Where to Stay?

Is The Animal Kingdom Lodge the best place to stay in Walt Disney World?   Keep reading to find out!

When I find out that a friend or family member is planning a trip to Walt Disney World, the first question out of my mouth is almost always "Where are you staying?"  This one decision, more than any other in your planning process, will affect how you spend your downtime away from the parks (and in many cases, how much ​​​​downtime you have), where you eat, how you get around the resort and so much more. 

However, in my time as a Certified Disney Travel Planner, I've found that many people have questions about the different resorts around Walt Disney World property. What makes the Grand Floridian so special?  Is the Animal Kingdom Lodge actually inside the Animal Kingdom?  What's the best place to stay in Walt Disney World? 

That final question is a loaded one.  The factors that make up the best accommodations for some people might not necessarily be taken into consideration by others.  It helps to consider all of the factors that go into determining which resort is best for you, and then seeing what's important for your party on vacation. Let's take a look!

Price 

Walt Disney World divides their resorts into three tiers of pricing:  Value, Moderate and Deluxe.  While there are some resorts in each tier on the high and low side of the price scale, there are some common factors that each tier shares, and the differences between those factors are what separates the values from the deluxes.

Theme

There's a story behind everything at Walt Disney World, and that story comes through in the details that you immerse yourself in everywhere on property, from the parks to the restaurants and yes, even your resorts.  At value resorts like Pop Century and the All-Star Resorts, you find yourself a midst giant icons of classic Disney movies, pop culture fads and different kinds of music.  Moderate resorts, like Caribbean Beach and Port Orleans - Riverside, continue the story into your resort room as special themed rooms let you stay in the middle of a princess fairy tale or a rollicking pirate adventure. 

Meanwhile, at deluxe resorts, story is considered in every bit of decor, from the art on the walls to the sheets, and in most cases, the lobby and pools.  The Wilderness Lodge has a cavernous lobby featuring the totem poles of the Pacific Northwest that gives the resort its theme, and the pool is located next to a functioning geyser that goes off intermittently like Old Reliable in Yellowstone National Park. 

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Transportation & Location

​The value and moderate resorts are placed further from the theme parks and only provide access to them by bus.  The deluxe resorts, however, are located much closer to some parks, and in some cases, provide unique methods of transportation to reach them.  The Grand Floridian, Contemporary and Polynesian are all located on the monorail line, which circles the resorts and provides access to the Magic Kingdom within minutes.  The Yacht & Beach Clubs and Boardwalk Inn are located close enough to Epcot that you can walk to the park from them.  You can take a boat from The Wilderness Lodge to the Magic Kingdom's front gate and the Animal Kingdom Lodge is a five-minute trip from the Animal Kingdom Park (but, to answer my earlier question, not actually inside it!)  Your time is important on a Walt Disney World vacation and if you can spend less time getting to the parks and more time touring them, you are getting your money's worth from a deluxe resort. 

Dining

The value resorts only offer quick-service dining options, and while they have delicious food, some people enjoy having a table service restaurant at their resort to have a fine dining experience just steps where they're staying.  Some moderate resorts have table service restaurants on their grounds, but every deluxe resort has at least one and, in some cases, two or three restaurants, some of which are the most popular in Walt Disney World. 

So What's The Best?

As I said earlier, every Walt Disney World guest will have different criteria for judging the best place to stay on property.  However, if the decision is mine to make, considering all of the factors above, I would definitely select Bay Lake Tower, located immediately next to the Contemporary Resort. 

The Winner!

This resort is the newest of Walt Disney World's deluxe resorts and you can't beat the location.  It's located just steps from my favorite park, The Magic Kingdom, and being so close to the Contemporary, is also in close proximity to two of my favorite restaurants on property: Chef Mickey's and The California Grill.  Some resort rooms have views of the Magic Kingdom, where you can step out onto your private balcony to watch Wishes! fireworks every night.  Of course, being on the monorail line, you're just a short ride away from Ohana at the Polynesian, or Epcot, and all of the rooms feature sleek, luxurious accommodations with a retro-futuristic theme, exactly the same as The Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland...my favorite land in the park.

To book Bay Lake Tower, or any of the other wonderful resorts mentioned in this article, please visit our Quote Page, or contact me using the information below.  Be sure to check out our Current Offers Page to see what discounts are currently available!