“Choosing for Perfect Disney Resort” What a misleading title, huh? What might be perfect for me might not be be perfect for you. Come to think about it… What might be perfect for me on my last trip might not be perfect for my next trip. We put a lot of thought into making our resort choice. Do you?
Well, I should be responsible and start with the whole budget issue because if we can’t stay in the budget, we can’t go, can we? Thankfully, Disney has divided their resorts in categories based on price. Well, it’s really a combination of price and amenities, but I guess that since amenities are based on price, it really comes down to the money. You can find the resorts listed by category on our resort planning page. I’m sure that once you have come to the decision to travel to Walt Disney World, you do have a budget in mind.
At this point, I’m sure that someone is wondering why I am going on the “assumption” that everyone plans on staying onsite. Really, I don’t assume that because people travel to Walt Disney World all the time and stay offsite. I believe that there are a LOT of great reasons and amenities to stay onsite, like Disney’s Magical Express and the opportunity to purchase the dining plan. Each family has to make their own decision about what works best for them.
Once you have made the decision to stay onsite, it is a matter of finding what works for your budget, as well as the location and amenities you are looking for. Personally, I have stayed in Value Resorts, Moderate Resorts, and Deluxe Resorts. I have not been disappointed with any of the ones that I have stayed in, but I have chosen them for VERY different reasons. When I first took my husband to Walt Disney World, we stayed at one of the All-Stars. It was just the two of us, and we didn’t spend much time in our room. We enjoyed having the food court because it didn’t take long to go over and eat. It was a very simple room but served its purpose. After all, we were there to see the parks, not the inside of our room, right?
If you are looking to stay in a resort that has more than just food courts, you would need to look toward the Moderate and higher categories. When my kids were smaller, it was nice to have a sit-down restaurant available, so I didn’t have to juggle the food tray and stroller at the same time. Plus, the kids like character meals. However, remember that you don’t have to stay at a resort to eat in the restaurants, there. You could stay at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and go eat at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
You know what they always say about real estate: location, location, location. The same is true at Walt Disney World. I LOVE a great location! If I want to spend most of my time in the Magic Kingdom, my personal choice is to stay at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Why? Because of the walkway. I don’t have to board a bus, boat, or monorail to get to the Magic Kingdom. It’s great! If I want to spend a lot of time at Epcot, I would want to stay at Disney’s Beach Club, Disney’s Yacht Club, or Disney’s Boardwalk Inn.
There are other things besides cost, dining, and location to think about when choosing a Disney resort. Amenities. Are you looking for a relaxing time sitting in the lobby and listening to the orchestra playing? Hint: I would sometimes go over to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa just to sit and relax.
Maybe you would like to be close to where the carriage rides are offered? We took a carriage ride through the Port Orleans Resorts (French Quarter and Riverside) on our last trip. Disney’s Fort Wilderness also offers carriage rides.
Maybe you would like an evening of fun, laughter, and music listening to Yehaa Bob Jackson at the River Roost at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort. We did this on our last trip and thoroughly enjoyed it!
There are so many things to consider when picking that “perfect-to-you” resort for your next trip! Just remember that there are lots of options to choose from, and you really can’t go wrong. We have a resort planning page that gives a lot of tips, even room sizes, that can help you make your decision. Happy Planning!