Best Hotels for Toddlers at Walt Disney World

Planning a Disney World trip with a toddler? One of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing the right hotelfor your family. The best Disney resorts for toddlers offer convenient locations, kid-friendly amenities, and easy transportation options, ensuring a smooth and magical vacation.

Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly stay, a resort with the best pools for toddlers, or the most convenient access to the parks, we’ve got you covered. Our expert guide ranks the top Disney World hotels for toddlers, highlighting their best features and why they’re perfect for little ones.

Keep reading to find out which Disney World hotel is the best fit for your toddler—plus, insider tips to make your stay even more magical!

Best Disney hotels - The Art of Animation Resort in WDW

What to Look For in a Disney Hotel for Toddlers

When thinking about which hotels are more toddler-friendly, there were a few main factors:

Proximity to the Parks (Which Resorts Have the Best Locations?)

When traveling with a toddler, easy access to the parks can make a huge difference. Resorts closest to Magic Kingdom—like the Contemporary Resort (walkable), Polynesian, and Grand Floridian (both monorail-accessible)—allow for quick park entry and midday breaks without long travel times. If your trip includes EPCOT or Hollywood Studios, Skyliner resorts like Caribbean Beach or Riviera Resort provide fast, hassle-free transportation.

Easy Transportation Options (Monorail, Skyliner, or Bus?)

Not all Disney transportation is equally toddler-friendly. The Monorail and Skyliner are the easiest options, as they allow you to roll your stroller on without folding it up. If staying at a Monorail resort (Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary) or a Skyliner resort (Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach, Riviera, Pop Century), you’ll enjoy smoother, faster transfers to the parks. While buses service all resorts, they require strollers to be folded, which can be tricky when juggling a sleepy toddler.

Toddler-Friendly Pools & Splash Pads

A toddler-friendly resort should have safe, interactive water play areas with zero-entry pools, splash pads, and small slides designed for little ones. Resorts like Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach, and Grand Floridian feature dedicated splash zones, while others have calm, shallow pools perfect for a toddler’s first swim. Choosing a hotel with engaging pool areas gives families a great way to cool off without needing to leave the resort.

On-Site Dining Options with Kid-Friendly Menus

Easy, convenient, and toddler-friendly dining is a must. Resorts with quick-service restaurants, character dining, and mobile ordering make meals stress-free. The Contemporary offers Chef Mickey’s character breakfast with Mickey and friends, while Art of Animation has a food court with kid-approved options. Resorts near Disney Springs also provide access to a variety of family-friendly dining choices.

Crib Availability & Family-Friendly Room Layouts

Ensuring your toddler has a safe and comfortable sleep setup is crucial. Most Disney resorts offer complimentary cribs or Pack ‘n Plays, but some go a step further. Family suites at Art of Animation and All-Star Music provide extra space and separate sleeping areas, allowing parents to stay up without disturbing a sleeping toddler. Deluxe resorts often feature split bathrooms and larger rooms, making them more comfortable for families with little ones.

Playgrounds and Outdoor Spaces

Toddlers need space to run, climb, and explore outside of the parks. Some resorts, like Fort Wilderness and Port Orleans Riverside, offer dedicated playgrounds and nature trails, while others provide open courtyards perfect for little ones to stretch their legs. These areas are ideal for post-nap energy bursts or downtime before heading to the parks.

Activities & Resort Entertainment

Disney resorts go beyond just offering a place to sleep—they provide fun, toddler-friendly activities too! Many feature movies under the stars, campfire sing-alongs, and character interactions right at the hotel. Animal Kingdom Lodge allows toddlers to see animals up close, while resorts like Fort Wilderness offer pony rides and scavenger hunts to keep little ones entertained.

Sleeping Arrangements for Families with Toddlers

After a busy day in the parks, a comfortable sleep environment is key. If your toddler sleeps best in a separate space, family suites at Art of Animation, All-Star Music, and some Deluxe Villas provide extra privacy. Standard rooms in most resorts include cribs upon request, but parents who need extra space may prefer a suite or a villa with a full kitchen and living area.

Benefits of Staying at WDW Resort Hotels

If you have never stayed at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel I would highly recommend it, if you are able to. Staying on property really completes the magical vacation experience.

You can enjoy simple things that will make an otherwise busy stay a little bit easier. Some things you can do but are less often talked about include: online check-in, unlocking your door from your smartphone, dropping your luggage off prior to check-in time and free Magic Bands that can be used for everything from unlocking your door to paying for dinner

While the hotel amenities and experience grow as you move up in price, there are some great features that are available to all guests of all Disney hotels.

