A New Appraisal
At a time when people are questioning the affordability of vacation at Walt Disney World in Florida, admissions are rising and long-time employees are getting fired. There may be discounts being announced but the critics have lots to denounce.
Here is our assessment of the best WDW resorts mixing VALUE with FACILITIES and STAFF.
THE “VALUE” RESORTS (rating C-)
ALL-STAR MUSIC – usually the cheapest of the budget resorts and the most family-friendly, this place may have updated its rooms, but they wear down quickly. The food courts are well-run, but they are still overcrowded food courts. BIGGEST WEAKNESS: long bus rides to and from all the parks. Unless you came by car you will cuss the location of these resorts.
ALL-STAR MOVIES – the upgrading of rooms was the nicest of the All-Stars, but this resort had the most to update. BAD NEWS: this is the last stop of the bus route, which is terrible when leaving the park late with tired, sleepy small kids. The best spots to stay with small kids are unfortunately the rooms furthest from the food court and larger facilities.
ALL-STAR SPORTS – is always considered the best managed of the budget spots, but that is in part because it is here all the high school sports and music groups are booked. This resort can sometimes get very loud and noisy compared to the other budgets. The BEST NEWS is this is the first stop on the bus routes both in the morning and evening due to location. The only time my wife and I stayed here was when we coached the Florida team in the World OM Championships.
ONLY GOOD IF THIS IS YOUR NICHE RESORTS (rated C)
SARATOGA SPRINGS – if this sprawling maze of condos near Disney Springs, golf course suites, and neat riverside wilderness treehouses looks like a college campus – you are correct for it started as a place to take courses at Disney. Although it is easy to take a boat over to Disney Springs in the closest units, you will need an automobile to offset the long bus rides to the parks. The spa here is great, but dining is limited and the recreational facilities are spread out too far if you have small kids. In case you are wondering there are no horse stables here.
FORT WILDERNESS CAMPGROUND – this is a wonderful, although costly campground with new cabins, lots of outdoor activities, a great dinner show, and a skilled staff. Many people stay here every year and never enter the parks on the boat to Magic Kingdom, the only non-bus transportation. Fort Wilderness has its own internal transportation because it is quite extensive and requires a lot of travel to leave for the parks. If this isn’t your idea of a family vacation spot – do not book it for it will be an added strain.
OLD KEY WEST – This is the oldest condo complex at WDW, and while everything has been refreshed and updated, the place resembles a huge Florida gated community with assorted local pools and one giant recreation center and restaurant. Taking the bus to either the parks or Old Key West center is like becoming a suburban commuter. That said – it is probably the friendliest community at WDW, and you can go to Disney Springs by boat for nightlife. I have stayed here because I have an automobile and like the laid-back location.
VERY BIG MODERATE RESORT but (rated C+)
CORONADO SPRINGS – started as WDW’s largest Moderate Resort: a mass of different style units surrounding a large lake. Although placing restaurants in the middle of the lake has cut the walking distances for families to get to the main restaurants and large pool area, Coronado is also a convention hotel with a monstrous GRANT DESTINO ($$$$), a beautiful resort designed to improve the convention trade. I find the place isolated from other resorts with a long bus route to the parks. Convention-goers and adult couples will like this resort best.
GREAT THEMING BUT ISSUES (Rated B)
PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE and its weaker PORT ORLEANS FRENCH QUARTER (rated C)
Has delightful landscaping, for it is easy in Florida to duplicate Southern architecture and vegetation. The big downside is the long bus ride to the parks. A bonus is the nice boat ride to Disney Springs. The food courts outshine the restaurants. Besides a pool on an island, you can go fishing from a pier here. Since I drive a car from Tampa, I have better memories of staying here than others. It is very pet-friendly, with its trails along the river and recreation areas. The evening horse carriage rides make this resort a possible Honeymoon stop.
THE OLD MASTER (Rated B)
CONTEMPORARY RESORT – WDW’s first resort caused a sensation when it opened with the monorail going through the massive A-frame lobby, but age has tempered the emotions. Huge and crowded and quite expensive, people pile into the monorail like it was the New York subway. You must be high up and on the right side of the building to see the Magic Kingdom fireworks. The top floor restaurant is still a must-visit, but there is too much of an airport feel with all the little bars to have a family atmosphere. Recreation facilities are great despite a lack of trees. Money-wise, people might consider staying in the cheaper backside buildings facing the real lake. The condo complex is gorgeous but super-costly.
