Walt Disney World resorts fall into three categories – Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. The high-end resorts come with an equally high price tag, and their seemingly luxurious perks draw plenty of guests in. However, the most expensive resorts on property aren’t necessarily the best options. Consider some of these factors before you pick a room.
You miss the more exuberant themes
Radiator Springs at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Image: gardener41, Flickr (license)
Every Disney resort has a distinct theme. However, some are a little more over-the-top than others. The Grand Floridian is designed to exude Victorian elegance. The décor is rich and sumptuous, but not necessarily imaginative. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort transports you to an island paradise. If you take actual cruises or other island vacations, however, you might find the lush theming falls a bit short. After all, there are no waves lapping the sandy shores and you’re not allowed to touch the water.
Meanwhile, Art of Animation has a complete life-size recreation of Radiator Springs. At Pop Century, you’ll find a Roger Rabbit sculpture that stands 23-feet tall atop a 12-foot barrel. The décor and themes at some of the less expensive resorts have a little more exuberance, and definitely stand apart from what you would find elsewhere.
Quick-service dining is less diverse
The tasty food court at All Star Movies
Image: Loren Javier, Flickr (license)
When it comes to fine dining, you can go anywhere. Yes, ‘Ohana is excellent, but you don’t need to stay at The Polynesian Resort to dine there. In fact, this makes for an excellent dinner reservation after a day at Magic Kingdom, as it gives you a bonus ride on the monorail. Dining at different resorts throughout your stay will give you a chance to explore a broad range of options, and all Disney resorts are easily accessible by bus, boat, or monorail.
At your own resort, you’re more likely to take advantage of the quick and convenient picks. The quick-service breakfast options are usually immensely important because there aren’t as many breakfast options in the parks as there are lunch and dinner picks, and most guests are too excited in the morning to settle down and eat – it’s prime time to get on those rides!
So when it comes to your resort, you want a delicious breakfast that’s fast and convenient. The quick-service breakfast at The Grand Floridian’s Gasparilla Island Grill includes just five entrée options – a breakfast wrap, Mickey waffle, croissant egg sandwich, quiche, or fruit and yogurt bar. Head over to All Star Movies, however, and you’ll find over a dozen choices including a Bounty Platter with eggs, potatoes, bacon, sausage, a biscuit, and Mickey waffle. There are four different types of breakfast sandwiches, two flatbreads, and even biscuits and gravy with ham.
The Art of Animation is widely recognized as having one of the best quick-service food courts on property. Here, your breakfast picks include a create-your-own omelet, chocolate-chip pancakes, challah French toast, and much more. Think carefully about how and where you’ll really be dining before you pick a pricey resort for the restaurants.
The amenities don’t change
Disney’s Magical Express airport transportation is available to all
Image: Michael Gray, Flickr (license)
Most Walt Disney World amenities are the same across the property. You always have access to the Magical Express bus from the airport, free transportation across property, Extra Magic Hours, merchandise delivery to your room, and complimentary Wi-Fi and parking. Movies Under the Stars are a standard feature across all the resort hotels. Every resort has pools. At the Art of Animation you’ll even hear music playing underwater!
For the most part, the amenities that differ at the high-end resorts are those that are available to everyone. You can book pampering spa services at any resort, regardless of whether you’re staying there. Fishing excursions and motorized boat rentals are available to all as well.
Your housekeeper is the same
Image: Derek Hatfield, Flickr (license)
If you feel that you might get more attentive housekeeping services at a pricier resort, think again. Staffing is shared across all Walt Disney World Resort hotels. For most positions – including front desk, housekeeping, and merchandise – training is standardized. Cast Members learn the basics of their job at Disney University in a class with others who are employed at locations throughout the resort. The DU campus has mock hotel rooms where your housekeepers learn their trade, and they all work in the same ones no matter where they’re going.
On-site training at a particular resort is extremely minimal. During peak seasons, housekeepers are often deployed to other resorts. Their schedule will simply list a new hotel for a few weeks, and they have to pop over, grab a different costume, and acclimate quickly. There are typically a few hours of expedited training at the new resort to cover basics like where the supply closets are and how the towels should be arranged. Then you’re off.
So, your attentive housekeeper at the Grand Floridian may just be a loan from Pop Century. Cast Members get the same training resort-wide, and all hotels are held to the impeccable Disney standard, no matter how much you pay for the room.
Your resort time is usually limited
You may spend most of your vacation viewing your resort from afar
Before you drop thousands on a high-end resort, consider your vacation style. If you truly spend long mornings lingering in your room and leisurely days taking in all the on-site luxuries, an expensive resort may very well suit your needs. However, if you get up and dash off to the parks only to return exhausted at the end of the day, you’re not really spending enough time in your hotel room to appreciate the minor differences between price categories.
You can get a room at one of the All-Star Resorts for around $100 a night. Art of Animation inches closer to $150. Head over to the Polynesian and you’ll spend over $450 per night. Go to the Grand Floridian and you’re looking at upwards of $570 nightly. Now think about what that extra $300 to $400 a day could translate to in terms of your park experience. You could book backstage tours, fireworks dining packages, dinner cruises, or other luxury experiences instead.
You’ll never get out of a Walt Disney World vacation with a small price tag, but you can allocate your funds carefully to get the most magic out of every dollar. Think about your daily routines carefully before you decide how much you want to spend on a hotel.
