Disney Resort Overview: Where to Stay
Perks of Staying on Disney Property
- Extra Magic Hours - there are extra magic hours every day. Some days they are just an hour in the morning, other days they are as much as 3 hours in the evening, and some special days when it's busy you might get both (ie. 8-9am at Animal Kingdom and then 8-11pm at Hollywood Studios). The extra magic hours are nice since they are available only to park guests, but since only certain attractions are available, sometimes it doesn't seem that the lines are significantly shorter. I find that the morning extra magic hours often provide you with a chance to do more (and it's not as hot) because some people can't get their kids up early enough or want to sleep in while they're on vacation.
- Free Transportation - you can actually check in to your Disney resort and unload your car, then use Disney's free monorail, bus, and boat rides for free!
- Free Parking - even if you decide that you want to drive your car to the parks (maybe you have an early breakfast in one of the parks or you don't want to put your giant stroller on the bus) you can park your car at any park for free as long as you have your car resort pass on your windshield.
- Packages - Disney's dining plan is available to you when you book a Disney resort room. This is a great deal because it makes your trip pretty much "all-inclusive" so that all you are paying for is gratuities, acoholic drinks, and souvenirs.
- Resort Activities - most resorts have free activities for kids such as pool games or scavenger hunts and some of the resorts even offer live entertainment.
- Pools - every Disney resort has a nice, themed pool and provides complimentary towels beside the pool. The Moderate and Deluxe category pools also have water slides.
- Freedom - If you have older teens who want some independence, you can rest assured that there are eyes on them wherever they go. For example, if your kids want to go down to the pool without you, but you don't want to go, Disney's cast members have their eyes everywhere. Or if you start your day in Animal Kingdom but plan to finish your day with dinner and fireworks at EPCOT and they want to go ahead of you, they get picked up at the park's entrance by a Disney bus and dropped off at the next park entrance. I'd never send a 12-year-old off by himself, but when we were staying on Disney property I have allowed my 17-year-old sister to have freedom to roam the parks with my 15 and 12-year-old daughters (with their cell-phones and staying together).
- Magical Express - free transportation from Orlando Int'l Airport. You book your rooms or package with a Disney resort and call to let them know that you will be on flight ### on whatever airline you are flying in on. You grab your stuff and get it to the bus, then the next time you see your bags will be in your room. You ride the free bus (which is Disney-themed and has videos playing that get your magical spirit fired up) from the airport to your resort, check in at the front desk, and you don't ever have to rent a car! Disney's free bus/boat/monorail transportation takes over from there!
- Package Delivery - If you purchase souvenirs, you can have them delivered directly to your room. They generally appear the next day, so don't let go of anything you have to have the second you get back to your room. If it's the last day of your trip, you can have your purchases sent to the front of the park and pick them up when you leave. This is very convenient if you make large or fragile purchases.
Ready for my hotel recommendations?
- For boys, check out the pirate rooms at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort @ https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/caribbean-beach-resort/rates-rooms/
- For girls, check out the "Royal Guest Rooms" (Princess and the Frog themed) rooms at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort @ https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/port-orleans-resort-riverside/rates-rooms/
- If you're on a budget, and need a little extra room, try the new suites at the Art of Animation Resort. They're perfect for families and sleep up to 6 people.
- If you want to stay in a deluxe resort, I highly recommend the Contemporary. The monorail travels right inside and Chef Mickey's is just an elevator ride away. The rooms are nice (only drawback is the bathroom doesn't have a lock) and the pool isn't anything crazy special, but the convenience of the monorail being just downstairs is awesome. The views from the Animal Kingdom Lodge are also phenomenal and the rooms are very comfortable.
Great info! When I was a kid I stayed at the campground and the all-star hotels. Are those still around? Are the older ones more affordable?
ReplyDeleteThose are great questions, Christine! Fort Wilderness still provides campsites (currently they're booking at about $58/night) and the All-Star Movies, All-Star Sports, and All-Star Music resorts are all still around. Those three value resorts do book at about $10/night less than the Pop Century rooms and about $20/night less than the standard Little Mermaid rooms at the newest value resort, Art of Animation.
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