Walt Disney World says goodbye to reservations, hello to dining plans
Some visitors to Walt Disney World in Florida will no longer require reservations when they visit.
There are plaques near the entrances of Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Park that read, “Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy.”
Disney parks, in general, allow guests to escape everyday worries and feel like kids again. To keep that vibe going, many fans choose to spend their whole vacation inside the Disney bubble by staying at a Disney-owned and operated resort hotel.
But is it worth it and how much does it cost? Here’s what travelers planning Disney trips should know.
What are the perks of staying at a Disney hotel?
Extra part time: Both Disneyland and Disney World offer their resort hotel guests 30 minutes of early theme park entry. As of Jan. 20, Disneyland alternates which park offers the perk each day: Disneyland or Disney California Adventure. All four of Disney World’s theme parks offer early entry daily.
Guests of Disney World’s Deluxe, Deluxe Villa resorts and a few other hotels also get extended evening hours on select dates, in select parks.
Complimentary parking: Disney World offers resort hotel guests free self-parking, which otherwise costs $30 per day at the parks for standard vehicles. Disneyland charges $40 per night for self-parking at its resort hotels.
Easy access: Free Disney transportation runs between Disney World’s resort hotels and parks all day long and drops guests off closer to park entrances than they could park their cars. Guests can easily head back to their rooms for a midday break. There are no buses for Disneyland’s resort hotels because they’re all within walking distance of the parks, but guests with valid park tickets can take Disneyland’s Monorail from Downtown Disney straight into Disneyland’s Tomorrowland.
Disney magic: Each Disney resort hotel has it own unique theming, but that’s not the only thing keeping guests inside the Disney bubble. Many fans say the level of service and sense of magic they experience on Disney property is unlike anywhere else.
Additional perks include access to various activities at each resort hotel, and at Disneyland, preferred access to dining reservations at hotel restaurants.
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What’s the difference between staying at Disney World vs. Disneyland?
Disney World is huge. Everything is spread apart and nestled within the Florida resort’s massive footprint, so staying on property feels separate from the outside world.
Disneyland is surrounded by the bustling city of Anaheim, California. Some off-property, Good Neighbor hotels are actually closer to the parks and considerably less expensive than the signature Disneyland Hotel.
How much is a Disney World hotel per night?
From the rustic Campsites at Fort Wilderness to the luxurious Grand Floridian, there’s a Disney World resort hotel for just about every budget. There are also partner hotels on-site that are neither owned nor run by Disney, like the military-affiliated Shades of Green or Marriott’s Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin.
Here is every Disney-owned and operated resort hotel on the Florida property, in order of average nightly price. Travelers should note prices vary widely by date, party size, room type and limited-time promotion.
The Campsites and Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
- Resort category: Moderate
- Theme: Great outdoors
- Disney transportation options: Bus, water taxi to Magic Kingdom
- Average nightly price: $71 for Campsites, $417 for Cabins
- Note: The campsites are by far the cheapest accommodation option for travelers with tents or RVs. The resort hosts Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long, which is free, among other outdoor activities.
Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music and Sports Resorts
- Resort category: Value
- Themes: Movies, music and sports
- Disney transportation options: Bus
- Average nightly price: $141.50
- Note: These are the least expensive Disney hotels on property. Guests rooms have all been recently renovated and are almost exactly the same as the rooms at Pop Century.
- Resort category: Value
- Theme: Pop culture from the 1950s through the 1990s
- Disney transportation options: Bus, Skyliner to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Average nightly rate: $189.50
- Note: This is the least expensive resort along Disney’s Skyliner. It has a faithful following of fans who return year after year.
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Resort category: Value
- Theme: Disney and Pixar animation
- Disney transportation options: Bus, Skyliner to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios
- Average nightly rate: $220.50
- Note: This resort shares a Skyliner station with Pop Century.
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
- Resort category: Moderate
- Theme: Southwestern, Mexican and Spanish
- Disney transportation options: Bus
- Average nightly rate: $279.50
- Note: Gran Destino has a more upscale vibe and generally higher prices than the rest of the resort.
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside and French Quarter
- Resort category: Moderate
- Theme: Louisiana
- Disney transportation options: Bus to parks, water taxi to Disney Springs
- Average nightly rate: $285
- Note: Port Orleans – French Quarter is the only place on property where guests can get popular Mickey-shaped beignets.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Resort category: Moderate
- Theme: Caribbean
- Disney transportation options: Bus, Skyliner to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios
- Average nightly rate: $301
- Note: Some guest rooms at this sprawling resort may actually be closer to Riviera’s Skyliner station.
