Essential Guide to the Disney World Hotels

Page 5: The Disney World Value Resorts

On Go Informed Podcast episode 62, I take you on an audio tour of all the Disney World Value Resorts. Listen below or on your favorite podcast app.

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

With it’s whimsical nods to twentieth-century pop culture, the Pop Century resort is a themed destination all on its own. Loaded with references to the last five decades of the century, guests will find nostalgic icons everywhere. For example, the 50’s section of the resort features a huge jukebox and a pool shaped like a bowling pin. Pop Century sits next to the terminus of the Disney Skyliner, providing convenient access to Hollywood Studios and Epcot.

• Resort: Pop Century
• Nearest Disney park: Hollywood Studios
• Theming: Twentieth century pop culture
• Free Disney transportation to parks/Disney Springs: Skyliner to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Bus to all other parks and Disney Springs.
• Dining: Central food court, pool bar
• Pools: Three themed pools, Hippy-Dippy pool has water jets.
• Notable Room Types: Preferred rooms are closer to the bus stop and Skyliner
• Club level available: No
• Price: $$
• Check Pop Century Resort pricing and availability on TripAdvisor here

Art of Animation Resort

Chock-full of references to Disney’s storied animation history, Art of Animation is like stepping into your favorite classic movies. The architecture and landscape immerse guests into the worlds of Finding Nemo, The Lion King, Radiator Springs, and The Little Mermaid. Many of the rooms are specially themed too. Located adjacent to Pop Century, Art of Animation shares the Skyliner station with its efficient access to Hollywood Studios and Epcot.

• Resort: Art of Animation
• Nearest Disney park: Hollywood Studios
• Theming: Classic Disney animated movies
• Free Disney transportation to parks/Disney Springs: Skyliner to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Bus to all other parks and Disney Springs.
• Dining: Central food court, pool bar
• Pools: Three large themed pools, including one with cabanas in the shape of the Cozy Cone motel
• Notable Room Types: Themed rooms, including Little Mermaid, Nemo, Cars, and Lion King – many are family suites which sleep up to 6 guests
• Club level available: No
• Price: $$
• Check Art of Animation Resort pricing and availability on TripAdvisor here

Disney’s All-Star Resorts

The three All-Star Resorts share a property but each has its own theming, food court, and lobby. The themes are Sports, Movies, and Music. Just like the other value resorts, the All-Stars are heavily themed with touches like the guitar-shaped pool at All-Star Music. Located closest to the ESPN Sports complex, All-Star is the resort of choice for visiting youth sports teams, cheerleaders, and marching bands.

• Resort: All-Star Sports, Music, Movies
• Nearest Disney park: Animal Kingdom
• Theming: Music, Movies, Sports
• Free Disney transportation to parks/Disney Springs: Bus to all parks and Disney Springs.
• Dining: Each resort has a central food court and pool bar
• Pools: Guest can use any of the three large themed pools and three leisure pools
• Notable Room Types: Preferred rooms are closer to dining and the bus stops
• Club level available: No
• Price: $$
• Check All-Star Music Resort pricing and availability on TripAdvisor here
• Check All-Star Movies Resort pricing and availability on TripAdvisor here
• Check All-Star Sports Resort pricing and availability on TripAdvisor here

Fort Wilderness Campground

Often for less than $100 per night, you can pitch a tent and camp at Disney World! The Campsites at Fort Wilderness is a fully loaded campground with room for everything from tents, to pop-up campers, to full-size RVs. This is glamping at its finest. Roll in with your own gear or rent a fully-stocked RV from a service like Meacham’s RV. The campground is part of the same 750-acre wooded resort where you’ll find the Fort Wilderness cabins.

• Resort: Fort Wilderness Campground
• Nearest Disney park: Magic Kingdom
• Theming: Full service campground in the woods
• Free Disney transportation to parks/Disney Springs: Boat to Magic Kingdom. Bus to all other parks and Disney Springs.
• Dining: Cook in your RV or on your grill, plus several table-service and quick-service dining options, including the legendary Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue.
• Pools: Two swimming pools, one with a corkscrew water slide
• Notable Room Types: Rent an RV ahead of time and have it set up and stocked before you get there
• Club level available: No
• Price: $$
• Check Campsites at Fort Wilderness pricing and availability on TripAdvisor here

More Disney World and Universal Orlando Tips

Here on GoInformed.net you’ll find tons of advice to help you have a fabulous Orlando theme park vacation. Be sure to check out the Go Informed Podcast, along with these posts:

• 55 Things to Know Before You Visit Disney World
• Park maps, walking distances, and training tips for your trip
• Christmas at Disney World
• How to add Universal to your Disney World vacation
• Universal Orlando complete hotel guide

Need a quick-start to your vacation research? Don’t miss my 60-second theme park tutorials here.

The Go Informed Podcast

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75-second quick guide to Christmas at Disney World

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