I got to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge when I was younger, and it was the most magical experience ever. I was obsessed with animals as a kid so getting to see them from my hotel room was so exciting. I swear I loved it even more than the theme parks lol and I remember loving the food too.
As a solo traveler I highly recommend Port Orleans French quarter for adult only trips. The vibe is beautiful but it's also smaller and quieter than the other hotels.
Art of animation is honestly the perfect stay if you have little kids. The skyliner is so easy to travel on. The theming! My son just kept saying “wow”. Felt like it was so worth it.
I know the Swan and Dolphin aren’t “technically” Disney World Resort hotels; however, you get all the perks of a Disney World resort with wonderful restaurants and a luxurious atmosphere. If you’re wanting peace and quiet with less children…I LOVE this place. I’ve never had a bad experience there. And when you research vacation packages, you often get an awesome deal for this hotel too. It’s right on the Boardwalk, you get boat and bus access to the parks, and you get other perks like extended park hours too. The only downside is lack of Disney theming, but personally I don’t mind bc some days you just need a break from it
Totally agree, stayed in August and walking to our two favourite parks was amazing, although we usually used the boat. We also found the buses to MK and DS were regular and never full. Would definitely return and it saved so much time in travelling.
Agreed, this is a fantastic place to stay. It has an incredible pool, and I was able to walk to Epcot whenever I wanted to grab myself an eclair from France. This place made the trip so much more fun.
Agreed! My family stayed at the Dolphin a few times in my childhood and we really liked how close it was to Epcot and I remember really liking the hotel itself.
Shades of Green as well, it’s owned and operated by the Army but it’s a fantastic and reasonably priced experience if you’re active duty or a veteran. You get a lot of the same benefits as Swan and Dolphin for a whole lot less. And since it’s Army-run they’ve got an AAFES exchange on site. Thats on top of all the armed forces discounts Disney World already offers, so if you want a good cheap Disney trip join the Army.
Staying here in 2025 for my wedding anniversary and I'm so excited! I almost picked the Caribbean but I think I'll save that one for when I bring my daughter.
I'm staying at the Port Orleans French Quarter at the end of March, 2024. The reservation desk warned me about the pool closure, which was very thorough of them. I've stayed here before so I know that the Riverside pool is quite a distance to walk, so your viewers may wish to know: I was told there would be transportation back and forth between the pools. A nice touch!
I'm going to standup for Caribbean Beach resort. We stayed there in February of 2023 and we loved the resort, in fact we all agreed it helped to make our holiday so amazing. Yes it's spread out compared to other Disney resorts, but a 15 minutes walk to the main pool is a bit of a push. The food at the pool bar was excellent. With the pool in mind we never felt safer in a pool than at the main pool in the resort, the life Gard's were amazing and extremely fair with people. The skyliner was amazing, It was not too bad in the morning, I personally found skyliner at Epcot and Hollywood studios busier at night when leaving them. We never found the bus loop to be bad. The only problem we had with the busses was there didn't seem to be enough going from Magic Kingdom or animals kingdom to Caribbean Beach resort.
Agree! Carribean Beach is the best value for larger families and gives skyliner access. It is always busy because it is a better value for average families compared to all star movies,art of animation,etc. I think these lists don't reflect financial value as much as they focus on size, layout, and amenities. I mean if you are going to disney for the parks and want a hotel with good transport and fun pools for a fair value then Caribbean beach is one of the best.
Caribbean Beach is one of the cheapest moderates right now even with preferred room. The only reason it’s ranked last is because AJ has some weird bias against it
I love these videos, but I think it would be great to include a visual of where each hotel is located on a map of WDW. I keep finding myself pausing the video to go and take a look at the map 🗺️ 😂
Have stayed in several levels & had enjoyed certain items at all. Yes the one I liked the best was probably the first one I tried was the one one in 1972 the one have stayed in the most available when park first opened & I had no desire to stay in I had no desire to to stay in I have stayed the most.
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I felt like this video lists transportation as a con pretty nonchalantly. For me, transportation as a con is a HUGE deal. We have 3 small kids so being able to walk to Magic Kingdom with my stroller all packed and ready to go from the Contemporary will always have it as my #1. And this video really only saying that the theming and monorail noise are the negatives, confirms that for me! Got a huge deal on a theme park/fireworks view room this year. Love the splash pad and Bay Lake Tower pool. Fantastic dining. My son is obsessed with watching the monorail come and go. Contemporary all the way!
Same! I'm planning a trip for next year and the absolute convenience with walking or hopping on a monorail with 3 small kids is absolutely worth the extra couple of hundred bucks. Also I expect the monorail to absolutely blow my train loving 4 year old's mind. 😊
Seems unique to you and not to them. Beauty of opinions and why they rank stuff the way they do. I have a family of four and hotel activities are honestly way more important than the parks themselves to my kids.
A number of comments asking about price. We are looking at going to WDW in September 2024 and this is the cheapest room in each hotel for two adults. Price per night: Fort Wilderness Campground - RV Spot - $109 All-Star Sports Resort - $116 All-Star Music Resort - $116 Pop Century Resort - $161 All-Star Movies Resort - $165 Art of Animation Resort - $183 Coronado Springs Resort - $221 Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter - $235 Port Orleans Resort - Riverside - $239 Caribbean Beach Resort - $250 Saratoga Springs Resort - $313 Animal Kingdom Lodge - $335 Wilderness Lodge - $360 Fort Wilderness Campground - Cabins - $367 Contemporary Resort - $395 Beach Club Resort - $403 Yacht Club Resort - $410 BoardWalk Inn - $438 Old Key West - $440 Riviera Resort - $518 Grand Floridian Resort & Spa - $551 Polynesian Village Resort - $572
I feel I need to stick up for Old Key West. While it doesn’t have splashy theming or the most in demand dining, the vibes there are so relaxing and calm which is just what I want on vacation. There’s nothing like leaving the hustle and bustle of the parks and coming back to the quiet and peaceful Old Key West resort
The grounds & the patios are amazing too. The grounds are beautiful. We stayed in a one bedroom DVC suite by a bus stop. It was wonderful. I just wish it had more food options.
OKW is just lovely. Welcome Home! It really does feel like home and it’s gorgeous to boot. I love it there the most, but AKL snatched at my heart in April. I’m a big ol’ fan of that one. 🦒🦓
We just stayed at Seratoga Springs and I absolutely loved it. Very quaint and felt like I was staying in a cottage. Yea, it’s definitely spread apart but if you don’t mind the walk, I find it’s fine, and it also allows you to enjoy the nice area the resort is in.
I'm honestly surprised Caribbean Beach is at the bottom. The Skyliner makes it better than a ton of other options *hands down*. Granted if you are not planning on going to HS or Epcot, it may not be the boon that you want, but it's *such* a better means of travel compared to bus or boat or any other option. My fiance and I love HS more than any other park, so this is by far our favorite place to go.
