Top 10 Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

The Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando is known the world over as the home of The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Visitors from all over the world come to Disney World to visit Mickey Mouse and his pals at these theme parks.

One of the biggest challenges for a potential visitor is deciding where to stay. While there are hundreds of hotels in the immediate vicinity of Walt Disney World, there 32 actually located in Walt Disney World; with 23 of those actually owned by the Walt Disney Company. While staying in Walt Disney World is exciting, it does not necessarily mean you'll be staying on the doorsteps of one of the four theme parks. After all, Walt Disney World is over 34 square miles in size. However, all of the Walt Disney World Hotels are connected to all of the Walt Disney World theme parks by monorail, boat, and/or bus (and all these modes of transportation are free for guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel).

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.

Walt Disney World Dolphin

Designer Michael Graves imagined this hotel together with its sister hotel, the Walt Disney World Swan. While located on Disney property, the hotel is operated by Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Guests of this luxury resort enjoy all the privileges of a guest staying at a Disney owned resort, including on-property transportation.

Walt Disney World Swan

Like the Walt Disney World Dolphin, this resort was designed by Michael Graves and, while located within the Walt Disney World Resort, is operated by Starwood Hotels & Resorts. The 12 story resort is themed after swans in the same manner that the Walt Disney World Dolphin is themed after dolphins.