now itโs time to look at the Disney Resort hotels.
There are twenty-two Resort hotels to choose from when visiting the Walt Disney World Resort. The Resorts are split into three categories, offering something to suit every budget. The three categories are Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. Additionally, there are the Disney Vacation Club Resorts to experience for Guests looking for a little more luxury. The Disney Vacation Club Resorts are generally extensions of other Disney hotels, except for the following Resorts where all accommodation is a Studio or Deluxe Villa:
- Disneyโs Saratoga Springs Resort
- Disneyโs Old Key West Resort
- Disneyโs Riviera Resort
But which Disney World hotels do you only need to stay in once? Letโs look at the Disney Resort hotels that we think are done after one stay.
Disneyโs Art of Animation Resort
Weโll begin with the newest Disney Value Resort in Lake Buena Vista. Disneyโs Art of Animation Resort opened in 2012 and immerses Guests in Disney animation. The Disney Resort is located at the end of the Disney Skyliner line, across Crescent Lake from Disneyโs Pop Century Resort. There are four sections to the Resort:
- theย Carsย (2006) section
- theย Finding Nemoย (2003) section
- The Lion Kingย (1994) section
- The Little Mermaidย (1989) section
Each section has larger-than-life characters and is home to themed Guest rooms and suites. The family suites can be found in theย Cars,ย Finding Nemo, andย The Lion Kingย sections, whileย The Little Mermaidย section is where regular Guest rooms are located. But why is it a Resort that you only need to stay in once?
The family suites are something to consider for Guests with larger parties. However, they do come at a cost. While Disneyโs Art of Animation Resort is only classed as a Value Resort, it is generally expected to be more expensive to stay in than any of the Moderate Resort hotels. The Moderate Resorts include Disney’s Port Orleans Resort, Disneyโs Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disneyโs Coronado Springs Resort.
Guests who are happy with a standard Guest room can expect a particularly long walk back to their Guest room throughout their stay. Standard Guest rooms are located inย The Little Mermaidย section, which is at the furthest point of the Resort. Guests are also located a fair distance from the front desk, bus stop, merchandise store and quick-service location, and the Big Blue Pool, the main pool at the Disney Resort. Be prepared to do extra walking when staying in Disneyโs Art of Animation Resort if you plan on staying in a standard Guest room.
We love to visit Disneyโs Art of Animation Resort during a Disney vacation. Still, youโll find us choosing to stay in its neighbor Resort, Disneyโs Pop Century, for a lower price but an equally great location.
Disneyโs Coronado Springs Resort
Located across the street from Disneyโs Blizzard Beach water park, Disneyโs Coronado Springs Resort is inspired by Mexico. The Disney Resort is now home to Gran Destino Tower, which offers Guests the first Moderate Resort Club Level experience. The addition of Gran Destino Tower to the Disney hotel has brought different dining experiences for Guests to enjoy, making Disneyโs Coronado Springs Resort the Moderate Resort with the most restaurants. The restaurants that Guests can dine in at the Disney Resort hotel include:
- Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood
- Three Bridges Bar & Grill at Villa del Lago
- Six Sports Bar & Grill
- Barcelona Lounge
- Siestas Cantina
- Maya Grill
- Cafe Rix
- El Mercado de Coronado
- Laguna Bar
Guests can choose to stay in a standard Guest room located around the edge of Lago Dorado or in a Guest room that may offer fireworks viewing in Gran Destino Tower. The pool area at Disneyโs Coronado Springs is inspired by a Mayan and Aztec pyramid, making for a picturesque pool area to spend time at.
But when it comes to Disney Moderate Resorts, Disneyโs Coronado Springs Resort is the hotel you can check off your list after staying once. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, the Resort is large, requiring multiple bus stops. This has been known to cause delays for Guests wishing to use the Walt Disney World Transportation System Buses, particularly in the early morning. The Disney Resort is also located closest to Disneyโs Animal Kingdom, making for a long bus journey to Magic Kingdom Park and Disney Springs.
Disneyโs Coronado Springs is also home to a convention center that is frequently used throughout the year. Guests whose vacation coincides with a convention at Disneyโs Coronado Springs may find that the Resort is busy with convention Guests, causing noise around Guest rooms early in the morning. This is helpful if you plan on an early morning during each day of your vacation, but if you are a light sleeper or hope to have a slower morning, your plans may be disturbed.
We love to visit Disneyโs Coronado Springs Resort to take a stroll and enjoy the restaurant choices available. However, weโd choose to stay in Disneyโs Port Orleans Riverside or French Quarter Resort.ย
Disneyโs Beach Club Resort
Disneyโs Beach Club Resort is located on the shores of Cresent Lake and just a short walk from EPCOT International Gateway. Its location also makes it perfect for accessing Disneyโs Hollywood Studios quickly and provides easy access to multiple dining and merchandise locations in its neighbor Resorts. Known for its pastel blue and green buildings, this Deluxe Disney Resort is the place to kick back and enjoy a seaside escape. Guests can enjoy character dining in Cape May Cafe at breakfast and a seafood buffet in the evening. Disneyโs Beach Club lobby and grounds are relaxing places to sit, and The Solarium is the place to relax and have some family time around a board game.
