Where to Stay in Walt Disney World Resort With Family

Picking a Disney vacation hotel can be daunting—so many options to choose from, and all of them absolutely stunning. Besides making sure the hotel is right for your family, you might be asking yourself a few questions such as: Can I afford to stay at a Disney Resort hotel? Does it make sense financially? How convenient is it? 

This article will look at how to plan a Disney vacation when it comes to choosing a family-friendly hotel. If you’re interested in letting someone else take the wheel, feel free to contact a professional Disney planner and let them plan your trip for you (see the end of this article for more details).

Choices, Choices, Choices

With over thirty-two resorts on the Disney World property, the number of options can be overwhelming. Thankfully, we can help you narrow down your search to six excellent choices for families wishing to visit Disney World and get the full Disney experience. 

In no particular order, here are six of the best choices for a family-friendly hotel at Walt Disney World Resort:

Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

By staying at Bay Lake Tower, you’ll be able to either see Disney World’s Magic Kingdom from your window or, if you’re staying on the other side of the tower, you’ll have the beautiful Bay Lake to look at. When you return to your hotel at night, you can watch the moon reflecting off the water or catch the Electrical Water Pageant.

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

Located on the back side of Epcot, this resort does all it can to look like the famous ocean boardwalks found in many beach towns throughout the world. It’s like having your own little boardwalk just for you and your family to enjoy. From here, you can easily take evening strolls while checking out all the restaurants and shops — and be within walking distance to EPCOT.

Disney’s BoardWalk Villas

Situated on the same property and with access to the same boardwalk as the BoardWalk Inn, the villas provide a little extra luxury. From full apartments (“Studios”) that can fit up to a family of four all the way up to three-bedroom Grand Villas with room for twelve, if you’re planning a big family vacation, the BoardWalk Villas may be for you.

Disney’s Riviera Resort

At Disney’s Riviera Resort, it’s all about the European flair. According to Disney, the resort was inspired by Walt Disney’s trips to Europe and his wish to bring the same beautiful architecture home to America. It features a rooftop restaurant as well as a world-class “Breakfast à la Art” with Mickey and his friends. 

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

The real Pirates of the Caribbean wish they could have stayed at a place like this while in port. With a pool straight out of a 17th Century Spanish fortress, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is fantastic for visitors of all ages. There’s plenty of stuff to keep the kids busy so the adults can get a bit of quiet time – overall, it’s a great place to stay for your Disney World vacation.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas

This is about as close as many Americans will get to actually visiting Africa. Situated on a forty-six-acre property, you’ll find more than 300 species of animals around the hotel itself and inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom park nearby. This is perfect for those who love nature and watching exotic animals, and is a great place to stay in Disney World for large groups!

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser

The ultimate vacation for Star Wars fans opened in March of 2022 – the all-new Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is billed as a two-day, two-night trip through the stars. There’s an interactive Star Wars story built into your stay, and each choice you make affects how the story ends. This is an astounding full adventure in and of itself, so you’ll want to dedicate both days exclusively to the Star Wars story — we suggest you don’t plan on visiting other theme parks during this leg of your stay.

Here are a few other resorts on the Disney property that are great for families:

• Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort—French Quarter
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Beach Club Villas
• The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort