Traveling to Disney in Florida is an exciting experience for everyone, but finding the perfect resort or hotel can often be a little challenging.
There are plenty of resort options to choose from, making it difficult to pick the perfect one for you and your family’s needs. You’ll need to think about location, amenities, and even travel options if you don’t have a car.
If you plan to spend most, or all, of your Disney trip in the Magic Kingdom, you should look for a resort that’s close by. This is especially true if you have children, as traveling long distances back to the hotel after a fun-filled and tiring day is rather burdensome. Luckily, there are resort options within Disney and just outside Disney lines to make travel time shorter.
All the resort options listed are within six miles of the Magic Kingdom. This leaves a short distance between the resort and Disney fun. They all provide plenty of amenities too, so you’ll be busy even when you aren’t at the park.
Here are 15 of the closest resorts to the Magic Kingdom.
- 1. Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- 2. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
- 3. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- 4. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- 5. Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
- 6. Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
- 7. Disney’s Beach Club Resort
- 8. Disney’s Boardwalk Villas
- 9. Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- 10. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- 11. Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress
- 12. Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort – Bonnet Creek
- 13. Grande Villas Resort
- 14. Waldorf Astoria – Orlando
- 15. Parc Soleil by Hilton Grand Vacations – Orlando
1. Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Contemporary Resort is just a ten-minute walk away from the Magic Kingdom! They also offer multiple transportation options if you’re not fond of walking to the park. It can get pretty hot in Florida, especially in the summer, so boats, vans, and a monorail are available.
This lodging venue is a beautiful deluxe resort that offers rooms, suites, studios, and villa options to help accommodate any family size. There are also plenty of fun options to keep everyone entertained when you’re away from the park. Some of their recreation and amenity options include:
- Pools, cabana rentals, boat rentals, cruises, water parades, and fishing
- Outdoor movies, campfires, and a game room
- A basketball court, volleyball courts, tennis courts, jogging trails, and a fitness center
- Ten dining options
- A monorail that brings you right to the Magic Kingdom park
- Boat, bus, and van transportation
- A business center
- And more!
2. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is a popular choice among many people. It’s about a 15-minute walk from the Magic Kingdom, but other transportation options are available too.
This beautiful resort sits right next to the water, leaving many rooms with a water view. The outside and inside of this resort are reminiscent of a fancy Victorian-style mansion, creating a feeling of luxury. The hotel claims that this resort helps to encapsulate the golden era of Palm Beach. They offer rooms, suites, studios, resort studios, and villas.
Along with this sense of luxury comes a long list of recreation options and plenty of amenities to make your stay go as smoothly as possible. Some of these include:
- Pools, poolside cabanas, basketball courts, and a health club
- A spa and a business center
- Outdoor movies, campfires, and a game room
- Boat rentals, cruises, fishing, and water parades
- 14 dining options
- A monorail that will bring you to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot
- Boat, van, and bus transportation
- And more!
3. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
If you’re looking for a ski lodge getaway feel, then this is the resort for you! Disney’s Wilderness Lodge looks just like a ski lodge in the mountains, offering a beautiful rustic scenery and an outdoorsy feel. But, you can enjoy it without the cold weather that comes along with a ski lodge vacation!
The Wilderness Lodge offers rooms, suites, studios, villas, and cabins. This resort doesn’t have a monorail, but it still has other transportation options to help you get to the park. The Magic Kingdom is only about a ten-minute drive away.
Some of their recreation and amenity options include:
- Pools, a fitness club, and jogging trails
- Outdoor movies, campfires, and a game room
- Fishing and water parades
- Behind-the-scenes tours
- A salon
- Six dining options
- Boat, van, and bus transportation
- And more!
4. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will make you feel like you’re on an island getaway with heavy design influences from the South Pacific! Disney-themed totem poles and beautiful island flowers line the inside and outside of the resort, making you feel like you’re on a tropical island. This Disney resort option has been popular since it opened in 1971!
The Polynesian Village offers rooms, suites, studios, and bungalows (similar to small houses). This resort is about an eight-minute drive from the Magic Kingdom.
Some of the recreation and amenity options available include:
- Pools, a fitness center, a volleyball court, and a jogging trail
- Campfires and outdoor movies
- Boat rentals, fishing, and water parades
- A spa
- Ten dining options
- A monorail that will bring you to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot
- Boat, van, and bus transportation
- And more!
5. Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside’s southern charm represents rural Louisiana architecture. It’ll make you feel like you’re in a fancy mansion by the bayou! You have the choice between a normal room or a royal guest room where you’ll experience Princess Tiana royalty. Murals and embellished furniture line these rooms, making you feel like true royalty.
This resort is about a 15-minute drive from the Magic Kingdom.
