Value, Moderate, Deluxe, Villa: What’s the Difference Between Disney World Resort Categories?

Walt Disney World Veterans instinctively understand the differences between Disney’s resort classification system: value, moderate, deluxe, and villa. But new Disney travelers, or folks who’ve previously only stayed off site, are often confused by the terminology. Sure deluxe sounds, well, deluxe, but what exactly makes it that way. What makes it more deluxe than a moderate resort? What does moderate mean, anyway? And why is moderate more deluxe than value when there are some value rooms that cost more than moderate rooms? To help you sort it all out, here’s a handy-dandy cheat sheet detailing the differences in the Disney resort categories.

But before we get going, it may be helpful to list the hotels that fall into each of the classification categories.

The deluxe resorts are: Grand Floridian, Contemporary, Polynesian, Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House, and Wilderness Lodge. The moderate resorts are: Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter, Coronado Springs, Caribbean Beach Resort, and the Fort Wilderness Cabins. The value resorts are: All Star Movies, All Star Music, All Star Sports, Pop Century, and Art of Animation. The dedicated villa resorts are Old Key West and Saratoga Springs. Additionally, there are villa rooms at the Beach Club, Boardwalk, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, and Contemporary (Bay Lake Tower) resorts. The amenities of those villas are shared with the deluxe resorts that host them. The Fort Wilderness campground remains unclassified. Campground guests have all the privileges of Fort Wilderness cabin guests except, of course, having a Disney roof over their head.

Room Size

• Value resorts: The typical standard room, sleeping up to four guests plus a baby in a crib, is approximately 260 square feet. The typical family suite, sleeping up to six guests plus a baby in a crib is approximately 520 square feet.
• Moderate resorts: Typical standard rooms at Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, and Port Orleans are approximately 314 square feet. These rooms sleep up to four guests, plus a baby in a crib. There are some rooms at Port Orleans Riverside equipped to sleep up to five guests plus a baby. There are some suites at Coronado Springs. The Fort Wilderness cabins, which sleep up to six guests plus a baby, are approximately 504 square feet.
• Deluxe resorts: There are a variety of room types and sizes at the deluxe hotels. These range from standad rooms of about 344 square feet at the Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge (rooms sleeping four plus a baby) on up suites of more than a thousand square feet. Typical rooms at the Grand Floridian sleep up to five guests plus a baby in 440 square feet.
• Villa resorts: There are studio, one bedroom, two bedroom and three bedroom villas. These range in size from a 316 square foot studio at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, to a nearly 2,500 square foot three bedroom grand villa at the Boardwalk. Most studio rooms sleep up to four guests plus a baby. The grand villas sleep up to 12 guests plus a baby.
• Things to think about: Not surprisingly, the rooms get larger as you move up in the resort classification level. However, the square footage of your room may not matter to you if you’ll only be spending time in your room to sleep.

Bathroom Situation

• Value resorts: For standard rooms, there is one sink, one toilet, and one shower/tub combo. Typically the toilet and shower are contained in a room with a door, while the sink is located in the open. The value resort family suites (at All Star Music and Art of Animation) have two bathrooms. Additionally, family suites will have a bar sink in the kitchenette area.
• Moderate resorts: Most rooms have a two sinks, one toilet, and one shower/tub combo. Typically the toilet and shower are contained in a room with a door, while the sinks are outside the door. Often the sink area can be separated from the main room via a curtain, sliding door, or other partition.
• Deluxe resorts: Standard rooms have two sinks, one toilet, and one shower/tub combo. In some cases, the toilet/tub are behind a door. In some cases, the toilet will be in its own doored room. Suites may have several bathrooms in a variety of combinations.
• Villa resorts: Studios have one standard bathroom. Depending on the resort, the studio bathroom sink/vanity may be inside or outside the bathroom door. Many studios have one bathroom sink, but they all have a bar sink in the kitchenette area. Depending on the resort, one bedroom villas have one or two bathrooms. Two bedroom villas have two or three bathrooms. Three bathroom villas have three or four bathrooms. One, two, and three bedroom villas have a jacuzzi-style tub.
• Things to think about: At all resort levels, there are rooms with wheel-in showers and larger bathrooms available for guests with medical issues. Parties of more than one or two people, or parties of unrelated guests should consider what their desired privacy level is for bathroom and changing issues.

