If you’re planning a Walt Disney World vacation and trying to make the most of your budget, you’ll want to weigh the pros and cons of Disney World value resorts before booking. These budget-friendly hotels are the most affordable way to stay on Disney property, offering iconic theming, convenient perks like Early Park Entry and free theme park transportation, and the ability to stay in the Disney magic. But affordability comes with trade-offs—smaller rooms, limited dining options, and sprawling layouts that might mean long walks to the nearest bus stop. So, before you book your reservation, let’s dive a little deeper into everything you need to know to decide if a Value Resort is the right fit for your family.

What Are Disney World Value Resorts?

Disney World Value Resorts are the most affordable hotels within Walt Disney World. These Disney resort hotels offer basic amenities and smaller room sizes at budget-friendly prices, which has made them very popular among Disney-goers.

Currently, there are five Value Resorts at Disney World, including:

• Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

The three All-Star Resorts share one large property and often use shared bus transportation. And, while bus service is separate for the resorts, Disney’s Pop Century and Art of Animation are close to each other and connected by a bridge over Hourglass Lake.

Value Resorts are a great options for families who are looking to stay at a Disney World Resort near the parks without paying premium pricing. And, they certainly deliver on the Disney experience! You’ll find larger-than-life Disney theming, expansive resort grounds, and all the Disney perks guests have come to know and love for making any vacation a bit easier and convenient.

Room rates at these hotels typically range from $115 to $350 per night depending on season and the specific resort you choose. All-Star Sports usually offers the lowest rates while Art of Animation has higher prices because of the unique room types offered.

Each resort includes food courts, pools, gift shops, and complimentary Disney transportation. While most of the Value Resorts only offer bus transportation to and from the theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs, two resorts (Pop Century and Art of Animation) are connected to Disney’s Skyliner system for even easier transport to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

So, is one of the cheapest Disney World hotels right for your next stay? Let’s break down the pros and cons of Disney World Value Resorts!

Pros of Staying at Disney World Value Resorts

Budget-Friendly Accommodations

If you’re doing Disney World on a budget, the first place to save is on your hotel stay. And, Disney World Value Resorts have you covered! These five resorts are the most affordable on Disney property with standard rooms typically ranging from $100 to $350 per night. The family Suites at Disney’s Art of Animation are the only exception to this, typically ranging from $400 to $700 per night, but this is because these rooms sleep up to six people compared to standard rooms that only sleep up to four.

For comparison, Disney World Moderate Resorts start around $300 to $400+ per night and Deluxe Resorts start around $500 to $650+ per night. So, if you’re staying just one night, you’re already saving about $200 on average and that savings becomes even more substantial the longer you stay!

Opting to stay at a Value Resort means that you have more money to spend on park tickets (including a Park Hopper upgrade), food, and merchandise. And, if you plan on being at the theme parks from open to close most days, then you’re really putting your money towards the parts of your vacation that matter.

Access to Disney Resort Hotel Guest Perks

When you stay at a Disney World Resort hotel, you get access to a variety of perks that can make a huge difference in your trip. And, that is true for anyone staying at a Value Resort!

From extra time in the parks, to early booking windows for some of Disney’s most popular dining experiences and add-ons, to free transportation, and more. Here are all of the Disney resort guest benefits included in your Value Resort stay:

• Early Theme Park Entry (allowing you to enter any of the four theme parks 30 minutes before
• Free Disney transportation
• Extended dining reservation window (60 days + the length of your stay)
• 7-day pre-booking window for Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass
• Ability to purchase a Disney Dining Plan
• Discounted MagicBands
• Free water park admission on the day you check in
• Early access to Disney special event tickets
• Staying in the “Disney Bubble”

So, if you’re looking for all the convenience and benefits that come along with staying at Disney for a fraction of the price, Value Resorts certainly stand out!

Highly Disney-Themed and Immersive

When you step inside a Disney World Value Resort, you’ll feel like you’re stepping into your favorite Disney movies rather than a hotel. Each Value Resort features larger-than-life, bold Disney character theming throughout the entire hotel. For example, each building is decked out in the sections theming and you’ll find giant statues of characters like Mickey, Ariel, and Simba and his pals. This extends to the pools too!

It is worth noting that the recent updates to the rooms at Disney’s All-Star Resorts and Disney’s Pop Century Resort have toned down the over-the-top theming inside the rooms. But, you’re sure to still get your fill as you walk around and take advantage of all the resort amenities.

So, if you’re looking to stay somewhere that screams “You’re at Disney World!” look no further than the Value Resorts!

Cons of Disney World Value Resorts

Smallest Rooms in Walt Disney World

Disney World Value Resort rooms are the most “bare-bones” and small accommodations on Disney property. Standard rooms measure approximately 260 square feet, which is significantly smaller than moderate resort rooms, which are approximately 314 square feet.

Each room typically includes two queen sized beds (one standard queen bed and one queen-size table bed) and can only sleep four guests. For many families, that’s all you need, however, the space can feel cramped when fully occupied by four adults, especially with luggage and personal items.

There isn’t much space for storage in the rooms and closet and drawer space is minimal. The bathroom is also compact, with most standard rooms having a tub-shower combination and a toilet in one room and the sink with limited counter space just outside of the bathroom.

