Guide to Deluxe Resort Hotels at Walt Disney World

There are several classes of resorts located within Walt Disney World, Deluxe, Moderate, and Value. In this article, I'll discuss the eight Deluxe resorts as defined by Disney. In general, the Deluxe resorts start around $215 per night and are the top tier hotels at Walt Disney World.

Before choosing a hotel, you must first decide if staying within Walt Disney World is for you. And there are several reasons you would want to stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, besides, of course, being in the middle of the magic. Guests at Walt Disney World owned resorts benefit from several services only available to guest staying at Walt Disney World.

By staying at a Walt Disney World resort hotel, guest can use Disney's Magical Express service which is a free bus service from the Orlando International Airport directly to Walt Disney World (and back at the end of your stay). The bus will take you to your hotel or, if you wish, directly to the theme parks while your bags will be taken to your room. And it's all free for guests of any Walt Disney World hotel.

Staying on property allows guests to take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours feature which gives guests at Walt Disney World owned resorts extra time in the theme parks (before and/or after the announced operating hours). Theme park admission is required, but you'll avoid long lines at the some of the most popular attractions. Extra Magic Hours are usually limited to one park per day, but are generally held each day of the week and rotated between the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom parks.

Finally, one of the best reasons to stay at a hotel located within the Walt Disney World Resort is the use of the Walt Disney World Transportation network including monorail, boats, and bus.

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is inspired by the grand Victorian resorts of Florida in the late 1800s. The resort, with direct monorail connections to the Magic Kingdom, is located on the Seven Seas lagoon and offers guests white sand beaches, a marina, and two swimming pools. Additionally, as the names implies, the hotel is home to a world-class spa.

Disney's Contemporary Resort

A very distinct landmark at Walt Disney World, Disney's Contemporary Resort is an A-frame hotel in which the Walt Disney World's monorail system glide through the hotel. Situated on both the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake, this resort is prefect for those who want to be in the middle of it all. The hotel is just outside the Magic Kingdom's main gate, and because of that, offers resort guests a spectacular view of the nightly fireworks from the Magic Kingdom (and the music that accompanies the fireworks is even simulcast in the hotel's California Grill restaurant on the 15th floor).

Disney's Polynesian Resort

Situated on the Seven Seas Lagoon and on the Magic Kingdom monorail line, the resort invokes the lush landscaping and hospitality of the Polynesian islands. From the main Ceremonial house to the longhouses in which guests stay, Disney's Polynesian Resort feels like a South Seas hideaway; right in the middle of Walt Disney World.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

This African themed resort sits, aptly enough, near Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park. One of the things that make this report special is that some of the guest rooms overlook a savanna full of animals. Where else at Walt Disney World can you wake up and look out over a vast savanna and see, among other animals, giraffes looking back at you.

Disney's Wilderness Lodge

Modeled after Yellowstone National Park's Old Faithful Inn, Disney's Wilderness Lodge evokes the spirit of the American Pacific Northwest. The hotel features rustic and Native American style all presented in a deluxe resort. The resort is located near Disney's Fort Wilderness (hence the name) and offers easy boat transportation to the Magic Kingdom.

Disney's BoardWalk Resort

Disney's BoardWalk Resort was inspired by the grand boardwalks from the heydays of Coney Island and Atlantic City. The resort features a boardwalk with restaurants, shops, and clubs all set on Cresent Lake. It is located between Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios and both theme parks can be reached by walking or by boat.

Disney's Beach Club Resort

You'll feel like you're spending the summer in Newport during the turn of the century at Disney's Beach Club Resort. It's lush white sand beaches and Stormalong Bay, the resorts pool complex featuring a replica of a shipwreck, all add to what makes this resort one of Walt Disney Worlds top 10.

Disney's Yacht Club Resort

Reminiscent of New England's yacht clubs of a bygone ear, Disney's Yacht Club Resort is located on Crescent Lake next to Disney's Beach Club Resort (both hotels are often referred to together as the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts). This resort shares guest amenities with Disney's Beach Club Resort, including Stormalong Bay.

To read about Walt Disney World's Value resorts, check out my article here www.associatedcontent.com/article/768029/guide_to_value_resort_hotels_at_walt.html