You're preparing for your family vacation to Walt Disney World in Orlando,
Florida but there is just one problem, where will you stay? Don't worry because
it's a tourist town, there are plenty of resort options that include family
friendly ones. Thanks to a number of online travel sites it's not hard to find
deals. Once you find a
place you like, travel experts recommend reserving it right away because that great
deal you found today might not be available tomorrow. While you're looking
for a resort, check out these Top 15 Disney World resorts for kids. All of these resorts have garnered a good
reputation over the years and all are places that even the pickiest of kids
will enjoy.
15) Disney
Contemporary Resort (Starting at $378 / Night)
The Contemporary Resort was one of the first luxury resorts built inside Disney
World and it's the only one where the monorail goes inside the building. The
wide open design is completely unique from anything else and kids will love the
ability to see the fireworks as well as the Electrical Water Pageant without ever
having to leave the grounds of the resort. The Pirate and Pale Fireworks Voyage
is a great cruise for kids and leaves right from the hotel.
The proximity to the parks is a major attraction for most parents and
children alike. The large rooms the hotel has to offer is wonderful because
won't be bumping into each other and the
on site pool means you have a great way to cool off after a long day in the
Orlando sun. If you are up for a cruise, there is a special one that will
accommodate up to 12 people and it picks up from the dock every day. The only thing
that many of the kids don't like about this resort is lack of the Disney
character motif while you are there.
14) Disney’s Yacht
Club Resort (Starting at $400.50 / Night)
While the look and feel of the resort may be one that is geared toward adults,
there is still a lot for kids to do here and this is really a great place for kids
who love the water to stay. They are able to take part in the Albatross Treasure
Cruise that is perfect for kids between the ages of four and 10. The cruise
departs from the marina every day and comes right back. Another great thing kids
enjoy is going on the Illuminations cruise that leaves from the same marina as
the kids cruise and parents with really small children will appreciate the on site
childcare. If your too tired for a cruise or just want to relax, there is a pool
that people of all ages can enjoy!
One of the best
features this hotel has is that you are only a five to 10 minute walk
from
Epcot and
Hollywood Studios is only a short boat ride away. This puts just
about every section of the resort within a close proximity, so you are able to
start having fun as soon as you leave the room. If Disney character themes
throughout the resort is something your children want then your going to want to
book reservations elsewhere, since there are none at this resort.
Yacht Club Resort
Inside the Yacht Club Resort
Courtesy of
wdwinfo.com
13) Disney’s
Coronado Springs Resort (Starting at $187.88 /
Night)
Coronado Springs Resort
There is a lot to do when you're staying at the Coronado Springs Resort, kids
enjoy playing in the Iguana Arcade and swimming in the pool. In addition to
being able to take advantage of all of this, kids can take advantage of
going to the playground or watching movies under the stars next to the main
pool. Just check in with the front desk to see what the movie for the night
will be and to ensure that there will be a movie that night before telling your kids that they can go check it out.
If you are hungry then the snack lounge is a great place to pick up something to eat before
heading out to the parks. This will allow everyone to have more fun because
there won’t be any cranky campers to cheer up before entering the happiest place
on earth.
Coronado Springs Resort Pyramid Pool
12) Disney’s
Wilderness Lodge (Starting at $325.13 / Night)
If you like the idea of being close to nature but do not like the idea of being
in a campsite then you can opt to stay at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. When you
walk into the lodge, you will feel as if you are staying at a cabin deep in the
mountains rather than at a resort in the middle of Orlando. This is one of the
moderately priced resorts you can stay in that offers rooms quite large in size.
In addition to having plenty of space within the room, you will also have access
to a fairly large porch for the kids and
parents to coexist even if there are inclement weather conditions.
The kids will enjoy the feeling of staying at a lodge without all the camping
hassles, the rooms with bunk
beds make it even more fun for kids looking for a great room to stay in. The
cub’s den is a favorite among the small children, while bigger kids enjoy
renting bikes and surrey bikes to go exploring around the resort as well as the
surrounding areas. There is even fishing that is available and a playground right on
the beach that children love playing at.
11) Disney’s
Polynesian Resort (Starting at $482.63 / Night)
Children love staying at the Polynesian Resort as much as parents and the reason
why kids love staying at this resort is because of all the great pools that are
available. They will feel as if they are staying on an island rather than at
just another of the resorts that Disney has to offer. Other than the big pools
and tons of places to play, parents as well as children enjoy love that the
bedrooms are large enough to keep everyone from feeling cramped inside the room.
There are standard and deluxe room plans to give you all the room you
need.
On top of the fun you can have while you are staying at the Polynesian
Resort, you will also have easy access to the monorail. This provides quick and
easy access to the
Magic Kingdom as well as to
Epcot. It is the only resort that
offers the ability to quickly and easily walk to any of the express trains to
take you to where you want to go.