Benefits of Staying On Property Include:

Extra Magic Hours – guests staying on property can enjoy extra hours before parks open or after they close. You can check the schedule for the dates of your trip to see which parks have extra magic hours during your stay.

Free parking at the parks – If you have your own car or a rental and stay on property, you are able to park at the parks for no additional cost. You will, however, be charged a parking cost per night at your hotel which will be included in your final bill. You could also opt for Disney’s free transportation options.

Easy transportation to the parks – Walt Disney World has a variety of transportation options to take you from your resort to the parks. All hotel guests have access to Disney’s free bus service. Some hotels have direct access to the monorail, ferryboats or the Disney Skyliner. Disney also operates its’ own Lyft service, Minnie Vans, which are a paid option.

Disney Resort Categories

Walt Disney World Resort hotels are categorized into tiers: value, moderate, deluxe and deluxe villas. We broke down some of our top picks by these categories to start. Here’s a little bit more about what to expect from each category:

Value Resorts

Value hotels are the most affordable option. They will all have a quick service food court as your dining option. All of the value resorts have a theme, mostly cartoon based, and the landscaping and decor cater to the theme in-room and out. They are a fun experience for little ones and have just the right amount of amenities for all family members.

Moderate Resorts

Moderate hotels are the next step up in price level. These themed hotels are all very immersive in their themes such as Mardi Gras and Caribbean Islands. You’ll find quick service dining as well as sit-down options. While the hotels are less cartoon-themed, they still offer a variety of amenities for all ages.

Deluxe and Deluxe Villas

Disney’s top tier option are the deluxe hotels and the even more exclusive deluxe villas. The accommodations are by far the best of all Walt Disney World Resort hotels. Most of the deluxe hotels have fun features like character dining, boat rentals and dinner shows. These are accessible to all Disney visitors but more convenient for guests of the hotel.

All of the deluxe resorts, with the exception of Disney’s Yacht Club, have a separate section where the villas are located. There are three additional hotels that are just in the deluxe villa category.

If you are planning an extended stay or have a large family, or just want the best experience Disney has to offer, you may want to consider a Deluxe Villa. Villas offer all of the comforts of home including more space and a full kitchen. These will certainly be at the top of the price range as far as Disney World resorts are concerned, but you may look into options like renting Disney Vacation Club (DVC) points.

Best Value Hotels for Toddlers

All of the value resorts have playgrounds, fun character statues, outdoor movies and poolside activities. You’ll also find a good selection of toddler-friendly foods in the food courts. While they all cater to the younger crowd, two of the value resorts stand ahead for their themes and room layout.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

This toddler-friendly hotel is worth the extra cost over other value resorts. The themed courtyards and swimming pools are exciting for little ones to explore. Fans of Cars, The Lion King, Finding Nemo and The Little Mermaid will find larger than life statues of their favorite characters.

Disney hotels for toddlers - art of animation

The rooms at Art of Animation are themed based on the movie section where you stay. We have stayed in the Little Mermaid section a couple of times now and the rooms are a big hit with our toddlers. They are always begging to return to the mermaid hotel.

Disney’s Pop Century

Pop Century pulls ahead of the All-Star resorts based on the more family-friendly rooms. The more recently renovated rooms have two queen beds – one as a Murphy bed which can be folded away and turned into a table and chairs as well as some extra floorspace.

Disney hotels for toddlers - Pop Century

Both of these hotels are located on Disney’s Skyliner, giving you the added perk of another transportation option to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

Best Moderate Hotels for Toddlers

Moderate resorts are a step up in both accommodations and amenities. The moderate hotels all have fun themes that run throughout. These hotels are quite large and a trip to the main pool or dining area can mean a quick drive or long walk. When making your reservation at one of these hotels you may want to consider spending a little extra for the preferred room. You may also make a request for a certain location, but room requests are not guaranteed.

We have stayed at 4 out of 5 of the moderate resorts with our toddlers and I would recommend these three as our top picks:

Disney’s Port Orleans – Riverside and French Quarter

These connected-but-separate hotels have a fun Louisiana theme, one bayou and one Mardi Gras. The Doubloon Lagoon pool at French Quarter has a water slide and soak zone catering to kids under 48″. Our kids spend hours playing in this kiddie area as well as riding the full size waterslide in the main pool.

