Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

Because here’s the thing: Disney World has a LOT of hotels. And they are not all built for the same kind of vacation.

Some are great if you want the cheapest possible room on Disney property. Some are ideal if your dream vacation includes floating in a pool that is basically a baby water park. Some are perfect if you want to be steps from Magic Kingdom. And some are…well, let’s just say they require a very specific traveler with very strong calf muscles and a high tolerance for internal bus loops.

You’ll do a LOT of walking at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

That’s exactly why we made a FREE printable guide to Every Disney World Hotel. And yes, we mean every Disney-owned hotel. The splurges. The steals. The ones we love. The ones we’d book again. The ones we’d avoid depending on the trip.

Your Hotel Can Make or Break Your Trip

We say this with love and the haunted wisdom of people who have spent a lot of time in Disney hotel lobbies — your resort choice matters.

It can change how early you wake up. How quickly you get to the parks. How often you need a rideshare. Whether your toddler melts down before you even reach the bus stop. Whether your pool day feels relaxing or like someone dropped you into a chlorine-scented marching band rehearsal.

Pool at Pop Century

That’s why our free printable guide breaks Disney World hotels down in a way that actually helps you plan.

Inside the guide, we sort resorts by category, including Value, Value Plus, Moderate, Deluxe, and Deluxe Villas. That matters because those categories are not just fancy labels Disney slapped on the brochure with a little pixie dust and a calculator. They usually tell you a lot about room size, amenities, transportation, dining, and price.

Port Orleans Resort — Riverside

For example, Disney’s Value Resorts are typically the more affordable Disney-owned hotels, with smaller rooms, food court dining, themed pools, bus transportation, and Early Theme Park Entry. But they don’t have Table Service restaurants, water slides at feature pools, or hot tubs.

Meanwhile, Deluxe Resorts come with bigger amenities, more dining options, and perks like Extended Evening Hours, but they also come with prices that may make your wallet shudder with pain, hostility, and a little first-world guilt.

A Definitive Ranking of EVERY Disney World Hotel!

We Help You Figure Out What You’re Really Paying For

A Disney hotel is not just a bed near Mickey. It’s transportation. It’s dining access. It’s theming. It’s pool quality. It’s walking distance. It’s whether you can get back to your room after fireworks without reconsidering every choice that led you here. Our printable guide gives you quick-hit resort breakdowns so you can see what each hotel is actually offering.

Want the cheapest rooms on Disney property? The guide highlights the All-Star Resorts, including All-Star Movies, All-Star Sports, and All-Star Music, which usually have some of the lowest-priced standard rooms among Disney-owned hotels.

Want Skyliner access without jumping straight to Deluxe prices? Pop Century is called out as the cheapest hotel on the Skyliner route, while Art of Animation gets attention for its family suites, colorful theming, and the Finding Nemo-themed Big Blue Pool.

Skyliner Station at Disney Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Want something that feels more grown-up and polished without going full Deluxe? Coronado Springs, especially Gran Destino Tower, gets a nod for giving you a more deluxe-feeling experience at a moderate price.

Coronado Springs

TL;DR — we do not just say “this hotel is cute.” We tell you why it might work, when it might not, and what little detail could become a big deal once you’re actually there.

The “Best” Disney Hotel Depends on YOUR Trip

This is where people get into trouble. They ask, “What’s the best Disney World hotel?” and then get 900 different answers from 900 different people who are all weirdly confident.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

The best hotel for a family with three little kids is not necessarily the best hotel for adults who plan to eat at lounges, sleep in, and avoid strollers like battlefield debris. The best hotel for a Magic Kingdom-heavy trip might not be the best hotel for EPCOT festival snacking. The best hotel for a pool day might not be the best hotel for rope dropping Hollywood Studios.

Our guide helps you match the hotel to the vacation you actually want.

International Gateway Sign

If you want proximity to Magic Kingdom, you’ll probably care about monorail and boat access. If you want EPCOT convenience, you’ll want to look at resorts near the International Gateway or Skyliner. If you want dining, you may be happier at a hotel with multiple restaurants and lounges nearby. If you want peace and quiet, you might not want the loudest, busiest, most chaotic value resort experience available, unless you personally enjoy vacationing inside a pool noodle tornado. No judgment. Just strategy.

We Also Tell You Where to Be Careful

Now, “where to avoid” does not mean a resort is bad for everyone. Disney hotels are complicated little creatures. A resort can be great for one traveler and a mistake for another. That’s why the guide includes ratings, pros, and cons for Disney hotels.