We stayed at All Star Movies and loved it. In two weeks we never waited more than 5 minutes for a bus. My 6 year old loved it so much he refused to leave on the first day when we wanted to go to magic kingdom. I didn’t want to stay in a more expensive hotel, we were going to the parks when it opens and leave when they closed so a more expensive hotel would have been a waste. Great video. Take care.
I didn’t hear Bay Lake Tower mentioned at all. Maybe I missed it? We loved it there. The view is amazing, it’s quiet, and so close to MK. You still have close access to all that the Contemporary has to offer without the noise and crowds. The view of Bay Lake from the back is serene after along day at the parks and you can watch the Electrical Water Pageant from your lanai every evening.
I've stayed at several locations, but the Poly was hands down the winner for me. Beautiful. Still disney themed. I actually want to spend time there, not just at the parks. And although no skyliner, which i adore, the monorail and boat services are spectacular and get you to other hotels, magic Kingdom, and epcot so conveniently. But like y'all said, different trips have different needs, and AOA was perfect for a last minute girls trip i was part of.
My wife and I stayed at Pop for our honeymoon and fell in love with it and the access to the Skyliner ❤️ but we are staying at Wilderness Lodge for our next trip and we are so excited!!
I love Pop Century! It's also my favorite hotel scent hahah. The photos always make it look like a dingy motel but when you stay there it's pretty awesome. 10/10 do recommend.
If you are planning to stay at Caribbean Beach, stay in the preferred rooms in the Martinique area. This is the FIRST stop for buses and you will have no issue getting on! It is also close to the main lobby/pool. The only con is the walk to the skyline.
We (family of 5) just stayed at CB the week before this last Christmas and we loved it!. We asked for one of the new Little Mermaid rooms in Trinidad and it was a quick walk across the bridge in the morning to the skyliner and it was never more than a two or three minute wait to get on. We also loved that there is a coffee/donut stand at the skyliner station so we were able to grab coffee and a donut for the kids before getting on. The new rooms worked out well. My oldest is a little messy so that made the room seem small at times but the reno was nice. My husband who is a runner loved running the paved path along the water in the morning. I think for the price it had everything we needed for a clean and convenient place to rest and get ready for a new park each day.
I will never understand why people don't think Boardwalk is the best hotel. It's within walking distance of two parks, it's themeing is peak vacation, it feels very Disney without it becoming tacky, it feels classy, lots of places to eat and get a drink, and the lagoon view rooms have an absolutely amazing view
I honestly don’t understand the appeal from my perspective. It seems like a very steep price for rooms that don’t seem to have anything special. The resort lobbies feel small for both Beach Club and Boardwalk. I’ve never stayed at either, what is the appeal that I’m missing?
I love the rooms and theming of Boardwalk, but I hated the pool. The pool was really worn down when we stayed there (5 years ago), which is not fitting for a deluxe hotel. Also, I was not impressed by the dining options, but that's just me. .
Came here to agree! I’ve stayed at several different Disney properties and Boardwalk Inn is basically in the perfect spot for so many things: walking proximity to two parks (wasted time in transit is wasted money, imho), multiple great restaurants all around, and many rooms have Epcot fireworks views. Rooms are pretty and feel like a little retreat from the action.
I agree, AJ…every resort has its ups and downs! Your stay also should reflect your family. When my girls were young- we did the All Star Movies and Music. Preteen- we loved Pop, once we were DVC members, we have loved stays at AKL, Saratoga, Poly, and with extended family, the Tree House Villas. Never a bad stay at any…great memories. We would go back to any of them!😊🥰
We are going to the Polynesian in September. It is our favorite deluxe resort. We only stay at the deluxe resorts because I got spoiled when we took the kids in 2000 and stayed at the Contemporary and were upgraded to a concierge tower suite when our room had a major issue. Yes, they are expensive but I feel the benefits at the deluxe resorts are worth it for me and my family. We go every other year instead of yearly because of the cost of the rooms. The only deluxe resort we haven’t stayed at is the Grand Floridian. We almost booked it this year, but we may do it next year.
Our next resort is the poly, after eating at Ohana during our last visit, I refuse to stay anywhere else! My family and I have zero interest in the Grand Floridian. It just doesn’t seem like a place the kids would like.
The Grand Floridian is beautiful. I stayed there last fall and even with the construction going on, it was lovely. I went back just to visit the lobby at Christmas for the first time, and it was breathtaking. My little girl loved it too! I hope you get a chance to stay there!
I’ve always said, “I’m not booking a vacation to save money.” I’ll always spend more for a grand vacation then try to do things on a budget. I get some people can’t really afford all of it, and that’s ok. Spend what you can. But I’m with you on buying deluxe resorts and packages.
AKL for the win. The kids love seeing the animals when they wake up! It's old school peak Disney theming before Chapek, so the details are exquisite. I rue the day they update this resort, it'll end up looking like the typical Motel 8 redesign.
For my first visit to DW ever, happening this coming summer, I’ve chosen the Caribbean Beach Resort. I picked it solely for proximity/accessibility to at least two of the parks. I put in a request when I booked last month for a room near the main skyliner.
Thank you for the amazing video DFB! I find the resort videos very interesting and informative! I’m staying at The Contemporary in March for my birthday trip. I hope you all have an amazing day, thanks for the hard work in the videos. Stood at Pop Century back in Dec and loved it. One of my favs in all of Disney World.
I’m all about Coronado Gran Destino - combination of room quality, pools, dining and value for money cant be beat . We used some of the savings not going deluxe to pay for rideshare , mitigating the transportation issue
Stayed at Saratoga Springs last spring and it was phenomenal. Very awesome atmosphere. It also had a great kid area in the pool space that was less intense than some of the other commons areas. And walking to Disney Springs is a game changer. It guarantees you have access to shopping, entertainment, and tons of food all within proximity to where you do not have to get on another bus.
I do appreciate your perspective. however, I have to stick up for Saratoga Springs. If you do not have children and it’s an adult only vacation or if you have older children I think it’s a great resort. You can walk to Disney Springs enjoy food, nightlife, shopping, etc. I don’t quite see how the All-Star resorts rated above it but thank you for what you have provided.
Over from Australia for two weeks and we are currently staying at the Swan/Dolphin....Great service and so easy to get everywhere with access to water taxi, busses and an uber only ever 2 minutes away. The ability to use both hotels amentities is fantastic.
I wish there was a ranking based on budget and another one on just the hotel without taking price into consideration. Riviera is my favorite because my priorities are quality of the room, accessibility and food and if you book a studio or above you got all three. It’s nice to walk from GF to the parks but it’s 1 park usually people try to do all 4. The skyliner resorts give you special transportation to 2 parks.
I'm totally with you! When I saw Riviera was so low I was like WHAT? When I could see they factored in price heavily, I get it - she ain't cheap... especially for cash bookings. We're DVC and love it! I can get the argument about kid whimsy and such though... #1 Grand Flo also isn't so cheap or amazingly themed for kids.... but is on the monorail loop and can walk to MK. Though... Epcot and HS are where I want to be - Riviera is much more accessible to those two. Agree with you - if there was a separate ranking when cost was not considered, I think Riviera would do much better. And with DVC evening that out some... it goes up in the ratings :-). Can you tell I'm a fan? Welcome Home :-).
