USA TODAY National
When friends tell me they’re going to Walt Disney World, I almost always suggest staying on property.
There are benefits to staying off-site, especially if you want to have a whole house to yourself, but Disney resort hotel perks can be priceless, and their starting prices are less than many places off property.
The bigger question is which resort to choose. There are more than 20 Disney owned and operated hotels at Disney World. I’ve stayed at more than half of them.
Here’s what you should know before choosing one for your next Disney vacation.
What are the benefits of staying in a Disney hotel?
- Extra park time: Guests of Disney Resorts Collection hotels get 30 minutes of early theme park entry at all four theme parks. Additionally, guests staying at Deluxe and Deluxe Villa resorts, plus a few others, get extended evening hours on select dates, in select parks. These are huge perks if you want to knock out attractions with lower crowds.
- Free water park entry in 2025: All year long, guests staying at Disney resort hotels get free entry to a Disney water park on their check-in date. One-day tickets typically start at $64 for adults, which, for pricing purposes, is anyone over age 9. This perk will sunset at the end of this year and return next summer.
- Disney Dining deals in 2026: Next year, kids ages 3 to 9 can get free Disney Dining Plans when adults in their party purchase plans for themselves. Disney Dining Plans are only available to Disney resort hotel guests, including Disney Vacation Club members.
- Early booking windows: Resort hotel guests can start booking Lightning Lane attractions seven days ahead of their first park date, while the general public has to wait until the three-day mark. They can also book dining reservations for the length of their stay, starting 60 days before check-in. Both can be clutch when trying to lock in particularly popular rides and restaurants.
- Free Disney transportation: Depending on the hotel, guests have a variety of free transportation options to the parks and Disney Springs. Guests are dropped off closer to park entrances than they could park their cars, particularly at Magic Kingdom. “You have an opportunity to interact with your bus driver, to interact with your boat captain in ways that you don't get in a lot of places,” Jason Kirk, senior vice president, Operations, said at a media event in March. ”And believe it or not, our transportation casts are rated as some of the highest.”
- Complimentary parking: Disney World resort hotel guests get free self-parking at their hotel and the parks. Theme park parking typically costs $30 per day for standard vehicles, which adds up on multi-day trips.
- Resort recreation: All the resorts have themed pools and free activities like surprise character appearances and movies under the stars.
- Staying in the bubble: The storytelling and service the parks are known for continue at Disney hotels, which lets guests live in the magic their whole trip. “We strive every day to really embody the heart of Disney hospitality in all that we do,” Alison Armor, vice president of Resorts Operations, said at the media event. “It's a platform where our guests can connect and not only with our product (but) with each other.”
What's the cheapest Disney Resort to stay in?
The cheapest rooms are at Disney’s All-Star Resorts, typically All-Star Sports.
However, the cheapest accommodations are tent and pop-up camper sites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. You do have to bring your own tent or camper.
How many Disney World hotels are there?
Disney World’s website lists “more than 25 Disney resort hotels.” Some are Disney Vacation Club properties that share amenities, theming and larger footprints with other resorts, like at the Polynesian. But no matter how you slice it, it’s a lot.
“I don't think there's another hotel company on the planet that runs this many rooms on one site, under one flag, one brand with one vision,” Armor said.
Is it cheaper to stay at a Disney resort or off-site?
It depends on where you’re staying.
Disney’s All-Star Resorts start at about $131 nightly, excluding promotions that can bring prices down even further.
That’s less than many off-site hotels in Orlando or elsewhere, including a chain hotel two miles from my house.
How much is a Disney World hotel per night?
Prices vary widely by location, date and demand.
Historically, early February and early-to-mid September are among the least expensive times to visit, with the exception of Labor Day weekend. For benchmark pricing, I checked the one-night rates on two sample dates, Feb. 2 and Sept. 2. Prices below reflect the cheaper of the two dates, for two kids and two adults.
Lower rates may be available on other dates or with special promotions.
