Nowadays, everyone could use a staycation, right? While many people don’t usually think Walt Disney World is the place to do it, we think it fits the bill perfectly! After staying at lots of Walt Disney World resorts over the years, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite resorts at Disney for the perfect staycation.
Contents
Staycation Hotels at Disney World
Let’s be honest. A Disney World vacation can be downright exhausting. The planning. The walking. The heat. The rain. It can be a lot. Especially if you’re traveling with younger Mouseketeers. That’s where a staycation comes in! There is so much to see and do at Disney. And not every trip has to include time in the Disney Parks. You can easily find a week’s worth (or more!) of activities to do with a Disney staycation. And you’ll likely learn about a lot of things you didn’t know Disney had to offer!
The thing we love best about a Walt Disney World staycation is that you can do as little or as much as you want to. And you can even add on Park days if you only want to spend part of your trip in staycation mode. Have you ever heard friends say they needed a vacation from their vacation once returning home from Disney? Don’t let that be you. We think this is a great time to explore the resorts. Enjoy time at the pool. Actually relax! So, without further ado, here are our top 5 resorts for the perfect staycation at Walt Disney World!
Animal Kingdom Lodge for a Disney World Staycation
Animal Kingdom Lodge has been one of our favorite resorts for some time now and we always find ourselves going back. Aside from the coziness of the lobby, this resort is so welcoming and feels just like home! With some of the best resort restaurants, Boma for buffet lovers and Sanaa for those who are a little more adventurous, as well as an amazing quick-service restaurant, you won’t need to leave this resort to find a great meal.
If you’re up for an adventure, Animal Kingdom Lodge offers so many extra activities, like nighttime safaris, guided tours, and much more. And if you’re looking for more low-key activities, be sure to head out toward the savannah in the evening for s’mores and a cozy fire. And if you’re looking for the ultimate vacation, try club level at Animal Kingdom Lodge in the Kilimanjaro Club.
Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club
The Disney Beach Club and Disney Yacht Club Hotels are not only the closest resorts to the International Gateway at Epcot, but they also have the best pool on the property, hands down. With a sand floor, Stormalong Bay is the closest thing you’ll get to being at the actual beach in central Florida. It also has a lazy river, an amazing pirate ship pool slide and plenty of places to relax.
Aside from their amazing pool, since these sister resorts are located on the Boardwalk, you’ll never run out of things to do. Great dining options, fun evening and nighttime entertainment and fireworks views from their beautiful beaches are all reasons to choose to staycation here. The addition of Disney’s Skyliner also makes it easy to venture to other Disney resorts on the Skyliner route to add some variety to your meal options and things to do. This resort is especially perfect for a staycation in the summertime, when you likely don’t want to be sweating in the Parks all day anyway.
Fort Wilderness Resort
Fort Wilderness Resort is a destination all its own. While this setting may not be for everyone, for those who love camping and the great outdoors, this is the resort for you. Choose from renting a campsite, an RV site or staying in one of their beautiful cabins at this resort, and don’t forget to rent your golf cart. With so much to see and do in a traditional campground layout, you’ll be glad you have one!
Choose from outdoor activities like hiking, carriage rides, pony rides, archery, and more. And be sure to stop by the beach at night for a view of the Happily Ever After Fireworks show at Magic Kingdom, without the crowds. They pipe in the music from the show right at the dock. So even though you are watching it from afar, you can still enjoy the fireworks and music. Just in a different way. When you’ve worked up an appetite, Fort Wilderness is the home to the famous Hoop De Doo Revue, and is an easy bus ride to Wilderness Lodge so great dining options are always available.
Disney’s Polynesian Resort for a Staycation
The Polynesian Resort is a little slice of island life right in the middle of Walt Disney World. Not only can you grab a dole whip almost any time of day from Pineapple Lanai, but you can enjoy it on their beautiful white sand beach.
With several gorgeous pools and pool bars to go along with it, you’ll instantly feel relaxed enjoying the Hawaiian music that fills the atmosphere at this resort. And with The Polynesian being right on the monorail loop, it’s easy to visit other monorail resorts at Disney during your stay. And being the home to some amazing restaurants like ‘Ohana, Kona Café, Tambu Lounge, and Trader Sam’s, you may not even feel the need to leave! Disney’s Polynesian Resort is another Disney Resort that allows you to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks right from the beach. So it’s the perfect place for a Disney staycation.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort for a Disney Staycation
While Caribbean Beach may not be the most obvious choice in the list, we think it makes the list just the same. Caribbean Beach Resort recently made the top of our list for several reasons, one of which is due to the addition of Disney’s Skyliner. The skyliner adds a touch of convenience to transportation to Caribbean Beach, allowing you to travel to The Boardwalk area as well as other resorts like the Riviera, Pop Century, and Art of Animation quickly and easily. For us, this opens up a whole new world of dining and recreation options that just weren’t there before.
And if you’re not convinced that riding the Skyliner is for you, Caribbean Beach offers a lot on its own, including a pirate cruise for kids, walking trails, several beaches for relaxing, an awesome pool, and surrey bike rentals, which are always fun! In recent years, they’ve added new dining options here that also make it perfect for a staycation. Banana Cabana, Sebastian’s Bistro, and even a Joffrey’s by the Skyliner station. And you can walk to the new Riviera Resort to experience their dining options as well!
Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside
Port Orleans French Quarter and Port Orleans Riverside again may not be an obvious choice. But we love it for a great budget staycation at Disney World. Not only can you walk from French Quarter to Riverside for easy access to both resorts. But the two also have the unique benefit of sharing amenities with guests of either resorts. So you can stay at one and be able to enjoy pools at both resorts. We love this because it gives you more options on where to spend your time. If you happen to be there on the weekend, be sure to check out Scat Cat’s Club for live jazz music, beignets and fun drinks.
And one of the best perks of staying at either of these resorts is that guests here can grab the ferry for a quick and relaxing ride to Disney Springs. This makes having more restaurant and entertainment options super simple. And makes it even easier to have a Disney staycation where you don’t need a ticket to the parks! Have you ever done a staycation at Walt Disney World? We think they’re a great idea and love how many options the resorts have!
Melanie Renee is a photographer, writer, designer and mom. Visiting Disney destinations since 2010, she is also an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. When she's not creating her next coffee recipe, or designing apparel at Polka Dot Pixie Shop, she's seeking beautiful sunsets and planning her next trip .
You must be logged in to post a comment.