One question that I get asked a lot is where I like to stay when I go to Walt Disney World. It’s always a complicated question. I have a lot of stayed a lot of places when I’ve been to Walt Disney World, but I definitely have favorites. So, I thought that I would list every resort I’ve stayed in, and what I like about each one. I’m going to leave off the resorts that I don’t remember, and hotels that are no longer open. I’ll end by listing the resorts that I haven’t stayed in yet, but are on my list to stay in someday. I don’t have many pictures from the different resorts, and most of them are of Christmas decorations, but I’ll include what I do have.
One of the resorts that my family has stayed in the most is Caribbean Beach Resort. It’s one of our favorites. It’s actually the resort that I have stayed in the most. We love the feel and vibe of the resort, and the convenience of the Skyliner station is now a huge advantage. Caribbean Beach is such a bright and colorful resort, and so incredibly fun to be at. Caribbean Beach is a moderate resort, which is usually my family’s preference. It’s beautiful, with a lake in the middle, and beaches all around the perimeter of the lake. There’s a bridge that runs across the lake, and an island in the middle with a play area for kids. Each section of the resort is named after a different island located in the Caribbean, and painted in different bright color schemes. My favorite is the pink and purple color scheme of Aruba because they’re my favorite colors. The food court of Caribbean Beach is fabulous, and has some great Caribbean food, along with the Disney classics. The restaurant at the resort is called Sebastian’s Bistro, and the poolside cabana is Banana Cabana, which is really cute. I haven’t eaten either place, but they have good reviews. Caribbean Beach also has the advantage of being within walking distance of the beautiful Riviera Resort and its variety of dining selections. A walking trail connects the two resorts, and those staying on the Riviera side of Caribbean Beach can take advantage of the Riviera Skyliner station if they’re going directly to EPCOT. All in all, I love Caribbean Beach, and I will gladly stay there any time.
Another of my family’s favorite resorts to stay in is Port Orleans – Riverside. While I have stayed more at Caribbean Beach, the rest of my family has stayed at both resorts an equal amount of times. We tend to flip back and forth because we can’t decide which we like better. Being from the South, Riverside has a feeling of coming home. It’s quintessential Southern charm, and probably our favorite thing about the resort. The lobby is set up like a depot station, and the food court is located in a grist mill. The water wheel on the back of the food court building is the most iconic sight at the resort. The rooms are divided into two distinct areas: Alligator Bayou and Magnolia Bend. My family prefers Alligator Bayou, but we’ve stayed in both. Alligator Bayou is closer to the main area of the resort, so we tend to prefer to stay there. It’s also where the preferred rooms are located. The restaurant on property is called Boatwright’s, and while it’s been a long time since I ate there, I do remember the food being very good. The food court is probably my favorite of all of the resorts. Not only is the atmosphere great, but so is the food. Pro tip, it has one of the best Thanksgiving meals on property, if you can’t get a reservation at a restaurant with a special Thanksgiving menu. It’s also significantly cheaper, and just like Grandma makes. This is a moderate resort, so it has all of the amenities and space you expect. There’s also tons of recreation activities at this resort, so resort days here will be anything but boring. The only true downside to Riverside is its size. It’s the largest moderate resort, so if you’re not located near the main part of the resort, expect to do a lot of walking. There is a walking trail that connects Riverside to Port Orleans – French Quarter, so if you’re in the mood for some New Orleans flair, walk right on over for some jazz and beignets. Port Orleans – Riverside is a great resort that I recommend to anyone who loves Southern comfort, and it’s why it’s one of my favorites.
The resort that I have stayed the most recently is Pop Century. It’s a value resort, but so incredibly fun. It shares a Skyliner station with Art of Animation next door, which gives it a great advantage over most other value resorts. Pop Century is the only value resort that I’ve ever stayed at, but I loved it. I will gladly stay here any time. The resort was quieter than I expected it to be, and the food court was amazing. I think the food at Pop Century was probably the best of any food court on Disney property. I didn’t eat anything that I didn’t like. The vibe is very much a typical food court, but the food more than makes up for it. I also liked the oversized Disney characters and toys found throughout the resort. The lobby is full of memorabilia from each of the decades represented in the resort, and it was really fun to look at each of the cases and see how much I recognized. Pop Century is a great resort that I can’t recommend enough to anyone who wants to stay at a value resort. I look forward to staying here again in the future.
The only other on-property Disney resort that left is Coronado Springs. It’s also the only resort that I didn’t care for. It’s been years since my family stayed there, and it was long before the Gran Destino Tower opened, but my family didn’t enjoy our stay there very much. It’s a beautiful resort, but we found it to be very loud. Coronado Springs is a moderate resort and has a convention center, so they get a lot of large groups staying there. The food court was also my least favorite. The food has a very distinct Latin American flavor, and since I don’t like peppers or spicy food, I found it difficult to eat here. I know that much work has been done at Coronado Springs since my family stayed there, but I have no desire to attempt to stay there again. However, many people love Coronado Springs, especially Gran Destino Tower. If it seems like your kind of style, definitely go for it, and don’t let my opinion and experience sway you.
The last resort on my list is the Holiday Inn on Hotel Plaza Boulevard. While not a Disney resort, it is a Good Neighbor hotel, and has some special amenities that other off-property resorts may not get. It also has the added benefit of being across the street from Disney Springs. So, if you do like my family and just go to Disney Springs for a few days, it’s a great option. You’re still inside the Disney bubble, but it’s a different option. The hotel was incredible, and the staff was great. We got lucky enough to get a Disney-view room, and the view of Disney Springs was great. I also had views of the EPCOT fireworks. My family loved staying here, and we will definitely stay here again. We often stop at Disney for a few days when traveling through the area just to go to Disney Springs and to go resort-hop. This hotel is at the top of our list for those trips. We can’t recommend it enough for those who don’t want to stay at a Disney resort, or just want something different.
Resorts I would love to stay at, but haven’t had the opportunity to, are: The Grand Floridian, The Contemporary, Port Orleans French Quarter, and The Beach Club. The Grand Floridian is my favorite Disney resort, and it tops my Disney bucket list. I’ve always wanted to stay there, and I love to go visit and spend time in the lobby whenever I get the chance. As one of the original resorts, I would love to stay at the Contemporary. With the Monorail coming through the center of the main building, it makes up for the lack of quintessential Disney theming. My grandparents stayed there with my mom and aunt the summer after Walt Disney World opened, and I’ve grown up hearing the stories from that trip. I’ve wanted to stay at the Contemporary ever since. I would love to stay at Port Orleans French Quarter at some point. It’s the only moderate resort I’ve never stayed at, and I think it would be really cool to stay there at some point. It’s a quaint little resort, and I would love to stay there someday. I think it would be fun to stay at the Beach Club at some point, too. It’s the resort closest to EPCOT, and if I were to go specifically for an EPCOT festival, it would be an ideal place to stay. The Beach Club has a fun atmosphere, and perks of the best pool on property, which it shares with the Yacht Club next door. Who doesn’t want to swim in Stormalong Bay?
This is my list of resorts, and I hope that you enjoyed it. Are there any resorts that you’ve wanted to know about or stay in? Let me know what your favorite resorts are, and which ones are on your bucket list.
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