Travel influencer reviews SEVEN Disney World hotels ranging from $165 to $800 A NIGHT to reveal which ones fare best

Looking for the most magical hotel stay? 

Then read on, as one avid traveler went about rating seven of Walt Disney World’s hotels to find which ones promise to make vacation dreams come true. 

YouTube star Ryan Trahan and wife Haley Pham journeyed to the Florida theme park, where they checked into a different hotel for seven nights in a row. 

While there are more than 30 hotels inside the park, the duo went about selecting hotels that contrast each other the most, with the themes ranging from cars to safaris to animation. 

Take a ride down to see how each hotel fared and which one stunned the couple – scoring an impressive 10 out of 10 rating. 

Disney’s Pop Century Resort: 4 out of 10  

The room appears to be simple but with all of the things needed for a comfortable night’s stay, including a coffee machine, desk space and an ensuite bathroom

The first resort Ryan and Haley land in is Disney’s Pop Century Resort, which they say is considered one of the park’s budget hotels. Stays start from just over $200 a night. 

Some of the perks of the hotel, the couple say, include the biggest games arcade in the park, an outdoor movie theatre, ‘tie dye cake’ on offer in the dining room and s’mores sessions at an outdoor fire. 

When they get to their room Ryan explains that he can open the door using his phone. 

The room appears to be simple but with all of the things needed for a comfortable night’s stay, including a coffee machine, desk space and ensuite bathroom. 

Ryan says at one point, as he focuses the camera on some of the bathroom products: ‘Here at Pop Century I think what surprised me the most is that pretty much everything is Disney branded.’

In the afternoon, the duo visit the arcade before making some s’mores, but they are shocked to find the sweet treats cost $7 each.

Later at dinner, they get some meatballs and pasta along with the resort’s ‘famous tie dye cake.’ 

Offering his verdict, Ryan says: ‘The tie-dye cake was actually pretty good.

Later at dinner, they get some meatballs and pasta along with the resort’s ‘famous tie dye cake’

‘It does taste a little strange at first but then you realize that’s because it’s pretty much just sweet food coloring, which is yummy.’

The next day, Ryan says it was a little hard to sleep because of the outdoor movie theater outside. However, breakfast puts him in a good mood, with some ‘intoxicating’ Mickey Mouse waffles.

He muses: ‘Haley and I are on the same page this breakfast is so good.’

Overall, Disney’s Pop Century Resort gets a mediocre 4 out of 10 with letdowns including one ply toilet paper in the bathroom, noise at night and expensive sweet treats.  

Disney’s Contemporary Resort: 9 out of 10  

Detailing some of the history behind Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the second hotel they stay in, Ryan says: ‘The Contemporary Resort is one of the original three resorts of Disney World. 

‘The rooms here were literally pre-built and then lifted on a crane and slid into place. I think the Contemporary is a very nice upgrade like it’s much fancier than the last one.’

Ryan goes on to highlight that the ‘coolest’ feature of the ‘fancy’ hotel – which starts from $770 a night – is the fact that a monorail ‘literally goes directly into the hotel and can take you to Magic Kingdom and Epcot.’

Ryan highlights that the ‘coolest’ feature of the ‘fancy’ hotel is the fact that a monorail ‘literally goes directly into the hotel and can take you to Magic Kingdom and Epcot’

The YouTuber goes about showing viewers around the bathroom where there is a monorail themed mirror and a ‘massive shower’

When they get to their room, the couple are impressed by what they find. Ryan says: ‘We have two beds for some reason [and] the towels are shaped like Mickey Mouse’

To make their stay extra special, Ryan goes about booking the hotel’s California Grill restaurant on the rooftop. When they get to their room, the couple are impressed by what they find. 

Ryan says: ‘We have two beds for some reason. 

‘The towels are shaped like Mickey Mouse and the bed… this one’s nice… this one’s actually really good.’

The YouTuber then goes about showing viewers around a ‘nice couch communal area, the bathroom where there is a monorail themed mirror and a massive shower.’

Last but not least, Ryan reveals a balcony ‘with a view of the whole world.’ 

In the hotel, they check out the Contemporary Cafe where Haley gets a grilled cheese sandwich, while at their ‘fancy dinner’ later in the day, some of the courses include sushi and steak. 

In the morning, the avid travelers check into the Chef Mickey’s restaurant for breakfast. Ryan says the dining venue has ‘similar options’ to Pop Century but it feels ‘a little bit more fancy.’ He highlights that the buffet costs extra as a cast of Disney characters come out to entertain diners.

Overall, Disney’s Contemporary Resort gets an impressive 9 out of 10 rating. 

Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort: 5 out of 10  

For their third night at Disney, the couple check into the All-Star Sports Resort, which they highlight as another budget hotel. Rates come in at around $165 per night

For their third night at Disney, the couple check into the All-Star Sports Resort, which they highlight as another budget hotel. Rates come in at around $165 per night.

