Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort Categories and Room Types

Disney Resort Categories

Disney World offers several categories or levels of resort services. I use the word services rather than quality, as all Disney resorts are high quality. Following you’ll see the different ways that Disney categorizes its resorts and the typical amenities you’ll find at each category.

Walt Disney World Value Resorts

The Value Resorts are the All-Star Sports, All-Star Movies, and All-Star Music, the Pop Century, and Art of Animation Resorts.

The Values are eligible for up to 3o% off with the Disney Armed Forces Salute.

The Values are the least expensive option when selecting a resort. Here you’ll find:

• Small rooms (260 Sq Ft)
• Outdoor room entries
• Limited luggage service
• Food courts
• Pizza delivery
• Heated pools
• Bus transportation

There are five different Value Resorts on Walt Disney World Property. These are the lowest priced of Disney’s resorts and understandably have the lowest level of amenities.

The Disney Value Resorts are: All-Star Movies, All-Star Music, All-Star Sports, Pop Century, and the Art of Animation Resorts.

The Value Resorts are each decorated in a big way based on the theme they represent, with large exterior icons decorating the buildings, themed pools, and bright color schemes throughout.

The Value rooms have a small price (by Disney standards) and are small in size too. Standard size rooms offer 2 double beds, which sleep four (a crib may be requested for children under 3), a small table and two chairs, dresser, TV, and small fridge. The bathroom proper is separated from the single sink vanity area. Set a few suitcases out and it gets “very cozy” in these rooms. Disney is remodeling these resorts with updated furnishings including coffee makers and a fold down, Murphy style, double bed table combo, which when folded up makes the room more spacious.

Family Suites are available at the All-Star Music and Art of Animation for a higher rate. These suites offer twice the room and sleep six, plus a crib.

Being entry level resorts, they have entry level amenities such as: Quick Service food courts, limited pizza delivery, an arcade, playground, heated pools, pool bar, scheduled (hourly) luggage service, in room safe, iron and board, and coffee makers (only in suites). These resorts all have exterior hallway room entry doors.

These resorts are very large, from 1600 to about 3000 rooms each. Due to the lower price younger families, children’s athletic teams participating in competitions at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, and South American vacationers, mostly frequent them. They can at times be hectic and noisy in general, especially the food courts in the morning!

The Values each have one Disney Transportation bus stop located near the lobby. Note that at some of the rooms furthest to the north from the All-Star Resort’s lobby (by the Mighty Ducks pool), the closest bus stop is at the lobby for the All-Star Music Resort next door.

During slower times of the year all three All-Stars share a bus to most destinations, the order of pickup being: Music, Sports, and then Movies. During busier times additional buses will be used and some or all of the Resorts will have their own route.

Pop Century and Art of Animation has Disney Skyliner Gondola service to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

At the Value Resorts there are up to 3 room types (not the counting suites at All-Star Music): Standard, Pool View, and Preferred.

Preferred rooms are in buildings that are closer to the lobby. Pool Views are next to a pool. Unless one of these locations is important to you, there is no reason to upgrade your room at a Value Resort.

Value Resort room rates (except for Little Mermaid rooms) are eligible for up to a 30% Disney Armed Forces Salute discount based upon availability and Blockout Dates.

At all Values extra adults are an additional $10 per night, kids under 18 are free.

Walt Disney World Moderate Resorts

The Moderate Resorts are the Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter, and the Cabins at Fort Wilderness Resorts.

The Moderates are eligible for up to 35% off with the Disney Armed Forces Salute.

The middle of the road price wise. (Except for Fort Wilderness Cabins, which cost more). Here you’ll find:

• Medium sized rooms (314 Sq Ft)
• Outdoor room entries
• Business Class rooms (at the Coronado)
• Luggage service
• Food courts
• Table service restaurants (except French Quarter)
• Limited room service
• Pizza delivery
• Heated pools with water slide and hot tub
• Additional Quiet pools (standard rectangular pools located through the resort)
• Bus or boat transportation
• On site recreation

There are five different Moderate Resorts on Walt Disney World Property. These resorts come in at a price point between the Values and the Deluxes.

