Disney World’s Villa Resorts (The Resorts Gal Guide)
Are you looking for extra room to spread out on your next Walt Disney World vacation? Disney World Villas might be your best option. These oversized units range from deluxe studios to three-bedroom grand villas. Guests who elect to stay in a villa will be privy to many of the amenities of the home.
Below, we discuss the Disney World Villas that comprise Disney’s Vacation Club. We rank the villas based on their amenities and provide a basic overview of Disney World’s Villas. Additionally, we’ve ranked them in order from our least favorite to the best. That said, we’d stay at any resort on any given day. They are all excellent options.
An Overview of Disney Villa Resorts
Disney World’s Villas, or Disney Deluxe Villas, are part of the Disney Vacation Club. These resorts are often referred to as deluxe villas because most offer the same amenities as the deluxe resorts. However, they are separately classified due to their unique accommodations.
Disney’s Vacation Club (DVC) is a private timeshare membership where members use purchased points to reserve rooms. DVC Members get a first-come, first-serve choice for these units when reservations become available.
Disney also rents these units to regular guests based on availability. Reservations can be made through a travel agent or directly through Disney. Points are converted to cash rates for regular guests. Additionally, most of the resorts are often included in special promotions.
Most of these Disney Vacation Club Resorts are located within a larger deluxe resort hotel. For instance, Beach Club Villas are part of Disney’s Beach Club Resort. However, a few of the villas are independent Disney Vacation Club Resorts. For example, Disney’s Riviera Resort is a dedicated DVC Resort.
Disney World Villa Resort List
Here is a list of the Disney World Villas:
Magic Kingdom Resorts Area
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Villas
- Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows
- The Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian
- Bay Lake Tower
- Disney’s Copper Creek Villas and Cabins
- Disney’s Boulder Ridge Villas
- The Cabins of Disney’s Fort Wilderness
Epcot Resorts Area
- Disney’s Beach Club Villas
- Disney’s Boardwalk Villas
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
Animal Kingdom Resorts Area
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas: Jambo House
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas: Kidani Village
Disney Springs Resort Area
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa
- Disney’s Treehouse Villas
For a list of the other category resorts, you can refer to our overview of Disney World Value Resorts or preview the guide to Disney World Moderate Resorts. Lastly, we have Disney World Deluxe Resorts.
Next, we’ll preview the different room types available at most Disney World Villas.
Disney World Villas Accommodations
Each Disney World Villa has room types that differ from standard hotel accommodations. Deluxe studios are the most common type and closest to a standard room.
Most deluxe studios sleep up to five guests. However, a few of these units only sleep four guests. So, you’ll want to be clear on how many beds you need when selecting a resort.
Each deluxe studio has a kitchenette with a microwave, a mini-fridge, dishes, a sink, and a few small appliances. Small appliances usually include a toaster oven and a standard coffee maker.
Most deluxe studio villas now feature a queen-size bed with a pull-down Murphy-style bed. Rooms that sleep up to five guests have a small pull-down trundle bed or a sofa that converts into a single bed. Most older queen-size sofa sleepers have been replaced. However, a few still exist.
If you’re looking for larger accommodations, most of the Disney World Villas offer these options in addition to the deluxe studios:
- One-Bedroom Villa
- Two-Bedroom Villa
- Three-Bedroom Grand Villa
Additionally, two-bedroom bungalows are available at Disney’s Polynesian Villas, and private cabins are available for rent at Copper Creek Villas at the Wilderness Lodge. Disney’s Fort Wilderness also offers cabins that sleep up to six adult guests.
Depending on which resort you choose, these larger units will vary in points and prices. All one-bedroom and larger villas offer a fully-equipped kitchen with an island. Additionally, they all have a washer and dryer in the unit.
Guests staying in deluxe studios have access to the villa laundry room at the resort. The laundry room is free for villa resort guests.
Generally, a one-bedroom sleeps four to five guests, a two-bedroom sleeps up to eight, and a three-bedroom grand villa often accommodates twelve guests. As always, there are a few nuances here and there, depending on which resort you’re considering.
Lastly, the renowned grand villa offers three bedrooms, three full baths, a dining area, and a full kitchen with an island. The sky is the limit when you get to the grand villa category.
