You've started the planning process for your dream vacation. Figuring out where you are going to stay plays a key role in your daily park plans. From feeling like you are part of an animated movie to high end restaurants, there is something for everyone when it comes to Walt Disney World Hotels and Resorts.
Please remember that this article was written prior to the CoVid-19 pandemic and some items discussed may not currently be available. We are anticipating most, if not all, experiences and attractions to return to the parks when Disney fully reopens.
The first "Wow!" factor on most Disney vacations is when the Magical Express from Orlando airport (MCO) pulls into the drive of your Disney resort. Depending on what you want out of your stay, there are a lot of choices. There are currently 18 separate hotel/resort properties currently within Walt Disney World and 4 standalone Disney Vacation Club properties with many more tied to Disney hotels/resorts.
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What are the Advantages of Staying Onsite
First, let's discuss what "onsite" means. Walt Disney World is it's own little city and encompasses quite a bit of property. It is roughly 40 square miles or the size of San Francisco. With that being said, there are many hotel properties in and around what is considered onsite and they are categorized by their relationships with Disney.
Full Disney Resorts and Hotels - These are all properties owned and operated by Disney. They offer a wide variety of room choices and prices. They will provide all of the benefits of staying onsite including:
*Free transportation to and from Orlando Airport (MCO) via Disney's Magical Express.
*Ability to participate in Dining Plans offered by Walt Disney World.
*Ability to book 10 days of dining from arrival day starting 180 days prior to arrival.
*Ability to book FastPasses 60 days prior to arrival.
*Complimentary solid color Magic Bands with discounted upgrade options.
*Free package transfer to resorts from parks.
*Complimentary parking at all Disney parks.
*Access to Extra Magic Hours as scheduled at Walt Disney World Parks.
*Access to free transportation around Walt Disney World via bus at all locations with other options such as the monorail, Skyliner, and boats, at some resorts.
These resorts and hotels are broken into 3 main tiers: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. Each tier has it's own appeal depending on your needs.
Value: These resorts are at the low end of the pricing scale and tend to have over-the-top Disney decor. They are pretty spread out and only utilize the main building only for check in/out, retail, and a large food court. The bus queues look like ride queue lines and will have a station for each park, but they will all be in central location at the resort. They tend to be more crowded and, at peak time as, may take a couple of buses to clear out the queue. Art of Animation and Pop Century will get a transportation upgrade once the Skyliner opens this fall. Most rooms have 2 double beds and a small bathroom area. Any extra beds would be in the form of a roll away or toddler sleeper. There are themed pools at each location with a pool bar and multiple recreational activities. Unfortunately, the food court and pool bar will be your only food options during the day, but they do offer pizza delivery to your room in the evening.
Moderate: Just as it sounds, these are going to be your middle of the pack priced resorts. They are going to offer larger rooms and a little more space to get ready in the bathrooms. Beds get upgraded to a 2 Queen beds or single King. Additionally, there are hidden beds in most rooms. These resorts also tend to be very spread out, but most offer an internal bus system with multiple stops throughout the resort including the main building. The dining options are expanded to include at least one table service restaurant and indoor bar/lounge along with the somewhat smaller food court and pool bar. Pizza delivery is still the only "room service" option and is available each evening. The pool areas also get upgraded at these resorts to include a water slide and will have some additional recreation options such as water sports and rental bikes. Transportation to the parks runs in tandem with the internal transportation system. Watch the bus labels to identify where they are going.
Deluxe: These are the resorts that offer the easiest access to the parks and have the price to show it. They are going to offer some of the largest rooms and some more privacy in the bathroom with some private shower and toilet areas. They mirror the Moderate tier in the bed setup, but may offer multiple hidden options depending on the room. The main building may now house rooms in addition to the check in area, retail, and restaurants. All of these locations will offer multiple table service dining options with most resorts offering character dining experiences or dinner shows as well. Also, these resorts will offer a full room service menu throughout the day. Pools are now must see experiences and offer highly themed play areas along with quiet pools. Transportation at these resorts is handled with multiple services including the Monorail and some boat service in addition to being able to walk from some resorts to the park in their area. Because of all of the other transportation options, the bus location at each resort is now much smaller and handles all traffic for all of the parks.
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin - These are the 2 Hotels that you can see from the Monorail on your trip to Epcot. What makes these 2 unique is that they are owned by Disney, but they are operated by Starwood (Marriott). They are situated right between Epcot and Hollywood Studios and actually are within walking distance of each. Here are some of the benefits of staying at these resorts:
*Free transportation to and from Orlando Airport (MCO) via Disney's Magical Express.
*Ability to book 10 days of dining from arrival day starting 180 days prior to arrival.
*Ability to book FastPasses 60 days prior to arrival. *Free package transfer to resorts from parks.
*Complimentary parking at all Disney parks.
*Access to Extra Magic Hours as scheduled at Walt Disney World Parks.
*Access to free transportation around Walt Disney World via bus, select parks via boat.
Good Neighbor Hotels - These properties are neither owned or operated be Disney, but because of their proximity to Walt Disney World, Disney has worked out some benefits to staying at them, including have a guest service desk where you can buy your park tickets and the ability to book at the 180 day (dining) and 60 day (FastPass) windows. The unique “benefit“ to these properties is that you can come back to a room to get away from the Disney buzz. This does come with some major downside though. You are unable to utilize the dining plan program and transportation to the parks may be limited or come with an additional fee. These will vary from property to property so you will need to dig a little more when you look at booking at these locations.
Staying Offsite
Once you get off of the Walt Disney World property, there are many more locations where you can stay, but they do not come with any of the benefits listed above. Some may have transportation to the parks, but it may run on a limited schedule or at an additional cost. On top of this, you will not be able to book your FastPasses until 30 days out. What this means is that you will be spending more time in ride lines because the FastPasses for those top tier rides like Slinky Dog Dash and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train were booked a long time ago. Also, you will not get access to the dining plans or Extra Magic hours. Saving money in this instance comes with a high price.
When it comes to finding a place to stay during your Disney vacation may not always comes down to dollars and cents. Convenience and time saved often will play huge rolls into where you are going to stay, and if you want to pack as much into your Disney visit as possible, you will want to spend that little bit extra to stay onsite. The team here at Princesses and the Mouse will help to guide you in the best direction that fits your trip and budget.
Ready to take the next step? Fill out our information form on the Vacation Information page and let's talk about your Disney adventure. If you are looking for more information, the Disney Planning Insights Podcasts and Princesses and the Mouse Blogs provide more information to help you plan your next Disney vacation.