6 of Our Favorite Disney Resorts
We often get asked which Disney resort is our favorite. As locals we have had the opportunity to visit several! As photographers in Orlando fl, we have found all of them have their own special details that Disney never misses the mark on!
In addition to immersive and stunning surroundings, the benefits of staying on property are:
- Proximity to Parks
- Disney’s Level of Service
- Extra Magic Hours
- Ability to make fastpasses 60 days in advance
- Theming
- Amenities
You can reserve fastpasses 60 days in advance – instead of 30! A strategic Fastpass selection is the key to rocking your Disney vacation. We rarely score fastpasses for Flight of Passage as annual pass holders, so the extra 30 day head start is amazing! Check out our Fastpass tips to snag the best fastpasses!
We have narrowed it down to 3 categories because you can’t compare apples to oranges. We wouldn’t even say this comes down to budget. Some of the moderate resorts might be a better fit for your needs if you plan on only sleeping and spending most of your days in the parks.
Deluxe Resorts
- The Grand Floridian
- Animal Kingdom Lodge
The Grand Floridian just exudes luxury, from the grand lobby to the amazing views and sounds. The live music overlooking the lobby makes you feel at ease. We love their pools and slides, they are perfect for relaxing or for having a family day.
The resort’s overall theme is elegant, with touches of Disney magic. The honeymoon suites have jetted tubs and amazing balconies. With over 26 one, two and three bedrooms you can choose how you want to spend your stay.
What we love the MOST about this resort is the ease and freedom of visiting Magic Kingdom. You can hop over in the morning, come back to the pool and end the night watching the fireworks. If you’d rather stay in your room to watch them, thats fine too!
The Animal Kingdom lodge just has a special place in our hearts. This resort is a bit of a drive to the parks but its worth it! You feel like you have escaped the hustle and bustle and you are in an animal sanctuary.
The theming is very warm and welcoming, the lobby boasts a fire place and comfortable chairs. We love Boma for a dinner thats out of the ordinary. The rooms are spacious and if you are able to, book a room with a savannah view so you can wake up and see giraffes right from your balcony.
You are able to explore and see several types of birds, zebras and giraffes. We have never left the USA, but this resort makes you feel like you have left in style.
Moderate Resorts
- The Cabins at Fort Wilderness
- Port Orleans
Fort wilderness is a blast to explore! We have seen several deer and rabbits while enjoying our bike rides around the grounds. We love the cabins because you are able to have the seclusion of the woods with the comforts of home.
They are spacious, include full kitchens, a separate living space and outdoor dining options.
A short boat ride to the Magic Kingdom, these cabins will win you over quickly. If you are able to bring your bikes, ride around the campground especially around the holidays. The campers vibrantly decorate really creating a delightful scene. End your night on the beach watching the fireworks and the boat parade.
Port Orleans is divided into two separate resorts, riverside and French quarter. We lump them into one, they both feel pretty similar to us. We love the luxurious warm lobby and great dining options. The pools have great vibes, we love swaying in the wind poolside in the oversized hammocks. The playgrounds are very shaded, which is a common occurrence at this resort. The oak trees are everywhere. The plantation feel and garden views are beautiful. The boatwrights dining hall is full service , serving yummy gumbo and amazing seafood. While visiting this resort be sure to walk around and just take in the scenes. Our son loves the wheel and could watch it for hours.
Value Resorts
- Art of Animation
- All Star Movies
All Star Movies is Disney themed to the MAX. One of our favorite things about value Resorts is that the theming is very character focused.
We stayed recently during the grand opening of Toy Story land, in the Toy Story section. It’s so amazing being able to stay fully engaged with Disney during your whole stay. Our room was newly upgraded, the beds were comfortable including the murphy bed. We loved walking around the different buildings and admiring the scenes. The pools are great, they do not have slides but have adorable theming.
We met pluto during our stay and have seen Goofy as well. The lobby has a movie theatre with seating, dining is limited but if you eat in the parks this is a non issue.
Art Of Animation is a cute above the other value resorts. The theming is still very Disney character focused. The rooms are spacious, the gift shop is large and has a wide variety of gifts. We love the Lion King section as well as the little mermaid section. The rooms are comfortable and spacious. Walk around and explore the sites you will not be disappointed.
All of the resorts are amazing in their own way.
Overall the choice is yours! We kept this post positive and it is only our opinion. We love all of the resorts, these are just our personal favorites!
We recommend picking out 5 features that are the most important to you, that will make your decision a lot easier. During your stay, arrange for a resort tour day, explore all of them and decide where you want to stay next! We could explore them all day. What are your favorite resorts? Let us know and feel free to message us if you have any specific questions!