5 Best Resorts for Kids at Walt Disney World

When you choose what Walt Disney World Resort you are going to stay at for your Disney vacation, you are going to be evaluating a lot of factors. One major factor is if you have kids or don’t have kids traveling with you. If you have kids, then your top priority is going to be what resorts are most accommodating for children! Even though it is Disney World and the name is synonymous with family, you don’t need to visit too many times before you discover that some hotels are definitely better than others; and it doesn’t always come down to price. These five selections represent the best family resorts in Disney World if you have kids.

5 Best FAMILY RESORTS at Walt Disney World

Polynesian Village

This hotel is fantastic for families. It is a DVC resort so there are plenty of options depending on the size of your group. As one of the original Disney World hotels, Polynesian offers the best square footage per room as well. In addition, Polynesian Village offers a fun tropical theme, an elaborately themed swimming pool complete with water slide, and character dining. The beach of Polynesian Village is excellent for viewing the Electrical Water Pageant and the Fireworks at night.

Contemporary

Disney’s Contemporary is also one of the original hotels on Disney Property. The square footage is much better than the newer deluxe hotels. Contemporary is a DVC resort as well. Plus, it is mere minutes away from the entrance to the Magic Kingdom! It’s only a short walk. Contemporary is also home to Mickey’s Kitchen and Pixar Play Zone which is a great place to leave the kids for a few hours, while you enjoy dinner at the California Grill on the top floor.

Animal Kingdom Lodge

It’s hard to make an argument against Animal Kingdom Lodge as an ideal hotel for families. It’s the least expensive deluxe resort and it also has DVC options to accommodate your family by size. The big selling point for Animal Kingdom Lodge is the Animals. The rooms with savanna views are a unique treat when you wake up and have coffee on your balcony with wildlife grazing right in front of you. Even if you don’t have the view from your room, you have access to animal viewing and kids love it! There are also a ton of cultural experiences at the lodge to participate in. Many of them are free!

Art of Animation

As far as the value resorts go, Art of Animation is top of the line. The timing is better than you will find at any of the other value resorts and there are a few unique selling points for why Art of Animation is one of the best resorts for kids. Art of Animation offers Family suites to start with. That is a major plus for a value resort. In addition, it has one of the biggest and best pools, which is tons of fun for kids.  The Big Blue Pool is Finding Nemo themed and it famously plays music underwater, which kids love! Art of Animation also has Landscapes of Flavor, the most celebrated food court in Disney World.

Surrounded by Flounder and friends, a larger-than-life Ariel overlooks “The Little Mermaid” courtyard and Flippin’ Fins pool at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Beginning Sept. 15, 2012, guests can dive “under the sea” with Ariel and become part of her world when the resort’s final phase opens with 864 standard hotel rooms. Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is a value property located at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Matt Stroshane, photographer)

Port Orleans Riverside

Finally, somewhere in the middle of it all is one of my all-time favorite resorts. Port Orleans Riverside is a moderate hotel which means you don’t pay for all the bells and whistles of a Deluxe, but you get a much higher level of theming then you do at value resorts. The rooms are on the smaller side, but some rooms do accommodate the fifth sleeper. Unlike the deluxe resorts, the doors to the rooms have no gaps underneath and the rooms do not allow as much sound to carry, which is good news if you worry about disturbing neighbors. The pool is really fun and there is even a fishing hole to take the kids to. Kids will also love the boats and the horse-drawn carriage. The video arcade is also better than any you find at a deluxe resort. All things considered, it’s a great value.

There you have it with 5 best family resorts at Walt Disney World.

Have you stayed with your family at any of these family-friendly Walt Disney resorts?

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