There are a few things you should keep in mind when choosing a resort for your Disney vacation. If you read our previous Fuss Free 101 article you should have an idea of what category of resort or hotel you’re looking at. But how do you narrow it down to a single resort? There are so many great choices! A few factors have a really big impact on your vacation. So what are the details you should pay attention to when choosing a resort?
Our big things to think about are:
- Group Size
- Transportation options
- Time at Resort
- Theming
Let’s take a look at how these four items could impact your decision.
1. Group Size
We have 5 people in our family, 4 of which are adult sized. If we want to stay at a value resort, we would need to upgrade to a family suite at Art of Animation or one of the All Star resorts to accommodate all of us in one room. But when Ethan and I travel alone, we don’t need the space (or the price point) of a room that sleeps 5 or 6 people, so we look for resorts that offer King studios, or smaller rooms like the Riviera tower studios.
2. Transportation options
One of the big pieces of your planning will be how you get from your resort to the parks, the airport, or wherever else you want to go. Some Good Neighbor hotels offer an airport shuttle. All Disney resorts at all levels offer busses to the resorts, water parks and Disney Springs. A limited number of resorts offer access to the monorail or skyliner for faster transportation to the parks and easier access to nearby resorts. There is also a free boat system on Disney property that will get you around the EPCOT area, the Magic Kingdom area, or the Disney Springs resorts. If it is important to you to have easy access to a certain park or to other resorts, knowing the available transportation is very important.
Stay tuned for a whole Fuss Free 101 article on the free Disney Transportation system!
3. Time at Resort
We spend less time in the parks and more time at the resorts when we visit. Most people are at Disney World to visit the parks and see their resort as a place to crash at night. If you are not going to use any of the amenities at your resort, choose a cheaper resort with fewer amenities. But if you plan to hang out at your resort for a whole day, make sure they will offer activities and restaurants you will enjoy.
4. Theming
Ethan and I love Riviera Resort because of the classy European vibe. We’re less crazy about The Contemporary’s mid-century vibe. Many of you would feel the opposite. Travelling with small kids? You will probably prefer the characters at Art of Animation over the decades of history at Pop Century. If you want some peace and quiet on your vacation, Port Orleans Riverside is a great choice. But if you want to be in the middle of the action at a moderate price point, Caribbean Beach is a better option for you. Old Key West has the strongest Florida vibe. Animal Kingdom Lodge has real, live animals on their savannah. Disney is all about the magic. Look for a theme that feels like magic to you, and the rest will fall into place.
Looking at these 4 categories will help you when choosing a resort that is the best for your group and your vacation style. I will give recommendations of things we loved in our resort review posts. But my loves are not your loves. These 4 things are a concrete way to compare resorts to one another and find the option to make your trip magic.
