Tuesday 15 July 2014

Disney Hotels - Hotels with Kids - Value

So, there are a lot of choices of hotels for people wanting to stay on property. They do cost more but you shouldn't overlook them. I'll be pricing up the hotels which (in my opinion) are best. All hotels will eventually be covered (some time or another.) That being said, all prices are correct at the time of posting and prices will be sourced directly from the source...so, Disney hotels prices come from the official website.

So, let's start with the obvious one. Hotels for families with children. Here is my top Value resort.

Value Resorts


Disney's Art Of Animation.

This is my number one choice for people travelling with families with children. Here's why -

- It has the BIGGEST resort pool on the WDW property.
- It's colorful and bright, which is fantastic for kids.
- There is plenty of space to run around and play.
- They have family suites with kitchenettes.
- The have a bus service to and from the parks at no extra cost.
- Pizza delivery for when you want to relax in your room.
- Amazing food court with plenty of options
- Disney themeing - which children might expect.

    Image
    Art of Animation pool - image from www.thomson.co.uk/
























So, how much does it cost?

For a 2 week stay in August 2015, based on a family of 4 sharing the cost is as follows

- £1526 for a Little Mermaid room. This features 2 double beds, a bathroom, mini fridge, TV, safe etc. It's a basic hotel room. If you have small children and don't all mind being together, this might be one of your cheapest options.

- £3556 for a Family suite. These include the following themes - Cars, Lion King or Finding Nemo. They are much bigger and feature a queen bed, a double sofa bed and a double table bed. You also get 2 bathrooms, a sitting area and a small kitchenette. If you have children that are a little older or you just want a bit more space, this is for you.

The above prices don't include travel, tickets or food. It is a room only basis.



    A jungle-themed living room area with a double-size sleeper sofa and flat screen TV, next to a kitchen area
    (Lion King Room - sitting area-  taken from disneyworld.disney.go.com/)


The hotel has some other great things to do such as movies under the stars on selected nights, free wifi, babysitting services and a really expansive Disney store. 


The food court (Landscape of Flavors) serves over the counter meals such as Barbecue Pork Sandwiches, Soup, Pizza, Chicken Platters, Burgers, Salads, Rice, Cupcakes, Icecream...you get the picture. Even if your kids are really fussy eaters, they will find something here.

The hotel itself has managed to get 4.5 stars on trip adviser, which is pretty good going for a 'budget' hotel.
So..what's not to like?

It is expensive -  it's at the top of the scale for Disney's budget resorts and if you're working to a budget it is cheaper to stay off property.
It's huge. This can swing either way. Some people like the idea of having a lot of room to explore, whilst others like everything to be close together. It really does depend what you like.

Other value resorts do come in cheaper, for example -

Disney's All Star Music 

 - £1162 for a family of four in a standard room (same get up as the Little Mermaid Room)
 - £2926  for a family suite (same amenities as Lion King/Nemo/Cars suites)

Now, don't get me wrong, it is a lot cheaper. Plus, you still get all the benefits of staying on Disney, such as free transportation around the parks, extra time in the parks and shuttles to and from the airports. However, the other Value resorts don't seem to POP quite as much as the animation resort and whilst you'll find everything you need, I don't think they have the excitement children would look for. If you were an older couple travelling on a budget, I'd probably suggest these - plus - they can be more nostalgic if you understand the references each resort is making.

Disney's All-Star Music Resort
Disney's All Star Music - Image from www.disneyholidays.co.uk/

One thing I would say is wait for the offers. Throughout the year Disney offer free dining or half price tickets when you stay with them. This is probably the best time to book as you can save a small fortune. If you are tempted by adding dining, I would consider an upgrade to a Moderate Resort - as it can work out cheaper. Have a look at the next post to see my top Moderate resort for people travelling with kids.

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