Guests visiting the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida have several options for resort accommodations. There are properties to accommodate every size family and their budget. Accommodations can be divided into three tiers: Value Resorts, Moderate Resorts and Disney's Deluxe Resorts. Each resort at Walt Disney World is extensively themed, from a Hawaiian village to the Louisiana Bayou and the deserts of the Southwest, so guests feel completely immersed in a fantasy world designed by Disney.
Seasonal Rates
Rates on accommodations vary according to the season in which you are traveling. But, in Walt Disney World a season is not simply defined as a group of months on a calendar. Disney's main seasons are designated by park attendance. The Value Season label is given to the times of the year when park attendance is at its lowest. This is also the time of year that guests can get the best prices and discounts on accommodations. During the Regular Season, park attendance increases, as do the rates on rooms. The Peak and Summer Seasons, which occur during the summer vacation months and around major holidays, is when park attendance is at its highest, and many of the Disney resort properties run at full capacity. Rates are the highest during this high demand season.
Here are the 2010 Seasons with holidays noted:
Value Season: Jan. 1 to Feb. 13; Aug. 3 to Oct. 1; Nov. 30 to Dec. 18
Holidays: Martin Luther King Weekend Jan. 18-20
Regular Season: Mar. 30 to May 21; Oct. 2 to Nov. 29
Holidays: Thanksgiving Nov. 26 to 29
Summer Season: May 22 to Aug. 2
Holidays: Independence Day Weekend July 4 to 5
Peak Season: Feb. 14 to Mar. 29
Holidays: Presidents Day Weekend Feb. 15 to 17 (Pres. Day), Easter Week Mar. 16 to 27
Holiday Season: Dec. 19 to Dec. 31
Value Resorts
The Pop Century, All-Star Movies, All-Star Music and All-Star Sports resorts are popular destinations for the budget-conscious family. Standard rooms accommodate four guests and are the most economical. Family suites are available for parties of five or six. Since the rates change, visit mousesavers.com, and click on your resort of choice for current rates.
Moderate Resorts
The Caribbean Beach Resort, Coronado Springs Resort and the Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside await guests who are willing to pay a bit more for their accommodations. The rooms are slightly larger and often come with a mini-refrigerator. Standard rooms in these resorts sleep up to four guests. The Port Orleans Riverside resort can accommodate families of five in a standard room with an under-bed trundle.
Fort Wilderness Cabins are available for parties of up to six travelers. The cabins come equipped with a full kitchen.
Deluxe Resorts
Deluxe accommodations are available at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boardwalk Inn, Contemporary Resort, The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, the Polynesian Resort, the Wilderness Lodge and the Yacht and Beach Clubs. These are the largest standard rooms Walt Disney World offers, and most will accommodate a family of five. Rooms come standard with a mini refrigerator and microwave. The Deluxe Resorts in the Magic Kingdom area also have direct access to the Walt Disney World Monorail system.
Other Accommodations in Walt Disney World
The most economical of all accommodations at the resort can be found at the Fort Wilderness Campground, though guests must supply their own campers and RVs.
The Swan and Dolphin are in Disney's Epcot area. They are owned and operated by Westin and Sheraton, respectively, but they are considered Disney property hotels, and guests are eligible for the same perks as guests at all of the Disney properties, such as free transport and the Extra Magical Hours program.
Finally, for families who find they travel to the Walt Disney World Resort year after year, The Disney Vacation Club offers a time-share program. Families utilize a point value system to reserve villas. These villas can accommodate parties of four to eight.
Resort Locations in Walt Disney World
Resorts are often grouped together around major parks or Disney destinations.
The Magic Kingdom Resorts are The Grand Floridian, Polynesian and the Contemporary and Bay Lake Tower, the Wilderness Lodge and Villas and the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground.
The Epcot Resorts are the Caribbean Beach, Yacht and Beach Club with the Beach Club Villas, the Boardwalk Inn and Villas, and the Swan and Dolphin.
The Downtown Disney Resorts are the Port Orleans Resorts, Saratoga Resort and Spa and Old Key West resorts.
The Animal Kingdom area is host to the All-Star Movies, Music and Sports and Pop Century resorts, as well as the Coronado Springs and Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas.
Best ways to Reserve Accommodations
A quick visit to WaltDisneyWorld.com will allow you to input your travel dates, party size and customize your vacation by offering you the option of booking a room-only reservation or giving you the chance to add park tickets to your booking.
Call 407-W-DISNEY (407-824-2222), to speak directly with a Disney Cast Member who specializes in customizing Disney vacation packages. The toll-free number for Spanish-language operators is 800-459-5432.
All of the Walt Disney World resorts can be accessed by visiting http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/.
You can also book Walt Disney World vacations with your local travel agent.
Tags: Disney World, Walt Disney, Walt Disney World, park attendance, Season Holidays, Animal Kingdom