Where to Stay with Kids in Walt Disney World

Planning a Walt Disney World family vacation for spring break or summer vacation? I've got you covered!

I share my tips and tricks for visiting Walt Disney World Resort in Florida with my friends all the time, and it's finally time for me to write it all down officially for THE WEST END MOM community.

Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is my favorite place to take my family on vacations. I've visited Walt Disney World Resort in Florida over 30 times, and 5 of my trips have been while I was pregnant and traveling with my kids between the ages of 1.5 years old to 7 years old.

One of the biggest questions my friends ask me is: "Where should you stay at Disney World with kids?" With more than 25 Disney World Resort hotels, choosing the best Disney resorts for families can feel overwhelming. From budget-friendly Disney Resorts to immersive themed hotels with family-friendly pools, character dining, and early park entry, where you stay shapes your entire Disney World vacation experience.

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If I'm visiting Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, these are the resorts I'm picking!

I have FOUR Disney resorts that I always recommend, so before you book your vacation to Walt Disney World, check out my favorite Walt Disney World Resorts to stay at in Orlando.

1. Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (deluxe)

2. Disney's Polynesian Village Resort (deluxe)

3. Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort (moderate)

4. Disney's Swan and Dolphin Resort (favorite deal!)

Why I love these Walt Disney World Resorts:

My Favorite Resort to stay at with Kids (Over all & Splurge):

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is my favorite resort to stay at with kids when we are in Walt Disney World because of the luxurious accommodations, it's position on the monorail loop, and the proximity to Magic Kingdom. And, I'm not the only one who feels this way -- it's widely considered one of the best Disney World resorts for families with young kids!

The main lobby and the guests rooms have all been recently updated -- everything is brand new. I love the guest room because they are very spacious -- you can easily fit 5 guests, and they felt significantly bigger and nicer than Disney's Polynesian Resort! The property is also much more spacious and less crowded than Disney's Polynesian Resort, so it never feels over crowded.

We love the toddler pool, the large resort pool, and all of the dining options. Every restaurant has kid-approved food plus delicious options for adults. It even has character dining -- don't miss 1900 Park Fare! I love that it has direct access to the monorail and a stroller-friendly walking path to Magic Kingdom -- this makes it so easy to get to and from the park with babies, toddlers and kids.

My Children's Favorites:

1. The pools - my kids love the activity pool because its zero entry and only goes up about 1 foot. They also loved shooting the water cannons at each other.

>>Pros to staying at Disney's Grand Floridan Resort and Spa with kids:

1. It's located next to Magic Kingdom! The resort sits on the monorail loop. There’s also a walking path to the park.

2. It has three easy means of transportation all over Disney property. Guests can use the monorail, boat, bus, or walking path, making park hopping and returning for naps much easier than at many other Disney resorts. The only other resort with this option is Disney's Contemporary Resort. We always take a mid-day break so that the kids can rest and nap. By staying at The Grand Floridian, we can get back to the resort in under 30 minutes, preventing meltdowns and overly tired kids!

3. You get access to all 4 theme parks 30 minutes early every day! This makes a huge difference when traveling with kids - the wait times are much less, so it's easier to get on and off rides!

4.  You get access to Extended Evening Theme Park Hours. Deluxe resort guests get 2 hours extra at the parks on select nights.

5. It has excellent dining and character experiences, like 1900 Park Fare (my kids LOVE character dining).

6. The entire property has views of the fireworks and boat parade!

7. All deluxe resorts offer special activities at no extra cost to guests such as roasting s'mores and movies on the lawn too (my kids love this activity)!

>>Cons to staying at Disney's Grand Floridan Resort and Spa:

1. It's pricey! This deluxe resort is one of the most expensive on property. Usually, rooms cost around $700 or more per night. I always check for deals and look for "off-season" prices.

2. This resort doesn't have an overly "Disney" or "kid" theme. It does not have the Disney characters everywhere, which some families want (my kids did not care about this though).

3. It's a very popular resort due to its location and its amenities, so there is limited availability during peak seasons.

My Favorite Resort to stay at with Kids (Best Theme)

Disney's Polynesian Village Resort is my favorite resort theming - it's lush, tropical atmosphere blends perfectly with Disney's Moana and Lilo & Stitch characters. It's such a fun resort for grownups and kids! It is also consistently ranked among the best Disney World resorts for families.

Located on the shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon near Magic Kingdom, this iconic Disney Deluxe Resort has castle and fireworks views, a volcano water slide, and so many kid-friendly touches. The resort has been undergoing renovations for the last five years, so everything has been upgraded. The guest rooms are larger-than-average for Disney, so it's also great for families of 5.

The Polynesian Resort also has on-site dining with South Pacific, Asian-infused dishes, including Character Dining at Ohana! Its family style breakfast is delicious. You can also visit the coffee stand right before walking onto the monorail, scoop up quick bites from Captain Cook's, or dine at Kona Cafe.

With the new Vacation Club towers, I do feel like this resort feels overly crowded all the time. The pool is always crowded, and you need to make dining reservations in advance too. For these reasons, it's my 2nd over all pick. After being at a crowded theme park, this resort never really feels like "off time."

My Children's POV: They absolutely love the volcano water slide and tropical theming of the pool area. They said it feels like they are in "Moana" and "Lilo & Stitch."

>>Pros to staying at Disney's Polynesian Resort with kids:

1. The resort sits on the monorail loop. There’s also a walking path to the park, but you need to walk through the Grand Floridian's property to get to Magic Kingdom too. That's doable for middle school age kids or older!

