Top 10 Disney Resorts

By Charlyn Keating

Updated 05/04/17

Disney's Boardwalk Inn
••• Disney's Boardwalk Inn. Courtesy of Disney

Disney resorts come in all sorts of themes and a spread of price ranges. Even at Disney, some resorts really stand out - Disney resorts with the best location, the best water parks, the best restaurant options. Depending on what you like to do on your vacation, one of these Disney resorts may be just perfect for you.

  • 01 of 10

    Disney's Polynesian Resort

    Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
    ••• Courtesy of Disney

    Disney's Polynesian Resort's Got: a spot on the Magic Kingdom's monorail line. Plus, it's the only one of the deluxe Disney resorts with a location adjacent to the main Transportation and Ticket Center, where you can catch the other monorail line to Epcot. The Spirit of Aloha luau is a popular dinner show. It's also one of the two original Disney resorts from 1971.

  • 02 of 10

    Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

    Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
    ••• Courtesy of Disney

    Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort's Got: a design built around a private animal reserve with three separate savannas, encompassing 33 acres. The savannas are visible from many guest rooms (all with private balconies) and are home to over 200 mammals and birds (three dozen species in all). In this unique Disney resort's lobby, hand-carved architectural features and rare African artifacts are worth seeking out.

  • 03 of 10

    Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts

    Disney Yacht Club Resort
    ••• Courtesy of Disney

    Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts: these waterside Disney resorts share Stormalong Bay, arguably the best resort water park in Disney World. A huge water slide built to resemble a shipwreck, a sandy bottom pool and water currents add to the fun. Stormalong Bay is only accessible to guests of these two Disney resorts. They also have location going for them; you can take a short walk to Epcot and the BoardWalk entertainment district (lots of restaurant choices in both places) or a longer walk to Disney's Hollywood Studios.

  • 04 of 10

    Disney's Contemporary Resort

    Disney Contemporary Resort
    ••• Courtesy of Disney

    Disney's Contemporary Resort's Got: the monorail to the Magic Kingdom passing right through the atrium. But what a location -- this is the only one of the Disney resorts that lets you walk (right across the street) to the Magic Kingdom. This is another of the three original Disney resorts from 1971.

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  • 05 of 10
    Disney's Art of Animation Resort
    Disney's Art of Animation Resort
    ••• Courtesy of Disney

    Disney's Art of Animation Resort's Got: cleverly laid-out family suites that sleep six people. The immersive theming, inspired by Pixar movies including Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid, is some of the most detailed Disney Imagineers have come up with. Suites in this Value resort are equipped better than a room at the Moderate resorts, with refrigerators, microwaves and a table for four.

  • 06 of 10
    Disney's Grand Floridian Resort
    Disney's Grand Floridian Resort
    ••• Courtesy of Disney

    Disney's Grand Floridian Resort's Got: full-service spa, a monorail to the Magic Kingdom, the only restaurant in Central Florida with a AAA Five Diamond rating (Victoria & Albert's), and a wedding chapel with a view of Cinderella's Castle to inspire happily-ever-afters.

  • 07 of 10

    Disney's BoardWalk Inn Resort

    Disney's Boardwalk Inn
    ••• Courtesy of Disney

    Disney's BoardWalk Inn Resort's Got: its own entertainment district with restaurants, bars and a dance hall. Midway games and entertainers (like a bicycling pianist) add to the fun. It's a short walk to Epcot and a longer walk to Hollywood Studios. From the bridge to Epcot, you can see the fireworks without going into the theme park.

  • 08 of 10

    Disney's All-Star Music Resort

    Disney All-Star Music Resort
    ••• Courtesy of Disney

    Disney's All-Star Music Resort's Got: the least expensive way to get a suite in Disney World. Disney's All-Star Music Resort is the only one of the All-Star trio of Disney resorts to offer Family Suites. These one-bedroom suites with full kitchens sleep up to six people with a Queen bed and pull-out furniture in the living room.

    Continue to 9 of 10 below.
  • 09 of 10

    Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort

    Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort
    ••• Courtesy of Disney

    Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort's Got: well-equipped campgrounds popular with families who come year after year for extended stays. Cabins offer separate bedrooms with bunk beds, a Murphy bed in the living room and full kitchens. Boat transportation is available to the Magic Kingdom. Despite the convenient location, the most rustic of the Disney resorts has a secluded, quiet feel.

  • 10 of 10

    Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort

    Disney Saratoga Springs Resort
    ••• Courtesy of Disney

    Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort's Got: a walkway to Downtown Disney. Lake Buena Vista golf course is on site, and this is one of the few Disney resorts to have a full-service spa on site. Treehouse Villas are the latest room option and the only free-standing options among Disney resorts; raised octagonal structures surrounded by wilderness have three bedrooms, two baths and full kitchens.