There are three core levels of Disney World Resorts: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. In my Disney travels, I’ve stayed at each level at least once.
Today, I’m going to break down the key differences resort style, rooms, food, pools, and transportation, and give you some thoughts to consider.
The goal of this post isn’t to tell you the “best” place to stay, but rather to help you make the best choice for you and your family or group.
Value Resorts
The Resorts
Value Resorts include All-Star Movies, All-Star Sports, All-Star Music, Pop Century, and Art of Animation.
Resort style
These resorts are the most obviously geared towards kids in their theming. They’re full of bold colors and large characters and/or thematically appropriate objects. They aren’t the most luxurious resorts, but they are arguably the most fun.
These resorts are also pretty compact. There are about ten or twelve buildings in each resort and walking from one end to the other can be done in a reasonably short amount of time.
Rooms
Standard Rooms at the All-Star Resorts are two double beds, however All-Star Music does offer some Family Suites that have a queen bed.
Art of Animation and Pop Century bed sizes range from double to king options, with Art of Animation Family Suites including twin fold outs.
Food
These resorts have one centralized quick serve food court, as well as one poolside bar and in room pizza delivery.
Pool
Each of these resorts has two pool areas. One pool is larger, while the other is smaller. These pools do not have slides.
Transportation
All Value resorts have bus services to all of the parks, waterparks, and Disney Springs. The resorts are compact enough for one bus stop, which is typically near the main building.
As of Fall 2019, Art of Animation and Pop Century will have access to the Skyliner which runs between a handful of resorts and goes to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
Moderate Resorts
The Resorts
Moderate Resorts include Caribbean Beach Resort, Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter, and Coronado Springs. The Cabins at Fort Wilderness also have Moderate pricing.
Resort Style
These resorts have more adult theming and are designed to have the feel of the location they’re named after. However, this doesn’t take away from the Disney feel, and some resorts have options to upgrade to a more heavily themed room. This includes the Pirate rooms at Caribbean Beach and the Royal Guest rooms at Port Orleans Riverside.
The buildings are more spread out–so much so that there are usually a few bus stops throughout the resort. There is also better/more thematic landscaping. For instance, at Caribbean Beach, there are palm trees, beaches, and hammocks at different points throughout the resort.
Rooms
The Standard rooms all have two queen beds as a base option.
All of these resorts have the option for a king sized bed, and some resorts have suites, or the option to add a fifth sleeper.
You can also upgraded to a “preferred” view of either the pool or other another water/garden view that’s unique to the resort.
Food
With the Moderate resorts, you’ll get more food options compared to the Value resorts. Each Moderate resort has a sit-down table service restaurant, a quick service food court location, and a bar or two.
You’ll also find additional food options that will vary depending on your resort. For instance, Coronado Springs has two table service locations and two quick service locations, and Caribbean Beach has a Grab-and-Go market.
Pool
Moderate resorts all have several pools including one big pool that has a slide and other fun water features (like waterfalls and bridges). The other small pools are called “leisure pools” and are more traditional.
Transportation
Like the Value resorts, buses go to all parks, waterparks, and Disney Springs.
However, like I touched on, these resorts are much bigger than the Value resorts, so you’ll find multiple bus stops within almost all of these resorts. Port Orleans French Quarter is the only one small enough for one stop.
Additionally, Caribbean Beach will have access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios via the Skyliner, and Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter can get to Disney Springs by boat.
Deluxe Resorts and Villas
The Resorts
The Deluxe Resorts and Villas include Animal Kingdom Lodge, Saratoga Springs, Polynesian Village, Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, Beach Club, Yacht Club, Contemporary, BoardWalk Inn, Old Key West, and Riviera.
Resort Style
These resorts are the most luxurious. This theming is the most intricate and over the top. For instance, Animal Kindom Lodge is actually on a Savana so you can have a room with real live animals outside your window. The lobbies and rooms are also more upscale.