10) Disney’s
Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (Starting at $367.88
/ Night)
When you are staying at the Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, it's a resort for
both the parents and the kids. There are activities that the kids can have fun
with where they can do
everything from going to the basketball courts to renting bikes and taking a
ride throughout the resort. Many of the kids will enjoy playing close to the
water on the expansive lawns while others might actually enjoy playing tennis
with each other. This is about where the fun ends for the kids and the parents
start to have some fun.
The biggest draw for the parents is the fact that there is a spa right on the
premises, it's just the kind of thing that some parents need after walking
through the parks all day long. Some parents may even take turns going to the
park with the kids, while the other has a spa day. This is one of the older
resorts that you can stay in but it's still one of the best in terms of
accommodations and the kids will enjoy staying here.
Saratoga Spring Resort & Spa
Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa Guest Room
9) Disney’s
Boardwalk Inn and Villas (Starting at $411.75 /
Night)
If you want to stay close to everything then the Boardwalk Inn and Villas is a great
place to stay. In fact, from this location, you are able to walk to
Epcot in as
short as 10 to 15 minutes. If you are looking to get to
Hollywood Studios then you
can jump on a boat or walk there as well. This allows you to have less time in
which the kids are in the room and more time in which they are in the parks
having fun. Kids from four to 10 can have a lot of fun playing
around at the Albatross Treasure Cruise at the marina nearby.
The theming of the resort is geared towards people of all ages to enjoy
because it gives the feel of walking and staying on a boardwalk might
find in several coastal areas around the USA. Walking around with ice cream after the lights
go down can be a fun activity for the entire family. However, you will not be able to get
a bite to eat while you are staying in the resort but if you are staying in one
of the villas then you will have
access to a kitchen inside the villa. This means you can save a little money on
the high meal prices within the parks and at the resorts.
Boardwalk Inn and Villas
Boardwalk Inn and Villas Inside
8) Disney’s Ft.
Wilderness Campsites (Starting at $54 / Night)
If you are looking for something completely different, you can stay in one of
the campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness. This is a truly different way to stay
at Disney and some kids enjoy the ability to stay outside in a tent. Think about
staying in a tent in the front yard at home and you will have an idea of the
kind of fun your kid will be having while you are staying at the campsite. You
can even bring the family dog as long as you are willing to keep it on a leash
the whole time.
When you are looking to cook, you will be able to take advantage of the
charcoal grills and picnic tables that are available with each of the campsites.
There is even access for electricity and city water. Of course, if your idea of
roughing it is to stay in an RV then there are sites with full hookups so you can
have sewer access as well as the water and electricity you will need. To keep
you from being bored, you also have access to archery, fishing, watercraft
rental, carriage rides and more. Transportation can be a bit confusing but
fun, when taking the Ferry. Also, you have a great view of the
Magic Kingdom
from the beach.
Ft. Wilderness Campsites
Ft. Wilderness Campsites, Family Camping in a RV
7) Disney’s Art of
Animation Resort (Starting at $118.13 / Night) As soon as you arrive at the Art of Animation Resort, it is easy to see
exactly why this is such a popular resort for the kids to stay at. Little
Mermaid standard rooms are available to stay in, which is a dream come true for
your little majesty looking for a room. There are even standard rooms for
The Lion King, Cars
and Finding Nemo so your rambunctious little ones can get excited about where they are going to be
sleeping at as well. The detailed theming in all of these rooms will wow adults
and children alike into making you feel as if you have walked into a Disney
movie.
Art of Animation Resort
The sprawling resort has multiple playgrounds and pools for kids of all ages.
There is a bar right next to the main pool for adults,
so you can have some fun while the kids are playing in the pool. You will also
be able to get some food in the morning before taking off to go to the park.
Everything is done for you, so you are able to leave your car in the parking lot
and walk everywhere you want to go that the shuttles will not take you. Just get
ready to be blown away as soon as you pull up because this resort is truly mesmerizing.
Little Mermaid Room
6) Disney’s
Caribbean Beach Resort (Starting at $182.25 /
Night)
There is less for kids to do at the Caribbean Beach Resort but it's still a
great place to stay. Among the things that kids will appreciate is the fact that
the resort looks like something out of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie set, some of the walkways are even complete with cannons that look like they are
ready to sink a pirate vessel. The main thing that the kids love is the beach
area where they can play in the sand, they also enjoy the arcade and the pools
that are located throughout the villages. Playgrounds and bike
rentals are available if you are staying for a while.
There is plenty to eat while you are staying at this resort but there is not
much for those who have purchased meal plans, you may be able to find something
great to eat that will be moderately priced just by looking through the menu.
Snacks and main courses are all available to keep you and your family well fed.
5) Disney Animal
Kingdom Lodge (Starting at $319.50 / Night)
This is one of the deluxe resorts you can stay at and it is one that kids
really adore. While it does not have all of the colors of the value
resorts, it does make kids feel as if they are on the set of a movie and that is what makes being at Disney so much fun to begin with. When you are staying at
the Animal Kingdom Lodge, there is a lot of room to move around as well as a
balcony that can give you a place to relax outside of the room and still have
privacy.
