On site Disney World Resorts can look like an expensive option, but some of the pros of staying on site might actually end up saving you money during your holiday. Of course there are some cons too. It can feel overwhelming work out what is right for your trip that’s why we worked out the pros and cons for you. We weigh it up as Brits with experience staying on site in Disney World, so you can clearly see the pros and cons to help you make the best decision for your holiday.
What is on site accommodation?
On site accommodation is accommodation provided by Disney within the Walt Disney World Resort area. With over 25 onsite Disney hotels offering room only stays and onsite perks onsite accommodation has a lot to offer UK guests. Three different levels of accommodation are available to choose from. The main differences come down to experience, cost, and park proximity. On site accommodation is an all-encompassing term which covers all levels and hotels Disney have on property. On site, you are wrapped up in the Disney bubble your whole holiday. The pros and cons of holidaying in the Disney bubble is what we are going to look at next.
If you would like to read about all the different types of accommodation that you can choose from when planning a Disney holiday why not take a look at our accommodation page?
On site Pros
1. Extra time in the parks
This is a huge perk that is offered for all guests saying on site in Disney World resorts. All resort guests get 30 minutes extra time in the parks in a morning and deluxe resort guest get additional extra time on selected evenings.
a) Early theme park access
This is probably the biggest pro for staying onsite. All Disney World Resort guests get 30 minutes extra in the parks in a morning. It is called Early Entry and is offered in all 4 of the Walt Disney World parks:
- Magic Kingdom
- EPCOT
- Hollywood Studios
- Animal Kingdom
There is no extra cost for this, it is a free resort perk offered at every accommodation level. Some may say the price is added into the cost you have paid already. This is possibly the case. If you make use of early entry when you stay on site, you save yourself the cost of lightning lanes for your whole party by heading to the big wait rides in those 30 minutes. For a family of four that could be $100 a day! Our article, onsite perks – a cost Brits should consider has some eye-opening figures.
If you are looking to indulge in a bit of rope dropping, early entry is the ultimate way to rope drop the parks. It is exclusive to guests, and you will be walking past everyone who is waiting to rope drop. For guests from the UK, it means you can maximise your park days even more. Queue times are shorter at this time of day for most rides making it a big perk. Getting to the park early is not a problem either.
b) Extended theme park access
For guests staying in Deluxe level Disney hotels, they get even more park time. On select days guests at these hotels get to enter or stay in the parks after the parks have closed to other guests. This free perk, like with early entry, has the benefit of reduced wait times. However, wait times are even lower with this park perk because of the number of guests staying in deluxe level accommodation.
The smaller queues and exclusive vibe create awesome memories, but the price of the accommodation to get this pro perk is high.
2. Free Transport
All Walt Disney World guests have free transportation to the parks and around the resort using the onsite transportation system. Every accommodation offers this perk and there are even different types of transport depending on which hotel you are staying in.
Here is the list of the most popular on site Disney World Resorts and the transport perks you have for getting around:
- All Star Sports, All Star Music, All Star Movies – bus only
- Pop Century and Art of Animation – Bus, sky liner
- The Polynesian, The Grand Floridian, The Contemporary – Monorail, boat, bus.
- Royal Caribbean Beach Club – Sky liner, bus
- Disney’s Beach Club, Yacht Club and Boardwalk – bus, boat, close proximity to the sky liner
- Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside – bus, resort boat
Transport is regular and located right outside the reception area of your hotel. The longest we have ever waited is about 15 minutes. As an even bigger added perk, a lot of the buses and skyliners have Disney themed wraps – nothing beats the excitement of seeing a BB-8 bus pull up to take you to the park.
Transport is not only for the 4 main theme parks. Buses link to whichever water park is open and Disney Springs regularly. This makes the option of staying at a Disney World Resort hotel without a car a very appealing one. You do not need a car to comfortably and easily get around which is a great money-saving perk.
Saving money on car hire with this option is a great reason to choose an onsite hotel. But if this transport perk isn’t good enough and you choose car hire, Disney offer another transport perk.
3. Free parking in resort
All guests can park their cars for free for the duration of their stay at their hotel. The parking is secure and gated. This perk can save a lot of money depending on where you stay. Some cheaper looking hotel options actually add a daily parking charge on top of your holiday cost that is payable upon arrival, so always read the small print.
Free parking can save families over $200 on a two week stay. However, this is not the only free parking perk offered to guests.
4. Free parking at the theme parks
This is the biggest reason why guests should consider staying at on site in one of the Disney World resorts is the savings you make while on holiday. Staying on site offers a massive saving which is often overlooked. If you hire a car and you intend to be in the parks for two weeks, as many Brits do – you will spend $30 a day to park your hire car. If you are a Disney World resort guest, you pay nothing. That is a saving of over $400 on a two-week holiday. And the savings might well not stop there.
5. No additional resort fees
Disney World do not charge additional resort fees in their hotels. It is not uncommon to find resort fees added on to your accommodation in the US, particularly in hotels which boast lots of amenities. Resort fees vary in cost and are usually added-on on a per night basis, so they can add-up quickly. This often-overlooked charge, and other such similar costs, can add up with Brits not accounting for hidden costs which US blogs and Vlogs take for granted.
