Which Disney Vacation Club® Resort is Right for You?

If you want to experience the magic of Disney year after year, becoming a Disney Vacation Club® Member might be for you. When you’re a Member you can stay at Disney Resorts and take vacations with Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney®. In fact, Members can save up to 50% on future Disney Vacation Club® accommodations over the life of the membership! If that’s not incentive enough, Disney® Visa® Credit Cardmembers can also take advantage of special vacation financing to help make their membership dreams come true.¹²

As a Disney Vacation Club® Member, you’re not limited to vacationing at just one resort, though. In fact, while the decision to join the Disney Vacation Club® might be easy, with so many incredible destinations, choosing where to stay can be downright hard! To help you plan your ideal vacation, we’ve pulled together a list of all 17 Disney Vacation Club® Resorts, that suggest what type of vacationer they might be best for by highlighting some of their standout features. You’re sure to find one that’s perfect for you!

The Best for Outdoor Enthusiasts: The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort

If getting back to nature is your idea of getting away from it all, The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort were made for you. Wake up in a cozy cabin nestled amid 750 acres of forest, then watch for wildlife as you hike woodland trails or cool off in the Meadow Swimmin’ Pool and its 67-foot-long corkscrew waterslide. Be sure to pack your cowboy hat to get into the resort’s Old West spirit. Guests can take pony or wagon rides at the Tri-Circle-D Ranch and sing under the stars during Chip ‘N’ Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long. When hunger leaves you hankerin’ to rustle up some vittles, tuck in at The Chuck Wagon, and do-si-don’t miss the Pioneer Hall Players dinner show at the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review. While the resort’s setting might make you think you’ll be at home out on the range, The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, are actually right between Magic Kingdom® Park and EPCOT®, and convenient bus and watercraft are ready to take you throughout Walt Disney World® Resort and Disney Springs®.

The Best for Fans of Animation: The Villas at Disneyland® Hotel

For quality family time, look no further than the brand-new The Villas at Disneyland® Hotel. No matter the size of your crew, you’ll find the ideal accommodation here. Just the two of you? Duo and Deluxe Studios make for cozy retreats and come with kitchenettes. Have tykes in tow? 1-Bedroom Villas sleep up to five, have full kitchens and include convenient washers and dryers. The more the merrier? Spacious 3-Bedroom Grand Villas have room for up to 12! Wherever you stay, you’ll be surrounded by magical touches that celebrate Disney storytelling. Villas have unique artworks and delightful details celebrating classic stories like Frozen and Fantasia, and Tinker Bell flies along the building’s façade. When it’s time to head out and have fun, you’re just a short hop from the Happiest Place on Earth. The Villas at Disneyland® Hotel are a brief walk from Disneyland® Park, Disney California Adventure® Park and the Downtown Disney® District.

The Best Island Getaway: AULANI, Disney Vacation Club® Villas, Ko Olina, Hawaiʻ

Say “aloha” to AULANI Resort. If you love to live the island life, AULANI Resort is the perfect home for a relaxing Hawaiian vacation. Located on the beautiful Ko Olina beach on Oahu’s leeward side, it’s a peaceful escape from busy Waikiki but also provides easy access to adventures around the island. With so much to do right at AULANI Resort, though, you may never want to leave! Aquatic adventures abound. Along with the white sand of Ko Olina, you’ll have access to a zero-entry pool with a tunnel body slide, an infinity pool, a kids’ splash zone, four whirlpool spas, a snorkeling lagoon and two tubing adventures. If you ever find the time to towel off, you can also enjoy live Hawaiian music performances, Disney movies under the stars and fascinating lū‘aus. Dining at AULANI Resort is an encounter with delicious island traditions. At the open-air ‘AMA‘AMA – Contemporary Island Cooking, you can savor Hawaiian classics that have been given a modern twist, while Makahiki – The Bounty of the Islands serves up a generous buffet of local flavors. Whatever you choose to do, when you stay at AULANI Resort, you’re not just a Guest, you’re part of the Disney ʻohana, or “family.”