Bedding situation

• Value resorts: In standard rooms, two double beds or one king size bed. Family suites at Art of Animation have one queen size bed, one double sleeper sofa, and one double pull-down table bed. Family suites at All Star Music have a queen size bed, a double sleeper sofa, a twin size sleeper chair, and a twin size sleeper ottoman.
• Moderate resorts: In standard rooms, two queen size beds or one king size bed. Some rooms at Port Orleans Riverside have an additional twin-size trundle bed or Murphy bed.
• Deluxe resorts: Some standard rooms have two queen size beds or one king size bed. Many standard rooms have an additional twin-size daybed.
• Villa resorts: Bedding varies depending one room type. In most villa rooms, there is a combination of traditional beds and sleeper sofas and chairs.
• Things to think about: Depending on the composition of your traveling party, the number of distinct sleep surfaces in the room may be important to you. You may want to consider whether the adults in your party feel comfortable sleeping on a double bed or on a sleeper sofa.

Views

• Value resorts: Rooms may look at a parking lot, wooded area, themed resort elements, or swimming pool.
• Moderate resorts: Rooms may look at a parking lot, wooded area, themed resort elements, swimming pool, or natural body of water.
• Deluxe resorts: Rooms may look at a parking lot, wooded area, themed resort elements, swimming pool, natural body of water, or a theme park. Animal Kingdom Lodge rooms may overlook animal habitats. Theme park entertainment such as fireworks may be seen from some deluxe resort rooms.
• Villa resorts:Rooms may look at a parking lot, wooded area, themed resort elements, swimming pool, natural body of water, a theme park, or a golf course. Animal Kingdom Lodge rooms may overlook animal habitats. Theme park entertainment such as fireworks may be seen from some deluxe resort rooms.
• Things to think about: The better your view, the more expensive it will be. If you won’t be spending much time in your room, is a view something you want to pay for?

Recreation Options

• Value resorts: Pool, poolside games/entertainment, playground equipment, movies under the stars.
• Moderate resorts: Pool, poolside games/entertainment, playground equipment, movies under the stars. Health club available at Coronado Springs. Water recreation and bike rental may be available. Free character singalong at Fort Wilderness.
• Deluxe resorts: Pool, poolside games/entertainment, playground equipment, movies under the stars. Health club available. Spa services may be available. Water recreation and bike rental may be available. Outdoor evening entertainment at the Boardwalk resort.
• Villa resorts: Pool, poolside games/entertainment, playground equipment, movies under the stars. Health club available. Spa services may be available. Water recreation and bike rental may be available.
• Things to think about: Health clubs and other recreation are only important if you intend to use them. If you’ll spend all your time at the theme parks, then consider whether it’s worth paying extra for recreation.

Dining Options

• Value resorts: Food court. Poolside bar. In-room pizza delivery available in the evenings.
• Moderate resorts: Food court. Poolside bar. At least one table service dining option. At least one indoor bar or lounge. In-room pizza delivery available in the evenings
• Deluxe resorts: Food court. Poolside bar. Multiple table service dining options on site, many other table service option easily accessible. Full room service menu available throughout the day. At least one indoor bar or lounge. Character dining may be available on site.
• Villa resorts: Options vary by resort. Food court. Poolside bar. There may be multiple table service dining options on site, many other table service option easily accessible. Full room service menu may be available throughout the day. Character dining may be available on site. Studio villas include a kitchenette. Larger villas include a full kitchen.
• Things to think about: Anyone can dine at any of the resort restaurants on property. There’s no requirement that guests stay at a resort to dine there.

