Some motels have theme park view rooms at Walt Disney World. Monorail loop resorts supply balconies overlooking Magic Kingdom; Crescent Lake lodging can see into EPCOT or Hollywood Studios; different motels have distinctive views, too. This covers the most effective choices for room classes & requests for fireworks, Cinderella Fortress, Spaceship Earth, Tower of Terror, and extra. (Up to date February 4, 2024.)
We’ll begin with the motels with theme park view rooms round Magic Kingdom; Grand Floridian, Modern, and Polynesian Village Resort all have rooms with theme park views. In the event you’re on the lookout for the most effective of the crème de la crème of those, seek the advice of our our Information to Membership Degree & Concierge Lounges at Walt Disney World. All of those resorts supply a Membership Degree, and most have the most effective views of Magic Kingdom.
Even relating to this trio of monorail loop properties, not all theme park room views are of equal high quality. Disney’s Modern Resort is the one one that’s really near Magic Kingdom. It advantages from that reality, and likewise the truth that it’s primarily a tower-style resort with elevated views that really look into the park. No different resort within the Magic Kingdom space affords this…
Along with Cinderella Fortress, you too can see Tomorrowland. Area Mountain and TRON Lightcycle Run are surprisingly near the Modern; though the view is partially of the latter’s present constructing, you too can see the dancing lights of the TRON cover, too. Parts of Primary Road, Frontierland, and Fantasyland are additionally seen from Disney’s Modern Resort. A part of the enjoyable about this view is the small print you’ll be able to spot if you happen to gaze lengthy sufficient; a perceptive eye will discover far more than the Magic Kingdom mountains.
With that mentioned, it’s not all upside from the Modern. It does have the closest and most elevated view, nevertheless it additionally has extra visible blight than the opposite resorts. Between you and the park is a big car parking zone, bus drop-off space, and highway. To some, this might damage the phantasm or magic of a theme park view. The attitude can be fairly far off-center, because the Modern is positioned largely to the east of Magic Kingdom.
In contrast, each Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort are positioned barely to the west of Magic Kingdom, however largely to the south. This implies the view is extra centered, which is sweet relating to fireworks. Each are farther away than the Modern, however they’re solely separated by Seven Seas Lagoon.
On steadiness, most company will in all probability choose the nearer however blemished view of Magic Kingdom provided by Disney’s Modern Resort. There’s additionally the truth that Magic Kingdom is well walkable from the Modern, which isn’t true on the Polynesian or Grand Floridian. That is considerably off-topic relating to views, however it’s a large deal, too.
My robust private choice is for the views at Disney’s Polynesian Resort. Not solely is that this essentially the most centered perspective (which does make a giant distinction for fireworks–particularly for the Halloween and Christmas Occasion ones with perimeter bursts), however the perspective is best layered and anchored by environment.
I’ll take the compromise of being a bit farther away however having the foreground of seashore (and bungalows in some spots), lake within the mid-ground, and having a view flanked by each Grand Floridian and the Modern. There’s extra to savor and recognize right here, together with the quintessential components of Walt Disney World. (Plus, no car parking zone view!)
My choose for the worst of the bunch would go to the theme park view rooms at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the supposed flagship resort at Walt Disney World. Right here, there are two distinct classes of theme park view rooms: outer constructing and principal constructing.
In each circumstances, you’re paying a big premium for a compromised view. The outer constructing view is arguably higher because it’s nearer, nevertheless it’s not practically as shut because the Modern, and it’s practically as far off-center. You may’t see into the park, that means that is principally only a Cinderella Fortress view.
The principle constructing has a greater angle, nevertheless it’s nonetheless inferior to the Polynesian, and also you’re even farther away. I ought to in all probability disclose right here that I feel the Grand Floridian is considerably overrated and I don’t assume its high quality or views even remotely justify its nightly charges. I’ll take the Poly over Grand Floridian any day of the week.
It’s price noting with regard to the monorail resorts that every one three even have Disney Trip Membership counterparts. If a view is your paramount concern, DVC is particularly vital with Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Modern Resort. Not solely is it barely nearer than the Modern itself, however Bay Lake Tower additionally has a non-public high flooring viewing space, High of the World Lounge.
Due to the nice views provided by High of the World Lounge, we really are likely to favor the Bay Lake views (dealing with the opposite course) right here. On the Grand Floridian and Poly Villas, there’s no such equal, so that you’ll need to spring for a theme park view.
A minimum of, there’s no equal for now. In late 2024, a brand new DVC Tower is opening at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. This may nearly assuredly supply distinctive views of Magic Kingdom since, like Bay Lake Tower, it’s a large tower. It’s fully misplaced on the Poly, will exacerbate the overcrowding at that resort, and there are a variety of different causes we don’t prefer it. Nevertheless it’s simple that the brand new Polynesian tower will rival and even beat Bay Lake Tower for Magic Kingdom views.
In any case, DVC is one of the simplest ways to go relating to theme park views of Magic Kingdom. It’s the most cost effective route and there are essentially the most choices–one thing that’ll be much more true when the Poly tower opens in late 2024. See our Cash-Saving Ideas for Renting Disney Trip Membership Factors if you wish to go this route.
Two different resorts within the Magic Kingdom space additionally bear mentioning right here: Wilderness Lodge and 4 Seasons Orlando. Each are farther away, and throughout Bay Lake relatively than Seven Seas Lagoon. Wilderness Lodge is continuously ignored as providing a Magic Kingdom view as few of its rooms do.
