Picking The Right Resort For You In 2021
It’s no secret that staying on property at one of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels is a great way to make the most out of your Disney vacation. . . . but how do you pick the one that’s best for you?
With so many Resort hotels to choose from [not to mention the ever changing list of closures and refurbishments], even starting the search can be a daunting task. That’s why today we’re going to talk about the Walt Disney World Resort hotels, break down some of what I think you should know before beginning your search and hopefully get you on the path to finding the one that will be ideal for you and your family.
Now, before we jump head first into today’s topic, I want to take a second to clear some cobwebs. There are a lot of factors that go into picking which of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels will be ideal for you, your family and your circumstances. On top of that, there are plenty of factors that are out of your control such as closures, limited availability and so on. That said, everything we are talking about here today is meant to serve as a guide as to where you might want to be looking [or not looking]. As always, you know what you’re capable of better than anyone, so be sure to keep your wants and needs in mind while going through these lists.
Since this is a guide for 2021, this list also reflects any closures or refurbishments that are either scheduled or taking place. If there’s a Resort hotel that you don’t see on the list, there’s likely a reason for it, but be sure to double check on the Walt Disney World Resort website for the most up to date information. You’ll also notice that I have not listed any of the Disney Vacation Club [or DVC] options on this particular list. We’ll talk more about DVC and staying at a DVC resort in the future.
Magic Kingdom
I don’t know about you, but the first image that comes to my mind whenever someone says “Disney World” is that of the Magic Kingdom. Sure, there’s much more to Walt Disney World than this one park, but there’s just something iconic about the place where Cinderella’s Castle sits at the end of Main Street. There’s just nothin’ like it!
Aside from being just about as close as you can get to the most iconic place at Disney World, there are a lot of great reasons to stay at one of the resort hotels in the immediate vicinity of Magic Kingdom. Of course, families who foresee themselves spending most of their Walt Disney World vacation at Magic KIngdom will find being a short ride on Disney transportation or walk from the park ideal. [This is especially the case if you’re traveling with young children who might require multiple trips back to the room throughout the day.] Staying at one of the Resort hotels in the Magic Kingdom area also gives you the opportunity to enjoy some offerings that you’re just not going to experience at other hotels around Walt Disney World. The Electric Water Pageant is one great example of this. Nightly fireworks were also an example of something that you could enjoy right from the comfort of your Resort hotel room prior to the closures in 2020. Though nightly fireworks have not yet returned to the Walt Disney World Resort, they’re not gone forever. This is something to keep in mind if you’re planning a trip in the future as there’s no doubt that this perk of staying in the Magic Kingdom area will return.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney’s Contemporary Resort - Refurbishments are happening in part of this hotel starting in April 2021. The hotel will remain open, but rooms in the Main Tower will be unavailable.
EPCOT
Like every other park at Walt Disney World, the list of reasons to visit EPCOT is a long one. However, when we start to talk about the best reasons to stay at one of the hotels in the EPCOT area it narrows down pretty quickly; food! EPCOT’s World Showcase is one of the best places to enjoy amazing food and drinks on Walt Disney World property. On a normal day, there are 11 countries featuring unique and authentic cuisine to choose from. That expands during the many EPCOT festivals that take place throughout the year. This is unquestionably the best reason to stay at one of the EPCOT resort hotels.
If the idea of staying in the EPCOT area so that you can enjoy all of the delicious offerings appeals to you, there are a few obvious choices as far as Resorts are concerned. As is listed on the Walt Disney World website, there are a handful of Resorts to choose from within walking distance of EPCOT’s International Gateway. [The International Gateway is a back entrance to EPCOT that allows guests to enter into World Showcase rather than at the main entrance into Future World.] There is no denying how convenient these options are. I mean. . . . walking distance! However, with convenience comes a higher price tag and less availability. Fortunately, the addition of the Disney Skylier has expanded the list of options. Though it’s less convenient than walking, taking the Disney Skyliner makes EPCOT that much more accessible to a few more Resorts than it previously was.
Disney’s Pop Century Resort - The pool at Pop Century is scheduled for refurbishment. If pools are important to you, be sure to check for updates and find our whether or not it’s going to be available during when you’re planning to stay.
