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A First-Timer's Guide to Disney World Resort Tiers and Tickets

Disney's hotels fall into four tiers (Value, Moderate, Deluxe and Deluxe Villas), and your tickets should match the days you will actually spend in the parks.

Two decisions shape most of a Walt Disney World trip: where you stay and which tickets you buy. Neither has to be confusing. Here is how we explain them to first-time families.

The four resort tiers

Disney groups its resort hotels into tiers. These are Disney’s own groupings, and we have listed a few examples in each.

Value. Disney describes these as fun, vibrant and affordable. There are five: All-Star Movies, All-Star Music, All-Star Sports, Pop Century and Art of Animation.

Moderate. These offer roomier rooms, more dining and recreation, and richer theming. There are four: Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, Port Orleans – French Quarter and Port Orleans – Riverside.

Deluxe. Disney describes these as luxurious, with fine dining and locations close to the parks. There are eight: Animal Kingdom Lodge, Beach Club, BoardWalk Inn, Contemporary, Grand Floridian, Polynesian Village, Wilderness Lodge and Yacht Club.

Deluxe Villas. These have self-catering kitchens and more space, which suits longer stays and bigger groups. Examples include Riviera Resort, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs and Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.

Getting around. Staying at a Disney Resort hotel gets you complimentary Disney transportation, by bus, boat or monorail depending on where you stay. The Disney Skyliner gondolas connect Pop Century, Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach and Riviera with EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. The monorail stops at Contemporary, Grand Floridian and Polynesian.

If you are an eligible military family, Shades of Green is also on Disney property. It is an Armed Forces Recreation Center run by the U.S. Army, and eligibility includes active duty, retirees, Guard and Reserve, and Coast Guard. We can check whether your family qualifies.

What staying on property adds

  • Early Theme Park Entry: 30 minutes early at any of the four parks, every day of your stay, including check-in and check-out days. You need valid admission, and Disney says it is available through 2027.
  • Extended Evening Hours: extra time after closing on select nights in select parks, for guests at Deluxe and Deluxe Villa resorts and a few partner hotels. Disney lists this through 2027, too.
  • A longer Lightning Lane window: you can buy passes 7 days before check-in, instead of 3 days before your park day.
  • Dining for your whole stay: you can book at 60 days before arrival, for up to 10 nights.

Sizing your tickets

Disney World tickets are date-based. The price depends on the day you start, and weekdays are generally lower than weekends and holidays. A ticket is either 1 park per day or has an option added.

  • Park Hopper lets you visit more than one park in a day. After you enter your first park, you can hop to another any time of day during park hours, subject to capacity.
  • Park Hopper Plus adds a set number of visits to other places, such as Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, ESPN Wide World of Sports and the golf courses. The number matches the length of your ticket.

Park reservations: Disney no longer requires a theme park reservation for date-based one-day or multi-day tickets. Other kinds of tickets, such as Annual Passes and the Disney Military Salute ticket, still do. We check that for you when we plan.

Our advice

  1. Buy for the days you will really use. A rest day by the pool is a good day. Don’t pay for a park day you will skip.
  2. Park Hopper is usually worth it on trips of 4 days or more, or for repeat visitors. On a first, shorter trip, one park a day is often plenty.
  3. Link everything in My Disney Experience. That means tickets, resort reservation and everyone in your group.
  4. Mark your calendar for your 60-day dining date and your 7-day Lightning Lane date.

If anyone in your family needs mobility, sensory or accessibility support, tell us early. We plan for that with care, and it can change which resort and which tickets make sense.

Let’s plan it together

Our planning is free to you. Tell us when you want to go and who is coming, and we will match a tier and tickets to your family.

Request a free quote, call us at 567-318-2583, or email hello@jinnivacations.com.

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