Disneyworld- Hotel inside the park or out better?

Question

While planning my trip, the option of staying at a hotel in the park is more expensive but it gives you an hour before everyone gets there and an hour after everyone leaves to go on rides, and there are probably other benefits too. Or I could stay outside of the park for cheaper. If you've been there, is it a lot better to stay inside the park? Benefits? Worth it? Hotel Recommendations?

Answer 1

Staying onsite is definitely the way to go. There are many benefits, the extra magic hours is just one. Here are some more:

1). Better transportation- Especially if you are travelling with younger kids or older adults that need to rest in the middle of the day. Many offsite hotels, if they offer a shuttle (if they don't that is an additional cost you will have to pay) only run in the morning and in evening. You usually need to schedule the shuttle, etc. It can also be a long ride and take away a good portion of your time at the park. Onsite transportation is fast and easy, and it runs all day. Depending on where you would stay you have different transportation options, all resorts offer buses, some of them offer boat transportation and three offer a monorail for transportation.

2). You can take advantage of the Disney dining plan. This plan can save you 40% off of your food and you get to eat at the nicer restaurants that you may not eat at otherwise. It is a great deal.

3). I'm not sure when you are going, but Disney offers promotions for just about every date of the year. Unless you are going in the next few weeks, you should still be able to get a promotion for your dates. Currently they are offering free ticket upgrades, but they often offer free dining, especially during value season. So if you add up the saving there, you will more than likely be spending less, or possibly a little more than an offsite hotel, but you get all of the extra benefits and probably a lot more included.

4) The Disney touch- When you stay at Disney you know you are going to be staying at a nice place. I've gone past some of hotels that offer lower rates, and in some cases the same rates as Disney's hotels, and I think I would be afraid to go inside. Most of them aren't very clean, they can be a few miles away, etc. Also, you get the Disney service. If there is a problem, Disney will go above and beyond to try and fix the problem and do everything they can to make up for it. Even in cases where it isn't even their problem, they try their best to compensate in some way.

5). You can charge purchases to a room card so you don't have to bring your credit cards and cash with you everywhere you go.

6). Parking is free at your resort and you will also get free parking for the theme parks and some of the other places on property.

7). You packages can be delivered to your room. I know this doesn't sound like much now. But when you are in the parks, it is hot, you've been there all day, your tired and you have a ton of purchases to carry around, put on the bus, take back to the room (especially if you have kids that have purchases and/or diaper bags, strollers, etc.) it is nice to be able to make your purchase and then let Disney deliver it to your room.

8). Disney also offers Magical Express. Now, this isn't the best service and it does have some room for improvement, but it is also free. So that is another $100 or so dollars that you can save just for your transfer to and from the airport.

These are just a few of the benefits. I think that if you actually figure out your costs, everything that is included, etc. you will probably find that an offsite hotel actually ends up being more and you don't get all of the benefits. Unless I am in Orlando for business, or have to attend a convention, meeting, etc. I always stay onsite, I even stay onsite when I am just there for business because I like the Disney hotels that much.

As far as where to stay, it depends on your budget, you family size, etc. But the most economical way to go is the value resorts, they are the least expensive. I like Pop the best, it is newer, transportation is a little better than the All Star resorts and you also have a little lake on the grounds, etc. You then go up to the moderate resorts, rates around about $130 or so a night, then the deluxe resorts go way up in price and the different resorts have different prices, but you can spend more per night just on tax at a deluxe than at a value resort.

I've included a link with info for each resort.

I hope this answers your questions.

Answer 2

Outside the park - definitely. Aside from the fact that you can get it cheaper than in the park, every hotel in the area has a free shuttle bus to all the attractions in Orlando (not just Disney World). For my choice, I would stay in the Lake Buena Vista area rather than Kissimmee because Kissimmee is out of the way for everything except the Magic Kingdom. My final reason for recommending outside the park are the "problems" they have had at the resorts inside Walt Disney World - sex offenders holed up with kids in the resorts, bed bugs, etc. I don't know if any of it is true but I've NEVER heard of any of that happening at the hotels outside the park. If the benefit of getting an extra hour in the park means that much to you, go ahead and stay inside but I never had a problem with not having that extra hour and I was living outside Walt Disney World.

Answer 3

One of the biggest conditions to this answer would be if you are renting a car or not. Because otherwise, you'll have to make sure your hotel offers transportation which is convenient, to the parks. The biggest benefit I've found to staying in the parks, other than the extra time, is that 1.) You know you'll have a GREAT hotel. Even their cheapest rooms are like a party for kids, and clean, and efficient. 2.) Their shuttle service is fabulous. Nothing can ruin a great day like sitting around for one crowded bus every hour. The Disney shuttles run so often, and to every park/area. So if you are going to rent a car, factor that in,- do you want to drive/park? I have had a better time the occasions we stayed inside, but that's just an opinion.