I agree completely- love the Riviera and Polynesian and not understanding why some of these resorts were ranked lower based on cost when others were not like - yacht and beach club.
Down to 20days till WDW! Taking my fiancé and her 7year olds son(this will be the little ones first time!!) staying at PoP for 5 nights and a savana view room at Ak lodge for last 3 nights. I love AK LODGE! Cant wait to see the lil ones face for 8 days at all the parks!
Love these ranking videos! We stayed at Coronado Springs a couple years ago and really enjoyed the club access. Was happy to see it also ranked in the top 5!
Yet, if you get a room far from the lobby, it is a long trek. We had to switch rooms closer to the lobby since my father can't go long distances walking. I really loved the resort otherwise, especially the pool that Kidani has.
Great video! Very thorough. I love seeing Coronado Springs get the love it deserves. I feel like it is an underrated resort at times. I love all the food options, the pools, and just the beautiful grounds of the property. It feels like a deluxe resort but affordable for a budget! Also the bus system isn’t that much of an inconvenience since the resort is pretty centrally located, no bus ride takes all that long.
Thank you for this! We just went to WDW for the first time and stayed in an AirBnB. Next time I would love to stay in resort for a few days and this list of very helpful. We have a double stroller for two of our kids so knowing which is on buses is key as I avoid buses since we have to fold the stroller and I try to avoid at almost all costs.
I honestly cannot say enough about the family suites at all star music. Very few of the highest price resorts even offer two bathrooms, which, when you have a big family can be a matter of life and death. Lol. Also, they are directly up at the front of the resort, which makes getting to, and from the buses and the food court super convenient.
We went for 14 nights as a split between the poly and saratoga last year. The poly was such a let down. Our dvc room was so filthy and the resort was really busy with guests that weren't staying there. It didn't feel worth the cost as nothing was exclusive to guests, even the pool (although the pool is gorgeous there)! Saratoga on the other hand was great. Clean, spacious, good pools. It's not that spread out if you're used to a bit of walking normally. It was a 5 min walk from the back of the grandstand to the springs.
Love this overview as I’m trying Pop for the first time this year after being loyal to Sports and French Quarter for years now. I’m actually really worried about the busyness of the skyliner trying to get to Epcot. I hate super long lines for transportation and have never had to wait for multiple buses at Sports or FQ. I will say I love the bussing situation from both of those resorts. Having one stop is a really bonus over the loops at other resorts. The rooms in Sports are all so clean and in great condition! I have never had issues with busses or noise at sports. But I do not stay there solo.
If it makes you feel better the lines for skyliners tend to move p fast, like at night it looks like it'd take forever when in reality you might actually wait maybe 10min? which is still less than what I've waited for buses. Also recommend looking at the walk up list for topolinos I've gotten last min tables while on my way to epcot a couple of times and its my favorite 'bougie' breakfast at disney not even counting the characters the food itself was r good imo
19:51 I really enjoyed the croque monsieur I had at Primo Piatto on the day I went EPCOT and Skyliner resort hopping. None of the quick service grab and go or pool bar options at Yacht and Beach Club or Boardwalk seemed great to me (can’t even get to the pool bar at the Boardwalk because it’s inside the gates of the pool) and I’d heard good things about Primo Piatto.
I absolutely agree with Grand Floridian being number one, it ain’t the flagship for nothing! And Animal Kingdom Lodge at #2 is spot on! And these two resorts’ main lobbies look the most beautiful during Christmas 😍
I enjoyed watching! CB was our first Disney stay and I fell in love with it. Now we are DVC and I prefer the monorail resorts or WL. But any of them is magical in their own way. I mean you are at Walt Disney world!
Hey DFB! My family always stays at shades of green, do you not include it on the list because it military? Just have never seen it and wanted to know if y’all ever stayed there
The Caribbean Beach resort is fantastic. Our family has loved staying here for several years. (And we're picky!) Really doesn't feel much more spread out than the other moderates, and we really enjoy the food there. Also, it has the nicest cast members who just generally seem to enjoy working there.
Growing up as a Florida resident, we used to go to the Disney all star hotels probably about every other month for 5+ years as a kid. They used to be the same price as a best Western or a nice room at a Holiday Inn for a residence but nowadays I would just stay off property.
We're staying at the Yacht Club this week, and the biggest issue for us is the ultra-high beds. For some of my family, it's a challenge getting in and out of bed, and the hotel doesn't have small stools available because of "safety concerns." They suggested that we shoukd have booked an accessable room, but we don't need (or like) all that this bring. We just want rooms to have beds that normal people can use! I will note that other (non-disney) hotels with high beds have always had stools available. In one case it was already in the room. I guess the lawyers have overridden guest comfort concerns.
I always stay at Caribbean beach and I love it. I’ve never had transportation problems with the bus or sykliner and I’ve stayed there between Christmas and New Years and spring break time lol this is slander!! Lmao😂
I’ve stayed at the Grand F twice in the last three years as part of conferences at the onsite conference center. Best way to go. Rooms under $300/night. (And our classes ended at 1:30 each afternoon).
I would say The Contemporary ranking is accurate. I liked our recent stay at The Contemporary but wished we had stayed closer to the other parks since we no longer have “Littles.” Don’t misunderstand it’s a nice place to stay with great room quality, the monorail and the easy walk to MK. We just found we spent more time going back and forth to the other parks and Disney Springs since our daughters are older. Side note: Staff at this location was phenomenal!
Boardwalk Inn is now my go-to. The only problem is that there is a smoking area along the path, between the path and the river. I have serious asthma/breathing issues with any smoke but particularly tobacco smoke. For that reason i can’t really walk from the resort to Epcot. But i take the friendship boats and am happy with that op.
We are coming down in a couple weeks and staying at Wilderness Lodge for the first time. I can't wait ! Can you not take a boat to Contemporary to hop on the Monorail to get to Epcot? Or would just grabbing the bus be faster? I am not talking rope drop, just in general.
Beach Club will always be my favorite, I’ve stayed at Poly, GF ..and Contemporary and they weren’t all that. I loved the food, proximity to parks & stormalong bay!
Fantastic ranking! Shocking to see Caribbean dead last, but your reasons are solid. I loved watching the fort wilderness ranking because my family has that booked for this summer. It will be our first time staying there, so it was very useful.
My ranking (for the ones I've been to): 1. Caribbean Beach 2. Grand Floridian 3. Contemporary 4. Port Orleans - French Quarter 5. Polynesian 6. Coronado Springs 7. Polynesian 8. Port Orleans - Riverside 9. Art of Animation
The spa at Saratoga Springs will not reopen, as it has been turned into DVC office space. The Grand Floridian is the only resort that in-room dining has returned to.
