0203 950 7371When you’re planning a holiday from the UK to Walt Disney World in Orlando, one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is where to stay. The big question is: should you choose a Walt Disney World hotel or book offsite accommodations?
Straight off the bat, you should know that there’s no “best” choice here, and the decision you make will likely be affected by your budget and personal preferences.
In this guide, we’re helping you decide whether it’s better to stay at a Walt Disney World hotel, based on considerations including transportation, cost, the park experience, and how much fun you can squeeze into each day
Why is Your Hotel Choice So Important?
If you’ve ever done a summer holiday to Spain or Greece, your choice of hotel generally only affects your proximity to tourist areas and the level of luxury you can expect. But Florida’s official Disney World hotels are different—compared to off-site hotels, they offer unique benefits beyond amenities and location.
Whether you choose to stay in a Walt Disney World hotel or an off-site accommodation will determine things like:
- How much time you’ll spend in the parks
- How much you’ll pay for tickets and food
- How easy you’ll find it to get around
We’ll discuss this in more detail shortly, but a big benefit of Disney resorts is that they give you a head start on your day with early theme park entry. They also offer free transportation to the parks, along with that extra bit of magic sprinkled throughout your stay.
In comparison, you can save money by staying in an off-site hotel, and you’ll often get more space for the price you pay. But even if you choose a Disney Partner Hotel, it’ll still lack all of the Disney benefits that you’ll only find with on-site accommodations.
The Case For Staying at a Walt Disney World Hotel
Let’s imagine that you’ve chosen to stay at an official Walt Disney World Hotel. What are your options, and what kind of benefits can you expect?
Disney offers over 25 resort hotels for its guests to choose from, ranging from budget-friendly value resorts to uber-fancy deluxe villas and cabins. No matter which hotel you choose, you’ll get the same benefits of staying onsite; namely, being inside the Disney bubble with easy access to all four theme parks, the two water parks, and the Disney Springs area.
Types of Disney Resorts
Before we jump into the benefits of staying at an official Walt Disney World hotel, let’s take a look at the types of resorts you can stay at.
Value Resorts
Value Disney resorts are, as their name suggests, the most affordable on-site hotel offering on Disney World property. They’re family-friendly, with fun themes, canteen-style dining, and big pools. On average, the price per night to stay at a Value resort starts at £150–£200.
Moderate Resorts
An upgrade from the Value resorts, Disney’s Moderate resorts are slightly fancier, with bigger rooms and better dining options, set in beautiful grounds. Depending on the resort you choose, you can expect to pay £250–£300 per night to kick back and relax at a Moderate hotel.
Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villas
The most expensive Disney offering is also the fanciest: the Deluxe resorts and villas. If you’ve got at least £450 to splash per night and want nothing but the best experience, you’ll love the Deluxe hotels’ prime locations near the parks, along with their fine dining options and premium amenities.
Cabins and Campsites
For families who fancy more of an adventure, Disney’s cabins and campsites are a great option to consider. If you’re specifically looking to stay on-site, it’s worth considering The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. That said, camping is a more common option for locals who can easily travel with their own RVs or tents.
4 Benefits of Staying Onsite
Not sure whether staying on-site for your Disney World holiday is worth it? These four benefits might just sway you.
1.Early Theme Park Entry
When you’re staying as a guest at a Disney resort, you’ll be able to enter any Disney theme park 30 minutes before the general public, including on your check-in day. That early entry gives you a chance to ride some of the most popular attractions while the queues are shorter, without having to pay for a Lightning Lane multi-pass.
2.Free Transportation
Another huge benefit of staying on-site is that you’ll be able to hop on and off Disney’s free transportation, including buses, boats, monorails, and the Skyliner gondolas. These offer the quickest and most convenient way to get you between resorts and parks, as well as Disney Springs.
Good to know: you don’t need a car, but if you hire one, you’ll get complimentary standard parking at the theme parks.
3.Lightning Lane Booking Advantage
If you do want to book Lightning Lane to skip the longer lines for any of your favourite rides, you’ll be happy to know that on-site hotel guests can do so for the entire length of their stay (up to 14 nights), seven days before their check-in date. In comparison, off-site guests can only book on the same day, so they have a lower chance of getting passes for the most popular rides.
