The Best Disney Resorts to Visit While Resort Hopping

In January 2025, my kids and I spent three days touring all the Walt Disney World resorts. Yes, every single one.  After exploring them all, I’ve narrowed down my top eight picks for the best Disney Resorts to visit for free:

1. Animal Kingdom Lodge
2. Art of Animation
3. Fort Wilderness
4. Pop Century
5. The Polynesian
6. Caribbean Beach Resort
7. Wilderness Lodge
8. Coronado Springs

If you’re curious why these resorts made the cut keep reading to see what makes these eight stand out while resort hopping.

If you’re looking for more tips and information on touring the Disney Resorts, check out my other posts on Disney Resort Hopping:

• Disney World Resort Hopping 2025: A Comprehensive Guide-everything you need to about resort hopping.
• Things To Do at Every Disney Resort– a complete list of everything non-resort guests can do at each resort (many for free)

Now, let’s get to the details of how my Disney resort hopping itinerary worked out—and what makes these my top picks for the best Disney Resorts to visit while resort hopping!

Day 1- Magic Kingdom Area

We started our Disney resorts tour on the second day of our trip- before we did any parks.  Day 1 of resort hopping included doing the monorail tour and seeing all the original Disney World resorts- which seemed like the best place to start.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort

Our first stop was Wilderness Lodge, number seven on my list of the best Disney Resorts to visit. 

This is one of the best Disney Resort lobbies we visited- and a must-see during Christmas. The tree is huge and the lights hanging on the bridge over Copper Creek are stunning (and a great photo spot).  It also offers a couple of things the other resorts don’t- like the Carolwood Pacific Room or the 9:00 am Art Tour in the lobby.

Plus, it has some restaurants that make it worth checking out- like the Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White, Whispering Canyon Café, and Geyser Point, which looks so relaxing with its great view.

Our Wilderness Lodge Resort Tour:

• Took an Uber there to save time.
• Looked around the lobby (which I was so excited to see was still decorated for Christmas!) and got some pictures on the bridge over Copper Creek.
• Walked around outside to see the rest of Copper Creek and the waterfall, then checked out the pool.
• Got breakfast through mobile ordering at Roaring Fork.
• Refilled our resort mugs (a must-have while resort hopping since they can be refilled at any resort quick service restaurant).
• Walked over to Boulder Ridge Villas to check out the small lobby there (where we found our first hidden Mickey!).
• Found the Carolwood Pacific Room (a small lounge filled with train artifacts off the Boulder Ridge lobby), and a lounge area with a tabletop game the kids played.
• Walked through Geyser Point Bar & Grill (it was closed but it’s an open-air restaurant so we were able to get a good look inside).
• Passed by Fire Rock Geyser (but missed out on seeing the hourly eruption).
• Scenic walk across the bridges leading to the docks.
• Caught the ferry boat to Magic Kingdom.

Disney’s Polynesian Resort

We took a water taxi to the Polynesian so we could get a good view of the overwater bungalows (which also gave us great views of the resort, so I highly recommend this method of transportation).

If you’re staying in the Magic Kingdom area and only have time for one quick Disney Resort tour- this is the one I would recommend.  I loved the lobby – it had such a relaxing vibe. With the tiki statue and flowers, plus the gardens out the front doors, it feels like you’re at a resort on a tropical island, not Disney. It’s number five on my list of the best Disney Resorts to visit because it’s the perfect place to relax and unwind- the beach would be amazing to watch the fireworks on at the end of the day. And the breakfast at ‘Ohana is a must-do if you’re planning to do a character dining on a non-park day.

Our Polynesian Resort Tour:

• Took in the views of the Grand Floridan, the new Island Tower, and of course the overwater bungalows on the boat.
• More great views from the dock.
• Looked around the Grand Ceremonial House (main lobby), then grabbed some free leis from the front desk.
• Went out the front entrance to see the gardens and water features.
• Took a walk around the grounds to see all the buildings and gardens.
• Walked along the beach to get a better look at the overwater bungalows.
• The kids tested out one of the beach hammocks (which wasn’t as relaxing as it looked since they sagged to the ground).
• Walked over to the new Island Tower, checked out the luxurious lobby, then took a break to put our feet up for a bit in a cozy lounge area near the front doors.
• Went back to the main building, and checked out the second-floor views and shops.
• Had an amazing late character dining breakfast at ‘Ohana with Lilo and Stitch (and got a table with a great view!)

