Experience More Magic: Benefits of Staying at Walt Disney World Resorts
As one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, each Disney World park sees tens of thousands of guests each day. A fraction of those guests stay at the whopping 24,000 rooms scattered across Disney’s resorts. What’s the draw of these themed hotels?
Ask any experienced Walt Disney World trip planner and they’ll tell you that a resort stay offers more than enough perks to make your trip magical. If you’re hoping to make the most of your vacation, here are a few benefits to think about as you consider staying on Disney property.
More Time in the Parks
When you stay at a Disney Resort hotel, you get early access to the park each day. Guests get to enter all four of the Walt Disney World parks 30 minutes before regular guests. When you’re trying to make every minute of your trip count, it’s hard to beat this early access!
In addition, guests at certain Disney hotels also get extended evening hours. This may include select attractions, restaurants, and shops that stay open past normal park hours.
Transportation
One of the biggest benefits of staying at a Disney World resort on your trip is that you’ll get free transportation to every single Disney resort. This makes it easy to hop from one resort to the next, as each hotel includes a unique theme and special attractions.
You can also visit all of the area’s theme parks in this way. If you know you’ll want to return to your room often for a mid-afternoon break to avoid the Florida sun, a Disney Resort saves you time and makes it easy to jump back and forth.
Guests can take advantage of each Disney resort’s complimentary bus, boat, and monorail services. The newest addition to these transport services, the Disney Skyliner, is an aerial option you won’t want to miss!
For an additional cost, guests can also use Mears Transportation, which provides bus services from the airport to each resort.
Special Activities
Each Disney resort features a wealth of special activities and amenities to make your stay unforgettable. If you’re hoping to enjoy the Walt Disney magic every second of your stay, a Disney resort is the only way to do it.
The immersive experience can include themed pools and slides, character breakfasts and dining options, and much more. Through resort-hopping, you can even check off all of the activities below:
- Visit the horses at Fort Wilderness Resort
- Walk the nature trails at the Wilderness Lodge
- Go on a safari at the Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Visit the butterfly garden at the Contemporary Resort
- Attend the sing-a-long at Fort Wilderness Resort
- Walk along Disney’s Boardwalk
- Check out the All-Star Resorts
- Try a fishing trip at the Caribbean Beach Resort
- Check out the waterfalls at the Polynesian Village Resort
Many activities at the resorts are free, though you’ll have to pay an added fee for others.
There are so many fun resort activities, shops, and restaurants that Walt Disney World trip planners will recommend a resort-only day during your vacation. Skip a trip to the parks and see what the resorts have to offer!
Parking
If you’ll be bringing or renting a vehicle on your Disney World trip, a resort can save you money on parking. Disney Resort hotel guests get free parking at all of the theme parks and water parks. This would normally cost you $25-30 per day, depending on your vehicle.
Early Genie+ Access
Guests who haven’t visited Disney World in a while may not be familiar with the relatively new Genie+ service. This service and its Lightning Lane options replace the outdated FastPass, allowing guests to make reservations at popular attractions.
While anyone can purchase Lightning Lane reservations, guests who book a resort get to book attractions starting at 7 a.m. each morning, while regular guests must wait until the park opens. If you’re working with Walt Disney World trip planners to see specific rides or attractions, this is a huge advantage! For guests who travel to Disney World during peak season, early access can be even more crucial.
Magic Band Discounts
Magic Bands were once a complimentary part of any stay at a Disney resort, but this is no longer the case. Today, resort guests who travel to Disney World can still take advantage of a “pre-arrival” discount for these items.
If you’re using My Magic Plus on your phone, this deal may not be necessary. However, if you enjoy unlocking your room faster, scanning photos, trying interactive experiences, and charging purchases with ease, a Magic Band may be convenient for you.
Extra Amenities
Need more extra touches than a standard room allows? Depending on where you stay, you can find all of the amenities you need.
Many standard rooms sleep up to five guests, which is great for traveling families. All hotels offer self-service laundry services, and many resorts have either kitchenettes or full kitchens to help guests save on meals.
Options for Any Budget
Given how many benefits you’re getting with a stay at a Disney resort, you might expect the price tag to be high. However, Disney offers resort options to fit any budget.
In fact, Disney separates its resorts into tiers: Value Resorts, Moderate Resorts, and Deluxe Resorts. Though higher-tier resorts have more amenities, staying at Value Resorts still gets you access to all the other resorts. Most Walt Disney World trip planners will recommend staying at a Value Resort on Disney property as opposed to an off-property option.
Walt Disney World Trip Planner Services
With so many advantages, there’s no reason not to stay at a Walt Disney World resort! From themed activities to park benefits, these hotels make it easy for guests to stay in the Disney “bubble” throughout their trip.
When you’re ready to book your travels, make sure you’re working with an experienced Walt Disney World trip planner. At Finding the Magic Travel, we pride ourselves on helping vacationers plan a trip they’ll remember for years to come. Let us help you find the magic by contacting us today.