Have You Stayed On Site At Walt Disney Resort? Here’s 10 Reasons Why We Think You’ll Love It!

When asked for advice about a Walt Disney World vacation, one tip that I tend to prioritize is the importance of staying on property. I understand that it can be really tempting to stay off property, as it tends to be cheaper, and it always seems like a good idea to save the extra money, however the added benefits of staying at a Disney resort make it so worth it!

10. Complimentary Transportation

When you stay at a Walt Disney World Resort, you have the option to never have to take any non-Disney transportation after you land in Orlando. From the airport, you can take Disney’s Magical Express to and from the Walt Disney World Resort. The Magical Express picks up your luggage from the airport as well and brings it directly to your room so you can go right to the parks if you want. When you stay at a Disney resort, there’s also complimentary bus, monorail, and boat services to the parks and Disney Springs as well, so there is no need for a rental car at all!

9.Extra Magic Hours

Another great perk of staying in a Disney resorts is Extra Magic Hours. Extra Magic Hours is when select parks open a little early or later exclusively for guest staying on site. During these times, the parks are nearly empty and the attractions will generally have short wait times, allowing you to get more done during these times as well. Even when the parks are open earlier for Extra Magic Hours can be great for parks like Animal Kingdom where the animals are more active in the morning than later in the day.

8.Close proximity to the parks, water parks and Disney Springs

By staying on property at Walt Disney World, you don’t have to worry about things like traffic, or long trips to the parks because everything is so close. By taking the buses or monorail no trip to and the parks ever takes more than a half hour, giving you more time to enjoy your vacation and less time in between traveling.

7.Cast members on site

When you stay at a Disney resort, all the employees at the hotels are Disney cast members, so you can expect the same first-class service at the hotels as you would in the parks. Furthermore, having Disney cast members working at the hotels you can ask them for info or tips about the parks or Disney Springs as well, because they are trained to know information about them more so than the average non-Disney hotel staff.

6. Excellent theming

The theming at the resorts is so well done, staying at a Disney resort effectively immerses you into a story the same way the attractions in the parks would. When you stay at Port Orleans for example, you feel like you’re really staying on Bourbon Street. It is the same with the Grand Floridian as well, as you feel like you’ve stepped back in time to a turn of the century resort.

5. The Disney bubble

A great benefit of staying on site is the “Disney Bubble” effect. This effect essentially means the feeling of being so fully immersed in everything Disney, and not having the stress, worry, and all other aspects that make the real world less than magical. It also means that your resort will be as elaborately themed as the parks, and you’ll never need to track down your own transportation, or deal with traffic or the tackier parts of the Orlando tourist scene.

4. Disney Shopping

Shopping at the Disney resorts is something that most Disney fans look forward to with each trip. Normally these shops are much less busy than the parks or Disney Springs, and include the same level of quality and selection as many of the larger stores on property. It’s also convenient to stay onsite because whatever you purchase in the theme parks can be delivered to your resort gift shop, so you do not need to carry your shopping with you while you’re in the parks for the day.

Bonus Tip!

BONUS TIP: Consider planning and booking your next Disney trip with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner you can trust like Mickey Travels. They’ll help you get the best Disney travel deal, share expert advice and their services are totally FREE! It’s genius! Discover More >

3. Family Friendly

The Disney resorts have the same family friendly atmosphere as you would expect in the rest of Walt Disney World, and can include special offerings for children as well. You won’t have to worry about the content of the area around you or about the treatment from cast members as well. Everything is ready and appropriate for the whole family to have a happy and magical vacation, and of course there are plenty of options for childcare and children’s activities, making these resorts truly family friendly.

2. Recreation Offerings

While staying at the resort, there are many recreational offerings that you may want to spend a participating in. Between spas, golfing, kids activities, pools, horseback riding, fishing and more, there’s always something to do even without visiting the parks. Many of the other resorts around the Orlando area simply do not have the vast recreational offerings that the Disney resorts are able to have.

1. Value

Staying at a Walt Disney Resort has many perks that allow you to make the best of your vacation without spending a lot of extra money to do so. Package deals, and complimentary transportation alone can save you hundreds. In addition, the Disney Dining Plan can be a great option to save on meal costs, and this perk is only offered to Disney resort guests. The level of convenience and perks offered to Disney resort guests adds to the value on staying on property. While it might be more expensive than the chain hotels off property, it is truly worth it when you’re able to skip baggage claim at the airport and enjoy an extra three hours in your favorite park.

BONUS TIP: Consider planning and booking your next Disney trip with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner you can trust like Mickey Travels. They’ll help you get the best Walt Disney World deal, share expert advice and their services are totally FREE! It’s genius!