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

Grand Floridian by far has the most elegant lobby – with a grand staircase, chandeliers, grand piano, and just a generally fancy, old-school vibe.  While it’s worth stopping in to see the lobby if you’re doing a monorail tour, it didn’t make my list of the best Disney resorts to visit because other resorts just have more to offer for non-guests.  But it does have some of the finest dining options amongst the Disney Resorts- so worth the stop if you’re a foodie.

Our Grand Floridian Resort Tour:

• Walked there from the Polynesian so we could get a look at the wedding pavilion (it was closed so we only got to see the outside).
• Took a quick look at the DVC villa lobby and found the famous Mary Poppins fountain.
• Took a break and relaxed on the beach in some lounge chairs.
• Walked along the waterfront to take in some views of the lake and Magic Kingdom.
• Walked around the grand lobby (which still had their Christmas decorations up like the other resort, but unfortunately the famous gingerbread house wasn’t).
• Took a peek out the front entrance and found an antique car and carriage.
• Checked out the shops upstairs before catching the monorail.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

I’ve wanted to tour the Contemporary ever since my first Disney trip when I got a glimpse of it riding the monorail to Magic Kingdom. For me, this resort was a highlight of the day, and riding the monorail into it was a must.

While it does have a nice beach to relax in and a community room for the kids, it didn’t make my top 8 resorts to visit list (though it is number two on my list of the best Resorts to stay at).  It may be worth stopping at if you’re doing a monorail tour- but not worth going out of your way for since there isn’t much to do that you can’t find elsewhere.

Our Contemporary Resort Tour:

• Checked out the fourth-floor Grand Canyon Concourse (a huge open space spanning the building) and stopped at the Fantasia gift shop in the middle for Zen to buy a souvenir.
• Found the observation deck to get a view of Magic Kingdom (a great spot to watch the fireworks if you’re resort hopping at night).
• Crossed over the Sky Way Bridge to Bay Lake Tower.
• Hung out in the Community Hall for a bit- Brielle unwound in front of the TV while Zen and I made custom Disney pins (only $1 each, so great for a cheap but unique souvenir!).
• Ran into a PhotoPass photographer at the Mickey ear sculpture (and got our first family photo of the trip!).
• Checked out the first-floor lobby back inside the Contemporary.
• Got a snack (Mickey ice cream bars) and refilled our mugs again at Contempo Café, back up on the fourth floor.
• Took a short walk along the beach.
• Walked to the dock to catch the ferry to our last stop of the day.

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort

While we didn’t have enough time here to check out all the activities or fully explore the resort- it’s number two on my list of the best Disney Resorts to visit because of how much there is to do here. Horseback riding, kayaking, archery, a campfire sing-a-long, and more- you could easily spend a full day here which makes it well worth a stop while resort hopping (or maybe even visiting for a full day).

Our Fort Wilderness Resort Tour:

• Took a quick stroll along the beach before it got dark.
• Took our time checking out the Tri-Circle-D Ranch horse barn-the highlight of this day for Zen! (it’s a big barn, but the viewing area is small –with just one hallway with horse stables, a Walt Disney horse photo/memorabilia room, a huge carriage on display, and a pony area).
• Grabbed dinner through mobile ordering at Trail’s End (ribs for Zen and me, pulled pork for Brie) and refilled our mugs.
• Took a starlight horse-drawn wagon ride.
• Made our way back to Magic Kingdom by boat, then bussed back to our resort.

After the wagon ride the kids were done and ready to go.  Even though we only saw 5 resorts that day my Fitbit logged 23,895 steps, which was more walking than any of our park days. While resort hopping is a great way to spend a non-park day, it’s not much of a break.

Had we stayed later, we planned to go to the campfire and sing-along at Fort Wilderness, then take an Uber to the Polynesian to catch the end of their Aloha After Dark party, grab a Dole Whip, and watch the fireworks and Electrical Water Pageant on the beach. 

