The 5 Best Disney World Hotels According to Yelp

Sometimes the hardest part about planning a Disney World vacation is deciding where to stay. There are almost too many options!

Luckily, we’re here to help as best we can to ease the stress of making that decision. That being said, we value what other resort guests have to say — and you have a lot to say! When discussing the best hotels Disney World has to offer, previous guests have made their thoughts known and we’re here to report what they think are the five best Disney World hotels!

This list is comprised of Yelp reviews and highlights hotels that you should consider staying at during your next Disney World vacation. Did your favorite hotel make the list? Let’s find out!

5 — Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Coming in fifth place is Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. The resort has a 4-star review (out of 5) with 429 reviews.

Themed after the African safari, this deluxe resort offers live looks at safari animals such as zebras, antelopes, and giraffes from many rooms and overlooks. It also features a six-story lobby full of African artwork and crafts. So what did Yelp reviews have to say?

Many reviews were fond of the theming and views, as well as the unique dining options. One positive review said “Our go-to resort during our annual Disney World vacations. This resort has the best restaurants out of all the Disney resorts- Jiko for the fancier dining, Boma for the buffet with very tasty African options, and Sanaa for the unique African/Indian items with a great view of the savannah. Being able to watch safari animals from your hotel room or look out sections is a huge plus and very unique. The pools are large and not too crowded. The walk to the buses hasn’t been too bad and the staff is super friendly. Love this spot.”

Our Thoughts

We completely agree about the theming being a sell. We’re big fans of the bridge in the lobby as well as the inclusion of African art around the lobby and the rest of the hotel. From African-inspired music and greenery to actually being able to see savannah animals, this resort truly is immersive.

The location has its positives and negatives. Located within the Animal Kingdom resort area, it’s perfect for those looking to make Animal Kingdom their primary park. It is close to other Disney parks as well, but not as close as many other hotels in Disney World. It only offers bus transportation, but there are limited stops resulting in shorter rides.

We like the variety of room types this resort offers. With six different room types and the ability to see animals right outside your window, staying here definitely feels like a unique experience. More so than anything, we LOVE the dining options at this resort. In fact, some of the restaurants here are our favorites at Disney World.

4 — Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

In fourth place is Disney’s Art of Animation Resort with 3.8 stars and 516 reviews. 

Themed after classic Disney animation, this family-friendly hotel is a popular one among families with younger kids and those who wish to get that Disney feeling even after they’ve left the parks.

This value resort has been lauded as being the cream of the crop when it comes to Disney World’s cheaper resort options. One review highlight said, “All in all this is the best value resort in my opinion as I have stayed in the other value resorts in the past.”

Our Thoughts

With Disney animation-themed buildings and amenities as well as one of the few Disney resorts to have family suites, we definitely understand the allure that Art of Animation has for families. Add to that its location along the Disney World Skyliner path and you’ve got a prime location as well.

We are also fans of the colorful lobby, the huge Finding Nemo-inspired pool, and the addition of the Amazon Alexa service, but there are a few problems we also have with this resort.

For starters, it’s safe to say this resort toes the line of what a value resort actually is. It’s not cheap. In fact, Art of Animation can be more expensive than some moderate resorts! On certain nights, depending on your room selection, it would be cheaper for you and your family to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge, which (in our opinion) has nicer rooms. As for food options, over time its premiere location Landscape of Flavors has turned more into something akin to a park food court. We still like this resort but are wary of the way it’s trending.

3 — The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort

In the middle of the pack at third is The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort with 4.5 stars on 27 reviews.

If you’re looking for a truly unique resort experience, this is it. One Yelp review perfectly explained it, saying, “Fantastic! Perfect cabin in the woods for a family. Even saw bunnies and deer. Sleeps six comfortably and full kitchen. Renting a golf cart was so much fun and worth the extra expense.”

Despite being a campground, the reviewer referenced all of the activities and things you can see, including “beautiful horse stables and horses, bike riding, campfires, fishing, pools, kayaking, nature – plenty to do if you have time between parks. Pool with water slide and sing along with Chip and Dale. Disney fireworks can be seen from a beautiful dock setting as can the electrical water parade of boats. Kids had a blast.”

Our Thoughts

We agree with the Yelp reviews that describe this resort as a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Florida theme park world and retreat into the wilderness.