You just about must be staying on the Outdated Trustworthy Membership Degree to have an opportunity at glimpsing Cinderella Fortress from Wilderness Lodge. That is really my favourite view of the bunch–a pleasant angle and a stunning serenity to it–however it may be difficult to attain. At 4 Seasons Orlando, you’re merely a lot farther away. You may see Cinderella Fortress from a great variety of the rooms, nevertheless it’s a distant few.
The one different resort space that’s theme park adjoining is Crescent Lake, and Disney’s Yacht & Seaside Membership Resorts and Disney’s BoardWalk Inn don’t have the peak to promote views of both EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Nevertheless, lots of the BoardWalk, Deluxe Membership Degree, and water view rooms at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn (and its Villas) will supply glimpses of each Spaceship Earth and EPCOT’s fireworks present, Luminous.
There’s an alternative choice at Crescent Lake, and this affords rooms with what’s arguably the very best view in all of Walt Disney World. These motels are the Swan & Dolphin, which have lengthy been derided for the best way they intrude upon the sight strains behind World Showcase. What’s dangerous for the views of company inside EPCOT is fairly improbable for these staying in theme park view rooms at these two motels.
From a sensible perspective, we’re even larger followers of the Swan Reserve. This workplace building-esque tower is throughout the road from the primary Swan & Dolphin campus, however the rooms are considerably newer and nicer, and it’s not that far-off–only a few minutes from the pool space of the Swan & Dolphin. The theme park view rooms on the Swan Reserve supply an distinctive aerial-like have a look at EPCOT; different rooms supply sweeping views of the remainder of Walt Disney World.
There are different tower-style motels that supply views, albeit not the identical iconic ones of Magic Kingdom or EPCOT.
The most affordable choice is Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs, which has views of each EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. A number of the common outlying buildings at Coronado Springs even have views of those parks, however they’re not from the rooms since they’ve motel-style exterior hallways. Solely Gran Destino Tower has inside hallways and views from the rooms. Additionally, it’s so much taller than the few-story outer buildings.
Particularly, the view from Chronos Membership Degree at Gran Destino–or from the rooftop restaurant and lounge–into Disney’s Hollywood Studios is spectacular. Sadly, DHS doesn’t do a fully-fledged fireworks present anymore, but when it ever brings that again, Chronos Membership, Toledo, or Dahlia Lounge might be glorious locations to look at. Ditto the higher-floor rooms.
Though they’re not categorized as theme park view rooms, lots of the Skyliner view rooms at Disney’s Riviera Resort afford a view of EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios within the distance. That is very true of the Tower Studio, which is the smallest room at Walt Disney World. That’s the draw back–the upside is that the balconies on these rooms have nice views.
We love the views afforded by the rooms at Disney’s Riviera Resort, however extra for the best way they overlook the Skyliner gondola system and its subsequent door neighbor, Disney’s Caribbean Seaside Resort. There’s so much to see, and it’s a soothing and serene setting. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re dead-set on a terrific theme park view, this isn’t it. Tower of Terror and Spaceship Earth are seen within the distance, however that’s in all probability going to be overwhelming in case your expectations are to have a fowl’s eye view of a park.
One of the best view at Disney’s Riviera Resort is from Topolino’s Terrace, the rooftop restaurant. Fairly than utilizing additional factors or paying more cash for an upgraded view, we’d advocate placing that cash in direction of a meal at Topolino’s Terrace. The character breakfast is among the finest in all of Walt Disney World, and the fancy dinner is improbable. Two very totally different meals which are nice for various causes!
A number of of the tower-style motels within the Disney Springs Resort Space and Bonnet Creek likewise supply glimpses of the parks from a distance. Extra instantly, they provide a fowl’s eye view of Disney Springs, which is definitely pretty cool (particularly when the Rainforest Cafe volcano “erupts”).
To our data, none of those motels have theme park view reserving classes, however you may think about requesting a “fireworks view” at check-in. (Normally, these rooms supply peek-a-boo views of the park icons, at finest.)
Finally, rooms with theme park views are nice, however you additionally must justify the added price. You additionally want correct expectations, as among the theme park views are superb, whereas others are underwhelming. At among the resorts above, you’re paying an additional $100 to $250 per night time only for a view of the park–and sometimes that’s merely a glimpse of Cinderella Fortress rising above the tree line. (For extra tailor-made recommendation and assist, we’d advocate working with a free journey agent. The fee-free Approved Disney Trip Planner that we advocate is Be Our Visitor Holidays.)
Moreover, nearly with out exception, an analogous view may be discovered within the widespread areas of the resorts for no further cost. On the Modern, head out to the balcony outdoors the Grand Canyon concourse. On the Polynesian, head to the seashore or over to the Transportation and Ticket Heart close to the ferry dock. Over at Crescent Lake, you’ll be able to see the fireworks from quite a few components of the BoardWalk, with the most effective view on the bridge resulting in Yacht Membership from BoardWalk.
You thus must ask your self how a lot time you’ll spend in your balcony, whether or not you’d choose a non-public view over these public places, and the way a lot cash that view is price to you. Whereas we’ve had theme park views at the entire resorts in query, we’d by no means pay the premium for the reserving class at any of them once more.
We’d relatively splurge on different elements of the Walt Disney World expertise and benefit from the free views, however that’s simply us. Particularly, we like reserving a normal view after which placing the cash saved in direction of a pleasant dinner or two. To that time, if you need dinner with a view, take a look at our Greatest Eating places for Magic Kingdom Fireworks Views.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study motels on our Walt Disney World Resorts Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a singular have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every thing you want to know!
Your Ideas
Which Walt Disney World resort do you assume affords the most effective theme park view? Do you favor overlooking Cinderella Fortress, Tower of Terror, or Spaceship Earth? How a lot is the theme park view price to you per night time? Do you agree or disagree with our recommendation? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
