Disney Resorts at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Tested by Military Disney Tips

Staying at a Disney Resort Hotel is a big commitment. We don’t want you to go into it blind.

We’ve stayed at almost all of the Disney Resorts and lurked around the ones we haven’t tested yet.

On this page we’ll share with you our thoughts on all of the resorts.

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

Below you’ll see all of the Walt Disney World Resorts and Disneyland Hotels listed.

The Disney Resorts and Hotels that have personally been tested by the Military Disney Tips team will have a comment as to whether they are:

• MDT Tested – We’ve stayed there but probably wouldn’t again unless it was the only Disney Armed Forces Salute discount available
• MDT Approved – We will definitely go back
• MDT Favorite – Our favorite resorts
• MDT Most Favorite – These are our Most Favorite Resort in each Resort Category
• And sadly, MDT Not Recommended – We do not recommend staying here
• Not Yet Tested

Be sure to click on each resort’s name below to read more about each.

Disney’s Resort Categories

Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World Value Resorts

Disney’s All Star Movies Resort – MDT Tested

• Cheaper option
• Very small rooms
• Very small beds for 2 adults to share (Double Beds)

Disney’s All Star Movies Resort

Disney’s All Star Music Resort – MDT Tested

• Cheaper option
• Very small rooms (except Suites)
• Very small beds for 2 adults to share (Double Beds)
• Family Suites, Sleep 6

Disney’s All Star Music Resort

Disney’s All Star Sports Resort – MDT Tested

• Cheaper option
• Very small rooms
• Very small beds for 2 adults to share (Double Beds)

Disney’s All Star Sports Resort

The All-Stars are just what the bullet points above say above. They are great for those on a tight budget, families with smaller kids, single travelers, and those who know they don’t care to spend as much on the room as they’ll only sleep there.

All-Star Music has the cheapest 6-person Disney Suites on property.

Disney’s SkyLiner

Disney’s Pop Century Resort – MDT Most Favorite (MDT Favorite Value Resort for its Skyliner access)

• Cheaper option
• Very small rooms
• Very small beds for 2 adults to share (Double Beds)
• SkyLiner Access

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Pop Century is our favorite Value Resort, with SkyLiner access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, plus the Caribbean Beach and Rivera for dining options.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – MDT Approved

• Most expensive value resort
• Highly themed rooms
• Very small beds for 2 adults to share (Double Beds)
• Family Suites, Sleep 6
• Standard Rooms Sleep 4
• Best Value Resort Food Court
• SkyLiner Access

The theming in these rooms is fantastic! We loved the Cars  decor, but the bright greens and yellows of the Lion King suites was hard on the eyes.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

AoA and Pop are now both SkyLiner Resorts. Prior to the SkyLiner opening these resorts were already more expensive than the All-Stars, but saw a $30 or so increase after the new transportation method opened. There is one big frustration for Skyliner riders though. During peak travel times (park opening times) you’ll wait in line to ride at Pop/AoA Station and then get in line again to ride at the Caribbean Beach Transfer Station.

Pop Century is now our personal bottom price point Resort for solo trips due to the ease of commute to Epcot and Disney Hollywood Studios.

Walt Disney World Moderate Resorts

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort – MDT Approved

• Very Large Resort – you can be a long walk from lobby, dining, etc
• SkyLiner Access

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

The Caribbean recently completed a big, much needed renovation. The common areas (lobby, restaurants, lounges) look great now.

The Caribbean is now a SkyLiner Resort. This moderate resort lacks the big Skyliner frustration the Values down the line do, which is waiting in line twice. During peak travel times (park opening times) Art of Animation and Pop Century guests will wait in line to ride at Pop/AoA Station and then get in line again to ride at the Caribbean Beach Transfer Station.

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort – MDT Tested

• Very Large Resort – you can be a long walk from lobby, dining, etc
• Tower rooms are all located in the building that houses the lobby
• New San Destino Tower
• Large Convention Resort
• Less “Disney Feel”
• Plentiful Spread Out Food Options

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

We’ve stayed at the Coronado many times over the years and multiple times recently and it’s not a favorite for a family vacation due to the lack of Disney feel. The new food options that came with the recent remodel have definitely helped. We will be glad to go back if it’s the only Moderate with a Disney Armed Forces Salute discount.

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside – MDT Approved

• Very Large Resort – you can be a long walk from lobby, dining, etc
• Princess Rooms

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

This is a big spread out resort, with a pool area in the center.

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter MDT Most Favorite (MDT Favorite Moderate for its small size)

• Smaller Moderate
• Quieter, more romantic setting

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter

The French Quarter is our Favorite Moderate! The small size is a big plus as far as we are concerned.

The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – Not Yet Tested

• Sleeps 6
  • Bed Room w/ double bed and bunk beds
  • Murphy bed in living area
• Full kitchen & grill
• Living Area

The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort

Lots of fun activities at Fort Wilderness.

Walt Disney World Deluxe Resorts

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – MDT Favorite

• Beautiful Rooms
• African animals right outside your balcony
• Cheaper Deluxe

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

It is amazing to watch the animals right outside your window as in the picture above.

