Choosing where to stay can be one of the hardest decisions when planning your trip to Disney. There are so many different options – including on-site and off-site – which can be super overwhelming at times. I’ve done both, and I will say that staying on Disney property is 100% the way to go! Not only is it convenient, but there are so many perks to staying on-site. Disney really knows how to add some pixie dust to your stay!
It’s important to remember that all guests need a valid park admission AND a theme park reservation to visit Disney’s theme parks, and staying at a Walt Disney World resort hotel does not guarantee entry into the parks.
Let’s check out the benefits on staying on-site at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel!
1) Early Theme Park Entry
In the past, Disney World offered Extra Magic Hours where one of the theme parks would open early or stay open later for guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel. Now, a new benefit has debuted allowing hotel guests to enter ANY park 30-minutes early – every day! Previously, it was important to plan your park days around which parks were hosting Extra Magic Hours to take full advantage of arriving early or staying late at the parks. This also lead to some parks being more crowded than others due to people wanting to take advantage of this perk. With the new Early Theme Park Entry, it spreads guests out among the 4 theme parks which is nice and cuts down on overcrowding within certain parks.
All Disney Resort hotel guests have access to the Early Theme Park Entry every morning. However, another perk is available to those staying in Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts — these guests will also have the opportunity to take advantage of Extended Evening Hours on certain nights!
2) Transportation
Although Disney’s Magical Express is retiring as of January 1, 2022, Mears Transportation will offer bus services from MCO to all area theme parks (at an additional cost).
The best transportation option, though, is within Disney! Disney World offers free transportation from your Disney Resort hotel to the theme parks, Disney Springs, and water parks at no cost to you. This is a huge perk because parking at the theme parks is expensive ($25/day).
It’s important to remember that if you drive to your resort hotel, there is a charge for overnight parking:
- Disney Value Resorts: $15/night
- Disney Moderate Resorts: $20/night
- Disney Deluxe & Deluxe Villas: $25/night
However, if you decide to drive to the parks and are staying on-site, there is not a charge to park at the theme parks.
Location is one of the biggest reasons to stay on-site! Some Disney World hotels are within walking distance of the parks, and others you can easily get to via the free transportation options (bus, boat, monorail, or Skyliner)!
3) First Access to Individual Lightning Lane Selections
As of October 19, 2021, FastPass+ will be replaced with a new Lightning Lane. For Individual Lightning Lane (ILL) Attraction Selections, certain “bigger” rides are purchased a la carte. Guests staying on-site will be able to book up to two different Individual Attraction Selections at 7 AM on that day, and guests staying off-property will have to wait until the park has opened. This means you get first dibs on some of the most popular rides!
For more details on Disney Genie+, visit my blog post here.
4) First Access to Advanced Dining Reservations
Being a guest at a Walt Disney World hotel means you have the opportunity to snag advanced dining reservations ahead of those staying off-property! Everyone has the opportunity to book dining reservations starting 60 days out (those on and off property), but those staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel can book dining reservations for their entire stay starting 60 days from the first day of your trip (versus off-property guests can only book 60 days out from each day of their trip). So if you were staying for 10 days, you could make reservations for the full 10 days of your trip whereas others cannot book that far ahead and can only do so a day at a time, 60 days in advance. Many of the most popular restaurants book out to the 60-day mark, so this is a huge advantage!
As your travel agent, I am able to book your dining reservations so you don’t have to!
5) Extra Disney Magic!
There is just truly nothing like being fully immersed in Disney by staying at a Walt Disney World hotel. The magic doesn’t stop once you leave the park to head back to your hotel room. Watch movies under the stars with complimentary movie screenings for the whole family, roast marshmallows by the campfire, or swim in the many swimming pools. Cast Members strive to make your stay on Disney property truly magical.
I hope these reasons encourage you to start looking into staying on Walt Disney World property! It truly is such a magical experience that I feel everyone should get to experience. Ready to get your Disney quote? Click here!
