Off-Site v. On-Site Disney World Hotels

Whether to remain in an on-site or off-site lodge is an enormous, essential resolution when planning your Walt Disney World trip. This weighs the professionals & cons, with an unbiased have a look at third social gathering lodging, Universal v. Disney resorts, and different choices close to the parks round Orlando, Florida. (Updated October 30, 2022.)

We stress the “unbiased” facet as a result of it looks as if there’s a stigma round off-site inns for a lot of Disney followers. The psychological image of non-Disney inns is shady dives which are unclean and even unsafe. While there are definitely some sketchy locations in Orlando the place we’d by no means think about staying, there are additionally some distinctive, 5-star inns. In truth, it’s controversial that the highest 5 inns in Central Florida wouldn’t have “Disney” within the identify.

To that finish, we’ll attempt to pretty tackle the advantages and drawbacks to every possibility. Walt Disney World resort inns have plenty of nice advantages and are a compelling alternative for a lot of company, however the tons of of native off-site inns supply many equally compelling causes as to why company ought to keep off-site. If you already know whether or not you need to keep on-site or off-site, you need to skip this text and go on to our Walt Disney World Hotel Reviews index web page to find out which lodge is best for you.

For many individuals contemplating the place to remain at Walt Disney World, value would be the figuring out issue, as it may be cheaper to do a Walt Disney World on a tighter price range whereas staying off-site. However, this isn’t at all times the case, and there are different elements to contemplate earlier than reserving. Those with small trip budgets may be stunned to seek out that, in some circumstances, it’s higher to remain on-site, and people with giant trip budgets may be higher served by staying off-site.

We’ve stayed at quite a few off-site and third social gathering inns close to Walt Disney World, together with each single Bonnet Creek, Disney Springs, and Universal Orlando Resorts–amongst many others. We’ve revised this put up a number of instances to replicate how these off-site stays have modified our perspective. In the method, we’ve additionally added some particular off-site lodge suggestions.

When it involves this subject, a lot has modified within the final 3 years and, much more so, within the final 12 months. As such, it in all probability makes essentially the most sense to begin with irrelevant concerns–issues that used to issue into the off-site versus on-site calculus, however are now not advantages or drawbacks…

“Extinct” Benefits & Drawbacks

Airport Transportation – One of Walt Disney World’s many controversial selections within the final two years was ending Disney’s Magical Express, the shuttle service between MCO and Walt Disney World resorts that was an included perk for company saying on-site. Guests now want to seek out their very own floor transportation from the airport to their lodge–we cowl the vary of choices in our Guide to Airport Transportation for Walt Disney World.

We have used Uber and Lyft on plenty of events in 2022 for getting between Walt Disney World and MCO. These companies are our suggestion for anybody who values their time and doesn’t need to break the financial institution with a personal switch. The different upside is that you need to use them to get from MCO to any lodge in Central Florida. Alternatively, the Sunshine Flyer and Mears Connect are our prime suggestions for shared shuttle companies. Mears Connect additionally presents service to pick off-site inns along with on-site ones.

QuickPass Booking Windows – There has been plenty of outrage concerning the paid Genie+ line-skipping service, which is Walt Disney World’s paid alternative to free QuickPass+. (See our Guide to Genie+ at Walt Disney World & Lightning Lane FAQ for every part it’s worthwhile to know.) This is especially comprehensible amongst Deluxe Resort company and Disney Vacation Club members, who now could also be questioning what, precisely, they’re getting for the exorbitant quantities of cash they’re spending to remain at Walt Disney World.

However, one key factor that’s often neglected is the constructive affect for off-site company. Previously, the on-site reserving window for QuickPass+ meant that anybody not reserving ~60 days upfront bought shut out of the preferred trip reservations except they devoted vital time to consistently refreshing in quest of cancellations. By the 30 day mark when off-site company might ebook, the entire greatest choices have been gone that will save appreciable time, leaving largely the “consolation prize” QuickPasses that have been usually pointless.

Genie+ and Lightning Lanes make it simpler to justify spending much less cash to remain off-site. There is not any on-site benefit in reserving Lightning Lane reservations by way of Genie+ (a colossal oversight, if you happen to ask us). You can thus ebook off-site and reallocate the financial savings in direction of spending $16 to $30 per individual on Genie+ every day–or on simply Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios days, which is admittedly the place it’s most crucial and helpful.