Day 2- Skyliner and Boardwalk Area

We started our second day of resort hopping right after the first.  The kids were still pretty tired from the day before so we decided to do things a bit differently this day- they took a lot more breaks (relaxing in the kid’s areas of the lobbies or community halls), while I explored more thoroughly.

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Day two started with Pop Century- a resort I was looking forward to seeing.

Pop Century is number four on my list of the best Disney Resorts to visit (and number one on my list of best Disney resorts to stay at). The lobby is fun – bright colors, a retro vibe, and all the vintage memorabilia make it a great walk down memory lane for adults.  It also keeps it fun for the kids outside with each section’s oversized memorabilia from its era, plus some fun Disney details—Lady and the Tramp, Jungle Book, and Roger Rabbit.  My kids loved the giant sculptures (though they had no clue who Roger Rabbit was), and I loved the nostalgia of it all.

Our Pop Century Resort Tour:

• Took an Uber there to save time again.
• Took a quick look around the lobby with the kids, then they watched TV in the kids’ waiting area (the best-themed kids waiting area of all the Disney resorts!) while I finished looking around inside.
• Took my time checking out the timeline along the wall with shadow boxes full of memorabilia from each era in the lobby.
• Did our tour of the grounds, walking through each decade area in order, and got lots of pictures.
• Took the path around Hourglass Lake to Art of Animation, reading the trivia signs along the way.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Next up was Art of Animation, the resort I was most excited to see!  Art of Animation is number two on my list of the eight best Disney Resorts to visit. Exploring the grounds here was such a fun and immersive experience- we took our time so we could take it all in.

Walking around this resort is like stepping into a Disney movie – especially in the Cars area.  Plus, it has two themed playgrounds- the perfect free activity when your resort hopping with kids.  Even if you’re not doing a full resort hopping day, it’s worth taking a Skyliner ride to see on a non-park day if you’re staying at any of the Skyliner or BoardWalk resorts.

Our Art of Animation Resort Tour:

• The kids relaxed in front of the TV in the kids’ waiting area (not as well-themed as Pop Century’s), while I took a quick walk around the lobby to see all the Disney sketches and artwork along the wall (kind of like Pop Century’s memorabilia wall).
• Toured the grounds- starting in the Cars section -which is full of photo ops with a life-sized Lightning McQueen, Sally, Doc, Mater, Sheriff, Flo, Ramone, Sarge, Luigi, Guido, and my favorite- Fillmore!  
• Took a walk around the Finding Nemo section.
• Stopped to play at the Righteous Reef playground (one of the best-themed playgrounds at Disney).
• Walked around the Lion King section- stopping to pose for pictures at the Boneyard playground.
• Walked around the Little Mermaid section- getting pictures with Ariel’s treasures along the way.
• Took a break in the Landscape of Flavors food court to refill our mugs and grab a quick snack (gluten-free cupcakes!).
• Took the Skyliner to our next resort.

Disney’s Riviera Resort

While Riviera didn’t make my list of the best resorts to visit, it is on my list of the best Disney resorts to stay at.  The elegant European-style lobby is worth stopping in to see if you’re in the area or going there for a meal. The community room was also great and would be worth the Skyliner trip if you’re staying at a nearby resort.

I really could have spent far more time here just relaxing. It has such a serene atmosphere.  With the balconies and the lounge area that I found near the pool, it’s one I will come to relax at on a resort day when I’m staying at another Skyliner or BoardWalk area resort.

Our Riviera Resort Tour:

• Checked out the mosaics and fountains in the Atrium walkway from the Skyliner.
• Checked out the lobby and found a balcony with a gorgeous view of gardens, fountains, and courtyards (this would be such a tranquil place to relax with a morning coffee).
• Found the Eventi Community Room on the first floor- where I left the kids to watch a movie and color while I explored some more.
• Back upstairs I checked out the Voyagers’ Lounge, a cute little library with Disney memorabilia and books (apparently glued to the shelves), and looked at some Walt Disney photos in the hallway off the lobby.
• Walked around outside and found another peaceful spot with lawn chairs facing the lake behind the pool.
• Walked over to the small beach to check out the view.
• Got the kids, and stopped to look at the pool and splash pad on our walk to Caribbean Beach.