Guests staying in Disneyโs Beach Club have the pleasure of being able to access Stormalong Bay. It isnโt just any pool area but a water park offering a lazy river, water slide, sand-bottomed pool, and jacuzzi spa. Disneyโs Yacht Club Guests can also use Stormalong Bay, with the pool area between the Deluxe Disney Resorts. Stormalong Bay is a reason to stay in Disneyโs Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, as access is only granted to Resort Guests.
But why can you check this Disney Resort off your list once you have stayed there? Stormalong Bay most definitely entices Guests to return to Disneyโs Beach Club and its close proximity to EPCOT theme park and Disneyโs Hollywood Studios. If you are looking for theming, we felt underwhelmed by Disneyโs Beach Club Resort. The Guest rooms are decorated in neutral tones, and the lobby lacks the grandeur of other Deluxe Disney Resorts. In terms of theming, we prefer the more luxurious feel that Disneyโs Yacht Club provides. Alternatively, we like the activities and surroundings offered by a Disney Skyliner stop away from EPCOT in Disneyโs Rivera Resort.
Disneyโs Contemporary Resort
Located on the shores of Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon, Disneyโs Contemporary Resort is an original hotel that opened with Magic Kingdom Park in 1971. Known for its A-Frame, the Deluxe Disney Resort is a short walk away from the Disney Park and is the Resort that all Guests of the Disney Monorail pass through.ย
Disneyโs Contemporary Resort is deceiving in size. Most Guests will expect Guest rooms to be located in the A-Frame. However, there are surprisingly several other parts of the Resort located in the Garden Wing. Guest rooms in this part of the Resort are accessed externally and offer views of Bay Lake or Seven Seas Lagoon. Follow the walkway from the 4th floor of Disneyโs Contemporary Resort, and Guests will reach Bay Lake Tower, which is part of the Disney Vacation Club.ย
The Disney Deluxe Resort, which is located just one Disney Monorail stop away from Magic Kingdom Park, is an excellent spot for dining. There are several full-service restaurants to choose from at Disneyโs Contemporary Resort and quick-service locations as well. These include:
- Steakhouse 71
- California Grill
- Chef Mickeyโs
- Contempo Cafe
- Contemporary Grounds
- The Sand Bar
Disneyโs Contemporary Resort appears to have a lot going for it, so why is it a Resort that weโd choose to stay in once, and once only? Let us explain. The first and foremost reason is cost. Disneyโs Contemporary Resort is most likely to be among the five most expensive Disney Resort hotels when visiting Lake Buena Vista. We love a little luxury, but when you plan on visiting the Disney theme parks for most of your stay, it isnโt easy to justify spending a significant amount on accommodation.
The second reason Disneyโs Contemporary Resort is a once-only stay is transport. The Disney Resort is ideally located if you plan on spending most of your time in Magic Kingdom, but if you want to visit other Disney Parks and Disney Springs, you can expect a long bus journey. Guests will often find that the buses that service Disneyโs Contemporary Resort also service Disneyโs Wilderness Lodge during quiet times. This can result in busy bus journeys and longer journeys as well.
It is also worth considering that access to and from EPCOT may be limited to the Disney Monorail, especially during peak times of the day when buses are required to service other Disney Resorts without access to other modes of Disney transport. This is the same for Guests staying in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. You may find a long line for the Disney Monorail when you wish to return to Disneyโs Contemporary Resort. Using the Disney Monorail to travel between Disneyโs Contemporary Resort, and the other Magic Kingdom Resort hotels, and EPCOT also requires a change of line at the Transportation and Ticket Center.
Our Favorite Resorts
You may be wondering which Disney Resorts we choose to return to, as we have ones that we would instead check off our list than return to. Regarding Value Resorts, weโre happy to stay in any of the Disney All-Stars Resorts or Disney’s Pop Century. Disneyโs Pop Century is likely to be the one we choose if itโs available, as access to the Disney Skyliner makes for easier access to EPCOT and Disneyโs Hollywood Studios than only having access to the Disney Buses like Disneyโs All-Star Resorts.
In terms of Moderate Resorts, Disneyโs Port Orleans Riverside Resort is the one weโd choose any day. The feeling and theming of the Disney Resort are what keep us going back. We also love its easy access to Disney Springs, Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, and Disneyโs Hollywood Studios. Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort is also easily accessed from its sister Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort. This provides additional access to a quick-service location, and lounge area.ย
When it comes to Deluxe Resorts, thereโs three that we would always choose between Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disneyโs Polynesian Village Resort, or Disneyโs Wilderness Lodge. Theming, dining locations, location, and luxurious experience are reasons weโd choose to stay in these Disney Resort hotels.
ย Thereโs no denying that weโd recommend every Guest to stay in every hotel in the Walt Disney World Resort to allow them to find their favorite Resort hotels and those they donโt wish to stay in again. Every Walt Disney World hotel helps add to a Guestโs Disney experience, creating memories inside and outside of the Resort. That being said, we canโt help but skip some of them in future Disney vacations. Unfortunately, Disneyโs Art of Animation, Disneyโs Coronado Springs, Disneyโs Contemporary Resort, and Disneyโs Beach Club Resorts are all hotels that fit into this category. We canโt deny that there is plenty to offer in these Resorts that we enjoy as a Disney Guest, but without staying there.
Do you agree with our choices, or have we listed your favorite Disney Resort hotel? Which Walt Disney World Resort hotels will you skip after staying once? And which ones do you return to, over and over again?