Is it worth it? Do the accommodations and amenities justify the added investment? A trip to Walt Disney World is a significant family event for most and the trip-of-a-lifetime for some. But are there good reasons to stay on Disney property as opposed to one of the off-property local hotels?
I have visited Orlando in all kinds of family and group configurations over the years. We have stayed off property in a hotel, off property in another resort, and, most often, on Walt Disney World Resort property. Here are 13 reasons why staying in the heart of the Disney magic makes all the difference.
1. Immersion
A significant part of the draw to staying on property is the immersive Disney experience. It is what some call the “Disney Bubble”. Disney knows how to take visitors away from the cares and stresses of daily, outside existence. They are masters at creating a true getaway for visitors of all ages. From the moment you deboard your plane and step onto the Magic Express at Orlando International Airport until the moment you return to MCO for your flight home, you are inside the magic of Disney. There, Cast Members (as all Disney employees are called) work hard to bring you in and make you feel welcome.
There are many added benefits of staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel. Not having to deal with rental cars, parking, parking fees, and the interstate. Driving back and forth (or finding transportation) to and from your hotel. Getting turned around, or long walks back to your car at the end of the day when everyone is exhausted. Not that I’ve done any of those things.
I’m currently planning a trip to Orlando to check out all of the updates for you. (I’m going to visit another theme park while I’m there, too.) Trying to work out the best transportation to the other resort park, around Orlando, and then to the airport from that other resort has me appreciating Disney’s Magic Express even more!
2. The Magic Express
Disney’s Magic Express is just that… magical.
First, you drop off your luggage with your air carrier in your home airport. That is the last time you touch your bags until they magically show up in your Walt Disney World Resort room! This means you can pack all the snacks, clothes, accessories, and necessities that you may otherwise waffle about if you were having to haul it yourself. (Just remember to pack your swimsuit in your carry-on so you can hit the pool as soon as you arrive!)
Second, your ground transportation to and from the hotel and airport is taken care of – it’s all part of the package! You get off your plane, make your way down to the lower level of the Orlando International Airport, and signs direct you to where your Magic Express awaits. A quick scan of your Magic Band, and you’re all aboard!
Third, your 45-minute ride from the airport to the resort passes quickly with streaming Disney video inside the coach – you are immersed in the Disney experience from arrival to departure!
3. Resort Quality
While the term “resort” itself pulls up ideas of luxury, few destinations are as thematically complete as Walt Disney World Resort Hotels. There are over 25 resorts to select from within the Walt Disney World property. Each resort hotel area is saturated with elements that develop its unique identity and atmosphere. From the kid-friendly, thematic pools at the All Star and Art of Animation resorts to the African mammals in your back yard at Animal Kingdom Resort, nothing is overlooked. Themed artwork, design, furniture, dining, even Cast Members from around the country and the world – all work together to create a memorable experience for you and your family. Even when staying at a Value or Moderate resort, rest assured you are giving your family a quality experience for your investment.
Animal Kingdom Resort All Star Sports Resort
4. Complimentary Activities
Within the Walt Disney World Resort properties, there are a variety of activities for resort guests to enjoy as part of their stay: pool-side games at various intervals throughout the day for the kids; movies under the stars on huge, inflatable screens at night; singalongs around campfires; fireworks and water pageants; jogging and walking trails; crafts and activities; and many more, depending upon which resort you’ve chosen. Each has additional offerings in keeping with its theme.
This means that even on those days you’re taking a break from the excitement of Walt Disney World Parks, there is plenty to do that will add value to your experience and make memories with your family. There is no wondering “well what do we do now?” when you’re staying on Disney property!
ProTip: Always plan at least 1 day in your vacation to enjoy your stay on Disney resort property. This will give your family a much-needed break from the excitement of the parks. It will also allow you to take time to enjoy so much of what Disney has to offer!
Guests can partake in many activities even when staying at a different Disney Resort just a monorail or ferry ride away. Up Next: Resort Hopping!