TRANSPORTATION BOOST (Rated B)
CARIBBEAN BEACH – this gigantic multi-island style resort around a big lake may not be the family choice unless you are located near the lobby and the delightful restaurant. Still, it is a moderately priced resort with something no other moderate place has – access with two gondola stops on the Skyliner route to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. The recreation water facilities are also good. Bus to the other parks is less fun.
RIVIERA – opening as Disney Vacation Club’s star attraction, this large resort was a great resort with fireworks views, choices from studios to three-bedroom villas, and stylish service. However, people found the pool and recreational facilities less amazing and being connected to the moderate-cost monster Caribbean less exciting. The Skyliner to Epcot and Hollywood Studios is important.
THE EPCOT CROWD (Rated B+)
BROADWALK – an unusual resort with the hotel mainly on the floors above an entertainment district with restaurants, stores, and marina facilities. The area never duplicated Universal’s CityWalk or Disney Springs, and ESPN closed, as did some nightlife. The pool is too small for the resort. The boat transportation to Epcot and Hollywood Studios is the big bonus for this group of resorts.
YACHT CLUB – attached to the Beach Club, the Yacht Club logically has the marina and lakeside facilities. With its steakhouse and slower tone, this resort has a country-club atmosphere and is probably less exciting to children.
BEACH CLUB – with its lazy river and the largest poolside area at WDW, the Beach Club attracts families. It has a decent seafood buffet and good ice cream shop and is the closest of the Epcot resorts to the Epcot entrance and the nearest Skyliner station for Hollywood Studios.
The independent SWAN, DOLPHIN, and SWAN RESERVE are also on the boat trip to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Their massive lineup of restaurants and large pool area gives them a B+ rating.
THE BEST VALUE AT WALT DISNEY WORLD (Rated B+)
POP CENTURY – while its rooms are slightly higher than the budget spots, its easy access to the Skyliner transport to Epcot and Hollywood Studios immediately changes its status. It has a monstrous pool with water jets, outdoor movies and campfires, and a decent food court. It should be noted many families sleep here and eat at the next-door Art of Animation. We suggest you evaluate this resort when considering less expensive hotels at Disney Springs.
RELIABLE BIG LUXURY RESORTS (rated A-)
POLYNESIAN RESORT – Disney second lakeside resort facing Magic Kingdom has been surrounded to my dislike with high-rise condos, and the beach view has been sliced by some expensive over-the-water cabins that belong in Bora-Bora at that price tag. What keeps Polynesian in high spirits is the good landscaping, attractive pools and recreational facilities, and its fast monorail service to Magic Kingdom and Epcot. This is a resort complex that requires a good look at an online map to select the best locations. Staff is efficient with children.
WILDERNESS LODGE – has always been a favorite for its immersive theming in the forest overlooking WDW’s only natural lake. The big lobby, fun restaurant, and the outdoor grill are good food choices. The rooms are smaller here than at other luxury resorts, and the only non-bus transportation is a boat ride to the Magic Kingdom. The very expensive units along the river route to Magic Kingdom are my pick for a second Honeymoon location.
ART OF ANIMATION – This resembles a budget resort until you notice the 1,1120 family suites, the Skyliner access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, the largest pool at WDW, and the five food shops joined together. The 864 standard rooms are overpriced, but the location and upscaled facilities make this resort an interesting choice. And it allows pets!
THE TOP RESORTS (rated A)
ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE – this would be my TOP CHOICE IF I HAD AN AUTOMOBILE for bus transport is the only way to reach the parks. This is a true theme park experience – with all the animals, “real” African guides, the best buffet at WDW, two good main restaurants, and a cool recreational area in the condo section of the complex. It is essential to get rooms facing the animal savannas (first floor has poor visibility). Aimal Kingdom Lodge may be considered a vacation within a vacation.
GRAND FLORIDIAN – may seem too upscale for a family with small children, although this resort has various pools and lots of activities. This Victorian-style resort has monorail transport to Magic Kingdom and Epcot and the best lineup of restaurants and shops at WDW. My wife and I often split a Magic Kingdom visit by taking the monorail for a quiet lunch in a half-empty restaurant (kids could take a nap).
