There are a lot of moving parts when planning a Walt Disney World Resort Vacation. One of the first things to think about when you begin planning, is whether to stay at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel or at one of the thousands of options in the Orlando, Florida area. As a seasoned Disney traveler, I strongly recommend staying on-site at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel as you will have access to many valuable perks that those staying off-site will not. These perks can really make your Disney Vacation extra MAGICAL and can save you precious time and money!
Top 10 reasons to stay at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel:
1) Value, Moderate and Deluxe Resort Hotels -
There are resorts to accommodate a variety of different preferences and budgets. Value, Moderate and Deluxe Resorts all offer beautifully unique themes, sparkling swimming pools, on-site dining options, gift shops, resort specific events/activities and so much more!
2) Staying in the Magic -
Staying on property allows you to fully immerse in the MAGIC! Disney is synonyms with impeccable customer service, Cast Members will typically go out of their way to make your day magical. In my opinion, there is nothing like the interaction with Disney Cast Members. It is one of my favorite parts of visiting Disney World. The magic is real folks and by staying on-site you can enjoy more of the MAGIC!
3) Location, Location, Location! -
When staying on-site you are only a short (complimentary) Monorail, Boat, Skyliner, Bus ride or even a short walk away from the parks and/or Disney Springs! You will also have FREE transportation to and from the airport when arriving/departing as well as have access to complimentary bag concierge services, talk about VIP!
4) Free MagicBands! -
When staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel you receive complimentary MagicBands! MagicBands are amazing, convenient and are a must (in my opinion)! They act as your resort hotel room key, Disney Park Tickets, Special Event Tickets, FastPass+ touch point access, PhotoPass Card, Disney Dining Plan Ticket as well as a quick/convenient payment option throughout Walt Disney World Resort allowing you to charge directly to your resort hotel room.
5) Disney Dining Plan Option -
Resort Hotel guests have the option to purchase a Disney Dining Plan. There are three varied Dining Plan options where guests can have a number of prepaid meals/snacks included per day. Dining Plans have the potential to save families 100's of dollars if utilized correctly.
6) Advanced Dining Reservations -
Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) can be made 180 days (plus up to 10 days into vacation for Resort guests) in advance of check in. This extra window allows for resort guests to have first pick on the most highly coveted reservations and time slots.
7) FastPass+ Reservations -
Resort guests are able to book FastPass+ reservations 60 days in advance of check-in for the length of their stay, whereas non-resort guests must book 30 days in advance for each day of their theme park visits. This means the resort guests get first choice of the most popular rides/attractions and time slots.
8) Extra Magic Hours -
Resort guests will have access to Extra Magic Hours (extra hours) at Disney’s theme parks - in the morning before parks open to the public or in the evening after the park closes to the public. This typically results in really low wait times for rides and attractions which can make a HUGE difference on how much you are able to do and see!
9) No carrying souvenir bags around the parks -
Enjoy the convenience of having your Disney Park souvenir purchases delivered directly to your resort gift shop. I love this perk, I also like to shop so.....
10) Discounts -
Most Resort Hotel packages come with Magical Extras that include a variety of discounts and offerings on dining, entertainment, shopping and more. Who doesn't love discounts?
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to enjoy the magical experience of stay on site at one of the amazing Walt Disney World Resort Hotels! If you would like more information regarding which Resort Hotel is the best fit for your family, please contact me.