The Campsites and Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
- Resort category: Moderate, however guests staying in DVC cabins get extended evening hours
- Theme: Great outdoors
- Disney transportation options: Water taxi to Magic Kingdom and nearby resorts, bus elsewhere
- Sample nightly rate: $73 for campsites, $493 for cabins
Notes: This resort is unlike any other on the property, with expansive green spaces and a unique sense of community that’s on full display around holidays, when guests decorate their campsites and golf carts. Year-round, guests also hold unofficial scavenger hunts for each other with trinkets brought from home. Guests' favorite activities include Chip 'n' Dale's Campfire Sing-A-Long, which is free, and the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue dinner show, which is not.
Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music and Sports Resorts
- Resort category: Value
- Themes: Disney movies, more general music and sports
- Disney transportation options: Bus
- Sample nightly rate: $131
- Notes: There aren’t a lot of frills here, but there are some great photo ops, particularly at All-Star Movies. And the rooms across all three properties have been renovated in recent years; their interiors look like Pop Century’s.
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
- Resort category: Value
- Theme: Pop culture from the 1950s through the 1990s
- Disney transportation options: Skyliner to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, bus elsewhere
- Sample nightly rate: $189
- Notes: This is a fan favorite for its fun vibe and prime location, as the least expensive resort along the Disney Skyliner gondola system. Many Pop Century guests like to decorate their windows to add a personal touch to their stay.
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Resort category: Value
- Theme: Disney and Pixar animation
- Disney transportation options: Skyliner to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, bus elsewhere. Sample nightly rate: $226
- Notes: This is the most expensive value resort, with rates often closer to moderate resort pricing. AoA shares a Skyliner stop with Pop Century but has different theming. Its Cars section is the closest thing to Radiator Springs at Disney World. (A new Cars-inspired area is coming to Magic Kingdom, but it will be inspired by national parks.)
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
- Resort category: Moderate
- Themes: Southwestern, Mexican and Spanish
- Disney transportation options: Bus
- Sample nightly rate: $261
- Notes: Its pricier Gran Destino Tower, dining options and main pool rival deluxe resorts, but the rooms across the rest of the property are lovely, too.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Resort category: Moderate
- Theme: Caribbean islands
- Disney transportation options: Skyliner to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, bus elsewhere
- Sample nightly rate: $276
- Notes: This resort was recently refurbished, with some rooms getting Little Mermaid theming. The property itself is huge, and several buildings are closer to the Riviera’s Skyliner stop than its own. The main pool is very popular, and its all-you-care-to-eat restaurant Sebastian’s Bistro is widely considered a hidden gem.
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort - Riverside and French Quarter
- Resort category: Moderate
- Theme: Louisiana
- Disney transportation options: Water taxi to Disney Springs, bus elsewhere
- Sample nightly rate: $279
- Notes: Port Orleans French Quarter, which is inspired by New Orleans, is much smaller than Riverside, where buildings have either bayou or Southern manor theming. Riverside is currently undergoing refurbishments, with added touches inspired by “The Princess and the Frog.” Guests can walk between both resorts, which is key because the French Quarter is the only place that serves Mickey-shaped beignets on property.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Villas
- Resort category: Deluxe, Deluxe Villa
- Theme: African safari
- Disney transportation options: Bus
- Sample nightly rate: $452
- Notes: More than 30 different species of African wildlife roam the savannas around this resort, with villas divided into two sections: Jambo House and Kidani Village. These animals receive the same care as those at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The resort also houses one of the nation's largest collections of African art and hosts cultural representatives, who share their traditions with guests.
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Resort category: Deluxe Villa
- Theme: Florida Keys
- Disney transportation options: Water taxi to Disney Springs, bus elsewhere
- Sample nightly rate: $498
- Notes: This was Disney’s first Disney Vacation Club property. I’ve never stayed here personally, but my friend and fellow theme park reporter Carly Caramanna says its charming accommodations are among the most spacious on property and great for multi-generational vacations.
