When planning your Disney vacation, one of the first questions to consider is whether you should stay on or off property. While some people will certainly advocate that off property is the way to go, I want to experience the magic of the Disney bubble when I go to Disney World. That means on property is the answer for me. And with on property rooms you do get some special perks. The most notable are:
1. Extra magic hours. At least one Disney park opens early or stays open late each day only for guests staying at a Disney resort. Using these extra hours strategically can mean a lot more fun with lower lines and is a must for our family!
2. Disney transportation. If you are thinking about going to Disney sans car, a Disney hotel is a must. From their included Magical express service to and from the airport (with luggage delivery to your room!) to their bus, boat, and monorail transportation throughout the world, you really can't do Disney without a car off property in an efficient manner. While many off-property resorts do have Disney shuttles, they tend to run just a few times a day and aren't really an efficient way to get anywhere, especially if you have children and need to be more flexible with time.
3. Fast passes. Fast passes are reserved times for rides/shows/firework celebrations. The passes send you close to the front of the line or give you a reserved seating area for shows. Guests staying on site can book three of these per day of their trip at 60 days out. Off-site guests and locals can't book until 30 days out. For many rides, the extra time doesn't matter but for the headliners like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Soarin', Frozen Ever After, and Toy Story Mania, if you don't book at 60 days out, the fast passes will likely be gone when you are eligible to book. If the line is usually more than an hour, count on needing a fast pass in the 30-60 day range to get on without a huge wait!
4. Magic bands. I wasn't sure how I felt about these when they were first announced but let me tell you, I am a believer now! For each member in your party you get a bracelet that holds on it everything from park tickets to charging privileges (for those older kids and adults you give access). You can literally go in to the parks with nothing but your band (well obviously not if you need to worry about snacks, diapers, etc. for little ones). It also opens your resort room door and since you wear it there is no digging out your key or key card at the end of a long day to get inside. Game changer, Disney friends!
There are some other benefits like being able to send your packages back to your room so you don't have to carry them all day and free parking at the four parks if you do decide to go with a car, but these are the ones that keep me staying on site. Well that and just being in the whole Disney universe for vacation! Plus the resort themeing is just fantastic! Each resort from value to deluxe has decor that makes it totally unique and Disney!
Having said all of that, there are certainly times when it makes sense to stay off site. Staying with family in the area, having a timeshare available to you, or renting a house with friends for way less than staying on site are all reasons to consider staying off site. But if you are going to central Florida to do Disney, definitely take a look at the advantages of staying on property - you won't be disappointed!
I'll share my favorite resorts in a future post!
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