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

Caribbean Beach is a tropical island paradise with colorful buildings, lush landscaping, and sandy beaches.  It’s number six on my list of the best Disney Resorts to visit while resort hopping- mostly because of Caribbean Cay Island.  Not only is there a decent-sized playground there, but there are also lounge chairs and hammocks making it a great spot to go relax. Even just walking around the little island is beautiful.

Then there are the beaches in each section of the resort you can relax in too. It’s a great stop on any resort hopping itinerary if you’re looking to take a break. Another thing my kids loved here is that the resort mug refill station at Centertown Market has Coke Freestyle machines (which we didn’t see at any other resort quick service restaurant).

Our Caribbean Beach Resort Tour:

• Stopped to get a view of the Skyliner over the lake and see the Martinique buildings on our walk there.
• Stopped at the Martinique’s beach to relax in the hammocks (better than the ones at the Polynesian) and take in the view. 
• Checked out the lighthouse and dock.
• Got a look at the colonial Spanish fortress pool and pirate ship play area.
• I checked out the lobby and front entrance while the kids sat to watch a movie in the kids’ area.
• We got lunch through mobile ordering and refilled our mugs at Centertown Market.
• Took a walk around Caribbean Cay Island, stopping to play on the playground.
• Walked through the Jamaica section to get a look at the buildings and grounds on our way to the Skyliner.

Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Hotels

The Skyliner brought us to the International Gateway at Epcot, and from there we walked to the back of the Dolphin and Swan Hotels.

While both of these resorts are beautiful to see, there isn’t much for non-guests can do aside from the playground and beach. Since they aren’t a Disney property, they don’t offer the variety of activities that you can find at other Disney resorts.  They do have a great selection of restaurants though (probably more than any other resort), so would be a must-stop for resort hopping foodies.

Our Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels Tour:

• Stopped to take in the view and get pictures of the distinctive triangle Dolphin building and massive fountain.
• Found a Moana Te Fiti display on our way to the lobby.
• The kids sat by the dolphin fountain in the lobby, while I looked around and took a peek out the front entrance.
• Stopped for some photos in front of a Hollywood Studios Galaxy’s Edge backdrop with a droid statue we found on our way back outside.
• Got some pictures of both resorts on the walkway between them.
• Stopped to check out one of the two outdoor courtyards, each with a large swan fountain, that we found off the hallway on our way to the Swan lobby.
• I checked out the swan fountain in the lobby and another one outside the front entrance, while the kids took a break at a large, nicely decorated table just inside the front doors.
• Found another Star Wars backdrop (this time Stormtroopers) that we stopped for more photos at on our way back outside.
• Wandered over to the beach, where Brielle played on the playground for a bit.
• Took a break- relaxing in lounge chairs on the beach and watching the swan boats go by (an activity only available for guest of the hotels).
• Found another photo op- this time a Dolphin and Swan Resort frame with the lake and hotels behind it on our walk back towards the BoardWalk.  

Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts

I loved the Yacht Club’s nautical theming- like the giant globe in the lobby and the ship wheel that overlooks it.  It has an elegant and relaxing vibe.  The little library area upstairs was a neat find too. The lobby at Beach Club wasn’t as impressive (aside from their famous Green Clover & Aloe scent), but the antique car outside the front entrance was another hidden gem I was glad to find. 

While the lobbies in both of these resorts would be worth stopping in to see if you’re walking around Crescent Lake, there isn’t much else to do at either resort. The beach is nice, but busier than the ones at other resorts.  Neither of these resorts made my list of the best Disney resorts to visit, but after seeing Stormalong Bay the Yacht Club is on my list of the best ones to stay at.

Our Yacht & Beach Club Resorts Tour:

• Walked by the marina, stopping for a view of Disney’s BoardWalk.
• Checked out the Christmas train display that was still up in the Yacht Club lobby.
• The kids took a break in some comfy chairs while I explored the lobby more.
• Went up the large staircase to get a better view of the lobby, and found a ship’s wheel that overlooks the lobby (perfect for a photo!).
• Found a cute little library/study area with a desk and display cases at the top of the stairs.
• Walked around outside of the fenced-off Stormalong Bay (often referred to as Disney’s best resort pool with the lazy river and shipwreck waterslide).
• Got more views from the beach.
• Went into the Beach Club lobby, where I wandered around a bit and got a view from the second floor while the kids sat to relax again.
• Found another antique car outside the front entrance.
• Grabbed dinner (the gluten-free chili cheese dogs that I had been looking forward to) at Beach Club Marketplace and refilled our mugs.
• Walked over to the BoardWalk.

