Disney World Hotel Reviews (An Insider’s Perspective)
Choosing a hotel for your Disney World vacation is one of the most difficult decisions. The options seem endless, and with so many “reviews” out there, a little research might soon make you feel like you’re looping a track that leads to nowhere.
For example, you might read a few opinions on social media, online review sites, or even get advice from family and friends. Maybe you’re interested in staying at Disney’s Boardwalk, but your budget has you leaning more toward a moderate resort like Caribbean Beach or Coronado Springs. Before you know it, you’ve read so many hot takes that you’re even more confused than when you started. Ugh. The frustration is real, and worry sets in as you find yourself stuck in a state of indecisiveness. No one wants to make the wrong decision.
While unique perspectives can be valuable, they aren’t always objective. You know that saying to each their own? It’s true, especially when you’re planning a Disney vacation. You want to choose the right hotel. No, I take that back. You want to choose the hotel that’s right for you.
That’s where we can help. We have stayed in every hotel at Walt Disney World and many in the surrounding area. We also continue to stay at the hotels regularly for updates. Our experiences allow us to see how consistent the resort is and provide you with an idea of what to expect. But most of all, we understand that everyone likes (and dislikes) different things. So we strive to take a step back and provide a perspective that will help our readers discern which resort works for them.
Below, you’ll find our reviews for every resort at Disney World. Once you narrow down the options, we recommend reading our entire review for those specific resorts. Then, if you really want to deep dive into the resort you end up choosing, we have numerous resources. Our resort guides feature our entire library of content for each resort, including dining options, transportation, pools, room tours, and insider details we’ve learned from our travels. Before we officially get started, I also like to mention that we pay out of pocket for our hotel stays.
Deluxe Resorts
We’ll start with the deluxe resorts at Disney World. This is the largest category of resorts and includes Disney’s finest hotels. Most of these resorts will offer multiple transportation options and some will be within walking distance of a theme park. If you’re looking for a resort with all the bells and whistles, you’re in the right place. Those on a tighter budget will likely want to keep scrolling to the moderate or value resort section.
Learn More: The Complete Guide to Disney’s Deluxe Resorts
Disney’s Grand Floridian Review
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is considered Disney’s flagship resort. This white-siding, red-roofed resort has a Victorian look that some might consider formal. It has meticulously landscaped grounds and is laid out in large buildings with interior room access. While the Grand Floridian has many positives, it’s biggest appeal is that it sits across Seven Seas Lagoon from Magic Kingdom. You can walk, monorail, or boat to the theme park. For those unfamiliar, being able to walk to and from a theme park is a luxury.
While pricing runs high at all the deluxe resorts, the Grand Floridian is the most expensive. That said, it’s hard to deny that staying here is probably more pleasant than we would like to admit. So, if you desire to spend some time here but don’t want to swing the bill for an entire week, you might consider a split stay. That’s when you divide your time between two resorts.
We don’t really have anything bad to say about the Grand Floridian other than some will not care for the resort’s feeling of formality. It’s not casual, beach-y, or tropical. The resort leans more toward pristine and traditional. The price point will also be a negative for some. If you’re looking to splurge, you’ll have more amenities at the nearby Four Seasons with one exception–the proximity to Magic Kingdom. That perk is pretty tough to beat.
The Resort Rundown
- Resort Type: Deluxe Resort
- Rooms: Mary Poppins and Princess Theming
- Closest Park: Within Walking Distance of Magic Kingdom
- Dining: Fine Dining, Table Service, Character Dining, Quick Service, Pool Bars, and Lounges
- Pools: Two Feature Pools, Water Slide, Aquatic Play Area
- Transportation: Monorail, Walking, Boats, Buses
- Learn More: Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Review
Disney’s Polynesian Review
Aloha! Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is an original, 1971 Disney World Resort. With its tropical, island-theme, the resort is one of the most sought-after hotels at Walt Disney World. It sits along the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon between the Grand Floridian and the Transportation and Ticket Center, making it a monorail, boat, or walk away from the Most Magical Place on Earth.
As soon as you set foot on the resort’s grounds, you’ll feel as those you’ve landed in the Polynesian Islands. We’d say the resort’s theming is about as close as you can get to the real thing. What’s the catch? It’s expensive and crowded. If you’re a pool person and the weather is even remotely warm, the resort’s pools are almost always packed.
It’s also important to mention that the resort is comprised of exterior buildings with interior access. So like the Grand Floridian, you’ll have to walk outside to and from your room to get anywhere. That said, this hotel is home to some of our favorite rooms! The resort’s standard rooms are themed to Moana.
