STRETCH YOUR DOLLAR: WHY DISNEY'S VALUE RESORTS ARE YOUR BEST BET
- Holly at Save It For Rope Drop
- Jun 10, 2025
- 5 min read
The most affordable Disney World Resorts fall into the "Value" category. These resorts offer the lowest nightly rates while still providing the core Disney experience with theming, free transportation, and on-site amenities. Here's a detailed look at them:
Disney's All-Star Movies Resort
Theming: Celebrates classic Disney films with larger-than-life icons and decorations featuring movies like "101 Dalmatians," "Toy Story," "Fantasia," "The Mighty Ducks," and "Herbie the Love Bug."
Room Details: Standard rooms with two double beds, sleeping up to four adults plus an infant. The theming inside the rooms is more subtle.
Amenities:
Two themed pools: the Fantasia Pool (with the Sorcerer Mickey fountain) and the Mighty Ducks-themed Duck Pond Pool.
Outdoor movies under the stars.
A lively food court, World Premiere Food Court, with various stations.
A gift shop, Maestro Mickey's.
Arcade.
Laundry facilities.
Complimentary Wi-Fi.
Bus transportation to all parks and Disney Springs.
Transportation: Bus transportation
Why it's affordable: Offers the core Disney experience with fun theming at the lowest price point for resorts on Disney property. The rooms are basic but functional for families focused on park time.
Disney's All-Star Music Resort
Theming: Celebrates various genres of music, including country, jazz, rock 'n' roll, calypso, and Broadway. Buildings and grounds feature oversized musical instruments and icons.
Room Details: Standard rooms with two double beds, sleeping up to four adults plus an infant. The theming inside the rooms is more subtle.
Family Suites: A significant advantage of All-Star Music is its availability of more affordable Family Suites. These can sleep up to six adults plus an infant and include a separate bedroom with a queen bed, a living space with a double-size sleeper sofa and a convertible twin-size sleeper chair and ottoman, a kitchenette with a microwave and mini-fridge, and two bathrooms.
Amenities:
Two themed pools: the Calypso Pool (shaped like a guitar) and the Piano Pool (shaped like a grand piano).
Outdoor movies under the stars.
A food court, Intermission Food Court.
A gift shop, Melody Hall.
Arcade.
Laundry facilities.
Complimentary Wi-Fi.
Bus transportation to all parks and Disney Springs.
Transportation: Primarily bus transportation.
Why it's affordable: Standard rooms are in the value range, and the Family Suites offer a more budget-friendly option for larger families compared to suites at other Disney resorts.
Disney's All-Star Sports Resort
Theming: Dedicated to various sports, with larger-than-life sporting equipment and decorations representing baseball, basketball, football, tennis, and surfing.
Room Details: Mirror the standard rooms at All-Star Movies and Music in size and layout, accommodating up to four adults plus an infant with two double beds.
Amenities:
Two sports-themed pools: the Surfboard Bay Pool and the Grand Slam Pool (shaped like a baseball diamond).
Outdoor movies under the stars.
A food court, End Zone Food Court.
A gift shop, Sport Goofy Gifts and Sundries.
Arcade.
Laundry facilities.
Complimentary Wi-Fi.
Bus transportation to all parks and Disney Springs.
Transportation: Primarily bus transportation.
Why it's affordable: Similar to the other All-Star Resorts, it offers the lowest standard room rates on Disney property with a fun, immersive theme.
Disney's Pop Century Resort
Theming: A nostalgic trip through the decades of the 20th century, with sections dedicated to the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, featuring oversized icons representing each era.
Room Details: Standard rooms, sleeping up to four adults plus an infant with one queen bed and one queen-size Murphy bed that converts into a table.
Amenities:
Three themed pools: the Hippy Dippy Pool (60s), the Bowling Pool (50s), and the Computer Pool (90s).
Outdoor movies under the stars.
A food court, Everything POP Shopping & Dining.
A gift shop, Everything POP Shopping & Dining.
Arcade.
Laundry facilities.
Complimentary Wi-Fi.
Disney Skyliner Access: A major advantage is direct access to the Disney Skyliner gondola system, providing a scenic and efficient way to travel to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Buses are still available for Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, as well as Disney Springs.
Transportation: Bus transportation to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, and the Disney Skyliner to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
Why it's affordable: While slightly more expensive than the All-Star Resorts, Pop Century offers a unique theming and the significant benefit of Skyliner access, which can save time and enhance the transportation experience.
Disney's Art of Animation Resort
Theming: Celebrates beloved Disney and Pixar animated films: "Finding Nemo," "Cars," "The Lion King," and "The Little Mermaid."
Room Details: Offers both standard rooms (in the Little Mermaid section) and Family Suites (in the other three sections).
Standard Rooms (Little Mermaid section): These are typically priced higher than standard rooms at the other Value Resorts and can only accommodate up to four guests. They are further from the main building and Skyliner station.
Family Suites: These are more expensive than standard Value Resort rooms but are a more budget-friendly option for larger families compared to suites at Moderate or Deluxe Resorts. They sleep up to six guests and include separate sleeping areas, a living space with convertible beds, a kitchenette, and two bathrooms.
Amenities:
Three highly themed pools: The Big Blue Pool (Finding Nemo - the largest pool on Disney property), the Cozy Cone Pool (Cars), and the Flippin' Fins Pool (Little Mermaid).
Outdoor movies under the stars.
A food court, Landscape of Flavors, known for more diverse options.
A gift shop, Ink & Paint Shop.
Arcade.
Laundry facilities.
Complimentary Wi-Fi.
Disney Skyliner Access: Shares a Skyliner station with Pop Century, providing access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
Transportation: Bus transportation to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, and the Disney Skyliner to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
Why it's affordable (in context): While standard Little Mermaid rooms aren't the cheapest, the Family Suites offer a relatively affordable way for larger families to stay on Disney property with more space and amenities.
Key Takeaways about Value Resorts
Price Point: These are consistently the least expensive Disney-owned resorts.
Theming: Bold and fun, geared towards families and Disney enthusiasts.
Room Size: Standard rooms are the smallest on property (around 260 sq ft).
Dining: Feature food courts with a variety of quick-service options. No table-service restaurants are available at the Value Resorts.
Pools: Feature themed pools but do not have water slides or hot tubs (these are found at Moderate and Deluxe Resorts).
Transportation: Primarily rely on bus transportation, with Pop Century and Art of Animation having the added benefit of the Skyliner.
Location: Located in the Wide World of Sports and Animal Kingdom Resort areas, requiring bus rides to Magic Kingdom and Epcot (except for Skyliner access from Pop Century and Art of Animation to Epcot and Hollywood Studios).
When choosing a Value Resort for affordability, consider:
Your family size: If you have more than four people, the Family Suites at All-Star Music or Art of Animation might be the most economical on-site option.
Transportation needs: If quick access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios via the Skyliner is important, Pop Century or Art of Animation might be worth the slightly higher price. (The Skyliner is a nonnegotiable for my husband! We save so much time using it over buses that he's okay with the small additional cost per night.)
Theming preference: Each resort has its unique charm, so choose the one that appeals most to your family.
By understanding the nuances of each Value Resort, you can select the one that best balances affordability and the amenities that are most important for your Disney World vacation.
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