The Best for World Travelers: Disney’s Riviera Resort

Disney’s Riviera Resort is our pick for lovers of traveling in European style. Walt Disney loved Europe, and the region’s style and culture inspired this charming property, so while the resort might be located at Walt Disney World® Resort, you’ll feel like you’re on the other side of the Atlantic when you’re a Guest. European and Mediterranean traditions inform the resort’s architecture and design — from grand archways and porticos to gardens and fountains — while the Old World meets Disney in whimsical touches like artwork that depicts beloved Disney Characters in the style of European masters. Guests of the resort can indulge in French and Italian cuisine at Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera and live la dolce vita while lounging beneath a sun umbrella at the Riviera Pool. Disney’s Riviera Resort is also a convenient base for visiting the Walt Disney World® Resort parks, as it provides easy access to the new Disney Skyliner, which will whisk you through the sky to EPCOT® and Disney’s Hollywood Studios®.

The Best for Animal Aficionados: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House

The wild at heart will love Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House, which puts nature right on your doorstep. Designed to resemble a traditional African kraal, the building’s horseshoe shape provides Guests with views of four majestic savannas that are home to more than 200 birds and mammals, including zebras, giraffes, gazelles and flamingos. Wildlife Field Guides are on staff to teach you about African animals and ecosystems, and Animal Specialists lead fun educational programs. While the resort’s layout and surroundings will make you feel like you’re on safari, its amenities make sure you’re never short of creature comforts. The 11,000-square-foot Uzima Pool is an exotic oasis with zero-depth entry, two whirlpool spas and surrounding palm trees, and the exciting Samawati Springs Pool has a 128-foot water slide and water playground for young explorers. You’ll also find award-winning, African-inspired dining for when your stomach starts to growl!

The Best for Dramatic Views: Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

For rooms with a view, look no further than Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Set on the serene shores of Bay Lake, the Bay Lake Tower offers Guests elegant accommodations with vistas of the lake, Cinderella Castle, old-growth cypress trees or a peaceful courtyard, depending on the room. If you desire an even more elevated vantage point — and don’t mind sharing it with some unsavory company — head up to Top of the World Lounge – A Villains Lair. Available to eligible Members on a first-come, first-served basis until the lounge reaches capacity the rooftop hideout pays tribute to classic Disney evildoers while serving up sinfully sweet desserts, wicked wines and other guilty pleasures. It also hosts special events like the Enchantment at the Top Dessert Party, where you can indulge in a dessert buffet and a reserved viewing of the Magic Kingdom® Park fireworks. Being bad never felt so good! Should you need to make a hasty getaway from Bay Lake Tower, the Sky Way Bridge offers a quick escape to Disney’s Contemporary Resort, where you can catch the Resort Monorail to Magic Kingdom® Park and EPCOT®.

The Best for Beachgoers: Disney’s Vero Beach Resort

Calling all beach bums! Anyone whose idea of a good time is sea, sun and sand will want to plan their next vacation for Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, whose beachside lodgings put you just steps from boating, kayaking, boogie boarding and other water sports. Only two hours from Walt Disney World® Resort, this elegant retreat sits on Florida’s beautiful Treasure Coast, where natural riches await. Explore miles of pristine beach, a botanical garden, state park and river preserve. The crown jewel is the nearby Indian River Lagoon, home to ancient oak trees, 36 rare and endangered species and one-third of the country’s manatees. Visit at the right time of year, and you might also witness baby loggerhead sea turtles making their way to the ocean for the first time! Disney’s Vero Beach Resort shares space with loggerhead nesting grounds, and to honor Walt Disney’s legacy of conservation, the property strives to make the turtles feel just as welcome as its human Guests, including by tinting some windows to reduce the impact of interior lighting.

The Best for Nostalgia: Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

Disney Vacation Club® Members in search of a simpler time will find what they’re looking for at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. This Victorian-style hotel is a contemporary take on the 19^th-century Saratoga Springs, a New York getaway that was renowned for its spas and horse racing. That heritage is on full display at The Turf Club Bar and Grill, where American favorites like steaks and chops are served in a space decorated with classic wood paneling, antique riding gear and photos of champion jockeys. After your meal, you can pedal a surrey bike along the Sassagoula River, play a round on Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course or dive into the resort’s two pools: The Paddock Pool, which has a 146-foot-long waterslide, and the High Rock Spring Pool, with its cascading waterfall. Guests who seek out truly one-of-a-kind stays should look into reserving one of the resort’s Treehouse Villas, luxurious accommodations set 10 feet above the ground in woods along the river.

