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The Pros and Cons of Every Disney World Deluxe Hotel Resort

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Here is a guide to the Pros and Cons of Every Disney World Deluxe Hotel Resort.

All of the Disney World Deluxe Hotels are amazing places to stay and it can be difficult to decide which of these will be best for your family.

disneyworldhotelresorts

This guide will help you to choose the perfect Deluxe Disney World Hotel for your vacation. We have stayed at most of the hotels ourselves and so can give you the insider view

The Pros and Cons of Every Disney World Deluxe Hotel
DISNEYWORLDDELUXEHOTELS

Disney Magic Kingdom Hotel Resorts

The Pros and Cons of Every Disney World Deluxe Resort

Disney Grand Floridian Resort

Photo by express monorail

Pros

    • Located minutes from the Magic Kingdom on the monorail or by boat
    • Many rooms have excellent views of the Magic Kingdom and The Seven Seas Lagoon
    • Rooms are large at 440 square feet with 2 Queen beds
    • Very opulent and elegant decor
    • Lots of excellent dining choices
    • Nicely themed swimming pools and beach

Old Glory waving at Grand Floridian

Cons

      • The Price
      • Too formal for some
      • Bus transportation can be slow to Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios

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Best Rooms at Disney Grand Floridian

disney world grand floridian

Photo by Saving_Queen

      • Conch Building 7228 to 7231, 7328 to 7331 and 7425 to 7431 are Magic Kingdom view rooms
      • Sago Key Magic Kingdom view rooms 5139, 5144, 5145, 5242 to 5256, and 5342 to 5345.

For a detailed discussion on the best rooms go to

Disney Grand Floridian Resort Hotel – Which Are The Best Rooms?

Rooms To Avoid

      • Some Boca Chica rooms have an obstructed view out over a building

Best Suited To

Guests looking for a 5 Star experience close to the Magic Kingdom who are willing to pay the high price.

Our Rating

8 out of 10. A very luxurious hotel in a fabulous location. But the price is too high compared to other Deluxe Disney Hotels.

Disney’s Polynesian Resort Hotel

Photo by expressmonorail

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Pros

      • Great location minutes away from the Magic Kingdom by boat and monorail
      • A relaxing, laid back resort with a tranquil theme
      • Good dining choices
      • Good themed swimming pool
      • Large rooms at 410 square feet, with some 476 square feet rooms with 2 Queens
      • Many rooms have excellent views of the Magic Kingdom and The Seven Seas Lagoon

Volcano Pool

Cons

      • Expensive
      • Building work in 2014
      • Not all rooms have balconies
      • Bus transportation can be slow to Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios

Best Rooms

      • Some 476 square feet rooms are located in the Tokelau, Rapa Nui and Tahita longhouse buildings.

Rooms To Avoid

      • Avoid rooms in the Rarotonga longhouse which are on the monorail side.
      • Parking lot view rooms in Rapa Nui.

Best Suited To

Those looking for a great location with large rooms and a very relaxed ambiance.

Our Rating

9 out of 10.

For more on this resort see our guide at

Disney Polynesian Resort

This is one of our favorite Disney World Deluxe Hotel Resorts

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Pros

      • Great location minutes away from the Magic Kingdom by boat and monorail
      • The monorail station is located inside the hotel
      • You can even walk to the Magic Kingdom
      • Very cool hotel design
      • 394 square feet Standard Rooms with Queen beds
      • Can be less pricey than some of the other Deluxe Hotels if you book the Garden Wing

Night Time View from Top of the World Lounge

Cons

      • Not Disney enough
      • Disappointing design of swimming pool
      • Some rooms close to the lobby can be noisy

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Best Rooms at Disney Contemporary Resort

Disney contemporary resort room

Disney Contemporary Resort Queen Room

Photo by stacyrackley

      • Tower Magic Kingdom View Rooms are the best – and most expensive
      • The Garden Wing rooms with the nicest views and the quietest position are 6116 to 6123, 6216 to 6223, and 6316 to 6323.

For our guide to the best rooms see

Disney’s Contemporary Resort Which Are The Best Rooms?

BLT Studio

Rooms To Avoid

      • In the Garden Wing avoid rooms ending in the numbers 52 to 70 as you will only have a view of the parking lot

Best Suited To

Guests who enjoy contemporary design and don’t mind a little less “Disney” Not for those looking for a great swimming pool for the kids.

Our Rating

BLT Pool

8.5 out of 10. We love the location, the rooms, and the views but the swimming pool and lobby areas are not our favorite.

This Disney World Deluxe Hotel Resort would be perfect if they just upgraded the swimming pool!

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Villas

 

Lobby of Wilderness Lodge, November 2014

Pros

      • One of the most beautiful themed of all the Deluxe Disney Resort Hotels
      • Just a boat ride away from the Magic Kingdom
      • Less expensive than some of the other Magic Kingdom Resorts

Cons

      • The only Magic Kingdom Hotel not connected to the Monorail
      • Rooms only sleep 4
      • Small Rooms for A Deluxe Resort at just 340 square feet for a standard room
      • Bus transportation only to Epcot, Disney Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom

Waterfall at Wilderness Lodge

Best Rooms

      • Most rooms at the Wilderness Lodge have nice woodland views.
      • Lake views in the hotel are 4000 to 4003, 4166 to 4169, 5000 to 5003, 5166 to 5169, 6000 to 6003, and 6166 to 6169.
      • Most rooms at the Wilderness Lodge Villas have woodland views. The best are odd-numbered rooms 2531 to 2563 and 3532 to 3563.

