Booking the wrong room can make or break your Disney World vacation. Here are the specific rooms to avoid and what to book instead.
Choosing a Disney World Resort hotel is exciting, but it can also be daunting. With over 25 hotels on property and multiple room type options at each one, it can be hard to know what you’re really buying. Now, we’ve got a lot of opinions about the best and worst hotels, but what about the actual rooms? After staying at every Disney World Resort hotel, these are the specific rooms that we would never book again and how to avoid booking them yourself!
Tower Suites at Disney’s Riviera Resort
Disney’s Riviera Resort is the newest hotel in Walt Disney World, and there’s no denying that it’s beautiful. However, as a dedicated Disney Vacation Club property, the room types are a bit different than what you’d find at any other Disney hotel. Because of this, you might find yourself opting to book the cheapest room option here – the Tower Suites. However, that could be a big mistake.
Disney’s Riviera Resort
The Tower Suites are approximately 225 square feet and designed for one or two guests max. As you might imagine, that’s pretty small when you factor in all the luggage you’re bringing along with you. Plus, while these are the cheapest rooms at the resort, they’re still priced in the Deluxe Resort category, meaning that you’re paying around $500+ per night for that tiny room. If you’re absolutely sold on staying at Disney’s Riviera Resort, opt for a larger room. Or, choose to book another Deluxe Resort that’s around the same price but offers more space, like Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Resort & Water View Rooms at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Speaking of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, one of the biggest selling points of staying at this Deluxe Resort is the fact that it doubles as a zoo! The hotel is home to over 30 different species of wildlife that are free to roam the 40 acres of private savannas throughout the day. So, you can enjoy your Mickey Waffles with a view. However, not all of the rooms offer views of these Savannas. Resort View and Water View rooms are pricey, and you’ll be missing out on being able to view the animals right below your balcony.
Photo by CJ Ayd
Instead, opt to book a Savanna View room when you stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. These rooms are a bit more expensive, but you won’t feel like you’ve wasted money on a Deluxe Resort like you might with the other room types.Â
Little Mermaid Rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Disney’s Art of Animation Resorts is one of the most family-friendly hotels in Disney World. While the majority of the room types here are Family Suites, the Little Mermaid section offers standard rooms that sleep up to four. This makes the rooms more affordable for a smaller family looking to enjoy the resort’s theming and convenient transportation options. However, the Little Mermaid section is located the furthest from all the resort amenities, including the food court, shopping, bus and Disney Skyliner transportation, and the main pool with a splash pad. All of that extra walking can be a major inconvenience after a long day at the parks.
Photo by Danny Shuster
All of the Family Suites are in a much better location at the hotel, making it easy to get to and from the resort amenities and theme parks without feeling like your feet might fall off. The Finding Nemo section is the closest, however, The Lion King and Cars sections aren’t much further, depending on where your exact room is located.
Resort View Rooms at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn has one of the best locations of any Disney World Resort hotel. You can walk to both EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in just minutes, and you’re right on Disney’s BoardWalk with its restaurants, shops, and entertainment. However, booking a Resort View room here might leave you feeling like you’re missing out on all of that.
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
Resort View rooms at the BoardWalk Inn overlook parking lots or landscaping, which isn’t exactly the view you’re hoping for at a Deluxe Resort. But the real issue isn’t just the view. The hallways at this hotel are known for being long, and there’s only one set of elevators on the Inn side of the building. On top of that, there are no direct exits to the BoardWalk itself from most room locations, meaning you’ll have to trek back to the lobby just to get out.Â
If you’re set on staying at the BoardWalk Inn, consider paying for a water view room, which will put you closer to all the action. Or, opt to stay at Disney’s Yacht Club or Beach Club instead. Both resorts are just steps away from the BoardWalk, and you’ll get access to Stormalong Bay, one of the best pools in all of Disney World.
Garden Wing Rooms at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
When you think of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, you probably picture the iconic A-frame tower with the monorail gliding right through the middle of it. However, what many people don’t know is that if you book a Garden Wing room, you won’t be staying in that tower at all. The Garden Wing is a separate three-story building connected to the main tower by an outdoor walkway, putting you further away from all the food, transportation, and entertainment. While the rooms inside are nearly identical to the tower rooms, you’ll miss out on the parts that make the Contemporary so special.Â
Photo by Cliff Wang
The Garden Wing rooms are typically less expensive than tower rooms, but if you’re paying Deluxe Resort prices, you probably want the full experience. Book a room in the Main Tower instead to get those iconic views and easy access to everything the resort has to offer.
Ranchos Section at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is one of the largest Moderate Resorts with theming inspired by the American Southwest and Mexico. However, its size can work against you if you’re not careful about where you book. If you reserve a standard location room without paying for a preferred location or upgrading to the Gran Destino Tower, you could end up in the Ranchos section, which is the most remote area of the entire resort.
Photo by Morgan Flaherty
If you want to ensure that you aren’t hiking to and from resort amenities with little ones in tow, spring for a preferred room, which puts you much closer to the main building. Or, consider upgrading to the Gran Destino Tower, which offers a Deluxe Resort experience at Moderate Resort pricing.
