The Best Disney World Resort Hotels

The affordability and convenience of staying at a Disney World Resort Hotel is wonderful but deciding which one to to choose can be difficult.  I wanted to make sure we made an educated decision.  So, I spoke with family and friends who had recently stayed at Resort Hotels, I searched message boards and read tons of reviews.  And after all that, these are my top choices:

POP CENTURY RESORT (Value Resort)

• Pros: very affordable, bus transportation is not shared with other resorts, newest feel of the value resort, easy walk to main building, large character statues kids love
• Cons: far from Magic Kingdom, small rooms (approx. 260 sq ft)

PORT ORLEANS RESORT - RIVERSIDE (Moderate Resort)

• Pros: affordable, beautiful scenery, boat trip to Downtown Disney, large rooms (approx. 314 sq ft), sit down dinner services, comes with small refrigerator at no extra cost
• Cons: lots of walking, complicated bus transportation

CONTEMPORARY RESORT (Deluxe Resort)

• Pros: Chef Mickey onsite and other great dining options, monorail station inside resort, walking distance to Magic Kingdom, less walking within resort, larger rooms (approx. 436 sq ft)
• Cons: more expensive, atmosphere is not so kid friendly 

BEACH CLUB VILLAS (Deluxe Villas)

• Pros: most desirable pools in Disney World Resort (including Stormalong Bay), full kitchen, lots of space (1 bdrm villa - approx. 726 sq ft), walking distance or boat ride to Epcot, close to the Boardwalk, boat ride to Disney's Hollywood Studios
• Cons: not on monorail system, dated decor