May 15

DISNEY RESORTS

Best Disney Resorts

By Charlyn Keating Chisholm

What are the best Disney resorts? When it comes to where to stay at Disney World, there are plenty of choices. But some Disney resorts really stand out as unique – the best location, the best water park, the best restaurant options. Depending on what you like to do on your vacation, one of these Disney resorts may be just perfect for you.

1. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort

What’s Unique about Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort: full-service spa, a monorail to the Magic Kingdom, the only restaurant in Central Florida with a AAA Five Diamond rating (Victoria & Albert’s), and a wedding chapel with a view of Cinderella’s Castle to inspire happily-ever-after.

Web Site: Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

2. Disney’s Polynesian Resort

Disney's Polynesian Resort

What’s Unique about Disney’s Polynesian Resort: besides its station for the monorail to the Magic Kingdom, the Polynesian is adjacent to the main Transportation and Ticket Center, where you can catch the other monorail line to Epcot. The Spirit of Aloha luau is a popular dinner show. It’s also one of the two original hotels from 1971.

Web Site: Disney’s Polynesian Resort

3. Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Disney's Contemporary Resort

What’s Unique about Disney’s Contemporary Resort: the monorail to the Magic Kingdom passes right through the atrium of this hotel. But what a location — this is the only Disney resort that lets you walk (right across the street) to the Magic Kingdom. This is the other original hotel from 1971.

Web Site: Disney’s Contemporary Resort

4. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

What’s Unique about Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge: built around a private animal reserve with three separate savannas, encompassing 33 acres. The savannas are visible from many guest rooms (all with private balconies) and are home to over 200 mammals and birds (three dozen species in all). In the lobby, hand-carved architectural features and rare African artifacts are worth seeking out.

Web Site: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

5. Disney’s Yacht and beach Club Resorts

Disney's Yacht and beach Club Resorts

What’s Unique about Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club: these resorts share Stormalong Bay, arguably the best resort water park in Disney World. A huge water slide built to resemble a shipwreck, a sandy bottom pool and water currents add to the fun. Stormalong Bay is only accessible to guests of these two resorts. They also have location going for them; you can take a short walk to Epcot and the BoardWalk entertainment district (lots of restaurant choices in both places) or a longer walk to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.