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Best Disney World Hotels With Kids

ByKristi Updated on
Two toddlers playing on a giant outdoor chessboard at Disney’s All Star Music Resort, surrounded by colorful buildings decorated with musical notes. Could All Star Music be the Best Disney World Hotels for Solo Parents With Kids?
A giant chessboard turned into the best impromptu toddler activity. Disney World has no shortage of hotels perfect for families.

Searching for the best Disney World hotels with kids? As a former Disney Cast Member and a parent who has stayed at and visited a lot of Disney resorts with young kids, I’ve thought about this question from just about every angle.

The truth is that there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The best Disney World hotel for your family depends on your budget, your kids’ ages, your transportation preferences, and what kind of trip you’re hoping to have.

In this guide, I’ll break down Disney’s hotel categories, explain what actually matters when you’re choosing a resort with kids, and share my favorite picks based on real experience. Whether you’re looking for stroller-friendly routes, easy access to the parks, extra room to spread out, or a Disney hotel that makes the logistics feel easier, you’ll find honest answers here.

Understanding Disney World’s Hotel Options

Walt Disney World has five official categories of hotels, plus one honorable mention. Here’s what they include:

Deluxe Villas

Disney’s Deluxe Villas are condo-style rooms within Disney Vacation Club (DVC) resorts. They’re designed to feel like a “home away from home” with full kitchens, separate living areas, and, sometimes, in-room washers/dryers. They’re ideal for larger families, longer stays, or parents who want the convenience of cooking meals and having extra space.

Resorts in this category:

  • Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
  • Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
  • Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House or Kidani Village
  • Disney’s Beach Club Villas
  • Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
  • Disney’s Old Key West Resort
  • Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
  • Disney’s Riviera Resort
  • Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
  • The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Vacation Club Resort
  • The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Want to stay in one of these Deluxe Villas for less than booking directly through Disney? Check availability and pricing through David’s Vacation Club Rentals here.

Deluxe Resort Hotels

The grand lobby of Animal Kingdom Lodge's Jambo House, featuring soaring ceilings, African-inspired chandeliers, and wooden décor.
Animal Kingdom’s Jambo House lobby truly feels like a safari lodge—my kids were wide-eyed from the moment we stepped inside.

Deluxe Resorts are Disney’s most luxurious hotels, with the highest price tag but the most perks. They feature larger rooms, immersive theming, high-quality dining, prime locations, and the best transportation options. Guests also get exclusive perks like Extended Evening Theme Park Hours.

Resorts in this category:

Moderate Resort Hotels

Colorful Disney Skyliner gondolas glide through the air on a sunny day, connecting various parts of Walt Disney World with views of resorts and treetops below. This photo is perfect for illustrating how Disney transportation with a stroller can be seamless—smaller strollers can roll directly onto the Skyliner without folding, making it a stress-free travel option for families.
The Disney Skyliner, my personal favorite form of transportation, is available at some of the Moderate Resort Hotels.

Moderates offer a middle ground between Value and Deluxe resorts. They’re more affordable than Deluxe resorts, with bigger rooms and more amenities and activities than you’ll usually find at the Value resorts. You’ll also find themed pools, food courts with plenty of options, and even some sit-down restaurants.

Resorts in this category:

Value Resort Hotels

A small child squats down next to a blue car from the Disney movie Cars. There is a hotel in the background which is also themed to the movie.
My toddlers love the bold colors and big themes of the Value Resort Hotels.

Value Resorts are Disney’s most budget-friendly option. They have over-the-top theming (giant characters, movie icons), standard motel-style rooms, and quick-service food courts. Transportation is usually bus, but a couple are also on the Skyliner line.

Resorts in this category:

Campgrounds

Disney’s campground option is The Campsites at Fort Wilderness Resort, where you can pitch a tent, park an RV, or rent a cabin. It’s set in a wooded area with unique recreational activities like campfire sing-alongs, archery, and horseback riding.

Other Select Deluxe Hotels

These aren’t owned by Disney, but they’re located on Disney property and offer the same perks as Deluxe Resorts.

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Figuring out how to get from Orlando International Airport to your Disney World resort can feel like a lot, especially when you’re traveling with kids.

This planning kit walks you through the main transportation options so you can think through car seats, luggage, strollers, cost, timing, and what will actually work best for your family.

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Cover graphic for the Disney Arrival Planning Kit, a step-by-step guide for getting from Orlando International Airport to Disney World with kids.

Thinking Through What Really Matters

With so many Disney resort choices, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Instead of getting stuck in the weeds, it helps to compare them by what will actually affect your trip:

Budget

  • Deluxe Villas + Deluxe Resorts → Most expensive
  • Moderates → Mid-range
  • Values → Cheapest
  • Campgrounds → Cheapest overall (bring your own tent or RV)
  • Swan/Dolphin/Reserve → Usually priced like Moderates but with Deluxe perks

Money-saving tip: If Deluxe Villas appeal to you, consider renting DVC points instead of booking directly through Disney. I used David’s Vacation Club Rentals for our Old Key West stay, and it was one of the biggest ways I was able to make a Deluxe Villa work for our trip.

