Disney World value resorts are still some of the most popular places to stay on property.
Art of Animation
They’re affordable by Disney standards, they keep you inside the Disney bubble, and they work especially well for families who plan to spend most of their time in the parks. That said, prices have gone up, expectations have changed, and some longtime perks never came back. Here are four things we think Disney World’s cheapest hotels desperately need moving forward.
Package Delivery Needs to Come Back
This one comes up constantly, and for good reason. Resort package delivery used to be one of those little perks that made staying on Disney property feel easier. You could buy souvenirs in the parks and have them sent straight to your hotel, which meant no carrying bags all day and no stressing about rides or weather ruining your purchases.
Pop Century Lobby
Right now, if you are staying at a value resort, you either carry everything with you or ship it home yourself. That extra friction makes guests think twice before buying merchandise at all. Bringing package delivery back would make shopping easier for guests and likely encourage more spending, which feels like a win for everyone involved. For value resort guests especially, this perk matters. These hotels are often full of families, strollers, and kids who are already juggling enough. Not having to lug around bags would go a long way toward making value stays feel more thoughtful and guest-friendly.
Extended Evening Hours Should Not Be Deluxe Only
Early Entry is great, but it does not feel special anymore. Every Disney hotel guest gets it, and that means crowds still show up fast. Meanwhile, extended evening hours remain exclusive to deluxe resorts, which leaves value guests feeling left out, even though they are also staying on property.
Animal Kingdom during Extended Evening Hours
Value resort guests are paying more than ever, and many of them are longtime Disney fans. Giving them access to some form of extended evening hours, even on select nights or at select parks, would help balance the perk scale a bit. It would also make value resorts feel like a smarter choice rather than a compromise.
Pretty chill
Late nights in the parks are especially helpful for families with older kids, adults traveling without kids, and guests who want cooler temperatures and shorter waits. That experience should not be limited only to the most expensive hotels.
The Refrigerators Need to Be Bigger and Better
Value resort refrigerators technically exist, but anyone who has used one knows the struggle. They do not hold much, and they can be frustrating if you are trying to store groceries, drinks, or even leftovers.
Coffee Station
Guests are increasingly using grocery delivery services, especially families and budget-conscious travelers. A refrigerator that actually functions well would support that habit and make value resorts more practical for longer stays. A slightly larger, more reliable refrigerator doesn’t feel like a luxury upgrade, but more like a basic expectation in 2026. This is one of those small changes that could quietly improve the guest experience in a big way.
Food Courts Need More Personality and Variety
If you have eaten at one value resort food court recently, you have basically eaten at all of them. The menus have become nearly identical, which takes away a lot of the fun and personality that these resorts used to have.
Food Court
Food courts are the heart of value resorts. They are where guests gather in the mornings, wind down at night, and grab quick meals between park days. Right now, they feel functional but a bit uninspired. Adding more unique items, rotating specials, or resort-specific dishes would help these spaces feel less generic. Even small differences between menus would give guests a reason to look forward to eating at their resort instead of seeing it as a last resort option.
Landscape of Flavors
Disney World value resorts still do a lot of things right, but these updates feel overdue. With a few thoughtful changes, Disney’s cheapest hotels could feel a lot more magical without losing what makes them affordable in the first place.
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THANK YOU! I’ve been saying for a while that Extended Park Hours should be offered to Moderate and Value resorts on occasion, like maybe once a week or every other week. I don’t understand why they took that perk away in the first place!
The problem with your extended evening hours idea is that if you expand it beyond Deluxe Resorts it quickly loses its value because the parks will be too crowded. That’s just the painfully reality of the situation.
For the record I am a DVC member who only stays at DVC resorts so status quo is to my benefit.
What I meant to say is one category of resort one day each week…deluxe gets several days a month, maybe Value gets one evening one week, then Mods get one day another week. Then the deluxe have all the other days. Not exactly great for us who can’t afford a Deluxe hotel but it would be a start.
I agree that all Disney resorts should offer extended evening hours, luggage holding for your 1st & last day, & souvenir drop off to 1 of guest choosing (gift shop or room). The perks of a Disney resort Hotel, is being in a building in case of bad weather & not being trapped in a room or 2. So the Disney resort Motels should have an emergency purchase location near each building to purchase during severe weather that makes it difficult to travel to the lobby/food court. Plus a larger refrigerator & small pantry to store it in. Plus, how about a baby changing table that slides out from the under (side) or the sink.
Better soundproofing! Very disturbing to hear other guests in their bathrooms…not only the toilet flushing…