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The Difference Between Disney’s Value, Moderate and Deluxe Resorts

Walt Disney World has more than 25 magical resorts to choose from. To help you decide, Disney provides three types of resorts: Value, Moderate and Deluxe Resorts. However, you may still be wondering how a hotel is categorised and what differences to expect from your stay. At Ocean Florida, we have decades of award-winning experience helping families plan their dream Disney holiday. Today, we can help you look beyond the costs of accommodation and compare locations, room designs, resort amenities and more - until the only thing left to know is your flight time!

Value Resorts

Value Resorts include: Disney’s All Star Movies Resort, Disney's All Star Music Resort, Disney's All Star Sports Resort, Disney's Art of Animation Resort & Disney's Pop Century Resort.
Ideal for: Affordable family holidays that prioritise easy access to theme parks and Central Florida over luxurious amenities.

Larger than life decorations

Perfect for little ones, larger than life Disney characters decorate many Value resorts. For example, at the All-Star Movies Resort, characters from the big screen continue the theme throughout, from Toy Story figures several stories high at the entrance to the giant Sorcerer Mickey Mouse at the Fantasia Pool. It is this type of extravagance that still delivers the famous ‘Disney experience’ at Value resorts. Beyond character figures, Disney’s All-Star Music is another great example of larger than life decorations, with its piano-shaped swimming pools and jukebox headboards.

Giant pools without water slides

Each Value hotel has a large central swimming pool and smaller pools around the resort. Although those wanting waterslides will need to upgrade to Moderate or Deluxe hotels, there are still some spectacular pools. This includes the largest swimming pool of all resorts – The Big Blue – at Disney's Art of Animation Resort; through over 300,000 gallons of water, underwater speakers will play smash hits while you swim.

Giant pools without water slides

Each Value hotel has a large central swimming pool and smaller pools around the resort. Although those wanting waterslides will need to upgrade to Moderate or Deluxe hotels, there are still some spectacular pools. Including the largest swimming pool of all resorts – The Big Blue –at Disney's Art of Animation Resort. Through over 300,000 gallons of water, underwater speakers will play smash hits while you swim.

Up to queen-size beds

Previously, only double beds were on offer at Value resorts. After a recent renovation of most Value hotels, rooms feature either queen-size beds or queen fold out-beds. There is one exception at Disney’s Art of Animation, where Little Mermaid-themed rooms only include two double beds.

Food Court Dining

Unlike other categories, there is no table service dining at Value hotels. Instead, guests can enjoy a central food court and drinks station. Menus include a cafeteria-style range of options, such as burgers, pizzas and salads.

Food Court Dining

Skyliner or shuttle transportation to theme parks

Depending upon your Value resort, you will have two types of transport to and from theme parks: shuttle buses or Skyliners. Guests of Disney's All Star Resorts will have access to all four parks - and Disney Springs - by bus, leaving approximately every 15 minutes. Those staying at Disney’s Art of Animation and Pop Century Resort will have even easier access to Hollywood Studios and Epcot via Skyliner transportation.

Moderate Resorts

Moderate Resorts include: Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds, Disney's Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter & Disney's Port Orleans Resort – Riverside.
Ideal for: A touch of luxury without premium prices, particularly for older families or groups who would enjoy adult themes.

Adult features and themes

One of the first changes you might notice when moving from a Value to Moderate Disney hotel is the change in features. While not exclusively for adults; the furnishings, decorations and designs will be appreciated by them. A great example is Disney's Port Orleans Resort – Riverside. Set on the banks of a river, you can bask in a picturesque setting that evokes the romance of rural Louisiana at the turn of the 20th century. Meanwhile, at Disney's Coronado Springs, you can relax at a lakeside oasis with a unique mixture of American Southwest and Mexican culture. In short, obvious Disney decorations are replaced by sophisticated settings.

Swimming pools with waterslides

If you want your swimming pools to really make a splash, consider a Moderate resort. All resorts in this category have an array of fun waterslides, not least Disney's Coronado Springs Resort and its five-storey water slide from a Mayan pyramid! Moderate resorts will also often include kid pools, whirlpools and more.

Swimming pools with waterslides

Rooms for up to 5 guests

Disney’s Moderate resorts are particularly popular with families for the number of people who can fit in one room. While Value resorts can typically sleep four to a room, at Port Orleans Riverside and Caribbean Beach, a fifth guest can stay. The sleeping arrangement often involves two queen-size beds per room with a pull-down twin bed. For an additional fee, you could even upgrade to a king-size bed option at select resorts.

