Tom’s Top 7: World’s Best Disney Hotels
One of the best parts about the Disney parks is outside the gates, at the resort hotels that extend the sense of immersive theme and offering uniquely compelling experiences of their own. We’ve stayed at nearly every hotel at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland (and the four we haven’t stayed at we’ve visited) to bring you this list.
This list is weighted almost entirely towards theme and design–it’s really more a list of Imagineering’s best work than it is the best hotels in the traditional sense of how those are review. Room quality, dining, and other amenities are factored in to only a very minor degree. Basically, I’m focusing on what I think most defines a Disney resort, and choosing the resorts that best exemplify those qualities.
This post has been a long time in the making, as I believe I first teased it nearly two years ago. It’s been in draft for a while now, with many additions and removals during that time. My resort preferences frequently change, and my hope was to get something close to ‘concrete’ with this list.
There’s almost no chance of that happening. At their core, there are so many Disney resorts that are thematically excellent. While I may not like the recent moves to strip away theming from guest rooms, this is only a trend at Walt Disney World. Even there, the practice has (thankfully) not been extended to common areas.
Anyway, here’s the list. You might notice a “few” more hotels than seven have made the cut…
Port Orleans – While most guests staying at Riverside and French Quarter are unlikely to visit the other, these sister properties are a short boat ride or walk from one another. This might be starting the list off with a controversial pick, especially since the Port Orleans Resorts make the cut at the exclusion of the likes of Grand Floridian, Contemporary, BoardWalk, and others.
However, we feel there’s something to be said for a resort doing more with less, and these resorts are far more immersive and romantic than you’d expect from Moderates. The quiet pathways that criss-cross Port Orleans Riverside make it a great place to take a romantic stroll late at night. These grounds are interesting and engaging, with rich wilderness in the bayou and perfectly manicured gardens around the mansions.
French Quarter is likewise charming thematically, and its idealized presentation of New Orleans is fun. It’s not quite on par with Riverside, which benefits from the larger layout, but it manages to distill and convey an idealized version of New Orleans. We’ve long recommended these two resorts as solid budget options for an adults-only or honeymoon trip.
Yacht & Beach Club – Another case of sister resorts, and despite this pair being physically connected to one another, they arguably have less in common than the two Port Orleans Resorts. The theme and tone of each ‘Club’ resort is dramatically different, and that these connected resorts manage to convey two similar yet contrasting themes is a big part of their appeal.
Beach Club is themed to evoke the seaside resort cottages scattered around New England in the early 20th Century. It’s very laid back; both in the substance of the theme, and the styles used. There are a lot of light colors and pastels, and this makes for a relaxing environment. In some ways, Beach Club shares more with BoardWalk Inn in terms of theme and atmosphere than it does with Yacht Club.
The tone changes considerably as the resort transitions to Yacht Club, which feels like an actual high-society yachting club set in turn of the century New England. The color scheme is muted and darker, and there’s also an abundance of deep woods, nautically-themed antiques, and rich furniture throughout the resort. The stately environment could pass for a place where the Kennedys and other elites might have met for liquid lunches and made power plays.
Aulani – Disney’s three stand-alone resorts have arguably been failures from a financial perspective, but they’re definitely successes from a thematic perspective. Aulani is the definite champ among these resorts, which have the unique challenge of providing enough “Disney” without nearby theme parks. Aulani also interestingly flips the script on themed Hawaiian resorts, having a lot in common with the next entry on our list in that regard.
One of Aulani’s great strengths is that it manages to balance luxury and theme exceptionally well. Aulani doesn’t stop there. By virtue of no theme park being near it, the resort’s programming also needs to deliver–and it does. From the resort’s impressive Hawaiian art collection to the sprawling Waikolohe Valley pool area to the daily events and activities that emphasize authentic cultural experiences, there is more to do, see, and enjoy at Aulani than any other Disney resort in the world.
Animal Kingdom Lodge – On our various Walt Disney World hotel rankings over the years, Animal Kingdom Lodge has been #1. From the meticulous design that mirrors the eponymous theme park to the art collection on display through common areas and guest hallways, Animal Kingdom Lodge is a hotel that really rewards those guests who are willing to spend the time drinking in its details.
Then there are the living, breathing animals that graze on the 4 savannas outside of the hotel. This expansive savanna outside the resort, where 30 species of animals roam and are visible from many guest room balconies is perhaps the most unique and impressive “amenity” at any Disney resort in the world.
While Animal Kingdom Lodge draws obvious comparisons to Wilderness Lodge, we’d offer a different one: EPCOT. Animal Kingdom Lodge is essentially an “eduresort” thanks to its unrivaled level of cultural authenticity, impressive collection of art, plus animal observation and education offerings. There’s more to Animal Kingdom Lodge than immersive theming–you are actually inspired and educated by the resort.
