Everybody loves the idea of a tropical vacation with swaying palm trees and hammocks along the beach, and the iconic Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is usually the first resort that comes to mind when you think of “tropical Disney resorts”. But did you know that Walt Disney World actually offers that island vibe at several different resorts, in every resort category, and at various price points? Staying at a resort with a tropical ambiance can be more affordable than you think!

Each Disney resort hosts a magical evening campfire for guests to roast complimentary marshmallows, make their own Mickey s’mores, and chat with cheerful Cast Members. I’ve been lucky enough to experience every single resort’s campfire activity, and if you’ve been following @MagicalResortGuide on Instagram or Facebook, you’ve seen my recent series of posts with photos and reviews of each resort campfire. They’re all a fun time and worth visiting, but now I’m ranking my top five campfires and letting you know which ones are my absolute favorites!

An adorable new activity has been popping up at select Disney Resorts lately! Cute character cut-outs are hiding around the resorts, and they’re moved to a new hiding place every day. Guests are invited to search the resort and find these characters to receive a prize!

If you have any downtime outside of the parks planned - like a resort-only day, hanging out at a resort Community Hall for a few hours for an afternoon break, or even if you’re stuck inside on a rainy day - one of the top go-to activities is ceramic painting! Ceramic painting is available at any Community Hall, every single day from 10:00 AM-10:00 PM.

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort is one of the best places to be if you’re planning a resort-only day, and the L&B Gem Mining Co. Experience is an amazing addition to your Fort Wilderness activity itinerary. This is truly a “hidden gem” of an activity that doesn’t get much attention, but it’s so unique (and a perfect fit for anyone that collects gems, fossils, arrowheads, shark teeth, or rocks)!