Selecting a luxury resort at Walt Disney World is one of the essential aspects of vacation planning. The resort is where you’ll relax and lounge, among other things. An upscale resort is a place you’ll want to spend time decompressing and enjoying the finer things in life.
When it comes to planning a luxury Walt Disney World vacation, you have choices. There are quite a few choices, to be exact. For most of our guests, we recommend staying at one of the Disney World luxury hotels. Sure they are the most expensive hotels at Disney, but there’s a reason. In this review, we’ll take a look at all of the top exclusive resorts to help you decide what’s best for your next trip.
List of Luxury Hotels at Disney World
If you wonder what hotels are considered luxury resorts at Walt Disney World, the following list of resorts all fall under the category of deluxe resorts. Each of these resorts normally offer club level and concierge upgrades.
- Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
- Polynesian Village Resort
- Contemporary Resort
- Wilderness Lodge Resort
- Beach and Yacht Club Resort
- Boardwalk Inn
- Riviera Resort
- Swan and Dolphin
- Animal Kingdom Lodge
Below you’ll find a brief overview of each of these resorts in order of their location.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
The Grand Floridian tops our list of luxury hotels in Disney World. This beautiful hotel sits on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon and has a high end feeling with its Victorian design.
This luxury resort offers two pools, three signature dining options, multiple forms of Disney transportation (including the Disney monorail), spa services, and so much more.
Guests looking for the ultimate Disney vacation experience will want to consider club level and concierge floor upgrades when they are available. The Grand Floridian offers two different club level experiences. One is located in the main building, and the other is the Sugar Loaf club level.
A stay at this 5 star hotel will leave you feeling relaxed and ready for your next adventure.
Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Resort is the one you’ll want to choose when looking for a luxury hotel combined with a tropical feeling. This upscale resort transports you to a Hawaii-like setting. Do your children want to go to Disney World, and you prefer lounging on the shoreline in Hawaii? Disney’s Polynesian is the right choice for you then.
Those wanting to have the creme de la creme experience here will enjoy reserving a bungalow. Every morning you’ll wake up to stunning views of the Magic Kingdom Park in the distance.
The Polynesian hotel additionally offers a club level wing, multiple room types, and several options for room view upgrades. You’ll find anything from American to sushi and other Asian Cuisine when it comes to dining here.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Does modern with a fantastic backyard strike your fancy? Disney’s Contemporary Resort is luxurious in a unique way. It’s also the one with a monorail running through it!
Guests will find one of our absolute favorite fine dining options here at California Grill. It’s located on the top floor of the resort, with scenic views of Magic Kingdom in the distance. This resort offers multiple pools that sit on the shores of Bay Lake.
The room views out to Bay Lake at the Contemporary are stunning. But if you like, we can also reserve a theme park view, and we think that’s pretty special option here too!
Wilderness Lodge
Now for those looking for a Walt Disney World luxury hotel with a woodsy vibe, you’ll want to consider Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. This resort offers the feel of an escape with its retreat-like setting.
And if you want to stay in the most upscale section of the resort, private cabins are available. The Copper Creek cabins are located waterside and offer a lush setting with Spanish moss and tall redwoods. You won’t even believe you are visiting a theme park when you stay here; it’s that nice.
Boardwalk Inn
Disney’s Boardwalk Inn has an appeal of its own with its New England seaside charm, shops, and eateries. This Disney luxury hotel offers one of our favorite amenities for guests wanting to spend time at the World Showcase or the new Galaxy’s Edge. You can walk to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios in a few short minutes.
That means you don’t have to wait on a boat or a bus when traveling to these specific parks. Make sure to inquire about club level at the Boardwalk. We think it’s perfect for enjoying this upgrade for breakfast and other perks during the day.
And don’t get us started on all of the dining options you’ll have access to within the Epcot Resorts area! There’s Flying Fish and Trattoria al Forno right on the Boardwalk. Art lovers? You’ll enjoy browsing the Wyland Art Gallery during your stay.
Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club
Nestled on the shores of Crescent Lake, across from the Boardwalk, sits sister resorts Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club. Both resorts offer completely stand alone amenities along with shared ones between guests.
The most popular of this luxury Disney’s resorts offerings is Stormalong Bay. Anyone wanting to spend time at the pool on their vacation will want to keep these resorts at the top of their considerations.
Which one should you reserve? We think the Beach Club is a little more feminine with soft blues and calming undertones. The Yacht Club has a bit more formal and crisp flair.
Both resorts offer suite upgrades, and we think the upgrades for room views here are worth considering for anyone planning to spend time in their suite. The expansive views of Crescent Lake and the Boardwalk do not disappoint.
Disney’s Riviera Resort
Only a short Skyliner ride away from Epcot and Hollywood Studios is Disney’s newest luxury hotel, Disney’s Riviera Resort. This boutique hotel at Disney provides a taste of the French Riviera. Inside, you’ll find high end finishes, stunning views of the lake, and an art lover’s dream with the exquisite paintings hung throughout.
Not only that but the resorts S’il Vous Play pool is one you’ll definitely want to spend a full day at while vacationing. This resort offers superb dining options as well. Whether you want to dine at Primo Piatto, the counter service with tasty treats, or head all the way to the rooftop for dining at Topolino’s Terrace, Riviera has you covered.
Swan and Dolphin
There’s one more luxury hotel available in Disney’s Epcot Resorts area. While Disney’s Swan and Dolphin resides between Boardwalk and the Yacht Club, Marriott International manages it separately.
Some of the perks here are multiple signature dining locations like Shula’s Steakhouse, Il Mulino, and Todd English’s Bluezoo. You can also walk to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios here like the other resorts in the area.
Guests looking for the ultimate spa experience will want to look into making reservations for the Dolphin’s Mandara Spa when it’s available. You can read more about their services here.
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Our last stop at Walt Disney World for luxury hotels is Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. If you have an animal lover in your group or a dream of visiting Africa, this high end Disney resort is the perfect choice!
As far as rooms go, this resort offers some of the best suites available at Disney. You’ll also definitely want to reserve a room with a savanna view. Make sure to check out our Jambo studio deluxe room review for more details.
Guests of the Animal Kingdom Lodge might want to consider a suite on the Kilimanjaro club level when it becomes available again in the future. It’s highly praised as one of the top club level lounges at Walt Disney World.
Final Thoughts on Walt Disney World Luxury Hotels
We hope you enjoyed our list of Disney World luxury hotels. While we listed a few highlights of each resort, there are so many more amenities that each of these properties offers. Each resort is special in its own way.
These resorts also offer the best suites available at Disney World. Larger families or those that enjoy a little extra room to spread out will want to consider their options.
That’s where Firefly Travels can help. Our agents have been traveling to the Walt Disney World Resort for years, some their entire lives. Not only that, we are a boutique travel agency that specializes in Disney World vacations. We can guide you in deciding what room option will work best for your family.
Are you considering upgrades like club level and Disney VIP tours? We can help you plan those experiences as well. Wanting to know the five star dining reservations at Disney that you can’t miss? Our agents will help you select the ones you like and work to secure those for you in advance.
If you are planning a luxury Disney World vacation, fill out our contact form below and we’ll be in touch with you shortly.
