Answering Your Most Frequent Disney Resort Questions Part Two
When you vacation at Walt Disney World, you want to have the best possible trip. And your hotel stay factors heavily into this equation.
So, I’m here to answer your most frequently asked questions about Walt Disney World resorts.
As a reminder, this is the second part of the Q&A. You’ll find the first part here and should read it first.
Which Resort Is Closest to EPCOT?
I’m going to answer five questions at once here. Several variations of this question exist, with the difference being the park name.
I’ll only name two or three resorts for each park, but you should understand that Disney designates them all.
On the official site, something with the EPCOT Area beside it is obviously positioned near this park more than any other.
The two hotels closest to EPCOT are Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and Disney’s Beach Club Resort.
In fact, guests at these two resorts can enter EPCOT via the International Gateway in a matter of five minutes or less.
At Magic Kingdom, the nearest resorts are the ones on the monorail. As I said last time, those are the Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian.
However, I should mention Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Lodge & Campground. They’re both a boat ride away from the park.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge obviously resides near Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Don’t sleep on the various All-Star resorts and Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, though. They’re all in that area.
As for the fourth park, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is walking distance away from Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The Disney Skyliner has made two other resorts good options, too.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney’s Riviera Resort are a Skyliner ride away from the front entrance.
Finally, four resorts are boat rides away from Disney Springs. Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is actually within walking distance.
Then, there are Disney’s Old Key West and the two Port Orleans resorts.
Friendship boats will take guests at any of these places to the entertainment complex.
Which Resorts Cost the Cheapest/Most?
I could answer specifically, but let’s stick to the basics.
Disney slots its resorts into three tiers: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe.
You can probably guess the pricing structure from there.
The Value properties like the All-Star resorts cost the least but generally feature the worst logistics.
Moderate tier resorts definitely step up the theming and amenities, but the price isn’t much higher than Value tier hotels.
I generally recommend that friends and first-timers book Moderate tier resorts unless money isn’t an object.
In that case, I push for Deluxe tier hotels. These places definitely justify the expense, as they’re immaculately themed cathedrals to all things Disney.
What’s the Best Disney Resort for Adults?
I don’t think there’s one perfect answer for everyone. In fact, when I speak with other Disney fans, I’m often amazed by the diversity of responses to this question.
My wife and I favor three resorts over the rest. In the Deluxe tier, my favorite is the Polynesian, while she prefers the Contemporary, where we’re staying this week.
However, we also love a Moderate tier property that hasn’t reopened yet during the pandemic.
We find that we get the most bang for the buck when we stay at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter. It’s more intimate than most Disney properties.
Finally, I’ll add that friends swear by Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, which has never done much for me.
I think they just like that it’s a short walk away from EPCOT’s World Showcase.
So, when they drink too much during an EPCOT festival, they can stumble back to the hotel easily.
What’s the Best Disney Resort for Kids?
All of them.
I’m not even joking. Disney’s particular skill is delighting children and causing joyous laughter.
I won’t stick to this lazy answer, though.
Instead, I’ll suggest several options, one of which I feel towers over the rest.
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort celebrates Disney cartoons AND features family suites themed to The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, and others.
Disney’s Beach Club Resort provides guests with access to Stormalong Bay, a functional water park only a short walk away from the hotel lobby.
Staying here will make your kids feel like they’re vacationing at Disney and a water park, too.
Of course, my real answer here is Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. It’s more than just a Disney hotel.
When you exit the lobby of this resort, you’ll only need to walk a few steps to encounter the residents here. There’s a zoo in the backyard!
Yes, Disney has built several natural habitats for animals, who happily roam the grounds. They’re plenty used to human spectators, too. It’s pure magic.
Which Resort Has the Best Restaurants?
Have you ever read some online lists of, like, the top 50 comedies of all-time? You agreed with some of the suggestions and feel like the rest are stupid, right?
Well, picking the resort with the best restaurants works the same. It’s literally a matter of taste.
Fans of Quick Service meals, spectacular overhead views, and Disney characters may answer the Contemporary.
Foodies who love international cuisine are likely to favor Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Personally, I love the flavors of the South Seas. So, I vote for Polynesian Village.
However, the most honest answer to this question is the Grand Floridian, which hosts several top-tier restaurants.
This hotel is also home to the best Disney restaurant on the planet, Victoria & Albert’s, which frequently earns honors for its world-class cuisine.
Again, most Disney resorts would receive some votes in this category, though. Disney takes its hotel restaurants seriously and does them right.
Are the Swan and Dolphin Disney?
Oh, man. I didn’t expect this question, and it’s ridiculously complicated to answer.
Even now, I’m unsure whether I should answer yes or no.
So, let me sidestep the question a bit by stating emphatically that Marriott International operates the Swan and Dolphin, not Disney.
When you stay here, you won’t get the special Disney touch you would expect.
The hotel also does that vile daily resort fee, which means you get charged $35 more than you think. Hidden costs like that are something Disney wouldn’t do
As for the explanation, it circles back to the construction of EPCOT. Disney hired The Tishman Group for the project.
Disney’s lawyers screwed this one up, leaving some language open to interpretation.
The Tishman Group (TTG) believed that they possessed the rights to develop this land, and Disney ultimately agreed.
The parties worked out a deal wherein TTG built and owned the resorts, while Disney leased the land for 99 years.
Since then, TTG has ceded operations to Marriott International via Westin Hotels & Resorts. The company remains the owner and asset manager, though.
As an FYI, Disney does receive a revenue split and maintains veto rights for any property changes.
What Is Shades of Green?
Disney doesn’t own a second resort at Walt Disney World. It’s Shades of Green, and you will NOT believe who the owner is!
The United States Department of Defense built an Armed Forces Recreation Center on the Walt Disney World Campus to boost troop morale.
Even the best soldiers in the world want to spend downtime with their families at the Most Magical Place on Earth.
Unlike other Disney resorts, it doesn’t have an official theme and looks more like a country club.
Disney actually owned the place initially and called it the Golf Resort followed by Disney Inn.
The military got involved when high-ranking personnel saw an opportunity to provide low-cost vacations to loyal troops.
You may only stay here when you’re an active member of the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, National Guard, Navy, or Military Reserves.
Do Any Resorts Have Golf?
Yes, and I speak from awkward experience on this one.
True story: I once took a boat from Disney’s Old Key West Resort to Disney Springs.
Along the way, the boat stopped at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa.
My wife and I hadn’t been here – it was still new at the time – and decided to walk around.
We took a wrong turn from the boat exit and – I’m not joking – wound up in the middle of the golf course. We almost ruined someone’s tee shot.
Old Key West also hosts part of this golf course on its campus.
Given the previous answer, you’ve likely guessed that Shades of Green is close to a golf course, too.
Otherwise, naming it the Golf Resort would have been wildly misleading.
For additional specifics and hotel information, check the official GolfWDW website.
Is Disney Still Making Star Wars Hotel?
YES!
I understand why you may share some concerns. Disney cut some of its expansion projects to save money during the pandemic.
Thankfully, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser isn’t one of these projects.
Imagineers have made excellent progress in building the facility, with the exterior mostly complete.
You can read the link for additional details, but the current expectation is for Star Wars Hotel to open during 2021.
Disney will take reservations well in advance of the resort’s opening. So, please keep checking MickeyBlog for additional information.