Disney World Has Now Implemented a MAJOR CHANGE to Its Hotel Booking Process

As the summer vacation season creeps up upon us for 2026, those looking to book a trip to Walt Disney World this year have something NEW to consider.

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

At the start of the year, Disney changed how it categorizes rooms in one of its most popular hotel tiers, which could lead to some confusion among long-term guests familiar with the traditional nomenclature.

Beginning with 2026 bookings, Disney adjusted the names of some of the room categories at their Moderate Tier Resorts:

The main categories are now Standard Room, Preferred Room, or a room with a king bed. Some Disney Moderate Resorts will continue to offer additional categories, such as the Royal Guest Room at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort—Riverside. The rooms are now categorized by location rather than view.

According to Disney, at the time of the initial announcement, the change was made to “simplify room categories and to improve Guests’ check-in experience.”

Coronado Springs Resort Room

Once you’ve memorized Disney’s new room names, it may also be worth knowing that the company is offering some unprecedented discounts this summer. These include savings of up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels for stays most nights from May 1st to July 29th, 2026.

Port Orleans Riverside

Guests can save up to 30% for stays of 5 or more consecutive nights and 25% for stays of 1 to 4 consecutive nights at Disney’s Deluxe Tier Resorts, 25% off stays of 5 or more nights and 20% or stays of 1 to 4 nights at select Disney Moderate and Value Tier Resorts, and 20% off stays of 5 or more nights and 15% off stays of 1 to 4 nights at select Moderate and Value Tier Resorts, as well as the Fort Wilderness Campground.

Doubloon Lagoon Pool at Port Orleans

2026 has seen a major change to Disney’s booking process at Moderate Tier Resorts, which may take a bit of getting used to for longtime guests. Stay tuned to DFB for more on Disney World’s changes.

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