Disney World has a hotel for just about every budget. From the luxurious Grand Floridian Resort to the adorably themed All Star Movies, Disney has something to please just about anyone. Today I am going to be ranking Disney World Value Resorts from Best to Worst. I decided that the hotels will be graded on resort layouts, proximity to the parks as well as amenities.
#5-Disney’s All Star Sports Resort
Poor All Star Sports Resort. The main reason that this is making the bottom of the list is because it is the last of all the value resorts currently to get a facelift. The anticipation of this being done is roughly 2021 but could get pushed back. This resort is also a main hub for ESPN and sports sanctioned tournaments at Disney World like Pop Warner causing this hotel to be very busy with groups. All Star Sports is also closest to Animal Kingdom area which makes it further away from the other parks. Unless you are a huge Animal Kingdom Fan, I feel like there are better choices. However, a big perk to this All Star versus the other two is that it gets first bus preference for the buses. Sometimes the buses will merge together the All Star resorts which causes crammed buses but All Star Sports is usually always first.
#4-Disney’s All Star Music Resort
The All Star Music Resort is currently renovating its rooms throughout 2020. There is a chance you could get an older room currently. This resort does have an updated food court which is normally not overrun with teams like All Star Sports. All Star Music features a family suite that can accommodate families of 5 or 6 instead of having to purchase multiple rooms. Keep in mind that one of the best things about the All Star Resorts in general is that they are cheaper than the other two value resorts that we will talk about today. I do think the guitar style pools are a bit more unique than All Star Sports but this resort is just marginally better. This resort is also in the Animal Kingdom area like its counterparts. The busing can be a bit of a nightmare for these resorts during high seasons.
#3-Disney’s All Star Movies Resort
All Star Movies comes ahead for me when you think of the All Star Resorts because all the rooms just finished a renovation in 2019. The new rooms have a fresh, modern and fun feel to them. I personally think the movie theme with all the Disney Movies gives this resort a decorative leg up on the others. The resort still has the previously mentioned busing and location issues of its sister properties. If you have a trip coming up sooner than later and are looking for a renovated property for a deal, this is probably it.
#2-Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
This resort opened in 2012 which was one of Disney World’s newest resorts in a long time. It brought a whole new concept to the on property resorts by gearing the majority of its room inventory to bigger families. This property is broken up into four different themed areas: The Little Mermaid, Cars, Finding Nemo and The Lion King. The Little Mermaid rooms are normal guest rooms while the other three are family suites. Each area has its own themed pool with the Big Blue Finding Nemo Pool being the feature pool. The theming at this property is top notch and the quick service restaurant is very good. The biggest downside I would say is the family suites are significantly more expensive given that it is a value resort. I believe the newly renovated rooms at Pop and All Star Movies are better than the Little Mermaid rooms. The Little Mermaid rooms are a hike from everything else. This resort is located near Disney’s Hollywood Studios which puts it closer to some other Disney parks as well. I think the biggest disappoint from this resort’s Little Mermaid rooms are often excluded from Disney’s Free Dining Plan promotions.
#1-Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Disney’s Pop Century Resort is now the sparkling gem of the value resorts. This property had a major overhaul and now features the new Skyliner system with transportation to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in addition to the buses. This resort is also connected by bridge to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. The main downside to this resort is that I would say the decor is very much geared towards children which honestly isn’t a huge ordeal in my opinion. Pop Century usually isn’t priced that far ahead of the All Star Resorts and it has a much better location, better transportation options and is the best bang for your buck. This hotel is always included in the Free Disney Dining Plan promotions.
You are going to have a wonderful time staying on Disney World property no matter where you stay. The biggest recommendation that I can give you is that you need to decide what is most important to your travel group. A Disney World vacation is an investment and a $20-30 a night hotel cost difference could improve your trip. The Disney World Value Resorts provide great cost savings and still deliver that special Disney Magic!
Do you agree with my list of the Disney World Value Resorts ranked from Worst to Best? Which one is your favorite?
Interested in a moderate resort? Check my review on Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.
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