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort - The Big Blue Pool is currently unavailable and scheduled to reopen in April of 2021.
Disney’s Beach Club Resort - The Stormalong Bay Waterslide is currently closed.
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort -The Stormalong Bay Waterslide is currently closed.
Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios might not be known for its food or its iconic Disney feel, but one thing it does have is thrills! It’s also the home of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which is arguably one of Disney’s most impressive expansion’s yet. When you put these two things together and sprinkle them with some of the parks other new offerings, you get a recipe for crowds and long wait times. This makes Hollywood Studios, at least in our opinion, one of the parks you’re most likely to arrive early at or rope drop. Though there are plenty of Disney transportation options that can get you to whichever park you choose for whatever time you’re hoping to be there, being close to Hollywood Studios can make rope dropping much easier and more convenient.
Much like is the case with EPCOT, there are Resorts within walking distance of Hollywood Studios that might seem like the obvious choice for someone wanting to be in the immediate vicinity of this particular park. Because of their convenience and proximity to the park, they also come at higher prices and less availability. This is especially the case because the Resorts in the Hollywood Studios area are also in the EPCOT area so you may find even less availability around the time of festivals or holiday celebrations. That said, like is the case with EPCOT, the Disney Skyliner has changed the game a bit. With a Skyliner station at the Hollywood Studios entrance, there are more Resort options that there previously were.
Disney’s Pop Century Resort - The pool at Pop Century is scheduled for refurbishment. If pools are important to you, be sure to check for updates and find our whether or not it’s going to be available during when you’re planning to stay.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort - The Big Blue Pool is currently unavailable and scheduled to reopen in April of 2021.
Disney’s Beach Club Resort - The Stormalong Bay Waterslide is currently closed.
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort - The Stormalong Bay Waterslide is currently closed.
Animal Kingdom
With a little bit of everything from thrill rides to foods from different parts of the world, Animal Kingdom is an amazing park. It’s also one of those places where you could wander, explore and relax for days. If this is the type of thing that appeals to you then staying at one of the Resorts in the Animal Kingdom area is an obvious choice.
When most people think about staying in the Animal Kingdom area they immediately think of staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, which is a great choice. . . . . it’s not the only option though. There are plenty of other great Resorts to stay at that will give you relatively easy access to Animal Kingdom as well as great theming.
Disney Springs
If you’re traveling to Walt Disney World with the intention of enjoying a little bit of nightlife, dining and entertainment while also keeping your ticketed park days to a minimum, staying at one of the resorts with easy access to Disney Springs might be a good choice for you. Though it’s not quite like the Downtown Disney of yesteryear, there are still plenty of great things to do at Disney Springs no matter what time of day [or year] you visit.
The offerings at Disney Springs change and are often available for a limited time only, but there’s always something new to check out so I recommend visiting the Disney Springs website and following the establishments that appeal to you on social media. This is not only a good way to find out what is happening during your visit, but can also be a good way to take advantage of discounts or even secret menu items!
Enjoying The Resort
If you’re one of the many people who plans on visiting Walt Disney World, but doesn’t plan on spending every day in the parks you’re not alone. Park tickets can be expensive and let’s face it. . . . . being in the parks every day [especially when they’re crowded] can be a bit much for some families. Fortunately, the Walt Disney World Resorts have you covered with some very impressive resorts that will keep up to the Mickey hat in magic whether you visit the parks or not.
Now, you can argue that every one of the hotels in the Walt Disney World Resort is ideal for enjoying on its own. In a sense, it’s true. However, from our experience some stand out above the rest.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
Disney’s Beach Club Resort - The Stormalong Bay Waterslide is currently closed.
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort - The Stormalong Bay Waterslide is currently closed.
As I mentioned at the top of our chat here today, different resorts are better for different situations and different families. I’ve got my opinions to share, but I’d love to know what you think! If you’ve ever stayed at Walt Disney World in one of their Resort hotels in the past, share your experience and what type of situation and/or family that resort would be best for. We’d all love to hear your thoughts!