Disney resorts: Which one’s right for you?

See wildlife from your balcony at Animal Kingdom Lodge, one of Disney’s deluxe resorts. Photo: Courtesy Walt Disney World

One of the first things every family has to decide after declaring “We’re going to Disney World!” is where they’re going to stay. Choosing a Walt Disney World resort can be a daunting task for even the most seasoned traveler, so if you’re lucky enough to find yourself in that predicament, here’s some helpful information:

Basically, there are three levels of accommodations—something really, for everyone’s budget. They are broken down into Value Resorts, Moderate Resorts or Deluxe Resorts.

• Value Resorts: If you only need a place to recharge your batteries at the end of the day, then you might consider a Value Resort. The lowest price category offered, this is an affordable option for many families, especially those with young children. The standard hotel rooms accommodate up to four guests and offer all of the amenities you’d expect to find, including a small refrigerator. The family suites sleep up to six and have small kitchenettes and two bathrooms. Value Resorts have over-the-top theming, kid-friendly feature pools with daily activities, and large food courts offering a nice variety of menu choices. There are no Table Service (Disney-speak for “full service” or “sit down”) restaurants on-site, but they do offer some of the largest gift shops on property. We have stayed in Value Resorts many times, and have had fabulous vacations—for anyone with a tight budget, I wouldn’t hesitate to book a Value Resort.
• Moderate Resorts: For those families who will be spending more time enjoying their resort, the Moderate Resorts are the way to go. Rooms are slightly larger than their Value counterparts, queen-sized beds in some, refrigerators in all, and at Port Orleans Riverside, they can even accommodate families of five—those rooms sure came in handy for my own family! The Moderate Resorts tend to be more spread out, in multiple buildings and locations, and they all have a great feature pools with water slides and several smaller quiet pools. The theming is more refined. Along with large food courts, they also have Table Service dining for those who prefer a casual sit-down meal. The Moderate Resorts offer many types of daily recreational activities to appeal to all ages.
• Deluxe Resorts: When budget isn’t a big concern, and you want all the amenities right at your fingertips, a Deluxe Resort is definitely the way to go. The largest rooms on Disney property give everyone lots of space to move around. Many of the rooms in these resorts can accommodate families of five, and there are even villas with kitchens and in-suite laundry that can accommodate parties of up to nine. Multiple Table Service restaurants, from casual to fine dining, and a food court give lots of dining options without ever leaving the resort. Fabulous feature pools, splash pads for little ones, marinas offering boat rentals, and luxurious spas are just some of the amenities. One of the highlights of the Deluxe Resorts is that “little something extra” they offer: being on the monorail line, or viewing live animals from your balcony, or being able to walk to a theme park make the Deluxe Resorts very appealing to many families. Viewing giraffes and zebras from our balcony at Animal Kingdom Lodge was definitely a highlight of our vacation!

And if you’d prefer to bring your accommodations with you, but still want to enjoy the magic of staying on Disney property? Don’t worry—Disney has you covered. Fort Wilderness Resort welcomes guests with tents to motorhomes and everything in between, and even has some fabulous, fully stocked Cabins that accommodate families of up to six. Our stays in the cabins were some of my family’s all-time favorite vacations.

Personally, I don’t think you can go wrong with any of Disney’s amazing resorts. Pick one that fits your family’s budget, tastes and needs, pack your bags and expect to have a magical vacation!

Kristen deHaan is a member of the 2013 Disney Parks Moms Panel. Panelists have received/will receive a Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, Disneyland Resort or Disney Vacation Club vacation for panelist and up to three family members and/or park tickets for their participation on the Walt Disney World® Moms Panel. The views expressed in the Panel are those of the panelists, who are independent contractors. These views are not intended to reflect the opinions of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Online, its affiliates, its management,its agents or its employees and have not been reviewed or approved by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Online prior to posting.

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