Your Ultimate Guide to Disney World Hotel Tiers.
Can’t decide where to stay at Walt Disney World? Start here!
One of the biggest decisions when planning a vacation to Walt Disney World is where to stay. Disney offers several options for every budget level, each with its own pros and cons. The choices can be overwhelming, so I have broken them down to make it easier.
First, letās talk about the āDisney bubble.ā You may have seen this term when planning your trip and understanding what the bubble is does play an important role in hotel decisions. Essentially, the Disney bubble is all property located within Disneyās boundary. When you stay within the bubble, you will have full theming everywhere you go, have access to free transportation options and have additional perks for your time in the parks.
Staying outside of the Disney bubble can save you some money on a nightly rate, but will incur transportation costs and you may not have access to early admission hours or be able to book ride reservations as early as those staying in the bubble.
Starting inside the Disney bubble, you have a variety of options, with price ranges and amenities.
Campgrounds
Offered at Disneyās Fort Wilderness Resort, you can bring your tent and camp for $150/night or bring your camper or RV and even rent a cabin (prices vary). Cabins are considered a moderate option. Standard parking is included for one vehicle at each campsite. You can also use a golf cart to get around the resort which also includes pools, shower facilities, a store and a restaurant.
Value Resorts
Value resorts are the next level up and are priced based on amenities. The rooms are pretty small (260 sq.ft.) but recently renovated and have plenty of storage. They include a queen bed and a queen-sized Murphy bed that doubles as a small dining area. These rooms have a mini fridge and a small coffee maker. The resorts will have multiple pools, a store and a food court. Some resorts will share buses so transportation can be a little slow. Prices range from $100-$250 per night at All-Star resorts, or $200-$600 per night at POP! Century or Art of Animation. POP and AoA are connected to the Skyliner transportation system, making it convenient to get to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios from these resorts.
Moderate Resorts
The next level up comes with some nice amenities. The room includes a mini fridge and coffee maker, and some will have a microwave. Some resorts offer a ā5th sleeper,ā which is a fold-down bed for a toddler or small child. Moderate resorts will have larger rooms (314 sq. ft.) than value and a little more dĆ©cor and theming. Pools will have slides, and some will have hot tubs as well. Moderates will have a food court option and a restaurant option. Many of them also have beaches with hammocks and sitting areas. Rates will range from $260-$450/night.
Deluxe Resorts
This is the top-level of resorts available. These will come with kitchenettes. Deluxe resorts will have larger rooms, including a studio, one, two, or three-bedroom options. The resorts include Disney Vacation Club levels (see below). Rooms can include balconies and in-room laundry and will have several dining options. They are also located closest to the parks. Many of them also include āvillaā options, which can include cabins on the water or rooms with lofts and offer a great option for larger families. These rooms will run between $450-$4,000 a night.
Deluxe Villas
The ultimate luxury option at Walt Disney World, deluxe villas are available at 12 resorts and include 1-, 2-, or 3-bedroom options, including cabins or bungalows along the water. Villas include a full kitchen, spacious living and dining areas, private bedrooms, washers and dryers, patios or screened porches with a small personal pool.
Disneyās Swan and Dolphin Resorts
Conveniently located between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, these two resorts share property and are operated by Marriott International, not Disney. It has all the perks of staying within the Disney bubble with the bonus of being a Marriott property and eligible for their Bonvoy rewards program. The Swan and Dolphin resorts are often packaged with Costco or AAA travel packages and can save guests money over the other Disney resort options.
Shades of Green Resort
This is an exclusive resort for military members and their families. The resort has a dedicated website at shadesofgreen.org, so you will not find it as a listed resort on Disneyās website. Rooms include standard rooms and suites for families of any size. You must meet eligibility requirements to stay at this resort and to take advantage of additional discounts for members of the military, active or retired.
Disney Vacation Club (DVC)
The Disney Vacation Club is a Disney timeshare. Many of Disney’s resorts have timeshare purchase options that can be very pricey but lock in rates for future years using a point system. This means that DVC owners get their rooms at Disney resorts far lower than the rack rate (currently nightly rate).
Gateway Hotels
These are located off Disney property (outside the bubble) but still have the perks of the resort hotels. Check Disneyās website for the full list because they do change. You can find well-known hotel chains, including Hilton and Marriott.
Off-property hotels
This category of hotels will be outside of the Disney bubble and will not have any of the Disney resort perks. However, you can find some good deals if the price is a concern. Hotels.com is a great resource for these. Look for āLake Buena Vista, FLā or use the zip code 32830. You will not have any Disney perks at these hotels, meaning early extra hours or free transportation to the parks.
Now that I have covered all of the options for hotel stays at Walt Disney World, making the decision to stay in or outside of the bubble and aligning with your budget should be a snap.