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Resort

The community hall here was one of the best we saw.  There’s free pinball, foosball, air hockey, video games, plus the usual crafts and a lounge area showing a Disney movie. For anyone planning on spending some time at the BoardWalk with older kids or teens, this is a great spot to come take a break. 

The lobby was cute too- I loved the carousel and roller coaster displays.  This would be a great resort to stay at with teenagers- with the community hall and the theming of the main pool. But the BoardWalk area is really busy, which makes it a bit less appealing while resort hopping if you’re hoping for a more relaxing day.

Our BoardWalk Inn Resort Tour:

• Walked along the Disney BoardWalk.
• Checked out the Screen Door gift shop and the Wyland galleries.
• Found the carousel and roller coaster models on display in the BoardWalk Inn lobby.
• Stepped out to get a view from the lobby balcony.
• Stopped at the Luna Park playground for the kids to play.
• Got a look at the pool with the awesome roller coaster waterslide (which Brielle loved).
• Relaxed in the BoardWalk Community Hall (though the kids were too tired to do much at this point and just sat to watch the movie).

After relaxing in front of the TV for a bit, the kids wanted to call it a night. We took the boat to Hollywood Studios, then bussed back to our resort. Even though we called it a night early, we logged 32,997 steps that day—the highest count of the trip.  No wonder the kids were so tired by the time we got to the community hall.

If we’d had more energy, we would have stayed for the BoardWalk campfire and Movie Under the Stars, or maybe walked back to the BoardWalk to catch the street performers, grab some ice cream from BoardWalk Ice Cream, and watch the fireworks from the bridge near Epcot.  Next time!

Day 3- Disney’s Springs and Animal Kingdom Area

We planned to do our last resort hopping day as a break between park days, but we had a change of plans due to the weather.  The forecast showed it would only be 43 degrees Fahrenheit (or 6 degrees Celsius for my fellow Canadians).  Since resort hopping allowed us to be indoors more than the parks did, we decided to do our last park while it was still warm and save the last resort hopping day to do in the colder weather instead.

But, after 4 park days in a row, the kids were exhausted. They decided to stay at our resort for the morning and rest while I checked out the first couple of resorts alone. I got 29,807 steps in that day, so that was probably a good choice for them.

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort- Riverside & French Quarter

Riverside is huge! It would be perfect for exploring on a Surrey bike, but since I was solo, I just stuck to exploring the lobby and nearby areas on foot.  Ol’ Man Island was fun to explore, and I loved the hammocks along the pathway. What a great place to stop and relax (I’m sure the kids would have laid in them if they had been with me).

I was excited to try the gluten-free beignets from Scat Cat’s Club Café at the French Quarter- they didn’t disappoint. They were one of the best gluten-free treats I got on our trip (especially when they’re fresh). The atmosphere in the café was great to eat them in too. Of course, I got extras to take back to Brielle and Mickey-shaped ones for Zen).

While this is the only place to get the famous Micky beignets, neither of these resorts made my top eight list. Aside from the dockside fishing, there isn’t much you can do at these resorts that you can’t at other resorts.  There wasn’t much else that was unique enough to warrant the journey to get there. 

My Port Orleans Resorts Tour:

• Bussed to Hollywood Studios then transferred onto a bus to Port Orleans-Riverside.
• Took a quick look around the lobby and gift shop (where I bought myself gloves).
• Walked over to Ol’ Man Island (a cute area with a path that has hammocks along it).
• Checked out the river views from the docks at the Fishin’ Hole.
• Took a quick look at the playground and pool.  
• Took the walking path to the French Quarter, stopping to take in the views of Riverside’s grand, mansion-style buildings on the way.
• Explored the courtyards in the French Quarter, spotting a couple of fountains on my way to the main area.
• Walked around the outside of the pool to get a good look at the theming.
• Found the Alligator Dixieland band statues and stopped to get pictures.
• Took a quick walk around the French Quarter’s lobby.
• Took a break at Scat Cat’s Club Café to eat my gluten-free beignets.
•  Bussed to Disney Springs.

