Step #1: Choosing a Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World has many resorts to choose from, depending on how much you want to spend. As an authorized Disney vacation planner, Storybook Vacation Planning gets you the best deals for an adventurous journey.
The resort categories are: value resorts (around $100 to $200 per night), moderate resorts (around $165 to $260 a night), and deluxe resorts (around $400 or more a night). Pricing does change depending on the time of year.
All the resorts that are currently open in Walt Disney World: Bay Lake Tower, Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Copper Creek Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Disney's All Star Movies Resort, Disney's All Star Music Resort, Disney's All Star Sports Resort, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas-Kidani Village, Disney's Art of Animation Resort, Disney's Beach Club Resort, Disney's Beach Club Villas, Disney's Boardwalk Inn, Disney's Boardwalk Villas, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's Old Key West Resort, Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, Disney's Pop Century Resort, Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter Resort, Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort, Disney's Riviera Resort, Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Disney's Yacht Club Resort, and The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
All of the Disney resorts have a special niche. The details of the resorts are listed below.
The resort is the smallest in Walt Disney World (WDW) and is themed after New Orleans. It has a great food court that is small, quiet, and manageable. I highly recommend trying the beignets. This New Orleans favorite is fried dough with a powered sugar topping. There is even boat transportation in the back of the resort to Disney Springs.
Rooms: The rooms sleep 4 and have 2 queen beds. There are King bed rooms as well that sleep 2 adults.
It is like walking into the Caribbean while staying in this beautiful resort. It contains a large food court with numerous food options. The main pool is spectacular with a high energy slide.
Rooms: Most of the rooms have 2 queen beds. There are 5th sleeper rooms that have 2 queen beds and a trundle bed that sleep 4 people. There are also king bed rooms available. Caribbean Beach has Pirate rooms available, but those rooms have 2 double beds.
The one downside is that the resort is large so there are five separate bus stops on property to take guests to the theme parks.
A huge benefit: It is on the Disney Skyliner!
The resort buildings are identified by Disney movies from throughout the years.
Rooms: The resort rooms have been renovated so they all have 2 queen beds and hardwood floors! A King bed room can be requested, but it is not guaranteed. There are only two room types, which are standard and preferred. The preferred rooms are closer to the food court.
The food court is enormous and has multiple food choices for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Families can journey back to the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s in this resort. It has giant sized memorabilia from the different decades and the food court is family friendly with numerous choices for everyone.
Rooms: The resort rooms have been renovated so they all have 2 queen beds and hardwood floors. A King bed room can be requested, but it is not guaranteed.
There is even a walkway in the back of the resort over to Disney's Art of Animation Resort.
Pop Century shares a Disney Skyliner station with Art of Animation.
The resort is the newest value resort in WDW. The grounds are like stepping into a Disney movie. The resort contains a large food court for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The feature pool is the largest pool of any resort on property.
Rooms: There are two different types of room choices. The resort contains Little Mermaid standard rooms which sleep four. The Little Mermaid rooms have 2 double beds. The resort has family suites that sleep six as well. The suites have 1 queen bed, 1 double size table bed, 1 double size sleeper sofa, a kitchenette, and 2 bathrooms.
They are: Cars family suites, Finding Nemo family suites, Lion King family suites, and family suites that are not based after any Disney movie.
It is on the Disney Skyliner!
The resort has an obvious music theme with huge icons around the resort. It contains a large food court with numerous items for all meals of the day. There is one main bus stop in the front of the resort.
Rooms: The standard or preferred rooms have 2 double beds and sleep 4. There are family suites that sleep 6. The suites have 1 queen bed, 1 twin size sleeper chair, 1 double size sleeper sofa, 1 twin size sleeper ottoman, kitchenette, and 2 bathrooms.
You will come upon 60 foot footballs, helmets, and baseball bats! This resort is for a family on a budget. It has a large food court with numerous items and the resort is spaced out.
Rooms: The rooms sleep 4 and have 2 double beds. There are standard and preferred rooms.
