Have you started planning your 2023 Disney World trip yet?

There are SO many hotels at and around Disney World that it can be hard to figure out which one is the best for you. Do you want to stay on Disney property or off? How close to the parks do you want to be? How large of a room will you need? But let’s take a deep breath, we know how overwhelming planning a Disney trip can be, and we’re here to help! We’ve already talked about some of the best Disney Hotels for 2023, but now let’s talk about the BEST Disney World VILLAS for 2023!

Villas vs. Hotel Rooms

Ok, now you’re asking, “What’s the difference between a hotel and a villa?” Right? Ok, let’s break it down.

Villas is the term that Disney uses for its timeshare (Disney Vacation Club – DVC) properties. Through DVC membership, the member owns points that give them the privilege to stay in certain properties. But, DVC members don’t actually own a unit in a Disney Vacation Club hotel (unlike some other timeshare programs). Instead, the DVC members really just own the points, which gives them the privilege to stay on property.

But you don’t have to be a member to stay in these accommodations. Non-DVC members can book rooms straight through Disney (like you’d book a standard hotel room), or you rent points from a DVC member, to save a little money.

You might be wondering why you’d want to stay in a DVC room in the first place, as opposed to just booking a regular Disney hotel room. There are actually quite a few reasons.

The DVC rooms are deluxe villas. That means you’ll get to enjoy furnishings that are generally a little bit more on the higher end. You’ll also get larger square footage in some of these rooms when compared to standard hotel rooms.

And there are special amenities that can make your trip easier and more convenient. In DVC villas that feature 1-2 bedrooms, you’ll find full kitchens, in-room laundry appliances, a large living room, and a dining area. All of these can be huge assets for a larger family.

In DVC studio-sized rooms, you’ll find kitchenettes with a toaster, coffee maker, and small fridge. So, even in just a studio, you could have breakfast in your room each morning and save $50-60 or more.

Villas Near the Parks

There are a lot of different Disney World Villas near the theme parks, but some of them are better than others, and they all have different transportation options. You’ve got the buses, Skyliner, Monorail, and boats, and some of the resorts are even close enough to the parks to walk. 

Skyliner Villas

The Skyliner route will give you quick access to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, though there are a few Disney hotels on the skyline route, there is only one Villa option, Disney’s Riviera Resort.

There are also other resorts that aren’t directly connected to the Skyliner, but they’re close enough to it to use it! These include Disney’s Boardwalk Villas, and Disney’s Beach Club. Just be aware that the Skyliner can get REALLY busy during certain times of the day. Try and get there as early as you can in the morning to avoid the lines, and know that the lines at park closing will be longer than usual. 

And, while we’re talking about 2023, know that the Skyliner will be CLOSED from January 22nd to 29th, 2023 for refurbishment, so staying at these hotels won’t give you access during that time.

Monorail Villas

If you can book them before they fill up, these villas provide wonderful themes and super quick access to Magic Kingdom. Because of that, they are in HIGH DEMAND and book up quickly! These villas include: Disney’s Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Villas (which is getting a new DVC Tower soon!).

These resorts give you direct access to the monorail system (which can take you to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT), and they also have shuttles, boats, and walking paths that you can use to get to the parks. Don’t forget about those awesome fireworks views, either! All of these resorts are on the Seven Seas Lagoon.

Two other villa options that aren’t on the Monorail but are still very close to Magic Kingdom include Disney’s Boulder Ridge Villas and Disney’s Copper Creek Villas & Cabins both at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. These villas have a water taxi service to and from Magic Kingdom. So, that’s another option if you find that these options better suit your needs!

Villas with Great Food

Some of the BEST food in Disney World can be found at the resorts, so it’s a good idea to keep these in mind when you’re booking your place to stay, especially if you love food as much as we do.

Disney’s Boulder Ridge Villas and Disney’s Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.

There are a bunch of delicious food options over at Wilderness Lodge! First, we have Storybook Dining at Artist Point, which is where you can meet the characters from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (including the Evil Queen!) in an Enchanted Forest. It’s a really unique character dining experience!

Next, you have Territory Lounge. This spot has some small bites, including Oregon Chardonnay Fondue and the Seasonal Bisque, which switches up depending on the season and is great comfort food.

Also at this hotel is Whispering Canyon Cafe! This is a fun restaurant with silly antics from the Disney servers. Now that they’ve been re-opened for a while, they’re back to their old tricks! While you’re eating here, you might see some restaurant horse races or get bombarded at your table with everyone giving you their ketchup bottles. If you want entertainment while you eat, this is the spot!

