Along with its sister hotel, the Beach Club, the Yacht Club offers exclusive use of one of Disney's best hotel pool areas. Known as Storm Along Bay, the pool area is often very busy and is best for families whose kids are old enough that they don't have to be watched every minute. An arcade and ice cream fountain are located close to the pool offering a slice of teen and tween heaven if you want to take an afternoon off from the parks. Located next to the back entrance to Epcot it is an easy walk over to see the Fireworks or have dinner at one of Epcot's many restaurants.

Saratoga Springs was built for the Disney Vacation club and most people staying there are members although studio, one bedroom and two bedroom villas are often made available through the Disney reservation system as well. There are fewer services here than in other resort class Disney hotels. It is a sprawling complex that offers good access to Downtown Disney restaurants like Planet Hollywood and activities like Disney Quest. Access to the parks is via bus which can sometime take a bit of time so it is good to have a car here. If you want to order groceries and do some of your own cooking this can be a good option for a larger group.

The Swan and Dolphin are the only hotels inside the Disney World resort that are not actually operated by Disney. They tend to cater to a business convention crowd and there is less Disney type decorations and pixie dust than at the other hotels. The restaurants tend to be higher end and the hotel has a more formal feel. Very good quality but sort of stuffy for our crowd.

Situated near the back entrance of Disney World's Epcot theme park, the Boardwalk Resort conjures up Atlantic City of old complete, a three-story clown-themed waterslide and lots of free nightly entertainment on the boardwalk in the evenings. Grab pizza and ice cream or stop by the ESPN Club on your way into Epcot. Offers a range of rooms including multi-room suites and villas that are good for families with older kids who need some space.

The Animal Kingdom lodge features a towering lobby filled with African art works. It is surrounded by several savannahs that are home to a range of African animals. Book a savannah view room and wake up to giraffes outside your window. The Lodge has rooms with bunkbeds as well as villas with kitchens and multiple rooms.

Teens and tweens love a chance to do things on their own. Ours enjoyed roaming the grounds and checking out all the critters.