Top 10 Reasons to Stay at a Walt Disney World Resort

Whether it’s your first or your fifty-first trip to Walt Disney World one of the first decisions you’ll make is whether to stay at a Walt Disney World resort or stay off-site in a non-Disney hotel or a rental property. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, but before you make your decision, we wanted to provide a reminder of all the perks you get if you choose to stay at a Walt Disney World resort!

Fastpass+ allows guests to prebook rides and entertainment so they can skip the main standby line. Guests who stay at a Walt Disney World resort can book 3 Fastpass+ reservations up to 60 days in advance and for the whole trip. Non-resort guests can book 30 days in advance. This can be a huge advantage during peak season and for in-demand or popular new attractions. 

Guests of the Disney resorts are eligible to purchase a Disney Dining Plan. This is a prepaid meal option that allows guests to purchase credits that they can then redeem for meals and snacks. With a Dining Plan you can enjoy quick service and table service meals (including character dining) without adding last minute costs into your budget.

Included in the dining plan is Disney’s Refillable Mug. This mug is valid for unlimited refills at all resorts for the entire length of stay. The mugs may be refilled with Coke products, hot chocolate, coffee and tea. These mugs are not refillable at the parks.

Even if you don’t purchase a dining plan, you may still purchase a refillable mug for $19.99.

Resort guests can book Disney dining reservations 180 +10 days in advance. In other words, for trips under 10 days you can book all your dining reservations on day 180. Non-Disney resort guests can book 180 days in advance and only 1 day at a time. This is definitely a benefit when you’re trying to secure that hard-to-get dining reservation.

Although Disney now charges for parking at the resorts, if you stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel you will not have to pay any additional parking fees if you choose to skip the free Disney transportation and take your own car to the theme parks.

Magic Bands are available to all guests for a fee, but Walt Disney World resort hotel guests get Magic Bands for free. These bands are customizable for color and you may add your name or nickname for easy identification. If you customize your bands 10 days or more before your trip they will be sent to your home. Your Magic Band is connected to the My Disney Experience app and allows guests to:

• Enter theme parks and water parks with a valid admission
• Store Fastpass+ reservations and check in at Fastpass+ lines
• Connect Photopass images to your account
• Unlock your hotel room
• Charge all resort purchases including food and merchandise to your room

As a resort guest, you’ll have no need for a car rental. When you arrive in Orlando, Disney’s Magical Express will meet you at the airport, collect your luggage and deliver it directly to your room. When it’s time to depart, you may check your luggage and check in for your flight at your resort and the Magical Express will return you to the airport. 

Resort guests have free, unlimited access to all modes of transportation around the resort as well. This includes buses, boats, monorail and the new Disney Skyliner.  

In addition to the cost savings benefit there is a time savings benefit as well.  You will spend less time going back and forth from your hotel to the parks, depending on where you stay. And it’s extremely convenient when you want to take an afternoon break to just hop on the monorail or the bus and return to your resort for a few hours. 

Disney may restrict admission to the theme parks on days with heavy attendance. On these days, priority is given to resort guests when allowing guests into the parks. Though you may not get into the park of your choice, if you’re a Disney resort guest, you’re guaranteed to get into one of the Disney parks. The only exception is when the parks are at their very highest level of attendance and then they are closed to everyone.

For the ultimate Disney vacation there’s nothing better than immersing yourself in the whole Disney Experience 24/7. Disney is well known for their exceptional service and amazing resort themes designed by the Imagineers. The Disney resorts are top quality, well maintained, safe, convenient and clean. Each hotel is uniquely themed down to the smallest detail including amazing pools.

The best thing about staying at a Disney resort is the feeling of stepping into a bubble the moment you step off the airplane in Orlando. You can relax and be insulated from the real world (if you choose) until the moment you step back back onto the airplane home.

What do you think is the best reason to stay at a Walt Disney World resort? Comment below and let us know what you think!