WDW 101: What to know before planning your next Disney trip.
You’re ready to start planning that dream Disney vacation…where do you begin? There’s a lot to unpack when it comes to traveling to a Disney themed destination. Let’s take the first steps to prepare you for this fantastical adventure of a lifetime! We’re going to start with a high-level overview of the different types of Disney Vacations available around the world. Then, we’ll focus in on Walt Disney World Resorts and Parks in Orlando, Florida. Finally, we’ll cover the different categories of Walt Disney World Resorts and special benefits that come with each type.
The memories will last a lifetime
What types of vacations does Disney offer?
I’m glad you’re curious about Disney Vacations! What started out as one park in California, has grown around the world (literally…they have a custom around the world vacation package…) to touch almost every corner of the earth. Disney owns and operates theme parks around the world, focused on nostalgic characters as well as brand new Disney family members. The main Disney Theme Parks are:
Walt Disney World – Orlando, Florida
Disneyland – Anaheim, CA
Disneyland Paris
Tokyo Disneyland
Shanghai Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland
These parks continue to expand and evolve as Disney refreshes its catalogue of entertainment, characters, and experiences. Their goal is for no two parks to deliver the same experience.
This holds true for the plethora of additional vacations offered by the Disney brand:
Disney Cruise Lines
Aulani Resort by Disney
Disney Hilton Head Island Resort
Disney’s Vero Beach Resort
Adventures by Disney
National Geographic Expeditions
Chances are good that Disney Vacations will have a destination to fit your needs. Keep in mind that the majority of these vacations will be centered around family activities with a strong Disney flavor. If you’re looking for something more adult-oriented with fewer kids, then you may want to consider other vacation providers (more to come on those in future posts).
Where is Walt Disney World?
Not to be confused with the original park, Disneyland in California, Walt Disney World is the east coast theme park & resort located just outside of Orlando, Florida. Walt Disney World is easily accessible via Orlando International Airport (MCO) for those outside of driving distance. There are multiple transportation options to get your family from the airport to your destination resort. For those who last traveled to Walt Disney World pre-2019, you’ll be surprised to know that free transportation from MCO to your resort is a thing of the past. Fortunately, Mears Connect has maintained affordable resort transportation for those arriving via air.
What hotels are near Walt Disney World?
Disney owns and operates a number of themed resorts, with different pricing tiers based on the resort and amenities. These Disney owned resorts are categorized as Value, Moderate, Deluxe, or Deluxe Villas. Below is an overview of the resorts based on their category:
Value Resorts ($$):
Art of Animation
Pop Century
All Star Movies, Music, and Sports (three different resorts)
Moderate Resorts ($$$):
Caribbean Beach
Coronado Springs
Cabins at Fort Wilderness
Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside
Deluxe Resorts ($$$$):
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Riviera Resort
Boardwalk Inn
Beach Club
Yacht Club
Polynesian
Contemporary
Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge
Deluxe Resort Villas ($$$$$):
Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary
Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge
Copper Creek Villas at Wilderness Lodge
Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani House
Beach Club Villas
Boardwalk Villas
Old Key West Resort
What other hotels are around Walt Disney World?
Maybe staying on Disney property is not what you’re looking for in your visit? That doesn’t mean you miss out on all of the benefits of staying on property! Walt Disney World partners with many area hotels through their “Good Neighbor Hotel” program to extend certain benefits. While you won’t experience the exact same benefits as staying on Disney property (early theme park entry, complimentary bus transportation, and extended evening hours), you will receive some level of reciprocal benefit.
Other Resorts to Consider (i.e. resorts not owned by Disney; many of these hotels and resorts have WDW perks, but not the extensive list that are available to those staying on WDW property)
Select Deluxe Resorts:
Swan & Dolphin, Swan Reserve – (Marriott owned hotels - great for BonVoy members):
Treated as a Deluxe resort, which includes special Disney perks such as “Extended Evening Hours” access
Good Neighbor Resorts – (shuttle transportation only for all resorts):
Disney Springs Resort Area
B Resort and Spa – Lake Buena Vista
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton
Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando – Lake Buena Vista
Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace
Hilton Orland Lake Buena Vista
Holiday Inn Orlando
Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista
Wyndham Lake Buena Vista
Margaritaville Resort – Orlando
Four Seasons Resort – Orlando
Well, there you have it! That’s a lot going on in and around Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida! Our Walt Disney World 101 blog series will go more in-depth on these resorts, as well as the theme parks, dining plans, park hoppers, and everything else that could help you plan a memorable vacation to the most magical place on earth!