Disneyland Hotel – All of them. Originally, I was debating whether the honor should go to the dissimilar Anaheim and Paris resorts, but the somewhat similar Disneyland Hotels in Hong Kong and Tokyo, as well as Shanghai’s twist on the concept, all of which also excel in their own regards.
This is as much a cop out as an realization that each of the Disneyland Hotels do certain things really well, and other things only okay. In its ideal or conceptual form, the Paris version is my favorite. However, maintenance and tired rooms drag it down. Tokyo’s has impressive grandiosity and sophistication, but lacks warmth and a lived-in sensibility. Anaheim’s offers a lovely, self-referential tribute, but lacks organic theme. Shanghai is regal, but feels as if corners were cut.
Same with Hong Kong, which is arguably superior to the Grand Floridian in all regards other than the lackluster lobby. Speaking of Grand Floridian, it’s a “Disneyland Hotel” by another name. Grand Floridian deserves praise for its extravagance, but criticism for a number of dated and puzzling design choices.
Hotel MiraCosta – For most who have stayed here, Hotel Miracosta is probably #1. It oozes opulence, and is unquestionably the most ornate and detailed Disney hotel in the world. Themed to Portofino and Venice, it provides the perfect backdrop to Mediterranean Harbor, thanks to its location inside Tokyo DisneySea.
That alone earns it significant praise, and there’s something to be said for gazing at Mount Prometheus, the Venetian Gondolas, or even Aquasphere Plaza from your room. The common areas of the hotel epitomize high-end luxury, and it does an excellent job with the lavish design without ever devolving into ostentatious or tacky territory.
Wilderness Lodge – This list is about tough choices, and I’m making a difficult one here by putting Wilderness Lodge above Hotel MiraCosta, but I think it deserves the honor. Hotel MiraCosta is worthy of every superlative tossed its direction, but Wilderness Lodge really earns this spot because it threads a more delicate needle: exquisitely themed spaces in a rustic setting that still manages to impart a sense of luxury and grandiosity.
Wilderness Lodge also feels worlds away from Walt Disney World (honorable mention here to Fort Wilderness, about which the same can be said). That a hotel in Florida can evoke the spirit of the Christmas season so well factors in heavily here, too. From my perspective, it’s this superlative themed design, suspension of disbelief, and transportive place that makes Wilderness Lodge the pinnacle of hotel Imagineering.
Due to their similarities, I’m also including Wilderness Lodge at the exclusion of the Grand Californian and Sequoia Lodge, both of which appear similar at first blush, but are quite different. It pains me to do this, as both are to my personal tastes and would be very deserving of spots on this list even if they weren’t.
All three draw liberally from United States National Park Lodges, but Grand Californian famously is influenced by Craftsman architecture found throughout America’s greatest state, whereas Sequoia Lodge borrows from Frank Lloyd Wright’s modern Prairie Style. All three have their own highlights and each could individually make this list, but Wilderness Lodge is most deserving of a spot.
That covers it in terms of the best Disney resort hotels in the world. Even with several entries here including multiple hotels, there are still a number of resorts we snubbed entirely. The most notable of these are Explorers Lodge, BoardWalk Inn, Polynesian, Ambassador Hotel, and Vero Beach.
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Your Thoughts
Which Disney hotels are your favorites? Any we didn’t include that you think deserve to make the cut? Agree or disagree with our selections? Any questions? We love hearing from readers, so please share any other thoughts or questions you have in the comments below!
If your going WDW to stay quite a bit of time in the hotel, I agree with the WDW choices. But if your staying at your resort to sleep and maybe use the pool while spending most of your time enjoying the parks, Pop Century should be included – nice rooms, pool, and dining hall. I have stayed at both the Port Orleans resorts, but why pay more when we are there to enjoy the parks?
To each his own, I guess. If we all liked the same resorts, we could never get in to one.
I’ve always been surprised at your favorites, Wilderness Lodge. It and Animal Kingdom are so NOT my favorites. If I want to stay in a rustic lodge, I would travel out west and stay in a mountain lodge. When I travel to WDW, I want warm tropical locations. The Polynesian is one of the hardest resorts to book along with Grand Floridian and it’s no wonder. They’re gorgeous and so inviting. That’s our 2 fav’s.
Enjoy your blogs, thanks
I really want to like Yacht and Beach! I understand that they are well themed and have been continuing to improve but being from New England it’s tough to choose to stay there when I can have the theming of another resort. I love the New England charm but I feel like both of the resorts look too much like home and take away from the opportunity to let a resort transport me to some other place (that I can’t visit on a long weekend). I completely understand their inclusion in the list though!
