Walt Disney World: Staying Onsite Vs Offsite
UPDATE: As of July 2020, due to current operating changes due to the Pandemic, there are some temporary changes to the onsite perks. These include: Extra Magic Hours, FastPass+ advance access (FastPass+ is not currently operating). Starting January 1, 2021 MagicBands are no longer complimentary with your package, but they are still available for purchase. Replacing the need for MagicBands are upgrades to the My Disney Experience program app on your phone!
At Walt Disney World - you have a lot of options in terms of where you can stay. There's more than 20 different resorts to pick from, varying in accommodations from Value, Moderate, Deluxe and Deluxe Villas. When people ask me where they should stay, there is a lot to consider. There's a lot of perks associated with staying onsite, but maybe it's not the best fit for your family. Let's dig in further to see what some of the differences are.
Staying OnSite at Walt Disney World Resort
When you stay onsite at Walt Disney World, this automatically qualifies you for some perks:
Broken down by the level of Resort:
Value Resorts - these are the most economically priced resorts. Two value resorts offer Family Suites, which can sleep up to 6. The other rooms at the value resorts sleep up to 4 plus an infant. Most of these standard rooms offer two double beds. Rooms at the Value resorts have exterior entrances, with the exception being the family suites at the Art of Animation Resort. Value resorts offer a quick service location onsite for grab and go meals and snacks.
Moderate Resorts - these resorts are a step up from the Value resorts, they offer rooms that sleep up to 4 plus an infant, or some (At Port Orleans Riverside and Caribbean Beach) will sleep up to 5 plus an infant, as long as one of the children is under 10. These rooms have a small pull down bed perfect for a small child. The Cabins at Fort Wilderness are also in this category, and they sleep up to 6 with a kitchen in your own cabin. The rooms at the Moderate Resorts are a bit larger than the Value resorts, and most offer 2 queen sized beds. Most of these rooms also have exterior entrances, and the second floor for most of these resorts does not have an elevator - so if you are traveling with a stroller or wheelchair, be sure to request a lower level. These resorts offer a quick service restaurant as well as a full service restaurant. Coronado Springs Resort also offers in-room dining. The Pools at these resorts have more activities for the kids to enjoy, including splash pads and water slides.
Deluxe Resorts - these resorts offer the most amenities on site. The room sizes are more accommodating, and some even offer a day bed to sleep up to 5 adults in the room. Most rooms have an interior entrance - so they have a more traditional deluxe hotel feel to them. They offer multiple dining experiences, with quick service and full service options. Several even offer a Character Dining and Signature dining option. Transportation to parks is always available by Bus, but for some resorts you can also utilize the Water Taxis or Monorail to reach the parks. The level of comfort is much higher at these resorts. The pool areas are larger and offer even more than the moderate level pools. These resorts offer more activities onsite for families to enjoy away from the parks. You could have a non-park day and still have plenty to enjoy! These resorts also offer Club Level rooms - these rooms have access to a private lounge serving snacks and beverages throughout the day, as well as other perks specific to club level.
Deluxe Villa Resorts - these offer the same amenities as the Deluxe Resorts, but the rooms are Villa style - so most have a separate bedroom and kitchen with their accommodations. Families staying for an extended period of time enjoy these rooms as they have some comforts of home while on their vacation.
Staying Offsite in the Orlando Area
Why would someone opt to stay offsite? Often it comes down to cost - but for others, the right fit for their family may be staying offsite. Families that are visiting Disney along with some of the other attractions in the area - like Universal, SeaWorld, Legoland, may wish to stay more centrally located. If Disney is not the main focus of your vacation, then the onsite perks may not sparkle as brightly for someone that is planning to spend the bulk of their trip there. There are even some hotels in the area that have a water park like pool areas that are great for family vacations. Larger families also have more options when staying offsite. When you are a family of 5 or more, your options onsite become limited, and it can certainly stretch the budget.
When you book your Orlando Vacation with me, it's important to me that we find the right fit. Taking into consideration budget, family needs and level of comfort expected all go into the process.
Do you have something you would add to this list? Please let me know!
Staying OnSite at Walt Disney World Resort
When you stay onsite at Walt Disney World, this automatically qualifies you for some perks:
- Disney's Magical Express (transportation to/from MCO Orlando airport and your Disney resort)
- Disney bus transportation from your resort to the parks. Some offer Monorail and/or boat transportation as well
- FastPass+ at 60 days prior to arrival date. You have advanced access to scheduling your 3 daily fastpasses prior to the general public (which has access to it 30 days in advance of each date they visit). **Select Disney Springs Partner hotels also currently offer this perk
- Advanced Dining Reservations - Similar to the FastPasses, staying onsite can get you advanced access to dining reservations over the general public. Dining reservations open up 180 days in advance of the day you check in. So when we hit 180 days prior to arrival, we can make your dining reservations for the duration of your trip, up to 180 + 10 days. General public has access to Dining reservations at 180 days in advance of each date. This gives you an edge on getting your preferred seating time, or better chances at some of the very popular dining options.
- Package payment options: $200 deposit for packages, balance due at 30 days prior to arrival
- Extra Magic Hours - every day, there are Extra Magic Hours - extended park hours (as scheduled by Park) for on site guests. This is your chance to experience the parks without all of the general public with you. Ride times are typically lower and it helps you accomplish more in your day. **Select Disney Springs partner hotels also currently offer this perk
- MagicBands - these act as your room key, park ticket, fastpass redemption and Photo redemption
- Optional add on: Dining Plans - these can be added to your package, so your dining is included, and you don't need to budget for food while you are there. They have several different options to find a fit for most families
- No added Resort Fee - if you are parking a car onsite, there is a parking fee
- Flexible cancellation policy. Any changes/cancellation made prior to the final payment date do not incur fees from Disney. Change and Cancellation fees from Disney may occur after that 30 day mark.
