The Walt Disney World Resort is an amazing vacation destination with many different options for those looking to stay and visit. While there are many choices for accommodations in the Orlando area, staying on property at the Walt Disney World Resort is always the best! Let’s talk about 7 reasons to stay at a Disney Resort.
Stay in the “Disney Bubble”
There are 30 different hotels at the Walt Disney World Resort. That means there is an option for every preference and every budget. Whether you prefer a fun theme with characters that little ones will recognize or more subtle Disney touches, there’s a great resort hotel for you!
There is truly something magical about staying at an on-site hotel. From the moment you enter Disney property, you don’t have to worry about anything! You enter that Disney bubble and enjoy your vacation! Plus, there are plenty of opportunities for extra magic during your visit! For example, at many on-site hotels, characters have been popping up to meet guests! There are a variety of activities to do at each resort too, from movies under the stars to amazing pool areas to horse-drawn carriages!
Complimentary Transportation Around the Resort
Once you arrive at your Disney Resort hotel, you have access to a variety of transportation around Disney property. Almost all of the transportation is complimentary and you can use it to get wherever you need to go on Disney property. There is no need to worry about renting a car or driving to get where you need to go in Orlando unless you actually want to! After all, you are on vacation!
The complimentary transportation options include:
- Disney buses
- Monorail
- Disney Skyliner
- Friendship Boats
- Ferryboats
- Water taxis
In addition, the Minnie Van service is available for a fee. You can order these using the LYFT mobile app.
Flexibility with Payments
To book a Walt Disney World Resort vacation package, you only need a $200 deposit. Once you have your vacation package booked, you have the option to make payments as you wish. There is flexibility to make the payments over time, as long as you are paid in full 30 days prior to check-in. Furthermore, those payments are fully-refundable until your final payment date. That means, for example, if you would like to book 499 days in advance and make payments over time, you can do that with no problem!
If you opt to stay off-property, you may have a lovely vacation home or similar accommodations. There are certainly perks to that. However, you need to purchase your tickets and pay in full at the time of purchase. In addition, once purchased, those tickets become non-refundable. For the most flexibility, staying on-site is always the best option.
Add a Dining Plan
There is a lot of excitement about the return of the dining plans at the Walt Disney World Resort. The dining plans allow you to have an all-inclusive feel to your Disney vacation. You pre-pay for all of your meals and snacks before you even arrive. Then, the only thing you need to worry about is a gratuity for table-service meals and anything extra that you would like.
The dining plans are only available for those guests staying at one of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels. Plus, did you know that it is often easier to book dining when you stay on-site? When you stay at a Disney hotel, you have access to dining 60 days prior to check-in for the length of your stay. When you stay off-site, you have to book your dining reservations one day at a time, which makes it harder to get the most popular dining experiences.
Getting Individual Lightning Lanes Sooner
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- Photo Courtesy Kelly Greer, Key to the World Travel
When you stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you get earlier access to some of the most popular attractions in the parks. When you purchase an Individual Lightning Lane attraction time, you select a time to ride and do not have to worry about your boarding group being called, like those using the Virtual Queue. However, there is limited availability for these Individual Lightning Lanes.
When you stay on-site, you can start purchasing these at 7:00 am instead of when the park opens. Having earlier access saves time and also makes it easier for you to plan your days at the parks.
Extended Hours
When you stay at select Disney Resort hotels, you can enjoy extended park hours on select nights. This amenity is included for guests staying at any deluxe or deluxe villa resort, as well as the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Hotels, the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve, and Shades of Green® on Walt Disney World®.
Currently, the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT are available for extended evening theme park hours. Many attractions are available during this time and there is also an extra opportunity for these guests to take advantage of the virtual queue for the most popular attractions.
Early Park Admission
When you stay at a Disney hotel, every guest gets access to the theme parks earlier than guests staying off-site. This applies to every theme park, every day! Having an extra 30 minutes gives you the opportunity to experience the most popular attractions such as Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Slinky Dog Dash before other guests! This is a huge advantage because many guests choose to “rope drop” these attractions. Having a head start will definitely result in shorter wait times!
When you arrive at the park, look for cast members who will be holding signs showing you where to go. They will also scan your MagicBand+ or park ticket to confirm that you are staying at a Disney Resort hotel. From there, you will have access to select areas of the parks prior to park opening.
These are just a few reasons to stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, but there are many more! Talk with your Key to the World Travel advisor today to learn more and find your perfect fit!
Are you considering a trip? Having a travel advisor means someone there to have your back in any occurrence. There is no additional cost to you and you have peace of mind knowing that your vacation is in good hands.
Contact your Key to the World Travel® advisor for your next trip, or send us a quote request to get started.