Benefits to Guests of Disney Deluxe Villas
Guests staying at any Disney Resort have access to early theme park benefits. These benefits allow guests to enter the theme parks 30 minutes before park opening time.
This benefit is available daily at every theme park. Therefore, if you’re staying at a villa resort, you’ll have early access to the parks.
While this might not sound like a huge benefit, if you plan well, you’ll likely have time to ride a headliner attraction in the park first thing. You might also have time to get in line for a second attraction before off-property guests can enter the park.
Related: Disney Hotels with Early Theme Park Entry
Additionally, guests staying at deluxe and deluxe villa resorts have access to extended park hours on select nights. You can preview the extended hours benefit with a list of available attractions.
Best Disney World Villas Ranked
Below, we’ve ranked each villa based on several factors, including dining, transportation, recreation, and amenities.
#12 Disney’s Boulder Ridge Villas
Boulder Ridge Villas is one of two Disney Vacation Clubs at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. This villa resort is in its own wing between the bus stop and the main lobby.
Boulder Ride offers the following room types:
- Deluxe Studio
- One-Bedroom Villa
- Two-Bedroom Villa
- Two-bedroom Villa (with lock-off)
For those wondering, a lock-off villa combines a one-bedroom villa and a deluxe studio. When the units are used separately, the door between them is locked.
Initially, when we ranked Boulder Ridge Villas last, it was due to the rooms being dated. However, those rooms have officially been completely renovated. So don’t let this ranking discourage you from planning a stay.
Boulder Ridge is only a short boat ride from Magic Kingdom. The resort offers excellent recreation and dining options.
#11 Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Disney’s Old Key West Resort is a dedicated Disney Vacation Club Resort. It is also the original DVC Resort, making it the oldest.
With that said, this resort gets rave reviews, especially from the owners. Here are the room types offered:
- Deluxe Studio
- One-Bedroom Villa
- Two-Bedroom Villa
- Two-bedroom Villa (with lock-off)
- Three-Bedroom Grand Villa
We recently stayed in a deluxe studio at Old Key West and found it more spacious than most. Unfortunately, studios at this resort sleep up to four guests. However, it’s nice that two traditional queen-size beds are offered.
Like its name, Old Key West is designed to represent the best of the Florida Keys. The resort also has a wonderful dining location, Olivia’s Cafe, that is considered a bit of a hidden gem.
Some concerns might be that it is a little further out from some of the theme parks. However, boat transportation is provided to nearby Disney Springs.
Perhaps the biggest concern is that most buildings do not have elevators. So if you have an upper floor, accessing the room or dealing with luggage might be difficult. Our review of Old Key West discusses our experience with this issue in detail.
#10 Disney’s Boardwalk Villas
We’ve often stayed at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, including the Boardwalk Villas. This resort is charming. However, the major advantage to staying at Boardwalk Villas is being within walking distance of Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Not having to rely on transportation to get to the parks is a huge factor. But if walking too much is a concern, boat transportation to both parks is also available.
Here are the different villas offered at the resort:
- Deluxe Studio
- One-Bedroom Villa
- Two-Bedroom Villa
- Three-Bedroom Grand Villa
Guests staying in the area will find a nice variety of table-service dining options. Unfortunately, finding reasonable quick-service dining locations in the Epcot Resorts Area is difficult.
Related: Disney’s Boardwalk Villas Review
#9 Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Disney’s Beach Club Resort is our favorite resort, so it may surprise you that Beach Club Villas is ranked lower on this list.
As much as I love to stay here, the deluxe studio had an uncomfortable sofa sleeper. It was so uncomfortable that I’d choose a standard resort room over the studio in the future. However, those sofa sleepers were converted to pull-down Murphy-style beds. We haven’t stayed in a deluxe studio since the remodel, but look forward to it!
As far as location, you can’t beat the walkability to two parks and the surrounding Epcot Resorts Area. Unfortunately, like Boardwalk, counter service options are lacking in the immediate area. Other than location, the biggest perk to staying at Beach Club Villas is having access to Stormalong Bay, which ranks at the top of our list of the best pools at Disney World.