Rooms To Avoid

      • Rooms on the 4th, 5th, and 6th floor of the Hotel numbered 70 to 99 overlook the lobby and are very noisy.

Best Suited To

Families looking to get away from it all whilst still being within reach of the parks.

Our Rating

8 out of 10. Beautiful hotel, but loses points with us for inconvenient location and small rooms compared to other Deluxe Resorts.

Disney Epcot Resorts

There is an excellent choice of Disney Epcot Deluxe Resorts.

Disney’s Beach Club

Photo by expressmonorail

Pros

      • Easy walk to Epcot
      • Just a boat ride away from Disney Hollywood Studios
      • Stormalong Bay is the best swimming pool in Disney World
      • All the restaurants of the Epcot Resorts and The Boardwalk within easy reach

Stormalong Bay at Night

Cons

      • Bus transportation only to the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom
      • Not many dining choices in the Beach Club itself (but plenty within easy reach
      • The Beach Club is showing its age and is due for a refurbishment

Best Rooms

Disney Beach Club Rooms

Photo by gator-chris

Rooms To Avoid

Best Suited To

Families who will spend a lot of time in Epcot. Great for families with kids who want to spend time in the best pool in Disney World.

Families looking to get away from it all whilst still being within reach of the parks.

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Our Rating

8 out of 10. Fabulous location and great pool, but not enough dining choices on-site, as well as needing some ‘refreshing’ of the decor.

Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Villas

 

Night Clown Pool

 

 

Pros

      • Easy walk to Epcot
      • Just a boat ride or 15 minutes walk away from Disney Hollywood Studios
      • All the restaurants of the Epcot Resorts and The Boardwalk within easy reach
      • Close to Boardwalk

Cons

      • Bus transportation only to Magic Kingdom and the Animal Kingdom is slow as it includes multiple stops
      • No restaurants in the hotel and ones close by are not very child-friendly
      • The Boardwalk Inn is showing wear and tear
      • No Quick Service Dining in the resort
      • Not as appealing to children as many of the other Disney hotels
      • Most rooms do not have a great view

Best Rooms at Disney Boardwalk Inn and Villas

Photo by mom2amara

      • Standard rooms are 371 Square Feet with 2 Queen Beds
      • The good views in the Hotel are from odd-numbered rooms 3123 to 3255 and 4213 to 4255
      • The best view rooms in the Boardwalk Villas are odd-numbered rooms 3001 to 3033, 4001 to 4033 and 5001 to 5033

Rooms To Avoid

      • There are many rooms in the Boardwalk Inn and Villas which have very mediocre views of the parking lot and the roof of the conference center

Best Suited To

Adults or families with older children who will spend a lot of time in Epcot.

Our Rating

8 out of 10. Fabulous location for Epcot. No Quick Service Dining and not that appealing for young children. Needs attention to decor and maintenance. A lot of money for mediocre views.

Disney’s Yacht Club

Photo by expressmonorail

Pros

      • Easy walk to Epcot
      • Just a boat ride away from Disney Hollywood Studios
      • All the restaurants of the Epcot Resorts and The Boardwalk within easy reach
      • View of Epcot fireworks from some rooms
      • Stormalong Bay is the best Disney World resort swimming pool
      • Great water views from some rooms

Cons

      • Bus transportation only to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom is slow as it includes multiple stops
      • Not many dining choices
      • No Quick Service Dining in the resort
      • Not as appealing to children as many of the other Disney hotels

Best Rooms at Disney’s Yacht Club

Photo by vortech

      • Rooms 5161,5163,5207 and 5241 have great views of the lake
      • Rooms 5171 to 5185 have a great view of Epcot

Rooms To Avoid

      • Standard rooms have a view of either the parking lot or a rooftop.

Best Suited To

Adults without children who will spend a lot of time in Epcot.

Our Rating

8 out of 10. Great location for Epcot.

See our complete guide at:

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort and Villas

Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort Hotel

Pros

      • The animals!
      • Has some of the best Disney World Restaurants on site
      • One of the most beautifully themed of all the hotels
      • Very relaxed atmosphere
      • Bunk beds in some rooms are a big favorite with young children
      • Large zero-entry swimming pool

Cons

      • Bus transportation only to all the other parks can be very slow. A car is recommended
      • Standard rooms are only 344 square feet
      • Rooms are dark and bathrooms small

Best Rooms at Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort

disney animal kingdom room

Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge Queen Bed Room

Photo by rharkness

      • The best views are from Kudu Trail and Zebra Trail rooms.
      • The odd number Zebra trail rooms overlook the Arusha savannah
      • The best rooms for being close to the feeding areas are on any floor the rooms numbered 572 to 584
      • Rooms numbered 541 through 555 have a great view of the feeding areas.

Click Here to See the Latest Pricing

See our complete guide at

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort and Villas – Which Are The Best Rooms?

Rooms To Avoid

      • Not all rooms overlook a savannah. Some have a view of the parking lot. We would say that if you are staying in this resort you should splurge on the savannah view.

Best Suited To

Everyone who wants to spend time close to the parks in one of the most amazing hotels in Disney World.

Our Rating

9.5 out of 10. Absolutely our favorite. We would give it a 10 if it had better transportation options. This is our top choice of Disney World Deluxe Hotel Resort.

See our complete guide at:

Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge

Which of the Disney World Deluxe Hotels will you choose for your next vacation?

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Wednesday 1st of July 2020

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Wednesday 10th of June 2020

Animal Kingdom Lodge is my favorite! We made it our DVC home about a year ago.

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