5 Amazing Reasons Why Disney Deluxe Resorts are Worth the Price

Staying at a Disney deluxe resort is not cheap. People argue that paying all that extra money just for a room is a waste, but we’ve got the inside scoop that will have you raising eyebrows on why staying at a Disney deluxe resort just may be the answer to your prayers!

5. The Monorail

Convenience, convenience, convenience! If there was ever a reason to stay at a Disney deluxe resort, this in my opinion is top of the list! Out of the 8 Disney Deluxe resorts, 3 of them are located on the monorail line. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Village and Disney’s Contemporary Resort, including Bay Lake Towers. Being on the monorail line, allows you very convenient (and quick) access to these 3 resorts plus The Magic Kingdom, Epcot and the Disney Transportation and Ticketing Center. While the Disney Bus system is pretty good at getting you around the property, little compares to the efficiency (and fun!) of being whisked directly into Epcot or the Magic Kingdom by the monorail and taken right to your resorts front door at the end of the day or night. If you are visiting WDW with young children, getting back to the room midday for a nap without having to deal with packing up and collapsing all your strollers for the bus is a saving grace…. Just wheel the kids on the monorail and off you go. You’ll never know how you survived without it. If you are traveling with older kids or adults, the convenience of heading back to the resort for a quick swim or drinks before dinner will rejuvenate you for the night ahead. There is also that magical feeling you get when you board the monorail heading into to the parks. It’s like a rite of passage that all guests should experience. You do need to use the bus system when going to Animal Kingdom or Disney’s Hollywood Studios but having that monorail access for Magic Kingdom and Epcot will literally expedite everything you do and make your trip much less stressful. Let’s say your staying at the Polynesian but have dinner reservations at Citrico’s, which is located at Disney’s Grand Floridian. It’s literally a 2-minute monorail ride from the Poly. After dinner, hop the monorail again for one stop directly into the Magic Kingdom and off you go!

4. Disney Boat Shuttles

The boats around Bay Lake (Magic Kingdom Area) and Crescent Lake (Epcot Hollywood Studios Area) are another great reason to stay at one of the Disney Deluxe resorts. Many times at the end of a long day, the monorail may have long lines to board and the busses could take an eternity to get back to the room. A great alternative to the busses in this situation is to board one of the boat shuttles that provide access to Disney’s Polynesian, Grand Floridian and Wilderness Lodge. If you’re staying at one of Disney’s Boardwalk resorts conveniently located on Crescent lake right in-between Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios (DHS), it’s another quick and convenient way to get access to both parks quickly. It is a pretty short walk to each of these parks from the Boardwalk, but after a long day of walking, a refreshing boat ride never felt better. One secret many guests don’t know is that the boat shuttle from the Boardwalk takes you directly to what I call “The backdoor” to Epcot. There is an alternate entrance to Epcot in World Showcase that walks you in to the park directly in between England and France at World Showcase. Want to get over to Hollywood Studios quickly without having to walk all the way to the front of the park and board a bus? Jump on the boat from the rear entrance of World Showcase and journey to DHS past the Boardwalk resorts or for a quick stop at the room before heading out again. Options and convenience are what it’s all about!

3. Food Glorious Food

In addition to quick serve restaurants, all Disney Deluxe Resorts all have at least one themed table service restaurant right on property. Something value resorts do not have. It’s all about variety and convenience. When I visit WDW, I typically enjoy staying at the Polynesian. I love shooting back to the room on the monorail midday for a quick nap before visiting the Tambu Lounge Bar for a Margarita, and then dinner at Ohana, all conveniently located at the resort. After dinner, simply jump on the monorail and head into Magic Kingdom or Epcot for the evening’s festivities. At the end of the night, we all get the munchies and there is no worse feeling to arrive back at your resort and the quick serve restaurant is closed. All Deluxe resorts have quick service restaurants that are open 24 hours, unlike value resorts, which typically close at midnight. The food at deluxe resorts is also typically better and with more variety… you won’t be disappointed.

2. The Pool & Grounds

All Disney resorts have pools and lovely grounds, but most of the value resorts do not have a water slide or are not themed as nicely as at a deluxe resort. Most deluxe resorts have a water slide or even a mini water park located right on the property. Don’t get me wrong, I have stayed at Disney’s Pop Century many times, my go-to for value resorts, and while Disney service is still top-notch, the amenities are limited. The gift shop at the Pop is small and limited while the gift shops at Wilderness lodge, The Grand Floridian or Contemporary offer much greater variety.

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1. Amenities

Shopping, character meals, live music, 5 star restaurants, 24 hour food service, dinner shows, cocktail lounges, monorail or boat transportation, etc. The list goes on and on. Yes, the pricing for a deluxe resort room can be significantly more expensive than at a value or moderate resort, but the amenities are key and many of the resorts have just completed renovations, making the rooms and grounds magnificent. You can watch Magic Kingdom fireworks from any of the deluxe resorts on the monorail line. A great perk if you just want to wind down at the end of the day and enjoy the magic directly from your home resort.

All in all, booking your stay at a Disney deluxe resort will no doubt be more expensive but weigh your options and be sure to check the special offers page to see what discounts are being offered for that time. You can get up to 35% off stays at deluxe resorts and if you book during the value season, you may get a better deal than you thought. Use Disneyworld.com to explore your options!

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Photo courtesy of Silver Pin Studios