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- Resort category: Deluxe Villa
- Theme: Equestrian, Victorian-era upstate New York
- Disney transportation options: Water taxi to Disney Springs, bus elsewhere
- Sample nightly rate: $499
- Notes: The predominantly Disney Vacation Club property has fairly subtle theming, but its spacious one-bedroom villas are among the nicest I’ve stayed at on property. My family loved having so much space to spread out, with the comforts of home.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Copper Creek Villas & Cabins, Boulder Ridge Villas
- Resort category: Deluxe, Deluxe Villa
- Theme: National park lodges
- Disney transportation options: Water taxi to Magic Kingdom and nearby resorts, bus elsewhere
- Sample nightly rate: $499
- Notes: Inspired by historic national park lodges, this resort has a massive atrium and elevated cabin feel. Its restaurants, ranging from Snow White-themed character dining to the poolside Geyser Point Bar & Grill, are gems.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Bay Lake Tower
- Resort category: Deluxe, Deluxe Villa
- Theme: Modern
- Disney transportation options: Monorail to EPCOT, water taxi to nearby resorts, walking path to Magic Kingdom, bus elsewhere
- Sample nightly rate: $556
- Notes: One of Disney World’s first two resorts, the Contemporary remains one among the most iconic, with the Monorail running right through it and a towering mosaic by Disney Legend Mary Blair. Like Tomorrowland, the resort evokes a mid-century modern feel, but rooms have been updated with Incredibles theming. This is the closest hotel to Magic Kingdom.
Disney's Yacht Club Resort and Beach Club Resort, Villas
- Resort category: Deluxe, Deluxe Villa
- Theme: New England
- Disney transportation options: Skyliner, water taxi or walking path to Hollywood Studios, walking path to EPCOT, bus elsewhere
- Sample rate: $567 for Beach, $565 for Yacht
- Notes: These resorts share an exclusive mini-water park that’s very popular with families. Stormalong Bay spans three acres with a 230-foot-long waterslide, lazy river, sandy poolside beach and more. Another perk is the resort’s proximity to EPCOT’s World Showcase.
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, Villas
- Resort category: Deluxe, Deluxe Villa
- Theme: Old Atlantic City
- Disney transportation options: Skyliner, water taxi or walking path to Hollywood Studios, walking path to EPCOT, bus elsewhere
- Sample nightly rate: $598
- Notes: Refurbished in 2023, this handsome resort features an actual boardwalk lined with restaurants and shops. It’s also a short walk away from EPCOT’s World Showcase.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Villas & Bungalows
- Resort category: Deluxe, Deluxe Villa
- Theme: Polynesian
- Disney transportation options: Monorail and water taxi to Magic Kingdom, Monorail to EPCOT, bus elsewhere.
- Sample rate: $672
- Notes: Like the Contemporary, the Polynesian was among Disney World’s first resort hotels and remains one of the most popular. Many guests come just to dine at Ohana or Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. The resort is also home to the newest Disney Vacation Club property, the Island Tower, which opened last December.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Villas
- Resort category: Deluxe
- Theme: Victorian-era Florida
- Disney transportation options: Monorail, water taxi or walking path to Magic Kingdom, Monorail to EPCOT, bus elsewhere
- Sample rate: $725
- Notes: This is often considered the crown jewel of Disney World’s resorts. It’s known for its massive gingerbread house nearly every holiday season, though it will skip one this year due to construction. The resort’s restaurants, including Michelin-awarded Victoria & Albert’s, are also big draws.
Disney’s Riviera Resort
- Resort category: Deluxe Villa
- Theme: French Riviera
- Disney transportation options: Skyliner to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, bus elsewhere
- Sample rate: $775 for a Deluxe Studio with a Preferred View. Tower Studios with a Resort View cost less, but pricing was unavailable because they were booked up.
- Notes: This elegant resort is also more subtly themed than others, but it is extremely popular, with many guests choosing to return year after year.
Which hotel is best for Disney World?
It depends on what you’re looking for.
Resorts with Skyliner, Monorail or watercraft access are prized for having multiple transportation options, besides the free Disney buses available everywhere.
But that shouldn’t be your only deciding factor. My personal favorite, Animal Kingdom Lodge, only offers bus service, but it’s one of the most breathtaking resorts on property, and it’s usually less expensive than other Deluxe resorts.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Inside the Disney bubble: What to know about Disney World’s hotels
Reporting by Eve Chen, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
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