Location, Location, Location: Where to Stay at Disney World Based on Your Favorite Park

If you've read any of my previous posts, you know that the Magic Kingdom is far and away my favorite Disney World park (also my favorite place anywhere).  But some of you probably have a different favorite and you're wondering where to stay if you plan to spend most of your time at your favorite spot.

You're in luck - you'll find the answer here today!  Below are the resorts I would stay in for each park.  It's mostly based on location but in the case there's more than one resort to choose from, I picked the one I like best.  I've also included a runner-up to stay in if you prefer something different due to cost or decor or whatever floats your boat.

Magic Kingdom

Contemporary

Contemporary

Polynesian

The Contemporary is the perfect location to stay if you are spending a lot of your time at Magic Kingdom.  Also, we should be friends if that's the case...  You have 2 great options to get to the park - you can walk or ride the monorail.  The Polynesian is beautiful and has the monorail, but you can't walk to MK from there.  Bonus though - they have Dole Whip on site!

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom Lodge

Animal Kingdom Lodge

Coronado Springs

It only makes sense that the Animal Kingdom Lodge would be a great place to stay if Animal Kingdom is your favorite park.  It's close to the park PLUS if you love animals, you'll see a bunch at your resort!!  Both of these locations use bus transportation to get to the park, but it's not a long drive.

Epcot

Beach Club

Yacht Club

You can walk to Epcot from both the Beach Club and the Yacht Club.  They also share an amazing pool area.  I would choose the Beach Club mainly because the Yacht Club seems more like a "conference" hotel and less Disney.  But both are in a great location for Epcot!

Hollywood Studios

Boardwalk Inn

Pop Century

The Boardwalk Inn is in a perfect location - you can actually walk to both Hollywood Studios and Epcot from here.  They also have boats or buses if you'd rather.  I love the Boardwalk because they have a fun boardwalk area with lots of restaurants and entertainment.  Pop Century is a really fun resort for kids - tons of great photo ops.  

Future Stays

If you're planning to stay after mid-2019 I would add into this list Art of Animation and Caribbean Beach for enjoying Epcot or Hollywood Studios.  Disney is currently in the process of the construction of the Skyliner.  This will be a gondola system that will connect those 2 resorts (along with Pop Century) to those 2 parks.  Construction is rumored to be done sometime before Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opens in the Fall of 2019 at Hollywood Studios.

PLEASE give me a call if you'd like more info on any of these resorts - or any others!  I love finding the perfect fit for each guest's situation.  And my services are FREE!!

Disney's Contemporary Resort - Is It Right for Your Vacation?

On our recent trip to Disney, we stayed at Disney's Contemporary Resort.  In today's post, I'll talk about the pros and cons of staying at this Deluxe category resort.

First, the good, or really, the GREAT things about this resort:

The proximity to the Magic Kingdom!  It's NEXT DOOR!  The main reason we chose this resort is that the Magic Kingdom is our favorite park and we end up there almost every day.  You have a couple of options to get to Magic Kingdom - the monorail which comes through the lobby of the hotel and a walking path which is about a 10 minute walk.  I think I did it in 5 minutes because I was a bit excited to get over there!  

I took this looking over the railing just outside our room inside the resort.

The walkway starts just past the bus stop.      

I was always torn on whether to take the monorail or walk.  The truth is you'll walk A LOT at Magic Kingdom and adding more steps to your day may not work for you.  But the benefit is that you don't have to wait in any lines for transportation, security is at a checkpoint along the way for bag checks and we were always the ONLY PEOPLE in line there so never a wait.  

But if you do think you should save your steps, the monorail is a fun way to get to the Magic Kingdom.  Just be aware that the ride to the Magic Kingdom is longest on the way there - it stops at the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian before getting to Magic Kingdom.  On the way back to the Contemporary, though, you're the first stop.  If you're leaving at a non-busy time (not park closing, after fireworks...), I'd probably take the monorail back.  But if you want to stay until the park closes, you'll be in a long line of others getting on the monorail so I'd suggest walking if you can handle it.

Another great thing about this resort is the view you'll have (if you get a Theme Park View).  Normally a theme park view is an added cost but we were pleasantly surprised (OK, I freaked out!) to have one this time even though we didn't book that room.  I didn't want to spend the extra money considering I want to be in the parks the entire time and wouldn't enjoy the view much.

Well, after staying in this room, I was totally spoiled.  Look at our view!!

Cinderella Castle!

Space Mountain!

I never expected to be in the room to see Magic Kingdom's fireworks but as it turned out we saw it on 3 different nights.  We were too tired to stay in the park til fireworks on the day we ran the half marathon.  And then a couple of other times we just happened to get back to our room in time to see them.  And although I would prefer to be in the parks for them just because of how awesome they are, they're pretty darn good from a distance.  You can even hear the music coming from the park!

The resort is close to EPCOT also and again, you can take the monorail there which is convenient.  My only complaint is that you have to go through security twice to get to EPCOT.  Since you have to transfer monorail lines at the Ticket and Transportation Center, they have no way of knowing that you went through security at the Contemporary.  The lines went pretty quick but a bit frustrating to do it twice.

