Where to Stay at Walt Disney World

When you’re planning your Walt Disney World vacation, one of the biggest factors is where to stay! From onsite to offsite, from a deluxe resort to a value one, which one do you pick?

And how do you pick?

Yes, it does matter where you stay! There are many factors driving your decision as to where to stay (budget, kid friendly, close to parks, etc) but at the end of the day, it does matter where you stay.

When deciding where to stay on your Disney vacation, we suggest that you choose to stay on site at a Walt Disney World Resort if your budget allows. Families with younger kids should look into themed resorts such as Art of Animation and the All Star Resorts.

Here are all the details you need to know and think about when figuring out where to stay as you plan your Disney World vacation.

Staying On-site at a Disney World Resort

Whenever we’re asked where you should stay as you plan your trip, we always recommend staying at an official Walt Disney World resort hotel if your budget allows. When you stay on-site, there’s many additional perks to be had and the magic of Disney will continue at your hotel!

Here are some of the best perks when staying on-site:

Non-stop Disney Magic
Free Disney Transportation
Lightning Lane Perks
Extended Evening Hours for Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts
Get In The Parks Early
Utilize the Disney Dining Plan
Make Dining Reservations Early
Less Travel Time
Send Purchases to Your Room

Grand Floridian overlooking-lobby — Disney’s Grand Floridian

There are three Disney Hotel tiers – Value, Moderate and Deluxe. There is technically a fourth category called Deluxe Villas for Disney Vacation Club members. We won’t focus on that. There are many differences when it comes to each tier. You can find out more details here.

Here are all the different Disney hotels categorized by tier.

Walt Disney World Value Resorts List

According to our 2022 Disney World statistics, 30% of visitors who stayed on site choose a value resort. Here is a list of the Disney Value Resorts:

Walt Disney World Moderate Resorts

According to our 2022 Disney World statistics, 23% of people who stay on site stay at a moderate resort. Here is the current list of Disney Moderate Resorts:

Walt Disney World Deluxe Resorts List

According to our research, 47% of people who stayed on site choose a deluxe resort. These hotels have the best of everything, including club level concierge services. Here is the current list of Disney Deluxe Resorts:

How to Choose a Disney World Resort Hotel

Here are a few things to consider when choosing your hotel:

Cost of hotel and your budget
Themed decor vs classic decor
The importance of a pool
Proximity to parks
Traveling with kids vs adults only

Our recommendations are:

Best Resort Overall: Polynesian Resort
Best Deluxe Hotel: Animal Kingdom Lodge and Polynesian Resort
Best Moderate Hotel for Adults: Port Orleans Resort (French Quarter)
Best Moderate Hotel for Families: Caribbean Beach Resort
Best Value Resort: Pop Century (see our review here!)
Hotel Closest to Magic Kingdom: Contemporary
Best Pool: Stormalong Bay at Yacht and Beach Club Resorts
Best Hotel for Toddlers: All Star Movies Resort and Art of Animation Resort

Staying Off-Site

Your budget or family situation may not allow for staying on-site at a Disney World Resort Hotel. And that’s ok! There are some perks about staying off-site.

Save Money and Have More Space
Free Transportation to the Parks
More Food Options (kitchen, local restaurants, etc.)

Unlike on-site, the options are endless when it comes to what hotel to pick when staying off-site! We’ve narrowed it down to the top 10 hotels to stay at on this post. These hotels are all very close to the Disney Parks, you will be pleasantly surprised!