4.Extra Magic Touches
There’s no arguing with the fact that official Disney World hotels are more magical than any off-site accommodations. Regardless of where you stay, you’ll have the option to book themed rooms, and get involved in resort activities and entertainment that keep the Disney magic alive even outside of the parks.
The Case for Staying Offsite
You might now be thoroughly convinced to stay at an on-site Walt Disney World hotel, but don’t be so quick to rule out off-site hotels until you read this next section.
In terms of your offerings, off-site accommodation ranges from budget motels to luxury hotels like Four Seasons, plus thousands of holiday villas with private pools. When you stay offsite, you’ll usually have more space for less money, which is ideal if you’re traveling in a big group or you’re doing a longer trip.
3 Benefits of Staying Offsite
If you stay in an off-site hotel on your Disney World holiday, you’ll enjoy the following benefits:
1.Lower Price Per Night
Even Disney’s Value resorts can be pretty expensive, and you’ll be able to find bigger hotel rooms or even entire villas for less. Some villas cost no more than £100 per night, especially if you’re able to travel outside of peak summer dates.
2.More Dining Options
Orlando has a huge selection of restaurants outside of the Disney borders. When you’re staying off-site, you’ll have the freedom to explore local food options beyond Disney property, most of which are a good deal cheaper than Disney’s offerings.
3.Flexible Accommodation
If you prefer to stay in one place for more than 14 nights or you’re after specific amenities like a full kitchen, you’ll get that flexibility when you stay in an off-site self-catering hotel room or villa.
Drawbacks of Staying Offsite
You’re probably noticing that the biggest benefits of staying off-site relate to penny saving, but there are a few setbacks that might be deal-breakers for you.
First, you’ll either need to use your hotel’s shuttle service or book your own transportation to get to the parks. For context, Disney buses usually leave every 10 minutes, while off-site hotels might offer two or three buses every morning and evening. You might prefer to drive anyway for the flexibility it offers, but just be aware that you’ll need to pay for parking at every Disney park.
Staying off-site also means you won’t get early theme park entry, giving you no chance to ride the most popular attractions before their queue times jump up.
Onsite Walt Disney World Hotels vs Offsite Accommodations: What to Consider
When you’re choosing between Disney’s official on-site hotels and Orlando’s off-site offerings, make sure to consider these four things:
Cost vs Convenience
Disney resorts are the more convenient choice, with their free transportation and early park entry. But, of course, you pay a premium for those benefits. You’ll pay less for an off-site stay, but you’ll need to factor in extra planning for things like car hire or working around your hotel’s shuttle schedule.
Park Time
If you want to maximise your park admission, it’s going to make the most sense to stay on-site. You can get to the parks faster, and you’ll have the flexibility to nip back to your hotel for a lunchtime break, then return for evening fireworks without worrying about traffic.
Dining and Entertainment
On-site hotels offer all those raved-about dining experiences, including cute character meals and insanely themed restaurants. That said, you might actually prefer the freedom to eat anywhere on a tighter budget, which is easier to do when you’re staying off-site.
Tickets and Reservations
Finally, when you stay at an official Disney World hotel, you have the perk of being able to link your tickets and resort reservation in the My Disney Experience app, as well as booking Lightning Lanes in advance. If you’re not fussed about having an easier way to manage your tickets and reservations, you should be fine with staying off-site.
Final Word
So, is it better to stay at a Walt Disney World hotel? If you want the convenience of early park entry and the full Disney experience, staying on-site is definitely going to be the best option. But if you prefer more space and want to spend less on your holiday, off-site accommodation will probably be better for you.
Regardless of the type of hotel you choose, you’ll still be able to visit all the Disney World theme parks and water parks, as well as Disney Springs—it just depends on how you want to spend your holiday.
To help take the stress out of organising your break, The House of Travel who are a Florida focused UK travel agency offers Complete Disney world packages at competitive rates. This ensures that you can enjoy your time here, with all of the planning in hand. After all, there’s no better way to explore Disney than by letting the experts take charge! Either give us a quick call on 0203 950 7371 or simply fill this quick form here for a call back request today.
