One of the biggest questions families as when planning a Walt Disney World vacation is: Which resort should we stay at?
When it comes to planning your Walt Disney World Vacation there is a lot to think about. How many days are you going? What time of year are you going to go? Are you driving or flying? Will you get the Disney Dining plan?
One of the make or break decisions of your family vacation is where are you going to stay?
As a Earmarked Agent and Disney specialist, I always recommend to my clients to stay on property at Walt Disney World. This keeps you and your family emersed in the Disney bubble for your whole trip! The magic starts when you drive under the Walt Disney World sign!
There are many perks to staying on property, stay tuned for our in-depth post about all the perks;
Disney has great Resorts for families that fits all budgets. Disney categorizes their resorts into 3 Tiers;
- VALUE - Disney's most budget friendly option. Here you will find only quick service restaurants and limited amenities.
- MODERATE - Disney's middle of the road budget option. With sit down dining options and waterslides this is a great option for those looking for a little bit more at their resorts
- DELUXE - Disney's more elevated Resorts. With perks like extended evening hours, better location to the parks, this is the highest level of service Disney offers. You will also find Villa's in the Deluxe categories as well.
Let's take a look at my top favorite Resorts in each category.
Value Resort: Disney's Art of Animation Resort
If you and your family are looking for a fun, immersive Disney experience this resort is a great option to consider. With rooms that sleep up to 6 guests, and access to the Disney Skyliner this is a popular options for families.
Why families love this Resort
- Has the Biggest Pool at Disney - home of the Big Blue Pool, the largest pool at Walt Disney World inspired from Finding Nemo
- Family Suites that sleep 6 - With themes like the Little Mermaid (Rooms Sleep 4) Lion King, Cars and Finding Nemo, your little one will love their themed rooms!
- Themed Areas - To go along with the room themes, the areas the rooms are located have amazing theming. Make sure you walk around to all the areas to capture special moments.
- Slyliner Transportation - Taking you from your Resort to Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's EPCOT this mode of transportation will have you flying into the parks in style.
Things to consider
As a Value Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation does come with a few things to keep in mind.
This is a high-volume resort, which means there are a lot of families staying here. When we visited in December 2025 as a family of six, we noticed that the food court could get quite busy. Even when using mobile order, we sometimes waited 20–30 minutes for our food to be ready.
It definitely didn’t make or break our vacation, but it’s something to be aware of—especially when you have hungry (or hangry!) kids. My best advice is to plan a little extra time for meals, particularly during peak hours.
Another thing to know is about the pool amenities. While the Big Blue Pool is beautifully themed and one of my personal favorites, it does not have a waterslide or hot tubs.
If those features are high on your resort wish list, don’t worry—we’ll cover other Disney resorts that may be a better fit for you.
Moderate Resort: Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
Caribbean Beach is one of the best moderate resorts for location and transportation.
Why families love this Resort
The main Skyliner hub is located here
Quick access to Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's EPCOT
Beautiful Theming and white sand beaches
Home of the best Moderate Pool : Fuentes del Morro pirate fortress pool
perfect balance between price and perks
Things to consider
Caribbean Beach is a fantastic moderate resort, but like any large Disney resort, there are a few things families should keep in mind when deciding if it’s the right fit.
Large Resort Footprint - Caribbean Beach is one of the largest resorts on Disney property, which means your room might be a longer walk to the lobby, dining, or Skyliner.
As this resort is so large, buses make multiple stops around their Internal Bus loop around the resort before heading to the parks. This can add more travel time getting to and from the parks, especially during peek hours.
Not every room will be close to the Skyliner. It is located on the other side of the resort from the main lobby. While Disney offers internal bus shuttles this may add extra time onto your day getting over there. Disney offers many room categories, send us a message and we can look up what room category is best for your family!
Because of the Skyliner access and Moderate pricing this resort is very popular for families. Which can have more activity around the pools and common areas
Caribbean Beach is still one of the best value resorts at Disney, especially for families who want Skyliner transportation without deluxe pricing.
Deluxe Resort: Disney's Beach Club Resort
If you're ready to splurge, Beach Club Resort is often considered one of the best family resorts at Walt Disney World thanks to its unbeatable location and incredible pool complex.
Why families love this Resort
Stormalong Bay is considered the best pool at Disney! With a sand bottom pool, lazy river, and pirate ship slide your family will love taking advantage of these amenities
Walking distance to EPCOT through the International Gateway.
Boat transportation to Disney's Hollywood Studios
Access to Extended evening hours. Only deluxe guests have the perk of having a select park during select days to enjoy the park for 2 hours after the park closes!
Great Dining options, with Disney's Yacht Club and Boardwalk so close you will have your pick where to dine. The Skyliner is also right beside the resort for the option of gliding over to Disney's Riviera and Caribbean Beach to explore their dining options as well.
Things to consider
As a deluxe resort, Beach Club comes with a premium price tag, especially during peak travel seasons.
This is a popular resort close to the parks, guests staying off property are allowed to come and look around the Resort so wrist bands are required to use the pools.
Disney's Beach Club will have less “Disney Theming” then other properties, with more subtle Disney nodes.
Beach Club is often considered one of the best-located resorts at Walt Disney World, especially for EPCOT lovers. The combination of Stormalong Bay, walkability, and deluxe perks makes it a favorite for many returning Disney families.
No matter your budget or which level of resort you choose, there is magic waiting for you at every Disney resort. The key is finding the one that fits your family best—and that’s where I love helping families plan the perfect stay at Walt Disney World Resort.