Related: Disney’s Beach Club Villas
# 8 Bay Lake Tower
Of the villa resorts I’ve stayed at, Bay Lake Tower’s deluxe studio was the room I found most disappointing. While I love the tower, the deluxe studio has an odd layout, making the room feel smaller than most. You’ll either love it or hate it. That said, if you have plans to spend a reasonable amount of time at Magic Kingdom, the larger villas here are outstanding.
Options at Bay Lake Tower include:
- Deluxe Studio
- One-Bedroom Villa
- Two-Bedroom Villa (and lock-off)
- Three-Bedroom Villa
We have a complete review of Bay Lake Tower that details our last stay. Additionally, we have a room tour of a two-bedroom villa at Bay Lake Tower. Now that’s a room with no complaints!
Bay Lake Tower is connected via a bridge to Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Guests of the tower have access to the monorail and other resort amenities. Bay Lake Tower is also a short ten-minute walk to Magic Kingdom.
#7 Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa
Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa is one of the largest resorts at Walt Disney World. Additionally, it’s a dedicated Disney Vacation Club Resort. This resort is our seventh choice for location, including proximity to Disney Springs. You can walk or take a boat to Disney Springs from Saratoga, making this resort an excellent option for foodies. Disney Springs has a ton of excellent dining options.
Related: Disney Springs Best Restaurants List
Saratoga Springs underwent an entire resort refurbishment a few years ago, and the rooms have received rave reviews. Since the refurbishment, we’ve stayed in one of the new deluxe studios and loved the updates. Murphy beds replaced the old sofa sleepers, making a more comfortable sleeping situation for all!
Related: Deluxe Studio at Saratoga Springs
Saratoga Springs also features one, two, and three-bedroom villas. So, if you’re looking for extra space and a sprawling resort with tons of recreation, you might enjoy learning more about this resort. It’s a beautiful place!
Related: Saratoga Springs Resort Review
#6 Disney’s Copper Creek Villas and Cabins
Copper Creek Villas is one of the newer vacation club properties at the Walt Disney World Resort. A portion of these Disney World Villas is located off the lobby of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
Like Disney’s Polynesian bungalows, this villa resort has cabins available for rent. The cabins at Copper Creek are waterfront with two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a porch with a private hot tub. Talk about a bucket-list trip. Unfortunately, they do come with a high price tag.
We’ve stayed in a deluxe studio at Copper Creek several times since this portion of the resort opened. Besides the deluxe studio having a sofa sleeper, we love the resort and the layout of the rooms.
Related: Copper Creek Villas Review
#5 Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas-Jambo House
Our next choice for the best Disney World Villas is the Jambo House portion of the Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas. Jambo House is located in the main part of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Unlike most resorts, you won’t realize you’re staying in a separate DVC wing here. Instead, you’ll feel like you’re staying in a regular deluxe resort, only the rooms will be laid out differently.
Here are the types of villas available:
- Value Studio
- Deluxe Studio
- One-Bedroom Villa
- Two-Bedroom Villa (and lock-off)
- Three-Bedroom Villa
Additionally, the deluxe studio or larger units have a separate category booking that includes access to the Kilimanjaro Club Level at Animal Kingdom Lodge. This is the only resort that offers a DVC concierge option.
The club level is a private floor offering concierge services and a lounge that’s open most of the day. Services at the lounge include continental beverages, light snacks, hors-d’oeuvres, and desserts with cordials.
Related: Club Level at Disney’s Beach Club
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge ranks as our top choice for the best deluxe resort at Disney World. So don’t discount this option because it comes in as fifth on our list. My main complaint is that the deluxe studio at this resort has a sleeper sofa, which is a deal-breaker when we need a second bed.
Related: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Review
#4 Disney’s Grand Floridian Villas
Ranking these last few Disney World Villas has been challenging! But our next stop is the Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian. If you’ve always dreamed of staying at the Grand Floridian, the villas are the way to go! You get the best of both worlds: a short monorail ride away from the Magic Kingdom and access to extra amenities in your room!
Not only that, the entire resort recently underwent an extensive refurbishment. We haven’t stayed in the new DVC rooms yet, but from what we’ve seen so far–they are drop-dead gorgeous!