You used to think the Poly was a thematical masterpiece. Any list that doesn’t include either the Beach Club or the Boardwalk is out for me. I’ve been to most of the resorts and there’s something about Crescent Lake. Love your blog. Keep doing God’s work.
I did a split stay between Ambassador and Miracosta in Tokyo. Loved both of them for different reasons, kind of like how do you choose between your kids! But looking out of your hotel window inside Disney Sea kind of tips the scale, wow!
Great list Tom! You mentioned something in your article that I wasn’t familiar with. I didn’t realize that Disney’s standalone resorts (Aulani, Vero Beach, etc.) were struggling financially. Is this the case with some more than others, or are they all in bad shape? I assumed that Aulani had been doing well since opening… is that not the case?
Like you, I’ve visited all the Disney parks worldwide (just not nearly as often, and you were an inspiration toward that!). Haven’t stayed at the international hotels but have stayed at the iconic ones domestically and explored the international marquee hotels.
Wanted to defend the Polynesian and argue why it should be here, especially with Port Orleans and the Disneyland Hotels making it. Anaheim’s DLH is sterile with some pleasant (but mostly shallow) touches to make it nostalgic, and Polynesian pulls off tiki immersion (as well as waterside + Disney bubble immersion) way better. Hong Kong’s and Shanghai’s are missing something, and Shanghai’s exterior was so much uglier in person than I would’ve imagined; that counts when theme isn’t an integral part of the design. Paris has a ton going for it but also the frustrating issues you mentioned (perfectly fitting for DLP, I guess). That leaves Tokyo, which I think is the only one that fares a fighting chance but is also missing something in the public areas and overall building design.
Polynesian is truly the first Disney resort that took a distinct thematic concept—one Disney continues to execute well—and blew it up into a fully immersive experience. It also has the added benefit of monorail access (arguably a liability now, but at least there’s the boat) plus lagoon and castle views. It’s less sprawling than Port Orleans but is more densely packed with quality details (albeit less overwrought backstory you’ll mostly find online).
I can also accept Grand Floridian and Contemporary not making it, but if Contemporary (the iconic A-frame with spacious, plush rooms, walking distance to a castle park, and bold design choices for its time) didn’t, I think that’s all the more reason why the Disneyland Hotels shouldn’t; they’re weaker than they should be. The best of them are GF reinterpretations with mixed results, while the worst are Rivieras with flagship status (btw that’s meant as a knock on Shanghai more than Anaheim; Anaheim’s exterior certainly beats Riviera’s, although that’s a low bar).
That said, I agree with your decision to include WL and AKL over Poly/Explorers Lodge, as well as WL specifically over Grand Californian. WL actually benefits from its remote location (although was hurt by the construction of Copper Creek and might be hurt by Reflections), whereas Grand Californian feels more ‘urban’ due to its location and sharp, boxy lines (compared to WL’s and AKL’s organic lodge structures). Also, something about the GCH’s design sensibility has always reminded me of a retirement home, particularly the rooms and the long corridor connecting the lobby to DTD, Disneyland, and the hotel convention center. Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom nail it in comparison.
Thank you for this list—don’t think I could put together a better one! Still wanted to make a case for the Polynesian, and with WDW focusing so heavily on resort count + immersion, I think it’s totally okay for it to be overrepresented here.
What? No All Star Sports?!?!?! 🙂
This is an interesting list. Obviously, personal preference will matter quite a bit and it’s hard for me not to factor “cost” into the equation. I love the style Disneyland Grand Californian hotel and it’s park proximity has everything except perhaps DLP’s Disneyland hotel and Mira Costa beat, but I could never justify the cost to stay there.
For me, personally I’d put AKL as number 1 in the world (I haven’t been to Asia and have only seen the Disneyland hotel in Paris). It’s so unique among hotels anywhere.
I’d also have Carribean Beach somewhere on my list – I like the style (haven’t stayed post-refurb) and it’s where we spent our honeymoon so it will always have sentimentality for me.
I’d give Vero Beach’s “honorable mention” to Hilton Head Island Resort instead. I like Vero a lot, but nowhere feels as comfortably “away from it all” for me as HHI.
Of the ones I’ve stayed in my top 5 would be
Miracosta
Disneyland Hotel Tokyo (the Alice room swings it)
Disneyland Hotel Paris
Port Orleans Riverside
Sequoia Lodge
I also have a soft spot for the Hotel Cheyenne as a budget option
When can we hope to see winter holidays discounts for Wilderness Lodge and other WDW resorts?
Interesting list!
Interesting list Tom. I would have a tough time coming up with a list of the best hotels at just WDW. The only ones on your list I’ve stayed at are Yacht Club and Port Orleans.
