8 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Stay in a Value Hotel in Disney World This Year

There are so many hotels to choose from when planning your Disney World vacation.

All-Star Resorts

With over 25 hotels and three tiers, it can be challenging to narrow down your options. While all three hotel tiers offer an array of benefits, you may want to skip out on staying at one of the five Value Resorts at Disney World.

Value Resorts are the lowest hotel tier at Disney World. They tend to be the cheapest, have the least amount of perks, and have smaller rooms. Which is all a-ok if you are traveling on a budget and don’t care to be at your hotel much! While Pop Century, Art of Animation, and all three All-Star Resorts can be budget-friendly, there are eight reasons why you may want to upgrade to a Moderate or Deluxe Resort this year instead.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Limited Dining Options

All the Value Resorts are set up similarly; the only dining option you will find at all five value resorts is a food court. There are a ton of options for food at the food courts, and honestly, the food is pretty good! But, if you are looking for a table service or character meal, you will have to check out another resort.

Landscape of Flavors Food Court

There are also no lounges at the Value Resorts, but if you are looking to grab a drink, you can head to the pool bar.

Petals Pool Bar at Disney’s Pop Century Resort

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Limited Transportation Options

Value resorts tend to have the least transportation options, and that is the case for all three All-Star Resorts as they only offer bus transportation. Since there is only one form of transportation, lines can get backed up, especially during the morning and end of the night. As another con, there is only one bus station in front of each of the resort’s lobbies.

Bus stop area

Art of Animation and Pop Century offer bus transportation but have the added bonus of the Skyliner. Since these resorts are so big, you can expect long lines for the Skyliner in the morning and evening, and this can be especially a pain when you have to transfer at the Skyliner hub at Caribbean Beach.

Skyliner Station between Art of Animation and Pop Century

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No Fitness Centers

Unfortunately, if you are looking to work out at your resort and you are at a Value Resort, you will be out of luck. All five Value Resorts do not have a gym, but don’t worry—you will get a workout based on our next point!

Fitness Center at the Wilderness Lodge

It Can Be a Hike to Your Room

The Value Resorts are HUGE, which means they are spread out. Unfortunately, you may end up getting a room that is far from the lobby, which means you can be far from transportation options. So, after a long day in the parks, you get to look forward to even more walking.

All-Star Sports

If you want a room closer to the lobby or Skyliner station, we recommend upgrading from a Standard Room to a Preferred Room.

Pop Century Resort

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Value Resorts Can Be Crowded

Since Value Resorts are the cheapest resorts at Disney World, they tend to attract crowds during competition and tournament season. Throughout the year, Disney hosts a variety of athletic competitions at ESPN Wide World of Sports. Due to this, teams choose to stay at Value Resorts as they are the most budget-friendly. If you can help it, we recommend checking the calendar to avoid staying at a Value Resort when cheer and dance competitions are going on.

ESPN Wide World of Sports

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There is No Water Slide

While Value Resort pools can have fun themes that match the them of the buildings around them, unfortunately, these pools do not have a water slide, which is a shame since many families with children choose to stay at Value Resorts. If having a water slide is important to your party while on vacation, you may want to consider upgrading to a Moderate Resort.

Pop Century Splash Pad

No Extended Evening Hours

While guests staying at Value Resorts can take advantage of multiple hotel perks like free transportation, advance Lightning Lane booking, free water park visit on your day of check-in, and Early Theme Park Entry, there is one perk that they do not get.

Early Theme Park Entry

Guests who stay at Deluxe Resorts can participate in Extended Evening Hours. On select nights of the week, a park will remain open two hours past its closing time. This is a game changer of a perk as the parks empty out, and you can usually squeeze in a ton of rides.

Extended Evening Hours at Animal Kingdom

Are the Added Costs Really Worth It?

While a Value Resort may seem like a good deal while booking, you have to consider the extra costs that may add up, like paying for Minnie Vans or visiting other resorts for more food options.

All-Star Movies

Time is money at Disney World, and unfortunately, you can spend a lot of time waiting for transportation and dealing with the walk back to your room. At the end of the day, you have to consider if it is worth the potential lost time to stay at a Value Resort.

All-Star Music

While we do like the Value Resorts, these eight reasons sometimes keep us away from them, and instead, we choose to upgrade to a Moderate Resort. We will say that it is essential to think about your party’s needs, and if a Value Resort fits them, then by all means, a Value Resort may be perfect!

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