5. Resort-Hopping
Another added value of staying on resort property is the ability to resort-hop and explore the many other Disney resorts. Transportation throughout the entire Walt Disney World property is complimentary and easily accessible. It’s a simple matter of planning where you want to go and how to get there!
I explore many “hidden gems” in my more detailed post Exploring Disney Magic Outside the Parks, but here are some teasers about the great experiences your family can have without a park ticket – most of them absolutely free!
- Take a culinary tour (with tasty samples!) at Boma and Jiko in the Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Visit the draft horses used in the Magic Kingdom parades and the Disney equine history museum at Fort Wilderness
- Ride the Monorails (a favorite with littles!)
- Take a scenic boat or ferry ride among various docks and desintations
- Stroll (or rent Beer Bikes!) along Disney’s Boardwalk
- See the animals of the Savana at Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Roast marshmallows and enjoy a singalong around a campfire with Chip & Dale at Fort Wilderness Campground
- Watch the fireworks and water pageant from the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, or Wilderness Lodge
- Rent a boat or paddleboat at Wilderness Campground and cruise around the Seven Seas Lagoon (a hit with teens!) ($)
- Build a customized Mini-Fig at the Lego Store in Disney Springs ($)
- And plenty more – check it out in Exploring Disney Magic Outside the Parks!
Playing with Legos at the store in Disney Springs! Post-boat ride in the Seven Seas Lagoon
6. Unparalleled Service
Service at Walt Disney World is top-notch. From the “Mousekeepers” who take care of your room, to the service desk staff, to the Cast Members who lead activities for guests – a unique thing about Disney is that people come from all over just to work there. That creates a deeper level of investment in guest service than you’ll find anywhere else.
The Mousekeepers go above and beyond to see that your room is well-cared for. Routinely, we have come back “home” to our towels folded into cute animals, my sons’ toys displayed in diorama, and other little touches that make visitors feel special.
During one visit, our luggage was delayed and it hadn’t yet arrive to our room, even though we had been there for hours. You can usually expect your luggage no more than 3 hours after arrival, or you can pick it up at the transportation service desk at your resort. Ours had apparently taken a ride elsewhere!
We had experienced a long day of travel. We were more than ready to get to bed and rest up for a day at the Magic Kingdom! After a couple of visits to the front desk to explore the situation, the Cast Member verified our luggage had not arrived in a reasonable amount of time. Then, Disney customer service provided a voucher to purchase pajamas and toiletries at the resort store so we could begin our evening routine. I was pleasantly shocked at the level of service! Our luggage did arrive before we fell asleep, but it demonstrated the level of commitment that Walt Disney World has for its guests!
7. Complimentary Transportation
When staying on Disney property, transportation to and from Orlando International Airport as well as transportation throughout the resort is complimentary for the duration of your stay. Most other resort destinations charge for Ground Transfer. This is true even if staying at one of the partnering “Good Neighbor” resorts. But not Walt Disney World Resorts!
The transportation system among the Walt Disney World properties is amazing. A well-scheduled system of buses, monorails, ferries, boats and now Skyliners ensures guests never have to wait long to get to their next destination. Many visitors consider it part of their vacation to see how many different types of transportation they can ride on Disney property as they go resort hopping!
8. Free Magic Bands!
One of the exciting pre-trip events that resort guests look forward to is the arrival of the Magic Bands! While guests staying off-property can purchase them for their family, Magic Bands are free to resort guests. These colorful, sturdy bracelets allow visitors to
- access your assigned resort room
- enter the Walt Disney World Parks (with valid admission)
- check in at FastPass+ lines
- connect Photopass images and videos to your My Disney Experience account
- charge purchases to your guest room (including dining and souvenirs) throughout the resort property (including Disney Springs).
Be sure to download the My Disney Experience app to sync all of your plans to your Magic Band!
9. Nap Time
Staying on property allows families (even individual family members – like my dad!) to go back to the resort room in the middle of the day. There, you can rest and refresh before heading back to the parks for an evening of fun. This is a great bonus for families with young children or older family members who need a break in the middle of the excitement.
