The WORST Disney World Hotels in 2025

[@alma94_]

The lady who does these videos has a voice that I can trust 100%, I can’t explain it

[@robertbunch7829]

The lady is AJ lol 😆

[@michaeli.5691]

AJ's voice has perfect inflection. She knows when to emphasize which is a great skill.

[@ErikaEmody]

The bus ride to Animal Kingdom Lodge from Magic Kingdom truly is not that long. It’s a straight shot. I still think it’s a beautiful option. And once you arrive it’s SERENE

[@WOWitsANT]

I always wonder why everyone makes a big deal about the bus service from AKL. People exaggerate when they say it’s going to be an almost hour long bus ride lol.

[@nycp1969]

100%! It's not a big deal and it's a great resort.

[@hopehayes7131]

Right lol, we just stayed at AKL and it does not take that long...still exponentially better than diving to the TTC then taking a the Monorail or ferry boat.

[@lavenderkisses9461]

How long is the ride to wdw?

[@gregcauston7515]

After staying at both the Disney budget hotels vs Universal’s it’s hard to ever want to go back to Disney’s! Surfside blows away all the tired looking Disney budget hotels by a long shot and the food quality at Surfside can’t be beat!

[@danielvandersall6756]

And that new Helios hotel by Loewes looks incredible. And costs only a little more than a room at Pop Century.

[@alyoung6088]

THE WORST WDW hotel is the one that is not right for you & your family/group. If you want convenience to Magic Kingdom, then the All-Star resorts are not for you. If you want the best value for your money, then Contemporary is not for you. Deciding ahead of time what is important to you will go a long way to make sure the resort you choose is the BEST for what you want. Great Pool--then Beach Club/Yacht Club or Art of Animation. Convenient to Epcot or Hollywood Studios--then Boardwalk, Yacht/Beach Club, or Swan/Dolphin. Lots of fine artwork--Coronado Springs Gran Destino Tower. The list goes on & on, but do your research & talk with your people about what they want. Disney Characters? Lots of real animals outside your resort? Great fine dining, or just standard food court fare? Lots of choices at WDW, but not every resort caters to everyone's interests.

[@lou4057]

Perfectly said 👏

[@HaleyFlood-fo1ll]

I’ve stayed at Disney’s gran destino tower and it was the absolute best amazing dining beautiful rooms and I also love how if you stay in a club level room you get to go to the theme parks 30 minutes before it opens how cool is that 😊

[@BryanEisenhart-yr4qd]

When I stayed at Art of Animation back in 2022, I found it very well themed. First of all, we got a bump up from a standard room to a suite and second, that skyliner really made the stay that much better. I'm kind of both and adventurous eater and love my comfort food so the Landscapes of Flavor food court had all kinds of great options for someone like me. Who knew they'd have chicken Tika Masala for dinner? But, gotta love those tots with my eggs for breakfast (I ordered a side of tots in addition to the tots that came with my breakfast one morning)

[@WinnieRoe]

Okay but just last night I literally spent like over an hour researching DW hotels and reading one of the blogs you posted about the worst to best hotels. I was still overwhelmed as I didn’t realize how many there were and just gave up lol. Thank you for this!

[@christinetownsend1100]

I haven't stayed at all the resorts yet (working on it) but out of Gran Destino tower, OKW, Saratoga Springs, Caribbean Beach, AK, All Star Movies and Port Orleans Riverside, I'd have to say Animal Kingdom Lodge has the best theming (savannah view is paramount). We also really liked Caribbean Beach. Next summer we'll be trying out the MK and EPCOT resorts, we'll see if my opinion changes!

[@sinistralwing]

Coronado is MUCH more centrally located on property than that "Animal Kingdom Resort area" label implies. It's a literal 9 minute bus ride from Gran Destino to MK, I even timed it one morning when staying in the tower.

[@GinaBCollecting]

Agreed 💯 I stayed at Coronado Springs and it’s a 10 minute bus ride to MK. And those buses came very regularly. I don’t know why Coronado was included in that “1 hour” comment

[@ES-fj7uc]

I am staying at All Star Movies in December! My first ever stay at a Disney Hotel, even though I have been to Disney world 3 times previously. I am still looking forward to it even though All Star resorts seem to be not everyone's favorite!

[@dfbbreea]

We still love ‘em!

[@jimford6478]

Happy for you! ENJOY !!!

