5 Overhyped Disney Resorts and 5 Better Picks

Picking the right place to stay at Disney World is a huge deal. It’s not just about finding a bed to crash in after a long day at the parks. The resorts are part of the adventure, with amazing themes that can make you feel like you’re in a movie.

But here’s the thing: not all of them are as magical as they seem online. Some resorts get all the attention but don’t really deliver the best experience for your money.

That’s where we come in. We’re here to help you figure out where the real magic is. In this guide, we’ll break down five Disney resorts that get way too much hype and might leave you disappointed.

Then, we’ll show you five even better options that will give you an amazing stay without the letdown. Let’s find the perfect spot for your next Disney trip.

Contemporary

Disney’s Contemporary Resort was meant to look like the future back when it opened, but now it feels stuck in the past. The whole vibe is a bit cold and impersonal, more like a business hotel than a fun Disney getaway.

The giant, angular building has a design that hasn’t aged very well, making it feel less magical and more just… old.

The coolest feature is supposed to be the monorail that glides right through the main tower. While it’s neat to see the first couple of times, the novelty wears off fast. After that, you’re left in a hotel that feels like a busy transit hub with constant noise and people rushing through.

For the high price, you can find places with a much better and more immersive Disney feel.

Grand Floridian

The Grand Floridian looks like something out of an old-timey movie with its fancy Victorian style. It’s known as Disney’s top hotel, and it has a price tag to match.

While it’s definitely pretty, especially during the holidays, staying here can feel less like a fun vacation and more like being in a stuffy museum that costs a fortune.

What really kills the vibe is how busy it gets. The place is constantly swarming with wedding parties and people just visiting to look around. This can make the hotel feel super crowded and noisy.

Instead of a special getaway, you might feel like you’re navigating through a chaotic train station, which isn’t exactly the magical Disney experience you paid for.

Riveria

Disney’s Riviera Resort is supposed to feel like a fancy European vacation, but it doesn’t quite hit the mark. The main draw seems to be its connection to the Skyliner gondolas, which is cool, but a hotel should be more than just its transportation.

For a deluxe-level stay, the rooms feel surprisingly cramped, leaving you with less space for a much higher price.

The theme itself feels a bit weak. Instead of transporting you to the French or Italian coast, the building’s outside just looks like any modern, upscale hotel you could find anywhere. It lacks the strong, immersive storytelling that makes other Disney resorts so special.

You might end up feeling like you’re staying in a nice but boring hotel that just happens to be on Disney property.

Animal Kingdom Lodge

Animal Kingdom Lodge gets tons of attention for its main feature: rooms that look out onto a savanna filled with animals. It sounds amazing to wake up and see a giraffe from your balcony, and sometimes it is.

However, getting a room with a good view is a matter of luck, and even then, the animals might not be hanging out where you can see them. You could pay a lot extra for that special view and end up just staring at an empty field.

The resort’s location is also a bit of a downside, as it’s pretty far from most of the theme parks except for Animal Kingdom itself. This means you’ll spend more time on buses getting around.

While the hotel has some of the best food at Disney World, it might be better to just visit for a meal instead of committing to a full stay.