How to Choose Your Walt Disney World Resort Based on Location!

Grand Floridian

 

As the saying goes in real estate, often the Walt Disney World Resort hotel is all about Location, Location, Location! 

Is location important to you? One thing to think about is there is no ONE perfect hotel that is close to all the Disney World parks! Disney World is really spread out! Think about where your family's priorities lie for this trip, and see if choosing based on location works for you! Questions to consider:

Is staying as close as possible to one or two parks very important? In other words, are you a "time is money" person?

If the answer is yes, then you might choose a hotel that is closest to the park where you plan to spend the most about of time even if it costs more. Do you want to walk to Magic Kingdom? Contemporary Resort is ideal! Do you want to be able to spend every evening enjoying Food & Wine Festival goodies in Epcot? Then Beach Club, Yacht Club, or Boardwalk may be good options. Do you love the idea of a boat ride to Magic Kingdom and you're planning to spend 1-2 days there, take a look at Wilderness Lodge!

Are buses suitable for all transportation options around Disney World, or would you prefer a hotel that utilizes a boat, monorail, or gondola system?

Buses are a perfectly fine way to get around Disney World! They run frequently and have special bus lanes on many of the roads around the Disney World property. However, the commute times may be longer. Long bus lines may mean you have to wait for a second (or third) bus before you can get on one sometimes meaning you have to stand on the bus. Some resorts rely solely on buses while others may have other options like Skyliner, monorail, and boats. These are often more relaxing modes of transportation. On the Skyliner and boats, everyone gets a seat. The views are usually lovely and the overall feel is more relaxed. The Skyliner has the added perk of never stopping, so even if there's a line, it moves quickly. Monorail is somewhere in the middle--some sit but some stand--but provides quick transportation. 

 

Skyliner gondola

Are you a park commando (all day, every day in the parks), or will you want/need afternoon breaks?

If you have little ones (or adults!) who may need a nap in the middle of the day, being able to get back to your resort quickly may be important! Similar to the previous answer, this may be about location BUT it can also be about the type of resort. For example, you might prefer a hotel like Port Orleans French Quarter that only has one bus stop. That means when you get to the resort, you're there! You don't have to wait for the 5th bus stop before you get to the stop nearest your room. If you have several little ones and relying on a double stroller, monorail and Skyliner hotel options may be important since you don't have to fold up the stroller--little ones can stay in the stroller if they're asleep!

If you're a park commando and you plan to spend all day every day in the parks--open to close!--a Value resort may be a better option for you! You don't need to get back and forth to the parks in the middle of the day, and you're going to beat the early rush to the parks in the morning!

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