How I Get a Great Room at Disney World Every Time
Getting a great room at Disney World isn't just about luck—it’s about knowing how to navigate a system designed to upcharge you for things that don't always matter. After years of trial and error (and a few long walks from the "cheap seats"), I’ve narrowed down exactly how to win the room lottery every time.
Below is a deep dive into my top 10 strategies for making room requests at Disney. If you want to see these rooms in action and hear the full breakdown, check out my companion video below!
I used to think booking a Disney room was a simple "click and go" situation. I assumed that if I paid more, I’d get a better experience. I was wrong. Disney’s room classification system is a beast of its own, and if you don't know how to navigate it, you might find yourself paying a premium for a view you never look at or a walk that leaves your feet throbbing before you even get to the parks.
After years of staycations and research, I’ve narrowed down my strategy to 10 essential rules. Here is exactly how I ensure a great room every time I head to the Magic.
10. The "Discount Site" Trap
We all love a deal. When I see a Disney resort pop up on a site like Priceline at a significantly lower rate than the Disney website, my finger itches to hit "book." But there is a hidden cost to these savings.
Disney often allocates specific, dedicated room inventory to third-party sites. These aren't randomly assigned; they are usually grouped in the sections Disney has trouble filling. A prime example is Disney’s Pop Century Resort. While it’s one of my favorite values, if you book through a discount site, you are almost guaranteed to end up in the 1990s section. (To find the best rooms at Pop Century, I suggest you watch my video here).
Why does that matter? Because the 1990s section is effectively the "outer rim" of the resort. It is the absolute furthest walk from the Skyliner, the bus stops, and the food court. When you book directly through Disney, you’re in their system with much more flexibility. If the resort isn't full, Disney can move you around to better locations. On a third-party booking, you’re often locked into that specific, less-desirable block.
9. Disney Charges for Views, Not Convenience
This is the biggest "Aha!" moment most people have when booking a Deluxe resort. In most hotels, you expect to pay more to be closer to the action. Often times Disney charges you for what you see when you open the curtains, not how many steps it takes to get to the elevator in the Deluxe category.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
You’ll see a menu of options: Water View, Theme Park View, Garden View, or even Fireworks View. Each one carries a price hike. However, I’ve stayed in "Theme Park View" rooms that were at the very end of a sprawling hallway, nearly half a mile from the lobby. You have to ask yourself: am I paying for a picture-perfect window, or do I want to save my legs? Often, the cheapest "Standard View" is actually closer to the monorail or the lobby.
8. Standard vs. Garden: The Moderate Secret
If you’re booking a Moderate resort like Coronado Springs or Port Orleans, the "Garden View" upgrade is one of the most common pitfalls.
Officially, a Standard View looks at a parking lot, a rooftop, or a service area. A Garden View is guaranteed not to look at a parking lot. But here’s the reality: because of how these resorts are landscaped, a huge percentage of Standard rooms actually overlook beautiful trees, courtyards, and quiet walkways. I’ve booked Standard many times and ended up with a view that was identical to a Garden View. Unless you have a phobia of seeing a car from your window, save the $20-$40 a night and stick with Standard.
7. The Power of "Preferred"
While I tell you to be careful with "Views," I will almost always advocate for a "Preferred Room" at Value and Moderate resorts. At places like Caribbean Beach, the resort is so massive that it actually has its own internal bus system just to get around the hotel.
Paying for a Preferred room places you in the buildings closest to the main amenities—the food court, the feature pool, and the primary transportation hubs. After a 14-hour day in the parks, the last thing you want is a 15-minute trek through the humidity just to get from the bus stop to your bed. In this case, you are literally buying time and comfort.
6. The Corner Room Request
This is a "stealth" upgrade that costs exactly zero dollars. At most Moderate resorts, the buildings are designed in a way that corner rooms often feature an extra window. (see my video segment on corner rooms)
Corner room at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside
This sounds like a small detail, but it changes the entire vibe of the room. Disney rooms can sometimes feel a bit "boxy" or dark; that second window floods the space with natural light and makes the room feel significantly larger. You can’t select this on the website, but you can add it as a request in the app or ask nicely at the front desk. It’s not guaranteed, but when it works, it’s a total game-changer.
5. When Upgrades Aren't Upgrades
Not all "upgraded" rooms are created equal. Let’s look at Animal Kingdom Lodge. A "Savanna View" is iconic—who doesn't want to wake up to a giraffe? But it can easily cost $200+ more per night.
What many people don't realize is that the "Standard View" rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge are often in fantastic locations near the lobby. Plus, the resort is designed with massive, beautiful public viewing areas and overlooks. You can walk 30 seconds from your Standard room, sit in a rocking chair on a balcony, and see the same giraffes for free. I’d rather spend that $200 on a nice dinner at Jiko.
4. Defining "Water View"
Disney’s definition of "Water" is... generous. When you pay for a Water View, you might be picturing a serene lake or a flowing river. In reality, Disney classifies anything wet as a water view. This includes the quiet pools, the feature pools, or even a small decorative pond.
At Caribbean Beach, people often pay for a Water View to see the lake, forgetting that the rooms have no balconies. You are paying a premium to look through a single window that likely has the curtains drawn for privacy anyway. It’s one of the least valuable upgrades in the Disney catalog.
3. The Standout Specials
There are a few specific rooms that I like to book when getting a great room location is important, but also on budget:
The Contemporary Garden Wing: Everyone wants the main Tower, but the Garden Wing is significantly cheaper. You get the same monorail, the same walk to Magic Kingdom, and the same amenities for a fraction of the price.
Port Orleans French Quarter Standard: This is the smallest resort on property. Because of its footprint, almost every "Standard" room is a "good" room. Buildings 3 and 4 are my favorites—they’re central to everything and usually the cheapest category available.
2. The 5th Sleeper Strategy
For families of five, the "5th Sleeper" rooms at Caribbean Beach and Port Orleans Riverside are absolute lifesavers. These rooms include a small fold-down bed (the "trundle") that is perfect for kids.
5th Sleeper Bed at Port Orleans Riverside
Usually, a family of five is forced into a Deluxe resort, which can double the cost of the trip. By choosing a Moderate with a 5th sleeper, you save thousands while still giving everyone a place to sleep. Just be careful: in the Deluxe category, Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge standard rooms only sleep four. If you need that fifth bed in a Deluxe, you’ll have to look at the monorail resorts or the BoardWalk area.
1. The Pool View Warning
Finally, the one room category I avoid at all costs: The Pool View. It looks great in the brochure, but it is the loudest room in the resort.
Between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM, Disney pools often have a DJ playing loud music and hosting games over a microphone. If you have a child who needs a nap—or if you’re a "mid-day break" person like me—it is nearly impossible to sleep. And it doesn't end there. At 5:30 AM, custodial teams arrive to power-wash the deck and move the metal chairs (which makes a lovely scraping sound). Save your sleep and your money—skip the pool view.
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Booking a Disney room is more than just picking a hotel. From the "Priceline Trap" to the "Water View" scam, I'm sharing my top 10 tips to help you get the best room every time.