Skip to main content

Why Should I Stay at a Disney Resort?

Image

 Discounts!

There are many reasons to choose a Disney Resort for your upcoming Disney vacation! It is true that there are tons of resorts in the Orlando area. It is true that you might find one that is cheaper, though I would double check that that is true because you can sometimes get some super good deals at Disney. 

Probably one of the biggest reasons to pick a WDW Resort is the discounts. If you book last minute, you might not be able to find a discount, but if you plan ahead when the deals are first coming out, the savings can be anywhere from a little to a lot! To find out how to make sure you are getting the discount you think you are getting, click here.

What kind of discounts can you get? Most often they have room discounts from 15-35% depending on when and where you book your stay. Some of the bigger discounts are attached to having an Annual Pass or a Chase Disney Visa or sometimes even having Disney+. What else? Occasionally, you might find a ticket discount, especially if you are a Florida resident or a member of the US military. In the past there have even been Free Dining offers. Recently, WDW offered tiered dining gift cards for booking a room and ticket package. Much like the Free Disney Dining of the past, you had to book a Disney resort and purchase tickets as a package to get the Free Dining Card. Speaking of food, Disney Resorts serve Mickey Waffles for breakfast! You can't get that at the hotel down the road!


Magic Bands!

Alright, it is true that you can buy a magic band at a gift shop or online and attach your ticket to it. What you may not have realized though, is that you can get a discount on that magic band if you purchase it by clicking through your booked vacation on your app. Also, the fact that you have a Disney Resort booked means that magic band will be extra magical! You can attach a payment method to it for your purchases at your hotel, in the parks, the water parks, and at Disney Springs, but only if you stay at a Disney Resort! Purchasing Genie+ or Lightning Lanes or maybe you have a ticket to an after hours party?  All of these things attach to your band! And don't forget about Photopass! Simply allow the Photopass photographer to scan your band and your pictures will show up on your MDE app!  Oh yeah! You can also open your hotel room with your magic band! All of this is only possible if you stay at a WDW Resort!

Early Access to Genie+ and More!

The general public may begin reserving attractions on Genie+ when the park opens. But, did you know that guests in a Disney Resort can do that at 7am? Why is that important? Earlier access means a better chance that you will be able to reserve what you were hoping to get! 

What else do you get early access to? How about entering the parks 30 minutes before guests that do not stay on property? Pretty awesome! AND you can even get Extra Magic Hours after the parks close if you stay at a Deluxe Disney Resort or Villa! That's basically free time in the parks! Talk about magic!

Here's another secret: WDW Resort Guests have early access to Dining Reservations. The general public can book a restaurant 60 days out, but if they want to book reservations for dinner for 7 nights, they will have to do each reservation independently 60 days before the date they are reserving. If you're a Disney Resort guest, you can make all of your reservations 60 days before the first day of your trip. Why is that a big deal? More access to more reservations sooner! That means you have a better chance to get some of the most coveted reservations!

Free Parking and Free Transportation!

Disney does not charge for you to park your car at your resort! That hotel down the road likely has a parking fee, as well as a resort fee. Not Disney! Those things are complimentary!

Plan to drive to the parks? If you're not staying at a Disney Resort that will cot you $25 a day! If you stay at a Disney resort, parking at the parks is free! If your trip is 4 days long that's a savings of $100! Money in your pocket for food and souvenirs!

Many hotels in the Orlando  offer transportation to the parks, but it isn't exactly free because you need to tip the driver. Also, they only offer these shuttles at specific times. If you miss the shuttle, you are out of luck and you will have to spend extra money on an alternate form of transportation. Disney Transportation, whether it is a bus, boat, monorail, or skyliner begins before the park opens and doesn't end until  about an hour after park closes. During these hours, the transportation runs continuously and no one is asking for a tip!

Proximity and Immersion!

Still not convinced? Consider that when you stay at a Disney Resort you never leave the magic! From check-in to checkout you are in 100% Disney immersion! Each Disney Resort offers special resort theming as well as specially themed activities and amenities that are sure to be a highlight of your Disney vacation!




Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Most Popular Blog Posts

What is Pixie Dust?

  First Time Magic   When I was Young…and so was Disney World  My first visit to Disney World was in 1971. I was not excited to be going to Disney. Why? I did not know that Disney existed, much less that I was going there. 1971 was the year that Walt Disney World opened in Florida and I was 5 years old! Whether my Dad kept it a secret so that it would be the ultimate surprise is unclear to me. What I am sure of is that he took us to the most magical place on earth. Operations were very different than they are now, but the one thing that remains the same is that it is still the most magical place on earth.  What is Pixie Dust and how can I Make it Happen on my Trip? Pixie Dust is a magical, unexpected thing that can happen while you are at Disney, but you cannot make it happen. I have heard people recently complain that the magic is gone since the pandemic started. It’s not true. I am sad for these people because they are missing the point. There are two types of Pixie Dust: Unexpe
2 comments
Read more

Signature Dining at The Walt Disney World Resort

One of my favorite things I have a confession. While it is true that I love all things Disney , the attractions, the parades, the fireworks, the characters, the thing I love most at Disney is the dining! Whether I am on a Disney Cruise or visiting the Theme Parks, the dining is my favorite thing! You may not be aware of this, but Disney offers several different types of dining experiences: Table Service, Quick Service, Character Dining , and the coveted Signature Dining!  Why is it called Signature Dining? Disney's Signature Dining locations are named as such because they are each a one of a kind, dining experience. Walt Disney talked about taking an experience and "plus-ing" it. In other words, taking something great and then taking it up another notch. That is exactly what the Signature Dining experience is! What do I need to know? Each of these unique locations is available by reservation and they tend to fill up very quickly! Reservations can be made 60 days bef
Post a Comment
Read more

Disney Value Resorts: Which one is Best?

 Why are they called Value Resorts?  Pop Century The Disney Value Resorts are called that because they are the least expensive resorts that Disney has to offer. In other words, staying at one of these will stretch that Disney Budget farther. Currently, there are 5 Values: Pop Century , The Art of Animation , All Star Music , All Star Movie s, and All Star Sports .   What amenities and entertainment can I expect at a Value Resort? All of these resorts will have a counter service restaurant, a pool bar, a gift shop, a themed pool near the main building, guest laundry, Movies Under the Stars, and special resort activities at the main pool. In the rooms, you can expect beds for 4 people (2 to a bed) or if you book a suite it will sleep up to 6 people. In the standard rooms and suites you will have a coffee pot with coffee service provided and a cooler/fridge perfect for keeping drinks cold, but not much else. The suites also have a microwave as well as a small supply of plastic forks a
Post a Comment
Read more

Some of My Favorite Things: Hollywood Studios Edition

  Hollywood Studios: What can I expect? Hollywood Studios, like Epcot , is not like the MagicKingdom . It is not like Epcot either. So what is it? Originally, Hollywood Studios was a small theme park named MGM Studios. The theming of the park was a day on a Backlot in Hollywood. Everything that was originally there had to do with the making of movies. Though it was my favorite park, it had a problem. It earned the reputation of a half-day park. Through the years, it has changed significantly. Today’s version of Hollywood Studios is definitely a full day park. It still has a movie theme, but the newer attractions are more of immersion into those movies than experiencing a day on a Backlot in Hollywood. Is it still my favorite? Absolutely! Maximizing Your  Let’s get right down to it! You could spend your whole day and only experience a few things if you’re not careful. Pixie Dust Tip: If you only buy Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lanes one day of your trip, I would consider doi
Post a Comment
Read more