10 best Walt Disney World resorts for adults

There are 17 Walt Disney World resort hotels and 13 villas that are classified as value, moderate and deluxe. All have free parking and early entry to the theme parks, which can make a stay on property worthwhile. Each resort also has a different theme, which can add a fun ambience to your stay.

If you’re planning an adult trip to Disney World, look for accommodations with a sophisticated theme and great food and drink options (unless you love Disney animation and food courts). Good news is that you have choices. See the list below to learn about the best Walt Disney World resorts and villas for adults to help with your decision.

Accommodations are listed alphabetically and most offer extended evening hours in the theme parks on select nights. Check the Disney World calendar for dates.

Animal Kingdom Lodge

The outstanding Africa theme and views of wild animals make a stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge (and nearby villas) a special experience. Large pools, an outdoor fire pit and great restaurants (Boma, Jiko and Sanaa) are other nice perks.

However, you’ll be far away from Disney Springs and all the theme parks (except Animal Kingdom) if you stay here. Plan for long bus rides or use rideshare if you don’t want to wait on bus transportation. On the plus side, rates at this deluxe resort tend to be a little lower compared to deluxe resorts that are more centrally located.

Bay Lake Tower

The Bay Lake Tower (at the Contemporary Resort) opened in 2009 for Disney Vacation Club members (although anyone can stay here). It has subtle Disney decor along with lake and firework views from some of the rooms. One of the biggest perks is being in walking distance of Magic Kingdom, but the high room rates reflect this convenience.

Next door to Bay Lake Tower is the landmark Contemporary Resort building, which opened the same day as Magic Kingdom. It has a monorail station (the monorail actually travels through the lobby), bus stop and two great restaurants: California Grill and Steakhouse 71. There’s also a small marina with boat rentals and boat transportation to the Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness.

Boardwalk Inn & Villas

For a vintage vacation experience, book a stay at the Boardwalk Inn or Villas on Disney’s Boardwalk. The Boardwalk area has restaurants, multiple resorts, a dance hall and an actual wooden boardwalk with games and entertainment. Staying at the resort of the same name puts you in the middle of it all.

Another great reason to stay at the Boardwalk Inn or Villas is being able to walk or take a boat to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. You can’t beat the convenience. You also can get on the Skyliner next to EPCOT to reach the Riviera Resort, which has a rooftop bar and restaurant (Topolino’s Terrace).

Coronado

Coronado is a moderate resort (no extended evening hours) with a romantic Spanish theme. Highlights include a rooftop lounge (Dahlia), lounge on the lake (Three Bridges) and a variety of room and suite options. The downside is transportation. Disney buses are the only free option.

There’s also a convention center on site, so your stay might overlap with an influx of people who are there for work. But if you aren’t concerned about conventions, Coronado is tranquil place to stay and is one of the most affordable resorts on this list.

French Quarter

For a New Orleans experience, book a stay at Disney’s French Quarter Resort. It’s a moderate resort (no extended evening hours) with a jazz club, boat transportation to Disney Springs and bus service to the theme parks. The boat trip isn’t super fast, but is a fun way to reach restaurants, shops, entertainment and nightlife in Disney Springs.

For more things to see, do and eat, you can walk to the Port Orleans Riverside Resort, which has a piano show at the River Roost Lounge on select nights. However, you’ll generally find better restaurants at Disney Springs than at the French Quarter or Riverside (The Boathouse, Raglan Road and The Polite Pig are some of our favorites).

Grand Floridian

The Grand Floridian is one of the most luxurious (and expensive) resorts on Disney World property. The theme is turn-of-the-century elegance and rooms have subtle Mary Poppins references. Amenities include a spa and multiple signature restaurants, including Victoria & Albert’s, which has a Michelin star, Citricos (one of our favorite places to eat) and Narcoossee’s.

Transportation is also wonderful at the Grand Floridian. You can walk, take a boat or get on the monorail to reach Magic Kingdom and the Polynesian Resort. The monorail will also take you to the Contemporary Resort and Ticket and Transportation Center, where you can transfer to the EPCOT monorail.

Polynesian

Open since 1971, Disney’s Polynesian Resort is a beautiful place to stay. There are tiki torches, tiki bars, villas and overwater bungalows, and beaches with firework views. A stay here also means monorail access, boats to Magic Kingdom and bus service to other theme parks.

One downside is the food. While the all-you-can-eat dinner at ‘Ohana is a fun experience and the new Wailulu Bar & Grill has a lovely atmosphere, we recommend using the monorail to reach restaurants at the Grand Floridian and Contemporary if you’re looking for fine dining.

Riviera

The Riviera Resort opened in 2019 with a sophisticated European theme perfect for adult trips. There are scenic lake views and good restaurants on site, including the rooftop Topolino’s Terrace (which almost always has open seats at the bar) and Primo Piatto.

Another reason to stay at the Riviera is Skyliner transportation, which can take you to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. Otherwise, it’s bus transportation to the other theme parks. You can also walk to the Caribbean Beach Resort if you want to explore the island/pirate theme or eat dinner at Sebastian’s Bistro, which consistently gets good reviews.

Saratoga Springs

If you want to stay in walking distance of Disney Springs, then Saratoga Springs is for you. The deluxe resort has a spa, golf course and subtle horse racing theme that’s perfect for a relaxing getaway. In addition to studios, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom suites are available if you need extra space.

The resort is large, so request a room near Disney Springs for the shortest walk. Otherwise, you’ll need to get on a bus, drive and park, or use rideshare to reach the theme parks. You can also get on a boat (pictured above) near the Disney Springs walkway to reach the Key West, French Quarter and Riverside resorts.

Wilderness Lodge

The Wilderness Lodge is modeled after grand national park lodges built in the early 1900s. When you walk in the lobby you’re greeted with soaring ceilings, wood beams, a huge fireplace and even a stream that turns into a waterfall. Outside you’ll find nature trails (with bike rentals), a fake geyser that shoots up water, and more accommodations (villas and cabins).

In terms of food, our favorite spot is Geyser Point Bar & Grill next to the lake. There is also one signature restaurant, but it is character dining, so we recommend taking the water taxi to the Contemporary Resort for more options. You can also travel to Magic Kingdom and Fort Wilderness by boat (Fort Wilderness has kayak rentals, horseback riding and Hoop De Doo dinner show).

Yacht Club

On Disney’s Boardwalk, the Yacht Club Resort has a nautical theme and solid restaurants, including the Yachtsman Steakhouse and multiple lounges that have light bites. You can also walk to restaurants at other resorts, including Cape May Cafe, Flying Fish and Trattoria Al Forno.

Like the Boardwalk Resort, the Yacht Club location is excellent for reaching EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. Friendship boats travel to both parks from the resort, plus you can easily walk to EPCOT. The neighboring Beach Club Resort has similar amenities as another option. The tradeoff is that it tends to be busier and more popular with families.

Value Resort Option

Note that none of the value resorts made the top 10 list due to the large amount of kids (including school groups) that stay at these resorts. Value resorts also don’t have hot tubs, nice restaurants or fun bars. However, if a value resort fits your budget best, Pop Century is our pick. The theme is pop culture in different decades, so there’s lots of nostalgia and fun music, plus Skyliner transportation to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.

More Information

Top photo by DW for Adults (Yacht Club Resort)