Disney Hotels - With Kids - Deluxe

Deluxe Resorts

So if you have a fair bit more spare income and want some real luxury, where is there to stay on property? Disney World has a ton of deluxe resorts and each have their own unique charm and theme. You have options of character dining at your hotel, more dining options plus you are much closer to one of the parks. The themeing of these resorts is a lot more grown up however there is still plenty for kids to do.

So here is my top pick hotel for families travelling with kids:

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

First off, you'll be glad to know it's one of the cheaper deluxe resorts and as the name suggests it falls pretty close to Animal Kingdom park. So, what's so cool about this resort?

- Kids clubs for children from 0-9 years old in the hotel.

- Exciting pools that have water cannons and slides.

- An outdoor play area.

- An arcade for older kids.

- Its has a campfire.

- It's on a safari park with plenty of animals to see.

- In room dining.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge - Image from www.virginholidays.co.uk/



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So how much does it cost?

For a 2 week stay in August with 2 adults and 2 children (total cost) on a room only basis (no tickets, no food, no transportation)

- £3280 for a standard room. This could have 2 queen beds, 1 queen bed & bunk beds or king bed and a day bed (you can ask for a particular one when booking). The rooms have all the standard stuff, TV, wifi, mini fridge, bathroom, table and chairs and a balcony which could overlook just about anything. I would be tempted to ask for bunk beds, especially if your kids are a bit too old to share or just like their own space. The room isn't tons bigger than a standard hotel room, so if you want more space, you might want to look elsewhere.

- £3815 for a pool view. Everything else is the same as above but you can see the pool.

- £4313 for a Savanna view. Again, exactly the same as the standard room but from your balcony you can see the wildlife park that surrounds the hotel which is absolutely stunning and very relaxing. If you love animals, you should consider this. If you want bunk beds the price is £4380 and if you can also upgrade your savanna view but it will cost you £4578 (£4856 with bunk beds) to marvel at the animals from a better vantage point.

This hotel does have club options which feature multiple rooms and they are incredibly expensive, but just case anyone is interested, here are the prices for the same basis as above.

- £10152 for a Savanna view club level 1 bed apartment. This has a separate sitting area and gets you free breakfast, snacks and refreshments through the day with a DVD player. This room has 2 queen beds in the bedroom and another queen in the parlor room.

- £17887 for a 2 bed suite. This is the same as the 1 bed apartment, but with an extra room. 1 king bed, 2 queen beds and a queen bed in the parlor  or 1 queen, bunk beds and a queen in the parlor.

There are also the presidential and vice presidential suites starting at £26566 which features the same amenities as above but with much more space if you really want to splurge. 

Animal Kingdom Bunk Bed Room (pool view) - Image from https://disneyworld.disney.go.com

There's a lot to like about this resort and the bunk bed options are great. You've also got several table service and quick service restaurants that serve all the standards (burgers, nuggets, flat breads, sandwiches) as well as some African flavors down at Jiko, Boma and Sannaa. You can sample foods such as Tandoori shrimp and Chicken Chat. You'll also be glad to know that these are all on the Dining Plan which at some times of year comes free with park tickets (and, there is no need to upgrade as the free standard dining plan gives you a counter service meal, a table service meal and a snack for every day of your stay).

So, why wouldn't I want to stay here?

- It's expensive compared to other resorts off property and can feel like you're paying a lot just for a hotel room.

- There's a lot of animal love going on, and if you don't like animals there isn't much point staying here.

- Kids might favor being closer to parks such as Magic Kingdom.

- It doesn't have onsite character dining, which can be a major perk of paying to stay in a deluxe resort.

- The themeing isn't very 'Disney'. Whilst it is stunning and atmospheric, it doesn't feature the characters or character rooms that are available in moderate or value resorts.


So, what did you think of our top picks? If you have any questions or comments please let me know below and I'll help you as best I can!

Until the next post,

See ya real soon :)