The Magic Kingdom Resorts Area (The Hotels Closest to the Magic)
Anyone planning to spend a reasonable amount of time at the Most Magical Place on Earth during their Walt Disney World vacation might consider staying at a hotel near Magic Kingdom. Now, I’m not talking about a hotel somewhere close to Disney World. I mean the Magic Kingdom Resorts: the premium hotels within walking distance or a short boat or monorail ride away.
These are some of the most sought-after destinations among Disney World’s Resort Hotels. Magic Kingdom area resorts offer guests a few perks you can’t get anywhere else on the property. However, they come with an expensive price tag, which is expected.
Below, we’ll preview the five hotels in the Magic Kingdom Resorts area. Again, if you’re planning a Magic Kingdom-heavy vacation, staying near the park saves a tremendous amount of time. For many of us, time is money. You’ll also likely find that the resorts sitting on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon provide a pleasant escape from the busyness of the Disney theme park.
Magic Kingdom Resort Hotels
The following hotels comprise the Magic Kingdom Resorts area at Walt Disney World.
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
- Disney Lakeshore Lodge (Opening in 2027)
The hotels listed above are deluxe resorts, except Fort Wilderness. The Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian are also monorail resorts. We’ll discuss other transportation options below, but know that the monorail resorts are the closest hotels to Magic Kingdom. To learn more about the various resort types, see our list of Disney Resorts by Category.
If you don’t see the resort you’re looking for above, that means it likely falls under another resort area. Here is a list of all the resort areas.
- Magic Kingdom Resorts Area
- Epcot Resorts Area
- Animal Kingdom Resorts Area
- Disney Springs Resort Area
- Skyliner Resorts Area
Now let’s take a look at each Magic Kingdom Resort individually.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Contemporary Resort is an original 1971 resort with a monorail running through it. Its A-frame shape is modern. Guests staying at the Contemporary will have quick access to Magic Kingdom via a walking path. It takes approximately 10 minutes to walk between the Contemporary and Magic Kingdom.
You can also take the resort monorail loop to Magic Kingdom. Before reaching Magic Kingdom, it will stop at the TTC (Transportation and Ticket Center), Polynesian Village Resort, and Grand Floridian. When you leave Magic Kingdom, you’ll return to the resort first.
If you’ve read any of our articles about Disney’s Contemporary, you know I could go on and on about the resort’s tremendous, nature-like backyard. It is an anomaly compared to the Magic Kingdom crowds just minutes away.
Guests staying at this hotel near Magic Kingdom enjoy stunning views. Depending on your preference, you can reserve a theme park view or a water view. A theme park view lets you see the nightly fireworks from your room, if desired. However, I’m a sucker for Bay Lake views.
Related: Contemporary Resort Review
Disney’s Contemporary offers excellent dining options, from the quick-service Contempo Cafe to signature restaurants like the California Grill. Read more about them in our Contemporary Restaurants Guide.
Guests who prefer the comforts of home might prefer to stay in the neighboring Bay Lake Tower. Both resorts share hotel amenities, except the Bay Lake Pool, which is available only to guests staying in Bay Lake Tower. Since Bay Lake Tower is a DVC Resort, you’ll have room upgrades like kitchenettes, full kitchens, and laundry rooms, depending on the suite you book.
Related: Bay Lake Tower Review
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Next, we’ll visit Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. This hotel represents the spirit of the South Pacific Islands. Its lush tropical landscape promotes a relaxing tone. Upon arrival, you’ll feel like you stepped off a plane in Hawaii instead of Florida.
Meanwhile, Cinderella Castle can be seen in the distance across the water from many viewpoints. You can quickly get to and from Magic Kingdom by taking the resort monorail or a boat at the watercraft launch behind the marina.
If you are curious about the full details of a stay at this Magic Kingdom Resort, read our latest stay in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Review. During that visit, we stayed in the Kamehameha Club Level at the Polynesian and loved the extra amenities.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is only a few steps from the Polynesian. It is considered the flagship hotel of Disney World. Grand Floridian has an iconic red roof with white siding. You’ll know it when you see it.
