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   Surveyed families were satisfied with this resort and felt they got what they paid for.

   This resort is either more adult-oriented, with fewer amenities designed to appeal to families, or is more expensive than you’d expect considering the location or level of service.

Magic Kingdom Hotels

If the Magic Kingdom is your focus and you’re willing to pay up, consider these resorts.

Contemporary Resort

407/824–1000

Map location 3

You’ll either love or hate Disney’s original, always-hopping resort, which has 1,050 rooms surrounding a mammoth, high-tech lobby full of shops and restaurants. The glamorous new Bay Lake Tower Villas, part of the Disney Vacation Club, are some of the sleekest, most user-friendly rooms at this property.

Proximity to the Magic Kingdom:

Excellent, via monorail

Proximity to Epcot:

Good, via monorail with a change at the TTC

Proximity to Hollywood:

Fair, via bus

Proximity to the Animal Kingdom:

Fair, via bus

Best On-Site Choices at a Glance

BEST MAGIC KINGDOM RESORT: POLYNESIAN

Always a favorite with readers, the lovely Polynesian combines a casual family-friendly feel with great amenities and unbeatable access to the Magic Kingdom.

BEST EPCOT RESORT: THE YACHT AND BEACH CLUBS

You like Epcot and Hollywood Studios? They’re both easy to get to from this prime location— and the pool is to die for.

BEST MID-PRICED RESORT: PORT ORLEANS

Relaxed and homey, the Port Orleans resorts have the charm of the luxury resorts for less. The French Quarter, smaller and quieter than its sister, Riverside, is easier for families with young kids.

BEST VALUE RESORTS: THE ALL-STAR AND ART OF ANIMATION RESORTS

Kids love the wacky themes at the simple but totally adequate All-Star hotels. The Art of Animation Resort, which has both rooms and value-priced suites, is also a contender in this category.

BEST VILLAS: BAY LAKE TOWERS AT THE CONTEMPORARY

The trendy Bay Lake Towers have a major wow factor, and the location is unparalleled. You can watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from your balcony.

Pluses

+  On the monorail line.

+  The easiest Magic Kingdom resort to book; discounts are sometimes available.

+  Exceptional sporting options, including WDW’s largest tennis center and a full marina, with parasailing and waterskiing options.

+  Outstanding dining choices, including the California Grill, one of Disney’s premiere restaurants; The Wave, which is excellent for breakfast; and Chef Mickey’s, a great place to meet the characters for breakfast and dinner.

Minuses

−  It’s loud with a big-city feel, which is exactly what some families come to Florida to escape. “Like sleeping in the middle of Space Mountain,” wrote one mother. Note that the rooms in the Garden Wings are quieter, cheaper, and more spacious than those in the main building.

−  The futuristic ambience strikes some guests as sterile and ugly. “The pool area reminded me of a scene from a 1970s B movie that would depict future decay,” wrote one disgruntled Canadian dad. “I expected Charlton Heston to come around the corner any minute, being chased by apes.”

−  Like all the other hotels on the monorail line, the Contemporary is expensive, with prices starting at $300 a night. Bay Lake Tower starts at $450 but can quickly climb higher.

Overall Grade: Convenient and lively. Perhaps a little too lively.

Fort Wilderness Campground

407/824-2900

Map location 5

Fort Wilderness, which has campsites for tents and oversized, concrete parking pads for RVs as well as air-conditioned cabins, got a major face-lift in 2009. The cabins, which sleep six, rent for approximately the same nightly rate as a luxury hotel. The wide-open spaces of the campground are perfect for volleyball, biking, and exploring, making the resort a good choice for families with kids old enough to enjoy all the outdoor options. “Fort Wilderness lights two campfires every night for marshmallow roastings and sing-alongs,” reports one mom from Maine. “The s’mores packages,