Standing up for Saratoga Springs. My husband and I love it and stay there every time. You can almost always rent DVC points for it and it will cost less than a moderate resort. It is definitely for those who want a more casual stay and aren't trying to rope drop every day and enjoy a good stroll around the resort. There are also two pools which keep them not too crowded.
I cant wait to stay at AKL. I am doing a split stay there for three days at the start for my birthday and then to Riverside the last 7. This video though is defiantly making me think on planning another small trip at another new hotel (Only stayed at AOA and Grand so far)
Hi AJ! We are headed to the Disney Hilton Head resort this summer, have you ever done a review of this resort? If not, I’m sure there are fans who would love to see one!
Saratoga springs is great! Good food, chill vibes, great pool, nice rooms, and the busses are not that bad. Being next to Disney Springs is great and is expensive but if you can afford I would recommend!
What made Art of Animation so worth it in my opinion is that you get updated rooms (Cars FTW) and every pro from the Riviera resort. I unfortunately got sick in the middle of my FIRST trip to Disney World (food poisoning), and we were staying at Art of Animation. When I needed food but couldn’t handle AOA’s greasy food court, my boyfriend at the time walked me to the Skyliner, we went to Riviera, and I had the best tomato soup of my life. It revitalized me and I was able to enjoy the rest of my trip. The last day, I went to get some more 😂
I also love that port Orleans has planty of choice of food for those with food allergies. Looking at the menu for many other food courts (even in the moderate resorts) there isn’t always a lot of choice for different inexpensive foods. But French quarter has plenty of choice for grabbing a quick inexpensive meal for dinner.
This is a large but great resort. It's popular among families. Dfb ranks based on things to do at the hotel and walking convenience to main areas. For my fam caribbean beach has more pros than cons as it is a good value has skyliner access and a fun main pool. Never had a huge wait for the skyliner. Even at night its faster than the all star or port orleans busses. You picked a good hotel. Have a great trip. Enjoy soaking up the sun while strolling around the resort in February!
We loved our stay here. You can request to be placed in Jamaica or Aruba, and you will be close to either the main Skyliner hub, which has never had more than a two minute line in our experience or a quick walk to the Riviera Skyliner (which also never had a line more than a couple minutes). We use the quick servers at the Riviera instead of that, and the CBR food court . Take a vantage of being so close to the Riviera as well as Epcot. You don’t need the food options at CBR. You can Rob drop Epcot had to Remy and then over to Les Halles for breakfast. Just lovely! Enjoy!!☀️😎 (I fast forward through the video to only look at CBR and Poly, and there is outdated info on each, so take everything with a grain of salt.
AJ, when was the last time you stayed at CBR? It’s amazing! I feel like you need to go back and stay there in 2024. Busses are no issue. In the morning, there are two busses sent. Jamaica-Aruba and Martinique-OPR-Barbados-Trinidad. Jamaica 45 or Aruba 51 is amazing for a 5 minute walk across the island to the main pool and dining. Caribbean beach doesn’t have a 3rd floor. It’s only 2 stories. Also there are 5th sleepers located in every village of the resort, not just the ‘new’ rooms in Trinidad. (A few reasons why I feel like you haven’t actually stayed there in quite awhile). Reminder too that Port Orleans has some areas without elevators either.
The theming, food, monorail access & what you can do at Polynesian makes it one of my top two. We stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge for 14 days in mid January to the end of January in 2024. We requested a partial savannah view, & maybe because it was the slow season, we got a full savannah view. The food is amazing. Even the quick service is pretty good.
I think the Poly will always be my number one. More than the food, more than the location, it just has the best vibes. Being there makes me so happy.
Same!
Poly is what Disney is supposed to be for themed resorts. It’s the example. Feels like you’re in your own Hawaiian world there.
You mind asking how much a couple can expect to pay there (staying+ food), it just seems so expensive
This video is a hotel crawl and I’m HERE for it. Here AKA my office. But mentally, I’m hotel crawling.
Yes, I love it.
Same, except home sick. 😂
Does this mean you like it? Lol new meaning for crawling
Idk why I like these videos lol
Best way to get through work!
I got to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge when I was younger, and it was the most magical experience ever. I was obsessed with animals as a kid so getting to see them from my hotel room was so exciting. I swear I loved it even more than the theme parks lol and I remember loving the food too.
It's like having pets you can watch from your balcony before bed and first thing in the morning.
As a solo traveler I highly recommend Port Orleans French quarter for adult only trips. The vibe is beautiful but it's also smaller and quieter than the other hotels.
I stayed there solo December 8-15, 2004. The word begniet sounds like guys named Ben cheering.
Art of animation is honestly the perfect stay if you have little kids. The skyliner is so easy to travel on. The theming! My son just kept saying “wow”. Felt like it was so worth it.
I know the Swan and Dolphin aren’t “technically” Disney World Resort hotels; however, you get all the perks of a Disney World resort with wonderful restaurants and a luxurious atmosphere. If you’re wanting peace and quiet with less children…I LOVE this place. I’ve never had a bad experience there. And when you research vacation packages, you often get an awesome deal for this hotel too. It’s right on the Boardwalk, you get boat and bus access to the parks, and you get other perks like extended park hours too. The only downside is lack of Disney theming, but personally I don’t mind bc some days you just need a break from it
Totally agree, stayed in August and walking to our two favourite parks was amazing, although we usually used the boat. We also found the buses to MK and DS were regular and never full. Would definitely return and it saved so much time in travelling.
Agreed, this is a fantastic place to stay. It has an incredible pool, and I was able to walk to Epcot whenever I wanted to grab myself an eclair from France. This place made the trip so much more fun.
Agreed! My family stayed at the Dolphin a few times in my childhood and we really liked how close it was to Epcot and I remember really liking the hotel itself.
Shades of Green as well, it’s owned and operated by the Army but it’s a fantastic and reasonably priced experience if you’re active duty or a veteran. You get a lot of the same benefits as Swan and Dolphin for a whole lot less. And since it’s Army-run they’ve got an AAFES exchange on site. Thats on top of all the armed forces discounts Disney World already offers, so if you want a good cheap Disney trip join the Army.
Staying here in 2025 for my wedding anniversary and I'm so excited! I almost picked the Caribbean but I think I'll save that one for when I bring my daughter.
I'm staying at the Port Orleans French Quarter at the end of March, 2024. The reservation desk warned me about the pool closure, which was very thorough of them. I've stayed here before so I know that the Riverside pool is quite a distance to walk, so your viewers may wish to know: I was told there would be transportation back and forth between the pools. A nice touch!
Part of the reason I love Sarotoga is because it feels like home- i love that apartment vibe
Me too.
Yeah like I'm not gonna lie, I like everything she doesn't like about saratoga and okw.
I'm going to standup for Caribbean Beach resort.
We stayed there in February of 2023 and we loved the resort, in fact we all agreed it helped to make our holiday so amazing.
Yes it's spread out compared to other Disney resorts, but a 15 minutes walk to the main pool is a bit of a push.
The food at the pool bar was excellent.
