Top 10 Reasons to stay at a Disney Resort!

Jodi Serwatuk, Travel Planner, Disney & Universal destinations at Timeless Tales Travel

One of the first questions clients ask me is “should I stay at a Disney resort, or is it better to stay off site”? While there are benefits and drawbacks to every hotel, my response is always the same:

If you want a fully-immersive Disney experience from start to finish, a Disney resort is a must! And here are my top 10 reasons why:

Proximity

You’ll be as close as possible to the Disney theme parks. That means a short commute before and after long days of theme park fun. At some resorts, you can even walk to one or two of the parks!

Early Access to some high demand reservations

You can book dining reservations and enchanting extras earlier. When staying offsite these can be booked 60 days in advance. When staying at a Disney resort, they can be booking 60 days from your arrival, for the duration of your stay, up to an additional 10 days. So you’ll be able to snag some of the harder to get reservations like Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Cinderella’s Royal Table and Space 220.

You’ll also be able to purchase Lightning Lane Passes ahead of offsite guests! With Lightning Lane Passes you can skip the line for some of the most popular rides across the theme parks. When you stay at a Disney resort, you’ll be able to purchase and pre-book your Passes 7 days in advance of your trip, whereas guests staying offsite can only pre-book 3 days in advance. You’ll have the best chance of securing the most popular rides at the best times of the day!

Sounds confusing? Don’t worry! When you book your trip with me, I’ll provide all the info and guidance you need to understand Disney’s complicated systems, so you can make the most of your time in the theme parks!

Reliable transportation

Disney buses, ferries, the Skyliner gondola and monorail are all at your disposal, making your commute to the theme parks fast and fun!

There’s no need to rent a car, which is a great savings. But if you’re driving to Orlando and will have a car, you can park for free at both your hotel and the theme parks.

Not everyone appreciates the value of Disney buses. They run every 15-20 min. and are very reliable and consistent. They even send extra buses during peak times.

BONUS: If you’re staying at a Disney hotel the bus will drop you off and pick you up right at the gates for Magic Kingdom. You won’t have to take the monorail or ferry from the Transportation and Ticket Centre to get to the front gate like everyone else!

More time in the parks

When you’re staying at a Disney hotel, you can enter the theme parks and start riding attractions 30 minutes before offsite guests. It’s a perfect time to head to the most popular rides before lines build.

If you’re staying at a deluxe resort, you can also take advantage of extra evening hours on select nights in select parks where you’ll get two extra hours to play after the parks close!

Flexibility

When you book a Disney vacation package with both your Disney resort and theme park tickets, your deposit is only $200 USD and it’s refundable until 30 days prior to arrival. Things happen and plans can change. Booking your trip this way vs. buying non-refundable, non-transferable theme park tickets gives you flexibility and helps with peace of mind.

You can also make payments at any time to help pay off your trip earlier so you don’t end up with a large bill all at once.

PLUS: At Timeless Tales Travel we will apply any new Disney discounts to your vacation package that are released after you book, if your reservation qualifies. So you will get the best rate possible!

Extra fun included!

When you book a vacation package with both a resort stay and tickets, you’ll receive a free round of minigolf! And some other discounts and coupons as well.

If you book a vacation for next year – 2025 – you’ll also receive a ticket to visit a Disney Water Park on your arrival day!

More fun – same price. Can’t beat that!

Disney Dining Plan

You can only include a Disney Dining Plan with your vacation package if you’re staying at a Disney resort hotel. The dining plans can make your vacation feel more “all inclusive”.

Check out this blog post to see how my family maximised the dining plan on our last visit.

MagicBands

Magic Bands are so convenient! Your bracelet is your park ticket, your room key, you can charge purchases on it, check in for lightning lanes and virtual queues, connect your Photopass images to your My Disney Experience Account, tap it to use your Dining Plan credits, and there are fun surprises and interactions throughout Disney World. Plus it’s a fun souvenir, and can be reused on future trips, and on Disney cruises.

Sure, you can still purchase Magic Bands when staying offsite, but it won’t open your room door and you can’t use it for purchases. It does much more magic when you’re a Disney hotel guest.

Full immersion

You’ll experience the Disney magic and extraordinary guest service that Disney is known for, from start to finish. It becomes a seamless vacation.

Return trip Discount!

You’ll have access to an amazing discount on your next trip, if you book within 7 days of check out. I’ve helped several clients take advantage and save hundreds of dollars! Many families think their Disney experience is a one time trip. Until they get there. Once you experience the fun, you’ll want to return again and again! 🙂

If you’re thinking of taking a Disney vacation and you want all the tips & tricks for staying at a Disney hotel and maximizing your time in the theme parks, please reach out! I’d love to plan a vacation for your family.

Jodi Serwatuk, Travel Planner, Disney & Universal destinations at Timeless Tales Travel

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