Disney’s Old Key West Resort

For example, the All-Star Resorts are among the most affordable Disney rooms and have seen relatively recent room updates, but they can also be loud and hectic, with crowded bus transportation and smaller standard rooms.

You can combine it with other deals, including hotel discounts

Caribbean Beach gets points for Skyliner access and its feature pool, but the resort is huge and can be hard to navigate. Some rooms can be a long trek from the main lobby area, which is cute in theory and less cute when you’re carrying a sleeping kid, a popcorn bucket, and the spiritual weight of a 14-hour park day.

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

Animal Kingdom Lodge earns high praise for its restaurants and savanna-view room possibilities, but bus transportation is your only park transportation option, and not every room comes with a guaranteed savanna view.

This is the kind of hotel nuance that matters. Because “beautiful resort” and “best fit for your trip” are not always the same sentence.

Don’t Ignore Refurbishments and Construction

This is one of the sneakiest Disney hotel planning traps. You find a resort. You fall in love with the pool. You book it. You start imagining your mid-day break with a frozen drink and a lounge chair. Then you discover the pool is closed.

Cozy Cone Pool is Closed

Our guide includes a construction and refurbishment section to help you spot hotel work that could impact your stay. That includes pool closures, room refurbishments, exterior maintenance, and transportation interruptions.

Construction at Wilderness Lodge

And yes, construction schedules can change, so you should always double-check before your trip. But having those notes in one place is a huge planning advantage, especially if the pool, quiet atmosphere, or transportation access is one of the main reasons you’re booking a resort in the first place. Because nothing says “magical vacation” like paying Deluxe prices while your favorite amenity is behind a scrim.

Ranking Disney World Deluxe Resorts From Completely CHILL To Completely CHAOTIC

This Guide Is Built by Disney Experts

At Disney Food Blog, we do not just read hotel descriptions and nod politely. We stay at these resorts. We eat at the restaurants. We test the transportation. We look at the room layouts. We pay attention to what actually matters once you’re there.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

We know which hotel perks are worth chasing and which ones sound better in a marketing blurb than they feel at 10:47 PM when everyone is sweaty, tired, and one missed bus away from mutiny. This free printable guide is designed to help you quickly compare your options without turning resort research into a part-time job with no benefits.

Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

You’ll be able to see which hotels are best for budget travelers, which ones are better for families, which ones feel more luxurious, which ones have transportation advantages, and which ones may come with tradeoffs you really need to know before you book.

How to Get the FREE Printable Guide

Want the full guide? Just enter your email and sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll send you the Every Disney World Hotel printable guide for FREE.

And honestly, the newsletter is the real little planning gremlin you want in your corner. You’ll get Disney World news, restaurant updates, hotel changes, planning tips, park strategy, discount alerts, free resources, and the kind of practical advice that helps you avoid expensive mistakes.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

Basically, we keep an eye on the chaos so you don’t have to stand in the middle of it holding a Mickey pretzel and wondering where it all went wrong.

Your Disney Hotel Should Fit Your Vacation

The right Disney World hotel is not always the most expensive one. It’s not always the newest one. It’s not always the one everyone on the internet is screaming about this week. The right hotel is the one that fits your budget, your park plans, your transportation needs, your dining priorities, your pool expectations, and your group’s general willingness to walk before coffee.

Riviera Resort

Our free printable Every Disney World Hotel guide will help you compare your options quickly, spot the tradeoffs, and choose the resort that actually makes sense for your trip. So before you book that room, grab the guide. Your future vacation self, probably wearing sunscreen, holding coffee, and trying not to miss the bus, will thank you.

Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter

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WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.

---

Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

GET YOUR GUIDE NOW

Which Disney resort hotel is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets

Well, part of the fun of openings is previews! Getting a preview slot can be a bit complicated, but now it’s become MORE complicated because park reservations are filling up. If you were hoping to go to the Annual Passholder preview for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, you need this latest update.

Park reservations for Hollywood Studios are now full for May 21st and 22nd, which are two of the three days available for Annual Passholder previews! There are three opportunities to join the virtual queue for previews each day, but the first slot at 7 AM is available only to Passholders with a Hollywood Studios reservation.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets

Now, this doesn’t mean your chance for joining the virtual queue is over. You can join the other virtual queues at 11 AM and 3 PM, which include:

• 11 AM virtual queue for Passholders with a reservation to any park for that day (don’t forget you’ll need to scan in to the park with your reservation before heading to Hollywood Studios)
• 3 PM virtual queue for Passholders with valid admission. No park reservation is required.