The Villas at Grand Floridian is located in one large building on the far side of the property. They have a covered walkway to the main building. So, if it’s raining, you can walk to the lobby without worrying about getting drenched. This building also sits on the same side of the resort as Disney’s Polynesian. Therefore, you can walk to the Polynesian Resort in less than 10 minutes! (Walkway might be closed due to construction.)
In addition to the Villas at Grand Floridian, Big Pine Key has also been converted into resort studios. These rooms are also available for regular guests to rent and are considered Disney World Villas.
Related: Disney’s Grand Floridian Villas Review
#3 Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas-Kidani Village
I hope you didn’t think the Animal Kingdom Lodge didn’t make it into the top three of our best Disney World Villas list. Since the resort has two villa sections, I felt one had the edge over the other. Kidani Village, a separate resort on the Animal Kingdom Lodge property, is a dedicated DVC Resort. Guests get the best of both worlds when staying here. You’ll have access to all the amenities at Kidani Village, including the pool and restaurants at Jambo House, the main lodge.
Kidani is a beautiful resort that is more boutique in size when it comes to the lobby. However, don’t let the size fool you. The resort is massive. So you could have a long walk to your room. But at least it will be air-conditioned.
Kidani Village and Jambo House are also home to exceptional dining locations like Boma–Flavors of Africa, Jiko–The Cooking Place, and Sanaa. We love to eat at all three of these table-service restaurants!
This resort also ranks high on our list because of its pool area. The Samawati Springs Pool has one of the top water play areas for children. The entire site provides a fantastic place for parents to relax!
And let’s not forget the obvious: Kidani Village provides the opportunity to see animals on the savanna as you come and go each day. What other hotel has that?
Related Articles: Kidani Village Resort Review
#2 Disney’s Polynesian Villas Resort
If you haven’t heard, the Polynesian recently underwent a lengthy resort refurbishment, and the new rooms are fabulous. We toured an updated deluxe studio, and due to its layout, it quickly became a favorite. These rooms are fabulous and feature a queen-size bed, a pull-down Murphy bed, and a single pull-down sleeper. So they sleep up to five guests.
Related: Deluxe Studio at Disney’s Polynesian
In addition to the deluxe studios, Disney’s Polynesian is home to two-bedroom Bora Bora bungalows on the water. However, these accommodations are pricey. We toured one when we previewed the deluxe studio, and all I can say is WOW! They are stunning!
Related: Bora Bora Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is a resort that promotes peace and relaxation. So, if you’re looking for a tropical getaway, you’ve found it.
#1 Disney’s Riviera Resort
Finally, we’ve made it to our top choice for the best Disney World Villas. It’s none other than Disney’s Riviera Resort. Disney’s Riviera Resort is a dedicated DVC Resort. The resort is only a Skyliner ride away from Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
At Disney’s Riviera, you can expect a blend of French and Italian influences with a Mediterranean flair. This resort is stunning and provides a luxurious feel that you won’t find anywhere else. Did I mention the food options here were phenomenal? Since the Riviera opened, we have found ourselves continually going back for dining.
Between the character breakfast at Topolino’s Terrace and the quick service at Primo Piatto, all the food options are excellent. You also won’t want to miss out on enjoying a treat from the coffee shop off the lobby!
Final Thoughts on the Disney World Villas
Hopefully, this article gave you a complete overview of the Disney World Villas. I often find that when I stay in a standard room, I miss the amenities offered in a deluxe studio, especially if my stay is longer than a few days.
However, villas can cost more, so you’ll want to weigh the value of those amenities against the price of a regular room. For example, if you prepare breakfast in your room each morning, it might make up for the price difference. But you’ll need to account for the cost of groceries. Personally, I love being able to order pizza or reheat leftovers in the microwave.
But if this is your one big trip to Disney or your only vacation for the year, you might not want to bother preparing food in your room. In that case, a deluxe studio might not be necessary.
However, having one of the units with a split bathroom so multiple guests can get ready simultaneously is a huge benefit. You won’t find that layout in any of the standard rooms.
Overall, the Disney World Villas are a good choice if you’re looking to accommodate a larger-than-average party or need a few extras. For more information, you might enjoy the following vacation planning articles.
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In the comments
Which of these Disney World Villas sounds like the best option to you? Is there a particular studio or villa that sounds like the perfect fit?
