Disney Resort Hotels listed by Category
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Disney World Resort Hotels Categories (Figuring Out the Right Fit)

This article provides a list of Disney Resort Hotel categories and explains each one.

Do you ever feel like you couldn’t possibly decide which Disney Resort is the best option for your vacation? You research, narrow things down, and then read some random person’s hot-take post on social media that has you second-guessing your top choices. Then, it’s back to the drawing board.

If you feel this way, you’re not alone. With so many options, choosing the right Disney Resort Hotel can feel like you’re navigating an obstacle course rather than choosing a vacation destination. From location and price to the different transportation options, the choices can feel endless.

So if you want to simplify the process, start with an overview of the unique Disney Resort categories. Disney groups its hotels into four primary categories: Value, Moderate, Deluxe, and Deluxe Villa. While these labels help, they don’t tell the whole story. Each category reflects not only pricing, but size, amenities, dining options, and theming…and that’s just to name the big stuff. 

For most, the goal is to choose a category that best fits your priorities, like budget, location, and the kind of vacation you want. We get it. You want to stay at the hotel where you can look back and say the time, money, and energy you put into it were well spent. Thankfully, you’ve come to the right place. 

We believe that choosing a resort sets the tone for the entire trip. Below, we’ll walk you through each category as thoughtfully and clearly as possible. Let’s get started. 

Bay Lake Tower Resort as seen from the lake, a resort based on category, price, and location
Bay Lake Tower

Disney World Resorts by Categories

As we examine individual resort categories, remember that pricing and amenities will be fairly similar, with a few exceptions we’ll note.

Disney Value Resorts

You’ll find five resorts in the value category at Disney World. These resorts suit guests looking for budget-friendly accommodations, those who don’t plan to spend much time at the resort, or those who want to feel immersed in classic Disney theming. Here are those options:

In a nutshell, the three All-Star Resorts sit on one large property, each with theming that’s reflected in the resort’s name. We consider these resorts to be true value resorts. The All-Stars have the lowest rates, and all three offer only one form of transportation: Disney’s bus service.

If you want a step-up from the All-Stars but still want to stay in the value category, you might prefer what some call the value-plus resorts: Pop Century and Art of Animation. These resorts earned the “plus” nickname when the Skyliner first opened. These two resorts will have slightly higher rates than the All-Stars and offer two forms of transportation: Disney’s bus service and the Skyliner.

As for dining, pool, recreation, and other amenities, you won’t find much difference among these resorts. Disney’s Art of Animation and All-Star Music Resort both offer family suites in addition to standard rooms. Other than that, all of the rooms at the value resort have two queen beds, sleeping up to four guests. (Most rooms will have a pull-down bed that converts to a table. A few room options have a king-size bed for smaller parties.)

Value Resorts do not have water slides or hot tubs at their pool areas. However, they all have a splash pad or kiddie pool, which is convenient if you’re traveling with little ones. If the value resort category feels like the right choice for you, we compare and contrast them in our value resort rankings guide.

Value Resort Tip: All of these resorts are worth a walk-through if you’re staying at them. But if you’re just interested in checking one out, we love to visit Disney’s Art of Animation for a sunset stroll. If you have children or are a child at heart, it’s worth the time. (Spoiler: It’s not our highest-ranked value.)

The Big Blue Pool at Disney’s Art of Animation, a Value Resort

Disney Moderate Resorts

Our next category of resorts includes four options plus a campground for anyone who might enjoy that experience or has a recreational vehicle (RV). The moderate resorts suit someone who wants nicer amenities without paying for a location-based resort. They are as follows:

Moderates truly meet guests in the middle. These resorts all have uniquely Disney theming, but the classic character touches are subtle. A glance at the resorts above shows they are themed to locations. For instance, Caribbean Beach is themed to Caribbean islands, and each section of the resort represents one.

Transportation options vary by resort, but none are on the monorail. The biggest factors are slightly larger room sizes, two sinks in the bath area instead of one, more dining options at the resort, water slides at the feature pools, and hot tubs. If you’re leaning toward a moderate resort, this guide breaks down the differences between the five options: Everything You Need to Know About Disney’s Moderate Resorts with Rankings.

Moderate Resort Tip: If you’re considering a moderate resort, but really want the deluxe feel, you might consider Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs. It’s the only moderate with interior room access. All other value and moderate resorts have exterior room access, meaning you’ll walk across the resort grounds to get to your building, and your door will face the exterior.

Coronado Springs with a pool and blue skies
Coronado Springs Resort Casitas Pool Area

Disney Deluxe Resorts

Okay, we’ve made it to everyone’s favorite category of resorts: the deluxe hotels. As you likely know, these are the most prestigious resorts at Disney World. They include a few classics, the ones with the best locations, superb amenities…you name it. They also have the highest price tags. Here are those options:

I will be the first to admit the deluxe resorts are “the ones” with that shiny appeal. Do you know that feeling you get when you just have to have something? That’s kind of how the deluxe resorts get you. You feel like you just have to stay at one of them or you’ll be missing out on something. Okay, they are pretty great. But I always like to caution that it’s easy to get caught up in the hype. You’re gonna have a great time, even if it’s not at the most expensive hotel.