The Disney Moderate Resorts are the Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter, and the Cabins at Fort Wilderness Resorts.

The Moderate Resorts are each decorated in various facets of an overall resort theme. For example, the Port Orleans Riverside Resort has two different sections, Magnolia Bend and Alligator Bayou. Each is themed differently both inside and out. Magnolia Bend has large three-story buildings, which look like New Orleans style mansions with elegant interiors, while Alligator Bayou has a more rustic feel with smaller tin roofed, wood sided, two story buildings with simulated roughhewn interiors.

The Moderates fill the needed middle of the road in both price and amenities between the Value and Deluxe resorts.  Standard size rooms (Except Pirate Rooms at the Caribbean Beach Resort) offer two queen beds that sleep four (a crib may be requested for children under three). Some rooms in Port Orleans Riverside and the Caribbean Beach sleep five with a fold down single Murphy bed. The Moderates all have exterior room entry doors. The Wilderness Cabins sleep six with one double, one bunk, and one double Murphy bed.

The Pirate Rooms at the Caribbean Beach Resort have double (full) sized beds.

Disney Moderate rooms are somewhat larger that the Value rooms (on average 315 square feet compared to 260). They offer a small table and two chairs, dresser, TV, and small fridge. The bathroom proper is separated from the double sink vanity area, while the vanity area can be separated from the room with a curtain or door. Even with your suitcases out you’ll still have room to move around.

These are mid-level resorts and as you expect have mid-level amenities such as: Table Service dining (except French Quarter), Quick Service food court, pizza delivery, room service at Coronado, an arcade, playground, heated pools, hot tub, a gym at Coronado, Indoor and pool bars, luggage service, in room safe, iron and board, and coffee makers.

These resorts except for French Quarter are very large and spread out, they have from 1000 to over 2100 rooms each. The Moderates all have a lake or river where you can rent various watercraft and even fish. The food courts, which are the primary breakfast dining locations, can be hectic in the morning!

All the Moderates except French Quarter have numerous Disney Transportation bus stops located through the resort, so you won’t have to walk too far. French Quarter, which is the smallest moderate, has one bus stop near the lobby.

New for Fall 2019 the Caribbean Beach Resort has Disney Skyliner Gondola service to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

In general, the preferred rooms at the various Moderates are either in buildings that are closer to the lobby or specially decorated rooms. For example, Royal Rooms at Riverside are decorated in splendor for Tiana’s (from the Princess and the Frog)guests; other princesses are featured to a lesser extent. Pirate rooms at the Caribbean Beach are decorated in pirate fashion.

The Moderate room rates are eligible for up to a 35% Disney Armed Forces Salute discount based upon availability and Blockout Dates.

Extra adults are an additional $15 per night, kids under 18 are free.

Walt Disney World Deluxe Resorts

The Deluxe Resorts are the Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas, Board Walk Inn, Contemporary Resort, Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Polynesian Village Resort, Wilderness Lodge, Yacht Club Resort, and the Beach Club Resort.

The Deluxe Resorts are eligible for up to 40% off with the Disney Armed Forces Salute.

While not Disney owned and operated resorts there are also the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, and Shades of Green.

The most expensive Disney resorts. Here you’ll find:

• Biggest rooms (344-440 Sq Ft)
• Indoor (hallway) room entries
• Concierge/Club level floors/sections
• Luggage service
• Valet Parking
• Food courts
• Multiple table service restaurants
• Fine Dining
• Room service
• Pizza delivery
• Heated pools with water slide and hot tub
• Additional Quiet pools (Except the Animal Kingdom Lodge) these are standard rectangular pools located through the resort
• Beach Access (Except the Animal Kingdom Lodge)
• A variety of bus, boat, and monorail transportation
• On site recreation
• Onsite Childcare (at 4 of them)

There are eight different Deluxe Resorts on Walt Disney World Property.