The Resort Rundown
- Resort Type: Deluxe Resort
- Rooms: Moana-Themed
- Closest Park: Within Walking Distance of Magic Kingdom
- Dining: Table Service, Character Dining, Quick Service, Pool Bars, and Lounges
- Pools: Pools, Water Slide, Aquatic Play Area
- Transportation: Monorail, Walking, Boats, Buses
- Learn More: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Review
- Additional Review: Kamehameha Club Review at the Polynesian
Disney’s Contemporary Review
Disney’s Contemporary Resort is another original, 1971 resort that sits next door to Magic Kingdom. Most people are familiar with the Contemporary because the monorail travels through it. Of course, the resort’s most significant amenity is being within walking distance of the Magic Kingdom. It’s less than a 10-minute walk from the lobby to the park’s entrance.
But a word of warning. For some, the Contemporary feels cold, hard, and dated. We have found that guests either love it or hate it. Personally, I adore it and find myself continually blown away by the serenity of the resort’s massive backyard that sits on Bay Lake. It feels like you’re right in the middle of the magic when you stay here, but you can immediately escape by stepping out back. It’s a very surreal difference.
If you decide to stay here, you’ll have to make a couple of decisions. Do you want to stay in the Garden Wing or the Tower? Then, do you want a theme park or a lake view? We love both the Garden Wing and the Incredibles Rooms at Disney’s Contemporary.
The Resort Rundown
- Resort Type: Deluxe Resort
- Rooms: Incredibles-Themed
- Closest Park: Within Walking Distance of Magic Kingdom
- Dining: Signature, Table Service, Character Dining, Quick Service, Pool Bars, and Lounges
- Pools: Pools, Water Slide, Splash Pad Area
- Transportation: Monorail, Walking, Buses, Boats (Limited Resort Boat Service)
- Learn More: Disney’s Contemporary Resort Review
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Review
If you’ve been dreaming of the great outdoors or find yourself at home in the woods, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is worthy of your consideration. This hotel reflects the look and feel of the great Pacific Northwest. When you set foot on the resort’s grounds, you’ll feel like you’ve left Florida for a woodsy retreat. We’ve stayed at the Wilderness Lodge many times and are always amazed at the tranquility.
While it isn’t my favorite, I still look forward to every visit. We also frequent the resort as day guests for dining. This is one of the best resorts for dining options. You’ll have an admirable selection of quick service items, and the lounges have fantastic menus.
It is rare to hear complaints about this resort. However, it’s worth noting that the Wilderness Lodge is a massive resort. So if you get placed at the end of a long hall, you might feel like it takes forever to get anywhere. Unfortunately, this resort isn’t within walking distance of a theme park. Guests are privy to taking a bus or boat to Magic Kingdom. The boat is a nice extra. It’s a peaceful ride.
The Resort Rundown
- Resort Type: Deluxe Resort
- Rooms: Bambi, Chip and Dale, Forest Friends
- Closest Park: A Boat or Bus Ride from Magic Kingdom
- Dining: Table Service, Character Dining, Quick Service, Pool Bars, and Lounges
- Pools: Two Pools, Water Slide, Aquatic Play Area
- Transportation: Buses, Boats
- Learn More: Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Review
Disney’s Beach Club Review
Disney’s Beach Club Resort is part of the Epcot Resorts Area. Staying here means quick access to two parks. It’s a five-minute walk to Epcot and a fifteen-minute walk to Hollywood Studios. An additional boat service is also available if you prefer not to walk.
As far as the resort goes, you can expect seaside theming, soft blues, and an overall relaxed feel. Those who plan to enjoy time at the pool will love Stormalong Bay. It’s one of our favorite places in all of Walt Disney World!
Our only real complaint is that the quick service dining options (for the entire resort area) are not that great. It can be difficult to find freshly prepared and kid-friendly quick service items, especially after you come back from the parks late at night. You’ll want to, at the very least, leave snacks in the room for those late nights out.
That said, Disney’s Beach Club is our personal favorite resort. Between the recreation, amenities, and location, it’s pretty hard to beat.
The Resort Rundown
- Resort Type: Deluxe Resort
- Rooms: Classic Characters, Beach Theming
- Closest Parks: Within Walking Distance of Epcot and Hollywood Studios
- Dining: Table Service, Character Dining, Quick Service, Pool Bar, and Lounge
- Pools: Multiple Pools, Water Slide, Kiddie Pool with Slide
- Transportation: Boats, Buses, Walking Paths, Within Walking Distance of the Skyliner
- Learn More: Disney’s Beach Club Review
Disney’s Yacht Club Review
If we’re not staying at the Beach Club, we’re probably next door. The Yacht Club is the more formal side of the two resorts. You can expect masculine undertones and nautical theming, including boats, compasses, and complicated knots like you learned to tie in Cub Scouts.