Disney’s Old Key West Resort

The plan was to do breakfast at Olivia’s Café, but since I was alone (and still full from my beignets) I decided to skip it and just explore. Like a lot of the other large and spread-out resorts, they have bikes and Surrey bikes for rent.  The lobby is cute- not so much elegant and grand like some of the other resorts, it has a much more laid-back vibe. The area at the back is set up more like a lounge with bookshelves, couches, and tables and chairs, making it a great place to sit around and socialize.

While this would be a great resort to stay at if you’re not visiting any parks, with its relaxed beach resort vibe, it didn’t make my list since it doesn’t offer much that you can’t find at other resorts with better locations.

My Old Key West Resort Tour:

• Bussed there from Disney Springs.
• Walked around to get a view of the buildings and river (because I accidentally got off the bus at the wrong stop- but it was a short walk to the main building and gave me a chance to see more of the grounds).
• Looked around the lobby (which is laid out differently than most. There’s an outdoor walkway that leads to the docks, and the actual lobby is in a building off to the side.)
• Found the Conch Flats Community Hall and took a quick look inside to see how it compared to the other ones we had been to.
• Took a quick look at the pool area and the playground with the giant sand bucket (another great photo op).
• Spotted some hammocks near the tennis courts (perfect for a relaxing break, but I didn’t need to stop yet).
• Bussed back to Disney Springs.

I spent an hour checking out Disney Spring on my own, stopping in at two bakeries to get some gluten-free goodies to take back with me, and then texted the kids. They felt rested and were ready to explore with me, so I bused back to our resort, grabbing us lunch at the food court on my way to the room.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort

Animal Kingdom Lodge is just incredible – the animals, the art, the whole vibe!  There’s a free lobby art tour at 11:00 am on weekdays, but we had missed it so we explored the lobby on our own. This lobby is another favorite of mine- it’s breathtaking, with a massive window wall overlooking the savanna, lots of African artifacts, and a grand fireplace. 

This resort is number one on my list of the best Disney Resorts to visit because it is such a unique experience. The grand lobby is full of things to see, the Sunset Overlook Lounge has even more, and of course, the animal viewing areas are something you won’t find at any other resort. Resort hopping here is a free mini-zoo day. There are also two community rooms here, and they have multiple free activities for kids to do at different times throughout the day. You could easily spend half a day checking out everything in this resort.

Our Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort Tour:

• Took an Uber there to save time.
• Explored the multi-story lobby, checking out all the artwork on display.
• Found the Sunset Overlook Lounge with even more displays and artifacts.
• Took a look at the views from the balcony off the lobby (another peaceful place to relax with rocking chairs and a fantastic view).
• Spotted zebras outside at the Arusha Savanna.
• Watched the giraffes and flamingos at the Uzima Savanna.
• Stopped at the Hakuna Matata Playground for Brielle to play.
• Relaxed in Simba’s Activity Center.
• Got Zebra Domes at The Mara (a must-try) and filled our resort mugs.
• Bussed to Disney Springs. 

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort

After checking out the resort a bit on foot, we finally got our chance to take a tour on a Surrey Bike. The bikes are a great way to see the grounds of these huge resorts.  We got some great views of Willow Lake.   Unfortunately, there is a set path for the bikes that you have to stay on, so we weren’t able to ride over to check out the Treehouse Villas as I’d hoped. 

This resort didn’t make my list of the best Disney resorts to visit, but it is on my list of the best resorts to stay at.  While I do think it’s worth the walk from Disney Springs if you have some extra time and want to try out the Surrey Bikes, there isn’t much else that’s unique to do here while resort hopping.

Our Saratoga Springs Resort Tour:

• Walked there from Disney Springs so we could see the grounds.
• Found a racehorse statue outside near the main building.
• Found another antique carriage outside the front entrance.
• Got a quick look around the lobby (which isn’t as grand as some of the others, but the horse pictures are fitting to the resort’s theming).
• Looked at the pool area.
• Took a break in the Community Hall (and bought some Disney ceramic magnets to paint later at home). 
• Rented a Surrey bike to tour the grounds!
• Stopped to take a look at the cute playhouse-themed playground in the Congress Park area (one of the more unique playgrounds at Disney). 
• Bussed back to Disney Springs.