The only other complaint I have about the resort is that it's loud.  Chef Mickey's is in the lobby area and they open pretty early for breakfast and are open late for dinner.  So when kids see Mickey and squeal, it's pretty easy to hear.  I tend to be up early and late so not a big deal but if you have little kids that are trying to sleep it might be an issue.  We were on the 10th floor and Chef Mickey's is on the 4th.  But with the open lobby, the sound travels up.  

All in all, I LOVED it and would definitely stay there again.  I have my sights set on the Polynesian for my next trip (have you heard they have Dole Whip on site?), but once I check out a few more resorts, I'd love to stay at the Contemporary many more times!

I'd love to chat with you about which resort would be best for your family.  Every situation is different!! 

Here are a few more pics from our room/the resort:

Which Disney World Resort is Right for YOU?

It’s always hard to pick a favorite - especially for me when it comes to Disney - but here I’ll do just that.  Well, maybe not just one, but one in each Resort category.

Disney has 4 types of resorts: Value, Moderate, Deluxe and Villa.  In today’s post, I’ll explain the categories and tell you my favorite in each one along with the pros and cons for them.

Value - This category is typically the least expensive (except in the case of a family suite which can be more expensive than a standard room in the moderate category).  This is a great option for a family on a budget or one that truly only wants a bed to sleep in without caring about the resort amenities.  

Keep in mind that while you may not care about the room, the value resorts are typically the furthest from the parks.  So if you plan to go back to your room at all during the day or just want to avoid a longer commute each morning and evening, the value may be further away than you like.  

The value resorts all have pools with themed elements but don’t have slides.

All transportation within Disney is via bus.

Most rooms are accessed by an external doorway instead of opening to an interior hallway.

These resorts are very family friendly and offer the same cleanliness and safety as all Disney resorts.  You’ll just be giving up a few amenities, luxuries and transportation options.  However, you can get a great deal and save some money for Dole Whip!

My favorite value resort is the Art of Animation.  It has standard rooms and family suites.  This is the newest of the Disney resorts and is at capacity most of the time, so don’t expect a large discount here.  The food court is great and the Big Blue Pool is wonderful - the biggest at Disney.  And I love that music is pumped under water.  Once in a while you can even hear your favorite characters from Nemo while you’re submerged.

The main con to this resort is that it is quite large and spread out.  You could have a long walk back to your room from the bus stop after a tiring day at the park.  It’s also the furthest from Magic Kingdom.  The good news is that the Art of Animation buses are dedicated to the resort so you won’t be making multiple resort stops on your way to and from the parks.

The table turns into a bed!!

The outdoor elements are HUGE and really cool!

Moderate - This category is the middle of the road price-wise.  The standard rooms are slightly larger than the value standards.  Some rooms can sleep 5 guests plus a baby where most values are 4 plus a baby.

Most have 2 sinks which are separated from the main room with a curtain or other partition. For dining, they have at least one table service option which is missing in the values. Transportation to the parks is by bus but some have boat service to Disney Springs.

Most have themed pools and “quiet” pools and also medium-sized water slides. Guest rooms open to external area like the values.

I find the location of the moderates to be much more convenient than the values.

My favorite moderate resort is Port Orleans Riverside.  The theming in this one is wonderful if you choose the Royal rooms.  The great thing about them is that even though they’re “princess” they aren’t too girly for boys to enjoy also.  It’s a beautiful and relaxing resort in a great location also.

The view from the rooms - boats head to Disney Springs.

A Royal Room - the headboard lights up with fireworks!

Deluxe & Villas - I lump these 2 together because the villas are just another room type but not their own resort.  For example, Grand Floridian has standard rooms and villas but the resort itself (pool, dining…) is shared among both.  There are tons of options of room types so if you need more than just a 4 person room, this may be the way to go.  Prices are higher typically, but if you travel when discounts are offered, you just may be able to go to these resorts for the same price as non-discounted moderates!

Deluxe resorts also offer unique views like theme park/fireworks views or animal views (in the case of Animal Kingdom Lodge).

Spa services are available at some of the villas.

Deluxe resorts have more dining options than the other types - and some include character dining!  The larger villas may have a kitchenette.

They offer multiple transportation options to the parks - bus, boat, monorail and some are within walking distance.

The pools are amazing at deluxe resorts - all have large slides and some have sand play areas and waterfalls.  All of these have hot tubs.

My current favorite deluxe is the Animal Kingdom Lodge.  I say current because I’m heading in January to stay at the Contemporary and since it’s walking distance to Magic Kingdom, I just might change my mind!

The Animal Kingdom Lodge is wonderful - it’s like you’ve stepped into a whole other world when you stay there.  Super relaxing and the animals are right there!  We had a family of deer that slept under our balcony each night.

Balconies overlook the Savannah in a lot of Animal Kingdom Lodge rooms.

Nighttime animal viewing! Night vision goggles are free to use!

There are a lot of reasons to pick each of these categories.  Some depend on budget, some on circumstances.  I’d love to chat with you and help you figure out which one would fit your family and your vacation the best - give me a call!!