Which Walt Disney World Resort Hotel is Right For You?

Walt Disney World Tickets , Orlando , Travel Advice
Three girls sat on a hotel bed eating slices of pizza from a pizza box
Want to book a Walt Disney World stay? First you’ll need to choose the right hotel!
With so many different themes to choose from, and options to suit every budget and group size, choosing the best Disney Resort hotel for your holiday is no easy task, but we’re here to help!

It’s always hard to say goodbye to the magic of Walt Disney World Resort at the end of the day, but when you stay at a Disney Resort hotel, you don’t have to! From the moment you wake up to when your head hits the pillow again, you’ll be immersed in incredible theming, whether it be an African savannah or the magic of the movies. 

But it’s not just the theming that makes the Disney Resort hotels so special. Guests staying at these hotels can also make the most of some great benefits, including: 

  • Complimentary transportation to and from the Disney Parks, Water Parks and Disney Springs
  • Early access to one of the Walt Disney World Theme Parks every day (valid theme park admission required)
  • Immersive Disney experiences and Character Encounters 
  • Access to Genie+ and Lightning Lane bookings from 7am 
  • Extended evening park hours on select nights (for guests staying in Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts with valid park admission) 

But once you’ve decided to stay onsite at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, the difficult part is choosing which Disney Resort hotel to call home… 

 

The best hotel for… Families 

Disney’s Pop Century Resort - Disney’s Hollywood Studios Resort Area

Little kids will love the larger than life theming at this hotel, featuring iconic toys and pop culture characters from the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. From the giant sculptures of Baloo, Mowgli, Lady and Tramp to huge yo-yos, computers and foosball players, this hotel has the perfect combination of Disney touches for kids and nostalgic references for their parents. 

Disney’s Pop Century Resort is one of the Disney Resort hotels that now benefits from the Disney Skyliner, taking guests to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This is particularly ideal for families with pushchairs, as they don’t need to be collapsed to ride - just wheel them in and you’re good to go! 

 

A man with a young boy on his shoulders walking next to a large statue of Mowgli and Baloo from The Jungle Book

 

 

The best hotel for… Adults-Only

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort - Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort Area

Thanks to its recent expansion to include the beautiful Gran Destino Tower, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort has become one of the best hotels for adults at Walt Disney World Resort. The refurbished rooms are modern and sleek with just a hint of Disney theming in the artwork and there are three smaller pools in addition to the large main pool for those wanting a quieter swim. 

But the draw for many adults will be the incredible array of restaurants and bars at this hotel. From the tapas restaurant at the top of Gran Destino Tower and the Three Bridges Bar and Grill set in the middle of the lake, to the quick service El Mercado de Coronado and the Laguna Bar, there are options to suit all budgets and tastes. 

 

Two men eating tapas and drinking wine at a restaurant

 

 

The best hotel for… Night Owls 

Disney’s Contemporary Resort - Magic Kingdom Resort Area

Disney’s Contemporary Resort is one of three hotels on the Magic Kingdom Park monorail loop, making it super easy to get to this Park at any time of the day. This is the perfect hotel therefore for guests who might like to take it easy in the mornings and then stay in the Parks until late into the evening. Magic Kingdom Park is usually the Park that is open the latest, often closing at 11pm during the summer months. 

And, on nights with extended evening hours, which you can make the most of at this hotel and any other Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resort, Magic Kingdom Park can stay open until 1am! If you’re staying until that late, you’ll definitely be grateful for your hotel being just one stop away on the monorail. 

 

An a-frame hotel building with a monorail travelling out through the middle

 

 

The best hotel for… Little Princes and Princesses 

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort - Riverside - Disney Springs Resort Area

If you’ve got a Disney Princess fanatic in your family (or maybe you are one yourself!) then the Royal Guest Rooms at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort - Riverside will be perfect for your stay at Walt Disney World Resort. These rooms are designed to have special touches from all of the Princes and Princesses, including taps shaped like Aladdin’s lamp, the footstool from Beauty and the Beast, and a special message from Princess Tiana herself. 

 

A hotel room with two beds decorated with Disney Princess touches

 

 

The best hotel for… Animal Lovers 

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge - Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort Area

Who wouldn’t want to wake up to views of giraffes, zebras and antelope as they sit on their balcony? When you stay in a savannah view room at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge you’ll get the chance to see these and more, every single day of your stay. This stunning hotel has been designed to look just like an African savannah, with animals freely roaming throughout the day. 

Even if you don’t have a savannah view room, there are still plenty of areas around the hotel where you can sit and admire the animals, including around the campfire while toasting s’mores! 

 

Two giraffes standing in front of an African-themed hotel building

 

 

The best hotel for… Beach Lovers 

Disney’s Beach Club Resort - EPCOT Resort Area

Just as the name suggests, a stay at Disney’s Beach Club Resort will transport you to the stunning beach towns of New England. Whether you want to play in the sand-bottomed pool (also featuring a lazy river and waterslide!) or lounge on the real sand beach looking out towards Crescent Lake and Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, this resort is perfect for beach lovers wanting to relax when they’re not in the theme parks. 

No visit to the beach is complete without an ice cream! Guests staying at this hotel also need to make the most of Beaches and Cream Soda Shop, where you can get delicious milkshakes and huge ice cream sundaes! 

 

Two young children smiling at each other while eating an ice-cream sundae

 

 

The best hotel for… Nature Lovers

The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort - Magic Kingdom Resort Area

For those guests wanting to experience a taste of the great outdoors in between their theme park visits, The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort have all kinds of incredible recreation activities for the whole family. Get active with bike and canoe rentals, be at one with the animals with horse-drawn carriage rides or a visit to the Tri-Circle-D Ranch, and join Disney friends at Chip ‘N’ Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long. 

And when you do want to ride a few attractions, Magic Kingdom Park is just a boat ride away! 

 

People on a wooden bridge watching other people canoe along a river

 

 

The best hotel for… Guests on a Budget

Disney’s All-Star Music Resort - Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort Area

If you’re wanting to make the most of the benefits you get when staying onsite at a Disney Resort hotel but need to stick to a smaller budget, Disney’s All-Star Music Resort is perfect. While Disney’s All-Star Resorts are the most affordable of the Disney Resort hotels, you’ll still experience the same level of fantastic Disney service and comfort. This is a great hotel for any big music lovers as well, with each block themed to a different musical genre including country, calypso, rock & roll and broadway! 

 

A man and woman swinging a young boy between them in front of a hotel building with a statue of a large jukebox

 

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Walt Disney World Tickets , Orlando , Travel Advice