With the pool in mind we never felt safer in a pool than at the main pool in the resort, the life Gard's were amazing and extremely fair with people.
The skyliner was amazing, It was not too bad in the morning, I personally found skyliner at Epcot and Hollywood studios busier at night when leaving them.
We never found the bus loop to be bad. The only problem we had with the busses was there didn't seem to be enough going from Magic Kingdom or animals kingdom to Caribbean Beach resort.
Agree! Carribean Beach is the best value for larger families and gives skyliner access. It is always busy because it is a better value for average families compared to all star movies,art of animation,etc. I think these lists don't reflect financial value as much as they focus on size, layout, and amenities. I mean if you are going to disney for the parks and want a hotel with good transport and fun pools for a fair value then Caribbean beach is one of the best.
This is helpful because I’ve been wanting to try this resort. Thank you for the insight!
Caribbean Beach is one of the cheapest moderates right now even with preferred room. The only reason it’s ranked last is because AJ has some weird bias against it
Agree CBR has always been a favorite.
CBR is amazing!! Aside from Trinidad 38-39, it’s close to ‘something’
I love these videos, but I think it would be great to include a visual of where each hotel is located on a map of WDW. I keep finding myself pausing the video to go and take a look at the map 🗺️ 😂
I do the same thing
Honestly, you’ll have it memorized in no time doing that. I basically have that map burned in my brain from doing the same thing!😂
Have stayed in several levels & had enjoyed certain items at all. Yes the one I liked the best was probably the first one I tried was the one one in 1972 the one have stayed in the most available when park first opened & I had no desire to stay in I had no desire to to stay in I have stayed the most.
I felt like this video lists transportation as a con pretty nonchalantly. For me, transportation as a con is a HUGE deal. We have 3 small kids so being able to walk to Magic Kingdom with my stroller all packed and ready to go from the Contemporary will always have it as my #1. And this video really only saying that the theming and monorail noise are the negatives, confirms that for me! Got a huge deal on a theme park/fireworks view room this year. Love the splash pad and Bay Lake Tower pool. Fantastic dining. My son is obsessed with watching the monorail come and go. Contemporary all the way!
Which room do you recommend for a family of 3?
Same! I'm planning a trip for next year and the absolute convenience with walking or hopping on a monorail with 3 small kids is absolutely worth the extra couple of hundred bucks.
Also I expect the monorail to absolutely blow my train loving 4 year old's mind. 😊
Seems unique to you and not to them. Beauty of opinions and why they rank stuff the way they do. I have a family of four and hotel activities are honestly way more important than the parks themselves to my kids.
A number of comments asking about price. We are looking at going to WDW in September 2024 and this is the cheapest room in each hotel for two adults. Price per night:
Fort Wilderness Campground - RV Spot - $109
All-Star Sports Resort - $116
All-Star Music Resort - $116
Pop Century Resort - $161
All-Star Movies Resort - $165
Art of Animation Resort - $183
Coronado Springs Resort - $221
Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter - $235
Port Orleans Resort - Riverside - $239
Caribbean Beach Resort - $250
Saratoga Springs Resort - $313
Animal Kingdom Lodge - $335
Wilderness Lodge - $360
Fort Wilderness Campground - Cabins - $367
Contemporary Resort - $395
Beach Club Resort - $403
Yacht Club Resort - $410
BoardWalk Inn - $438
Old Key West - $440
Riviera Resort - $518
Grand Floridian Resort & Spa - $551
Polynesian Village Resort - $572
Hero to the people
I feel I need to stick up for Old Key West. While it doesn’t have splashy theming or the most in demand dining, the vibes there are so relaxing and calm which is just what I want on vacation. There’s nothing like leaving the hustle and bustle of the parks and coming back to the quiet and peaceful Old Key West resort
The grounds & the patios are amazing too. The grounds are beautiful. We stayed in a one bedroom DVC suite by a bus stop. It was wonderful. I just wish it had more food options.
OKW is just lovely. Welcome Home! It really does feel like home and it’s gorgeous to boot. I love it there the most, but AKL snatched at my heart in April. I’m a big ol’ fan of that one. 🦒🦓
We stayed there most years when I was a kid. I always loved it. It's not what I prefer now though.
Absolutely agreed, also, the bus route isn't a big deal. If you're at miller, just walk to the front, problem solved.
We just stayed at Seratoga Springs and I absolutely loved it. Very quaint and felt like I was staying in a cottage. Yea, it’s definitely spread apart but if you don’t mind the walk, I find it’s fine, and it also allows you to enjoy the nice area the resort is in.
I'm honestly surprised Caribbean Beach is at the bottom. The Skyliner makes it better than a ton of other options *hands down*. Granted if you are not planning on going to HS or Epcot, it may not be the boon that you want, but it's *such* a better means of travel compared to bus or boat or any other option. My fiance and I love HS more than any other park, so this is by far our favorite place to go.
We stayed at All Star Movies and loved it. In two weeks we never waited more than 5 minutes for a bus. My 6 year old loved it so much he refused to leave on the first day when we wanted to go to magic kingdom. I didn’t want to stay in a more expensive hotel, we were going to the parks when it opens and leave when they closed so a more expensive hotel would have been a waste. Great video. Take care.
I didn’t hear Bay Lake Tower mentioned at all. Maybe I missed it? We loved it there. The view is amazing, it’s quiet, and so close to MK. You still have close access to all that the Contemporary has to offer without the noise and crowds. The view of Bay Lake from the back is serene after along day at the parks and you can watch the Electrical Water Pageant from your lanai every evening.
I've stayed at several locations, but the Poly was hands down the winner for me. Beautiful. Still disney themed. I actually want to spend time there, not just at the parks. And although no skyliner, which i adore, the monorail and boat services are spectacular and get you to other hotels, magic Kingdom, and epcot so conveniently. But like y'all said, different trips have different needs, and AOA was perfect for a last minute girls trip i was part of.
My wife and I stayed at Pop for our honeymoon and fell in love with it and the access to the Skyliner ❤️ but we are staying at Wilderness Lodge for our next trip and we are so excited!!
Have so much fun, I love that resort!
I LOVE Wilderness Lodge. It’s just so cute in there and the food is pretty good
So I was wondering if we stayed at the swan and dolphin do we still have to pay for parking at the parks
I love Pop Century! It's also my favorite hotel scent hahah. The photos always make it look like a dingy motel but when you stay there it's pretty awesome. 10/10 do recommend.
Pop Century is definitely the best Value Resort, no question!
Beach Club is my no.1! Best location at WDW, I love the vibes. The resort smell is amazing. I love everything about it!
Yes, it's my favorite for the theme and the location. Walk to EPCOT (my fav).
Wilderness lodge will always remain our number 1. Geyser point is phenomenal and there is no better theming in a Disney resort. Love it.
Glad to see Coronado Springs getting some love. So many people sleep on this resort but it's one of our favorites.
