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 resort accomodations are fairly basic.

• 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 resort family suites have two bathrooms.

• 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

Moderate resort beds are larger than value resort beds.

• 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

There may be lots to see from your deluxe resort room.

• 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

Moderate and deluxe resorts may have water recreation opportunities.

• 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

There are quick service dining options at all resort levels.

• 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

More forms of transportation serve the deluxe resorts.

• 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

The value resort pools are themed, but have no slides.

• 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

The deluxe resorts have lobbies where you can sit and relax.

• 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

The value resort themeing is colorful and cartoony.

• 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.

Value, Moderate, Deluxe, Villa: What’s the Difference Between Disney World Resort Categories? is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

A perennial question among Walt Disney World travelers is, “How do I decide where to stay?”

Over time, I’ve stayed at every Walt Disney World resort except the Fort Wilderness cabins, and I have toured those, so I am quite familiar with the pros and cons of each type of lodging. I can spend hours parsing the relative merits of room size, transportation options, location, pools, and restaurants, but I’ve finally concluded that deciding factor for me is the bathroom situation.

Spacious shower at the Saratoga Springs Tree House Villas.

I’m going to be elaborating here, the squeamish among you can move along.

During the past two years, here is a sampling of some of my Walt Disney World hotel stays:

• Polynesian, two adjoining rooms, five people – myself, hubby and three daughters, two bathrooms
• Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani two bedroom villa, five people – myself, hubby and three daughters, three bathrooms
• Old Key West, studio, four people – myself and three daughters, one bathroom
• Contemporary, solo, one bathroom
• Beach Club Villas one-bedroom, three people – myself and two daughters, one bathroom
• Beach Club Villas studio, two people – myself and hubby, one bathroom
• Pop Century, solo, one bathroom
• Pop Century, two people – myself and one daughter, one bathroom
• Caribbean Beach, solo, one bathroom

As you can see, I’ve recently experienced the full range of Disney hotel offerings, from living large to just the basics. Having so much variety within a relatively short of amount of time has allowed me to crystalize my thoughts on Disney hotel stays. Depending on the type of vacation I’m having, I’m equally as fine with cheap and simple as I am with posh and pricey. What I’m not fine with is waiting for the bathroom, or feeling pressured because someone else is waiting around while I use the bathroom. I’ve learned that when I’m at Walt Disney World, I want to be at Walt Disney World, not negotiating whose turn it is to use the toilet.

Two sinks at the Caribbean Beach resort

I have found that most hotel room features or resort amenities can be accommodated for in other ways. Don’t like waiting for a bus at the values? Rent a car. Don’t like the bargain shampoo/conditioner combo at a value? Bring your own toiletries. Want more/better meals than what they’re serving at the food court? Go ahead and eat at a different resort. But when you’re trying to get ready in the morning, the bathroom structure in your room is immutable and, well, impactful.

For example, staying solo at any level of resort works well for bathroom use. Obviously no one is fighting me for the facilities there. From this perspective, there is no difference to me between the value, moderate, and deluxe stays; as long as the facilities are clean and functional, I’m happy. If I’m busy doing research or otherwise “working,” saving money by staying at a value is all good in my book.

I’ve also been fine when staying in any level room with my husband or just one of my daughters. Two people can easily work out their morning routine to stay out of each other’s way during the, um, business portion of the morning.

Basic, but functional at the Pop Century

However, my most recent WDW stay was at in a studio the Beach Club villas with my husband. Most of the time we were okey-dokey sharing the one bathroom, but (not to put too fine a point on things) we really struggled on the morning of the half marathon, which we both ran. Our “timing” was off because of the 3:00 a.m. wake up call and our nervous first-race stomachs. Hubby ended up taking advantage of the facilities in the hotel lobby, but neither of us felt this was an ideal solution. Sometimes you just want to have your own space, ya know?

Things get further complicated when you’re sharing a bathroom with more people. My more challenging hotel stays have been when I’ve been in groups of three or more people sharing one bathroom. Perhaps this has to do with the composition of my particular family. My three daughters are all teens and tweens. And did I mention that they’re girls? And did I mention that they’re teens and tweens, with all the adolescent angst that goes along with this? Oh, and they all have really long hair, which needs to be washed, and dried, and styled, and maybe styled again depending on the weather. This means they each need a solid half hour minimumof quality bathroom time each morning, even if they’ve showered the night before.

More fancy at the Contemporary

Making rope drop ain’t gonna happen with this crew when we’re all competing for one commode or mirror. That’s a real problem for my touringplan-following, type-A personality.

Our recent stay with the most family conflict was in the studio at Old Key West. We had plenty of space for sleep, but when we four women tried to get washed and dressed in time for a Chef Mickey’s breakfast, more than a little chaos ensued. Conversely, our best stay was at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Not because of the huge amount of space (which there was) or the view of the zebras (super cool), but because we had three glorious bathrooms. The ALK situation worked better for us than even the two bedrooms at the, in my opinion, much better located Polynesian, all because we had an additional bathroom.

My new biggest criteria for deciding where to stay is our ability to keep our person to bathroom ratio low. If the five of us are traveling together, I would rather stay in a value resort family suite with two bathrooms than in a standard room in a deluxe with just the one bathroom. No amount of monorail access and complimentary H2O conditioner is worth a catfight. But maybe that’s just me.

How does your family cope with bathroom issues on vacation? Does it matter to you if the toilet and shower are in separate rooms? Does it matter if you have two sinks? Do you mind sharing a bathroom with non-nuclear-family traveling companions (like a friend, or your mother-in-law)? What odd things are the deciding factors for where you decide to stay? Let us know in the comments below.

Choosing A Disney World Hotel: It’s All About the Bathroom is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.