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Writer's pictureBrandi Parker

Is Staying Onsite at Walt Disney World Worth It? Top 10 Reasons to Consider for Your Next Vacation.

Photos courtesy of Disney Destinations

You may be wondering if staying onsite at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel is worth it for your next Walt Disney World vacation. I truly feel that there is nothing like the immersion of staying onsite and fully absorbing the MAGIC of Disney. Here are my Top 10 Reasons to Stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel for your next vacation.


10. Early Park Entry – Guests staying onsite can FULLY access the parks 30 minutes before the general public EVERY SINGLE DAY. ‘Rope Dropping’ is already the standard best way to get the most out of your Walt Disney World vacation, however, having those extra 30 minutes makes all the difference in the amount that you can do when you ‘Rope Drop’. 30 Minutes may not seem like much, but I promise you – it makes all the difference in the world!




9. Extended Evening Hours (Deluxe Resort Guests) – Just like taking advantage of the Early Park Entry, Extended Evening Hours are even more beneficial as these are exclusive to Deluxe Resort Guests only! They are offered on select evenings at select parks and can make a huge difference in experiencing attractions without long lines! This benefit is perfect for those who are not morning people!


8. Onsite Transportation – Whether you are staying at a Value Resort, Moderate Resort, or Deluxe Resort – each Walt Disney World Resort hotel offers complimentary transportation to the parks, Disney Springs, and other Disney Resorts via Disney Monorail, Disney Skyliner, Disney Buses, Disney Boats, as well as serene Walking Paths. You do not have to worry about going through the packed general security checkpoints and will not have to wait as long to access the parks as the general public! Having multiple modes of transportation is one of my favorite perks of staying onsite! Each resort offers different modes of transportation – this is one of the main factors in assisting my clients make the best resort choice for their family. The Disney Skyliner and Monorail resorts are some of my personal favorites!


7. Dining Plans – Guests can add a Disney Dining Plan to their package, saving up to 20% versus purchasing meals and snacks outside of a Disney Dining Plan. There are over 200 Dining Locations to select from, including Disney Character Meals, Disney Resort Hotel Restaurants, Theme Park Restaurants, and Disney Springs Restaurants.



6. Advanced Dining Reservations – If you are looking to do highly sought-after character dining like Be Our Guest, Cinderella’s Royal Table, Space 220, Akershus, or Chef Mickey’s for example, being able to book your dining reservations at 60 Days for your entire trip can be the difference in being able to obtain a reservation or not! Guest staying at an official Disney World Resort Hotel can book reservations for their full stay 60 days before their check-in date. For example, say you're visiting from October 1 to 10. When it hits the 60-day mark before your check-in date, you can book dining reservations for EVERY DAY of your 10-day trip. On the exact same 60-day mark, an off-property guest who is visiting during the same timeframe would only be able to book reservations for October 1 and then would have to log back on EVERY subsequent day to book any reservations for the next nine days. This makes obtaining reservations substantially more difficult for those staying off-site, especially for the harder-to-obtain reservations.


5. Lightning Lane Passes – Walt Disney World Resort Hotel guests can purchase and book lightning lane reservations (THREE Lightning Lane Multi Pass Selections, and up to TWO Single Pass selections per person, per day) 7 DAYS in advance of their stay. Guests purchase and make selections for the entirety of your trip, up to 14 Days, if you are staying on-site. Guest staying offsite are only able to purchase and make selections 3 days prior to their park visit. This means that guests staying onsite have the best chance of getting the best times and ride availability!


4. Water Park Entry - A brand-new perk for Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests planning a visit in 2025 is complimentary access to either Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park or Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park on your check-in day!!!






3. MagicBands - Resort guests get access to discounted MagicBands and may customize their MagicBands before their trip, up to six days before check-in. If you customize your bands at least 11 days before your visit, they will be shipped to your home (U.S. residents only). You get to pick the color of the band and can add a name or nickname to the inside of the band for easy identification. MagicBands can serve as your room key and entry into the park. With the mobile check-in option, you can bypass the lobby and go straight to your room! MagicBand+ is the latest and greatest version of this wearable, interacting with elements throughout the parks. My favorite part is that MagicBand+ works at Disneyland, Aulani, and on Disney Cruise Line too! Tap and go at Lightning Lane queues, ride photo stations, and PhotoPass photographers. Additionally, guests staying at a Disney World hotel can assign a four-digit pin for their band that can be used for purchases at the hotel, in the parks, and at some Disney Springs retail locations and restaurants.


2. Free Parking! - Overnight self-parking at resorts is complimentary for Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests. If you drive to the parks and are staying on-site, you will not be charged to park at the theme parks. This can be a big cost savings because standard car parking at the theme parks is $30 EACH DAY – which adds up quickly! You can also pay the difference between standard and preferred parking if you want to upgrade for closer access.


1. Disney Magic “Bubble” – The biggest reason (in my opinion) isn't an official ‘benefit’ — it's simply being surrounded by the magic of Disney. Anyone who has been to Disney World can tell you the magic is real, and you get more of it staying on-site versus off-site. If you stay on-site, you never have to leave the Disney Magic "bubble." You and your family are completely immersed in the magic of Disney from the moment you check-in until you check-out! If you've never experienced it, you might think it's no big deal, but if you stay on-site, you will get the full Disney treatment for your entire stay. Every single ‘cast member’ you encounter on your vacation, is expertly trained to bring you Disney's world-class customer service. Believe me when I say, it makes your trip so much more magical staying onsite!


As you can see, there are so many reasons to stay onsite and experience the true immersive magic that The Most Magical Place in The World offers! Are you ready to start planning your next trip? I'd love to be a part of your magic! By booking your next vacation with me, you get my full concierge services for $0.


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