When it comes to picking a Walt Disney World Resort, the choices can be a bit overwhelming – as there are more than a dozen amazing on site hotels to choose from! Over the years, I have been lucky enough to stay at many of them, and while I love them ALL, I have to say, for my family, the Value Resorts make the most sense for our needs.
If you’re trying to figure out what Resort is right for you, then you will want to read on for the lowdown on the WDW Value Resorts:
“What does “Value Resort” Mean?” – Well, as the name implies, these are the cheapest Hotel rooms on Walt Disney World Property – there are 5 of them total, with prices ranging from $100-$200 a night (lower prices during “non-peak” times, and during holidays/weekends the rates would be higher). The rooms are on the smaller side, and have either two double or one king bed. One slight drawback to this “Value” category is that the hotels themselves are the furthest from the Disney Parks. They are still on Disney World property, but it takes a bit longer to get to the Parks than a more expensive hotel would (as the more expensive ones are closer, naturally). Overall, the Value Resorts are perfect for you if you plan on using your hotel as just a place to sleep, and are a great way to save some money, too!
Similarities: There are some things that all WDW Value Resorts have in common – they are all HUGE – which means that while it may be easier to book a room here than at smaller Resorts, it also means the buses, food court, and Resort itself might feed crowded at times, and it also means that your room might be a 10 minute or more walk to the bus stops/food/lobby (of course, Disney lets you pay more to book a “Preferred” room closer to the main pool/lobby should you choose to do so). All Value Resorts have multiple pools, with a pool bar adjacent to the “main” pool. When it comes to dining, you’ll find a “food court” like eatery at all Value Resorts, where different stations offer different types of food (Italian pasta/pizzas, salads/sandwiches, ice cream/gelato, etc) and are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (and well into the evening, too). They all offer bus transportation to all the Disney Parks and Disney Springs – and Disney is really good about sending extra buses right away if there are long lines to board
Themes: The main difference between each of the Value Resorts is that each of them has their own unique theme, which is carried on throughout the lobby, rooms, pools, and hotel grounds. There’s All-Star Movies (think giant movie reels), All-Star Sports (giant footballs), and All-Star Music (giant saxaphones and trumpets), and then there is Pop Century (An ode to “pop culture” over the last several decades – giant hippie flowers and Rubik’s Cubes), and last but not least – The Art Of Animation Resort which is themed after some of Disney’s best animated movies (Finding Nemo, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, and Cars). As you might have been able to guess, these are NOT subtle themes – as the décor is BIG, BRIGHT and LOUD – it’s really a hit with the little ones!
Room For More: Speaking of little ones, if you are thinking that a standard size hotel room would NOT be enough space for you and your family to spread out, then you might want to think of booking a family suite instead. They sleep up to 6, and offer a separate bedroom, pull out sofa beds, 2 bathrooms, and a kitchenette. There are some at the All Star Music Resort, and a whole bunch more at the Art of Animation Resort. Prices are a bit more for these, running around $200-$300 a night (again, depending on what time of year you go). The price may be higher, but the extra space and ability to prepare simple meals (breakfast before you head to the parks, for example) makes it a much better choice for many families (not to mention – 2 bathrooms is a LOT more convenient than the whole family sharing just one!)
My family has really enjoyed staying at all the WDW Value Resorts – overall, the service has been amazing, and while they may not offer as many amenities as the Moderate or Deluxe hotels, we believe that the lower price is worth that trade off, and hopefully this helped convince you to check out the Value Resorts for your next trip, too!
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