[@KadenStaab]

We’ve stayed at Old Key West, Coronado, Port Orleans, and Wilderness. Old Key West still tends to be our favorite but man it’s pricey. We only go once a year so that’s our excuse!

[@alexisbk9576]

DFB, please start rating the AC thermostats in the resorts. Like does it have motion detectors that turns it off, or is it programmed to not go under 72. Also if the front desk is willing to send maintenance to turn off the Disney programmed settings, so you can actually control the thermostat. For us, we find only the deluxe/villas are willing to do that. So far, only the Tim Tracker reviews how the AC worked, but they rarely stay at resorts. DFB you are our only hope to a cool night’s sleep ❄️☃️❄️ The ballon trick rarely works anymore

[@jenniferzivoin3405]

Best themed DW resort? Animal Kingdom Lodge. It has giraffes. Live giraffes. No contest.

[@joemisek]

We stayed at Pop Century in June and loved it, the kids were smitten by the theming there. Wouldn't mind a few more square footage in the rooms but otherwise, it was so cool.

[@rwbashaw66]

My two favorate for themes are Port Orleans French Quarter and Animal Kingdom Lodge. I too am a work form Disney person (my boss calls the Work-Play visits…and encourages them as she says I am actually more productive from there . But all of them have great theming…just with consideration of what you want out of your stay in the way of immersion.

[@Adaranova]

❤how there will never be enough DFB videos to help us plan our perfect Disney Vacation

[@Dannyhoyle710]

The buses get a bad rep but I’ve always just used them having always stayed at the Port Orleans resorts! That and the boat to Springs. Nothing wrong with the buses when we visit. (Although that is generally last week in Aug into Sept) 🎉🎉

[@thedg253]

I've stayed at 3 Value, 3 Deluxe, 2 Moderate, one good neighbor and the Military Shades of Green resorts over my 18 visits since 2000. All have their checkmarks and all have their downsides. But the resort I like for best Disneyfied theming is the All-Star Movies, the resort most relaxing for me was Wilderness Lodge. All depends on how much I want to spend and the mood I'm in that year!

[@jeanettesmith765]

Some of us just have to go with what is within our budgets.

[@cbj-fi2wl]

Wahhh, poor me.

[@MastigosAtLarge]

Good thing many of the resorts she mentions as worst are Deluxe resorts.

[@jennifermajor5013]

I know it’s huge and not everyone’s jam, but we love Caribbean Beach. I love the Skyliner and we just make sure that we either stay closer to the Skyliner OR the Front Desk. Wine. Need I say more?

[@carriepohlman2453]

We booked our first World Disney World vacation a few weeks ago. I did so much research on deluxe resorts and decided on The Beach Club Resort. The next day after booking we got an email about the closure of Storm Along Bay 😢. It was not listed on the renovation info on the resort website. We are a bit disappointed but it's not a deal breaker. I guess renovations aren't always listed. I know we will have fun anyway. We are excited!!

[@sbk123411]

Best theming for me is Polynesian Resort. I feel like I’m truly in the islands when I’m there. It’s just too bad that it’s so far out of my price range.

[@familyfehl9975]

Psh. Idc if im staying in the most basic hotel as long as im at Disney and on property lol.

[@skilletfan4]

We're hardly at the hotel anyway.

[@hashimpervase3950]

Something to consider, is that there's such a massive price discrepancy between these resorts that it feels almost unfair to compare. If you book a 14 day trip (which is common to do from the UK) the difference in price between value resorts and deluxe for that amount of time can be in the tens of thousands (pounds or dollars)! For example, 14 nights next August at any All Star Resort is £2,005, whereas Polynesian Village is £14,448 and Riviera is £37,999

[@maddog6620]

You are awesome 🤩

[@miathomas2308]

The Coronado Springs return buses to Gran Destino Tower give you an extra 15 minutes to contemplate why you didn't just pay the extra $70 to stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The ramp from the tower elevators to the food court further reinforces that you are at a moderate resort. If you squint while looking out from your gorgeous, Water View room, you might even see the resort pool.

[@biddle0785]

I just stayed in Coronado at the end of September in Gran Destino. Disney Spring bus stops first at the tower. The rest of the buses, tower is the last stop.

[@emanuelreyes7889]

And it’s sucks that it’s a if you know you know type of thing bc waiting to be dropped off last at the end of the night does suck

[@kristinavalcarce2404]

This is too hard! I'd say a tie between the Polynesian and Animal Kingdom Lodge. Both of them completely immerse you in the setting

[@dfbbreea]

Both valid choices!

