Best Walt Disney World Hotels

Animal Kingdom Lodge has to be one of the most unique hotels in the country. Where else can you open your curtains in the morning to find zebras, giraffes and gazelles right below your balcony? The animals make their home in the savanna, a 43-acre wildlife preserve that seems to surround the resort. With its thatched-roof, semicircular design and African artwork, the Animal Kingdom Lodge does indeed feel like Africa. However, this is no little game hut. The upscale, high-ceilinged lobby has a luxury feel, as do the 972 rooms which are decorated in vibrant colors and handcrafted furniture. Most rooms have two queens plus a daybed; some even have bunk beds. Each room has a balcony and many rooms overlook the savanna. The resort offers numerous dining options, including Jiko, an upscale African restaurant, Sanaa, which features Indian- and African-inspired food, and The Mara, a fast-food restaurant providing all the usual American crowd pleasers (think pizza, burgers and chicken fingers).

This Victorian-style resort harkens back to the elegance of yesteryear. With its gables, carved moldings and pristine white paint, the resort does indeed carry the airs of a grand lady. The lobby stretches some five stories high to ceilings filled with chandeliers and stained-glass domes. Even the staff continues that turn-of-the-century style with period costumes and polite ways. Located along the white-sand shores of Seven Seas Lagoon, the Grand Floridian provides modern day luxury, with a terrific spa, two pools and monorail service. Decorated in classic style, the rooms have printed wall coverage, marble topped sinks and Victorian woodwork. Most rooms are 400-square-feet and can accommodate up to five guests. The resort's six restaurants provide a wide variety of choice, but Victoria & Albert is the biggest draw. This upscale restaurant — a AAA Five Diamond winner for 10 consecutive years — serves around 60 guests per seating, jackets for men are required and guests under 10 are not allowed. For parents who want to enjoy a few hours on their own, the Mouseketeer Club offers supervised care. Watercraft rentals are available on the lake, and there’s a 24-hour game room. While the resort welcomes children of all ages, it is best suited for adults and those with older children.

Inspired by the iconic Yellowstone Lodge in Yellowstone National Park and by the art of the Pacific Northwest the Wilderness Lodge offers a sense of rustic elegance. The seven-story lobby in this log building is open and features two 55-foot totem pools. Many of the guest rooms overlook the lobby, and authentic western and Native American artifacts complete the rugged look. The majority of the 727 guest rooms have two queen-size beds with a balcony. You can also ask for one queen bed with bunk beds. There are two pools and a white-sand beach at the resort. If you're lucky, you'll catch the eruption of the Fire Rock Geyser, fashioned after Old Faithful. Restaurant options include Artist Point with a large selection of Northwest seafood and wines, as well as a café and snack bar. Boat transportation is available from the lodge to Magic Kingdom, and buses go to Disney's Hollywood Studio, Animal Kingdom and more.

Everyone loves a beach vacation—and guests can have that (sort of) at the Caribbean Beach Resort. Six brightly colored villages—each named after a Caribbean island—surround Barefoot Bay, a 45-acre lake with white-sand beaches. Though this resort has some 2,112 rooms, the feel is that of a smaller island getaway. Rooms run around 340-square-feet and can sleep four (two double beds). Each village has its own pool, but Old Port Royale is the hub of the activity, with dining, shopping and a Concierge desk. Guest services are located in the Custom House, which is quite a distance from some of the rooms (an onsite shuttle is available to drive you). The lake marina rents sailboats, pontoon boats and canoes. Rooms start at $149. 

New Orleans meets Disney at the Port Orleans French Quarter. True to Disney fashion, the Big Easy has been painstakingly recreated here, down to the wrought-iron portal, overgrown landscape and delicate railings. You can stroll down the cobblestone streets to the sounds of jazz music, and look out over the Sassagoula River. Port Orleans Square is the heart of the resort. The Mint—based on a turn-of-the-20th-century mint—houses guests services, dining and shopping. The Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory is a food court with a variety of foods, from Creole dishes to burgers and pizza. Most rooms at Port Orleans French Quarter have two double beds and sleep four.

Ah, the feel of New England! It practically oozes from this Nantucket-style Disney resort. With its gleaming wood floors and five-story beige lighthouse out front, the Yacht Club harkens back to an 1880s seaside hotel. Rooms have a nautical theme, with either one king-size or two queen-size beds. Some rooms have daybeds while most two-bedroom suites have two king-sized beds. Playpen-like cribs are available for the asking at all Disney resorts. True to its name, the resort has a marina, where guests can rent Sea Raycers, pontoons and more. Nearby Stormalong Bay spans 3-acres of water-filled fun, including a sand-bottom pool, a lazy river for inner tubing, a water slide and wrecked ship. Dining options include the Yachtsman Steakhouse, Captain’s Grille and several others.

Not many people know that you can rent a cabin or camp in a tent, trailer or RV at Walt Disney World Resort. With more than 750 acres of pine and cypress, this is an authentic camp setting—yet the parks are easily reached from Fort Wilderness via Disney boat and bus transportation. The campground’s sites all have electricity and there are four tiers of amenities that can include water, sanitary disposable, internet and cable TV. Pets are welcome at some campsites. Scattered throughout the campsites are hundreds of Wilderness Cabins, which come complete with housekeeping service. Each sleeps up to six people, and has a full kitchen, air-conditioning, a TV and DVD player. Cabin cost is similar to other high-end Disney resorts. Dining is available at Trail's End, which serves three meals a day, but most people cook their own meals here.

This Disney Value Resort has fun written all over it. Giant icons from the 20th century cover the brightly-colored buildings, with different areas representing the 1950s, ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. The rooms are small, but comfortable and most have two double beds. Little ones love the three kid-friendly pools—the flower-shaped Hippy Dippy, the pin-shaped Bowling Pool and the monitor-shaped Computer Pool. There's a food court with several dining options, including a bakery and several quick-service stands. Disney buses stop at Classic Hall, and run to all four parks. Rooms start at $82/night.

Baseball, football, soccer and basketball—they all get equal billing at All-Star Sports. Giant baseball bats, balls and surfboards adorn the buildings of this Disney Value Resort. The theme continues in the rooms, which have two double beds and sleep four. Two onsite pools—Grand Slam Pool and Surfboard Bay—help keep the little ones happy. Stadium Hall is home to guest services, shops, an arcade and the End Zone Food Court. Room service is also available, but hours are limited. Rooms start at $82/night.