If you are planning to stay at Caribbean Beach, stay in the preferred rooms in the Martinique area. This is the FIRST stop for buses and you will have no issue getting on! It is also close to the main lobby/pool. The only con is the walk to the skyline.
In the morning there is a separate bus sent over to Jamaica-Aruba. Zero issues at all.
We (family of 5) just stayed at CB the week before this last Christmas and we loved it!. We asked for one of the new Little Mermaid rooms in Trinidad and it was a quick walk across the bridge in the morning to the skyliner and it was never more than a two or three minute wait to get on. We also loved that there is a coffee/donut stand at the skyliner station so we were able to grab coffee and a donut for the kids before getting on. The new rooms worked out well. My oldest is a little messy so that made the room seem small at times but the reno was nice. My husband who is a runner loved running the paved path along the water in the morning. I think for the price it had everything we needed for a clean and convenient place to rest and get ready for a new park each day.
I will never understand why people don't think Boardwalk is the best hotel. It's within walking distance of two parks, it's themeing is peak vacation, it feels very Disney without it becoming tacky, it feels classy, lots of places to eat and get a drink, and the lagoon view rooms have an absolutely amazing view
Because beach club is nicer
I honestly don’t understand the appeal from my perspective. It seems like a very steep price for rooms that don’t seem to have anything special. The resort lobbies feel small for both Beach Club and Boardwalk. I’ve never stayed at either, what is the appeal that I’m missing?
I love the rooms and theming of Boardwalk, but I hated the pool. The pool was really worn down when we stayed there (5 years ago), which is not fitting for a deluxe hotel. Also, I was not impressed by the dining options, but that's just me. .
Came here to agree! I’ve stayed at several different Disney properties and Boardwalk Inn is basically in the perfect spot for so many things: walking proximity to two parks (wasted time in transit is wasted money, imho), multiple great restaurants all around, and many rooms have Epcot fireworks views. Rooms are pretty and feel like a little retreat from the action.
Shhhhhh! Keep it a secret! 😊
I agree, AJ…every resort has its ups and downs! Your stay also should reflect your family. When my girls were young- we did the All Star Movies and Music. Preteen- we loved Pop, once we were DVC members, we have loved stays at AKL, Saratoga, Poly, and with extended family, the Tree House Villas. Never a bad stay at any…great memories. We would go back to any of them!😊🥰
We are going to the Polynesian in September. It is our favorite deluxe resort. We only stay at the deluxe resorts because I got spoiled when we took the kids in 2000 and stayed at the Contemporary and were upgraded to a concierge tower suite when our room had a major issue. Yes, they are expensive but I feel the benefits at the deluxe resorts are worth it for me and my family. We go every other year instead of yearly because of the cost of the rooms. The only deluxe resort we haven’t stayed at is the Grand Floridian. We almost booked it this year, but we may do it next year.
Our next resort is the poly, after eating at Ohana during our last visit, I refuse to stay anywhere else! My family and I have zero interest in the Grand Floridian. It just doesn’t seem like a place the kids would like.
The Grand Floridian is beautiful. I stayed there last fall and even with the construction going on, it was lovely. I went back just to visit the lobby at Christmas for the first time, and it was breathtaking. My little girl loved it too! I hope you get a chance to stay there!
I’ve always said, “I’m not booking a vacation to save money.” I’ll always spend more for a grand vacation then try to do things on a budget. I get some people can’t really afford all of it, and that’s ok. Spend what you can. But I’m with you on buying deluxe resorts and packages.
You could release a video like that every year and I'd watch it every year.
Your reviews are simply the best. We aren't going to Disney this year (Had a blast there last year) but I love to "go virtually" though DFB!
AKL for the win. The kids love seeing the animals when they wake up! It's old school peak Disney theming before Chapek, so the details are exquisite. I rue the day they update this resort, it'll end up looking like the typical Motel 8 redesign.
For my first visit to DW ever, happening this coming summer, I’ve chosen the Caribbean Beach Resort. I picked it solely for proximity/accessibility to at least two of the parks. I put in a request when I booked last month for a room near the main skyliner.
You will love it! I have NO
CLUE how it ranked lower than resorts with ‘bus only’ transportation!!
@@jessicalynn816 Thank you, Jessica! Glad to hear it!
That was our first stay too! I loved it! Cried when we left. It will always hold a special place for me. Have the best time!
@@debbiewebb5528 Thank you!
@@debbiewebb5528 Thank you!
Thank you for the amazing video DFB! I find the resort videos very interesting and informative! I’m staying at The Contemporary in March for my birthday trip. I hope you all have an amazing day, thanks for the hard work in the videos. Stood at Pop Century back in Dec and loved it. One of my favs in all of Disney World.
I’m all about Coronado Gran Destino - combination of room quality, pools, dining and value for money cant be beat . We used some of the savings not going deluxe to pay for rideshare , mitigating the transportation issue
Stayed at Saratoga Springs last spring and it was phenomenal. Very awesome atmosphere. It also had a great kid area in the pool space that was less intense than some of the other commons areas.
And walking to Disney Springs is a game changer. It guarantees you have access to shopping, entertainment, and tons of food all within proximity to where you do not have to get on another bus.
Port Orleans Riverside is the most cost efficient luxurious stay. We adore it!!!
My favorite, Polynesian Village. Thank you, AJ as usual for great tour.
I do appreciate your perspective. however, I have to stick up for Saratoga Springs. If you do not have children and it’s an adult only vacation or if you have older children I think it’s a great resort. You can walk to Disney Springs enjoy food, nightlife, shopping, etc. I don’t quite see how the All-Star resorts rated above it but thank you for what you have provided.
Over from Australia for two weeks and we are currently staying at the Swan/Dolphin....Great service and so easy to get everywhere with access to water taxi, busses and an uber only ever 2 minutes away. The ability to use both hotels amentities is fantastic.
we are staying at swan next month- so glad you've had a good experience!
Swan/Dolphin are actually not Disney resorts, which is why they aren’t in this video. They are Marriott resorts.
How is Pop ahead of Polynesian?! 😮😂. Someone please explain because I don’t understand. lol
Value for money perhaps?
Helpful vid, I wish Dolphin and Swan/Reserve had been included though
I wish there was a ranking based on budget and another one on just the hotel without taking price into consideration. Riviera is my favorite because my priorities are quality of the room, accessibility and food and if you book a studio or above you got all three. It’s nice to walk from GF to the parks but it’s 1 park usually people try to do all 4. The skyliner resorts give you special transportation to 2 parks.
I'm totally with you! When I saw Riviera was so low I was like WHAT? When I could see they factored in price heavily, I get it - she ain't cheap... especially for cash bookings. We're DVC and love it! I can get the argument about kid whimsy and such though... #1 Grand Flo also isn't so cheap or amazingly themed for kids.... but is on the monorail loop and can walk to MK. Though... Epcot and HS are where I want to be - Riviera is much more accessible to those two. Agree with you - if there was a separate ranking when cost was not considered, I think Riviera would do much better. And with DVC evening that out some... it goes up in the ratings :-). Can you tell I'm a fan? Welcome Home :-).
