For many travelers, Disney theme parks are the gold standard of fun-filled vacations. If you’ve “done Disney” and are ready for something new, Xcaret in Mexico’s Riviera Maya is worth a closer look. Just like Disney World, Xcaret is more than a park, it’s a full vacation destination with luxury resorts, activities for all ages, world-class entertainment, and incredible dining. The big difference? Instead of central Florida, you’re surrounded by turquoise Caribbean waters and the lush Mexican jungle.

HERE’S HOW THE TWO COMPARE:

Lodging: Iconic Resorts vs. Luxury All-Inclusive Retreats

Disney: Staying on property is part of the magic. The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa offers Victorian-inspired elegance and monorail access to Magic Kingdom, while the Polynesian Village Resort surrounds you with tropical theming and a South Pacific vibe. Rooms are cozy, themed, and family-focused.

Xcaret: At Hotel Xcaret México, you’ll find suites with hammocks overlooking the ocean, jungle, or river, plus swim-up rooms for a true tropical escape. For adults-only, Hotel Xcaret Arte blends luxury with art, design, and rooftop pools. The best part? Every stay includes unlimited access to all Xcaret parks and tours, your room key is essentially a park ticket.

👉 If you love the convenience and immersion of a Disney resort, you’ll love the upscale, nature-integrated stays at Xcaret where luxury and access are bundled together.

Hotel Xcaret Arte

Hotel Xcaret Mexico

La Casa de la Playa

Activities & Adventure: Rides vs. Natural Thrills

At Disney, thrills and excitement come ride by ride, and planning your itinerary means adding park tickets, dining reservations, FastPass selections, and hoping for seamless transportation.
At Xcaret, staying at one of the All-Fun Inclusive® resorts changes the game entirely. Your nightly rate covers:
- Unlimited admissions to every Grupo Xcaret park and tour, from Xcaret to Xplor, Xel-Há to Xoximilco.
- Shuttles between your hotel, the airport, and the parks, running frequently and included in the price.
- Meals and drinks, both at resort restaurants and many park venues, are included unless noted as “premium.”
Want more thrill or a cultural twist? Zip-line through caves, snorkel hidden lagoons, float underground rivers, explore cenotes, or party aboard a trajinera, all without extra tickets. Want an even more memorable moment? You can upgrade with extras like a spa treatment or a private tasting dinner—optional, and totally up to you.
👉 If Disney is about ride planning, Xcaret’s All-Fun Inclusive® is about uninhibited exploration. Everything’s covered, so you can spend your energy making memories, not calculating budgets.

Dining & Culinary Culture: Themed Restaurants vs. Gourmet Mexican Cuisine

Disney World: Food is a big part of the magic, think Cinderella’s Royal Table, Be Our Guest, or dining “around the world” at EPCOT. Dining is playful, themed, and accessible for all ages.

Xcaret (Riviera Maya): Dining here is both included and elevated. Staying at Hotel Xcaret México, Hotel Xcaret Arte, or La Casa de la Playa means most meals and drinks at resort and park restaurants are part of your stay—no card swiping at every turn. This includes casual and many gourmet options.

But it doesn’t stop there. The resort brings culinary immersion to another level:

Chef-led Tasting Menus: At Hotel Xcaret México, you can reserve Há, a seven-course dinner by Michelin-starred Chef Carlos Gaytán. At Hotel Xcaret Arte, there’s Xaak, a tasting menu crafted by the award-winning Culinary Collective of chefs, paired by a sommelier. These experiences are premium and come at an extra cost, but are widely praised.
Culinary Workshops & Cultural Experiences: At Hotel Xcaret Arte, guests can attend the Apapaxoa Culinary & Cultural Festival, featuring "Savory Tales" (chef and sommelier conversations), mindful breakfasts, cultural workshops, and immersive brunches or dinners. These events are usually an additional fee but add depth to your stay.
Special Events & Dinners: The resort also hosts unique culinary happenings like dinners in a cenote with live jazz, beach dinners, and themed festival events.

👉 If you love Disney’s themed dining, you’ll love Xcaret’s chef-driven, culture-rich culinary journey.

Entertainment: Fireworks vs. Cultural Celebration

At Disney World, you’re used to parades, fireworks over Cinderella’s Castle, and Broadway-style shows. It’s magical, and it works. At Xcaret, the entertainment lives deeper, from the moment you walk in to the final curtain call under the Mexican sky.

By day, discover charro parades, Pre-Hispanic rituals, and the Papantla Flyers flying above you in a traditional ritual. Wander through the Mayan Village, pause in the Butterfly Pavilion or Aviary, or visit the moving Cemetery and Chapel, all offering cultural layers you can’t get anywhere else.

As dusk falls, Xcaret crescendos into Xcaret México Espectacular, a breathtaking theatrical journey through Mexican history with hundreds of performers, dance, music, and costumes in a stadium surrounded by jungle. Want dinner with that? Dine and watch it unfold with a reserved gourmet menu.

If your day isn’t over yet, slip into Xenses Night Time to walk through a sensory wonderland where everything you know about light, sound, and perception gets a twist.

👉 Disney gives you performance. Xcaret gives you culture, nature, and performance intertwined. It’s storytelling that lives, breathes, and invites you into the narrative.

Family & Multi-Generational Fun: Disney Magic vs. Xcaret Togetherness

Disney World is fantastic for families, but it’s often ride-focused. At Xcaret, every family member gets their own moment, whether they’re two or seventy-two. Toddlers can splash safely in Children’s World and parents will appreciate strollers, high chairs, and shuttles. Tweens and teens find their zone in teen clubs or thrill parks full of ziplines and ATVs. Young adults can chase adventure, or brunch in a pyramid. Meanwhile, grandparents wander the aviary, explore cultural exhibits, or float quietly on Paradise River.

Want to stay together? The new Casas—like Luna for young families, Sol for teens, Vida for all ages, and Cielo for big family groups offer tailored spaces without leaving your loved ones behind. With meals, transportation, and park access included, Xcaret keeps everyone engaged, together.

Service & Hospitality

Disney World: Cast members are famous for creating magical moments with friendly, attentive service.
Xcaret: Staff offer warm, genuine Mexican hospitality paired with 5-star service. The All-Fun Inclusive® model means access to transportation, parks, and activities are already included, no juggling extra passes or planning add-ons.

👉 If you love Disney’s magical service, you’ll love Xcaret’s thoughtful, personalized hospitality.

Disney World in Orlando is pure magic, but if you’re looking for that same immersive, unforgettable vacation with a tropical twist, Xcaret in Mexico delivers. It’s where adventure, luxury, and culture come together—just as magical, but in a whole new setting.