You’re ready to take your family on a fun-filled Disney World vacation, yay! With over 25 hotel options to choose from at Disney World, trying to decide which resort to stay at can be overwhelming. The good news is that we are here to help you find the best Disney Resorts for families!

Filled with everything you need to know to make the right decision for your family. Whether you are looking for the most budget-friendly option or the most luxurious accommodations for your once-in-a-lifetime trip, we are breaking it all down right here.

Best Budget-Friendly Resorts

Disney’s All-Stars Resorts

This first recommendation is a three-for-one! Currently, there are three All-Star Resorts at Disney World including Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, and Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort. And, all three are a great budget-friendly option for a family looking to stay on Disney World property. All the rooms are your basic standard hotel room style set up and sleep up to 4 people with no thrills or frills. The only exception is the Family Suites at All-Star Music, which sleeps up to 6 adults.

The draw here (besides the budget, of course) is the theme of each resort. Kids will love the giant replicas of their favorite Toy Story characters at All-Star Movies, and the oversized instruments and sports courts at All-Stars Music and Sports. These resorts also have some of the biggest pools on property.

Disney buses are offered to and from all four Disney theme parks and Disney Springs from here. And, every All-Star resort has a dining hall with a large variety of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. These dining halls are great for families since the menus include kid favorites like pizzas, burgers, and chicken.

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Disney’s Pop Century Resort is very similar to the All-Star Resorts. However, there are a few extra amenities! And, since Pop Century is a Value Resort, it’s still one of the more economical options on Disney property.

One of the main reasons to choose Pop Century over other Disney hotels is Disney’s Skyliner. This gondola-style transportation option takes you to both EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios much faster than a bus. And, even if you don’t plan on going to those parks, the Skyliner is a fun ride for the kids — and free!

Another perk of Pop Century that the All-Stars don’t have is its proximity to one of the most immersive hotels for kids — Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Located just across the bridge where the Skyliner station, this hotel features larger-than-life icons from several Disney movies and has the largest pool on property. You don’t have to be staying there to take advantage of the pools and dining options, so the proximity can be a big perk.

Best Resorts for Large Families

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Disney’s Art of Animation was created for kids. Each section of the resort is themed after a popular Disney or Pixar movie, such as Cars, The Lion King, Finding Nemo, and The Little Mermaid. Life-size replicas of the characters are all over this resort, letting kids and families immerse themselves in the action. It also is home to the largest pool of any Disney hotel, PLUS a Finding Nemo-themed splash pad for the little ones.

The big thing that makes this hotel a great option for larger families is that almost all of the rooms are Family Suites that sleep up to 6 people and include a small kitchenette and two full bathrooms. This is the only hotel in the Value Resort category with these room types (aside from the few suites at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort).

On top of the theming and accommodations, Art of Animation also has a large food court that is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Plus, the hotel shares access to the Disney Skyliner with Disney’s Pop Century Resort making it easy to get to and from EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort

Immerse yourself into the quaintness of the woods and take a step back from the hustle and bustle of the theme parks! Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort has individual cabins that sleep up to 6 adults. And, there are also campsites for RV or tent camping available, if that’s your thing.

The real selling point of the cabins for large families is the space. Each cabin has a separate bedroom, bathroom, living room, and a full kitchen. This setup is perfect to ensure a quiet space for naps without being stuck in a dark room for hours for families with small toddlers or babies! Plus, every cabin also features a deck with a picnic table and charcoal grill as well.

For large families trying to save where they can, access to a grill and kitchen is a great perk because you can cook full meals whenever you want. In Disney World, even quick service meals can have a bill over $100, so this is huge for some families.

Not only is this a great spot for large families due to size, but there’s also a ton to do here! Guests can fish, kayak, take archery lessons, rent a boat for a few hours, horseback ride, take a carriage ride, or attend the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue dinner show! And, when you’re ready to go to the parks, Fort Wilderness is only a quick boat ride away from Magic Kingdom.

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is one of the largest resorts on Disney World property. And, as a Moderate Resort, it has quite a bit more to offer than the cheapest hotels in Disney. For one, there are more food options than just a dining hall. This includes a quick service dining hall, a table service restaurant, and a large pool bar. Additionally, the pool has a bit more to offer including water cannons, slides, and more.

