food IS a theme park
Over the years, the perks you get for staying at a Disney World Resort have changed, but there are still some benefits that can improve your vacation.
All-Star Movies
Of course, you can get early booking for Lightning Lanes and enjoy Early Theme Park Entry every day, but a perk people often forget exists is the Airport Luggage Transfer. This service has been available for guests of Value Disney Resorts flying with Southwest Airlines, but now it’s expanding!
Choosing a Disney World hotel sounds fun until you’re 47 tabs deep, comparing bus loops, pool slides, monorail access, room layouts, “walkable to EPCOT” claims, and whether your budget can survive one night at the Grand Floridian without taking out a second mortgage.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Because here’s the thing: Disney World has a LOT of hotels. And they are not all built for the same kind of vacation.
There are a lot of things Disney World does extremely well. Fireworks. Snacks. Turning “I’ll just browse the gift shop” into a minor financial event. What Disney World is not naturally built for is quiet. This is, after all, a vacation kingdom fueled by stroller traffic, mobile order panic, and one family of six somehow stopping in the exact center of every walkway like they’re filming a documentary about poor spatial awareness.
Magic Kingdom
So yes, if you’re an introvert, Disney World can be a lot. Not bad a lot, necessarily. Just… a lot. A parade of sounds, crowds, questions, decisions, heat, logistics, and strangers breathing with a level of confidence that feels, frankly, aggressive.
Which is exactly why your hotel matters.
Disney World’s Value Resorts are a little like ordering the cute little appetizer that turns out to be secretly filling. You look at it and think, “That’ll do for now,” and then suddenly it’s carrying the whole meal.
Disney’s Art of Animation
For a lot of people, Disney’s Value Resorts really are the smartest move on property. You still get those very important Disney Resort hotel perks like complimentary transportation and Early Theme Park Entry. You get a Disney bubble hotel, big theming, food on site, pools, and easy access to the parks without paying Deluxe prices that can make your wallet emit a tiny haunted whisper.
I’ve been staying at Disney hotels for decades, and one thing I learned is that not every Disney hotel is a good fit for every Disney trip.
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Disney World has over 25 on-site hotels, and they’re all very different. Disney resorts are typically grouped into Value, Moderate, and Deluxe categories. While staying on Disney property has amazing benefits, I’ve learned the hard way that not every Disney hotel is right for every trip. These are the Disney World hotels I regret impulsively booking and what I would book instead.
Disney World value resorts are still some of the most popular places to stay on property.
Art of Animation
They’re affordable by Disney standards, they keep you inside the Disney bubble, and they work especially well for families who plan to spend most of their time in the parks. That said, prices have gone up, expectations have changed, and some longtime perks never came back. Here are four things we think Disney World’s cheapest hotels desperately need moving forward.
After decades of eating my way around Disney World, one thing is clear: many Disney adults keep booking restaurants for the wrong reasons.
Want to dine at Cinderella’s Royal Table? Make a reservation as early as you can.
Disney World is home to some truly fantastic restaurants, from immersive themed dining to fantastic meals you won’t find anywhere else. But with hundreds of options across the parks, resorts, and Disney Springs, it’s easy to assume that popular, iconic, or highly recommended automatically means “right for everyone.” The truth is, many Disney dining disappointments don’t come from bad restaurants. Instead, they come from choosing places that don’t match your priorities, tastes, or touring style. Understanding why we book certain restaurants can make all the difference between a meal you endure and one you truly enjoy.
We’re here to help you make the most out of your next Disney World hotel stay!
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
If you’re staying at a Value Resort like the All-Star Resorts at Disney World, chances are you’re trying to do Disney World on a budget. It makes total sense, as you can turn those savings into an elevated vacation experience. At the end of the day, you have more money to spend on dining, souvenirs, and, yes, even hotel upgrades!
When it comes to rope dropping at Walt Disney World, not every hotel is created equal.
Bright and early at Magic Kingdom
Rope dropping, the process of showing up to a theme park before it opens and then subsequently getting phased deeper and deeper into the park as it gradually becomes available to the public, has become popular among guests as it usually provides you with the shortest wait times of the day and a leg up on guests who show up later. With that said, it’s more like ripping off a Band-Aid rather than something you’ll love to do. Rope dropping at Disney World requires you to get up EARLY, and it could be even earlier than you think once you start factoring in transportation times. On top of that, Walt Disney World hotel guests receive Eary Entry benefits to the resort’s parks. We’ve rope dropped from many different hotels over the years, and if you want to quickly get to rope drop and make the most out of your day, avoid these hotels and opt for their substitutions for a shorter commute.
Universal just blew my mind.
Surfside
Over my 30+ years visiting the major theme parks that call Central Florida home, I’ve stayed at countless kinds of hotels in the area — including Value, Moderate, and even Deluxe Tier at resorts. Recently, I stayed at a Universal Orlando Resort hotel for the first time, and was shocked
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