It’s tempting to stay off property at Disney World but here are our top 10 Perks of staying at a Disney hotel at Walt Disney World.
1. Early Entry
When you stay on property, you get early entry to any of the parks (not just one a day like Disneyland). Officially early entry is 30 minutes before park opening, but we find that it’s usually a little more time than that.
2. LIGHTNING Lanes early
Guest at WDW resorts get to pick their lightning lanes early 7 days before for the duration of their trip for the entire length of their trip (up to 14 days). Those staying off property can choose their lightning lanes at 3 days out. This is a big perk for those wanting to maximize the lighting lane pass system.
3. Possible late night hours
If you are staying at a Deluxe hotel, a DVC resort, or the three Marriott Hotels on property (the Swan, Dolphin, Swan Reserve) then you are able to stay late a couple of nights a week- Once at Epcot and once at Magic Kingdom. These are a fantastic time to ride attractions with long wait times during regular park hours. This is one of our favorite perks of staying at a Disney hotel.
4. Dining Perk
At 60 days is when you can make dining reservations at WDW. One of the biggest perks of staying on-property though is you get to make dining reservations for the entirety of your stay. This can make it easier to get harder reservations towards the end of your trip. Tip- work your way backwards and get harder to get reservations towards the end of your trip.
5. Free Transportation
When you stay at a Disney resort, there is free transportation to the parks and Disney Springs. This includes bus, boat, monorail, or skyliner. Not only is it free, but the transportation from resorts will drop off closer to the parks. This is especially true at Magic Kingdom, where the bus drops you off right in front of the entrance, instead of having to drive to the TTC (transportation and ticket center), take a tram, then either the monorail or ferry over to Magic Kingdom.
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6. Free Water Park entry (on check in day)
Starting in 2025, Disney resort guests will get entrance to a water park on the day they check in to jump start the fun. In this instance I would stay off property the night before, drop off your bags in the morning and enjoy a fun time at the water parks (Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach) on your first day for free. Adults are regularly priced at $74 for each adult and $68 per kid- so that’s almost $300 free for a family of 4!
7. Closer to the Parks (and closer to hotels for naps, splitting up groups)
If you have young children that need naps (or adults for that matter!), staying close in a Disney hotel is so advantageous to take a break in the afternoon. This is not only helpful for the naps, but we recommend taking breaks in the afternoon to cool off in the pool, regroup and to miss the most crowded times at the park. It’s also a must for multigenerational and large family groups, as it gives flexibility to splitting up so late risers can sleep in, and night owls can stay late.
8. Make more Dining reservations (and harder to get reservations too)
While everyone can make dining reservations 60 days out, but guests staying at a Disney Resort can make ALL of their dining reservation at the same time (up to 10 days). Why is this helpful? Because you can get those hard to get dining reservation before everyone else can.
Tip: work backwards from the end of your trip so have a better chance of getting reservations like Topolinos, Space 220 and Cinderella’s Royal Table.
9. Disney theming and resort activities for non-park days
Disney resorts also have resort activities ( DVC resorts for example have marshmallows over campfires each night, movies under the stars, pool activities, and scavenger hunts) so you don’t have to have a park ticket each day to have fun.
10. No traffic, no rental car, no tolls
I don’t think visitors (especially if you don’t visit Disney World and go to Disneyland instead) comprehend how much time and frustration it can be to “commute” into the parks. Disney World land is the size of San Fransisco! Even if your hotel is “close”, it can be thirty minutes to drive in, and the roads around WDW can have heavy traffic, with lots of toll on the freeway. This means getting kids up even earlier, making everyone stay to close and fighting traffic both ways. I’d rather go down to the bus stop, get on a bus, and talk to my family while the driver does the work!
11. Free parking
When you stay at a Disney Owned hotel (this does not include the Marriott group) you get free parking at the resort and at all of the parks. All of the hotels off property we have stayed at have charge a hefty parking fee each night of our stay.
This list doesn’t include our favorite of Perks of staying at a Disney hotel- it’s just more magic and more fun!
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