How to Choose the Right Disney Resort for Your Family

Staying right in the middle of the magic at a Walt Disney World Resort is critical to ensuring your vacation is fun, carefree, and low-stress. If you have decided to stay at a Walt Disney World Resort, it’s time to select and book the best Resort option for your family. We have some points to consider if you are wondering how to choose a suitable Disney Resort for your family.

Get A Headcount

A firm head count of your travel group is imperative when researching and booking a Walt Disney World Resort. Are you looking for a Resort that can sleep 5 Guests in a room? Would you prefer a set of adjoining rooms? Are you looking for a club-level space that can sleep your whole travel gang with a kitchen and dining area?

 

Knowing a definitive number of people in your travel party and; understanding how much everyone is willing to spend before booking your Resort room is necessary for securing the Resort room that best suits your needs. Saratoga Springs is a great hidden gem for larger travel parties Classic Deluxe Resorts like Disney’s Contemporary Resort are crowd-pleasers for families of 4 or fewer because of the Disney World history and convenient location.

If you need to book a family suite, you can find options at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney’s All-Star-Music Resort, Art of Animation Resort, Fort Wilderness Resort, and Coronado Springs Resort, to name just a few.

Park Plan

Decide on your Park plan before you dive into Resort booking. To make an informed decision, you should understand what area of the Walt Disney World Property you will visit most often. Staying as close as possible to the Park you will spend the most time in will save you commute time each day.

A huge perk of staying on the Disney Property is convenience; make Disney transportation even more convenient by knowing where you will spend most time so you can choose a nearby Disney Resort.

Need an example? Disneys Animal Kingdom Lodge is an excellent Deluxe Resort but not the best choice for a group looking to spend most of their Park time at EPCOT or Hollywood Studios. Walkable options like Disney’s Beach Club Resort or Skyliner Resorts like Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort would be better choices.

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Lodging Budget

Researching the cost of Resorts and deciding how much of your vacation budget will be allocated for lodging is an integral part of the planning process. The great news is Disney Resorts vary in price and range from Value Resorts to Deluxe Resorts. Location, theming, nearby restaurants, activities, and amenities vary by Resort. If you are looking for the right fit and want to amp up the magic without breaking the bank, consider a Disney Moderate Resort.

From Port Orleans Riverside to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort or Coronado Springs, take the time to chat with a Cast Member on the Disney website or watch vlogs and room tours online to learn more about how to get the best room for your family while staying within your lodging budget.

Know Resort Transportation

With bus, boat, ferry, monorail, and walking options available, you will have no trouble finding a way to Walt Disney World Parks. However, investigating transport to your Resort is important for those interested in cutting as much transport time off their Park commute each day or those opposed to specific transportation options.

Saratoga Springs, Port Orleans Riverside, and Port Orleans Resort French Quarter have a superb boat service to transport Guests to Disney Springs. Still, this fun transport option is useless if you’d rather not float to your shopping destination. If crowded Disney buses bother you, steer clear of Resorts with exclusive bus transportation like All-Star Resorts and other Value Resorts.

If minimizing walking is vital for your family, research the Resort size and layout of your top Resort contenders. While you can request a room closer to the pools, bus stops, or other amenities when booking. Some resorts are quite large. Parties looking to avoid lots of walking time should steer clear of more sprawling Value and Disney Moderate Resorts.

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Sleuth Out Dining Options

Is Disney dining high on your vacation to-do list? Then you will want to understand what dining options are available at or near your Resort. Value Resorts have quick service eateries for Guests, while Moderate Resorts have a table service restaurant and quick service option on the property. Deluxe Resorts offers multiple quick service, table service dining options, and sometimes bars and coffee spots.

Even if Resort dining options is not a concern, consider your Resort location and travel time when booking your Disney Resort hotel. If you are planning on dining multiple nights at EPCOT or Deluxe Resorts on the monorail line, staying closer to the Magic Kingdom or the Disney BoardWalk may make your trip to the restaurants each evening easier and leave you with more time to spare.

Research Pools

If swimming and relaxing poolside is on your agenda, hit Youtube and TikTok for research. For my family, the Resort pools are a huge selling point. If the pool is a big part of your vacation, I would suggest looking at the pool maps provided on each Resort page on the Walt Disney World booking website.

All Walt Disney World pools are incredible, but closer research will ensure you have the waterslide, snack bar, splash pad, or kiddie pool your family needs to have even more fun!

Activity Schedules

Staying in the middle of the magic means fun activities are around every corner at your Walt Disney World Resort. You may be surprised to learn that parties, trivia, movies, and more are part of the itinerary at a Disney Resort. Review the activity guides online when making your Resort selection, or chat with Cast Members to see what might be happening around your Resort each day.

Pool dance parties, trivia, bike rental opportunities, archery, campfire time, horseback rides, arcades, and movies under the stars are just a few of the activities offered at Walt Disney World Resorts.

Theming Must Haves

Theming may not be something you think of in ordinary life, but you are on vacation! Maybe you want an upscale rustic experience like you’ll find at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Perhaps you want cartoon character-clad Disney fun as Guests enjoy at Art of Animation Resort. Review the Disney website in detail to understand what vibe you are going for so you can book appropriately.

If you have young children, the fun Art of Animation rooms and pools will leave them in awe. If you are traveling with a group of teens, the nautical beauty of Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and easy access to the Disney BoardWalk will excite them. Princess and the Frog fans will adore the magical New Orleans-themed rooms with characters on the walls at Port Orleans French Quarter. Little details make all the difference at Walt Disney World.

We hope this guide is helpful as you search for the best Disney World Hotel for your Disney vacation. Happy vacation planning!