The Deluxe Resorts are the premier hotels of Walt Disney World. They are decorated exquisitely based upon their overall resort theme.

These hotels are for those who really want to splurge on their accommodations. They are high in both price and in services.

Standard size rooms offer 2 queen beds and in some a sofa bed, which will sleep four to five (a crib may be requested for children under 3). The Deluxe Resorts all have room entry doors from an interior hallway.

Disney Deluxe rooms are larger than the Moderate rooms and fall into 3 size groupings: 400 square feet plus (Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian), 370-380 square feet (BoardWalk, Beach Club, Yacht Club), and 344 square feet (Wilderness and Animal Kingdom Lodges). Prices in this category fall in a larger range than in the others due to the different room sizes and special amenities offered.

The Wilderness and Animal Kingdom Lodges are sometimes referred to as Moderate Plus or Deluxe Minus, due to their room size and price.

Deluxe Resorts offer a table and two chairs or a desk and chair, dresser, TV, and small fridge. The bathroom proper is separated from the double sink vanity area.

These resorts are at the top of the Disney World lineup! You’ll find all the amenities that you would expect at a first class resort, such as: Fine Dining, Table Service dining, Quick Service food court, room service, an arcade, playground, the best heated pools with slides, hot tub, a full service Spa at most, a gym, indoor and pool bars, luggage service, valet parking, balconies or porches, in room safe, iron and board, and coffee maker.

The Deluxe Resorts are all near at least one of the theme parks, which gives you easy access to that park.

All the Deluxe Resorts have a single Disney Transportation bus stop located near the lobby.

The Deluxe room rates are eligible for up to a 40% Disney Armed Forces Salute discount based upon availability and Blockout Dates.

Extra adults are an additional $25 per night, kids under 18 are free.

Walt Disney World also offers accommodations at the Disney Vacation Club Resorts.

Disneyland Resort Hotels

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.

In ascending cost these are, the Paradise Pier Hotel, Disneyland Hotel, and the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa.

 

These Disneyland Hotels are eligible  for the following Disney Armed Forces Salute discounts:

• Paradise Pier Hotel – up to 30% off
• Disneyland Hotel – up to 35% off
• Grand Californian Hotel and Spa – up to 40% off

Disney Vacation Club Resorts

The Disney vacation Club is Disney’s timeshare program. DVC locations are either co-located with some of the Deluxe resorts and share amenities, or in a couple instances are totally separate resorts.

DVC properties offer studio, one-bedroom, and 2 bedroom condo type rooms with kitchen facilities. These resorts are more expensive than the Deluxes but could be an option for big parties. You may pay by the night just as you would for any other WDW resort, or rent points to use for your stay from a DVC owner through a third party.

A small number of DVC rooms may at times be available for the Disney Armed Forces Salute room discount.

Disney Room Types

Disney has many different room views and room types. Some are self-explanatory, but others need a little explaining. The “Views” are either out your front opening door and window in the Values and Moderates, or from your patio/balcony in the Deluxes.

Here are some basic definitions:

Standard View – This view is a parking lot, roof, or otherwise unappealing view. They are the least expensive category.
Garden View – This is a view of greenery, it could be flowerbeds, interior courtyards, or a wall of trees.
Water View – A generic term for any view where you can see some type of water. It could be a pond, stream, lake, lagoon, river, or pool. Although there are some resorts where they have more than one water view category, each with specific names i.e. Lagoon vs Pool Views.
Theme Park View – This view is obviously of the nearby theme park, sometimes from quite close, sometimes from miles away.

Adjoining vs Connecting – In Disney speak, adjoining rooms means that the rooms are nearby each other, while connecting rooms have a physical door connecting the two rooms. Be sure to ask for what you need.

Club Level includes access to a concierge lounge offering snacks of varying options throughout the day. Breakfast is often offered and adult beverages are on hand too.

See our Walt Disney World Resorts Overview Page for more details!

See: Walt Disney World Room View Types – Do They Matter at Value and Moderate Resorts?