Fort Wilderness features 409 air-conditioned and pet-friendly cabins that can sleep up to six people and one child — making it a great choice for families and large groups. The cabins come with a full kitchen,  a bedroom with a queen bed, bunk beds, a full bathroom with a tub/shower, a living area with a big screen color television, a dining table, and a pull-out sleeper sofa. So pretty much the definition of “glamping”.

As for amenities, we are BIG fans of the recreational experiences offered. The dining options offered are surprisingly good! We love Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue, which offers one of the best dinner-and-a-show options in all of Disney World. Trail’s End Restaurant is a solid grab-and-go option and you can also find visiting food trucks in the area. Be advised though that this resort will look different as 350 new cabins are being built that will replace old cabins, creating a new experience for 2024 and beyond.

2 — Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

We’re definitely seeing a theme of guests preferring wilderness-themed resorts. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is Yelp’s runner-up with 4.2 stars on 256 reviews.

Many of the Yelp reviews cited the proximity to Magic Kingdom in their positive reviews of the resort. The hotel is also gorgeous, as one reviewer wrote, “The attention to detail in the lodge’s architecture is truly remarkable. From the towering totem poles at the entrance to the rustic wood beams and stone walls inside, every element has been carefully crafted to evoke the feeling of a grand yet cozy lodge. The lobby is centered around a massive stone fireplace, making you feel like you’re in another world.”

Our Thoughts

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is definitely one of our favorites! From its gorgeous aesthetic to great dining experiences, this resort has a lot of uniqueness and charm. Inspired by turn-of-the-century National Park lodges of America’s Great Northwest, this resort features Fire Rock Geyser near the lobby as well as other hidden nods to the American frontier.

The lobby at Wilderness Lodge features a multi-story fireplace, beautiful wood features, totem poles, and bubbling springs. The theming spreads throughout the resort giving off the vibes of a woodland escape.  The resort offers a wide variety of rooms starting in the mid-$400s (which would make it more affordable compared to some other deluxe resorts) and offers varying views including some of Cinderella Castle and the Magic Kingdom fireworks at night. Some rooms even offer views of boats, cabins, and the monorail. Speaking of cabins, Disney Vacation Club members are offered luxury cabins!

As for dining, we’d be remiss if we didn’t at least mention the Whispering Canyon Cafe. One of the rowdiest dining experiences you could possibly have in Disney World, this restaurant boasts “horse races”, servers with attitude and personality, and of course hearty American cuisine. You can watch our video about Whispering Canyon Cafe right here.

If you’re looking for a unique snack, try the Popcorn Flights at Territory Lounge, featuring five different popcorn flavors!

1 — Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

The Yelpers have spoken! Coming in first place, according to Yelp the best Disney World hotel is Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The deluxe resort scored a 4-star average on 366 reviews.

Ready to drop a MINIMUM of roughly $800 a night? A lot of these Yelp reviewers were! One said, “Lots of special touches everywhere. Feels very grand when you walk in but. Or so much where (that) you feel you have to dress up to walk in the front door. Smiling cast members everywhere. The walk to the room is beautiful with plenty of natural elements added. (The) Room was very comfortable and clean and welcoming with a gorgeous view. Plenty of shopping options and restaurants. Loved the fireworks from the porch. They pipe in the music and everything so you get the experience without the crowds. (The) Pools were a great temp and (had) lots of room. Fully understand the cost of staying here. It’s worth it.”

Our Thoughts

How do you hype up a resort that has received AAA 4 Diamond, Mobil 4 Star, and was voted into the top 50 resorts in the world by readers of Conde Nast Traveler? This 900-room Monorail Resort in the Magic Kingdom resort area on the shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon is considered the crème de la crème of Disney World hotels by many.

The dining here is exquisite. You can indulge in Disney World’s premier dining experience at Victoria & Albert’s, elegant French cuisine at Cítricos, or enjoy some coastal cuisine on the waterfront at Narcoossee’s. These are some of our favorite restaurants at the Grand Floridian but there are several other options for all types of palates.

There is a major caveat to this resort right now. The hotel has been under construction and refurbishment for quite some time now, and while the lobby appears to be done, the outside is still covered in scaffolding. With Disney warning guests that they will be able to see and hear construction around the resort during daytime hours, staying at the Grand Floridian right now isn’t as luxurious as it could be. With amenities subject to close and construction happening for the foreseeable future, we have to warn you that you may not get exactly what you signed up for the next time you stay there.

Yelp had tons of opinions regarding the best hotels at Disney World! We’d love to hear yours, so let us know below and continue to follow us at AllEars for all the latest Disney World news!

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If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!

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