Free Resort Parking – One means Walt Disney World used to distinguish its inns from actual world alternate options in Orlando was by not charging parking or resort charges. Thankfully, Disney hasn’t embraced the consumer-unfriendly and deceiving observe of charging resort charges, nevertheless it does now cost for parking at its inns.

This is just not a hidden or necessary payment (since anybody who doesn’t hire a automotive avoids it), however we nonetheless aren’t followers of it. Walt Disney World has ample car parking zone house, and for the costs charged at its inns, that is nickel and diming. Unfortunately, that’s par for the course with Disney in recent times, as nickel and diming has turn into an more and more widespread enterprise observe to extend per visitor spending.

Disney Dining Plan – Along with every part else that was “temporarily suspended” when the parks and resorts reopened was the Disney Dining Plan, which is the extremely well-liked and money-saving meal plan. Around half of the opposite “temporary” suspensions have since changed into everlasting cuts.

While we don’t count on the identical to occur with the Disney Dining Plan (so it’s not technically “extinct”), the actual fact stays that it’s nonetheless not again over two years later. Accordingly, don’t ebook an on-site stick with the expectation of benefiting from the DDP. While we absolutely count on the Disney Dining Plan to come back again in 2023, we additionally anticipated the identical this 12 months. (See When Will the Disney Dining Plan Return? for our ideas and predictions on when that’ll be again!)

Now let’s cowl the present execs and cons of staying off-site versus on-site at Walt Disney World…

Benefits of Staying On-Site

Location & Convenience – The greatest good thing about staying at an on-site Walt Disney World resort lodge is comfort. To one diploma or one other, nearly each “pro” radiates out from right here. The inns are typically nearer to the parks, which in some instances can imply it’s so simple as strolling or taking a monorail or boat from the lodge to the park.

This quick and easy commute can allow events to separate up extra simply or return to the lodge for a noon nap with out killing a big chunk of the day. This comfort could make the day extra environment friendly and allow your social gathering to perform extra. This is primarily a profit if Walt Disney World is the highest or sole precedence on trip–as different non-Disney parks proceed so as to add extra compelling points of interest, that is turning into much less essential to many company.

Park Transportation – Once on property at Walt Disney World, company can use a offered transportation between inns, theme parks, and different places on property. All of this transportation is complimentary (or constructed into the value of their room).

The effectivity of the transportation offered to Walt Disney World resort lodge company is hotly disputed, however it’s a good perk. Our perspective is that the included transportation is “good enough” and within the uncommon instances when there’s an issue, we are going to merely use Uber or Lyft to complement Disney transportation.

We seldom hire a automotive at Walt Disney World, as we discover it rather more handy to only hop on a bus, monorail, boat, Skyliner gondola, and even stroll from our lodge to the parks than need to problem with navigating the roads, parking, and trams. We have the “pleasure” of coping with all of that junk (minus the trams) in our each day lives–it’s good to not take care of it on trip.

Transportation is a large benefit that may tip the scales in favor of staying on-site, as it will possibly obviate the necessity for a rental automotive, which suggests not paying for that or parking at a lodge and on the theme parks. It’s value doing the maths earlier than reserving your lodge.

60+10 Rule – Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) for Walt Disney World desk service eating places are presently out there as much as 60 days upfront for everybody. However, on-site company could make ADRs at some point of their journey (as much as 10 days) as much as 60 days previous to their resort check-in date.

This makes it simpler to ebook your whole ADRs abruptly quite than day-by-day. More importantly, the top begin could be massively advantageous in reserving essentially the most difficult-to-score Advance Dining Reservations, equivalent to Chef Mickey’s, Story Book Dining at Artist Point, Cinderella’s Royal Table, Space 220, Topolino’s Terrace (breakfast), California Grill, and Akershus. By the time the 60 day mark rolls round, a lot of these will already be gone!

Individual Lightning Lane Priority – While there is no such thing as a precedence reserving window for Genie+ Lightning Lane alternatives, the identical is just not true for the preferred attraction in every park. Paid line skipping for every of these could be bought on an a la carte foundation by way of Individual Lightning Lanes. (Confused but?! If so, seek the advice of our Guide to Individual Lightning Lanes, which covers every part it’s worthwhile to know, together with the best way to keep away from paying further for these by beating lengthy strains with different methods.)

When it involves Individual Lightning Lanes, company staying at a Walt Disney World resort lodge are capable of buy and schedule their trip reservations at 7 am, forward of off-site company, who can to take action when every park opens. Both Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ebook up quick. If you’re not staying on-site, it’s unlikely you’ll have the ability to ebook both of these. When peak journey weeks–like these round Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, Presidents’ Day, Easter–different rides may also promote out quick.

