As mentioned in my last post, nearly all of our clients opt to stay at one of the Walt Disney World® Resort Hotels to get the full, immersive, magical experience as only Disney can offer. As well as, the added advantage of exclusive perks such as special park hours, advanced FastPass+ and Dining reservations, complimentary airport transportation, and free transportation to Disney Theme Parks. When you call UNIGLOBE Ohio Valley Travel for a Disney Vacation quote, our very first questions will be geared towards your desired amenities and budget in order to derive which resorts to consider for you. Disney offers 4 tiers of resorts- Value, Moderate, Deluxe, and Deluxe Villas- each with their own unique themes, dining options, amenities and price point.
This entry will take a closer look at the VALUE property category. All rates included in the post include taxes, are current at time of publication, but are subject to change. As always, we are happy to discuss your individual questions and concerns and work to help you make the best decision for your traveling party.
Disney Value Properties: Overview
Value Resorts include All-Star Movies, All-Star Music, All-Star Sports, Art of Animation and Pop Century. These are the lowest tier resort, offering the least in terms of amenities, but also the lowest price. These resorts are very colorful and beautifully themed with larger than life exterior décor which also provide excellent photo opportunities. At All-Star Movies, walk through Andy’s bedroom door and see all his favorite toys as if you were the size of a Green Army Man. Over at Art of Animation, see a giant King Triton, Ariel and some of their Under the Sea friends. As you may have inferred, the Value Resorts are very kid friendly! Beneath these exciting exteriors, Value properties are very much like a typical motel: exterior hallways, very clean and nicely decorated; yet, basic room provisions (detailed below). These resorts typically have a few buildings grouped within one themed area facing a courtyard or pool.
Pools at the Value Resorts are large, themed, heated and open year-round, but do not have the water slides or hot tubs that the upper tiers feature. There is also no complementary poolside towel service, so you have to bring the ones from your room. If you know you will be swimming, you can ask “mousekeeping” to leave you some extra towels. Each Value Resort does feature a “kiddie pool” as well as a playground area for the very little ones. Lifeguards are present for most of the operating hours and swim vests are also available. There is some poolside entertainment offered including trivia, games, or dance parties. These are held in the afternoon each day.
All Value Resorts also feature a Main Building which houses a very inclusive Food Court including typical, American breakfast foods such as bacon and eggs and standard lunch/dinner favorites such as pizza, burgers, and nuggets as well as a pasta bar. Food is available for dine in or carry out. Also in the Main Building is a well-stocked arcade, a large gift shop and an outdoor pool bar area. Room service is not offered at the Value Resorts, but pizza delivery is available. There are no Table Service restaurants located at any of the Value Resorts.
Complimentary Park transportation from these resorts is in the form of buses. The waiting area for the buses is located in front of the main building, and is NOT sheltered from weather. It is, however, a very nice, orderly line up with a switchback queue, which makes bus boarding a less stressful experience.
Standard Guest Rooms: A typical Value room sleeps up to four guests with 2 double beds or can sleep two guests in a King Size bed (add 1 infant in a crib to either room type). As mentioned above, the rooms are very clean, but on the smaller side at approximately 260 square feet. Each room has a combination tub/shower and commode with 1 sink outside of the bathroom. There is not a closet, but rooms do have a clothing and storage rack along a smaller wall near the bathroom. Flat screen TV is standard and free wireless internet access is available in the room. All rooms have a small safe and a mini refrigerator. Bedding and wall decorations are colorful and match the theme of the exterior location.
Price Range: (Please note for all Resorts regardless of Tier, the non-discounted prices per room fluctuate with the seasons and holidays throughout the year.) Disney often runs specials which will lower the overall cost, but this gives you a ballpark figure for a non-discounted price. These are the lowest and highest non-discounted rate per standard room at each resort.
The lowest priced are the All-Star Resorts. For 2017, a standard room at All Star Music on a weekday in late Jan/early Feb (considered Value Season) is the lowest at $106 with a weekend rate of $143, but the same exact room is $203 during Easter week or $205 between Christmas and New Year. Summer season runs $152 weeknight/$180 weekend.
Alternatively, the highest priced Value Resort, an Art of Animation standard room ranges from a low of $140 weekday/$171 weekend in Value Season to $248 per night between Christmas and New Year. Summer rate is $206 weeknight/$240 weekend.
Family Suites: Both All-Star Music and Art of Animation also have Family Suites which sleeps up to size 6 guests plus 1 infant in a crib. The suite accommodations at Art of Animation are 565 sq ft and feature 2 bathrooms, a kitchenette with full size refrigerator and microwave, a separate bedroom with 1 Queen size bed, and a living room area with 1 Double Size Sleeper Sofa and 1 Double Size Table Bed. The suites at All-Star Music are almost the same, though slightly smaller at 520 sq feet and rather than the table bed, it features 2 convertible twin size chairs/ottoman.
Price Range: Suites at Art of Animation range from a low at Value Season of $338 weekday/$380 weekend to $570/night between Christmas and New Year. Easter Week is $552 per night. Summer rates are $432 weeknights/$484 weekends. All-Star Music Family Suite ranges from a low in late Jan/Early Feb (Value Season) of $255 weekday/$294 weekend to $459/night between Christmas and New Year. Easter Week is $436/night. Summer rates run $348 weekday/$405 weekend.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Folks who will spend most of the time at the theme parks may be very happy with the Value Resorts. My favorite Value Resort is All-Star Movies. Priced the same as the other All-Star Resorts, the whimsical Disney Movie themed décor provides an extra special Disney feel. This Resort is especially fun if you have young children in your traveling party. The main pool features Fantasia Mickey with water shooting out from around him into the pool. As for the Family Suites, it is difficult to justify the price increase, considering you can get 2 standard rooms sleeping 8 often for less than 1 suite sleeping 6. The kitchenette and microwave can be a nice advantage *IF* you plan to return to your room for meals. Realistically, not many people, especially those with stays of 4 or less nights, are going give up park time to travel to and from the hotel for meals. Perhaps this is best during the summer when a midday break is advisable due to heat and combining it with a pool break.
Up next, a review of the Moderate Tiered Resort category!