How To Choose A Disney World Resort
A big question I have been getting on my instagram is how to do you choose a Walt Disney World resorts especially if you are a family with toddlers or babies. There are 25 resort hotels at Walt Disney World to choose from and it can seem overwhelming trying to pick the right one. I wanted to share some insight into how I go about picking a Disney World resort for my family so that it may help you narrow down which resort is good for you.
My main motivation for choosing a Walt Disney World resort is transportation. Each resort boasts different modes of transportation to different parks. I personally hate riding in buses. I do not find them relaxing at all and would prefer to not take one if possible. I also find buses more difficult to ride with small kids because you are required to fold up your stroller. Some of my favorite resorts offer the ability to walk to parks or ride in a boat, monorail or Skyliner.
QUICK GUIDE TO DISNEY RESORTS AND TRANSPORTATION
WALK OR BOAT TO MAGIC KINGDOM
Grand Floridian
Contemporary and Bay Lake Tower
Polynesian (though it is a long walk)
Wilderness Lodge (Boat only)
Fort Wilderness (Boat only)
MONORAIL TO MAGIC KINGDOM
Grand Floridian
Contemporary and Bay Lake Tower
Polynesian
RESORTS ON SKYLINER TO EPCOT & HS
All Boardwalk hotels via Epcot International Gateway station
Pop Century
Art of Animation
Riviera Resort
Caribbean Beach Resort
WALK OR BOAT TO EPCOT & HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
Boardwalk Villas
Yacht Club
Beach Club
Swan and Dolphin
A few things to note for families with a stroller. Small boats require you to fold up your stroller but large boats do not. The Grand Floridian and The Polynesian only operate small boats to the Magic Kingdom while Wilderness Lodge has both large and small boats. This is important to know especially when you have a sleeping baby in a stroller. You may opt to take the monorail where you do not have to collapse your stroller.
If getting easily and quickly to and from the parks is important to you, then this is a good guide to use. Our favorite resort is Wilderness Lodge. We love the theming and has an amazing pool. It's only a quick boat ride from our favorite park (Magic Kingdom) and we don't have to fold our stroller on the larger boats which is nice if one of the kids falls asleep while headed back. It's also typically not as expensive as other Magic Kingdom area resorts.
If you are budget conscious, I would highly recommend Pop Century. The rooms have been renovated to be really nice and the Skyliner access is a huge plus.
TRANSPORTATION NOT A BIG CONCERN?
If transportation isn't a big issue for you, two of my less conveniently located resorts are Port Orleans Riverside and Coronado Springs. Port Orleans is a beautifully, expansive resort with a great pool. It also offers a boat that travels to Disney Springs. Because it is big resort, you may want to walk to the main bus station at the front of the resort to avoid riding around all the stops of the bus route. When you return from the parks, just get off at the first stop and walk from there. Coronado Springs has a really fun themed pool and one of my favorite restaurants, Three Bridges. They also recently added the Grand Destino tower that is gorgeous and feels like a Riviera Maya resort. A big perk to this budget friendly location is that you can see fireworks from Hollywood Studios (when they are offering them) while sitting around the lake or in your hotel room.
Easily being able to get around the parks will make your vacation more relaxing and will give you the flexibility to go back to the hotel for naps or a break. We hope this guide helps you choose a Disney World Resort that is perfect for you. If you have any questions, feel free to drop a comment below and I will do my best to respond to you!