Beignets at Port Orleans - French Quarter — The beignets at French Quarter are a toddler favorite

When staying at one of these resorts you also get the benefit of enjoying the other’s amenities – meaning double the pools, dining options, playgrounds and arcades.

Disney’s Caribbean Beach

Another fun toddler area can be found next to the main pool at Disney’s Caribbean beach making it a great option for families with little ones.

Caribbean Beach is also located on the Disney Skyliner, giving you a fun transportation option with easy access to Hollywood Studios or Epcot.

Best Deluxe Hotels for Toddlers

The deluxe resorts at Walt Disney World offer the top amenities and experience.

While we have not yet stayed at these two recommended hotels, we have spent a good amount of time visiting them. We have stayed at a couple of others in this group prior to having kids, but would opt for one of these the next time we stay.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Kidani Village

Animal-loving toddlers will get a thrill out of watching giraffes and wildebeest right from their hotel. Choose a room facing the savannah and you can spot animals right from your balcony!

Disney hotels for toddlers - animal kingdom lodge — Views of the Savannah at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

The Samawati Springs pool, located at the villas at Kidani Village, includes a play area specifically for kids under 4. You can also enjoy a variety of dining options including Sanaa, where you can request seating by the window to eat beside a zebra.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

The Polynesian is one of three hotels located directly on the monorail, making it incredibly easy to get to and from the Magic Kingdom. This can make it much easier to take a midday break before returning for fireworks. Or better yet, enjoy the fireworks right from your hotel. The Polynesian has a fantastic view of the castle and fireworks and even plays the music to go along.

On top of convenience, the hotel is beautiful, immersive and has excellent dining options including O’hana and Kona.

Best Disney Hotel for Toddlers Near Magic Kingdom

When traveling with a toddler, staying near Magic Kingdom—the most toddler-friendly park—can make your trip much easier.

Top Pick: Disney’s Contemporary Resort

The Contemporary Resort is the only Disney hotel within a short walking distance of Magic Kingdom, making it the most convenient option for families with toddlers. No need to wait for transportation—just roll the stroller over in minutes! Plus, it has Monorail access for easy trips to EPCOT and other Monorail resorts. Some of the best features include:

5-minute walk to Magic Kingdom (ideal for nap-time breaks)
Monorail access (strollers can stay open!)
Large zero-entry pool with a splash area
Chef Mickey’s character dining with Mickey, Minnie & friends
Spacious rooms with balcony views of the fireworks (perfect if your toddler can’t stay up late at the parks!)

Best Disney Hotel for Toddlers Near EPCOT & Hollywood Studios

For families planning to visit EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, staying at a resort with quick, easy transportation is key. The best resorts in this area provide Skyliner access, boat transportation, or even walking paths, making park visits with a toddler much easier.

Top Pick: Disney’s Beach Club Resort

The Beach Club Resort is the closest hotel to EPCOT, with a 5-minute walk to the park’s International Gateway entrance. Hollywood Studios is just a scenic boat ride away, so no need to worry about strollers on buses. Plus, Beach Club is home to Stormalong Bay, the best pool at Disney World, featuring a toddler-friendly sand-bottom play area. Some reasons we love it for families with toddlers include:

5-minute walk to EPCOT (no transportation needed!)
Boat transportation to Hollywood Studios
Stormalong Bay pool with a zero-entry sand area for toddlers
Cape May Café character breakfast

Other Great Options:

Disney’s Riviera Resort – Skyliner access, elegant & quiet atmosphere
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort – Skyliner access, pirate-themed splash pad

Will everyone else enjoy the toddler-friendly hotels?

Disney does an amazing job of ensuring that the needs of all family members are met in every area of the resort.

At every hotel, families can find more laid back leisure pools in addition to the often crowded main pools. They also do a fantastic job of offering a variety of dining options meaning there is likely to be something for everyone. Each hotel also has a full bar, which is usually poolside.

As a parent of toddlers, I find it far more relaxing to be in an environment that caters to children. The kids have more freedom to be kids and I can spend a little less time worrying about them being too loud or climbing things they shouldn’t. Though they still need to behave, Disney hotels encourage them to have fun and that makes for a memorable vacation on its own.

No matter where you choose to stay at Walt Disney World with your toddler, they are sure to enjoy it. In between park days, spend time at the pools, take part in activities, watch movies under the stars and roast marshmallows by the campfire. A day spent at the hotel can be a day of fun and much needed rest at the same time.