Reading the Resorts: Your Guide to Disney World Properties-Value Resorts
When we first started planning our first WDW vacation, we knew we wanted to stay on Disney property, but we quickly found ourselves overwhelmed with all the options. Value? Moderate? Deluxe? What did all that mean?? Sometimes it felt like we were making decisions in the dark. This series of articles will help guide you as you begin your own journey to the Happiest Place on Earth.For up-to-date information regarding room rates, promotions, etc. for each of these resorts, we recommend that you visit the Official Walt Disney World website.
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Map of Disney Value PropertiesSummary
Pro Tips
Value Resorts Overview
Regardless of which value resort you choose to stay at, some features hold true across the board. The value resorts are good choices for:
These resorts tend to be very spread out with no internal transportation which can translate into a lot of walking depending on where your room is located and your access to transportation.
Disney transportation is by bus only and, depending on the time of year, bus wait times can be lengthy. Additionally, their location can make it difficult to eat at other resorts, visit Disney Springs, or attend specialty meals such as 'Ohana at the Polynesian or the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Fort Wilderness Campground unless you have a car.
Each value resort hosts a quick-service food court, but no table-service dining is available or room service (except pizza delivery). This is an important point to remember when you're considering your Disney Dining plan options. If your plan is to eat all your meals at your resort, then your most cost-effective option would be to take the Quick-Service Dining Plan. However, if you intend on eating table-service, those meals will need to be elsewhere. In this context, it makes very little sense for most people to spend the money on the Deluxe Dining Plan.
All-Star Resorts (Sports, Movies, and Music)
The three All-Star Resorts are the oldest value resorts on Disney property. Sports and Music were opened in 1994 with Movies following in 1999, but despite their age, all three properties routinely receive positive reviews on TripAdvisor with overall average scores of 4 out of 5. TripAdvisor rates them all as 2.5 star hotel which makes them comparable to a Holiday Inn Express or a Hampton Inn (for reference, Disney's Polynesian Resort is rated a 4-star and the Grand Floridian is a 4.5 star).
These are BIG resorts, each hotel housing 1,920 standard rooms with motel-style exterior corridors and because of this noise can sometimes be an issue. Some rooms are pool-view rooms and face courtyards. Each standard room is approximately 260 square feet (making them slightly smaller than the rooms at other Disney resorts) with two double beds or one king with a maximum occupancy of four plus one baby under 3 years in a crib. There is no proper closet; only an open area with a clothes rod and a shelf in the bathroom.
The All-Star Resorts share a single bus line due to their close proximity to each other. During peak season, this can mean that buses fill up quickly.
All-Star Sports
All-Star Music
All-Star Movies
Tip: If walking is difficult for you, consider upgrading to a preferred room which will put you closer to the main building.
Pop Century
Like it's All-Star counterparts, Pop Century is rated a 2.5 star hotel and receives an average 4 out of 5 on TripAdvisor by reviewers. Pop Century Resort opened in 2003 with 2,880 rooms and has developed a bit of a cult following amongst Disney travelers. Among the big pros for Pop Century Resort are:
Standard rooms are the same size as those at the All-Star Resorts at 260 square feet with two double beds or one king and a maximum occupancy of four plus a child under three years in a crib.
As of today (March 22, 2017), Pop Century Resort is currently undergoing renovations that may disrupt some facilities or services.
Tip: If you need to trim your walking, consider upgrading to a preferred room. If you don't want to pay the extra cost, you can request a room in 70's Building B or 80's Building B but there's no guarantee that you'll get it.
Art of Animation
Strictly speaking, Art of Animation, which opened in 2013, is considered a value-plus resort. This means that the resort has many similarities with the value resorts, but also a few amenities that you would typically find at the moderate and deluxe resorts. It is the highest rated value resort on TripAdvisor with 4.5 out of 5 stars, and TripAdvisor ranks it as a 3-star hotel making it marginally nicer than the other values. Unlike the other value resorts, Art of Animation sports interior carpeted corridors which helps to cut down on noise.
1,120 of the resort's 1,984 rooms are family suites which can accommodate six people plus a child under 3 years in a crib. These 565 square foot suites feature a master bedroom with a queen bed and private bath (this gives you a total of two bathrooms) plus a full-size sofa bed and a full-size fold-down bed. There is also a mini "kitchen" that includes a sink, microwave, and a mini-fridge. All this comes with a bit of a price tag, though. The family suites can be almost double the cost of the rooms at the other value resorts and about $100 more than a standard room at the moderate resorts. If you don't absolutely need accommodations for six, you can get the same (or better) experience by booking a moderate.
The 864 standard rooms, at 277 square feet, are slightly larger than the standard rooms at the other value resorts, but still include either two double beds or one king with a maximum occupancy of four plus a baby aged three and under in a crib. These rooms are, by and large, Little Mermaid themed.
No table-service dining option or room service (except pizza) exists, but the food court is bigger and better than the other resorts. Also like Pop Century, Art of Animation has a dedicated bus line.
Tip: To save on walking at Art of Animation, book a Finding Nemo suite which is located closest to the main building.
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