Some of the recreation and amenity options include:
- Pools, fishing, a jogging trail, and a playground
- Horse-drawn carriage rides, bike rentals, and surrey rentals
- Campfires and outdoor movies
- A video arcade
- Dog-friendly
- Four dining options
- Boat, van, and bus transportation
- And more!
6. Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort will take you away to a New England-style oasis. The resort design is similar to a yacht club with nautical decorations and even a lighthouse. It sits right on Crescent Lake, providing many guests with a water view and allowing you to rent boats and other watercraft to enjoy the full New England experience.
Enjoy some outdoor activities such as a boat ride, and then stop by one of the ten dining options to enjoy some great seafood. You’ll feel like you’re vacationing in a seaside New England town! They offer normal rooms and suites. This resort is about a 15-minute drive from the Magic Kingdom.
Some of the recreation and amenity options include:
- Pools, cabana rentals, boat rentals, and fishing
- Campfires and outdoor movies
- Tennis, volleyball, and jogging trails, Fantasia Gardens, and mini golf
- An arcade
- Ten dining options
- A spa, fitness center, and business center
- Dog-friendly
- Skyliner, boat, bus, and van transportation
- And more!
7. Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s Beach Club Resort is a sister resort to the Yacht Club Resort. Due to this, they share many of the same recreation options. But, this resort has a much different feel.
The resort design will make you feel like you’re in a huge beach house rather than just a New England town. This resort has a more relaxed vibe to it, compared to its sister resort. Windows line the resort, letting in tons of sunshine and water views. They offer rooms, suites, studios, and villas.
This resort is about a 15-minute drive from the Magic Kingdom.
Some of the recreation and amenity options include:
- Pools, cabana rentals, boat rentals, and fishing
- Campfires and outdoor movies
- Tennis, volleyball, and jogging trails, Fantasia Gardens, and mini golf
- An arcade
- Ten dining options
- A spa and a fitness center
- Skyliner, boat, bus, and van transportation
- And more!
8. Disney’s Boardwalk Villas
Disney’s Boardwalk Villas are right across the lagoon from the Beach and Yacht Clubs. This resort consists of a long waterfront boardwalk stock full of little candy-coloured, cottage-style buildings. Disney describes it as reminiscent of the Coney Island and Atlantic City boardwalks.
This resort offers villas, studios, rooms, and suites. The villas are like small homes and come with a kitchen, living room, dining room, bedrooms, and a washer and dryer. The other options are closer to what you’d expect in a typical hotel. They offer rooms, suites, studios, and villas. This resort is about a 17-minute drive from the Magic Kingdom.
Some of the recreation and amenity options include:
- Pools, boat rentals, and fishing
- Campfires and outdoor movies
- Bike rentals, tennis, jogging trails, a playground, Fantasia Gardens, and mini golf
- A community hall and an arcade
- 11 dining options
- A spa, fitness center, and a business center
- Skyliner, boat, bus, and van transportation
- And more!
9. Disney’s Old Key West Resort
As you can probably tell, Disney’s Old Key West Resort is reminiscent of Key West, featuring beachy architecture and Florida-esque decor inside. Hues of blue saturate the outside and inside of the resort, along with bright white accents to create an oceanside Floridian feel.
Enjoy the towering palm trees by the pool while getting a golden tan in the beautiful Florida sun. It is the Sunshine State, after all. They offer studios and villas. This resort is about a ten-minute drive from the Magic Kingdom.
Some of the recreation and amenity options include:
- Pools and fishing
- Campfires and outdoor movies
- Bike rentals, surrey rentals, tennis, basketball, a jogging trail, a golf course, and a playground
- A spa and an exercise room
- Four dining options
- Boat, bus, and van transportation
- And more!
10. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge to feel immersed in African wildlife! Four beautiful sceneries, which house over 200 live animals and birds, provide a safari experience from right inside your hotel room. Don’t feel surprised if you wake up and see a giraffe poking his head around your window!
This Disney resort focuses heavily on African-influenced architecture and decor, along with sprawling greenery, to transport you to the stunning continent of Africa. It also has one of the largest African art collections in the United States! This lodge offers rooms, suites, studios, and villas. This resort is about a 15-minute drive from the Magic Kingdom.
Some of the recreation and amenity options include:
- Pools and locker rentals
- Campfires and outdoor movies
- A playground, an arcade, and painting classes
- A spa and a fitness center
- 12 dining options
- Bus and van transportation
- And more!
11. Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress
The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is a family-friendly resort, featuring a tropical getaway experience with swaying palm trees and beautiful water views. You can even interact with the lake and enjoy some water sports! But, if playing in the water isn’t for you, this resort offers plenty of other activities to keep you busy when you’re away from the park.
