Congratulations!  You are going on a Walt Disney World Vacation, Welcome Home!  

A Walt Disney World vacation can be one of the most expensive vacations you and your family ever take but one of the most exciting!  The average family of four spends almost $5800 on a seven day vacation to the most magical place on earth, that averages out to $207.14 per person per day.  The biggest expense to any WDW vacation is accommodations.  

As an avid Walt Disney World traveler, I get asked very frequently about the different resorts around property and which one someone should stay in.  When asked this question I typically reply back with "What are you looking to accomplish on your vacation?"  This answer can easily guide someone to the perfect hotel...as long as they are willing to spend the money.

Hotels and resorts in and around Walt Disney World come in a wide range of prices.  Generally, hotels around Walt Disney World are broken into two categories.  Disney hotels and Walt Disney World Official Hotels, Disney hotels being specifically managed by Disney and Walt Disney World Official Hotels being owned and managed by other individuals or companies.  These official hotel are located in the Disney Springs shopping area and come with many, but not all of the perks of staying at a Disney hotel.

Stick around to this page as we explore further into the 34 hotels on and around Walt Disney World.  We will also discuss tips, tricks and reminders on how to have a success vacation.  

Let the Magic Begin!

There are currently a total of 29 Disney owned and run hotels and resorts.  That is a lot of resorts to pick from!  These resorts are broken into three categories; value, moderate and deluxe. Let's break down the different levels of resorts.

Value resorts, as with the name, are your budget friendly hotels, these resorts are typically considered a motel style resort with the smallest rooms.  All value resorts can accommodate four adults with the exception of Art of Animation and All Star Music suites.  Value resorts typically are priced from $99-$199.

Moderate resorts are your mid-scale resorts that can typically accommodate up to five individuals comfortably.  Moderate resorts will be a step up from the basic value resorts. All moderate resorts are priced very similarly so the one you pick will come down to location and theme.  Moderate resorts are priced $179 - $299.

Deluxe resorts are your upper scale resorts, they are also known as Disney Vacation Club Resorts.  Each resort has either standard rooms, one bedroom, two bedrooms or three bedroom suites.  Deluxe resorts are priced $299 - $2000.

Helpful Tip: Always check the official WDW website for current specials being run, even after you book your vacation monitor the website!

You may be asking, honestly you should be asking…what are the benefits to staying at a Walt Disney World Resort?  Well I am glad you asked! Let us explain them in a little more depth below.  

How excited would you be if I told you that the Magic Kingdom is typically opened for 13 hours a day? You would be pretty excited wouldn’t you!?  Well what if I told you that if you stayed on property the Magic Kingdom could be opened for 14-15 hours!!  Boom…mind blown…. Yes, if you stay on property or at a Disney World Official hotel you get Extra Magic Hour.  Extra Magic Hour is an extra hour or two that the park is opened just for Disney resort and Disney World Official hotel guest. 

Here is the typical Magic Hour rotation.

Animal Kingdom - Monday & Saturday AM

Hollywood Studio - Sunday AM 

Epcot - Tuesday - PM Thursday - AM

Magic Kingdom - Wednesday -PM Friday - AM

Reminder: Extra Magic Hour may be extended or added when new lands open.  

Walt Disney World is located 20 miles from the Orlando International Airport, that could be one expensive cab right!  Wait…if you are staying at a Disney World Resort they will drive you there…FREE!  Just hop on the Magical Express at the airport and Disney will transport you to the most magical resort on earth, they will also take you bags straight from the airport to your resort room.

Reminder: If you are flying into Orlando internationally, you will have to pick up your bags and bring them to the Magical Express.  

Guest staying at a Disney World Resort or at an Official hotel can book their FastPass+ reservations 60 days out from arrival rather than the standard 30 days, they also receive complimentary transportation to and from their resort to the parks.  Disney Resort guest get complimentary MagicBands as well. Who doesn’t love free stuff?

Helpful Tip: When booking your FastPass+ reservations work backwards. Start on your last park day as better FastPass+ options are likely to be available.  

Disney resorts are BIG!  One of the most popular value resorts is Pop Century, also known as Pop.  Pop has 2,880 room situated in 10 different buildings.  The hotel is located in the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex which is near Hollywood Studios and Epcot. The theming at Pop is the 20thCentury and the “Pop” culture of each decade.  The typical price point for Pop is $129-$199.

What About the Guestrooms

One of the best parts of Pop are their new refreshed rooms.  The newly refreshed rooms have an Ikea feel to them with open closets, built in dresser and mounted TV.  You can easily stay connected with numerous plug ins and usb ports.  All rooms have two queen beds in them, one bed is a murphy bed style and folds up into a cabinet.  While the bed is in the “up” position there is a fold down table with two chairs.  All the rooms are the same size 260 sqft, there are no suites.  Rooms are arranged into four categories standard, pool view, preferred and preferred pool view. Preferred rooms typically cost $10-$15 more than standard.

Helpful Tip:Paying for a pool view location will get you a room near the pool, you will have to open the door and stand in the outdoor corridor to view the pool.  Rooms near the pools can be noisy as the pools are open until 11 pm.

Shopping and Eating

The Pop Century resort uses an open dining and gift shop combinations, this area is called Everything Pop.  The gift shop sells Disney merchandise as well as 1950-1990 themed gift. The food court serves food until midnight and is home to the ‘Tye Dye’ cheesecake.  Pop has plenty of stations you can fill your unlimited drink cup.  The Petals Pool Bar is located by the hippy dippy pool in the 60’s section.  Here you can buy beer, cocktails and sangria drinks, remember this is Disney so prices will be higher than back home.   In-Room Dining is open from 4pm-12pm. 

Pool Time!

The resort has three themed pool areas and one splash pad.  The Bowling Pool is located in the 50’s section, Computer Pool located in the 80’s and 90’s section and the main Hippy Dippy Pool in the 60’s section.  The kiddie splash pad is located next to the Hippy Dippy pool.  No matter what section you are in you can use all three pools.  

REMINDER:Guest are not allowed to pool hop between different resorts.  You may only use the pool at your hotel.

Getting Around

Guest arriving into the Orlando International Airport and have booked their vacations through the Walt Disney Travel Company are provided with complimentary transportation to and from the airport and their resort.  Pop offers resort to all theme parks, water park and Disney Springs via bus.  One benefit of Pop is it has only one bus stop. The resort also provides transportation to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studio aboard the Disney Skyliner, located on Hourglass lake between Pop and Art of Animation.  Parking at this resort and other value resorts is $13 per night.

REMINDER:Magical Express transportation is only provided from the Orlando International Airport.  Flights into the Orlando Sanford Airport is not included in this complimentary transportation.  

Is it Right For You?

The Pop Century resort is a perfect resort for guest with fewer than four individuals and will be spending most of their time in the park.  Adding a 5thperson or crib would make these rooms very tight.  If you are looking to add a few pools days into your vacation, Pop is probably not the resort for you.  Its basic pools are better for cooling off on a hot day than to spend the afternoon lounging around it.  

Helpful Tip: Don’t pay for a preferred room as all standard rooms are a 5-7-minute walk from Classic Hall. 

Quick Facts:

Pets Allowed: No

Service Pets: Yes

Laundry Faulty: Yes, 3

Bar: Yes, 1

Fitness Faulty: No

Conference Space: No

Pool: Yes, 3

Spa: No

Refrigerator: Yes

Microwave: No