Finally, there’s Geyser Point which has tasty lunch and dinner options you can try while taking in those lakeside views. There are also some fun cocktails over here!

Animal Kingdom Lodge

Animal Kingdom Lodge is home to villas at Jambo House and Kidani Village and both sites have awesome food options as well, like Sanaa in Kidani Village, which is a table service restaurant with African-inspired dishes and a view of the savanna, so you can see the animals outside!

There’s also Boma at Jambo House, which is an all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet that’s open for both breakfast and dinner. Get things here like Deviled Eggs with Smoked Salmon, Berbere-Chickpea Salad, or African Spiced Beef Striploin. Or Jiko, a signature dining service perfect for a date night with an extensive wine list.

And, the quick service location here – The Mara, also at Jambo House – has some outstanding desserts! Some of our faves include the peanut-butter-heavy Nyala Brownie and the chocolate mousse Zebra Domes.

Polynesian Village Resort

Finally, we’re going to talk about the food over at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. You’ve probably heard us rave about ‘Ohana before, and this is where it’s located! It’s an all-you-care-to-enjoy restaurant with Hawaiian-inspired dishes, like grilled meat skillets, stir-fried veggies, and those famous ‘Ohana Noodles we love so much. They also serve breakfast here, and the characters have returned to breakfast, making this dining reservation even harder to get!

In the Polynesian, there’s a somewhat hidden bar that is a big fan favorite – Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto! This bar is interactive, so when you order certain drinks, things will happen around the room. The bartenders here have a really fun time with it, and it’s a great place to spend an afternoon sipping on a tiki drink.

The Polynesian even has great quick service options like Capt. Cook’s, Kona Cafe, and the Oasis Bar and Grill. These spots all have tasty small bites that you can have if you don’t want to sit down for a whole meal.

Finally, we have to talk about Pineapple Lanai. If you’re a Dole Whip fan, then Pineapple Lanai is for you! They have the traditional pineapple Dole Whip flavor, but they also get new flavors pretty often, so you can see what’s new every time you visit!

Click here to learn more about renting DVC points

Time of Year & Vacation Goals

Ok, we know this sounds vague, but bear with us. Certain villas will be better choices at different times of the year for different parks and purposes. If you really want to have quick access to EPCOT during its Festivals, then those EPCOT area villas, BoardWalk, Beach Club, and even Riviera, are gonna be prime real estate. The same goes for if you want to live up May the Fourth and Star Wars celebrations in Hollywood Studios.

If you’re planning a trip to attend one of the Magic Kingdom after-hour parties, like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, then those Monorail Resort Villas are gonna be super handy for zipping to and from Magic Kingdom without having to drive or wait for a bus.

And if your goal is just ultimate relaxation without much park fuss (you love being in the magic, but don’t necessarily need to race to the attractions or be crushed by crowds), then Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, and Animal Kingdom Villas provide that perfect getaway.

Villa You’re Familiar With

There have been a lot of changes at Disney World over the past several months, so it might be best for you to stay somewhere familiar! This way, you’re more comfortable because you already know how things work and where they are at that resort. You won’t be overwhelmed, but a ton of new things all at once.

This can also help with your planning because if you’ve already stayed at a villa before, you know what their transportation options are and roughly how long it might take to get where you need to be.

Villas You’ve NEVER Stayed at Before

Yeah, we know this completely goes against what we just said, but we have to mention the other side! If you go to Disney World fairly often, checking out a new resort you’ve never stayed at could make your trip all the more fun!

Trying a completely different hotel might actually surprise you, and it could end up becoming your new favorite! For example, if you’re usually over in Disney’s Saratoga Springs because you love the easy access to Disney Springs, maybe you should try BoardWalk Inn Villas, to experience the entertainment and dining option of the BoardWalk!

Overall, there are SO many different options of places to stay at Disney World, but what it comes down to is what works best for you and your group – between preferences, budget, plans, etc. The good news is, there are enough options where you should be able to find a spot that works great for you. We do suggest booking where you want to stay as soon as you can though, because those hotels can get booked up quick!

For more on the Disney World planning, check out our step-by-step guide to ordering Instacart grocery delivery to Disney World, the hardest Disney World dining reservations to get in 2023, and the planning tips you need to know about before your next Disney World trip.

Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World news and updates.

What to Do If You Can’t Get the Disney World Hotel Reservation You Wanted

Which hotel are you planning to stay at on your next Disney World trip? Tell us in the comments!