Table service dining

You can enjoy a variety of sit down meals with table service at Moderate resorts, as well as the food courts found at the Value level.

Table service dining

You can enjoy a variety of sit down meals with table service at Moderate resorts as well as the food courts found at the Value level.

Boat service to theme parks

For most of the Moderate Disney hotels, transport to and from parks remains by shuttle bus or Skyliner. Nevertheless, there are some outstanding exceptions. From the cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort, a boat delivers guests to and from the Magic Kingdom. Plus, at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside and the French Quarter, a water taxi takes guests to Disney Springs for shopping.

Deluxe Resorts

Deluxe Resorts include: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney's Beach Club Resort, Disney's Boardwalk Inn, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's olynesian Village Resort, Disney's Wilderness Lodge & Disney's Yacht Club Resort.
Ideal for: Decadent themes and deluxe amenities which bring the full magic of Disney to your hotel door.

Extended evening theme park hours

For the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World, there’s a castle-full of upcoming celebrations. One of them includes extended evening hours on select days in select theme parks exclusively for Disney Deluxe Resort guests. These extra benefits will begin in October 2021. If you are staying at a Value or Moderate resort, you will still have extra early entry to parks but a Deluxe resort lets you keep the party going.

Luxurious features and themes

The luxurious features of a Deluxe hotel create a truly immersive experience. At Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, the horseshoe-shaped hotel sits around 40 acres of savannah to over 200 freely roaming animals. While at Disney's BoardWalk Inn Resort, you can time travel to 1930’s Atlantic City the centre of a lively quarter-mile promenade, with waterfront views of the harbour as street performers play.

Luxurious features and themes

The luxurious features of a Deluxe hotel create a truly immersive experience. At Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, the horseshoe-shaped hotel sits around 40 acres of savannah to over 200 freely roaming animals. While at the BoardWalk Inn Resort, you can time travel to 1930’s Atlantic City the centre of a lively quarter-mile promenade, with waterfront views of the harbour as street performers play.

Grand swimming pools with waterslides

The swimming pools at this level define Deluxe. Highlights include Stormalong Bay at Disney's Beach Club Resort. Exclusive to the hotel’s guests, the swimming pool is often voted as one of Disney’s best aquatic attractions. With a sand-bottomed pool, 230-foot waterslide from a life-sized shipwreck, lazy river and whirlpool spas, it could be more accurately described as a beachside water park.

Award-winning dining

Food lovers can enjoy a wide array of culinary delights at Deluxe Disney Resorts from revered Chefs. This includes fine dining, character dining, signature dining, table service, tea rooms and food courts. At Disney's Contemporary Resort, you can even experience one of the select few restaurants in North America to be AAA Four-Diamond award-winning.

Award-winning dining

Extra amenities

Deluxe Disney hotels feature all the amenities you could want from your stay. Aside from the previously mentioned mega pools and waterslides, extras include on-site gyms, yoga classes, multiple shops, valet parking and even two full spas at the Grand Floridian and Saratoga Springs.

Prime location

Location is where Deluxe Resorts find their extra magic. While Value or Moderate resorts are close to theme parks, some Deluxe Resorts are within walking distance!

Prime location

Location is where Deluxe Resorts find their extra magic. While Value or Moderate resorts are close to theme parks, some Deluxe Resorts are within walking distance!

Enhanced transportation

Except for the Animal Kingdom Lodge, all Deluxe resorts offer transportation to and from theme parks beyond a shuttle bus service. For the utmost convenience, consider Disney’s Beach Club or Boardwalk inn for short boat rides to Epcot or Hollywood Studios. Or the Wilderness Lodge, for only another short boat ride to Magic Kingdom. With their proximity to select theme parks, Deluxe Resorts can let you stay next door to your favourites.

So which Disney Resort should you choose?

While some things change between resorts, Disney’s attention to detail for what guests want remains the same. For example, while some guests may enjoy the VIP treatment of Deluxe Resorts, young families might enjoy the fun themes of a Value Resort more AND enjoy paying less. Or you may desire to be beside Animal Kingdom, yet happy enough to stay at the Value Resort of All-Star Sports since it's only 1.8 miles away. The extra research into finding out what is on offer from specific resorts can help make all the difference to your decision. At Ocean Florida, our expert knowledge has helped thousands of families fulfill their Disney dreams – and we would love to help you too.