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- Resort category: Deluxe Villa
- Theme: Equestrian, Victorian-era upstate New York
- Disney transportation options: Bus, water taxi to Disney Springs
- Average nightly rate: $419
- Note: Villas offer some of the largest room configurations on property for larger travel parties.
- Resort category: Deluxe, Deluxe Villa
- Theme: National park lodges
- Disney transportation options: Bus, water taxi to Magic Kingdom and nearby resorts
- Average nightly rate: $422 for Copper Creek and Boulder Creek Villas, $474 for Lodge
- Note: This resort houses two very popular restaurants: Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White and Whispering Canyon Cafe, where cast members are known for their humor.
- Resort: Deluxe Villa
- Theme: Florida keys
- Disney transportation options: Bus, water taxi to Disney Springs
- Average nightly rate: $424
- Note: This was Disney Vacation Club’s very first property.
Disney Yacht and Beach Club Resorts
- Resort category: Deluxe, Deluxe Villa
- Theme: New England charm
- Disney transportation options: Bus, water taxi or Skyliner to Hollywood Studios
- Average nightly rate: $499 for Villas, $532 for Beach Club, $541 for Yacht Club
- Note: These connected resorts have some of the most coveted pools on property at shared Stormalong Bay. They’re also within footsteps of EPCOT and a longer walk to Hollywood Studios.
- Resort category: Deluxe, Deluxe Villa
- Theme: Old Atlantic City
- Disney transportation options: Bus, water taxi or Skyliner to Hollywood Studios
- Average nightly rate: $556 for Villas, $577 for Inn
- Note: The resort is also within easy walking distance of EPCOT and a longer walk to Hollywood Studios.
- Resort category: Deluxe, Deluxe Villa
- Theme: African safari
- Disney transportation options: Bus
- Average nightly rate: $422 for Jambo House Villas, $441 for Lodge and Kidani Village Villas
- Note: Guests can see live animals from savannah view rooms. The resort also houses one of the nation’s largest collections of African art.
- Resort category: Deluxe, Deluxe Villa
- Theme: Modern
- Disney transportation options: Bus, water taxi to nearby resorts, Monorail to EPCOT
- Lowest average nightly rate: $520 for Resort, $597 for Bay Lake Tower
- Note: The Contemporary and Polynesian were the two first resort hotels at Disney World. The Monorail runs right through the Contemporary’s atrium. This is the closest resort to Magic Kingdom, which is a short walk away.
- Resort category: Deluxe Villa
- Theme: European
- Disney transportation options: Bus, Skyliner to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios
- Average nightly rate: $627
- Note: This is the newest Disney resort on property.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Resort category: Deluxe, Deluxe Villa
- Theme: Polynesian
- Disney transportation options: Bus, water taxi, Monorail to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT
- Average nightly rate: $627
- Note: The resort is home to the highly popular Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto and Tiki Bar. The Polynesian is one of the few places guests can get Dole Whip outside of the parks.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Resort category: Deluxe
- Theme: Victorian-era Florida
- Disney transportation options: Bus, water taxi, Monorail to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT
- Average nightly rate: $725
- Note: During the Easter season, the resort displays dozens of elaborately designed chocolate eggs and over the holidays, it’s home to a massive gingerbread house that draws huge crowds.
How expensive is a Disneyland hotel?
Disneyland has three resort hotels, all within walking distance of its theme parks and Downtown Disney District. They are comparable to Disney World’s Deluxe and Deluxe Villa properties and priced accordingly. Prices vary widely by date, party size and room type.
Disney’s Paradise Pier/Pixar Place Hotel
- Theme: Pixar effective Jan. 30
- Average nightly rate: $405
- Note: This resort recently underwent a multi-million dollar transformation and officially debuts as Disneyland Pixar Place Hotel at the end of January. Guests have a dedicated entrance to Disney California Adventure.
- Theme: Disneyland past and present
- Average nightly rate: $520
- Note: This is Disney’s very first resort hotel and home to Disney Vacation Club’s newest property, the Villas at Disneyland Hotel.
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
- Theme: Craftsman, California wilderness
- Average nightly rate: $656
- Note: This resort is adjacent to Disney California Adventure, and guests have their own entrance to the park. During the holidays, the striking hotel lobby features an intricately designed gingerbread house.
Are Disney hotels worth it?
For many fans, staying within the Disney bubble is priceless, and the perks can be well worth it, particularly at Disney World’s less expensive properties, where rates are comparable to off-property hotels.
The higher the cost, though, the less it may be worth it to some guests who would rather save their money for other experiences in the parks or elsewhere. It all depends on individual preferences and budgets.
Laura Davis is an entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to Broadway, she offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
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