The Deluxe level also comes with added amenities and options, like spas, valet parking, childcare services, and more.
Some Deluxe resorts are more sprawling, needing more than one bus stop, like the Moderate resorts, but others are more concentrated into one tall building.
These resorts are also part of Disney’s timeshare, Disney Vacation Club, but you can book a room here even if you’re not a DVC member.
Rooms
Standard rooms all start with queen beds and can be modified to include a day bed, a king bed, a sleeper sofa, and more.
And because some of these resorts are used for the DVC, you’ll also find rooms have kitchenettes, full kitchens, and even multi-room suites and Villas.
Food
Like the Moderate resorts, you’ll find at least one quick service food court option, at least one sit-down table service restaurant, and a pool side bar.
You may also find that some Deluxe resorts have signature dining locations, which are some of Disney’s most high-end restaurants. And you’ll find that some resorts have multiple table service or quick service locations, or some added snack locations.
Pool
Some of the Deluxe resort pools really go to another level. Not only does at least one pool have a waterslide, but there are also added features, like Beach and Yacht Club’s Stormalong Bay.
This pool is a massive sand-bottom pool made to look like a shipwreck. It also has three whirlpools and a lazy river.
Not every resort as a pool quite like this, but if you’re looking for a killer pool, you definitely want to check out the deluxe resorts.
Transportation
Just like the Value and Moderate resorts, every Deluxe resort has buses that go to all of the parks, waterparks, and Disney Springs. The number of bus stops will depend on the size of the resort.
In addition, the Contemporary, Grand Floridian, and Polynesian can get to the Magic Kingdom with the Monorail. The Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Wilderness Lodge can all get to the Magic Kingdom by boat.
BoardWalk, Beach Club, and Yacht Club can all get to Epcot and Hollywood Studios by boat. And Old Key West and Saratoga Springs can all get to Disney Springs by boat.
Some things to consider
On Value Resorts
I’ve personally stayed at All-Star Movies and Pop Century and I had a great experience at both. If you can swing it, I would probably recommend Pop Century for two reasons.
First, in the newly remodeled rooms, you can fold one of the beds up so it becomes a table. This gives you more space in the room and lets you sit someplace that isn’t the bed.
Second, when schools or large groups go to Disney, they usually stay in the All-Star resorts because they’re the cheapest. This means you could end up with an overexcited school group as your neighbors.
Now, I didn’t have a problem with this when I stayed at All-Star Movies (and I would think Movies would likely be the safest, as most of the school groups that go are music or sports groups), but it’s something to think about.
Consider how much time you plan to be at your resort
I have never had a bad experience at a Disney resort. I’ve had the same outstanding customer service, clean room, and magical Disney experience at my Value resort stays as I had at my Deluxe resort stay.
So, when you pay for the moderate or deluxe resorts, you’re paying for the extra landscaping, amenities, pool features, larger rooms, and on-site food options. If you’re planning on spending a day or two hanging at the resort, or if you plan to take long afternoon breaks from the park, these extras may be worth it to you.
But if you plan on being in the parks for most of your trip and you’re really just using your resort as a place to sleep and rest, the Value resort maybe all you need.
You can visit other resorts
It’s also worth noting that you can visit another Disney resort even if you’re not staying there. Once you’re there, you can explore, hang out on the property, and participate in most activities. However, you won’t have access to another resort’s amenities, including the pool.
But this means if you’re staying a Art of Animation, and have a day outside the park you want to spend it laying in a hammock at Caribbean Beach, you can do that! Just hop a bus to the nearest park, then grab a bus to Caribbean Beach.
This is a good option if you only have one down day and don’t want to stay at a more expensive resort for one night, or if a more expensive resort simply isn’t in your budget.
For more Disney World tips and tricks, check out the other Disney posts!
Sound off: What’s your go-to Disney World resort and why? Tell us about it in the comments!
Moderate and deluxe are my absolute favorites! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much for sharing your favs! 🙂