The Best for Rest & Relaxation: The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa

Sometimes you just want to ahhhhhhh. For a generous dose of R & R, plan a visit to The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa. After checking in, you’ll want to head straight to the hotel’s all-new, full-service Tenaya Stone Spa. Treat yourself to a Gemstone Sparkle Facial, which uses microcurrent technology and a diamond collagen mask to leave your skin revitalized, or a Citrus Grove Face and Body Treatment, which incorporates soothing body milk and a citrus-infused sea salt scrub for whole-body rejuvenation. Food is an important part of self-care, too, and The Villas’ dining options serve up delicious, nutritious California-inspired fare. Enjoy the best of the state’s cuisine and wine at the upscale Napa Rose or sate your hunger while celebrating local folklore at Storytellers Café’s buffet. Guests of The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa can even take it easy when it’s time to head to The Disneyland® Resort, as the property provides a convenient entrance to Disney California Adventure® Park.

The best for Rustic Retreats: Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

If you like your rustic retreats to have a touch of luxe and your elegant escapes to be down-to-earth, you’ll find that the Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and the Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge strike just the right balance. Set amid the pines on the scenic shores of Bay Lake, they’re a peaceful place to decompress amid nature but also ensure that you won’t be roughing it. Deluxe Studio, 1- and 2-Bedroom Villas provide Guests with stainless steel kitchen appliances, walk-in rain showers and private balconies, depending on the specific accommodation. 3-Bedroom Grand Villas have touches like bubble-jet tubs and in-mirror TVs in master bathrooms and can sleep as many as 12 Guests. For the ultimate mix of posh and pastoral, stay in one of the lakeside Cascade Cabins, which feature open-style kitchens, double-sided stone-hearth fireplaces and hot tubs. Their wraparound porches are the perfect place to sip coffee as you watch the sun rise. Away from your accommodation, you can take it easy in the property’s two pools, which both have whirlpool spas, or on the deck at Geyser Point Bar & Grill, where bison burgers and craft beers come with a side of stunning lake views.

The Best for Activity-Seekers: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village

For some folks, vacation doesn’t mean slowing down, and for them, a stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village ensures there’s no chance of getting bored. Active types can work up a sweat playing basketball, tennis and pickleball or unleash the beast in the Survival of the Fittest Fitness Center, where they’ll find free weights, treadmills, ellipticals and more. Guests looking for something less intense can play ping-pong and make crafts in the Community Hall or aim for a high score in the Safari So Good Arcade. Of course, Kidani Village’s location in Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park means you can take part in engaging wildlife programs led by Animal Specialists, too. Wildlife Field Guides are also on hand to help you learn about the 30 species of African animals that call the surrounding savannas home, including kudu, zebras and giraffes.

The Best for Splashing Around: Disney’s Beach Club Villas

If your swimsuit is the first thing you pack for vacation, make Disney’s Beach Club Villas your next port of call. This elegant New England-style beach hotel overlooks Crescent Lake and features the splashtastic Stormalong Bay, a sprawling watery wonderland with multiple pools, lagoons and even a life-size shipwreck! Water lovers can float along a lazy river and shoot down one of the highest hotel waterslides at Walt Disney World® Resort. Older aqua aficionados will appreciate the three leisure pools and their whirlpool spas, while those traveling with tadpoles in tow should be sure to take them to Stormalong Bay’s two kiddie pools. Guests can also relax on the property’s white-sand beach, join a guided fishing excursion or rent a motorboat for a spin around the lake, while young buccaneers should be sure to set sail in search of hidden treasure on a Pirate Adventure Cruise. If the time ever does come to get out of the water, you needn’t go far — lay out on an elevated tanning deck or rent a poolside cabana, which comes with a TV and cocktail service.

The Best for Feeling Like a Princess: The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

You’ll get the royal treatment when you stay at The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. This grande dame of Walt Disney World® Resort stands in Victorian splendor alongside the Seven Seas Lagoon, providing a vaunted vantage point for the fireworks above Cinderella Castle. Guests are greeted by a bronze Mary Poppins fountain and custom five-tier chandeliers in the lobby, but the palace-worthy amenities don’t stop there. Residences feature regal touches like crown molding, cove ceilings, granite countertops and marble tile floors in the bathrooms. Come dinnertime, you can feast on fresh seafood in Narcoossee’s waterfront pavilion or enjoy Mediterranean-inflected Florida cuisine at Cítricos. The resort’s crowning culinary experience is at Victoria & Albert’s, recipient of the AAA Five Diamond award for more than two decades. Savor the six-course prix fixe menu, or indulge in one of the restaurant’s special experiences. The Chef’s Table Dinner is a luxurious three-hour tasting menu experience, while dinner in Queen Victoria’s Room lets you dine in private, accompanied by live harp music. Guests of The Villas can also receive a pampering worthy of a princess in Senses, the resort’s full-service spa. Treat yourself to a massage, manicure or body treatment and feel what it means to live like royalty.