For me, the biggest appeal of staying at most deluxe resorts is the location. You’re either walking, boating, and/or monorailing to Magic Kingdom, OR you’re walking or boating to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. The only exception is Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which sits a little out by itself. This location is necessary because real African animals live on its vast savannas.

As for benefits, be aware that guests of deluxe and deluxe villa resorts are eligible for extended evening hours. All resort hotel guests (no matter the category) are eligible for early theme park entry, which lets you enter the park up to 30 minutes before it opens. Extended evening hours are exclusive to resort guests and allow them to stay in select theme parks up to two hours after the park’s official close on select evenings.

The deluxe hotel rooms will be slightly larger than other resort categories. More importantly, they are all interior hotels. Instead of long outdoor walks to your room, you’ll have long walks down interior halls. Of course, the shelter from those pop-up downpours and air-conditioned halls is just as much an amenity as anything else, considering we’re in Florida.

The deluxe resorts all have upgraded dining options, including a signature restaurant. The pools areas are all incredibly themed with waterslides, dedicated children’s areas, and hot tubs. Like the moderates, theming is location-based with subtle touches of Disney. If a deluxe resort feels like the right resort choice for you, we discuss the pros and cons of each one in our guide to ranking Disney’s Deluxe Hotels.

Deluxe Resort Tip: If an entire week at a deluxe resort doesn’t fit with your budget, plan a split stay. That means changing resorts at some point during your stay. We have done this many times to get the best of both worlds!

red tables and chairs sitting on Disney's Boardwalk

Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts

Disney has a variety of deluxe villas or Disney Vacation Club Resorts. Some of these options are standalone resorts, while others are part of existing resorts. Villa resorts offer unique accommodations with more of the conveniences of home than you would find in a standard hotel room. They are:

The Disney Vacation Club is similar to a timeshare program, where DVC members use points to reserve their accommodations. Disney also makes the room types available to the general public. The main difference between a deluxe and a deluxe villa resort is the accommodations. All of the other resort benefits are pretty much the same, with some nuances at select resorts.

Deluxe villas range from tower suites that sleep up to two guests (only select resorts) to three-bedroom villas. In between are deluxe studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom options. Most of these units will feel more like a condo than a hotel room. If you’re looking for a little more room to spreadout and can swing the extra expense of staying on property, our guide to the villa resorts is a great place to compare options.

Deluxe Villa Resort Tip: I don’t necessarily think you’ll “save” money on dining, but most villa rooms have at least a kitchenette. If you have picky eaters or usually return to the room with leftovers, it’s so nice to have the option to prepare or reheat food in your room. I know that many guests will also prepare breakfast in the room. That helps you get to the parks early and make the most of that early-entry benefit when lines are often at their shortest.

Wilderness Lodge backdrop with blue skies
Copper Creek Falls at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Figuring Out Which Disney Resort Category Is Your Perfect Fit

Here are a few key points to help you decide which resort category is the perfect fit for your vacation.

Value Resorts offer the most competitive pricing and the basics when it comes to accommodations. There are no real bells and whistles here, but that’s okay. The larger-than-life theming can’t help but make you smile as everyone points things out on the way to and from the bus stop. Expect a fun and lively vibe at the pool and the quick-service food court. While the food court will have a decent variety of options, don’t plan to have breakfast and/or dinner at the resort every day. You’ll get burnt out quickly.

Moderate Resorts, for the most part, have the most extensive grounds. These resorts may require more walking or multiple bus stops to get around. With size comes more amenities. If you love scenic settings, these resorts have them. Most moderates have slightly better dining options, including lounges and table-service restaurants. You will have to ride through several internal bus stops on the way to and/or from the parks. (I don’t really think that’s a deal breaker, but it’s something you should know beforehand.)

Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts are the most appealing. They’re the most immersive in terms of theming. But remember that they are themed to destinations, not specifically Disney. If you choose one of these options, we recommend leaning into the resort that interests you most or choosing based on location.

Disney's Riviera as seen from Disney's Caribbean example of two resort categories

Final Thoughts

Overall, choosing a resort category isn’t about selecting the “best” one, but about figuring out which one works “best for you.” Once you understand what each level truly provides, the decision often becomes about aligning with your tastes and preferences.

Oh, and if you find yourself second-guessing after reading someone else’s experience, pause and remember their priorities might not match yours. The right choice fits your trip, not someone else’s expectations.

Old Key West with the boat dock and a water taxi
Arriving by boat at Disney’s Old Key West Resort.

Hopefully, you found these Disney Resort Hotel categories helpful. To learn more about the resorts, see our guide to the Disney World Hotels. You might also like our overview of dining at Disney World. Need to know how to get around? Our beginner’s guide to transportation options at Disney World is one of our top resources.

For touring the parks, see our Disney World Rides and Attractions guide. It links to attraction guides for all four theme parks. If you’re just getting started, you might like our Disney World Vacation Planning Guide. It brings together the resources you need to plan your visit. Check back with ResortsGal.com for more updates.

If you’re hoping to explore more resorts on your next vacation, make sure to get a copy of our Resorts Gal Resort Hop!

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