2. It has three easy means of transportation all over Disney property. Guests can use the monorail, boat and bus.

3. You get access to all 4 theme parks 30 minutes early every day! This makes a huge difference when traveling with kids - the wait times are much less, so it's easier to get on and off rides!

4.  You get access to Extended Evening Theme Park Hours. Deluxe resort guests get 2 hours extra at the parks on select nights.

5. The majority of property has views of the fireworks and boat parade!

6. All deluxe resorts offer special activities at no extra cost to guests such as roasting s'mores and movies on the lawn too!

>>Cons to staying at Disney's Polynesian Resort with kids:

1. One of the most expensive Disney resortsAs a Disney Deluxe Resort, the Polynesian often has very high nightly rates, which can be a big drawback for families on a budget.

2. Can be busy and noisyBecause it’s extremely popular for dining and fireworks viewing, the resort often attracts non-guests, which can make the lobby and restaurants crowded.

3. Dining reservations can be hard to getRestaurants like 'Ohana are very popular, so families may need to book dining reservations far in advance.

4. Limited transportation to some parks. While Magic Kingdom and EPCOT are easy to reach, guests usually rely on buses for Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, which can take longer.

My Favorite Resort to Stay at with Kids (Great Theming and Moderate Cost)

Wilderness Lodge Resort: Inspired by National Park lodges, Wilderness Lodge Resort is one of Disney’s most-themed deluxe resorts. And with prices starting ~$400, it’s the most affordable deluxe resort too!

I love the resort’s atmosphere - casual, warm & cozy. The main lodge is modeled after Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park … and WOW! It has 55-foot authentic totem poles, an 82-foot fireplace & 8 floors. It’s spectacular to see, and it’s especially wonderful at Christmas!

My Children's POV:  My children love the pool & splash park located in the center of the resort. They like to watch all the happenings from our room's balcony, too. The water slide at the main pool is fun for the whole family. I’ve seen adults, teenagers & even 2 year olds loving it!

>>Pros to Staying at Wilderness Lodge Resort with Kids :

1. It’s Disney’s most affordable deluxe resort. Rates start around $400.

2. It has 5 restaurants serving fine frontier fare - the best I’ve tried at a Disney resort! From buttermilk-cheddar biscuits, Brunch-B-Q, house-smoked salmon to plant based items, poison apples & kid-friendly items, there’s something for everyone.

3. Everyday guest can enjoy for free: movies under the stars at 8:30pm, campfires from 6:30-7:30 with marshmallows & pool activities from 2-3:30pm.

4. Magic Kingdom is ~10m boat ride away.

5. You get access to all 4 theme parks 30 minutes early every day! This makes a huge difference when traveling with kids - the wait times are much less, so it's easier to get on and off rides!

6. You get access to Extended Evening Theme Park Hours. Deluxe resort guests get 2 hours extra at the parks on select nights.

>> Cons:

1. It’s not on the monorail system - my kids absolutely love the monorail. You can either ride a boat or ride a Disney bus.

2. The buses can be unpredictable & transportation takes up to an hour to get to theme parks.

My Favorite Resort to Stay at with Kids (Discount, but still Deluxe)

Walt Disney World’s Swan & Dolphin Resorts are the BEST ways to stay at a deluxe Disney resort on a budget. Managed by Marriott, the affordable (and luxurious) rooms start around $200, and you get all the perks of WDW deluxe resorts, including the extra magical hours in the theme parks & complimentary transportation to all parks. I do prefer staying at the Dolphin side of the resort best, too.

At 12 stories tall, this is one of the tallest resorts in Walt Disney World. You’ll find a grand lobby & over 20 restaurants + lounges on property. While everything you need during your Disney stay is at the resort, it only takes about 5-10 minutes to walk to Disney’s Boardwalk area - more dining, entertainment & Disney resorts. You can also see Epcot’s fireworks from the hotel!

My Children's POV: They love the playground on the beach - it's the biggest one we've seen in Disney World. They also like walking to the Boardwalk - many of their favorite restaurants are there!

>> Pros To Disney's Swan and Dolphin Resort:

1. This is the most affordable deluxe resort on WDW property.

2. If you’re a teacher, AAA member or health care worker you can get 25% off the rack room rates.

3. Marriott Bonvoy Rewards can be used here!

4. There are 23 restaurants & lounges in property. Most open at 6am & stay open until Midnight.

5. Hollywood Studios, Epcot & the other Epcot area resorts are a 5-10 minute walk away. It’s very easy to walk to Epcot & Hollywood Studios from this resort.

6. As a deluxe resort guest, you get access to the 2 extra magic hours at the theme park. This occurs on select nights.

>> Cons to Disney's Swan and Dolphin Resort:

1. The Swan & The Dolphin are very nice resorts, but they do not have over-the-top Disney theming.

2. Parking costs $32 a night & valet costs $42.

3. When heading to Magic Kingdom, the busses drop you at the Transportation & Ticket Center inside of MK’s bus loop. You’ll then need to hop on the ferry or the monorail to get to the park.

4. Whereas all other Disney busses drop you at the Magic Kingdom entrance.

PRO TIP: If you are traveling to Walt Disney World, I highly recommend bringing a stroller for all kids 8 and under. Even if your children don't ride in the stroller, you may want it to carry all your gear.

I rent our strollers through Kingdom Strollers, so we don't have to pack while we travel. Kingdom Strollers will drop off your stroller at your resort and pick it up too. It's a VERY easy rental process.

Looking for more travel ideas? Check out my guides on:

1. Carolina Beach, North Carolina

2. The Homestead Resort in Warm Springs, Virginia

3. Cape Charles, Virginia

For more things to do with kids around Virginia, follow me on @thewestendmom on Instagram!