Should I Stay (on property) or Should I Go (off property)?

You’ve decided on a Disney vacation. Now what? Once you’ve made the fantastic decision to take a Disney trip you then have to decide where to stay. I’ll try to lay out the advantages for both on property and off property, but must tell you that I am biased toward on property. There is something remarkable about staying in the “Disney bubble.” When you walk into the parks there is an intangible feeling of magic and it is so nice to continue that feeling at your Resort. You can trust your vacation to Disney; after all, it’s what brings visitors back year after year. 

On Property Advantages

Transportation
Magical Express – I love the thought that once I drop off my baggage upon check-in at the airport, I never have to worry about it again and it will magically appear in my room. If you are flying into the Orlando International Airport between the hours of 5 a.m. – 10 p.m. and staying at a Disney Resort this thought is a reality. Travel on Disney’s Magical Express and begin your vacation immediately upon landing. Once you land, skip the baggage claim confusion and follow the signs to the Magical Express. Hop on the air-conditioned motor coach and you will be delivered right to your room. Your luggage will be taken care of by the service and be delivered to your room within 3 hours. *It’s a good idea to pack a few essential items in a carry-on that you can keep you with you in case you want to hit the parks immediately. Also, if your flight lands after 10 p.m., you will need to collect your luggage and then follow the signs to Disney’s Magical Express.*          

Free Parking – If you are driving to Orlando for vacation or if you rent a car when you get there you will save $14 a day by staying on property. Free self-parking is available at all resorts and parks.

Disney Transportation – Whether by bus, boat, or monorail Disney Transportation is free, easy, and efficient! You can travel around the parks and resorts in a reasonably timely manner and don’t worry if you miss your mode of transportation. They all run on a quick, consistent basis. Plus you will never need to ask for directions!

Dining
Advanced Dining Reservations – Reservations may be made 180 days in advance for each day of your stay. However, if you are a Resort guest Disney offers you 180 days plus 10. You can make reservations for your entire vacation, up to 10 days, at the 180-day mark. This is a nice advantage if you are trying to book those hard to reserve restaurants like Cinderella’s Royal Table or LeCellier.

Dining Plan – Dining plans are available exclusively to Resort guests and they offer over 100 restaurants to choose from. There are several Plan options depending on your needs and if you decide to go with a Disney Dining Plan it is nice to know what your food costs will be ahead of time.  

Lodging
Resort Levels – Disney offers several resort levels to accommodate different vacation budgets. You can choose from a Value, Moderate, Deluxe or even a Deluxe Villa Resort. Regardless of what level you choose the perks are all the same.

Rooms for Guests with Disabilities – Disney is committed to providing access to as many guests as possible. They offer hotel room accommodations including wider bathroom doors, shower benches, bed shaker alarms, and phone amplifiers. Please review the room descriptions at your Resort for more detailed information.    

Rooms for 5 Guests or More – There are options at all resort levels to accommodate larger groups. There are options at the Value and Moderate Resorts that sleep up to 6, Deluxe Resorts have rooms and suites that accommodate 5 or more guests, and Villa Resorts that sleep up to 8 or 9 guests.

Disney Story Rooms – You can stay in a Story Room and feel like a character in one of your favorite movies. The Art of Animation Resort offers Lion King, Finding Nemo, and Cars suites and Little Mermaid standard rooms. Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort offers Pirate Rooms for your swashbuckling crew and Port Orleans – Riverside offers Royal Guest Rooms for your princes and princesses.

Perks
EMH – Extra Magic Hours! Each day one of the parks will open one hour early or remain open up to two hours later than normal operating time for Resort guests.

Key to the World Card – Instead of carrying around a heavy wallet all throughout the parks, your Key to the World Card is your room key, identification as a Resort guest, park ticket, Disney Dining Plan credits, and credit card all in ONE! When you check in you can also ask to have charging privileges removed from your children’s’ cards. It is a good idea to have one designated person be in charge of all the cards and you will also use your Key to the World card to obtain FASTPASSes.

Proximity – Have small children that need a mid-morning or afternoon nap? It is quite an advantage to be able to hop on Disney transportation and be back in your room quickly for a break. With the Extra Magic Hours you can rest during the hottest part of the day or during naptime and go back out at night refreshed and confident that you still have plenty of time to enjoy everything.

Package Delivery – There’s no need to haul your souvenirs and packages around all day. Enjoy the convenience of having your purchases from select shops delivered straight to your room. 

Refillable Mugs – If you are a Resort guest a refillable mug is included in your Dining Plan or you if you opt out of the Disney Dining Plan, you can purchase a refillable mug at your resort for $14.99 plus tax. These offer unlimited refills at specified resort locations for the duration of your stay and make great souvenirs. A wonderful perk for those that need more than just one cup of coffee in the morning, enjoy a refreshing beverage at the resort pool, or need a caffeine fix at night. Don’t worry there are also non-caffeinated and non-carbonated options.

With so many reasons to stay on property, why would you consider staying off property? I did mention I would try to lay out the advantages for both. The main reason for off property I can sum up for you in one word is cost. Off property is almost always a better bargain and you will likely find more spacious rooms. This is a nice benefit for parents who want to have a separate sleeping space for children instead of having everyone together in one room. If your primary goal is to experience Disney in the most economical way staying off property is the way to go.

Off Property Advantages

Cost – Per square foot you will almost certainly find a cheaper hotel off property. If you have a large group and will need several Disney Resort rooms, it can be less expensive to rent a condo with a full kitchen and pool than it would be to book several Value Resort rooms. If you don’t mind cooking then you will save money using your off property kitchen instead of your on property dining plan and you can pick and choose which meals or snacks you want to eat in the parks. Staying in a larger hotel room or condo for less money is a great option for those groups where everyone needs their own space.

Other Parks – You will need to decide if your family or group are interested in only a Disney trip or if there are other theme parks, attractions, or shopping that you would like to do. If so, then it will be more convenient for you to be off property.

Transportation – Even on vacation sometimes one member of your party may just need to “get away” for a little while. There are times when it can be great to have your own car. You may decide to pick up cheaper souvenirs at locations outside the parks, need bandages for your feet after all that walking, or even stock up on snacks and drinks from a local grocery store. Navigating around the parks is not difficult and it is nice to be able to park right outside of your condo or hotel and go in instead of standing in line for transportation and then walking back to your room.

I truly believe that Disney is so magical that regardless of your decision on where to stay you will enjoy your trip. Decide what makes the most sense for your family and we can help you plan accordingly.