The 10 Best Hotels in Disney World

More than twenty-five official hotels, three price categories, and huge differences in transportation and comfort. Here is our ranking, with the reasoning behind each choice and who each one is best suited for.

Published August 3, 20266 min read

Pileta de un resort con reposeras y palmeras al atardecer

Choosing a hotel within Walt Disney World is the decision that has the biggest impact on the rest of the trip—and the one most people get wrong. It’s not just about where to sleep: it determines how long it takes to get to each park, what you do at midday when the Florida heat becomes unbearable, and how much you end up spending on food without planning to.

There are more than twenty-five official hotels, divided into three categories: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. The price difference between the cheapest and the most expensive can be as much as six times. The difference in quality, however, is not. This ranking is based on the relationship between cost and what actually makes a difference to your trip.

1. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

The best hotel in the resort if your budget allows it, and there’s just one reason: the monorail. The Polynesian is located on the line that connects directly to Magic Kingdom, and it also has its own ferry stop. Leaving the park at 11 p.m. with sleeping kids and being back in your room fifteen minutes later is priceless.

The Polynesian ambiance is beautifully done, the rooms are spacious by Disney standards, and the volcano pool is one of the best in the resort. Breakfast at 'Ohana is a must. The downside is obvious: it’s extremely expensive, and during peak season, the rates become hard to justify.

2. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

The flagship property. Victorian in style, enormous, with a live orchestra playing in the lobby in the afternoons. It’s also right on the monorail and just a short walk along a pedestrian path to Magic Kingdom—a feature very few people take advantage of, but it’s one of the best things the resort has to offer.

It’s the most expensive hotel in the resort, and it shows in the service. If you’re on a honeymoon or celebrating an anniversary, this is the place to stay. With young children, the Polynesian offers better value for the money.

3. Disney’s Beach Club Resort

It has the best pool in Florida, and that’s no exaggeration: Stormalong Bay spans nearly three acres of sand, currents, and water slides, exclusively for guests of the Beach Club and the Yacht Club. On a seven-day trip, two of those days will be for relaxing, and that day at the pool will be just as memorable as any day at the parks.

It’s also a five-minute walk from the back entrance of EPCOT and a short boat ride from Hollywood Studios. That location is the best in the resort for anyone planning to visit multiple parks in a day.

4. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Inspired by the grand lodges of the national parks in the northwestern United States, it features a seven-story log lobby and a stone fireplace. It’s the most beautiful hotel in the resort from a purely architectural standpoint.

It’s connected to Magic Kingdom by boat. It doesn’t have a monorail, which makes it significantly cheaper than the previous three options without sacrificing too much convenience.

5. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Rooms overlook a savanna where giraffes, zebras, and antelopes graze. It’s an experience genuinely unlike anything else in Orlando, and kids remember it more than many of the attractions.

The downside is the location: it’s far from everything except Animal Kingdom, and you’re entirely dependent on bus transportation. If you plan to visit the parks every day, that commute can be a hassle. You have to specifically request a savanna view—it doesn’t come by default.

6. Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

The best in the Moderate category ever since it got a Skyliner station—the cable car that connects to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. The Skyliner completely transformed the value of this hotel: it went from being “far from everything” to having two parks just fifteen minutes away without having to take a bus.

The rooms are decent, but not memorable. You’re paying for the location and the transportation, and at that price, it’s worth it.

7. Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside

The quietest Moderate resort and probably the prettiest. It’s situated on a bay of the lake, with boats that take you to Disney Springs, and it offers rooms for five people with a trundle bed—a rarity in this category and very useful for families of five who don’t want to pay for a Deluxe resort.

8. Disney’s Pop Century Resort

It’s a Value-category resort, meaning small rooms and over-the-top themed decor, but it also has a Skyliner station. For a trip where the hotel is just a place to sleep, this is the best value for your money in the entire complex.

The rooms were renovated a few years ago and feature Murphy beds, which make the space feel much more spacious than the square footage suggests.

9. Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

It shares the appeal of Pop Century—to which it’s connected by a pedestrian bridge—but adds a key feature: family suites for six people with two bathrooms. For a large family, a suite here costs significantly less than two rooms anywhere else.

10. Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort

The most affordable option on the list. Basic rooms, bus transportation only, and decor that adults may find garish. It makes the list for one specific reason: it allows you to stay within the resort, with all the guest benefits, at a price that competes with hotels outside the resort.

Is it really worth staying on-site?

There are three real benefits to staying at an official hotel today: early park entry (Early Theme Park Entry, thirty minutes before the general public, every day and at all parks), free transportation from the airport and between parks, and the ability to book certain experiences in advance.

The first benefit is the most valuable. Half an hour at Magic Kingdom before it opens to the general public is equivalent to two or three attractions without waiting in line, at the coolest time of day.

How much does each tier cost?

Category	Price Range per Night	Transportation
Value	$130–250	Bus (Skyliner at Pop Century and Art of Animation)
Moderate	USD 230–400	Bus, boat, or Skyliner depending on the hotel
Deluxe	USD 500–1,100	Monorail, boat, or walking

These ranges correspond to rates quoted for the mid-season and vary greatly depending on the date. During Christmas and Holy Week, rates may double.

Our quick recommendation

If you’re on a tight budget, choose Pop Century. If you can afford the Moderate category, go with Caribbean Beach for the Skyliner. If you can afford Deluxe and the trip includes children, choose Polynesian. And if it’s an adults-only trip with planned rest days, choose Beach Club for the pool and the location.