Staying at a Disney Resort Hotel on your vacation to the Most Magical Place on Earth can really add to the excitement. Walt Disney World Resort features more than 25 resort hotels with options for any price range. From the themed rooms and lounge-worthy pools to their close proximity to the theme parks, you’ll be glad you decided to vacation right by the magic. Today we’re sharing eight experiences that are unique to Disney Resort Hotels so you can add them to your vacation bucket list!

Stay Where The Wild Things are at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is the closest resort to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and it’s home to over 200 birds and hoofed animals. Guests can identify the species they encounter at the resort during their stay thanks to the Wildlife Field Guide found in their room. Just visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge for the day? Feel free to ask for a Wildlife Field Guide of your own in the lobby!

Visit Tri-Circle-D Ranch at the Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness

Disney’s Fort Wilderness is where you’ll find Tri-Circle-D Ranch. Guests can visit the stables and go horseback riding, or just visit the ponies and horses. Tri-Circle-D Ranch has a variety of breeds including Appaloosas, Arabians, Belgians, Clydesdales, paint horses, Percherons, and quarter horses, plus Shetland ponies! The stables are also home to Cinderella’s ponies and the horses of Main Street U.S.A.

Take A Trip Through The Decades Around Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Disney’s Pop Century Resort celebrates pop culture from the 1950s through the 1990s. While walking from building to building around the resort, be sure to stop and read the trivia facts from each year displayed on the signs. By the time you make your way around Disney’s Pop Century Resort, you’ll have learned 50 years' worth of facts!

Grab a Drink at the Enchanted Rose at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

If you’re a fan of Beauty and the Beast, this unique Disney Resort Hotel experience is for you. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is home to the Enchanted Rose, a Beauty and the Beast-inspired lounge. The Enchanted Rose features four themed areas and a full menu of bites and drinks, all inspired by Belle and the Beast from the live-action version of the Disney film. This lounge is open daily from 3:30 PM until 11:00 PM.

Complimentary Swan Paddleboat Rides at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin

Image: Harshlight, Flickr (license)

Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin is located in the EPCOT Resort Area and this duo of hotels offers an array of unique experiences for guests. One that you’ll only find on property at this resort is their complimentary Swan Paddleboat Rides. Guests of these hotels can rent a paddleboat for 30 minutes and enjoy the resort views! Reserve yours at the Cabana Beach Hut near the pools.

Play A Round of Mini Golf Near Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

The EPCOT Area Resort Hotels are conveniently located near Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course. This Fantasia-themed course features 18 holes of fun with views of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror while you play! This mini golf course is also home to the Fantasia Fairways course which is much more challenging. 

Stay With Your Furry Friend at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

If your furry family members are a must for your Disney vacation, you’ll want to stay at Disney's Art of Animation Resort. This hotel is one of four pet-friendly resorts on Walt Disney World. Your pet-friendly room comes with a pet check in pack and designated walking paths -- ensuring that everyone in your party has a magical stay!

Splash Around Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort

Guests of Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club get access to the most exclusive pool on Walt Disney World property during their stay. This 3-acre water wonderland features whirlpool spas, a lazy river, a sand bottom, a waterslide, and more! Stormalong Bay has become a legend among Disney Resort Hotel goers, and rightfully so. You’ll want to plan for a pool day at Stormalong Bay if you’re vacationing at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort.

Walt Disney World has so much more to offer than just theme parks, and this list of unique hotel experiences proves it! No matter where you end up staying on your next Walt Disney World vacation, make a point to explore the amenities of your resort hotel. Each themed resort offers its own charming activities and accommodations for guests to experience. For now, be sure to add these eight unique experiences to your Walt Disney World bucket list!