While it might take time to leave the park and use the transportation system to return to your resort, that really depends on which resort and which park you’re visiting. For example, the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Contemporary Resorts are literally a short walk (or monorail ride!) away from the Magic Kingdom, while Walt Disney World’s Boardwalk Resort and Beach Club Resort are a short stroll beyond EPCOT’s International Gateway.
Regardless of the time it takes to go to your room, rest, and return, it’s always time saved in terms of positive energy, experience, and the ability to do even more in the parks later in the day. After all, that’s probably why you’re there!
10. Saving Time
Staying on Disney resort property means that everything is right there, waiting for you to take advantage of it. Some travelers to Orlando choose to stay off-property and use the complimentary shuttle offered by the hotel they’re staying at. What is not readily disclosed is that, often, those shuttles are contracted services. They go through an entire round of different hotel properties and parks before starting its loop again.
In other words, it could take a very long time for the shuttle to even arrive at your hotel, let alone get to your intended destination. A friend of mine recently stayed off-property. Her family ended up Uber-ing in to the park and back because she realized how much time they were wasting using the shuttle system contracted by the off-property hotel.
For guests who plan to take advantage of Disney’s Fastpass+ system, Dining reservations, and Extra Magic Hours, having readily-available transportation and access is a necessary part of the plan!
11. Early Access to FastPass+ & Reservations
Guests staying at Disney Resort hotels can make FastPass+ selections 60 days prior to check-in for the entire length of stay. Non-resort guests must wait: any ticket holder can begin making FastPass+ selections at 7:00 AM EST up to 30 days in advance of a visit.
When staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, you can book dining reservations for your entire stay (up to 10 days) beginning 180 days before your arrival date. (This is STRONGLY recommended – many restaurants book up fast! But more on that in The Best Dining Reservations at Walt Disney World.) Guests can book dining reservations as early as 6 a.m EST online or on the My Disney Experience app 180 days before arrival, or at 7 a.m. EST by calling (407) WDW-DINE
If you don’t want to have dinner at 9:15 pm (personal experience!) be sure to get in on it early!
12. Extra Magic Hours
Guests of Disney Resort and partnering Good Neighbor hotels can spend extra time in one of the theme parks each day, either before it opens or after it closes. Early Morning Magic Hours and Extra Magic Hours (EMH) are scheduled at a different resort each day, so this is definitely something to plan for in advance.
That said, there are two approaches to using EMH: some resort guests take advantage of the opportunity to get into the parks early (or stay late!) and have better access to the rides that are on their agenda. Other families completely avoid the park with EMH that day under the theory that the park will be more busy than usual. Talk to your travel advisor about what approach might be best for your family.
13. Purchases Delivered to Your Room
Another advantage of staying in a Walt Disney Resort Hotel is the opportunity to have purchases sent to your room. Simply use your Magic Band or payment of choice to pay for the item, fill out a form, and it shows up on your bed! That’s Disney Magic for you!
This prevents those special purchases from being lost, misplaced, broken, or forgotten. It also keeps you from having to carry around that huge bag of Twinings Cold Brew Peach Tea you purchased at EPCOT! You know how when you first taste something somewhere it carries with it memories of that place? Yeah…
That Recent Trip when I did NOT stay on Disney Property…
So if you’re wondering whether to go for the added investment in your Walt Disney World vacation and stay on property, I’d encourage you to go for it. During a rather impromptu trip two years ago, my then 14-year-old son and I stayed at a very nice area resort because of availability. While the accommodations we were in were amazing, it just wasn’t the same. At the end of the trip, my slightly disappointed child said that from now on, he never wanted to stay off Disney property again. I couldn’t have agreed more.
There are many more benefits of staying on Walt Disney World Resort property, but these are the ones that mean the most to me and my family. What are your favorite advantages of staying on Disney property? Post in the comments below!
Questions about visiting Walt Disney World Resorts? Email Kimberly@NextAdventureVacations.com or text/call (816) 866-8883