Transportation

When you’re staying at Disney World with kids, transportation can make or break a stay. With a double stroller, I strongly prefer resorts where I can either walk into the parks or take the monorail without folding it. That matters even more when I’m the only adult with my kids, but it is helpful for any family trying to keep Disney transportation as simple as possible.

Best stroller-friendly resorts:

Magic Kingdom area (monorail line)

  • Disney’s Contemporary Resort
  • Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
  • Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
  • Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
  • Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
  • The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

EPCOT area (walkable to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios)

If you don’t mind folding strollers, the Skyliner resorts or even bus-only resorts can still be totally fine.

And if you prefer to rent a car, resort transportation may not matter much—just note that parking is free at Disney-owned resorts, but Swan/Dolphin properties charge nightly fees.

Resort Perks

If you like to hang out at the resort, Deluxe, Villas, and Moderates have the most recreation: boat rentals, fishing, bike rentals, carriage rides, etc. Values don’t offer much beyond pools and playgrounds, but if you’re in the parks all day, you may not care.

Dining

  • Deluxe, Villas, and Moderates → Offer sit-down restaurants and lounges in addition to quick service
  • Values → Only food courts (though they’re efficient, especially with mobile ordering)

Room Size

  • Deluxe Villas/Resorts → Best for large families (suites, villas, multi-room options)
  • Moderates → Some rooms sleep 5 with a pull-down Murphy bed
  • Value (Art of Animation & All-Star Music) → Family suites that sleep up to 6
  • Standard Value rooms → Small and can feel tight with strollers or cribs, but they can work well for smaller families or shorter stays

Disney World Hotel Categories

CategoryPrice RangeRoom SizeDiningTransportationBest For
Deluxe Villas$$$$Largest (kitchen, washer/dryer)Sit-down + quick serviceMonorail, boats, Skyliner, busesBig families, longer stays
Deluxe Resorts$$$Large (plus very large suites available)Sit-down + quick serviceBest transport optionsFamilies who want convenience
Moderates$$Mid-size (some 5th sleepers)Mix of food court + some sit-downBuses + Skyliner (select)Families balancing cost & comfort
Values$Small (suites at AoA + Music)Food courts onlyBuses + Skyliner (select)Budget trips, park-focused families
Campgrounds$Campsites/cabinsSit-down + quick serviceBoats + busesOutdoorsy families
Swan/Dolphin/Reserve$$–$$$LargeSit-down + quick serviceWalkable to EPCOT/HSPoints users, deluxe perks at lower cost

My Favorite Resorts With Toddlers

Even after all my Disney resort experience, I can’t pick just one favorite. These are the resorts I come back to most often when people ask where to stay at Disney World with kids:

  • Animal Kingdom Lodge – My top pick for atmosphere. Peaceful, immersive, and my kids loved sitting on the balcony watching animals roam the Savanna. Plus, it has my favorite playground and my favorite restaurant (Boma – Flavors of Africa).
  • Port Orleans Riverside – This one is full of nostalgia for me. My family stayed here growing up, and I worked here during my College Program. Peaceful, shady, and with a lot of things to do (surrey bikes, carriage rides, a great pool and playground, etc).
  • Yacht & Beach Club – I worked here as a concierge and still love it. Steps from EPCOT, Skyliner access, and you can also walk to Hollywood Studios. Gorgeous holiday gingerbread displays, too.
  • Contemporary – A true classic. The Monorail goes right through the lobby (my kids think it’s magic), and you can even walk to Magic Kingdom. It also has one of my favorite food courts.
  • Art of Animation – Perfect if your kids love Cars, Lion King, or Finding Nemo. The themed suites are fun and practical, with room for big families or extra adults. It also has a fantastic pool and Skyliner access.
  • Swan/Dolphin/Swan Reserve – Amazing if you use hotel points, like I do. Walking distance to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, with deluxe perks at a lower cost.
  • All-Star Resorts – You just can’t beat the price when you want Disney magic on a budget.

What Are the Best Disney World Hotels With Kids?

So, what are the best Disney World hotels with kids? The truth is that it depends.

Your budget, your kids’ ages, whether you’ll use the resort’s amenities, how much space you need, and how you plan to get to the parks will all change the answer.

For my family, transportation and stroller logistics matter a lot. I love resorts where I can walk, use the monorail, or avoid folding the stroller as much as possible. But another family may care more about price, pool time, food options, or having a larger room.

The best Disney World hotel is the one that makes your specific trip feel easier. Start with your budget, think through how you’ll get to the parks, and then choose the resort that fits the way your family actually travels.

Have questions about this post or want help thinking through the logistics for your own trip? Join my free Facebook community for parents planning family travel. You can ask questions, share what you’re working through, and get real-life advice from other parents who understand how many little details go into traveling with kids.

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