6. The smart spender – Disney’s Value Resorts, villas, and The Swan and Dolphin

Image: Disney

Thrifty is just some people’s personality. You aren’t looking for frills, fancy theming, or other shenanigans. You just want a clean place to lay your head and a good deal.

Disney’s Value Resorts— the All-Star Resorts, Pop Century, and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort—are great choices for the thrifty visitor. Their proximity to the parks is surprisingly good, particularly if you will be spending a fair deal of time at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. While these resorts offer the basics required by adults, they also have huge appeal for kids due to their strong theming. If you are just looking for a room and proximity to the parks, the Value Resorts are a solid option if you don’t want to go with one of Disney’s Good Neighbor hotels.

Disney’s Villas—particularly those at Saratoga Springs and Old Key West—are a great value if you choose to rent Disney Vacation Club points. Not only will you save a huge amount to stay at some of Disney’s loveliest resorts, you will also have the option to prepare many of your meals and snacks in the villas kitchenette!

Image: Jett Farrell-Vega

The Swan and Dolphin sneak onto our list again for two reasons. First off, they offer deluxe level accommodations for a moderate resort price (though some might be put off by the resort and parking fees). Because they are owned by Starwood Hotels, there are often unique deals available for stays at both the Swan and Dolphin on Starwood.com and other travel websites that you won’t find booking directly through Disney. Second—and this is a huge one for smart spenders—if you are determined enough, you can actually get a substantial portion of your stay for free if you get enough points using a Starwood Rewards American Express. One gentleman actually devised a scheme to get his entire trip nearly for free by carefully accumulating rewards credit card points. If you have the discipline to avoid crippling debt, you can’t do better than free!

7. The luxuriant traveler – Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and The Four Seasons at Walt Disney World

Image: Disney

Whether you simply have the means to do so or are a smart saver, there is a unique type of traveler who doesn’t like to mess around with mediocre vacation experiences. When you travel, you don’t care how long you have to save—you are going to have the vacation of a lifetime, complete with plenty of pampering, luxury, and the best service you can find. When you visit Walt Disney World, you are seriously looking to treat yo’ self.

For this very special variety of traveler, there are two clear winners at Walt Disney World, and you’re going to pay heftily for either of them. The first is the crown jewel of Disney’s deluxe resorts—Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. The grandeur and amenities of the Grand Floridian cannot be overstated. It is one seriously beautiful resort. Its spa is world class, and its flagship restaurant, Victoria and Albert’s, has been rewarded AAA’s coveted Five Diamond Rating for over fifteen years. Still, guests might be shocked to learn that there is a resort that even one-ups the Grand Floridian.

Image: Jett Farrell-Vega

The Four Seasons Resort at Walt Disney World is one insane resort. Located in Disney World’s Golden Oak community, it is the apex of luxury at Walt Disney World. They have a massive 5-acre complex of pools and water activities for kids and adults, including a slide built into a pirate-style Spanish fort (complete with a rock climbing wall!). They have a complimentary kids’ club, a myriad of recreational choices for adults, a full spa, and a world-class character breakfast at Ravello that has been lauded as some of the best dining at Walt Disney World (not to mention three other restaurants, a coffee shop, and a pool-side bar that is classier than most restaurants in a 20-miles radius).

The perks of staying at the Four Seasons at Walt Disney World are so all-encompassing, it’s almost not worth bothering with a theme park admission. The price per night is steep, but Four Seasons never charges a resort fee, and you can be certain that during your stay, you will receive the brand’s world-renowned service.

Do you agree with our picks? What is your personality type and favorite resort?