Disney’s Yacht Club
With the number of resorts on property at Walt Disney World, it can be difficult to decide where to stay on property for your family vacation. While each of the Walt Disney World resort properties has its pros and cons, there are four resorts that I generally recommend to families, depending on their vacation budget. Here are the four best resorts at Walt Disney World (in my opinion)!
Disney’s Beach and Yacht Clubs
Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club are sister resorts that are in the “deluxe” hotel category. They aren’t on the monorail loop, but both have easy access to Epcot (walking is the best way) and Disney’s Hollywood Studios (either a long walk or a quick boat ride). Most of the rooms offer two queen beds and a pull-out couch, making them a great option for families of five. The biggest benefit of the Beach and Yacht Clubs is Stormalong Bay – the three-acre pool area that includes a water slide, sandy bottom pool, and lazy river. The two hotels also offer numerous restaurants, a kids’ club, two gift shops, a pool snack bar, an arcade, a fitness center, and a hair salon. Save money and skip the room with a view – it’s not really necessary.
Check Disney Yacht Club Hotel prices online.
For animal-loving kids, you can’t beat Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. With a savannah-view room (worth the splurge), guests can actually see animals like giraffes and zebras right from their hotel room. Wildlife staff walking around the grounds can also provide information about the animals that can be seen on property. The biggest negative with the Animal Kingdom Lodge is the transportation – guests need to take buses to all of the parks, and it’s more remote than some of the other deluxe resorts. It’s worth it if you have animal lovers in your family though. The resort also offers a kids-club, kids’ activities, a pool, three sit-down restaurants, a counter-service restaurant, an arcade, and a gift shop.
Check Animal Kingdom Lodge prices online. You can also look at Expedia.
Disney’s Polynesian Resort is one of the most expensive resorts on property, due to its location on the monorail loop. You can’t beat the accessibility to the parks from this resort – guests can take the monorail to the Magic Kingdom right from the resort, and walk to the Ticket and Transportation Center for buses to Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, and a monorail to Epcot. Like the Yacht and Beach Clubs, most rooms have two queen beds with a pull-out couch. The resort also offers several restaurants, multiple pools, a kids’ club, a gift shop, and a counter serve restaurant.
Check rates for Disney’s Polynesian Resort at Hotels.com.
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Disney’s Art of Animation is a great option for families with more than three kids, or for those who don’t have a deluxe resort budget. It’s Disney’s newest resort, and includes standard rooms and family suites. The themes – Finding Nemo, the Lion King, the Little Mermaid, and Cars, are very kid friendly, and the resort is in the “value” category so the standard rooms are a great bargain. While you will need to take a bus to all four parks, the resort does have some great amenities including a three pools, a lively food court, an arcade, animation classes, and a food court.
Check rates online for Art of Animation resort at Hotels.com.
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I’m partial to the Swan and Dolphin myself, but it kind of depends on which park you’re heading to also. I like all the dining choices at that one though and the nice rooms with a view.
I agree Jenny – especially if you’ve got older kids and enjoy Hollywood Studios and Epcot.