The only exception to this are the Family Suites at Disney’s Art of Animation which are much larger and feature two rooms, two bathrooms, one queen bed and one double-size sleeper sofa and one double-size table bed. Just keep in mind room rates for Family Suites are more comparable to pricing at moderate resorts.

Limited Dining Options

Unlike moderate and deluxe resorts that have multiple restaurants on-site, Disney World Value Resorts only offer one food court-style quick service dining option. The food courts are large with multiple bays that service standard theme park fare like pizzas, burgers, and pasta. So, you’ll definitely be able to find something for everyone to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but the quality of the food won’t be anything to write home about.

Additionally, as the only dining option, the food courts can become extremely crowded during peak meal times. Long lines often form during breakfast and dinner hours when everyone returns from the parks.

The Resorts are Massive

Disney World Value Resorts accommodate thousands of people every day and span across sprawling properties with multiple buildings. For example, Disney’s Art of Animation has over 1,984 rooms, while the All-Star resorts each have 1,920 rooms.

Due to the size, you’ll often find that you need to walk pretty far to get to any of the resort amenities from your room. Depending on your building and room assignment, you might face a 5-10 minute walk to the food court, transportation, or the pools. Preferred rooms guarantee that you’ll be closer to these amenities, but they do cost more per night.

It’s also important to keep in mind that more rooms means more people. So, you’ll often find that wait times for food, transportation, and other resort amenities can be longer because there are a lot of other people staying at the resort with you.

Pros and Cons of Each Disney World Value Resort

So, maybe you’re sure that a Value Resort is right for your next Disney World vacation, but which one is best? Let’s break down the pros and cons of all five to help you decide!

Disney’s All-Star Resorts

Disney’s All-Star Resorts are actually three separate value resort hotels including, All-Star Sports, All-Star Music, and All-Star Movies. Each resort is nearly identical to the other, with the biggest difference being the theming. For example, at All-Star Sports you’ll be treated to decorations featuring your favorite Disney characters playing sports, at All-Star Movies you’ll find icons like Woody from Toy Story, and at All-Star Music Donald and the Three Caballeros own the show.

Pros of staying at Disney’s All-Star Resorts:

• Most affordable Disney hotel – Room rates typically range from $100-200 per night during most seasons
• Sports, Movie, and Music Disney theming – Features larger-than-life character decorations and movie tie-ins that are sure to make your kids excited if those are their favorites

Cons of staying at Disney’s All-Star Resorts:

• Limited transportation options – Only bus transportation is available, which can result in longer wait times during peak hours
• Often Loud – These hotels are popular with school groups, sports groups, and families with young children, leading to a lot of hallway noise depending on where your room is located

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Disney’s Pop Century Resort is a value resort that celebrates pop culture from the 1950s through 1990s. You’ll find oversized icons from these centuries with a Disney twist (like Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, for example) scattered throughout the property. The resort sits on Hourglass Lake and connects to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort via walking path. Plus, you’ll also have access to the Disney Skyliner to get to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios when you stay here.

This resort has become a fan-favorite over the years thanks to it’s affordable pricing, convenient transportation options, and the fact that it’s a bit smaller than the All-Star Resorts so you don’t have to deal with quite as much noise.

Pros of staying at Disney’s Pop Century Resort:

• Regarded as the “best” Value Resorts by many Disney-goers Thanks to its affordable pricing, convenient transportation options, and the fact that it’s a bit smaller than the All-Star Resorts so you don’t have to deal with quite as much noise.
• Located on Disney Skyliner route – Features direct gondola transportation to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios making getting to the parks even easier

Cons of staying at Disney’s Pop Century Resort:

• Century-theming is a little less “Disney” than other Value Resorts – There’s still plenty of Disney characters, but the century theme may not resonate with young families
• Can be very busy – Its popularity and high guest capacity can mean crowded pools and food courts during peak times

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is the newest Disney World value resort and features four themed sections based on popular Disney and Pixar films including The Little Mermaid, Cars, Finding Nemo, and The Lion King. The Little Mermaid section is the only one that offers standard rooms (with one kind bed or two queen beds), and all other sections are Family Suites that sleep up to six.

This resort stands out among the others for its fun, colorful theming with some of the most recognizable Disney characters that your kids are sure to love. Plus, it’s home to the largest resort swimming pool at Disney World and even has a Finding Nemo-themed splash pad!

Pros of staying at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort:

• Family suites available – The Cars, Finding Nemo, and Lion King sections offer spacious family suites that sleep up to six guests with separate living areas making it ideal for large families
• Multiple pool areas – Each themed section has its own pool, including the massive Big Blue Pool and splash pad in the Finding Nemo courtyard
• Located on Disney Skyliner route – Features direct gondola transportation to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios making getting to the parks even easier

Cons of staying at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort:

• Higher cost than other value resorts – Despite being classified as a value resort, room rates are typically the most expensive among the value tier and the cost of Family Suites are more comparable to moderate resorts
• Can feel crowded – The resort’s popularity with families means common areas and pools can become very, very busy, especially during peak seasons

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