©Disney

You can also grab park reservations at Hollywood Studios for May 23rd, the final day of previews. If you’re reading this and considering going, go ahead and book that reservation now while you’re thinking about it.

©Disney

Virtual queues fill up fast, so to give yourself the best chance at riding Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, you’ll want to have access to as many virtual queues as you can. If you can grab a park reservation for May 23rd, you’ll get three chances on that one day to enter the queue. Be ready on your phone, make sure your whole party is connected through the app with updated Annual Passes, and be quick!

©Disney

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets opens May 26th, so if you can’t get a preview slot, don’t worry — opening is just around the corner. Make sure you keep following Disney Food Blog for more!

JUST REVEALED: NEW MERCH COMING TO ROCK ‘N’ ROLLER COASTER STARRING THE MUPPETS AT HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

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WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.

---

Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

GET YOUR GUIDE NOW

Are you going to catch a preview of the ride? Tell us your strategy in the comments. 

Hi, Mulan!

As construction continues, Disney is giving us a few friends to say hi to in the theme park. That’s right, two NEW princesses are meeting in Hollywood Studios! 

If you’re looking for a royal greeting, you’ve come to the right place! Over in Hollywood Studios, if you head towards Grand Avenue near BaseLine Tap House, you might find some familiar faces. During our recent stop in Hollywood Studios, we spotted two popular characters meeting and greeting guests.

Mulan is here!

If you’re a fan of Mulan or Rapunzel, you are about to be a happy camper! Both of the popular princesses are located in the same spot in the park and are on a rotating schedule throughout the day.

Hi Rapunzel!

There is a Photopass photographer there ready to see your pretty smiles! At the time of writing, Rapunzel is meeting at 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM,3:25 PM, and 4:30PM.

Gorgeous pose!

Mulan is meeting at 10 AM, 11 AM,12 PM, 1 PM, 2:50 PM, and 4:00 PM. These two characters will later be moved to their permanent home in The Walt Disney Studios at Off the Page. This new area will be home to several characters across “six unique departments from the animation studio.”

©Disney

Guests will be able to meet:

• Mulan in Story
• Rapunzel in Layout (in “a setting inspired by the classic multiplane camera”)
• Chip n’ Dale in Hand-Drawn Animation
• Donald and Daisy in CG Animation
• Goofy in Lighting
• Stitch in Effects

So it’s no surprise that these two beauties are starting a little early before the land officially opens.

The location!

The Walt Disney Studios will begin its phased opening on May 26th, 2026. In the first phase, guests will be able to explore the outdoor area, see the character handprints, and watch the newly updated show, Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!. The area will also still be home to The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure and Walt Disney Presents.

Future Site of Walt Disney Studios

Later this summer, the land will open the Magic of Disney Animation, Off the Page, Olaf Draws, and the Drawn to Wonderland playground. We can’t wait for this new area to open, but we love that we can say hi to some friends before the official opening date. As always, be sure to keep following DisneyFoodBlog for more Disney news and updates.

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WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.

---

Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

GET YOUR GUIDE NOW

Tell us your favorite character to meet in the comments!

Magic Kingdom’s Cinderella Castle

Jarrod Maruyama is a popular artist known for his unique illustrations and has worked with Disney for years. And Disney just released a brand new Jarrod Maruyama and Dooney & Bourke collab!

We are obsessed with this newest collaboration, so let’s dive in and see if you need to splurge on either of these amazing bags!

Disney Parks Dooney & Bourke Satchel by Jerrod Maruyama

©Disney Store

This design is absolutely gorgeous. We love the light blue base surrounded by all the amazing Disney parks’ illustrated details. If you look closely, you can see everything from the Cinderella Castle, Mr.Toad, Figment, Mickey Ice Cream, Orange Bird, and so much more!

©Disney Store

You could spend so much time looking at this bag and still be able to find more adorable Disney details every time, and the gorgeous Jarrod Maruyama design really shines through in this bag!

SHOP ON DISNEY STORE

Disney Parks Dooney & Bourke Wristlet Wallet

©Disney Store

Now this wallet is perfect if you’re obsessed with this adorable design but want it in a smaller package. This would be the perfect addition if you’re looking to bring some fancy Disney flair into your everyday life.

SHOP ON DISNEY STORE

We absolutely love both of these bags! Will you be adding either to your Disney collection? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned with Disney Food Blog so you never miss anything!