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

The last stop on our last day of resort hopping was another one I’d been looking forward to – Coronado Springs!  Number eight on my list of the best Disney Resorts to visit, this one is truly stunning at night.   

We’d planned to eat dinner at the Three Bridges Bar and Grill but it was a pretty chilly night, and the restaurant is open-air, so we decided to skip it and just take in the views of it from the bridges instead.  Gran Destino Tower was stunning to see with all the lights reflecting on the lake. The sophisticated and artistic Gran Destino Tower lobby is another great place to sit and relax.  Coronado Springs is just beautiful, and a great resort to save until the end of the night.

Our Coronado Springs Resort Tour:

• Bussed there from Disney Springs.
• Cut through the El Centro lobby, stopping to look at the fountain, then headed out to the back to explore the grounds before it got too dark.
• Stopped on the bridge over Lago Dorado to take in the view of Three Bridges Bar and Grill and Gran Destino Tower.
• Played at the Explorer’s Playground (yet another amazingly themed Disney resort playground!).
• Got dinner and mug refills at El Mercado de Coronado.
• Walked around the first and second floor of the Gran Destino Tower lobby and got some pictures.
• Bussed to Hollywood Studios, then back to our resort.

Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music & Sports Resorts

We stayed at All-Star Movies, so the All-Star resorts weren’t part of our three-day resort hopping itinerary, but you could easily see them in a couple of hours on day three between Animal Kingdom and Saratoga Springs (we chose to look around Disney Springs for a couple of hours since we didn’t need to).

We had explored All-Star Movies on our first day, and since we sometimes hopped on whichever All-Star bus came first, the kids had glimpsed Music and Sports too. They weren’t interested in touring them again, so I took a solo tour the morning we checked out.

Like Pop Century and Art of Animation, the All-Star Resorts are all about the larger-than-life theming, with giant characters, bright colors, and a playful vibe.  Of all the Disney resorts, these five are the best for kids- with their fun, cartoonish vibe. And the Toy Story section (our favorite – and the section we were lucky enough to stay in!) at Movies is full of photo ops. While All-Star Movies is on my list of best resorts to stay at, none of these resorts made my list of the top eight to visit (though it would come in at number nine if I were ranking them all).

My All-Star Resorts Tour:

• Took the path in front of the three resorts to All-Star Sports to start my tour there.
• Got a quick peek at the lobby, End Zone Food Court, and Game Point Arcade.
• Walked around each sports-themed area and got some pictures of the statues and pools.
• Found a Mickey Statue in a Courtyard.
• Stopped in at the food court to refill my mug, then cut through the parking lots to All-Star Music.
• Toured each area there, again getting some photos.
• Found an Ariel statue in the Piano Pool area.
• Took a peek inside to see the lobby, Intermission Food Court, and the Note’able Games Arcade.
• Cut through parking lots again to get to All-Star Movies.
• Got a few more pictures, then headed back to my room.

My Thoughts on Resort Hopping

Visiting every Disney Resort was an amazing experience.

But doing it all in three days was a bit much for my kids. We walked more exploring the resorts than we did at the parks.  Maybe if we had taken some days in between to just relax at our resort the kids would have had the energy to keep going with me.  As an adult on my own seeing them all in three days was doable, but I wouldn’t recommend trying it with kids or teens.

Three days also wasn’t enough time to enjoy all the activities or to spend enough time relaxing in all the amazing spots I found at the more luxurious resorts. Sure, it’s enough time to see all the lobbies and even take a quick tour around the grounds, but to thoroughly explore the whole resort and enjoy everything they have to offer you would need more time.

If I did it again, I would break it up more and do it over five days so I could spend more time doing some of the unique activities at Fort Wilderness, have more downtime to relax on the beaches, check out the art tours at Animal Kingdom and Riviera, maybe let the kids do some of the scavenger hunts and other activities, and check out more of the tables service restaurants.  

I also would make sure to include some real downtime- just relaxing at the resorts and enjoying the pool at ours.

If you’re looking for some guidance to come up with your own plan read my post on Things to do at Disney Resorts for a list of must-sees, activities, and more for each resort and my Disney Resort Hopping Guide for tips to help you plan your own Disney Resort hopping itinerary.

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