Early Theme Park Entry – This replaces morning Extra Magic Hours, or quite, is a non secular successor to that on-site visitor profit. Whereas morning Extra Magic Hours have been supplied on choose days and at choose parks, Early Entry is obtainable in any respect 4 theme parks each single day. That makes it unavoidable for off-site company who wish to rope drop the parks.

The different huge distinction is that Extra Magic Hours lasted for an hour. By distinction, that is 30-minute entry to any Walt Disney World theme park. That could not seem to be a lot of a head begin, however it may be large. (Also, it often finally ends up being greater than half-hour in 2 parks.) As mentioned in our Best Time-Saving Strategies for Walt Disney World, that is often the highest possibility in every park–with the notable exception of Magic Kingdom.

For technique & information about how useful this perk could be, take a look at our Guide to Early Theme Park Entry at Walt Disney World.

Extended Evening Hours – This has a smaller pool of eligibility and happens much less often than Early Entry. It’s solely for company staying at Deluxe Resorts, Deluxe Villas (Disney Vacation Club items), or different choose inns (solely the Swan & Dolphin and Shades of Green). So Extended Evening Hours is just not a “pure” on-site profit.

Extended Evening Theme Park Hours happen two nights per week in complete and are often held at EPCOT and Magic Kingdom. Guests staying at Value or Moderate Resorts aren’t eligible for Extended Evening Hours. (Again, these company are eligible for Early Theme Park Entry.) We’ve had some nice no crowds experiences with Extended Evening Hours at Magic Kingdom and Epcot. See our Guide to Extended Evening Hours at Walt Disney World for the schedule by way of early 2023, technique, and different information.

Although initially introduced as a perk for the fiftieth Anniversary, Walt Disney World has confirmed that each Early Entry and Extended Evening Hours will proceed all through 2023.

Resort Fees – Hidden charges have proliferated in recent times at off-site Orlando inns. We can not stand these resort charges and advocate you battle again towards the extremely consumer-unfriendly observe. Thankfully, Walt Disney World has not lowered itself to tacking on a resort payment (but).

Some third-party inns are identified to cost non-optional resort charges for “wellness packages” (their time period, not ours) together with issues like web, newspaper, and bottled water. It’s essential to think about all charges when comparability buying lodge pricing, as that “great deal” may not be practically pretty much as good of an possibility when you tack on all of these non-optional charges.

Vacation Packages – Many company additionally discover the comfort of reserving a trip package deal that covers all elements of their journey preferable, and people packages essentially embody lodge lodging. (We counsel shopping for your park tickets from sources aside from Disney to economize.) However, there’s something to be stated for merely calling up Walt Disney World and shopping for your park tickets, room, eating, and transportation multi function fell swoop.

The greatest and greatest element of package deal bookings is the Disney Dining Plan, which is quickly unavailable (see above). While we frequently rally towards the illusory comfort of the Disney Dining Plan right here, many individuals do discover it extra handy than paying a la carte. More importantly, when the Free Disney Dining Plan promotion is obtainable, the one inns at which it may be booked are the Disney-owned ones.

Disney Themed Design – Another good thing about staying on-site is that your lodge is an extension of the Walt Disney World theme park expertise. It has its personal distinct design and should not at all times scream “Disney” with icons from animated movies, however the on-site Walt Disney World resort inns really feel similar to the parks when it comes to thematic yarns.

For essentially the most half, they don’t really feel like unusual inns any greater than the Disney theme parks really feel like unusual amusement parks. They have an extra layer of element and storytelling to “transport” company to a distinct time and place. In easy phrases of luxurious, Disney inns don’t at all times surpass their actual world counterparts, however they nearly at all times have higher theme.

Along those self same strains, one of many greatest advantages for us of staying at an on-site Walt Disney World lodge is being immersed within the “Disney bubble.” This isn’t one you’ll discover on an facilities listing, and it’s the place our in any other case try at an goal comparability fails.

For many individuals touring to Walt Disney World, being insulated from the actual world is interesting. From the second you step onto Disney’s Magical Express bus till exiting on the finish of your journey again on the airport, you’re encapsulated within the Walt Disney World expertise.