[@patrickcutter6811]

Greg, please don’t let your audience think this is a done deal/red wave. Can’t take anything for granted man! Love your message and love the channel brother! 🙏🏼

[@Magnasynn]

0:03 I absolutely guarantee that Yacht and Beach are on this list before I go much further, just because of that pool closure lol

[@MrZachary5757]

I haven’t watched this video yet but…. Omg yacht club is literally the best Western of hotels…. I am writing this from my room rn. Very very disappointed water view facing Epcot which is nice for sure. But rooms are paper thin walls. Our room (4171) the big problem about this room it’s up against the maintenance room… absolutely terrible. But I walked in the hall ways going toward the boardwalk i feel terrible for those people.

[@matt_ski05]

When I stayed at Coronado last summer, GDT was the last stop on the bus loop with the Casitas stop being bus stop 1. This could have changed but just what I experienced for an entire week recently

[@bunkbed643]

Staying at Pop Century next year mostly because of the sky liner. Can't wait to go back to my room to relax then go right back to Epcot at night

[@dherko]

I only need a bed, bathroom and a mini fridge. That's all I use. Sometimes I splurge to have sky rail access but that's it.

[@vel0babe]

I just looked up the prices for the Coronado Springs in mid-Feb and they were priced over $800/night!!! I’m used to between $200-300 for that resort, yikes! Must have been the only available rooms for that period of time?

[@debbabe2254]

The Hollywood Tower Hotel is the worst WDW hotel. The guest elevator is broken, and have you seen the state of that lobby? They do have a nice gift shop...

[@derek81222]

Worst hotel is definitely Saratoga springs. Spa is closed, terrible transportation, the restaurants aren't that great and turf club was closed Monday and Tuesday during our last visit and from my understanding thats normal, hotel looks like an apartment complex but it's deluxe you might get some extra hours 😂

[@mofal1703]

If you wanna save 25% you're gonna have to stay in a deluxe resort, oh and All-Star sports too lol

[@edwinvazquez4230]

For all Suite Life fans, Zack and Maddie might have to make a tough decision for their next suite date at a Disney World hotel…depends on how they wish to spend their vacation.

[@tibofinds3726]

Is there a vid on non-Disney hotels within 15 min shuttle ride of magic kingdom. I stayed at a Radisson like 15 years ago and there was no negative aside from lack of Disney theme.

[@heidifedor]

The parks should build sleep pods.

[@ChelseaDubois-b8q]

I have been to Disney many times and stayed in alot of hotels. The one I liked the Least was animal Kingdom Kadani and Animal Kingdom lodge. If you do not have a Savanna view this hotel is not worth the 500 price tag on a room to stare at a parking lot, and to be honest the hallways are dark and rooms are dark and drab. I know its theming but to be honest as someone with anxiety it is really off putting and the Kadani pool was not all that great. On the other hand My favorite is Coronado Springs and not just in the tower. It's quiet and sprawling and well themed and bright with out being obnoxious. I don't feel like I'm in Disney there but in another country. The motel style suites me as I feel less trapped with my anxiety and the restaurants and pool are amazing. The walks with my husband around those paths at night are peaceful. My husband and I go to this one every time even if we do a split we stay there for part of it . However, him and I drive to Florida and have our own car so getting to the parks is a breeze. This hotel does not get enough credit for how romantic it is except during cheer week... for the competitions ...schedule around those.

[@morganaravens]

Who takes a nap during the day of a vacation? Oh crotch spawn...ok so don't bring or have them and save on some unnecessary misery. Got it

[@BirdsNNVA]

Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge have the best theming, IMHO

[@scarletnight1077]

Ugh I subscribed to your newsletter for the promised snack map in your old videos but never received it :/

[@lovingit824]

Hi ash do we know if all star movies pool will be open mid to late April? Thanks x

[@texasburbs4380]

SOOOO ready for Universal! Eeekkkk

[@charleshamilton9274]

Thank god! The lines at the parks are too long as it is and who would want to be stuck next to you in line for Haunted Mansion. Bye, Felicia!

[@pauldaley8637]

For theme, it has to be animal kingdom..all of the African themes inside and actual animals outside

[@victoriadell614]

🙂

[@Tatorgirl203]

Why you so negative now. All the titles are like “the worst” and stuff. And I know Disney like the back of my hand but you always give me anxiety and make me feel like I don’t know anything