I agree completely- love the Riviera and Polynesian and not understanding why some of these resorts were ranked lower based on cost when others were not like - yacht and beach club.
Down to 20days till WDW! Taking my fiancé and her 7year olds son(this will be the little ones first time!!) staying at PoP for 5 nights and a savana view room at Ak lodge for last 3 nights. I love AK LODGE! Cant wait to see the lil ones face for 8 days at all the parks!
AK lodge is by far my favorite!! This sounds like such a fun trip
@@m1nouz384 his mom and i stayed at Kidani Village last January and we loved it. And the little one is gonna really like it there!
Have fun!!
@@DFBGuide Thanks!!!
❤️❤️❤️
I love you so much! I recently just found your kislux and i’m in love!! Your videos are so fun and you energy is just MWAH! keep living your life
I'm staying in a DVC room at AK in April. Can't wait. I stayed at the Caribbean Beach resort in September and loved.
Love these ranking videos! We stayed at Coronado Springs a couple years ago and really enjoyed the club access. Was happy to see it also ranked in the top 5!
just visited and the literal 5 minute walk from some parts of beach club to the epcot international gateway is incredible
Caribbean Beach last is WILD, but Poly def deserves numba 1s
I low key don’t like poly theming but it is a nice resort
Wow you put a lot of work into this video and I’m so grateful cause it’s extremely helpful, thank you!
Port Orleans French Quarter and Pop are my favorites. A lot of value in both of these!
My dad is a DVC member, and Kidani Village at Animal Kingdom Lodge is our home. It is fantastic and we love it so much.
Yet, if you get a room far from the lobby, it is a long trek. We had to switch rooms closer to the lobby since my father can't go long distances walking. I really loved the resort otherwise, especially the pool that Kidani has.
Great video! Very thorough. I love seeing Coronado Springs get the love it deserves. I feel like it is an underrated resort at times. I love all the food options, the pools, and just the beautiful grounds of the property. It feels like a deluxe resort but affordable for a budget! Also the bus system isn’t that much of an inconvenience since the resort is pretty centrally located, no bus ride takes all that long.
I love the wilderness Lodge. If you’re in the right room you could see the fireworks from Magic Kingdom
This list was great. I was questioning my choice for resort but now I am confident that I chose the best one for our trip. Thank you!!!
Animal Kingdom Lodge is my dream resort. I’m mesmerized by its beauty. Bucket list stay for sure.
As long as you don't mind the long distance to every park other than Animal Kingdom, then it is really nice.
Thank you for this! We just went to WDW for the first time and stayed in an AirBnB. Next time I would love to stay in resort for a few days and this list of very helpful. We have a double stroller for two of our kids so knowing which is on buses is key as I avoid buses since we have to fold the stroller and I try to avoid at almost all costs.
I honestly cannot say enough about the family suites at all star music. Very few of the highest price resorts even offer two bathrooms, which, when you have a big family can be a matter of life and death. Lol. Also, they are directly up at the front of the resort, which makes getting to, and from the buses and the food court super convenient.
We went for 14 nights as a split between the poly and saratoga last year. The poly was such a let down. Our dvc room was so filthy and the resort was really busy with guests that weren't staying there. It didn't feel worth the cost as nothing was exclusive to guests, even the pool (although the pool is gorgeous there)!
Saratoga on the other hand was great. Clean, spacious, good pools. It's not that spread out if you're used to a bit of walking normally. It was a 5 min walk from the back of the grandstand to the springs.
Love this overview as I’m trying Pop for the first time this year after being loyal to Sports and French Quarter for years now.
I’m actually really worried about the busyness of the skyliner trying to get to Epcot. I hate super long lines for transportation and have never had to wait for multiple buses at Sports or FQ.
I will say I love the bussing situation from both of those resorts. Having one stop is a really bonus over the loops at other resorts. The rooms in Sports are all so clean and in great condition! I have never had issues with busses or noise at sports. But I do not stay there solo.
If it makes you feel better the lines for skyliners tend to move p fast, like at night it looks like it'd take forever when in reality you might actually wait maybe 10min? which is still less than what I've waited for buses.
Also recommend looking at the walk up list for topolinos I've gotten last min tables while on my way to epcot a couple of times and its my favorite 'bougie' breakfast at disney not even counting the characters the food itself was r good imo
19:51 I really enjoyed the croque monsieur I had at Primo Piatto on the day I went EPCOT and Skyliner resort hopping. None of the quick service grab and go or pool bar options at Yacht and Beach Club or Boardwalk seemed great to me (can’t even get to the pool bar at the Boardwalk because it’s inside the gates of the pool) and I’d heard good things about Primo Piatto.
Will there be an updated list for best use of snack credits on DDP? 😅
I absolutely agree with Grand Floridian being number one, it ain’t the flagship for nothing! And Animal Kingdom Lodge at #2 is spot on! And these two resorts’ main lobbies look the most beautiful during Christmas 😍
I enjoyed watching! CB was our first Disney stay and I fell in love with it. Now we are DVC and I prefer the monorail resorts or WL. But any of them is magical in their own way. I mean you are at Walt Disney world!
Hey DFB! My family always stays at shades of green, do you not include it on the list because it military? Just have never seen it and wanted to know if y’all ever stayed there
I know it’s nothing special but I feel the all stars movies is so special and just makes me and my family happy to just be there
Awesome video thank you ❤️ Can you drive to the parks too as well as get the bus? Do you have to pay parking it you’re staying on site?
Finally this video! So excited to see which one are the best.
The Caribbean Beach resort is fantastic. Our family has loved staying here for several years. (And we're picky!) Really doesn't feel much more spread out than the other moderates, and we really enjoy the food there. Also, it has the nicest cast members who just generally seem to enjoy working there.
Growing up as a Florida resident, we used to go to the Disney all star hotels probably about every other month for 5+ years as a kid. They used to be the same price as a best Western or a nice room at a Holiday Inn for a residence but nowadays I would just stay off property.
If I were going frequently, I definitely wouldn't stay there either! Demand is so high that they can get away with crazy high prices.
Why is the Coronado Springs Resort not here if the title is showing the word EVERY (Disney World Hotel)?
For Hubby and me, it's a first place tie between AKL and WL!!!! We alternate these 2 resorts every Staycation!!
My parents wanted to do a Disney Golden Anniversary celebration in 2033. It will come down to those two hotels for them!
Totally disagree with your bottom pick. Stayed at CBR recently and it’s now our #1 choice when we are out of DVC points
We're staying at the Yacht Club this week, and the biggest issue for us is the ultra-high beds. For some of my family, it's a challenge getting in and out of bed, and the hotel doesn't have small stools available because of "safety concerns."
They suggested that we shoukd have booked an accessable room, but we don't need (or like) all that this bring. We just want rooms to have beds that normal people can use!
I will note that other (non-disney) hotels with high beds have always had stools available. In one case it was already in the room. I guess the lawyers have overridden guest comfort concerns.