Of course, there are some intrusions, however for essentially the most half, it’s an escape from actuality to a fantasyland of kinds. Lots of people received’t perceive this or just received’t take care of it, and there’s nothing unsuitable with that. If you fall in that class, an off-site lodge is extra more likely to attraction to you. You merely can not get this expertise whereas staying at an off-site lodge.

Benefits of Staying Off-Site

Many Walt Disney World followers are going to advocate everybody keep at a Disney-owned on-site lodge for his or her journey as a result of that’s what they personally favor for his or her journeys. However, it’s essential for us followers to keep in mind that not everyone seems to be nuts about being immersed within the “Disney experience,” and off-site inns can supply nice benefits for different company.

Value Proposition – The greatest benefit to off-site inns is bang for buck. This is often expressed as off-site inns being “cheaper,” however that’s not all it’s. Even in order for you luxurious lodging that aren’t going to be cheaper than all on-site inns, you will see that that they provide higher worth off-site. In different phrases, you’re not paying Disney’s premium for its identify, repute, and site. There’s extra competitors amongst off-site inns, retaining costs low.

Even if you happen to aren’t essentially on the lookout for a discount basement value on a lodge, you’ll sometimes get extra worth out of non-Disney inns. In addition to this, though Disney does many issues properly, their greatest inns merely don’t compete with one of the best actual world inns when it comes to luxurious.

If you need luxurious lodging, your greatest guess is to look elsewhere, such because the Four Seasons (which is definitely on Walt Disney World property), the Waldorf Astoria, Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt Regency, and so forth. Even the Swan & Dolphin supply superior bedding and different facilities than any Walt Disney World resort inns, and often these could be booked for concerning the value of a Walt Disney World Moderate-tier lodge.

We have a listing of the Top 10 Off-Site Hotels Near Walt Disney World, which primarily focuses on the luxurious choices. The listing additionally consists of a few villa/trip dwelling model resorts which are giant sufficient to accommodate households of 5 or extra, and are competitively-priced.

Disney is considerably insulated from off-site competitors. For guests who need the on-site location, a seamless ‘bubble’ expertise from their resort to the theme parks, or rooms with particular Disney themes, off-site is much less interesting. Walt Disney World is aware of they’ve these benefits, and value their inns accordingly.

The result’s price range or worth inns that price $100-$200 per evening at Walt Disney World might need a comparable equal off-site for round $50 to $100 per evening. A luxurious lodge that may price over $400/evening on-site at Walt Disney World could have an analogue off-site for round $150/evening. Whether this premium pricing for being within the Disney bubble (“location, location, location!”) is value it to you is a private query.

Loyalty Rewards – Due to work or different journey, you might need loyalty to a selected chain of inns. If you could have standing or factors at a type of chains and need to reap the benefits of it, you could have an apparent benefit in staying at these inns.

We are Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum members, entitling us to quite a lot of perks there, so each time we journey to non-Disney places, we attempt to keep at a Hyatt. For lots of people, the familiarity and identified high quality of a significant chain like that is very interesting, even when they haven’t any factors to make use of.

Other Perks & Amenities – This one is a really broad, however doubtlessly essential catch-all. Many off-site inns supply free continental breakfast. Some are pet pleasant with minimal charges for that. Others have spectacular swimming pools that surpass something at Walt Disney World. The off-site lodge might need an airport shuttle and shuttle service to the parks–and never simply the Disney parks.

The specifics clearly differ by lodge, and with hundreds of properties in Central Florida, it’s not possible to listing all of them right here. If there’s one thing you need from a lodge, you may in all probability discover it someplace inside a ~20 minute drive of Walt Disney World.

Tailored Accommodations – Generally talking, staying off-site affords better latitude in reserving lodging perfectly-suited to your loved ones dimension and wishes. Outside of Walt Disney World property, trip properties, suites, and all kinds of various sized lodging all could be discovered at a mess of value factors.

For occasion, it’s a lot simpler to hire a trip dwelling with particular person rooms for everybody, a kitchen, actions room, or no matter you may want to your trip if you happen to keep off-site. These rooms do exist on-property, however more often than not their pricing places them firmly within the Deluxe tier, making them price prohibitive for a lot of teams.

Straightforward Design – Although we point out Disney theming as a bonus of staying on-site in that part above, it could be an obstacle to you.

After an extended day within the parks, you may be having sensory overload on the finish of the day and simply desirous to get away from all issues Disney. If you’re not an enormous Disney fan, staying off-site may be a pleasant reprieve throughout your journey.