EPCOT

With June just around the corner, Summer is almost here at Disney World! Not only will the heat be turning up in the Disney parks, but you can expect to see some big changes coming. From new attractions to special holidays, these are the changes happening at EPCOT next month.

Flower and Garden Festival Ends

Starting off on June 1st, the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival will end. June 1st will be the last day guests will have a chance to enjoy the outdoor kitchens and special events around this festival. For the rest of June and all of July, there will not be an EPCOT festival happening. The next event will be EPCOT’s International Food and Wine Festival, which will begin on August 27th.

EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival

La Cava Celebrations

Over at La Cava del Tequila, two celebrations in June could come with something special. On June 8th, it’s National Avocado Margarita Day — which was actually established by Mark Walburge on his birthday. On June 15th, La Cava will celebrate Black Magic Day. The Black Magic Margarita is made with smoky Mezcal, blackberry purée, Cassis liqueur, lime, and mint — it was also developed by THE Neil Patrick Harris. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for any specials celebrating these two popular drinks.

We love a Disney margarita!

World Ocean Day

This one stings a little to talk about because we miss it so much. World Ocean Day is June 8th, and in the past, this was the day you could find Scuba Mickey inside the Seas at EPCOT. He has not been spotted in a few years, and we really miss seeing him in the tank. If you happen to be at EPCOT on June 8th, it’s worth a stop to see if he’s there because it is a real treat to spot him!

Hi, Mickey!

Cool Kids’ SUMMER 

While Cool Kids’ SUMMER officially kicks off on May 26th, we decided to remind you that it will be in full swing during the month of June. At EPCOT, Goofycore is returning again this year. This is where Goofy brings in games, DJs, entertainment Cast Members, and, of course, himself to play with guests of all ages. Be sure to stop by to pay him a visit and have some fun!

LOTS of fun here!

Soarin’ Over America

Similarly, Soarin’ Over America will debut on May 26th, and with no official end date to this attraction, you can enjoy it all month long. This new version is arriving just in time to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary, and it will take guests on a coast-to-coast journey featuring some of the country’s most iconic landscapes and cityscapes. Think sweeping natural beauty, recognizable skylines, and a heavy dose of Americana. Be sure to take a ride while you can!

©Disney

We will be in the parks and looking for any changes and updates to bring them to you! For more Disney news and stories, be sure to follow us at DFB.

The 4 Best Rides To Rope Drop in EPCOT

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WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.

---

Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

GET YOUR GUIDE NOW

What are you most excited about coming to Disney World this year? Tell us in the comments below!

Indiana Jones

Permits are one of those sneaky things that Disney World likes to publish, giving us a small idea of what could be happening in the parks. It gives us a look at when work will start on projects that have already been announced, but Disney hasn’t told us what’s happening in the area. They did drop a code name that has us questioning EVERYTHING!

Disney has filed a permit for “Project Fedora” in Hollywood Studios. Well, there’s only one iconic Disney character that I know that wears a fedora — Indiana Jones!

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular

The permits are right by Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! The area didn’t have much before, but the permits have been filed for “general construction.” Disney hasn’t made any announcements about what’s coming to the space, but some are thinking a snack cart, a small souvenir area, or even a potential meet and greet with the archaeologist himself.

Epic Eats by Indiana Jones

This permit being filed in Hollywood Studios through us for a loop because Animal Kingdom is adding a whole ride, just for Indiana Jones! With the Pueblo Esperanza expansion, DINOSAUR is being Indiana Jones themed, similar to the one in Disneyland. Disney has confirmed that there will be a new storyline, but the ride uses the same technology as the Disneyland version and DINOSAUR.

The new Tropical Americas land coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom lets guests explore a preserved Maya temple – and the ensuing adventure – alongside Indiana Jones.

The outside is even being transformed into a Maya temple! It seems like now is the perfect time to be an Indiana Jones fan.

©Disney

Also coming to Pueblo Esperanza is the very first Encanto ride! This ride will take you inside Casita on the day that Antonio receives his gift, and while exploring his room and the rest of the house, you might run into some familiar faces.

©Disney

There will also be an animal-themed carousel.

©Disney

We’re going to be keeping an eye on the area in Hollywood Studios to see what’s coming, but in the meantime, make sure you keep following Disney Food Blog for more Disney news!

MAJOR CHANGES HIT DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS NEXT WEEK

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WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.

---

Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

GET YOUR GUIDE NOW

What do you hope the space becomes? Tell us in the comments!