DFB is always informative and one of my top go to experts for DisneyWorld advice but Pop Century over Polynesian 😳
I always stay at Caribbean beach and I love it. I’ve never had transportation problems with the bus or sykliner and I’ve stayed there between Christmas and New Years and spring break time lol this is slander!! Lmao😂
I’ve stayed at the Grand F twice in the last three years as part of conferences at the onsite conference center. Best way to go. Rooms under $300/night. (And our classes ended at 1:30 each afternoon).
I would say The Contemporary ranking is accurate. I liked our recent stay at The Contemporary but wished we had stayed closer to the other parks since we no longer have “Littles.” Don’t misunderstand it’s a nice place to stay with great room quality, the monorail and the easy walk to MK. We just found we spent more time going back and forth to the other parks and Disney Springs since our daughters are older. Side note: Staff at this location was phenomenal!
Boardwalk Inn is now my go-to. The only problem is that there is a smoking area along the path, between the path and the river. I have serious asthma/breathing issues with any smoke but particularly tobacco smoke. For that reason i can’t really walk from the resort to Epcot. But i take the friendship boats and am happy with that op.
We are coming down in a couple weeks and staying at Wilderness Lodge for the first time. I can't wait ! Can you not take a boat to Contemporary to hop on the Monorail to get to Epcot? Or would just grabbing the bus be faster? I am not talking rope drop, just in general.
What about Coronado Springs? We stayed there last time we went and plan on staying there many more times it was so good
Starts at 49:20
Beach Club will always be my favorite, I’ve stayed at Poly, GF ..and Contemporary and they weren’t all that.
I loved the food, proximity to parks & stormalong bay!
Fantastic ranking! Shocking to see Caribbean dead last, but your reasons are solid. I loved watching the fort wilderness ranking because my family has that booked for this summer. It will be our first time staying there, so it was very useful.
My ranking (for the ones I've been to):
1. Caribbean Beach
2. Grand Floridian
3. Contemporary
4. Port Orleans - French Quarter
5. Polynesian
6. Coronado Springs
7. Polynesian
8. Port Orleans - Riverside
9. Art of Animation
This is a great video. I'm staying at Port Orleans Riverside in November. I was worried at first but I think I made a great decision.
The spa at Saratoga Springs will not reopen, as it has been turned into DVC office space. The Grand Floridian is the only resort that in-room dining has returned to.
We leave tomorrow and are staying at our favorite all star movies 😅 we just love the all stars
Have fun!
@@parkerwalker5128 thx!
I stayed at both Pop Century and Art and Animation during June 2013 when I was a child. Definitely remember the bus lines. Glad they added a skyline.
Standing up for Saratoga Springs. My husband and I love it and stay there every time. You can almost always rent DVC points for it and it will cost less than a moderate resort. It is definitely for those who want a more casual stay and aren't trying to rope drop every day and enjoy a good stroll around the resort. There are also two pools which keep them not too crowded.
Animal Kingdom Lodge will always be my #1. An absolute stunner
I cant wait to stay at AKL. I am doing a split stay there for three days at the start for my birthday and then to Riverside the last 7. This video though is defiantly making me think on planning another small trip at another new hotel (Only stayed at AOA and Grand so far)
I love the list I feel Polynesian and Riviera should be higher. Love the videos. Thanks 🎉
Hi AJ! We are headed to the Disney Hilton Head resort this summer, have you ever done a review of this resort? If not, I’m sure there are fans who would love to see one!
We have not, but several members of our team have stayed there and really enjoyed it!
Saratoga springs is great! Good food, chill vibes, great pool, nice rooms, and the busses are not that bad. Being next to Disney Springs is great and is expensive but if you can afford I would recommend!
What made Art of Animation so worth it in my opinion is that you get updated rooms (Cars FTW) and every pro from the Riviera resort. I unfortunately got sick in the middle of my FIRST trip to Disney World (food poisoning), and we were staying at Art of Animation. When I needed food but couldn’t handle AOA’s greasy food court, my boyfriend at the time walked me to the Skyliner, we went to Riviera, and I had the best tomato soup of my life. It revitalized me and I was able to enjoy the rest of my trip. The last day, I went to get some more 😂
Staying at Caribbean beach in sept. I’m hoping for a first floor room
I also love that port Orleans has planty of choice of food for those with food allergies. Looking at the menu for many other food courts (even in the moderate resorts) there isn’t always a lot of choice for different inexpensive foods. But French quarter has plenty of choice for grabbing a quick inexpensive meal for dinner.
We really enjoyed their quick service.
No cause I’m going in February and I’m staying at Caribbean beach 😭 however my family and I don’t mind the walk
You'll be fine. I would suggest requesting the Martinique block (preferred rooms). Its the first stop for buses and close to the lobby/pool. Have fun!
The resort is amazing, this video doesn't do it justice.
We stayed in Feb 2023 and can weight to go back.
This is a large but great resort. It's popular among families. Dfb ranks based on things to do at the hotel and walking convenience to main areas. For my fam caribbean beach has more pros than cons as it is a good value has skyliner access and a fun main pool. Never had a huge wait for the skyliner. Even at night its faster than the all star or port orleans busses. You picked a good hotel. Have a great trip. Enjoy soaking up the sun while strolling around the resort in February!
We loved our stay here. You can request to be placed in Jamaica or Aruba, and you will be close to either the main Skyliner hub, which has never had more than a two minute line in our experience or a quick walk to the Riviera Skyliner (which also never had a line more than a couple minutes).
We use the quick servers at the Riviera instead of that, and the CBR food court . Take a vantage of being so close to the Riviera as well as Epcot. You don’t need the food options at CBR. You can Rob drop Epcot had to Remy and then over to Les Halles for breakfast. Just lovely! Enjoy!!☀️😎
(I fast forward through the video to only look at CBR and Poly, and there is outdated info on each, so take everything with a grain of salt.
If your family does not mind the walk its fine. The skyliner access puts this over anything without the skyliner or monorail
AJ, when was the last time you stayed at CBR? It’s amazing! I feel like you need to go back and stay there in 2024.
Busses are no issue. In the morning, there are two busses sent. Jamaica-Aruba and Martinique-OPR-Barbados-Trinidad.
Jamaica 45 or Aruba 51 is amazing for a 5 minute walk across the island to the main pool and dining.
Caribbean beach doesn’t have a 3rd floor. It’s only 2 stories. Also there are 5th sleepers located in every village of the resort, not just the ‘new’ rooms in Trinidad. (A few reasons why I feel like you haven’t actually stayed there in quite awhile).
Reminder too that Port Orleans has some areas without elevators either.
The theming, food, monorail access & what you can do at Polynesian makes it one of my top two.
We stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge for 14 days in mid January to the end of January in 2024. We requested a partial savannah view, & maybe because it was the slow season, we got a full savannah view. The food is amazing. Even the quick service is pretty good.
These are so helpful! My best friend and I are going to WDW in Sept. 2024 for our 30th, and I’m binging DFBGuide videos to prep.