While a few years ago, you might have searched for the best Disney hotels on the Monorail for easy access to the theme parks, you can now get equally good access and arguably more fun access without being on the Monorail at all…
Have you heard of the recently built Disney Skyliner? The Disney Skyliner is probably my favorite way to get to the Disney parks, with its whimsical aerial gondolas, which whisk you through the sky, over the treetops, and down straight to the parks.
They say, “Glide across the sky and add an extra dash of pixie dust to your day. This grand, state-of-the-art gondola system conveniently connects Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the International Gateway at Epcot and links to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and Disney’s Riviera Resort.
The Disney Skyliner station at International Gateway at Epcot is also conveniently located just a short stroll away from Disney’s BoardWalk entertainment district, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, and Disney’s Boardwalk Inn.”
So what does this mean? Well, in terms of decision-making, there are 3 great hotels that we have listed below that sit right on the Monorail. But you may prefer to pick a hotel that is a short stroll from the Disney Skyliner station instead. As an added bonus, the Disney Skyliner hotels tend to be cheaper than the hotels connected to the Monorail, so this really is a win-win.
Disney Skyliner accessible hotels include Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, and Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, plus Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and Disney’s Riviera Resort.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney Contemporary Resort, and Disney’s Polynesian Resort are all Disney monorail hotel resorts and are also great, but which is best? Well, our top pick for value, luxury, and a fun way to get to the parks are the three luxury Disney Skyliner-connected resorts: Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, and Disney’s Boardwalk Inn.
For a cheaper stay, you can pick Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and Disney’s Riviera Resort. We prefer to stay in luxury and find these hotels to be more basic.
While you may be tempted to spend your Marriott Bonvoy points on the Disney Dolphin or Swan, staying in the Disney Vacation Club hotels is undoubtedly more fun and will give you a more “Disney” experience.
You may be surprised that we think the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort is the best Walt Disney World® Resort even though it is not walkable from the parks, nor is it connected by Monorail or Disney Skyliner. Instead, you have to use the free Four Seasons minibus shuttle.
We have reviewed Four Seasons Resort Orlando vs. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort in case you are choosing between these two hotels. Four Seasons is the best resort with the largest rooms and is also one of the best Four Seasons hotels in Florida, but it lacks the Disney Magic and character dining. It is an escape rather than an immersion in Disney.
Of course, there is no Four Seasons rewards program, but if you are a regular guest of the Four Seasons or even want to try this iconic brand for the first time, you can take advantage of loyalty style benefits at Four Seasons hotels for no extra cost by booking your next stay via our luxury travel concierge.
We have also reviewed the best resorts near Disney.
1. Disney’s Beach Club Resort
In my opinion, this charming New English-style resort with baby blue and white clapboard frontage is the most lovely looking of all the Disney resorts. You can laze on your wooden balconies in this oh-so-pretty, almost turreted resort design. This is our top choice for the Skyliner as it is classy and yet offers good value, too, as it comes in cheaper than, for example, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, which we have reviewed below. It also has one of the best club lounges at Disney.
I love the color scheme of the rooms. The sandy carpet, the hints of sea blue in the headboard. The decor is unfussy and simple yet classy and luxurious. The decor will remind you of a New England beach cottage, but the Disney flair makes it that bit better.
Disney’s Beach Club Resort is also super convenient, walkable from Epcot and just a short boat ride (what fun!) to the popular Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
But this isn’t the way we like to travel (on foot or by boat). We love the fact that you can use the Disney Skyliner with its whimsical aerial gondolas to get to the parks.
We also love the fact that most of the resort looks over the charming pools and the lake beyond. Kids and adults of all ages will love splashing and sliding at the 3-acre on-site water park. A kids club also gives the younger members of the family a chance to make crafts and play games. If you have little ones, you must stay here for the character dining – what could be more fun?
2. Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is also within walking distance of both Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If you want to visit the other parks, there are free shuttles provided by the resort.
The rooms here have dark blue carpets and yellow and white stripes on the walls. The decor in the lobby is more interesting, with old-fashioned white pillars like something out of a cruise ship. There are intricate lamps and gold-mounted wall paintings above the reception, making the entranceway feel very authentic.
Highlights include multiple themed pools with a waterslide, the delicious Flying Fish Cafe, and a 1940s Atlantic City vibe. This resort sparkles by night and by day. The way it crowds around the pool means that you can take advantage of vintage charm with great views of the pool if you choose one of these rooms.
Once again, you can use the Disney Skyliner with its whimsical aerial gondolas to get to the parks from this resort.
3. Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is also on the Disney Skyliner with its whimsical aerial gondolas which will get you to the parks.
This New England-style yacht club is set on the lakeside. It is elegant and nautical, and you can actually rent boats from Bayside Marina. It shares many amenities with its pastel-toned sister, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, and is within walking distance to Epcot and a convenient boat ride to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The club lounge here is formal, looking in blue, navy, and white hues. The lounge offers service from 7:00 am – 10:00 pm. You can order or self-serve complimentary alcoholic drinks: beer, wine, champagne, coffee, tea, and cold drinks. There are also nuts, crisps, raisins, whole fruit, etc., available throughout the day for grazing on.
4. Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort will surround you in the artistry, enchantment, and magic of Walt Disney and Disney and Pixar movies. While this resort is good, it lacks the luxury of the hotels in positions one to three.
Stay at a Disney Resort hotel that invites you to explore the storybook landscapes seen in such classics as Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid.
From delightfully themed family suites to wondrously detailed courtyards, Disney’s Art of Animation “draws” you and your family in to become a part of some of your animated favorites.
Once again, you can use the Disney Skyliner with its whimsical aerial gondolas to get to the parks from this resort.
5. Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort plays Calypso rhythms and uses vibrant colors to whisk your mind to the Caribbean. With lush grounds, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort transports Guests to the paradise islands of Barbados, Jamaica, Martinique, Trinidad, and Aruba. Colonial forts mingle with lively markets, pristine beaches, splashy florals, and swaying hammocks.
Once again, you can use the Disney Skyliner with its whimsical aerial gondolas to get to the parks from this resort.
6. Disney’s Pop Century Resort
At Disney’s Pop Century Resort, you can experience the unforgettable fads of the 1950s through the 1990s all over again. From yo-yos and Play-Doh® to Rubik’s Cube® and rollerblades, this Resort hotel salutes the timeless fashions, catchphrases, toys, and dances that captivated the world through the decades.
Bear in mind that this resort offers value but is fairly basic compared to some of the other hotel options at Disney. Once again, you can use the Disney Skyliner with its whimsical aerial gondolas to get to the parks from this resort.
7. Disney’s Riviera Resort
Disney’s Riviera Resort is inspired by Europe and imagined by Disney. Here, you can delight in exhilarating activities, delectable dining, and stylish accommodations—from cozy Tower Studios to spacious villas with up to 3 bedrooms. Once again, you can use the Disney Skyliner with its whimsical aerial gondolas to get to the parks from this resort.
8. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is the very best Disney-branded resort in Orlando. It is ultra luxurious with a price tag to match, and it is on the Monorail rather than the Skyliner.
Rooms and, in fact, the entire resort is Victorian in style but with a Disney makeover of the Victorian times. Located just one stop from the Magic Kingdom, you can get to the parks by riding the complimentary Resort Monorail – what a brilliant way to arrive!
This resort is classy with mosaic floors, fountains with nymphs, lots of creams and whites, pillars, and an impressive lobby. Within the rooms, the creams are complemented by forest greens that bring the outside in. The feel is elegant and dignified.
In terms of the resort itself, you can cool down at the Beach Pool or the Seven Seas Lagoon and ride down the water slides. Both pools are massive and are flanked by cabanas and loungers. Enjoy a massage at Senses Spa, and dine with Disney characters or in award-winning restaurants. There is also a club lounge for those who want to escape, which is the best club lounge at the Disney hotels.
Being so close to Disney World itself, you are in the perfect place to watch the magnificent fireworks light up the sky over Cinderella’s Castle. This hotel also has the best club lounge of the Disney hotels.
9. Disney’s Contemporary Resort
This Disney resort has a completely different vibe from most of the other quaint and cute Disney resort hotels. Disney’s Contemporary Resort is an ultra-modern Disney Resort hotel with spectacular views and dazzling pools. It is the closest hotel to the Magic Kingdom Park and is the height of retro, 1970s cool.
This resort is a modern highrise with an A-frame Contemporary tower and a nearby Garden Wing. To get to the parks, you can walk to Magic Kingdom main gate or catch the Resort Monorail as it stops at the tower. Inside, a 90-foot-tall mural by Disney Legend Mary Blair—responsible for the distinct look and feel of the “it’s a small world” attraction—celebrates the Grand Canyon and the American Southwest.
Rates here vary wildly from around $800 USD for a snazzy Main Tower club level room to a standard garden wing room, which can come in at under $500 USD per night. If you are planning to stay in the garden wing, the club lounge is not worth the upgrade, but if you are planning to book a theme park view room in the Main Tower, then you are only looking at around $100 USD more for the club lounge which seems well worth it. Of note, Theme Park View rooms ARE worth paying more for. The other side of the resort offers Bay Lake views overlooking the Bay Lake Tower hotel. Theme park views mean you can watch the fireworks and other events from your room.
There are two club lounge-level floors here. The Atrium level offers the standard rooms on the 12th floor, and the Tower level on the 14th floor also has suites.
10. Disney’s Polynesian Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Resort is set in the South Pacific with tropical palms, lush vegetation. From moonlit nights immersed in the outdoor island ambiance to the exotic tastes of our world-class restaurants, discover the signature tropical atmosphere that’s made Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort a favorite Disney destination since 1971. This resort is also on the Monorail, making it a great choice, but it is not on the Disney Skyliner.
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