Room options range from rooms, suites, and even an entire house if you’re traveling with a lot of people. Many of the rooms have a lakeside or poolside view. This resort is about a 15-minute drive from the Magic Kingdom, but they offer complimentary shuttles to the park!
Some of the recreation and amenity options include:
- Pools, water slides, and water caves
- A golf course, tennis courts, beach sports, bike rentals, and jogging trails
- A spa and a fitness center
- Pet-friendly
- Business services
- Five dining options
- A shuttle service that will take you to Disney’s theme parks
- And more!
12. Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort – Bonnet Creek
The Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort – Bonnet Creek is a 62-acre, family-friendly resort that’s bursting with beauty and fun activities. The rooms surround a huge 10-acre lake, giving half the resort water views. But, even if you don’t have a lakeside view, a spacious golf course and beautiful greenery surround the outside of the resort.
The style of the resort is very modern, with a touch of elegance to make the perfect atmosphere for your getaway. It’s a relaxing place to come back to after a long, magical day in Disney. They offer deluxe rooms, lakeside view rooms, bunk bed rooms, and accessible rooms. This resort is about a 15-minute drive from the Magic Kingdom.
Some of the recreation and amenity options include:
- Five pools and two lazy rivers
- Walking paths, a golf course, and mini golf
- A spa, a fitness center, and a business center
- Six dining options
- A shuttle service that will take you to Disney’s theme parks
- And more!
13. Grande Villas Resort
The Grand Villas Resort is a little oasis that focuses on relaxation and recharging after your long days in the Disney parks. It’s just minutes from the Florida mall and outlets, so you can even do some retail therapy to help wind down.
While this resort doesn’t have any natural water fixtures such as lakes or lagoons, it’s still a beautiful property surrounded by Florida greenery. Palm trees still line the area to give your vacation a tropical feel, and Lake Ruby is just a few minutes away. They offer normal guest rooms and multiple bedroom suites.
This resort is about a 20-minute drive from the Magic Kingdom.
Some recreation and amenity options include:
- Two pools, a kiddie pool, and cabana rentals
- A fitness center, a playground, basketball courts, tennis courts, volleyball courts, and mini golf
- Game consoles and karaoke
- Shuffleboard, ping pong, and pool tables
- Massage services
- Four dining options
- A shuttle service that will take you to Disney’s theme parks
- And more!
14. Waldorf Astoria – Orlando
The Waldorf Astoria in Orlando is an elegant luxury resort that’ll make you feel like royalty. A huge golf course equipped with multiple ponds surrounds one side of the resort, while Florida greenery surrounds the other. You’ll have a great view no matter where your room is. They offer normal guest rooms and suites with full living rooms and kitchens.
This resort is the perfect oasis to relax during your Disney vacation. But, if you don’t want to relax, there’s a long list of things to do here too when you’re away from the parks. Options include dining, swimming, a spa, a kids club, and more. This resort is about a 20-minute drive from the Magic Kingdom.
Some of the recreation and amenity options include:
- Pools and cabana rentals
- A golf course
- A spa, a fitness center, and a business center
- A kids club
- Seven dining options
- Complimentary transportation to Disney’s theme parks
- And more!
15. Parc Soleil by Hilton Grand Vacations – Orlando
Parc Soleil is a 52-acre resort located in the Ruby Lake Ranch area. The modern, yet homey and inviting feel of this resort is a great welcome after walking around the parks all day. Relax and recharge by their two swimming pools and soak up the Florida sun with some tropical palm trees above your head.
This resort offers normal guest rooms and suites to help you feel comfortable during your trip away from home. If you plan on staying for a long time, the suites are a great option as they offer amenities such as full kitchens, living rooms, and separate bedrooms.
This resort is only about three miles from the Disney theme parks and about a 20-minute drive from the Magic Kingdom.
Some of the recreation and amenity options include:
- Two pools and a water slide
- Tennis and basketball
- A kid’s center
- A fitness center and a business center
- Two dining options
- And more!
Conclusion
If you want to be as close to Magic Kingdom as possible, one of the Disney resorts might be your best option. They offer plenty of amenities and even free transportation to the parks, making travel much easier. But, if you don’t mind a little extra travel time, there are some great resorts outside of Disney lines too. Most of them even offer shuttles to the parks.
As you begin planning your Magic Kingdom Disney trip, assess what you’re looking for in a resort, and keep these options in mind.
More about our TFVG Author
A seasoned traveller, Dad, and avid sports tourist, James foundered The Family Vacation Guide to share his expert vacation experiences- especially when it comes to being a travelling family man.
Featured in Travel articles such as Travel + Leisure, TripSavvy and SFGate, you know you're reading some of the best vacation tips online.