Location – Much like on-site inns, it’s essential to keep in mind that not all off-site inns are created equal. In this text, we’re form of utilizing the phrases “off-site” and “non-Disney” interchangeably, however there are lots of non-Disney inns which are situated on Walt Disney World property.

This is essential to know as a result of it undermines among the location benefits touted by Disney-owned resorts. For instance, the Swan & Dolphin are strolling distance to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Likewise, the third social gathering inns at Disney Springs and Bonnet Creek are nearer to the parks than some Disney-owned resorts.

Universal Hotel Benefits – We save one of the best for final, as the largest off-site perks are these supplied by Universal Orlando’s resorts. All Universal inns supply Early Park Admission one hour earlier than the theme parks open to most people.

Guests staying at Universal’s Premier Hotels get free Unlimited Express Pass to skip the common strains at hottest points of interest in Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. This is Universal’s equal of QuickPass/Lightning Lanes, however higher–and it usually prices much more cash.

While it’s past the scope of this text, Universal Orlando resorts supply most of the similar benefits of Walt Disney World inns. Universal’s inns additionally function nice themed design, transportation to the parks, and an amazing location–most are inside strolling distance of Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.

If you’re debating between resorts on the two principal theme park complexes, see our complete breakdown: Universal Orlando v. Walt Disney World Hotels. That ought to allow you to decide which is the higher possibility to your trip–or if a break up keep may be greatest!

Arguably the largest beneficiary of Walt Disney World eliminating so many on-site visitor perks is Universal Orlando. If I have been planning on visiting each theme park complexes and had a good price range for lodging, I’d have much less hesitation that I have been “missing out” on one thing by not staying on-site at Walt Disney World.

While I’d nonetheless lean in favor of a break up keep, one other compelling possibility can be reserving a Premier Hotel at Universal as my dwelling base to reap the benefits of the limitless Express Pass that’s included with my keep there. On my Walt Disney World days, I’d commute to these parks utilizing Uber or Lyft. Obviously, that’s not going to make sense or be ideally suited for everybody, nevertheless it’s only one means Universal has gained vital floor on Disney within the final year-plus.

Universal’s inns supply higher worth for cash they usually’ve maintained their advantages, two issues that can not be stated for Walt Disney World resorts. Notably, Universal has wonderful price range inns that price round—or generally beneath—$100 per evening. Even Universal’s Premier Hotels with included Unlimited Express Pass are nearly at all times considerably cheaper than Deluxe Resorts at Walt Disney World.

Consequently, our opinion is that Universal is thrashing Disney in the case of the professionals & cons of their respective inns. If you’ll be spending equal (or near it) time at Universal and Walt Disney World throughout your Orlando, Florida trip in 2023, give critical thought to staying at Universal as a substitute of Disney. For perception into the assorted choices at Universal, their execs & cons, and the way they examine and distinction with each other, see our Universal Orlando Hotel Rankings & Reviews.

If you’re solely visiting Walt Disney World, clearly this recommendation is irrelevant.

Overall, there’s loads to contemplate when figuring out whether or not you need to keep off-site or on-site at Walt Disney World, and there’s nobody dimension suits all reply as to which is “better.” As you may see, completely different households may make very completely different selections primarily based upon what issues most to them. There’s actually no proper or unsuitable reply, it’s extra what you need out of your trip and the way you weigh the professionals and cons.

The subjective elements are nearly at all times going to be the overriding ones, and financial savings that appear to make staying off-site a no brainer slam dunk for some company could also be inadequate to lure others off-site. Whether the on-site premium is “worth it” to you is basically a matter of private desire, however hopefully this put up introduced some goal concerns so that you can weigh and make the choice for your self.

Planning a Walt Disney World journey? If you’re all for studying extra about inns, our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page is an efficient place to begin. For the place to eat, check out our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews web page. If you need to lower your expenses on tickets or decide which sort you need to get, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips put up takes a novel have a look at unconventional issues you need to take in your journey. Once you arrive on the parks, our Walt Disney World “Ride Guides” are nice for figuring out what to do and when to do it. For overviews of all of those matters and a lot extra, one of the best place to begin is our complete Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide to profit from your expertise!

Your Thoughts

Do you typically keep on-site or off-site? Why? What are your key concerns when figuring out the place you keep? Thoughts on Universal Orlando v. Walt Disney World inns? Are you a fan of renting a trip dwelling or utilizing Airbnb when reserving a Central Florida trip? Any particular off-site or third social gathering lodge you advocate? Do you agree or disagree with our recommendation? Any questions we can assist you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!