While there are a handful of standard rooms here, the unique thing about Caribbean Beach is that many of the rooms actually sleep up to 5 guests. This makes it a perfect resort for large families. Just keep in mind that the “fifth sleeper” bed is a small pull-down mattress that is more suited for kids.

It’s also worth noting that Caribbean Beach is home to the Disney Skyliner hub. This makes it extremely convenient to get to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios at any time of the day.

Best Resort for Family Amenities

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Animal Kingdom Lodge might be the farthest resort from many things on property. But, that doesn’t mean it lacks fun. This Deluxe Resort and Disney Vacation Club Villa offers a range of accommodations from standard rooms to studios to 3-bedroom suites, making it a great option for small and large families.

Aside from the rooms, the pools at Animal Kingdom Lodge are unmatched. Between the two pools at the resort, you’ll find great views, slides, and hot tubs. Plus, the pool at Kidani Village pool also includes an entire kids’ aquatic playground! This is sure to keep the kids occupied while the adults relax by one of the great pool bars. And, when you’re not splashing in the pool, you can enjoy tennis courts and other games such as ping pong, cornhole, and more.

The resort also features three 11-acre savannahs with animals like zebras, giraffes, gazelles, mongoose, and more roaming around. This is as close to the action as you can get! And, if you choose to book a Savannah View room, you’ll even be able to see the animals from your balcony.

When it comes to the food, Animal Kingdom Lodge is a dream. This resort offers a quick service all-day dining hall option, multiple bars, and three table service dining options. This includes Boma, Sanaa, and Jiko (which is a signature dining restaurant). With so much to choose from, everyone in the family will be able to find something here without having to leave the resort.

Pro tip: The bread service at Sanaa is a MUST!

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

With spectacular views of Magic Kingdom and the monorail just steps away, you can’t go wrong with the location of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Magic Kingdom is one of the most popular theme parks for families, especially with younger children. So, being able to hop right on the monorail and be at the gates within 5 minutes is an absolute luxury!

Not only is it great for ease of park access, but the pools at the Polynesian Resort are spectacular. And, the kids’ play areas are large enough to keep kids occupied all day. And, when you’re hungry for a bite, you can choose from some of the best restaurants in Disney World including a quick service restaurant, a sit-down table service restaurant, and the famous all-you-can-eat experience at ‘Ohana. All of the food here is Polynesian-inspired, so you’ll find some more unique menu options compared to other Disney hotels.

And, we can’t talk about the Polynesian without mentioning Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto! This Walt Disney World bar is a hidden gem that is themed as an extension of the Jungle Cruise ride in Magic Kingdom. It is first come first serve and a must-do for anyone staying at the Polynesian Resort (or even if you aren’t!). Kids are only allowed in before 8PM, so plan accordingly if you’ll be taking the young ones.

Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Resort

While Disney’s BoardWalk Inn may not make many people’s “family resort” priority list, there are a few reasons it’s on ours. And, the main one? Being able to walk down the steps from the lobby to Disney’s Boardwalk makes the dining and entertainment options endless!

The Boardwalk offers access to multiple different shops, a brewery, bars, quick service restaurants, table service restaurants, and spectacular views. There are even carnival games that line the boardwalk for families to play. Or, if you need something to do between park visits, Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Mini Golf Course is within walking distance. And, at night, the boardwalk comes alive with entertainers, live music, and movies under the stars.

The pool at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn also recently went through an extensive refurbishment with a complete revamp of amenities. Equipped with a slide, hot tub, and pool bar, this is a great spot for a resort day. And, steps away from the pool is a large arcade that can keep your family entertained for hours.

Of course, there’s also the added convenience for your park days as you’re just steps away from the International Gateway entrance to EPCOT or a boat ride away from Disney’s Hollywood Studios when you stay here!

Which Resort is Best for Your Family Vacation?

All in all, Walt Disney World offers a wide variety of different options when it comes to resort hotels. They understand that vacation is not a one-size-fits-all, leaving something for everyone! So, whether you’re looking to take a fun family vacation on a tight budget or want to create your once-in-a-lifetime no-limits trip with the many generations of your family, we have all the options you’ll need right here to make the best decision!

Comments

Do you think that these are the best Disney Resorts for families? Did your favorite not make the list? Let us know about your experience staying at Disney World hotels with your family in the comments!