I wanted to go over the different Disney room categories. Generally, there are four categories: Value, Moderate, Deluxe, and Villas/DVC. While I haven’t stayed in every resort on Disney property (check out Here with the Ears for that). But I have stayed at every resort category.
We’re going to start with the value resorts. These are the least expensive Disney resorts ($120-$270/night in 2022). They are also the smallest (around 250 square feet). There are some suite options that allow you more room but also are more expensive. The value resorts also have less amenities than the more expensive hotels.
Disney’s value resorts are primarily motel-style. So your door opens to the outside instead of an interior hallway. They also have limited food options with just a food court. Your primary transportation option is the bus, but two hotels also utilize the Disney Skyliner. The theming is some of the most intensely Disney and over-the-top. There are large icons representing Disney characters or the resort's theme more generally. While Disney is always filled with families, the Value resorts are known for young families. They also often house groups like cheerleaders and school groups.
The Resorts
Now, let’s talk about the resorts a bit more specifically. Generally, I’ll do this from lowest to highest in terms of cost.
All Star Resorts
-All Star Sports
-All Star Music
-All Star Movies
Pop Century
Art of Animation
All Star Resorts
We’ll start with the All Star Resorts. There are three of them and the price does vary between them, but they are very similar so I think it makes sense to discuss them together.
The All Star resorts have rooms around 250 sq ft. The price varies based on the time of year, but for 2022 they range from $120-$270/night. The rooms sleep four and typically have two full/queen beds. Some of the rooms have been refurbished so they have a regular bed and a pull-down bed. I’m a big fan of the pull-down because it gives you more room. There are some rooms with one king bed, too. They also offer accessible rooms and the buildings have elevators to get you to the upper floors.
There aren’t a lot of food options at the All Star resorts. They each have a food court themed to the hotel's theme. The food is pretty standard: cheeseburger, nuggets, pizza, etc. You can also pick up pastries and pre-made items. The gift shops also carry packed snacks and drinks. The main pool at each resort also has a pool bar.
When it comes to transportation, the only option is the bus. Each hotel has a bus stop, but sometimes they will share a bus when returning from the parks. Disney knows a lot of people stay here and can only use the buses, so it feels like they run the buses to and from the resorts more often than other hotels.
There aren’t a lot of amenities since you’re mainly paying for a place to sleep. Each hotel has two pools. There’s a large main pool near the lobbies. They don’t have a slide, but they do offer pool games and trivia. There’s also a second more quiet pool in another section. Each hotel also has an arcade and playground. And, weather permitting, Disney offers Movies Under the Stars each night.
Pop Century
Next, let’s talk about Pop Century. This hotel is themed by the decades (50s-90s) and has been a favorite for many guests. It tends to be more expensive than the All Stars. For 2022, the cost per night ranges from $160-250.
The rooms were recently renovated so they have the pull-down beds and no carpets. They are similar in size to the All Star rooms around 250 sq ft. Like most Disney hotels, they do have some rooms with a single king bed. The buildings have stairs and elevators. There are also accessible rooms you can request.
Like the other value resorts, there aren’t a lot of food options. There’s a pool bar with drinks and a food court. Everything Pop, the food court is a bit more popular than the All Stars. Again it’s a fairly standard food court.
Buses are available at Pop Century, but there is also Skyliner access. The Skyliner is shared with Art of Animation. The station is on the bridge that connects the two resorts. The Skyliner is a great option to get to Hollywood Studios and Epcot.
Pop Century has some similar amenities. It has an arcade and playground. There are three pools here. The main pool is near the lobby in the 60s section. There are smaller pools in the 50s section and a shared pool between the 80s and 90s. Movies Under the Stars is also offered nightly.
Art of Animation
The last Value resort is Art of Animation. It’s also the newest and most expensive. The prices here vary from $190-$370/night (in 2022). Part of the variability in price comes from the room types. This hotel is primarily FAmily Suites. Larger rooms=more expensive rooms. Art of Animation has four sections which are themed after majore animated Disney/Pixar films.
One of the sections-The Little Mermaid-is the only one with standard hotel rooms that sleep four. They still have the two queen (or 1 king) beds. The other three sections have the family suites. The suites sleep six. There’s 1 queen bed, 1 pull down with a full bed, and a sleeper sofa with a double bed. There are also accessible rooms here you can request.
Art of Animation has a popular food court. It’s highly recommended and often has more unique options. They also have a bar at the main pool.
That main pool is the Big Blue Pool in the Finding Nemo section. It’s a popular pool where you can hear Finding Nemo characters underwater. There are two smaller pools in the Cars and Little Mermaid sections. Like the other value resorts, there is also an arcade and playground. They also offer Movies Under the Stars nightly.
My Experience/Thoughts
I’ve stayed at three of the five Value resorts. I’ve stayed at All Star Music and Pop Century once. And I’ve stayed at All Star Movies twice. They’ve all been enjoyable experiences and I’d happily stay again. While the Skyliner is nice, I’m not sure it’s worth the price increase from All Star to Pop Century. I do hope to stay at Art of Animation some day, but I can’t justify the price right now.
Final Wrap-Up
Disney’s value resorts are a good option to guests. You can get a less expensive hotel off Disney property, but you will miss out on some benefits. I’m a big fan of being in the Disney bubble and this is the cheapest way to be in it (and stay in a hotel). The decor is large and a big hit with the little ones. There’s also great photo opportunities. The rooms are nice, but definitely a place to sleep. I wouldn’t recommend it as a place to stay if you would like to spend a lot of time in your room.
I also did a YouTube video on this which you can check out below. I would also recommend sources like Here With the Ears’ room tours on YouTube. Another great resource is Touring Plans-especially the room finder.
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