Answer 4

There are pros and cons to both of your options. First, if you decide it stay on site you will get amazing scenery and themeing that will put you in the Disney mood. You also get direct and free transportation to Disney parks and you are closer to them as well. You also get the additional benefits such as early park entrance as people im sure have mentioned above. (which is great to have by the way, if you go during a busy season) But, if you stay on site, it can be much mroe expensive. Yes, they have value hotel rooms such as Pop Century or All Star Sports but those are technically only rated about 2 and a half stars. If you want a more luxurious hotel room, then you'll pay a decent amount for it on Disney property compared to off site.

So, as you can guess, the pros of staying off disey property is that it can be much cheaper to have a room and some places to offer free transportation to parks anyway. (I believe the Hyatt Regency does for example) Another pro is that it may be less noisy and more relaxing, especially if you want time to relax by a pool or something. The cons of staying at these hotels is that you don't get the Disney benefits and the great Disney themes around your hotel.

Its really what ever you want. Ive gone to Disney World about 25 times and my family has never opted to pay for a Disney hotel. I wish they did at least once now, but I don't think you need to have it. If your going with kids, and you don't plan on going often or soon again - then I would say to splurge the little extra. If you think you'll come back a lot again, or want relaxing time since your party is mainly adults, i'd opt for off disney property.

So, are the benefits worth it? Not a clear cut answer, it depends what you think after reading all of the above.

Hotel Recommendations -

Disney- As I said, I've never stayed on site but I know many people who have. I've heard that Coronado Springs, The Grand Floridian, and the Pop Century are the favorites of each of the price categories. (one from each)

Off Disney - Vistana Resorts (its a Sheraton) have great condos for a nice price. The Hyatt Regency is also a very nice hotel with a great pool but alittle more money. I do NOT recommened staying at the Holiday Inn there, I know many people who have hated it.

Have fun

Answer 5

We just came back from Orlando and I STRONGLY recommend that you stay outside the park.

Look at this realistically...you can find a hotel room .... where all you're going to do is sleep and bathe .... out in town for 1/4 to 1/3 the price you'd spend for a hotel room in the park.

Sure it'd be fun, but is it really worth it? We stayed 10 minutes away on the main strip in Kissimmee and had a wonderful time! We paid less than $40 a night and that gave us LOTS of extra $$ to spend in the park on stuff we wouldn't otherwise have had the money for.

Answer 6

Stay inside the park. The cheapest hotels are Disney's All-Star and Pop Century hotels. They're all really good. Some hotels let you have the character dining experience. They have a food court and a pool. Like you said the extra hours for guests staying inside the park are great. They are called "Extra Magic Hours." I would recommend staying inside the park. Check it out at http://www.waltdisneyworld.com . Good luck and have fun!

Answer 7

Inside definitely! The extra hour is awesome and the night "Magic Hours" are even better. The convenience is priceless as well as the use of transportation on property. If you stay off property and have to drive yourself be sure to factor in the price of parking. The is also the "feeling" of a Disney park that is missing from those in Kissimmee and on International Drive. The hotel is an extension of the park and not as touristy as the off property ones. Plus, there is an increased sense of security not found at some other locations. Lastly, if you want to take in late, late night activities like Pleasure Island or the West Side--I'm not sure about a shuttle from off property or the added expense if you then had to take a cab.

*the night "Magic Hours" are up to three extra hours.



http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/magicYourWay/magicYourWayAffordable?id=MagicYourWayAffordablePage

Answer 8

It completely depends on your budget. The cheapest on-site Disney Resort is the All Star or Pop Century, which are currently being offered at $82 a night. There are terrific beneifts to staying on Disney property! You can take advantage of extra magic hours, as you mentioned. You receive free transportation to and from the airport and anywhere from your Resort - provided it is on Disney property. You can have souveniers delivered to your hotel from the parks for free and can take advantage of the Disney Dining Plan - which can save you a ton of money on meals. Disney Resorts also have excellent service!

If $82 a night is out of your budget, I recommend you stay off Disney property. There are plenty of wonderful resorts which are located just minutes from the Walt Disney World Resort! The Lake Suites is located in Kissimmee. They offer a complimentary shuttle to the parks which leaves every 30 minutes. These are condo-style resort complete with a full kitchen! Your family will save a lot of money if you prepare meals rather than eat out everyday. A Family suite with kitchen is only $69 a night for a family.
The Best Western Lakeside is also a terrific location. It is also in Kissimmee, located off Hwy 192. Rooms start out at $59 a night in the off-peak season. They are only 3 minutes from the Disney parks and have great pools, a nice restaurant, min. golf course and more!
If you would like any help researching or planning your next trip, or if you would like to read up on some fun tips and ideas which are updated monthly, check out our Disney Vacation Service Myspace Page at:

http://www.myspace.com/disneymickeyvacation

Have a great time!

Answer 9

My family has vacationed in Disney several times - done the inside the park thing, and outside the park....

If Disney is going to be where you spend the majority of your time while in Orlando, I would definitely stay in the park.....

There are the extra magic hours for disney property guests....

Also, when we went last and stayed in the park, we stayed at the Swan Resort, and got our reservations through Travelocity... at a greatly reduced rate.

Have a great time.

Answer 10

Stay inside. The benefits of it way out the cost. It is WAY worth the money to stay inside the park.

I would recommend a moderate hotel such as Port Orleans Riverside.

You won't be disappointed!