Lodging

With over twenty resorts and villas on property, just booking your stay at Walt Disney World can be daunting. Here are some basic tips to help you enjoy your vacation stay at an on-property resort:

Take Advantage of Extra Magic Hours –

As a bonus for guests of Walt Disney World resorts, each of the four major parks alternates opening early or staying open later just for those booked into WDW lodging. Granted, that’s still quite a few people who will be in the parks. However, it’s a lot easier getting on the popular rides when you’re only dealing with a few thousand people, rather than 20,000 or more when anyone with a ticket can get in.

Walt Disney World Refillable Mug

Buy a Refillable Drink Mug -

At almost $13 it may seem expensive, but it’s well worth the money to have one on a multi-day stay. First, you get unlimited fountain drinks (soda, etc), plus coffee, hot chocolate and more at the resort. If you stay a week and buy just two 20oz bottles a day, you’ve just spent $35 on soda. That’s a difference of $22 a person. Beyond the savings, you can pack small breakables inside for the trip home and you have a usable souvenir once you do get home.

Utilize Disney Transportation –

As a resort guest, you have access to the entire WDW transportation system, from the buses to boats to the monorail. Yes, so does everyone else, but it means you can park the rental car for free at the resort and not have to pay the daily $12 fee to use the park’s parking lot. In fact, you may not even need a rental car at all, which can offer additional savings.

Take a Mid-Day Break –

I see a lot of families who start at park open and go all the way to park close. Yes, you get a chance to see and do everything this way, but you also risk complete exhaustion. By staying at an on-property resort, you are just a short trip away from your air-conditioned room or pool. Use it to unwind and relax, even if for an hour or so – especially if you have kids. It’ll make staying up for those evening fireworks a lot more pleasant for the whole family.

Use the Package Delivery Service –

Why schlep around a bunch of bags? If you are staying at an on-property Walt Disney Resort, you can have your on property purchases sent directly to your room from the store. It may take up to 24 hours for delivery, so don’t do this if you’re checking out the next day. But if you’re staying on property, this service is so much better than having to worry about all those bags when you’re going on the rides.

Disney's Pop Century Resort

Know Your Tolerance for Disney Themes –

Every resort on property is going to have some sort of Disney theme embedded into the overall design of the hotel. But there’s a big difference between having a three-story tall diorama of Toy Story outside your room (like the Disney Value Resorts have) and subtle Alice In Wonderland designs on the bedspread (as Disney’s Grand Floridian has). Generally, the more expensive the resort, the more subtle the Disney theme is in the overall design. The Disney Vacation Club resorts (such as the Boardwalk Villas or Saratoga Springs) tend to be uniform in design with almost no Disney theming.

Got a Large Group? Consider a DVC Villa –

Most WDW rooms only hold a maximum of four people. If you have more people than that, instead of booking several rooms, consider booking one of the Disney Vacation Club villas. In addition to having everyone in one suite-type room (with 1 to 3 bedrooms), they come with a kitchen area, enabling large groups and families to save on dining costs.

Do you have some favorite tips for staying at a WDW resort? Let us know in comments.

[photos by Michelle Snow]