Choosing a Walt Disney World Resort--Summary

Hi there Disney friends,

I hope the last few posts about choosing a Walt Disney World resort have been informative and helpful. No matter where you stay, you cannot go wrong if you are able stay on site. I feel that an on-site stay is better logistically for most people. I will admit that there are some off-site locations that are cheaper, but by the time you factor in paying to park and travel time, you would almost break even. In an earlier post, I listed 6 reasons to stay on site and I think they are still valid.

For many people, deciding on a place to stay at Walt Disney World can be overwhelming, but once you determine your budget, things begin to fall in place very quickly. (A quick side note about the value resorts (because of their price) do fill up relatively quickly for some of the busier times of the year (major holidays and special events.) The earlier you plan your vacation the better the selection of rooms there will be in all of the resorts. The budget for most people is the biggest item that drives their decision on where to stay.

Once you decide on your budget, then room size comes into play. One item to think of here is that within each category of rooms, there may be only one or two resorts that offer larger rooms that will hold more family members. One example is that of the three All-Star resorts, only All-Star Music has rooms that can sleep up six.

Once those decisions are in place, things like transportation issues, location with Walt Disney World, and theming become personal preference. Even within a specific resort, personal preference will occur. We have stayed at Saratoga Springs and prefer the Grandstand area, but others prefer Congress Park.

At the end of the day, you will need to make the best decision for your family. I would never want someone to be stressed about the logistics of a vacation, that they would not be able to enjoy time with family and friends. After all, that is the point of your time away from the stresses of home.

If you need help on determining which resort works best for you, please let me know and I will be honored to help you. Just drop me an e-mail at brian.herndon@mousemadesimple.com and I will be glad to help you have a magical vacation.

View of Grand Floridian from Polynesian