9 Magical Reasons Why You Should Stay at Deluxe Resorts at Disney World

A Disney vacation is already a dream come true, but staying in Deluxe Resorts at Disney World adds just an extra sprinkle of magic!

Whether you’re visiting for a birthday, honeymoon or simply a fun vacation, Disney World Deluxe resorts can be perfect for your unforgettable trip.

This post is all about the 7 magical reasons why you should stay at deluxe resorts at Disney World.

Why You Should Stay at Deluxe Resorts at Disney World

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Staying at Disney World resorts is almost always an incredible experience. But staying at Deluxe Resorts at Disney World is on another level! Which is your favourite Disney World Deluxe Resort?! The full post is on caffeinebythecastle.com 💕 #disneyworldresorts #disneyworldhotels
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Before we get into the pros of staying at Deluxe Disney World hotels, let’s go over all the deluxe resorts at Disney World.

Just to be clear, there are 2 categories of Deluxe Resorts at Disney World:

“Regular” Deluxe Resorts – You can book these directly through Disney or through authorised third-party sites.
Deluxe DVC (Disney Vacation Club) Resorts – you can book these if you’re a DVC member, renting DVC points. Alternatively, you can book them through Disney directly or third-party sites.

Deluxe Disney Resorts List:

Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Deluxe DVC Disney Resorts List:

Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Riviera Resort

Top 10 Reasons You Should Stay At Deluxe Resorts at Disney World

1. Deluxe Resorts are usually in better locations, with better transportation

In most cases, Deluxe Resorts have more than one mode of transportation to various areas of Disney World.

For example, the following resorts are on the Monorail (which can take you to Magic Kingdom and Epcot):

Disney’s Contemporary Resort (& Bay Lake Tower)
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (& Polynesian Villas & Bungalows)
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (& The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian)

These resorts are within walking distance of Epcot and Hollywood Studios:

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Disney’s Beach Club Resort (& Beach Club Villas)
Disney’s Boardwalk Inn (& Boardwalk Villas)

These resorts also have access to water taxis and the Skyliner – instead of walking.

In addition, Disney’s Riviera Resort is on the Skyliner.

Disney’s Old Key West Resort is just a water taxi away from Disney Springs

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is within walking distance of Disney Springs (or accessible by taking a water taxi).

And Wilderness Lodge (as well as Boulder Ridge Villas and Copper Creek Villas & Cabins) are a relaxing boat ride away from Magic Kingdom.

However, it is important to note that note every Deluxe Resort has more than one transportation option – namely, Animal Kingdom Lodge.

But they have a literal savanna and safari, so it’s still a strong contender for being the best Disney resort.

2. They usually have the best table-service dining options

Disney World Deluxe Resorts are the best of the best, so it makes sense that they have some of the finest dining options.

Whether you want a more “relaxed” table service meal, at Ale & Compass at Yacht Club, or the divine Victoria & Albert’s at the Grand Floridian, there is something for everyone.

disney deluxe resorts perks — Breakfast at Ale & Compass (a Breakfast Protein Bowl with Chocolate Avocado Toast. Yes, the chocolate avocado toast is as disgusting as it sounds! But the protein bowl is good).

Please note that dining at Victoria & Albert’s is VERY expensive. The pre-fixe menu starts at $295 per guest! Additionally, optional wine pairings start at $150 and zero-proof drink pairings start at $110.

So yeah, it turns out that when a restaurant wins the AAA Five Diamond Award every single year since 2000, it’s a CRAZY expensive place to dine!

3. Some Deluxe Resorts have Club-Level options

If you book Club-Level accommodation at a Deluxe Disney World Resort, you will have access to a Club Level Lounge, serving:

A continental breakfast
Snacks throughout the day
Desserts
Wine and beer assortments in the evening
And more!

You can also take advantage of extra assistance with dining reservations and information regarding transportation, for example.

The following resorts have Club-Level accommodation options:

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

It is important to note that Club-Level is not a cheap upgrade. Here is an example:

Club Level at Animal Kingdom Lodge for one night (October 21st-22nd, 2o23 pricing):

Savanna View Club Level Access (sleeps up to 4 guests): $1114

Savanna View WITHOUT CLUB LEVEL ACCESS (sleeps up to 4 guests): $867

So, in this case, you are paying an extra $247 for one night (if you’re paying full price, though you would probably be able to get a discount).