The resort is the sister resort to French Quarter. It is a beautiful resort and has boat transportation to Disney Springs. It is a large resort and has 4 separate bus stops on property.
Rooms: All of the rooms have 2 queen beds. There are some rooms that have a 5th sleeper, so they have a 3rd bed and sleep 5 people. There are King bed rooms as well. Another room style are Royal Guest rooms that have 2 queen beds.
Here is the resort for the camper in your family! There are all types of campsites for a RV and 10 people can stay at a campsite.
Rooms: There are also wilderness cabins that sleep 6 and have a kitchen.
It is a large resort, so it is recommended to rent a golf cart.
There is boat transportation to the Magic Kingdom!
The resort is located a short distance away from Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom. There are 2 different parts of the resort.
Rooms: The original resort has standard rooms that have 2 queen beds and king bed rooms as well. There is also the new Gran Destino Tower that has standard rooms with 2 queen beds and King bed rooms as well.
The Tower is what I call, a deluxe resort within a moderate resort!
The Beach Club Resort is gorgeous and has the best and most unique pool area I have ever seen, including a sandy bottom and a lazy river. The resort is home to my favorite restaurant in the world, Cape May. The Yacht Club shares the pool area with the Beach Club. The Yacht Club has wonderful restaurants as well including: Ale & Compass and Yachtsman Steakhouse.
Rooms: The Beach Club & Yacht Club have numerous room choices that include standard rooms, pool and garden view rooms, and even suites. The rooms have either 2 queen beds, 2 queen beds and a sleeper sofa, or a king bed. They sleep 5 people. At the Beach Club Villas there are deluxe studios, 1 bedroom villas, and 2 bedroom villas. The studios have a kitchenette and sleep 5. The 1 and 2 bedroom villas have a full kitchen. The 1 bedroom villas sleep 4 and the 2 bedrooms villas sleep 8 people.
You can walk out the back doors of the resorts and be on the Boardwalk, which is similar to boardwalks in New Jersey and Maryland. You can take a 10 minute walk or a boat over to Epcot or Disney's Hollywood Studios from the resorts as well.
This is one of the original resorts and it is on the monorail loop. The monorail travels through the resort and it will take you on your journey to the Magic Kingdom. Your family can choose to walk to the Magic Kingdom on a walking trail too. Chef Mickey's is located within the magical walls of the Contemporary.
Rooms: Many of the rooms have 2 queen beds and a sleeper sofa and sleep 5 or a King bed room that will sleep 3. There are some 1 or 2 bedroom suites that accommodate 5 and up to 10 people. You can choose a view of the Magic Kingdom from your room which will be more expensive than a standard view room.
The resort has a futuristic theme and is incredibly quiet. Families have the luxury of using a walking path that is only a 5 minute walk to the Magic Kingdom.
Rooms: It contains deluxe studios, 1 bedroom villas, 2 bedroom villas, and 3 bedroom villas. The 1, 2, and 3 bedroom villas have full kitchens. The studios sleep 4. The 1 bedrooms sleep 5, the 2 bedrooms sleep 9, and the 3 bedrooms sleep 12.
Families have the option of viewing the Magic Kingdom fireworks, named Happily Ever After, from the top of the resort, while listening to the "Happily Ever After" music.
The resort is absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking. It is a five star resort and is home to a world class spa. It has six restaurants. They range from upscale to quick service establishments. One of my family's favorites is 1900 Park Fare. It is on the monorail loop.
Rooms: The Grand Floridian rooms mostly sleep 5 and have 2 queen beds and a sleeper sofa. There are King bed rooms as well. At the villas there are Deluxe Studios that sleep 5 and have a kitchenette. There are also 1, 2, & 3 bedroom villas that all have a full kitchen. The the 1 bedroom villas sleep 5, the 2 bedroom villas sleep 9, and the 3 bedroom villas sleep 12. You even have the option to view the Magic Kingdom from your room, but this option does come with an additional cost.
