Why should I stay on-property at Walt Disney World?

If there's one thing Florida has an abundance of besides orange juice, it's hotel rooms! As a matter of fact, at last count there were 144,125 hotel rooms in the Orlando area and more are being built as I type! This is the second highest in the country just behind Las Vegas at 152,275! So there's no argument that you have your pick of places to rest your head. I'm going to help you narrow that search for the perfect place. In this post I want to highlight the many benefits of staying on property in a Walt Disney World Resort.

• Disney's Magical Express

As soon as you step foot off the airplane at Orlando International, the magic begins! As a resort guest, you can bypass the baggage claim area entirely and head straight to the complimentary airport shuttle known as Disney's Magical Express. You and your bags will be transported straight to your hotel so you can start your vacation right away! 

• Resort transportation

Buses and ferry boats and monorails, oh my! Enjoy complimentary transportation around the property and to and from the parks. If you decide to drive you will enjoy complimentary parking at all 4 theme parks and both waterparks. Off property guests will have to pay $22 daily for parking at the parks. 

Enjoying a Disney bus ride

• Extra Magic Hours

Each day certain attractions are open for an additional amount of time at one of the theme parks. This could be in the morning or evening and is only open to resort guests. The theme park offering Extra Magic Hours changes daily but is announced well in adavnce. 

• MagicBands
  

Resort guests each receive complimentary MagicBands. This latest technological advancement is an all-in-one device that makes your vacation easier to navigate. It's your room key, your park admission, your check-in for FastPass+ attractions, your Disney PhotoPass account, and your charge account. 

Touch your band to enter the park. No more fumbling for tickets.

• Advanced FastPass+ selections

FastPass+ allows you to schedule up to 3 of your attractions each day with little to no wait times. Resort guests get to sign up for these 60 days in advance with a valid park admission. Off property guests only get to sign up 30 days in advance. 

• Free Wi-Fi

If you choose to stay connected during your visit, you can enjoy complimentary wireless high-speed internet in your guest room and around the resort. For example, you can post your stauts of "Having a blast at Walt Disney World, wish you were here. Call my awesome travel agent Stacie Gregory to schedule your vacation ASAP!" from just about anywhere.  

• Disney Dining Plans 
  

Choose from a variety of packages that include a dining plan and you could enjoy fun character meals, delicious snacks and a bottomless drink mug at your resort. It will all be included in your package! Off-property guests are not eligible for dining plans. 

Hugs from Piglet at Magic Kingdom's The Crystal Palace, a buffet with character

• Resort Entertainment

There's a lot to experience at Walt Disney World Resorts. Outdoor movies under the stars, poolside dance parties, and themed outdoor pools, some with waterslides are just a few of the things you can experience when staying on property. 

Art of Animation Resort puts you right inside Disney movies!

• Excellent Customer Service

Disney Cast Members are available to you from the moment you check-in until the moment you leave to make sure you have the best vacation possible. The legendary service they provide is nothing short of magical! 

If none of these benefits are enticing to you, please learn from our mistakes!

A few years ago we took a long weekend trip to Walt Disney World and decided to stay off property to save a few dollars up front. It was literally a stones throw from being on property so we figured it was convenient enough. But it ended up costing us a lot more in the form of time. There was a complimentary shuttle service, but it went to multiple parks and multiple resorts, so it took us up to an hour to get just one way to the parks. Factor in the fact that we had to return to the resort for an afternoon nap each day and we were in transit for 4 hours each day!! The last night we decided to drive rather than deal with the shuttle, so we ended up paying out of pocket for parking and then we were in traffic that night for up to an hour after the fireworks! So we have learned our lesson. We will never stay off property again! Our family vacation time is far too precious to waste!