Can’t decide where to book a room for your next Disney World vacation? We’re helping you weigh the pros and cons of a Value Resort to make the choice easy.
With more than 25 Disney World Resort hotels to choose from, it’s safe to say you have a lot of options when it comes to booking a place to rest and relax. One of the most popular picks? The five Value Resorts on property: Art of Animation, Pop Century, All-Star Movies, All-Star Music, and All-Star Sports.
As Disney World experts, we’ve stayed at these different Value Resorts and know them inside and out. So, if you’re wondering whether or not a Value Resort is right for you, we’re breaking down the pros and cons of staying at one below.
The Pros of Staying at Disney’s Value Resorts
Affordable Room Rates
If there’s one standout perk to staying at a Disney World Value Resort, it’s undeniably the price. As the lowest-priced Resort tier, you can bank on the fact that a room at a Value Resort will cost you less than a room at a Moderate or Deluxe Resort.
Value Resorts are designed to offer great value – and be the most affordable options among the many different hotel choices available. If you want to stay on-property at a Disney Resort, these will be the lowest price tier available. And we love that the affordable room rates make this possible for guests of every budget and interest.
Standout (and Fun!) Theming
Sure, Moderate and Deluxe Resorts across Disney World can offer elegant or elevated theming. But when you’re looking for straight-up fun and over-the-top theming that everyone will love, it’s pretty tough to top the Value Resorts!
Just look at Disney’s All-Star Movies or Art of Animation Resorts. Featuring larger-than-life characters and icons pulled straight from beloved films like The Lion King, Toy Story, 101 Dalmatians, and Cars, you’ll feel like you’re actually staying in the midst of some of your favorite films.
And that thrilling theming extends to the other Value Resorts, too. Disney’s Pop Century Resort is a favorite among many guests because of its fun decades-inspired theming that covers the 1950s to the 1990s – and who doesn’t want to check out larger-than-life yo-yos, Rubik’s Cubes, and roller blades? And over at All-Star Music and All-Star Sports, you can be immersed in your favorite musical eras (complete with jaw-dropping instruments) or sports (yes, there’s a giant football field!).
Truly, the theming at Disney World’s Value Resorts is unlike any other hotel you could possibly stay at.
Family-Ready Rooms
Traveling with the whole family? Finding enough space for everyone to stay together can get expensive quickly, especially if you need to book multiple rooms. Fortunately, Disney World’s nicely-priced Value Resorts offer an option that’s perfect for this situation: Family Suites.
Two Value Resorts – Disney’s All-Star Music and Art of Animation – offer Family Suites. These larger-than-typical hotel rooms offer enough space for parties of up to 6 guests.
Whether you’re a family traveling with multiple kids, bringing friends along, or have grandparents, aunts, uncles, or others coming with, these Family Suites can offer the extra space you need to be comfortable and include everyone in a single room. It’s a fantastic alternative to booking the more expensive Villas available across Disney World, and there’s no need to worry about securing adjoining rooms.
The Cons of Staying at Disney’s Value Resorts
Long Transportation Lines
Value Resorts are popular at Disney World, and for good reason (like all of the reasons we mentioned above!) But as a result, a lot of guests will stay at Value Resorts – and use their free Disney World transportation to get around the resort.
During busy times of the year and on very busy days, this means the transportation options at Value Resorts can get a bit crazy. You can encounter incredibly long wait times for buses, leaving you waiting as long as an hour (or more!) to get from the resort to your theme park of choice.
This is particularly common during the annual Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend or for key dates like Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration back in 2021.
Value Resorts tend to offer bus transportation or, if you’re staying at Disney’s Art of Animation or Pop Century Resorts, Skyliner access. These more limited options, compared to resorts within walking distance of the parks or that offer boat transportation too, can compound the long wait for buses. So, if you’re looking to skip the wait, you may want to stay at a hotel with more transportation choices available.
Limited Dining Options
While Disney World’s many different Resort hotels offer an array of delicious dining options, you’ll find that staying at a Value Resort does limit your choices somewhat.
Value Resorts typically offer the fewest restaurants onsite, meaning you’ll typically only have a choice of one quick-service restaurant (which is set up like a food court) and a pool bar. While these can be handy for quick bites or families who don’t need a fancy option, it may not be the best for more adventurous eaters or those who really like to dine out while at Disney World.
Moderate Resorts and Deluxe Resorts will offer more dining choices. Here, you’ll find table-service restaurants, character dining, and more variety in general. So, if it’s a wider selection of hotel restaurants you’re looking for, a Value Resort may not be the best fit.
Is a Disney World Value Resort Right for You?
The Value Resorts at Disney World offer the best of both worlds: All of the magic (and those extra-magical perks!) of a Disney Resort hotel, plus reasonable pricing that suits guests of different budgets. And if you’re looking for solid value for your money, these resorts offer stellar rates and room choices for their prices.
Of course, it’s always a good idea to balance details like your preferred mode of transportation, your interest in different resort amenities, and theme park proximity as you’re searching for the perfect Disney World Resort hotel. Need help deciding? The Vacationeer’s team of experts can offer the inside knowledge you need for any and every type of vacation.