- Magical Extras Included with Vacation Packages (not included with room-only reservations): Vouchers for Mini Golf, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Discounts at Splitsville Luxury Lanes and select Dining and Shopping at Disney Springs.
- You stay within the magic. One of the biggest reasons my family loves staying onsite is because you are within the magic the entire time - you don't have to leave the 'Disney Bubble' so you are immersed in Disney's attention to details.
Broken down by the level of Resort:
Value Resorts - these are the most economically priced resorts. Two value resorts offer Family Suites, which can sleep up to 6. The other rooms at the value resorts sleep up to 4 plus an infant. Most of these standard rooms offer two double beds. Rooms at the Value resorts have exterior entrances, with the exception being the family suites at the Art of Animation Resort. Value resorts offer a quick service location onsite for grab and go meals and snacks.
Moderate Resorts - these resorts are a step up from the Value resorts, they offer rooms that sleep up to 4 plus an infant, or some (At Port Orleans Riverside and Caribbean Beach) will sleep up to 5 plus an infant, as long as one of the children is under 10. These rooms have a small pull down bed perfect for a small child. The Cabins at Fort Wilderness are also in this category, and they sleep up to 6 with a kitchen in your own cabin. The rooms at the Moderate Resorts are a bit larger than the Value resorts, and most offer 2 queen sized beds. Most of these rooms also have exterior entrances, and the second floor for most of these resorts does not have an elevator - so if you are traveling with a stroller or wheelchair, be sure to request a lower level. These resorts offer a quick service restaurant as well as a full service restaurant. Coronado Springs Resort also offers in-room dining. The Pools at these resorts have more activities for the kids to enjoy, including splash pads and water slides.
Deluxe Resorts - these resorts offer the most amenities on site. The room sizes are more accommodating, and some even offer a day bed to sleep up to 5 adults in the room. Most rooms have an interior entrance - so they have a more traditional deluxe hotel feel to them. They offer multiple dining experiences, with quick service and full service options. Several even offer a Character Dining and Signature dining option. Transportation to parks is always available by Bus, but for some resorts you can also utilize the Water Taxis or Monorail to reach the parks. The level of comfort is much higher at these resorts. The pool areas are larger and offer even more than the moderate level pools. These resorts offer more activities onsite for families to enjoy away from the parks. You could have a non-park day and still have plenty to enjoy! These resorts also offer Club Level rooms - these rooms have access to a private lounge serving snacks and beverages throughout the day, as well as other perks specific to club level.
Deluxe Villa Resorts - these offer the same amenities as the Deluxe Resorts, but the rooms are Villa style - so most have a separate bedroom and kitchen with their accommodations. Families staying for an extended period of time enjoy these rooms as they have some comforts of home while on their vacation.
Staying Offsite in the Orlando Area
- Transportation from Airport to Hotel - this can run anywhere from $75-200+ roundtrip, depending on which method of transportation you choose, and where your hotel is located
- Transportation to parks - some hotels offer a free shuttle, some offer a paid shuttle, but typically they all run on a set schedule - so you have to work within their time frame. Once you are on the Disney property, you can use the internal Disney bus system to get from one park to the other, or Disney Springs area.
- FastPass+ at 30 days. For guests not staying at an onsite resort, FastPasses can be scheduled 30 days prior to each day you visit. So this means if you are planning to visit for 7 days, you will be getting up early for 7 days, 30 days in advance to schedule these FastPasses. At the 30 day mark, some of the most popular rides (Flight of Passage, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Slinky Dog Dash) will not be available for FastPass Selections.
- Similar to FastPass, you will make your dining reservations at a slight disadvantage to those staying onsite. When you stay offsite, you will have access to dining reservations 180 days in advance of each day you will be dining at Disney. This may limit the options for the time you eat, especially at the most popular dining locations.
- Resort Fee - most hotels in the Orlando area charge $20-40 per day for the Resort fee.
- Time - you will need to factor in more time when traveling from your offsite hotel to the Disney property.
- Total Cost - sometimes staying offsite may save you a few hundred dollars, but when you add in the resort fee/transportation, you are back to close to the same cost as staying onsite. If you stay a bit further offsite, hotel costs do drop even more, but then you need to factor in more time for transportation.
- Payments - for offsite hotels, each one offers it's own type of payment options. Some require full payment at time of booking, others require a deposit plus payment due 30-60 days prior to arrival.
- Dining - Some of the area hotels offer a complimentary hot breakfast. Having this as an option can save you time and money in the parks! Also remember, you can pack your own snacks
- Brand Loyalty - maybe you are a member of one of the other hotel's brand memberships like Hilton Honors or Marriott Bonvoy, or one of the many other rewards programs. Many of these hotel brands are in the surrounding area and offer values for their loyalty members.
Why would someone opt to stay offsite? Often it comes down to cost - but for others, the right fit for their family may be staying offsite. Families that are visiting Disney along with some of the other attractions in the area - like Universal, SeaWorld, Legoland, may wish to stay more centrally located. If Disney is not the main focus of your vacation, then the onsite perks may not sparkle as brightly for someone that is planning to spend the bulk of their trip there. There are even some hotels in the area that have a water park like pool areas that are great for family vacations. Larger families also have more options when staying offsite. When you are a family of 5 or more, your options onsite become limited, and it can certainly stretch the budget.
When you book your Orlando Vacation with me, it's important to me that we find the right fit. Taking into consideration budget, family needs and level of comfort expected all go into the process.
Do you have something you would add to this list? Please let me know!
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