3. Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Image: DisneyThe appeal of this one is simple. Literally everyone reading this site loves classic Disney animated movies. For that matter, anyone reading any internet website loves classic Disney animated movies. It’s just that a site inhabited by Disney lovers is that much more passionate on the subject. Disney movies are an integral part of culture, a rite of passage for children. Any resort that celebrates the magic of animated cinema is instantly great. Sure, the theming here isn’t complex, but that’s a positive. Disney isn’t putting on airs with this property. Instead, they’re embracing the “keep it simple, stupid” philosophy.

The Art of Animation Resort is a functional library of animation. Paintings of famous Disney animated characters adorn the walls. All of the hotel rooms have themes associated with specific movies such as The Lion King and The Little Mermaid. Even theme park tourists who never plan to stay here should walk the campus and spend some time in the hotel lobby. It’s the feel-good resort for Disney movie lovers.

2. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Image: DisneyThis resort’s theme is animals. You can tell it by all the animals present. Yes, Animal Kingdom Lodge honors the underlying philosophy of the nearby theme park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It does this by marrying two seemingly incongruous premises. At the park, thrill rides reside on the same campus as a functional zoo.

At Animal Kingdom Lodge, a group of nearly 1,300 hotel rooms all face the hotel’s interior. They do this so that guests can look down at their neighbors who are also the permanent residents at the facility. It’s a deluxe resort that’s also an operational zoo complete with several different species of animals, some of whom are mortal enemies on the Serengeti. A wildlife reserve combined with a standard hotel is exactly the same kind of daring idea that defines the Disney brand. Animal Kingdom Lodge’s theming reinforces this kind of bravado. When you visit here, you’ll feel like you’re out on the savannah, marveling at the circle of life. It’s arguably the best themed resort at Walt Disney World. Alas, I prefer…

1.   Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Image: DisneyTruth in advertising: The Polynesian is also my favorite Walt Disney World resort, but that didn’t play a factor in these rankings. Instead, I populated the list with a clear idea of the top three. In the end, I chose this resort as the best themed property because it’s so easy to describe.

At the Polynesian, you’re staying at a monorail resort only a couple of stops away from Magic Kingdom. Somehow, you’re also staying at a beachfront property that will forcibly remind you of vacationing in the South Seas. The island vibe is the raison d'être for the existence of this place, and the subtle touches are ubiquitous.

Image: DisneyThe meals at the Polynesian will remind you of a beachfront vacation, especially the one at ‘Ohana. The show at the Polynesian will make you feel like you’re in Fiji watching fire dancers work their magic. The shopping at the Polynesian will make you feel like a tourist in desperate need of a hideous-but-lovable Hawaiian shirt. And the greeters in the lobby of the hotel will sweep you away to another place as they hang traditional leis around the necks of all the members of your party.

All eight of the properties here possess impeccable theming. For that matter, every official Walt Disney World resort does. Only one can be the best, however, and it’s the property with bungalows and a lava pool. The proof is in this simple statement. Ask any of your friends what they know about the Polynesian Village Resort. They can almost certainly tell you the theme. That’s the true litmus test here.