Located about 15 minutes from both Disney and Universal Studios on the beautiful (and massive) Grande Lakes resort grounds, the Ritz-Carlton is one of the best luxury hotels in Orlando -- swanky rooms, great pools, and a giant spa. But, since it shares all its features with the virtually identical JW Marriott, it's worth comparing rates.

The Grand Floridian, Disney's crown jewel, is as elegant as it is expensive. Its prime location on the monorail and the Seven Seas Lagoon makes this deluxe resort one of the most conveniently located, but its upscale restaurants, full-service spa, and formal décor appeal more to adults than children.

Part Neverland (totem poles and a Peter Pan kids' club) and part Hawaiian resort (nightly luaus and a Volcano Pool), the crowded, 853-room Polynesian remains one of Disney's most popular Deluxe-category resorts for families, thanks to its especially large rooms that sleep five and ideal location on both the Monorail and the beaches of the Seven Seas Lagoon.

Coronado Springs, a 1,961-room resort near Animal Kingdom, caters to visiting conventioneers (quiet pools, business center, Wi-Fi) and vacationing families (Mayan-temple pool and waterslide). Its rooms are among Disney's best, especially in the "Moderate" category, given that the 2009 renovation brought down comforters and flat-screens. But it's farther from most theme parks than other resorts.