While it is one of the cheaper Disney hotels, Ryan says what makes this hotel ‘magical’ is the fact that there are giant sports balls ‘everywhere’ and their room even opens out on to a football field.

Topping things off, everything follows a sports theme, from the food court to the games arcade.

In their room, Ryan discovers the desk actually folds out to create another bed (the same feature existed in Pop Century but he didn’t realize), meanwhile they have another Mickey Mouse shaped towel display and ‘plenty of hangers’ in the closet.

While it is the same price point as Pop Century, Ryan says the All-Star Sports Resort has ‘much more of a vibe’ and he even goes as far as to say he would be happy living there.

In their room, Ryan discovers the desk actually folds out to create another bed (the same feature existed in Pop Century but he didn’t realize)

For their evening meal, the couple check into the End Zone Food Court where Haley opts for sesame chicken and Ryan opts for grilled chicken sandwich

For their evening meal, the couple check into the End Zone Food Court where Haley opts for sesame chicken and Ryan opts for grilled chicken sandwich which comes served with an unappetizing ‘big cheese block.’ 

As a treat, Hayley finishes things off with a hot fudge Sunday back in the room. In the morning, the influencers find it’s ‘bustling’ outside with ‘people having fun’ and at the restaurant they order the same breakfast as they got at Pop Century. 

Ryan says: ‘I’m convinced that the Mickey waffles have something in them that’s addicting. I also feel weird obliterating Mickey’s face like this every morning but I don’t see another way.’

The couple end up giving the All-Star Sports Resort a 5 out of 10 rating as it lacks the luxury trimmings. 

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort: 8 out of 10

Venturing to a different part of the Disney park, the couple check into the Art of Animation Resort next

Venturing to a different part of the Disney park, the couple check into the Art of Animation Resort next.

The hotel – which has a nightly rate from around $550 – features various themed sections, including Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid, along with themed rooms.

Ryan says he loves the hotel from the get go, as he is a big fan of Cars and they stay in an area which is designed to look like the fictional town of Radiator Springs.

The couple’s room is located inside a central building, which Ryan says makes it ‘more elevated’ compared to the previous hotel rooms which opened onto outdoor spaces.

When Ryan and Hayley access their Cars-themed room, they excitedly give viewers a tour with standout features including a dining table that can seat four, a standing light which is fashioned out of road cones and a couch which folds out into a bed.

Ryan says he loves the hotel from the get go, as he is a big fan of Cars and they stay in an area which is designed to look like the fictional town of Radiator Springs

Overall, the hotel gets an 8 out of 10 rating for its impressive design

Haley also gives the full-length mirror in the bathroom a thumbs up as she said the other rooms didn’t feature this. 

Ryan says: ‘This hotel room is great and outside of our room it actually feels like we are in Radiator Springs, which is really cool.’

After enjoying their room for a short while and touring the rest of the hotel, the couple venture to the Landscape of Flavors food court for dinner. 

Hayley goes for chicken tenders and fries while Ryan orders a cheeseburger and fries. To work off their meal, the duo go for a late night swim at the Cozy Cone Motel pool.

The next day, they ‘eat the same breakfast for the fourth time’ but the Mickey shaped waffles are swapped out for some Nemo inspired creations instead. Ryan also notes that they get proper plates instead of paper platters, along with ‘actual silverware.’

Overall, the hotel gets an 8 out of 10 rating for its impressive design. 

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge: 8.5 out of 10

Upping their game, Ryan and Hayley journey to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge next. Stays start from close to $600 a night. They say that they’re both ‘really excited about this one,’ as it’s a ‘deluxe resort’ and ‘its wilderness vibe is off the charts.’ 

Ryan says there are also several ‘fun facts’ about the resort, including that it is apparently home to a train collection that once belonged to Walt Disney, it has its own fireworks show and there’s a boat service that takes guests directly to Magic Kingdom.

When they walk into the hotel, Ryan describes the lobby as ‘marvelous,’ with a wooden, jungle-like interior.   

Upping their game, Ryan and Hayley journey to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. They say that they’re both ‘really excited about this one,’ as it’s a ‘deluxe resort’

He explains that there is a bridge in one section with ‘water running underneath,’ while the gift shop sells impressive themed merchandise. 

In the room, Ryan finds various upgrades, including real china coffee mugs, a king-size bed, marble countertop in the bathroom and quilted toilet paper.  

After checking out the room, the couple head to the hotel’s restaurant, the Roaring Fork, which Ryan describes as being ‘quaint’ and ‘like something your would find at a resort in the Midwest.’

The duo give the restaurant’s ‘Gold Rush lattes’ a big thumbs up, and deem them ‘the best iced lattes of the trip, hands down.’

That night, the couple head out for another fancy dinner at the hotel’s Artist Point restaurant, which takes inspiration from Snow White.

Ryan says the tables are set amid the ‘Enchanted Forest’ with various characters dotted around to greet guests. 

