Disney groups its resorts by their price/amenities offered: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe resorts. Click on each link to see which resorts we recommend at each price/amenity level.
But if you need recommendations based on other factors, such as the best resort to shop from or the best resort for your honeymoon, I’ve detailed some options below. I collate these recommendations from my personal experiences, as well as surveys from happy Disney World visitors! Have a recommendation for best Disney World resort? Fill in a survey!
Most Inexpensive
If you’re a thrifty sort of person, the most inexpensive choice would be the All Star resorts: All Star Music, All Star Sports, and All Star Movies. These are good, solid options: they may be inexpensive rooms, but they’re brightly decorated in Disney statues and imagery.
If you can afford a little more, I strongly suggest booking at Art of Animation (AoA): the rooms are 20% – 30% more, but you’re getting a newer resort with fast Skyliner (gondola) transportation to Epcot and Hollywood Studios plus a larger pool. Pop Century is a good option as well – it’s across a lake from AoA and shares the Skyliner station – but I prefer Art due to the fact that it’s newer and has the biggest pool in Disney World.
Money Is No Object
If money is no object, the best choice is the Grand Floridian or the Polynesian resorts. The Grand Floridian is the flagship resort for Disney World, and as such has a huge variety of amenities for you to choose from, including a spa, gym, pools, and so forth. A Grand Floridian lake view villa provides a gorgeous view and plenty of space to unwind. A Polynesian Bungalow is also an excellent choice.
Honeymoon
First of all, congrats! If you’re on your honeymoon, I expect you’ll be staying in your resort room for long periods of time.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive resort, the best pick is Pop Century – it’s quieter than the other Value resorts and enjoys fast Skyliner transportation to Epcot and Hollywood Studios in case you want a romantic dinner. Do note that Pop Century itself does not have a sit-down restaurant, only a counter-service/fast food restaurant.
Going on to the Moderate category, I’d pick Port Orleans – French Quarter. My favorite Moderate category resort, French Quarter is a smaller resort: it feels more intimate, more relaxed – time itself seems to slow down while you’re at this resort. The French Quarter has a fast-food restaurant and a jazz lounge – be sure to get a beignet, they’re delicious – but no sit-down restaurant.
If having a sit-down restaurant is important to your honeymoon dream, I strongly suggest Coronado Springs – a Moderate priced resort with Deluxe resort amenities. Coronado Springs has several restaurants and bars, with food themed to Mexican and Mayan flavors. Coronado Springs is also the only Moderate resort with a spa offering massages and salon services such as hair, makeup, and nail work.
At the upper end of the resort scale, I would recommend either the Polynesian or Animal Kingdom resorts. The Polynesian’s island theming and beautiful water views make it a great location for honeymooners. The Polynesian resort also features direct access to the monorail system, making Epcot and Magic Kingdom only a quick ride away. If you’d prefer to be a bit isolated, then pick Animal Kingdom Lodge (AKL) resort. AKL is slightly farther away from the parks compared to other resorts, but it features a beautiful African savanna theming, multiple restaurants and pools, spa, and many other amenities. Ask for a savanna view room; your hotel room will overlook an area with wild animals walking around – there’s nothing like waking up and being able to watch wild animals from the comfort of your own room!
Love To Shop?
If you’re a shop till you drop kind of person, the best resort is Saratoga Springs. It’s located right next to Disney Springs, Disney’s shopping, entertainment, and dining center. Saratoga Springs is a deluxe resort, so if you can’t afford the higher rates another good option is either Port Orleans French Quarter and Port Orleans Riverside. Both of these Moderate resorts are a good deal cheaper than Saratoga Springs and offer a short boat ride trip to Disney Springs.