Five Advantages to Staying at a Walt Disney World Resort

Walt Disney World has a resort for every taste, budget, and family size.  And, staying on Disney property offers guests a list of advantages, exclusively just for you! Port Orleans Riverside, Coronado Springs, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Beach Club, Grand Floridian, Saratoga Springs, Caribbean Beach….this is a list of the Walt Disney World Resorts we have stayed at on our past trips….except Caribbean Beach which we will be enjoying on a trip later this month.  We stay at a different Disney Resort each trip, and so far, we have experienced some amazing ones!  Each unique in their own, and we love them each for different reasons.  Aside from the convenience and theming, there are some serious advantages to staying at a Walt Disney World Resort that I am going to share with you today!

Advantage #1:  Complimentary and continuous transportation.  Not only is the complimentary aspect of the transportation important, but so is the continuous!  The Walt Disney World transportation systems run from very early in the morning {one hour before the parks open} until late in to the evening, at two hours after the last park closes.  Guests who stay off site may have “complimentary” transportation, but they are also subject to someone else’s schedule.  Plus, there is Disney’s Magical Express.  This is their complimentary and continuous round trip transportation to and from Orlando International Airport. 

Advantage #2:  Extra Magic Hours.  These give you a bigger bang for your Disney tickets.  Extra Magic Hours are solely for resort guests at Walt Disney World.  Select parks open one hour earlier or stay open two hours later during the week.  We personally love being in the parks late, and enjoying them after the sun goes down.  If you can plan your days with Extra Magic Hours, at least a day or two of your trip, you can get in a lot of park time.  Also, if you have park hoppers, you can plan on visiting an early morning park….then napping and visiting a different park later that day.  Or, vice versa. Sleep in, and plan on heading to the park with Evening Extra Magic Hours!  

Advantage #3:  MagicBands.  MagicBands are your everything when you are at Walt Disney World.  Your room key, park ticket, MemoryMaker, dining plan, charging privileges, and Fastpasses are all housed on your MagicBand.  Guests of the Walt Disney World Resort will receive complimentary MagicBands for their stay.  Not only do guests receive MagicBands, but there is something extra special in that box!  A card with discounts to various locations at Disney Springs, as well as 4 complimentary rounds of mini golf!  

Advantage #4;  Early booking of Fastpasses and Dining.  FastPass Plus is a privilege of all ticketed guests who come into the Disney parks.  However, when you stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you get to book your Fastpasses 60-days in advance.  If you are staying off site, it is only at 30-days. I can tell you from experience, some Fastpasses are REALLY hard to get at 30-days or after.  This aspect can help you with planning your time, and working in the “must dos” for your family. Guests of a Walt Disney World Resort can get a jump start on dining reservations as well.  You can book your meals 180-days in advance for your entire stay!  Both of these early booking options give you an advantage of guests who are staying off site.

Advantage #5:  You are surrounded by Disney magic.  In our house, we call that the “Disney bubble”.  Once you are inside the gates of Walt Disney World, you can see nothing of the “outside”. Each Walt Disney World Resort has its own magical theme, activities, and special entertainment for guests.  Walt Disney World takes care of all the details for your family to make it a stress free vacation! 

Have you stayed at a Walt Disney World Resort?  What are your favorites, or ones to avoid?