When you walk into the Polynesian it is like taking a step into Hawaii. It is a spectacular resort and you will be greeted with an "Aloha!" from courteous and friendly cast members. The resort is home to the restaurant 'Ohana, where you can eat breakfast with Mickey. Your family will be very close to the Magic Kingdom since it is on the monorail loop.
Rooms: The Polynesian rooms sleep up to 5 people and most of the rooms have 2 queen beds and a day bed or a king bed. The villas have deluxe studios that sleep 5 with a kitchenette. The Bungalows sleep 8 with a full kitchen and are on the water.
Since you are so close to the Magic Kingdom you do have the option of staying in a room with a theme park view in the Polynesian Village!
This deluxe resort is spectacular like all the others, but it includes its own special niche. The resort is located near Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park and you are able to view animals walking in the savannah from certain areas of the resort.
Rooms: The rooms in the Lodge have either 2 queen beds or a King bed and can sleep up to 4 people. There are some suites available as well. In the villas there are Deluxe Studios that sleep 4 with a kitchenette. The 1 bedroom villas sleep 5, the 2 bedroom villas sleep 9 and the 3 bedroom villas sleep 12. They all have full kitchens. Please note the Jambo House only has studios and 1 bedroom villas. All rooms do not have a view of the animals, but there are some where you can see giraffes and many other beautiful animals right from your balcony.
The resort is home to a few delicious restaurants, including a family favorite of ours called Boma.
Disney's Wilderness Lodge is a spectacular resort and the lodge feel comes through right away! It is home to wonderful restaurants including: Whispering Canyon Cafe & Artist Pointe. The Villas are part of Disney Vacation Club and give families the option of having more space than just one room.
Rooms: Most of the rooms in the Lodge have 2 queen beds and sleep 4. There are some king bed rooms available that sleep 2 adults. Copper Creek has studios that sleep 4, a cabin that sleeps 8, one bedroom villas that sleep 4, two bedroom villas that sleep 8, and 3 bedroom villas that sleep 12. The cabins and villas all have full kitchens. At Boulder Ridge there are studios that sleep 5, one bedroom villas that sleep 4, and two bedroom villas that sleep 8. The villas have full kitchens.
Disney's Boardwalk Inn is only a 10 minute walk from Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. You can take a boat as well. It is on a boardwalk that is similar to the one in Atlantic City. The pool area is wonderful and fun for the whole family!
Rooms: The Boardwalk rooms have either 2 queen beds and a day bed, or 2 queen beds, or a king bed. They sleep up to 5 people. The Boardwalk Villas have studios that sleep five, one bedroom villas that sleep 4, and 3 bedroom villas that sleep 12. The villas have a full kitchen.
These two Disney Vacation Club Resort are sister resorts. They are beautiful and can accommodate many families because the resorts are large. The Lake Buena Vista golf course goes through both resorts.
Rooms: There are deluxe studios that sleep 4 in both resorts. Old Key West has 1, 2, & 3 bedroom villas and they all have full kitchens. The 2 bedroom villas sleep 9. At Saratoga Springs there are 1, 2, & 3 bedroom villas that have full kitchens. There is even a Treehouse villa.
This is the newest resort in Walt Disney World. It is truly spectacular with numerous amenities! The resort is on the Disney Skyliner with easy transportation to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. If you would like to explore, there is a walking path over to Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort.
Rooms: There are studios that sleep 5, one bedroom villas that sleep 5, two bedroom villas that sleep 9, and 3 bedroom villas that sleep 12. All of the villas have full kitchens. I highly recommend the resort!
Step #2: Choosing a Dining Plan
The most popular Dining Plan is called Disney Dining. It consists of 1 quick service meal, 1 table service meal, and 1 snack per person per amount of nights of your stay in a Walt Disney World Resort. It also includes a resort refillable mug. A snack is almost anything that is about $7.00. A counter service meal is a meal and alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink in a Disney walk-up style eatery. An example would be ordering a cheeseburger, fries, and a coke.
There is also a less expensive dining plan called Quick Service dining. Everyone in the family receives 2 quick service meals per night of your stay, 1 snack per night of your stay, and the resort refillable mug.