Transportation Options

• Value resorts: All Disney-provided transportation to theme parks and Downtown Disney is via bus.
• Moderate resorts: Disney-provided transportation to the theme parks is via bus. There may be boat transportation to Downtown Disney.
• Deluxe resorts: Multiple transportation options depending on your destination. Some deluxe resorts are within walking distance of a theme park. Transportation to the theme parks may be via bus, boat, or monorail.
• Villa resorts: Multiple transportation options depending on your destination. Some villa resorts are within walking distance of a theme park. Transportation to the theme parks may be via bus, boat, or monorail. Transportation to Downtown Disney may be via boat.
• Things to think about: If you’ll have access to your own vehicle, then the Disney-provided transportation options may not be particularly important to you. Staying within walking distance of a theme park can be a big time saver.

Pools

• Value resorts: Themed pools. May have some water play or interactive elements.
• Moderate resorts: Themed pools and “quiet” pools. May have some water play or interactive elements. May have medium-sized water slide.
• Deluxe resorts: Themed pools and “quiet” pools. Will have water play or interactive elements. Will have at least one water slide. May have bonus water features such as waterfalls or sand play areas. Will have hot tubs.
• Villa resorts: Themed pools and “quiet” pools. Will have water play or interactive elements. Will have at least one water slide. May have bonus water features such as waterfalls or sand play areas. Will have hot tubs.
• Things to think about: If you’re not a swimmer, none of this matters.

Resort Characteristics

• Value resorts: Colorful and/or cartoony building exteriors. Standard rooms are accessed via an external doorway. Family suites at Art of Animation are accessed via an internal doorway. No guest rooms in the main building. Main building houses guest check-in, one shop, and food service. Outer guest buildings may be a long walk from the main building.
• Moderate resorts: Building exteriors match resort theme. Some room interiors may have special themeing such as a pirate or princess motif. Guest rooms are accessed via an external doorway. No guest rooms in the main building. Main building houses guest check-in, one shop, and food service. Outer guest buildings may be a long walk from the main building.
• Deluxe resorts: Building exteriors are elegant or romantic, often designed by premier architects. Guest rooms are accessed via an internal hallway. There may be guest rooms in the main building. Main building houses guest check-in, multiple shops, and food service. Guests at the Grand Floridian receive turn-down service. Most deluxe rooms have a patio or balcony area. Deluxe resorts have large lobbies where guests can sit and congregate. There may be entertainment or special decorations in the lobby.
• Villa resorts: Depending on the resort, guest rooms may be accessed via an internal or external doorway. Main building may be dedicated to the villa or shared with the associated deluxe resort. Villa resorts include a shop configured like a convenience store with basic food preparation items.
• Things to think about: Women traveling alone may feel more comfortable asking for a room in or near a main building.

Walt Disney World Amenities

• Value resorts: Free airport to resort transportation via Disney’s Magical Express Service. Access to Extra Magic Hours. Resort package delivery from theme park shops. Ability to make ten days of dining reservations from day one of your vacation.
• Moderate resorts: Free airport to resort transportation via Disney’s Magical Express Service. Access to Extra Magic Hours. Resort package delivery from theme park shops. Ability to make ten days of dining reservations from day one of your vacation.
• Deluxe resorts:Free airport to resort transportation via Disney’s Magical Express Service. Access to Extra Magic Hours. Resort package delivery from theme park shops. Ability to make ten days of dining reservations from day one of your vacation.
• Villa resorts:Free airport to resort transportation via Disney’s Magical Express Service. Access to Extra Magic Hours. Resort package delivery from theme park shops. Ability to make ten days of dining reservations from day one of your vacation.
• Things to think about: You’ll notice that macro Disney World resort amenities are currently identical among all resort categories. There is some speculation that when Disney introduces the new Fastpass+ (X-Pass) product there may be some stratification of benefits for the different types of resorts. Stay tuned for further developments.

As you can see, there are difference between the various resort categories, some subtle and some significant. Depending on what your personal priorities are, these may or may not be important to you. Of course, the real trick to choosing where to stay is to balance your budgetary constraints with your desired amenities.

Let us know which of these resort characteristics is most important to you. Is the bedding your priority while the pools don’t matter? Are you willing splurge for a view of the castle? Or are you a theme park commando who wants nothing more than the cheapest pillow and shower possible? Let us know in the comments below.