If you spend a lot of time at the lounge – and take advantage of the food and drinks – it may pay for itself.

But, you really need to run the numbers for yourself, as it usually only makes financial sense if there are more than two people in your room.

4. Deluxe Resorts offer the most luxurious accommodation

Are you looking to stay in a grand, elegant hotel? Deluxe Resorts are your best bet to finding your perfect Disney World resort.

The Grand Floridian is a 5-star resort, and the rest are 4-star, so you can be sure that you’re getting a high-quality hotel experience.

5. You can stay at Deluxe Disney Resorts on a budget

The biggest downside of Disney’s Deluxe Resorts is undoubtedly the COLOSSAL prices. However, there are a couple of effective ways to avoid paying the rack rates.

Firstly, you can rent DVC points.

This is where a Disney Vacation Club member sells their points. You can buy them directly from the member or through a third-party company (which is the safest option, provided you go with a reputable company). Essentially, you use their points to stay at a Deluxe Resort on a budget.

For example, on September 16th-17th, one night at the Grand Floridian would cost:

Directly with Disney: $916 for an Outer Building – Garden View room (which sleeps up to 5 guests)

By renting DVC points (in this example, through David’s Vacation Club Rentals): $420 for a Resort Studio or a Studio – Standard View (both studios sleep up to 5 guests)

So, assuming there’s no discount directly with Disney, it would be less than half the cost to go rent points!

If you’re interested in renting points to stay in Disney Deluxe Villas or Studios, these are the 3 third-party companies I have used and had great experiences with:

[These are not affiliate links, and this is not a sponsored post].

However, you can also find good discounts directly with Disney.

If you are an Annual Passholder, you can often find discounts at Deluxe Resorts – often at up to 40% off.

But don’t worry, you don’t have to be an AP to save big! If you have a Disney+ subscription, you may be able to save around the same as an AP on your hotel bill.

If you are in the U.S. Military, you may be eligible for resort discounts.

And if you work for the NHS in the UK (and have a Blue Light Card), you can receive a 5% discount.

And if you don’t fall into any of the above categories, no problem! Just make sure to check Disney’s site to see the current promotions, as you may be eligible for a discount.

6. They’re perfect if you want to spend most of your time at the resort

There are 3 types of people

Park people
Resort people
And both!

If you fall into category 2 (and maybe even 3), opting for a Deluxe resort may be the best decision you can make for your Disney vacation.

Deluxe Resorts transport you to paradise (not to be dramatic), and if you want to stay in your resort bubble – and enjoy the luxurious surrounding and amenities, you absolutely can.

On my November 2022 stay at the Polynesian, I spent most of the time at the resort – occasionally popping into Magic Kingdom and Epcot.

If you’re potentially spending a lot of money on your resort, this can be a nice way to balance your time, so that it is money well spent.

7. The rooms are larger

If you’ve stayed at a resort from every category, you’ll know that Value rooms are smaller than Moderate rooms, and Moderate rooms are smaller than Deluxe.

On average:

Rooms at Value Resorts are 260 square feet.

Rooms at Moderate Resorts are 314 square feet.

And, rooms at Deluxe Resorts are 344-440 square feet (with Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge being on the lower end and the Grand Floridian being on the higher end).

DVC Studios are between 355 and 365 square feet.

For more information, on room sizes, click here.

8. Deluxe Resorts tend to be smaller

With the exception of some older DVC resorts (namely Old Key West and Saratoga Springs), Deluxe Resorts tend to be rather small.

This is ideal if you want to minimise the amount of walking you do at your resort. After all, you get enough steps in at the parks! Or, if internal bus systems stress you out, a Deluxe Resort may be ideal for you.

9. You get access to Disney Deluxe Resorts Perks

Other than staying in more luxurious, larger accommodations in more compact resorts, there is one other main Deluxe Resort perk. This is Extended Evening Theme Park Hours.

The schedule of the Extended Evening Hours can change, so it’s worth researching before your trip. Usually, this is held once a week at Magic Kingdom and once a week at Epcot. However, there are occasionally Extended Evening Hours at Hollywood Studios.

Ta Ta For Now

Deluxe Resorts have a great range of benefits and really do add a little magic to your trip! Are you planning on staying at a Deluxe Resort at Disney World on your next vacation?!

This post was all about 7 magical reasons why you should stay at deluxe resorts at Disney World.