When you are walking around the lodge, you will be able to enjoy all of the
scenery that makes it appear as if you're at a lodge in Africa rather than one
in Orlando, FL. You will find that there are actually three different properties
you can stay at when you are at the Animal Kingdom Lodge: Jambo House, Disney
Vacation Club Villas at Jambo House and Disney Vacation Club Villas at Kidani
Village. Any of these will put you within close proximity to the parks and will
provide you with a great place for the kids to play and have fun.
4) Disney’s All-Star
Movies Resort (Starting at $96.05 / Night)
Step into the action when you stay at the All-Star Movies Resort with décor
starring characters from different movies, like “Toy Story” and more. Even the
handrails of the resort look like movie cells and the top of the resort has some
of the little green soldiers hanging around to protect the grounds from attack.
Kids can enjoy running around and looking at everything while parents relax by
the large pool. Kids pretty much run the resort with everything geared towards
what they want.
Parents are not left completely out of the mix when staying at the resort because there is very little to worry about in terms of getting from the resort
to the different parks. There is transportation available throughout the day to
get people exactly where they want to go, you can even get something to eat at
the hotel before you leave to go to the park via the restaurant inside. If you purchase a meal plan, you will be able to eat your breakfast for
free.
All Star Movies Resort
All Star Movies Resort
3) Disney’s All-Star
Sports Resort (Starting at $96.05 / Night)
All Star Sport Resort
Anyone who has stayed at Disney understands that all of the value resorts
and some of the deluxe resorts have lots of kid appeal, while the moderate
resorts have less. When you take one look at the Disney All-Star Sports
Resort, it is easy to see what people mean. This is because of all the
vibrant colors and the decorations that look like they are straight out of
the animated movies that Disney has produced over the years. You can practically see Goofy
running down the massive football field beside the resort.
In addition to having great décor, the resort is fun because it's on Disney grounds. You are close to everything that you want to
do and the resort has a restaurant providing food for those who have purchased
the meal ticket plans. The restaurant recently went through renovations to make
it even more accessible to guests staying at the resort. Just keep in mind that
the resort rooms are pretty small even though they
say that five people can stay in a standard room, plan for two or three.
All Star Sports Resort
2) Disney’s All-Star
Music Resort (Starting at $96.05 / Night)
If you are looking for a value resort that the kids will love, you will love
staying at the All-Star Music resort. Located right on the Disney property, you
will be close to all the action. True, you will have a tiny room to go along
with the tiny price but you are not staying at Disney to enjoy the hotel room.
You are at Disney because you want to enjoy everything that the amusement park
has to offer. The only time that the small room is a downer is when you are
stuck inside due to inclement weather.
All Star Music Resort
The resort has a great pool and some other amenities you will enjoy. Keep in
mind that when you are staying here, you can get a larger room if you are
willing to pay a little more. Just ask for one of the family suites where you will
have a bedroom that is separate from the kids and the suite can sleep up to six
people comfortably. Still, you should spend the majority of your time outside of
the room to enjoy what you came to Disney for in the first place.
All Star Music Resort Room
1) Disney’s Pop
Century Resort (Starting at $106.88 / Night)
Among the newest and most popular of all the resorts that are great for kids at
Disney is the Pop Century Resort. Located close to all the action, you will also
be able to enjoy the great transportation that will take you right where you
want to go without having to worry about massive public transportation buses and
trains that are packed with crying kids as well as tired adults. The only thing that
parents complain about when they are staying here is that the wireless service
is not that great and it can be noisy. The layout of the resort is a bit spread
out but then again, you are staying here for the kids.
In terms of why the kids love this resort so much, just one look at the
pictures says it all. there are massive characters everywhere, everyone from
Roger Rabbit to other popular characters dot the landscape. The rooms are not
much more than a place to rest your head with all of the excitement happening
within the resort and in the parks. This is a great place to stay to save some
money and to ensure that the kids are as happy as can be.
Conclusion
With these 15 great resorts, you should have no trouble planning out your trip
to Disney. Just make sure to take your time when looking at each of the
different resorts, the amenities that they provide and the money they can help
you to save while you are inside of Disney. You may be shocked by how much fun
you will have even when you are not exploring the different parks. Some guests
have made the decision to show up a few days early or stay an extra few days
just to be able to enjoy everything that the resort has to offer. Just because these 15
resorts are perfect for the kids doesn't mean they don't
have a bunch of great stuff for the adults on the trip as well.
References:
15) – 1)
Your First Visit, a website for planning trips to Walt Disney World –
(Information on resorts that appeal to kids.)
Walt Disney World, official website for travel planning - (Descriptions
of different hotels, prices, and amenities.)
//disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/