Grand Floridian has spectacular dining options. It offers three signature dining locations, a lovely lounge, one table-service restaurant, and a quick-service restaurant. You can preview all the options in our list of restaurants at Disney’s Grand Floridian.
Regarding commuting to the Magic Kingdom, this hotel has the best options! You can walk, take a boat, or ride the monorail, so you can go back and forth between the resort and the park as you like during operating hours. You might wonder why you would walk when you could take the monorail. The answer is that you won’t have to wait in lines or make extra stops on your way back! Those views of Bay Lake along the way aren’t bad, either.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is themed to the Greater Northwest Pacific. We always joke that it feels a few degrees cooler when you step off the boat dock onto the property. It’s a gorgeous resort for anyone who enjoys natural woods, fireplaces, and that great outdoors look and feel.
While the Wilderness Lodge isn’t on the monorail, it’s still among the Magic Kingdom Resorts. You can take a bus or a boat from the Wilderness Lodge to the Magic Kingdom. One other perk: guests can take a boat from the Wilderness Lodge between 3:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. to the Contemporary or Fort Wilderness. If you take the blue flag launch to the Contemporary, you can use the monorail to get around.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge also has several excellent restaurants, like Geyser Point Bar and Grill, an open-air restaurant on Bay Lake near the resort’s back. Our Wilderness Lodge Dining Guide previews the resort’s other restaurants.
Wilderness Lodge is home to two Disney Vacation Club Resorts, Boulder Ridge and Copper Creek Villas.
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground is our last resort near the Magic Kingdom area. Formerly considered a moderate resort, the cabins have transitioned into a Disney Vacation Club Resort. Fort Wilderness has cabins, RVs, and campsites. It is one of the most charming spots at Disney World. You’ll find plenty of outdoor recreation, including horseback riding and canoeing.
The resort is home to the Hoop De Doo Musical Revue, a theatrical dining experience that includes fried chicken and strawberry shortcakes! You’ll want to secure reservations well in advance. It fills up quickly!
Fort Wilderness guests can take the approximately 12-minute boat ride to the Magic Kingdom. But if you prefer, bus service is also available. The blue flag launch service is also available between Fort Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge, and the Contemporary in the afternoons and evenings.
With over 750 acres, Fort Wilderness is a pretty big place. Spend your day at the Meadow Pool and recreation center, your nights by the fire pit roasting marshmallows, and join Chip and Dale’s Campfire Sing-a-Long. Or you might even visit the horses at Tri-Circle D Ranch or take a trail ride near the Settlement.
What is the Best Resort Near Magic Kingdom?
With so many options, it’s hard to decide which Magic Kingdom Resort is best. Ask five people, and they might all give you a different answer. Disney has resorts for everyone! Here’s how we rank our top choices:
- #1 Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- #2 Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- #3 Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- #4 Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
- #5 Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this review helps you choose a resort near Disney’s Magic Kingdom. While the Magic Kingdom hotels are costly, the overall experience can be priceless. We also believe that time is money. By staying nearby, you’ll spend more time in the park because it’s so easy to go back and forth from these resorts.
Plus, these resorts’ locations are ideal for returning to your room for a nap, making dinner reservations, or a little pool time. If you stay further away and rely on Disney bus transportation, it can take up to an hour to get back to your room.
These resorts are also perfect for those planning extra-ticketed events at Magic Kingdom. You can thank me later when you leave a Christmas or Halloween party after midnight and get to your room in minutes.
The same goes for when you leave the Magic Kingdom in the mass exodus after the nightly fireworks. That’s when the transportation lines are full everywhere you turn. At some of these Magic Kingdom resorts, you can walk back to your room. You’ll be through the crowd and out into the open air within minutes. It’s an excellent way to decompress after a day in the parks.
For more information about Disney’s Resorts, browse our condensed version of Disney World Hotel Reviews. Or try these other popular articles:
- Benefits of Staying at a Disney World Resort
- Best Off-Site Hotels Near Disney World
- Best Marriott Hotels Near Disney World
- Walt Disney World Pools (List, Photos, and FAQs)
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.
In the Comments
Have you ever stayed in the Magic Kingdom Resorts area? Let us know in the comments.