Looking to book a Disney World vacation but are unsure where to stay? Your hotel accommodations will likely be one of the biggest, if not the biggest, expense during your vacation. That’s a lot of pressure to pick the right resort! When picking a hotel, you want to answer one big question from the get-go: do you want to stay on Disney World property or not?
Staying on Disney World property is the pricier option, but it does come with a lineup of perks like additional theme park hours, the ability to charge to your room, and close proximity to the theme parks. But which Disney World hotel is right for your family? If you’re traveling with the whole family (think kids, grandparents, etc.), there are a few options that stand out among the rest.
What makes a Disney World hotel perfect for families?
- Multiple on-site dining options, including character dining
- Fun and highly-themed pool area(s)
- Variety of room sizes offered, like family suites
- The resort ground’s overall theming
- Close proximity to the theme parks
There’s something ideal for families at every Disney World hotel. For each of the following options, the hotel checks at least one or two additional boxes than the rest. That said, you still want to do your own research to ensure you’re booking the absolute best option for your hotel.
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
What it offers families:
- Multiple style rooms including family suites that sleep up to 6
- Highly themed rooms & resort grounds, including areas based on ‘The Lion King,’ ‘The Little Mermaid,’ ‘Finding Nemo,’ and ‘Cars.’
- The largest resort pool in Walt Disney World
- Access to the Disney Skyliner, with service to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios
If you want a hotel that feels as though you’ve stepped into your family’s favorite animated Disney film, there’s truly no better option than Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. It’s highly themed rooms and resort grounds are filled with larger-than-life statues of beloved Disney characters. It also sits along the Disney Skyliner route, offering multiple complimentary transportation options to the theme parks.
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is considered a Value Resort, meaning that its rooms will be priced at the lower end of the scale. However, you want to make sure you shop around for the best prices, as rooms (in particular the family suites) can get quite pricey.
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Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
What it offers families:
- It’s the home of Hoop dee Doo Musical Revue, a popular and lively dinner theater experience.
- Enjoy tons of recreational activities including campfire sing-alongs with s’mores, horseback riding, fishing, and more.
- Offers a fun environment for families that enjoy camping and the great outdoors.
If your family is outdoorsy and looking for a ton of activities outside of the theme parks, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground has your name written all over it. Known for its campsites and cabins, it offers a totally different and unique way to vacation in Walt Disney World.
This resort seems to offer more recreational activities than any other hotel on Disney World property. Any given day at Fort Wilderness can include fishing, horseback riding, kayak rentals, bicycle rentals, and more. If you’re heading to Disney World and your family loves to take part in these types of activities, you may find that your favorite memories come from the camping as much as they come from the theme parks.
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Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
What it offers families:
- One of the best-themed pools on property called Fuentes del Morro
- Located along the Disney Skyliner route with easy access to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’-themed guest rooms
Filled to the brim with tropical vibes, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is an excellent option for families. If you’re looking for a hotel with a great pool but won’t break the bank, this is the choice for your family. The hotel is also located along the Disney Skyliner, meaning you can find yourself at EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios in a matter of minutes.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is a middle-of-the-road hotel when it comes to pricing – it’s not the cheapest option, but it’s far from the most expensive option. Caribbean Beach is a larger resort with a sprawling layout. Some may see this as a drawback, but I personally like the hotels with the larger footprint. It makes for a quieter environment when you aren’t on top of every other guest staying there.
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Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter or Riverside
What it offers families:
- ‘The Princess and the Frog’-themed guest rooms (Riverside only)
- Smaller hotels with fewer guest rooms means quieter vibes
- Fun pool areas and unique dining options for both kids and adults
I consider the two Port Orleans Resorts (French Quarter and Riverside) to be hidden gems among the Disney World hotels. In particular, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter is a fun choice for families looking for a quieter reprieve from the theme parks that still packs in the fun.
French Quarter has a great Mardis Gras-themed pool area for kids called Doubloon Lagoon along with access to the pool area at Port Orleans – Riverside. The pool also sits adjacent to a fishing hole where the family can take part in fishing on your day off from the theme parks. And as a Moderate Resort, you won’t be shelling out top-dollar prices to stay at either hotel.
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Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts
What it offers families:
- Stormalong Bay, one of the highest rated pool areas on Disney World property.
- Character dining at Cape May Cafe
- Located within walking distance of EPCOT
- Adjacent to EPCOT’s Disney Skyliner station, providing easy access to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Located right next door to EPCOT’s World Showcase, Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts are two separate but connected hotels with similar vibes – you really kind of get the same experience at both. The two hotels share a pool area called Stormalong Bay, complete with a sand-bottom pool and lazy river along with jacuzzis. It’s one of the most popular pool areas in Disney World that families will want to spend all day at.
Beach Club specifically is home to Cape May Cafe, a character dining location that can give your family easy access to meeting Minnie Mouse and friends at Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast. And, because the hotels are close to EPCOT’s back entrance, they are also close to the Disney Skyliner, providing additional transportation options. Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts are Deluxe properties, so be prepared to spend top dollar for these accommodations.
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Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
What it offers families:
- Character dining at ‘Ohana
- Fun theming throughout the resort with a top-rated pool area
- Access to the Monorail, offering additional transportation options to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT.
- Newly refurbished ‘Moana’-themed guest rooms
One of Disney World’s most iconic hotels is Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Located on the Monorail loop, it’s very close to Magic Kingdom and a convenient ride away from EPCOT. With its lush tropical vibes, the Polynesian feels like a vacation from the vacation, especially when you spend an afternoon at the Lava and Oasis pools. The Polynesian is also home to ‘Ohana, which offers a character breakfast with Mickey, Pluto, Lilo, and Stitch.
The Polynesian is situated along Seven Seas Lagoon, providing excellent views of Magic Kingdom’s fireworks. Grab a Dole Whip from Pineapple Lanai and enjoy the show! Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is among the priciest hotels at Walt Disney World, so be prepared to save up some extra pennies for a stay here.
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Disney’s Contemporary Resort
What it offers families:
- Multiple restaurants on-site, including the character dining location Chef Mickey’s
- Walking distance from Magic Kingdom
- Located along the Monorail loop with easy access to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT
- Newly renovated ‘Incredibles’-themed guest rooms
If near-instant access to Magic Kingdom is what your family is looking for, you can’t get any closer than Disney’s Contemporary Resort. It’s close enough to walk to the front gate in a matter of minutes, but you’re also close by with the Monorail. The Contemporary is a classic Walt Disney World hotel; in fact, it’s one of two hotels that opened the same day as Magic Kingdom in 1971 (the other being Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort).
The Contemporary is home to several on-site dining options, including the popular character dining location Chef Mickey’s. The one area where the resort somewhat lacks is a fun and highly-themed pool area. If a great pool is something that’s important to your family but you still want that Magic Kingdom proximity, look into the Polynesian or even Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
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Honorable mention: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
I had to throw in an honorable mention to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. This hotel’s big selling point for families is that, like Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the hotel is home to tons of animals like zebras, giraffes, etc. Many of the rooms feature savanna views where you can watch the animals roam from your balcony. It’s an incredibly unique property that families will love, especially ones with animal lovers in them.
There are also great dining options at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, like Sanaa, with views of the savanna and its animal inhabitants. Just note that some of the restaurants at this hotel feature menus that pickier eaters may not be as enthusiastic about, so be sure to research before booking your reservations.
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