Disney’s Beach Club Resort – MDT Most Favorite (MDT Favorite Deluxe for its easiest access to Epcot)

• Beautiful rooms
• Close to Epcot
• BoardWalk Restaurants nearby

Disney’s Beach Club Resort

Very short walk to Epcot’s International Gateway entrance. Our favorite Epcot Resort!

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn – MDT Favorite

• Close to Epcot
• BoardWalk Restaurants

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

Our number 2 favorite Epcot resort. Just a little further than the Beach Club and all the fun BoardWalk goings on.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort – MDT Tested

• Tower rooms have fantastic views
• Monorail Resort
• Very Expensive
• Longest Monorail Ride to Magic Kingdom
• 5 Minute walk to Magic Kingdom

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Spectacular Magic Kingdom views on one side. Views of the Bay Lake on the other.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – MDT Approved

• Monorail Resort
• Very Expensive
• Shortest Monorail Ride to Magic Kingdom
• 10 Minute walk to Magic Kingdom

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

The priciest, in our opinion probably a once in a lifetime stay. Magic Kingdom fireworks from the beach.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort – MDT Approved

• Monorail Resort
• Very Expensive
• Second Shortest Monorail Ride to Magic Kingdom
• 20 Minute walk to Magic Kingdom

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

We love the vibe at the “Poly.” Great food and entertainment. Magic Kingdom fireworks from the beach.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge – MDT Approved

• Cheaper Deluxe
• Boat Service to the Magic Kingdom

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

One of the 2 cheaper Deluxes (along with the Animal Kingdom Lodge). Beautiful lobby. Great casual bar out by the lake.

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort – MDT Approved

• Close to Epcot
• BoardWalk Restaurants nearby

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Our number 3 of 3 Disney Epcot Resorts (not including the Non-Disney Swan and Dolphin).

Swan and Dolphin – MDT Tested

• Not Disney Resorts
• Close to Epcot

Walt Disney World Dolphin

If you have points to use stay here, otherwise why not stay with Disney? Big convention resorts.

Shades-of-Green – MDT Approved

• Not a Disney Resort
• An Armed Forces Recreation Center
• Biggest guest rooms on property
• A Deluxe room for a Value to Moderate price
• No Disney Ambiance

Shades of Green Resort

The military Only Resort at Walt Disney World.

Disney Vacation Club Resorts

There are currently nine DVC resorts at Walt Disney World that are co-located with a Deluxe Resort and share facilities with that resort.

The Colocated Resorts are:

Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort – MDT Not Recommended (substandard: staff, concern for guests, and room quality)

Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge & Copper Creek Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge – See the Wilderness Lodge rating above

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House & Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village – See Animal Kingdom Lodge rating above

Disney’s Beach Club Villas – See the Beach Club Resort rating above

Disney’s BoardWalk Villas – See the BoardWalk Inn rating Above

Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows – See the Polynesian Village rating above

The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – See the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa rating above

Old Key West Resort

And there are three standalone resorts that are not paired with a Disney World Deluxe Resort.

The Stand Alone Resorts are:

Disney’s Old Key West Resort – MDT Tested – Isolated, Very Large Resort you could be very far from the main area

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort – MDT Tested – Golf Resort. Isolated, Very Large Resort you could be very far from the main area

Disney’s Riviera Resort – MDT Approved – Beautiful Resort and Rooms. SkyLiner access

Disneyland Resort

There are 3 Disneyland Resort Hotels and they are not divided into categories like they are at Disney World. They do however fall into cheaper to most expensive based upon not only level of services but proximity to the action (Theme Parks and Downtown Disney).

Paradise Pier Hotel – MDT Approved

• Least Expensive

Paradise Pier Hotel

Great views of California Adventure on the one side, parking lots on the other. You have to cross the public street to get to the parks or go out of the way through Downtown Disney.

Disneyland Hotel – MDT Most Favorite

• Mid Price Range

Disneyland Hotel

Our favorite Disneyland Hotel. Right at the entrance to Downtown Disney, it has a magical feel. We love stopping by Trader Sams!

Garand Californian Hotel and Spa – MDT Favorite

• Most Expensive

Garand Californian Hotel and Spa

This hotel parallels Downtown Disney with some room overlooking it and two entrances to the shopping and entertainment area from the hotel. Super convenient back entrance to California Adventure!

I recommend using an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner (travel agent)! Doing so can take the stress out of planning a Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or Disney Cruise Line Vacation, which can be a complicated and overwhelming task. You have probably seen elsewhere on the site that I recommend Ears of Experience as my preferred Authorized Disney Vacation Planners. They will do all the work for you!

Ears of Experience - Military Disney Tips' Recommended Disney Only Travel Agent.

• Disney Veteran & Military Discount Eligibility Guide
• The Military Family’s Walt Disney World Comprehensive Vacation Planning and Preparation Guide 
• Military Disney Tips Disney Packing Checklist 
• Disney Military Tickets – Your Start to Finish Guide

• Resorts/Hotel Overview Page
• Dining Overview Page
• Transportation Overview Page
• Technology Overview Page
• Shades of Green, WDW’s Military Only Resort