Should You Stay On- or Off-Property at Walt Disney World?
One of the biggest decisions that you'll have to make while planning your Walt Disney World trip will be whether you'll stay on-property at one of the Disney-owned hotels or off-property at one of the many hotels elsewhere in the Orlando/ Lake Buena Vista area.
Which one is better?
How do you know which is worth the money?
As someone who's visited Walt Disney World more times than I can count--and someone who's stayed all over Orlando--I have a few tips to help you decide the best location to call home while you're staying in the most magical place on Earth!
Staying On-Property at Walt Disney World
Pros to Staying on Property
Disney hotels are extremely convenient to everything else on the Disney property.
Topographically speaking, Walt Disney World isn't that big, so by staying on property, you're just a few minutes from all four parks, Downtown Disney, and the other Disney hotels.
Because of their proximity to the fun stuff, you'll spend more time on vacation and less time stuck in traffic along I-4.
Transportation to and from the parks is free.
I don't know about you, but when I'm at Disney World, I prefer to park my car and immerse myself in the magic.
By staying on Disney property, you've got complimentary access to the fleet of Disney buses.
The buses are timely and arrive every 20 minutes at each hotel.
Through the bus system, you can make your way to the parks, the other hotels, the water parks, and Downtown Disney.
Each hotel is sprinkled with the trademark Disney magic.
Whether you're staying at the Victorian-themed Grand Floridia, the larger-than-life themed Pop Century, or the Louisiana-themed Port Orleans, you're sure to be happy with the fun, inventive decor.
Mickey towels, characters on the bedding, and collages on the walls: Pop Century's fun rooms
Deluxe hotels guests get to take advantage of the Evening Extended Magic Hours.
If you’re staying on-property at one of the deluxe hotels or villas, you are eligible for an extra 2 hours in the park after it closes to the general public.
Given how crowded Walt Disney World is these days, those extra hours provide assurance that your little one will be able to hop onto rides that might otherwise come with super long lines.
With that extra time you’ll be able to enjoy the parks without as many guests, giving you a few extra hours to accomplish the 4 Parks/1 Day Challenge, ride that favorite ride again, or linger along the shops on Main Street in Magic Kingdom.
Cons of Staying On-Property
Disney hotels aren't the most cost-effective options.
Though there are multiple tiers of Disney hotels (Value, Moderate, and Deluxe), even the lowest tier can top $200 a night for a basic room with two double beds, a small bath, and mini-fridge.
If you're just looking for a simple room without any Disney frills, you're better off looking elsewhere for a room.
Plus, Walt Disney World has taken a lot of the extra perks away from their hotels that made the higher prices seemingly worth it.
The free Magical Express from the Orlando International Airport is gone, as are the Extra Magic Hours for any guest staying at any hotel on-property. That experience has been downgraded to just an extra 2 evening hours only for deluxe hotel guests.
WDW actually took away free hotel parking for guests of the hotels for a while—where else would you park?!? That caused a big uproar, and, thankfully, they walked that decision back. For the time being, hotel parking is still free for on-site hotel guests.
Only a handful of the on-property rooms offer a kitchenette and suites.
Yes, they do exist—in the new Art of Animation hotel, the Treehouse Villas, some of the Disney Vacation Club properties, and the new Polynesian villas, among others—but they come with a price tag that outpaces what I would consider reasonable.
If you want the ability to cook meals and prepare snacks while you’re on vacation, you can find much more affordable suite and apartment-style properties offsite through a vacation rental company, AirBnB, VRBO, or an all-suites hotel.
Especially if you're traveling with multiple families or friends, it's far more economical to rent one of the suites or vacation homes off-site.
Staying Off-Property at Walt Disney World
Pros to Staying Off-Property at Walt Disney World
You can find a much wider range of hotel prices.
If you watch Travelzoo and Groupon Getaways like a super nerd (ahem, like myself), you'll find that there are always great deals on hotels and resorts throughout the Orlando area.
These deals always beat out the standard price on Disney hotels when you compare the amenities and room sizes.
If you’re on a budget and you’re looking for ways to save money at Walt Disney World, this is the best way to start trimming fat from your vacation costs.
No, these hotels don’t have the same pizzazz to them when it comes to decorating, but that seems a small price to pay for a cheaper and yet more spacious place to rest my head.
There are more centrally located options if you're not just going to Disney World.
Not everyone goes to Orlando to just go to Disney World.
Universal Studios and Sea World are just the beginning of what the Orlando area has: there are museums, historical attractions, the new Orlando Eye, the Crayola Experience and more.
If you're planning to pack more into your central Florida vacation than just Disney, it might be a good idea to consider staying somewhere off-property.
While the “Disney bubble” is fun if you’re just planning to hang out within the larger Walt Disney World space, it adds more travel time if Disney is just one stop on your Orlando vacation.
There are some non-Disney hotels that are still close to Disney World.
If you're looking for a deal, but aren't sold on any of the Disney properties, there's a happy medium: the Downtown Disney area hotels.
These are just a few minutes walk to the restaurants and shops of Downtown Disney, but usually offer great deals since they're not Disney owned.
Some, like the Buena Vista Palace and the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista, even have character breakfasts onsite.
The Swan and Dolphin Hotels, which are run by Marriott but partner with Disney, are so close to the parks that you can easily walk from both Hollywood Studios and Epcot. The kids and I stayed there on one of our more recent trips, and it was more convenient to stay there than at Pop Century or Port Orleans on-property!
You can also get onto the Skyway from the back door of the Swan and Dolphin, which will carry you to multiple areas around the great Walt Disney World resort.
Cons to Staying Off-Property
Off-property guests have to pay for parking at the Disney parks.
While paid parking isn't a huge expense, it can add up over the course of your vacation.
Each day, you can expect to pay upwards of $30 per car to park at the theme parks if you choose to take your car instead of the provided hotel bus, if it’s an option.
Add that to the daily parking fee at your hotel (which can easily top $20 in some places), and you're looking at $50+ in parking alone.
Staying off-property means you're at the mercy of the Orlando traffic.
Sometimes it's okay, but most of the time, it's awful.
The stretch of I-4 between International Boulevard and the Disney exits is home to a ton of restaurants and hotels, parks, a convention center, and apartment buildings.
Traffic is guaranteed, and who wants to spend more time battling other park goers on the interstate?
You lose the Disney magic illusion.
Personally, if I'm going on a Disney vacation, I want to stay in the magic for as long as I can.
I've stayed elsewhere in Orlando for mixed park trips (Disney, Orlando, and Sea World), and I'm fine with an off-property hotel in those cases since I'm indulging in a mixture of park experiences.
However, if I'm only going to Disney World on a trip, staying off property means there's a clear division between the magic and where I'm sleeping, which is a killjoy for a Disney nerd like me.
Which do you prefer: on- or off-property hotels? What's the most important thing that you look forward to in a hotel when booking?