Happy to see Port Orleans made it. We stayed at FQ a few weeks after it opened in 1991. I spoke with a groundskeeper who transferred from GF to FQ called FQ a ‘mini Grand Floridian’. He said he thought the landscaping was much nicer at FQ and he said he was happier working there. I’ve stayed in almost every WDW hotel and would list PO as our favorite. We treat both hotels as one and like that there are two food courts, two lounges and a restaurant.
We love Wilderness Lodge and stayed there once, but the cost of another stay would eliminate one of the two trips we like to take each year. if money wasn’t a factor, it’d be Wilderness Lodge for us, hands down.
With ever increasing prices (and being retired), we’ve needed to make adjustments. In order to keep that second trip, there are less park days, fewer table service restaurants and of course, a larger order from Amazon Prime. Not exactly a hardship, but I feel Disney should know how their price increases affect their long time, loyal senior guests. Do they care? Not sure they do.
perfectly stated. I’m in that senior population who has spent many a buck in the world. I have a trip planned in 2019, but it may be our last.
If I had to name a hotel I think missed the cut unfairly, it would be Explorer Lodge at HKDL.
It’s easy to dismiss it as AKL without the animals, but it’s actually an incredibly detailed resort. I stayed there recently and was incredibly impressed with it. It is, by far and easily, my favourite HKDL resort (Dragon Wind restaurant is beautifully decorated and excellent), and certainly among my top 7.
Of course, asked to put my money where my mouth is and identify which of your 7 I would exclude, I would have a very difficult time! I would begrudgingly have to exclude WL due to the direction it is increasingly going in. The seclusion that makes it special is disappearing, as has a major signature dining option.
yay! finally! what a great list! i was wondering when is top 10 tokyo disney resort attractions list?
Chris, are you ever happy? Lol!
Huh? I don’t get what you mean. Lmao
I haven’t been to WDW since 1986, and my wife has never even been to Florida, so in March we’re taking our kids for a few days at the Polynesian Village. Now I’m worried cause it didn’t make the list!
If it’s any consolation, it *did* make the list in an earlier draft. We love the Poly, and wouldn’t hesitate to stay there again.
Also keep in mind that there are something like 50 Disney hotels in the world–we had to exclude many great ones!
I think the Poly is the best overall at WDW, as it should for the price!! I like the theme and grandeur of the Wilderness Lodge better, but Poly gets the prize for being on the monorail.
Andy
Polynesian is one of the most popular WDW resorts for a good reason. Everyone LOVES the poly. You will be so happy there!!!! It’s our absolute favorite. Best food and pools, too.
P.O. Riverside is an often overlooked gem! Thanks for including it! Been going since it was Dixie Landings. The themeing and grounds are top notch!
Agreed! We had an all around pleasant stay at PO Riverside. Loved the grounds, the pool, the food court and overall scenery and vibe. We’ve opted to stay at Poly and Wilderness Lodge for a Christmas trip this year and plan on an exciting and special experience from these high-end accommodations during the holidays, but something tells me we’ll be returning to Riverside in the future for the low-key and chill experience.
Love reading your Top 7 lists.
I am getting married at WDW in October, and it will be our first time every staying at a deluxe resort. I’ve have been reading your blog for a few years now and I think your love of Wilderness Lodge has had an impact on me, because it’s the resort I most want to stay at – so that’s where we set up our room block. I’m so excited to finally experience it for myself!
One thing to note–and we’re going to cover this a bit in a future post–is that the normal guest rooms at Wilderness Lodge are feeling a bit tired. If you’re able to set up your block in the DVC rooms (Cooper Creek or Boulder Ridge–doesn’t matter), that might be the better course of action.
And look into renting those from an outside broker instead of paying Disney’s huge per night direct costs for those rooms.
So, what are the three you haven’t stayed at? Curious to hear 🙂
Now that I’m counting, it’s actually four–my bad…
Ambassador Hotel (Tokyo)
Hotel Cheyenne (Paris)
Hotel Santa Fe (Paris)
Disneyland Hotel (Paris)
Tom
We stayed at 3 of the 4 hotels in Tokyo last May and I really liked the Ambassador. You should check it out on your next trip to TDR!
Have you stayed at the Celebration Hotel in Tokyo? I don’t recall seeing a review. I know it’s sort of “off-site”, but it’s Disney… Just curious.
Why 7 and not “Top 10”? What happened to Grand Floridian? Did it close (being facetious)?
In a sense, Grand Floridian is the “Disneyland Hotel” of Florida, so you could say it’s included there.
As for having its own entry, I’ve always felt that the Grand Floridian is overrated. I know many (most?) Disney fans disagree with that perspective, though.
We vastly prefer the Poly and AKL to GF. Our favorite is Grand Californian (but we’ve only been to WDW and DL).