My family was such a good sport during our last trip because we did a LOT of resort hoping, which is the reason why there are five different resorts to guess! I’m working toward staying at all of the Disney World resorts so I can share even more with my clients about all of the options as they are determining which one is best for their family. I’ve now stayed at all of the Moderate resorts and all but one of the Deluxe resorts! (We still have the Contemporary Resort left on our list.) The resorts are a true highlight for me on a Disney vacation. I might even be crazy enough to enjoy the resorts as much as the parks! We hope our reviews and rankings below to help you decide which resort would be best for your family!
Without money being a factor, here is how I would rank all of these resorts based on my overall experience. All of them were wonderful and I’d stay in any of them again in a heartbeat!
Wilderness Lodge- We chose a Deluxe Studio at the Copper Creek Villas. Wilderness Lodge has a breathtaking lobby (especially at Christmastime) and there are so many amenities. Our girls love the splash pad there, complete with waterslides! Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White is always at the top of our list when I’m booking character dining! The food is exceptional and it’s a unique experience with the Evil Queen hilariously roasting you when you go up for photos. It’s also a quick trip over to the Cabins at Fort Wilderness, where you can enjoy recreational activities including fishing, kayaking, and a special campfire sing-a-long with Chip ‘N’ Dale.
Fort Wilderness offers a good view of the fireworks and the ferry directly to Magic Kingdom is a HUGE perk. Fort Wilderness always just feels like home to us. It’s one of our all-time favorite resorts.
Animal Kingdom Lodge- We stayed in a Savannah View room in Kidani Village. Since the price wasn’t that different, I’d say it was worth it to us to book a Savannah View room. The first thing we saw when we looked out of our balcony was a zebra walking around! My girls loved the giraffes and they were glued to the windows any time we were inside and kept asking to go to the balconies outside to get a closer look. We were constantly spotting animals. It was a fun, educational experience for them to observe all of the African wildlife. The gorgeous decor really had that “wow” factor. We also loved the restaurants there. The only downside was that the resort is very spread out.
Coronado Springs- Although this is technically a Moderate resort, it feels more elevated than the other Moderate resorts and even has Club-level rooms. The Grand Destino Tower was absolutely breathtaking, especially the Barcelona Lounge. The architecture reminded me so much of Casa Batllo in Barcelona! It’s no wonder couples choose to get married at Coronado Springs! The photos don’t do it justice. My girls loved seeing all of the hidden mickeys everywhere and the cutest tiny frogs! The restaurants were wonderful and The Lost City of Cibola Pool was stunning.
Old Key West- Although this is not one of the most talked-about Deluxe resorts, we really loved it! The beautiful, pastel-colored buildings and palm trees created a relaxing environment. It was packed full of amenities, including tennis and pickleball courts, basketball and volleyball courts, a playground, surrey bike rentals, fishing, and a charming promenade with restaurants and bars. The gorgeous Sandcastle Pool was a highlight for my six-year-old.
The spacious one bedroom room we stayed in had relaxing, beach-themed decor and a washer and dryer inside the room! The girls loved the whirlpool tub and the outdoor deck.
Saratoga Springs- We absolutely LOVED the Treehouse Villas here! My six-year-old kept saying it was her dream to stay inside of a treehouse and now she can say she has! It was certainly the fanciest treehouse I’ve ever seen. It was the perfect option for us to split with a larger group. My girls loved their room, which had bunk beds. All three bedrooms had big windows with gorgeous views of the scenery. I think it’s a fantastic budget-friendly option for two to three parties to split and could even be comparable to three separate rooms at Art of Animation! The treehouse was one of the best suites we stayed at! However, the rest of the resort (the pools, lobby, etc.) didn’t have as much of the “wow” factor as the other ones, so that’s why I’ve ranked it at the bottom.
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