Like its sister resort, our only complaint is that the counter-service dining options are subpar. But the lounges between the resorts are the real hidden gems. Don’t sleep on dining at Crew’s Cup. This is Disney, so the lounges are family-friendly.
The Resort Rundown
- Resort Type: Deluxe Resort
- Rooms: Nautical Theming
- Closest Park: Within Walking Distance of Epcot and Hollywood Studios
- Dining: Signature Dining, Table Service, Quick Service, Pool Bar, and Lounges
- Pools: Multiple Pools, Water Slide, Kiddie Pool with Slide
- Transportation: Boats, Buses, Walking Paths, Within Walking Distance of the Skyliner
- Learn More: Disney’s Yacht Club Review
Disney’s Boardwalk Review
Disney’s BoardWalk Resort sits on Crescent Lake and is a destination within itself. Many guests visit the Boardwalk for dining and leisure during their stay. It’s a beautiful resort designed to represent turn-of-the-century boardwalks on the New England seaside.
Boardwalk Inn offers a variety of activities that you won’t find at other Disney Resorts. Additionally, the resort is within walking distance of Epcot and Hollywood Studios. While this hotel is expensive, pricing is comparable to that of the other Epcot Resorts. If you’re considering a club-level stay, the Innkeeper’s Club at Boardwalk Inn gets excellent feedback.
As far as complaints, you may still struggle with quick service dining options at this resort. But this resort’s feature pool is not nearly as overwhelming as Stormalong Bay. That’s not a complaint about the latter. We just consider Disney’s Boardwalk one of the most kid-friendly resorts at Disney World.
The Resort Rundown
- Resort Type: Deluxe Resort
- Rooms: Pastels with Subtle Hint of Classic Characters
- Closest Park: Within Walking Distance of Epcot and Hollywood Studios
- Dining: Signature Dining, Table Service, Quick Service, Pool Bars, and Lounges
- Pools: Pools, Water Slide, Kiddie Pool, and Playground
- Transportation: Boats, Buses, Walking Paths, Within Walking Distance of the Skyliner
- Learn More: Disney’s Boardwalk Resort Review
Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Review
It’s probably apparent that we have no significant problems with any of the deluxe resorts—Disney’s Swan and Dolphin are no exception. First, however, you will want to know that these hotels are owned and operated by Marriott. That said, the Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve are part of the Epcot Resorts Area. They are within boat or walking distance of Epcot and Hollywood Studios. (Note, you’ll have to use the Swan and Dolphin’s private shuttle when traveling to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom.)
Pricing is often more reasonable here than at the neighboring Walt Disney World Resorts. However, where applicable, you’ll want to consider extras like resort fees and parking charges.
The Resort Rundown
- Resort Type: Deluxe Resort
- Rooms: Modern and Most Have Been Recently Updated
- Closest Park: Within Walking Distance of Epcot and Hollywood Studios
- Dining: Signature Dining, Table Service, Quick Service, Pool Bars, and Lounges
- Pools: Multiple Pools, Water Slide, Kiddie Pool, Playground
- Transportation: Boats, Hotel Shuttle, Walking Paths, Within Walking Distance of the Skyliner
- Learn More: Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Review
- Additional Review: Walt Disney World Swan Reserve Review
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Review
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is the quintessential Disney World Resort choice for anyone with a love for animals or a passion for Africa. Between the resort’s theming and the African animals grazing on the surrounding savannas, we often recommend it over any other resort.
Typically, the Animal Kingdom Lodge offers more reasonable rates than the other deluxe resorts at Disney. That’s likely due to its location being further away from the rest of the property. But don’t let that stop you from planning a stay here. The resort’s peace and tranquility are the perfect remedy after a long day in crowded theme parks.
We also consider this resort one of the best splurges for those traveling with children. Seeing animals from your balcony when you wake up each morning is a surreal experience. Additionally, the resort has one of the best pool and aquatic play areas for children at Kidani Village. So, if you’re staying at the main lodge, it’s worth the walk down to the village if you have children who might enjoy the water play area.
The Resort Rundown
- Resort Type: Deluxe Resort
- Rooms: Neutral with Wood Undertones and Minimal Theming
- Closest Park: Short Bus Ride to Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Dining: Signature Dining, Table Service, Buffet, Quick Service, Pool Bars, and Lounges
- Pools: Two Pools, Water Slides, Aquatic Play Area at Kidani Village, Playground at Jambo House
- Transportation: Buses Only
- Learn More: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Review
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