Hotels

So here's the question: On or Off-Property?

       

      To book a trip to Disney, you probably want to save as much money as possible. So, I would suggest staying off-property. However, sometimes with families that fly down, or want more convenience, staying on-property might be a better option. In this article, I'm just gonna talk about the pros and cons of each option, as well as some "hidden mickeys" you may not have known about.

On-Property:

Disney's All-Star Sports Resort

- There are so many options and price ranges for staying on-property, it's so hard to pick! If you want to save money, I would stay at the value resorts, such as the All-Star Music, All-Star Sports, etc. They have the same benefits as all the other resort hotels for a fraction of the cost. Depending on the month of your stay, rates change, but in general, they are about $130-$160/night for a standard, 4-person room. 

- That may seem like a lot, but there are so many benefits to staying on Disney Property, I made a list:

1. You get to reserve your Fastpass+'s 60 days ahead of time, compared to 30 when you stay off-property. This means you can reserve the rides that normally have over an hour wait, such as the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Magic Kingdom, or Flight of Passage in Animal Kingdom. This can help you save a couple hours each day!

Fastpass+ Symbol (located on maps)

     2. Magical Express Bus transportation to and from the parks. At the parks, Disney charges $25 for a  full-day parking fee, per car. Luckily, when you stay at a resort, there is a complimentary bus ride throughout the entire day, saving you a ton of money. Also, if you plan on flying down, there is a Magic Bus that can drive you from Orlando Airport to your resort. For some families, this gets rid of the cost of paying for a rental car altogether.

Magical Expres Bus Leaving the Contemporary Resort

    3.   Less transit time than off-property hotels. When taking the bus, there is a lot of saved time driving to the parks, finding a parking spot, waiting to pay the fee, taking the shuttle, etc. By taking the bus, you get dropped off right near the entrance, and even more, time is saved. Also, some resorts are even within walking distance from the parks!

     4. Free Magic Bands. At Disney, you can load up your current Fastpass+ onto a Magic Band so when you press it up against the Kiosk, its a quick and efficient use of time. It looks kind of like a           smartwatch, but with a Mickey symbol. My family buys these before we go/when they expire if we aren't staying at a resort, for $14.99 each + tax. However, when you stay at a resort, they are included in your stay.

    5. Amazing amenities. Each resort has its own outdoor area for relaxation and playtime away from the parks. Some of them are like a water park in themselves, whereas the value resorts have a couple big pools, each of them at different depths for the different ages of kids. Some resorts even have a ping-pong or basketball court. They also have refillable drink stations of most beverages if you purchase a dining plan, along with themed food courts.

Disney's Pop Century Resort

      6. Complimentary Evening Experiences. A couple nights a week, Disney will offer movie screenings by the pool, or even campfire-style. Another one of the great pros of staying onsite.

      7. Extra Magic Hours. Did I just save the best one for last? Of course, I did! You cannot beat an extra 30 minutes - 1.5 hours of extra time in the parks with a limited amount of guests. It's amazing! There are Morning and Night hours, but I would suggest going to a park with Morning hours so that you can have an early breakfast reservation, or get online for a couple rides you didn't get Fastpass+'s for. (Such as Slinky Dog Dash, which could easily be an over 3-4 hour  wait on a good day) These save you so much time and just make your experience with Disney  *that* much more magical.

Disney's Flight of Passage, normally the wait time is 3+ hours!

Pros of staying Off-Property:

Standard Suite Layout for Most Off-Property Hotels

       1. The Price. Disney hotels can get really expensive, really quickly. Many nearby hotels in Orlando offer stays for around $100/night, most with complimentary breakfast. And although you may not get the early Fastpass+'s or the Extra Magic Hours, the magic is the same and the price drops immensely.

Standard Breakfast spread for the Hilton Hotels

       2. Taking a break! If you aren't a Disney fanatic like me, then you might want to relax outside of Disney, where there isn't the mouse symbol everywhere you look. Although it seems crazy, even I've gotten tired of Disney before (shocker, I know).

Clearwater Beach in Florida, 2-hr drive from Orlando

       3. Still some benefits. Although not all of the above options will be available to a guest staying off-property, there are some hotels in the area that are "Disney Good Neighbor Hotels," in which some of them offer complimentary shuttles (and mickey waffles) to and from the parks (and others too!) However, their schedules aren't flexible, and they may have limited space and time slots.

Most Disney Good Neighbor Hotels even serve Mickey Waffles!

     In general, the place you choose to stay is up to you, and what you want to accomplish. If you're looking for as cheap of a trip as possible, I suggest staying off-site. However, if you want as much time in the parks as possible with fewer wait times and free transportation, staying at a value resort may be a better option. 

As always, comment down below, and I am glad to assist you with any questions you have!

- Have a magical day! ❤