The duo give the restaurant’s ‘Gold Rush lattes’ a big thumbs up, and said they were ‘the best iced lattes of the trip, hands down’

In the room, Ryan finds various upgrades, including real china coffee mugs, a king-size bed, marble countertop in the bathroom and quilted toilet paper

The menu is also themed, and the couple are greeted with desserts shaped like ‘poisoned apples’ to finish. 

Completing their magical hotel experience, Ryan and Hayley take a sunset cruise on the boat headed towards Magic Kingdom.  

In the morning, they head to one of the hotel’s other restaurants for breakfast, with the Whispering Canyon Cafe specializing in western fare.

Ryan says of the dining experience: ‘It is a very different vibe from the last place. It’s one of those restaurants where the waiters are kind of rude to you on purpose but our waitress ended up being really nice and the food was good. 

‘A Mickey waffle was harmed and we had to go back for one more iced Gold Rush latte. If you come here, you have to get it, it’s so good!’

With the room and restaurants leaving a good impression on the couple, they give it a 8.5 rating out of 10 before they head off to their next port of call.  

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge: 7.5 out of 10

Taking an even wilder turn, the couple head to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge for the penultimate night in the park

Taking an even wilder turn, the couple head to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge for the penultimate night in the park. Stays start from just over $500 a night.

Ryan explains that at this hotel, guests can spot up to 30 different animals from their rooms including zebras and giraffes.

The couple’s initial impression of the hotel was let down by the fact that they had to wait for their room past the check-in time.

However, when the get into their room, they are impressed by the amount of space it offers with a full-size kitchen, roomy living room, safari-themed bedroom and spacious bathroom with separate toilet.

As the couple get into their room a little later than planned, they head to the hotel restaurant Mara shortly after.

According to the Disney website, Mara offers ‘African-inspired fare, American favorites and breakfast.’

When the get into their room, the YouTubers are impressed by the amount of space it offers with a full-size kitchen and roomy master bedroom 

The couple indulge in yet some more Mickey Mouse waffles for breakfast while staying at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Ryan says of the eatery: ‘It’s yet another food court but it feels like we’re at a safari or something, so that makes it feel new to me.’

The couple order a burger and fries and pizza, which they enjoy outside before heading to bed for an early night so they can get up early to spot some wildlife. 

To Ryan’s dismay, when he gets up early the next day, there are no animals to be seen as they haven’t been let out into the public enclosure yet.  

Instead, he decides to head to breakfast with Haley for yet some more Mickey Mouse waffles.

When asked what she feels about the hotel, Haley suggest that it could do with a bit of a ‘spruce up.’ For this reason, the couple end up giving Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge a 7.5 out of 10.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort: 10 out of 10 

Ending their Disney vacation on a high, Ryan and Hayley check into one of park’s most luxurious hotels, the Polynesian Village Resort

Rates for this spot start from over $800 a night, making it one of the most expensive places to stay

Ending their Disney vacation on a high, Ryan and Hayley check into one of park’s most luxurious hotels, the Polynesian Village Resort. 

Rates for this spot start from over $800 a night, making it one of the most expensive places to stay. 

Ryan can’t contain his excitement as they near the hotel. He tells viewers: ‘[This] is also one of the original three resorts here at Disney…. what I’m trying to say is this is probably the most magical hotel at Disney World and we got the best room!’

The couple are set to stay in one of the premium overwater bungalow’s but as it isn’t ready for check-in, they tour some hotel’s other spots including the ‘Bou-tiki’ store and Captain Cook’s cafe, where they get free chocolate covered strawberries with their coffee.

When they finally get to their room, the couple are clearly blown away by what they find. 

Ryan exclaims: ‘Oh my gosh, this is so crazy! This tour is going to be a little more extravaganza!’

When they finally get to their room, the couple are clearly blown away by what they find. Ryan exclaims: ‘Oh my gosh, this is so crazy! This tour is going to be a little more extravaganza!’

Some of the bungalow highlight include a bed headboard fashioned out of surfboards and a bathroom with a full bathtub

Some of the bungalow highlights he points out include a bed headboard fashioned out of surfboards, a bathroom with a full bathtub, full guest wing, large TV in the living room and full kitchen with a stove top and microwave.

But the magic doesn’t stop there. Ryan tells viewers as he continues on the tour: ‘And just when we thought things couldn’t get any more magical, we looked outside and we have our own hot tub [on] our own balcony with plenty of seats. 

‘The coolest part to me is we have a view of pretty much everything.’

In the evening, instead of going to a restaurant, the couple attend an outdoor movie screening with some takeaway food. 

In the morning, the duo head to the Ohana restaurant for breakfast where Lilo and Stich are doing the rounds among diners. 

Ryan notes that the seating arrangement is a little strange, as all of the diners are sat together on long tables ‘like family.’

He also informs viewers that all of the food at Ohana is ‘unlimited and they bring it out to your table.’ For ‘old time sake,’ the couple ‘obliterate’ some Mickey waffles.

With it being time to check out, Ryan and Hayley give the Polynesian Village Resort a rating and it gets a faultless 10 out of 10 rating.