If you’re looking for lodging near Walt Disney World, you probably don’t need much background info on your destination. As the ‘world’ in its title implies, Disney World is much larger than its Californian cousin Disneyland: the latter covers roughly 500 acres, while the Orlando-adjacent park is about 40 square miles. This parcel of land is so massive it has its own governing jurisdiction within Florida, the Reedy Creek Improvement District.
Disney World is loaded with on-site properties, and there are several options outside the park’s bounds as well. We’ve selected three properties for you, from affordable (magically priced, you might say) to more splurge-worthy choices within Disney’s enchanted grounds.
Cypress Pointe Resort
From $67/ night
This especially affordable resort is closest to Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney), a shopping, dining and entertainment complex, while Epcot is three miles away and the Magic Kingdom is five. This Diamond Resorts-owned property comes with plenty of activities to keep the kids busy after a day at Disney: tennis, billiards, mini-golf, a volleyball court and a games room. Free shuttle service can take you into Disney World’s fantastical territory, and an on-site gift shop is stocked with Disney paraphernalia should you have forgotten to buy some in the Magic Kingdom. The outdoor pool is quite sizable, and a fitness center is also available.
Wyndham Grand Orlando
From $127/ night
Five minutes from the beach on foot, this lakeside Wyndham resort is nestled within 500 acres of tropical foliage. Both Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios are about a mile away. Previous guests have praised the big, lagoon-like pool and its many amenities, including a water slide, poolside bar and grill, cabana and fire pit. The Blue Harmony spa is another highlight, offering indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, a nail salon and a relaxation area. For kids, there’s mini golf, a playground and a games room. Shuttle service to Disney Parks is available. Another perk: pets are allowed —though they’re probably not welcome in any of the resort’s four on-site restaurants, which boast locally sourced cuisine.
Four Seasons Resort Orlando
From $549/ night
It’s the priciest option here, though you’re paying for quality. Take the six on-site restaurants, where you can treat your tastebuds to steak, sushi rolls, Florida seafood, Cuban-American cuisine or premium coffee. Italian eatery Ravello even has a demonstration kitchen, and hosts Disney Character Breakfasts with Goofy and His Pals on Thursdays and Saturdays. The sumptuously serene on-site spa has 18 treatment rooms (their aesthetic inspired by the Everglades), while the recreational offerings are too numerous to condense in this tiny paragraph. Notable is Explorer Island, which houses a hangout for kids and a glut of aquatic activities from fountains to a water slide and a “lazy river” for you to lounge in.