The Best for a Charming Getaway: Disney’s Old Key West Resort

Disney’s Old Key West Resort brings the charm of the Florida Keys to Walt Disney World® Resort. Surrounded by glimmering waterways and swaying palms, the property’s seclusion makes it the perfect retreat for an adults-only getaway. Enjoy a leisurely brunch with your loved one on the terrace of Olivia’s Café and then take a romantic surrey bike ride around the grounds. If you’re a competitive couple, challenge each other to a game of tennis or pickleball or see who comes out on top in some match play on the adjacent golf course. Get warmed up beforehand — or just motivate each other — in the Fitness Center at R.E.S.T. Beach, where the weights, treadmills and other state-of-the-art equipment are available 24 hours a day. Then, when it’s time to relax, sink into one of the resort’s whirlpool spas or soothe yourselves in the dry sauna by Sandcastle Pool.

The Best for Nightlife Fun: Disney’s BoardWalk Villas

For anyone who wants to seize the night, and not just the day, Disney’s BoardWalk Villas are calling. This is Disney Vacation Club®’s top property for nightlife, and the magic doesn’t stop once the sun goes down. Foodies will want to flock to the Flying Fish Café for its Signature Dining experience, which features sustainable seafood and succulent steaks, and to Trattoria al Forno for the Truffle Gnocchi. Ultimately, though, staying here is all about Disney’s BoardWalk, a quarter-mile promenade that comes alive after dark with shopping, dining and lots of nighttime entertainment! Watch the street performers and play some midway games, then head to Jellyrolls to delight in dueling pianos or the Atlantic Dance Hall nightclub to dance the night away.

The Best Local Hideaway: Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort

Escape the crowds at Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort on the South Carolina coast, where 12 miles of white-sand beach and plenty of Southern hospitality await. Inspired by 1940s hunting and fishing lodges, the property exudes local charm, and while it’s only five hours from Walt Disney World® Resort, it feels worlds away. When it’s beach time, just hop on one of the complimentary shuttles for the short ride to the coast, where you’ll also find Disney’s Beach House and its recreational lounge.

The Best for Culture Connoisseurs: Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

Staying at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows is like being whisked away to the South Pacific. Check in and you’ll find yourself immersed in the culture, food and fun of Polynesia. An island ambience pervades the grounds, as palm trees sway in the breeze and traditional music fills the air. Get into the spirit by taking a Hula Dance Lesson, watching the daily Torch Lighting Ceremony or competing in contests beneath a soaring volcano at a Lava Pool Party. Guests looking for a more laid-back swim chart a course for the Oasis Pool, set amid a lush garden. Of course, one of the best parts of experiencing a new culture is trying the food, and let’s just say the educational opportunities here are mouthwatering! Enjoy spicy shrimp and pineapple-barbecued jackfruit at ‘Ohana restaurant or treat yourself to a frozen DOLE WHIP® at Pineapple Lanai. Adult Guests can also sip tropical concoctions at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto and Tiki Terrace. Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows offers Walt Disney World® Resort’s largest Deluxe Studios, but for a truly immersive stay, book one of the overwater Bungalows. You’ll feel like you’ve been transported to a tropical paradise as you watch the Magic Kingdom® Park fireworks from your private deck’s plunge pool!

As a Disney Vacation Club® Member, you can experience all of these resorts and more, from Disney Cruise Line cruises to journeys with Adventures by Disney®, and National Geographic Expeditions , so whatever you can’t squeeze in this year, you can do in the years to come! There’s no better way to keep the Disney magic alive year after year than by joining the Disney Vacation Club®, and there’s no better way to make your Disney vacation dreams a reality than by taking advantage of the special vacation financing available to Disney Visa Cardmembers.¹²