Now that we all know why it is worth staying at a Disneyland hotel, let’s switch gears and talk about why it’s worth it even MORE to stay on property at Disney World.
When you have young children, I am a firm believer it is completely worth staying on property instead of trying to save a few dollars by staying off property. You’ll more likely have a better overall experience, and I’m ALL about factoring in the overall experience of a vacation into its value instead of focusing strictly on dollars and cents.
You all know the basic benefits of staying on property. There are a million blog posts and website listing these out.
Let’s focus on why it’s so beneficial to stay on property when you have young kids.
The Free Transportation and No Car Seat Needed
When you stay at a Disney World resort hotel, you never have to worry about how you will get to and from the airport or around the parks and hotels themselves. They have it all taken care of for you in the form of the Magical Express to and from the airport, and the buses, boats, and monorail that will take you around Walt Disney’s property itself.
And why is this so amazing when you have young kids? Not having to deal with car seats!!!
No need to rent one or haul yours on the airplane and potentially have it damaged by the airline handlers. No need to haul your kids in and out of a car seat over and over. Just hop on and off the boat, bus or monorail and be on your way.
I despise traveling with car seats, so if I can leave that heavy piece of plastic at home then sign me up!
The free transportation also means not having to pay for parking at the parks or your hotel, not having to worry about gas or traffic, and of course the cost of the rental car itself. All that really adds up when you are staying off property.
Want to spend a day at the beach while you are there? No big deal, there is a car rental facility on property where you can rent a car just for the day. And they supply car seats for free. Oh, and guess what it includes. A free shuttle from your hotel to the facility to pick up the car. So easy.
You Can Book your FastPasses 60 Days In Advance
Being one of the first to book your FastPasses means a higher likelihood you will get the ones you want. And you can do them all at once, rather than just a day at a time starting 30 days out. Big time saver.
This is really a benefit whether you have kids or not. It can be especially beneficial when there are certain rides your kids HAVE to go on and you know they won’t have the patience to stand in a long line to do it.
Not standing in a bunch of lines when you don’t have to? Less likelihood of dealing with a child meltdown in the Florida heat? Yes please!
You Get More Time in the Parks, Which Means More Rest Time
When you stay on property you can take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours that are only available to Disney resort guests. This extra hour tacked on to the end or beginning of the day rotates between the different parks daily.
It might not seem like that big a deal, but you’d be surprised at how much you can fit into that extra time with the lower crowds and nicer temperatures. I’m talking a bunch more rides, visits with characters, and not to mention prime family photo taking without a ton of people blocking the castle or other landmark in your shot.
That extra time also means you can take a break in the middle of the day and head back to your hotel to rest without worrying about sacrificing precious park time. And since you don’t have to worry about parking or transportation, its super easy to just catch the shuttle back to your hotel, rest or swim, and then catch the free shuttle back to the park for more Disney fun refreshed and recharged.
My kids are mild tempered and easy going, but even they benefit from taking a break in the hotel mid-day at Disney. Heck, my husband and I even take a nap!
On day one that mid-day break might not seem so necessary, but towards the end of your trip you will be thankful you took them. Not only will your kids be in better moods and be better behaved, but YOU will too. And that makes for a better vacation all around.
You Can Be the Coolest Mom/Dad/Grandparent Ever Because of The Dining Plan
Think about all the times you have to say “no” to things like ice cream or milkshakes at dinner when you are at home. Now imagine being able to say “yes” to those things for an entire week and it won’t cost you more.
Suddenly you become the Genie and you are granting wishes left and right to the delight and admiration of your children.
How is this possible you ask? Because of the Disney Dining Plan!
When you stay on property you can take advantage of this awesome perk, which essentially turns your Disney World trip into an all-inclusive vacation. Depending on the dining plan you choose your meals will include an entrée, dessert, and a specialty drink.
For those 21 and over that means an alcoholic drink of your choice (cue a round of applause) and for your kids it means a smoothie or a milkshake. Every day! And since you already paid for the dining plan ahead of time, you don’t need to even look at how much things cost on the menu. You can just order at will. How awesome is that.
Being in the Disney Bubble
Just like at Disneyland, staying at a Disney World hotel means never having to leave the Disney bubble. There are magical Disney touches everywhere at the hotels. From the décor, to the restaurants, to the pools and arcades, there is Disney magic and its legendary level of service everywhere you go.
It’s a magical place for everyone, especially young kids. I’m an adult and I don’t want to leave that bubble until I absolutely must!
Oh, and all these perks
Magical Extras in the form of freebies and coupons, free package delivery from the parks to your hotel so you don’t have to haul all your purchases around the park all day, free personalized Magic Bands, just to name a few.
Going to Disney World is not what you would consider a budget vacation. But you can get a ton of value without spending a ton and sacrificing your experience if you do it right.
We are a making memories by DOING kind of family, not acquiring a bunch STUFF kind of family.
That means when we do Disney, we go for the best experience and stay at a Disney World resort hotel.
I am a travel agent with Magical Vacation Planner and can help you plan an unforgettable vacation with your family. Email me, head to my Facebook page, or set up time to chat if you’d like to start planning your magical vacation.
Or head here to download your copy of my free Disney Vacation planning worksheets.