By Edward Drummond
Disney's Pop Century is one of the company's "Value" resorts.
In its quest to try to be all things to all people--and keep as many tourist dollars as possible--Walt Disney World offers hotel accommodations to just about every budget, with the exception of the extreme low end. The least expensive are the "Value"
resorts, followed by the slightly larger rooms of the "Moderate" resorts and the posh accommodations of the "Deluxe" hotels. Disney also offers condo-style units as part of its Disney Vacation Club timeshare program, which also can be rented by the general public.
Wows and Woes
The Wilderness Lodge, a "Deluxe" resort patterned after the lodges of the Pacific Northwest, has a sweeping lobby.
Wows:
Disney rooms are generally clean and comfortable. Guests get free transportation, airport transfers and access to "Extra Magic Hours" in the parks.
Woes:
The rooms are more expensive than equivalent accommodations in nearby Kissimmee and Orlando. High Disney prices carry over into the food courts and gift shops.
Insider Tips
Animals roam past hotel room balconies at Animal Kingdom Lodge.
With all of the different package options and specials Disney runs, it's sometimes hard to figure out what you're paying for your room on a night-by-night basis. Always start out by pricing the rooms and tickets separately, using that as a baseline to compare to Disney's package deals. You can sometimes do better going a la carte.
Author's Most Memorable Moment
The first time I looked out my window and saw a giraffe, I knew I wasn't staying in a normal hotel. Animal Kingdom Lodge makes it feel like it's OK to go to Disney World and not spend every possible hour inside a theme park. My lazy mornings of coffee on the balcony as the animals wandered past helped make my vacation relaxing and balanced out all those hectic hours fighting theme park crowds.
Bottom Line
Disney's hotels are pricey, but the real value is in the extras: Extra Magic Hours and park transportation. The shuttles offered by other hotels don't compare.
Resources
About the Author:
Edward Drummond has been writing for newspapers, magazines and the Web since 1992. He's been a first-hand witness to some of history's biggest events, and written about some of the world's most remote and unique places from Asia to Antarctica for publications around the world. Drummond has a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and political science from SUNY New Paltz.
Photo Credits:
Edward Mazza
Edward Mazza
Edward Mazza
