2. Proximity to parks (especially Animal Kingdom)

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Before our first stay at a Walt Disney World Value Resort, we assumed the biggest sacrifice we’d be making was convenience. After all, Disney’s Value Resorts only offer transportation by bus.

We discovered that Disney’s Value Resorts offer surprisingly good proximity to the parks. Indeed, if you are planning to visit The World of Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, no resort besides Animal Kingdom Lodge is closer than the All-Star Resorts. A commute that normally takes a hefty amount of time from the Epcot or Magic Kingdom resorts passes in a flash taking the bus from All-Stars. In similar form, Pop Century and The Art of Animation are very close to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot.

The only resort that remains conspicuously far from the Value Resorts is Magic Kingdom, but that can be said of any of the non-Magic Kingdom resorts. If you plan to spend a substantial amount of time at the other three parks—especially if you are a passholder (meaning free parking) visiting with a car—the convenience of Walt Disney’s Value resorts cannot be understated.

3. The rooms are comfy and clean

Image: Disney

Apart from The Art of Animation Resort’s spectacularly-themed rooms (more on that later), Walt Disney World’s Value Resorts guest rooms definitely do not offer much in the way of frills. You get the expected essentials: clean beds with tight sheets (heavy blankets aren’t needed in the Florida humidity), a nightstand, a table and chairs, a dresser and television, a mini-fridge, free Wi-Fi, and a basic bathroom. Decorations are kept to a minimum, and because the doors at these resorts open to the outside, it’s difficult to get much light from the windows due to the awnings above.

However, if all you want is a clean place to sleep with the perks of a Walt Disney World resort (as well as the knowledge that your hotel is managed by a company with one of the highest reputations for guest service in the world), the value resorts get the job done. The rooms are kept up to snuff with Disney’s reliable standard for excellence (and don’t be shy calling Guest Services if something isn’t), which is perfect for any visitor who isn’t interested in the puffery and frills of Disney’s other resorts but does want the assurance that they won’t be crashing in a bed bug nest.

If an interesting room is a high point for you, Disney's Art of Animation Resort has some of the coolest theming in their rooms of any Disney accommodations. Speaking of which…