6. Dining packages
Dining packages are an add-on cost. They are often considered to be an expensive way of eating at Disney, but they effectively provide an all-inclusive option for guests. (The Disney Dining Plan – is it the same as going all-inclusive?) This add-on provides 3 meals and 2 snacks with all non-alcoholic drinks in resort. The added benefit of the plan is that you can eat anywhere across Disney World – in a theme park, at your hotel, at a character meal (you have to use more credits – so there is a premium to use it in this way).
It is a pro because if you stay offsite you do not have the option to add-on food to your holiday package in most places. You have to budget for it and spend while you are there. With the dining plan, you pay more when you book your holiday, but you have the peace of mind that the majority of your food is paid for.
Dining plans are also sometimes offered free on selected dates when you book your holiday with Disney. This provides an excellent saving and means your holiday money goes so much further.
If you are working Disney dining or meals at Disney Springs into your plans, staying onsite provides ease of access. If you drink alcohol, all the adults in your party can choose to have a drink and use the free transport to get home.
7. Free water park admission on the day you arrive from 2025
This is a new perk announced for 2025 stays and is for all guests, including Brits. On the check-in (arrival) day of your Disney hotel stay you have free access to the water parks. Announced in 2024, this perk is scheduled to run between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2025.
Although this is definitely a pro, it is limited. If you have bought a 14-day magic ticket and your holiday is only for 14 nights and you are staying on site in any of the Disney World resorts, your ticket that you have paid for will allow you to do this. There’s no added value to your stay at all.
If you are a Brit who is staying at a Disney hotel for part of your stay and you are choosing to buy your ticket in the states, this perk could add some value to your holiday. Tickets in the states do not include water park entry as standard, it is an added extra. Staying in a Disney hotel means you can head to the water park the day you check-in and save $60 a person.
If you are lucky enough to be staying longer at Disney than two weeks and can start your magic ticket the day after check-in, the water park perk in 2025 will again add value to your holiday. You can have an extra day of Disney Park magic for free the day before you start your magic ticket period.
8. Free towels for resort guests to use
If you stay on site in any of the Disney World Resorts, you get free towels at the water parks and free towels to use by the pool, as well as your regular laundry service in your accommodation where you get hand towels and bath towels separately. This may seem small but when you only have 23KG to pack with per person a towel takes up precious luggage space and weight. It also means you have less to carry about when you head to the pool or the water parks and you don’t need to dry it out or wash it during your holiday for next use.
9. Disney theming, magic and characters
Disney hotels are magical places. They are themed with Disney magic and pixie dust is real and happens around the resorts. It is provided by guests and staff. The theming at Disney accommodations varies greatly, but this theming is always consistent throughout and designed to appeal to all of your senses. The moderate and deluxe level accommodations have their own scents giving them that luxurious feel.
10. Merchandise
You can buy your merch to wear to the parks at the hotel. Forgot your park ears and desperately need them to be able to start your day – head to the on site shop. Need new Disney branded clothes – on site shop. The latest Disney plush or pin – head to the shop.
11 Pin trading
If you like to pin-trade and can’t get enough of it, you can do this when you stay onsite. Unofficially you may find guests who have boards on their room doors to pin-trade with. Officially cast members are able to pin trade with resort guests and there can be boards around the site in places like reception and the shop.
Onsite Cons
1.Cost of accommodation
Disney accommodation often comes with a high price tag in comparison to other options. On site Disney World Resorts often come up at a more premium price than other accommodation options. The question of value for money is one that it is unique to each guest but as a rule of thumb apply the following:
– The less time you intend to spend in a Disney Park the lass value you will get from staying on resort
– If you need amenities such as microwaves and a decent fridge, and you want space in your room, look elsewhere. Rooms are small, particularly when there are four of you sharing.
– On site Disney World resorts are always busy with guests and lots of coming and going. If you need somewhere quiet to relax without the hustle and bustle you will likely be able to get a villa for the same price as a Value Disney hotel. This will offer more amenities for the same cost, as well as possibly a private pool and lots of space. Free parking is also part of most villa packages.
– You pay extra to be trapped onsite. Disney do not provide free escape from their services and the premium price for accommodation is the same throughout the parks and hotels. The Disney premium will continue throughout your stay.
2. Food Costs
Some people feel that the dining plan is the best way to budget for a Disney holiday knowing that food costs are paid for in advance. It is true that it takes the stress out of budgeting the cost, but the value you get in terms of cost has some narrow margins. This means a dining plan can see you paying over the odds for food when staying onsite.
Food is also quite pricey both in the parks and on the resort as a whole. A cheap option doesn’t really exist – the one McDonalds onsite marks-up the prices. This is inline with what you would expect from premium resorts and theme parks, and Disney theme park food far surpasses that of many theme parks, but the cost is there. Your average daily food cost for a family staying and eating onsite will be at least £120 a day and that would be cheapest price and quick service only. We have costed 14 days of eating onsite and got quite a big number for summer 2024. £1,234 is how much UK guests need to budget for summer 2024 if you stay and eat onsite for 14 days.
With numbers like this and off site quick-service offering substantial saving for similar food this is a cost to consider. The option of being able to pop to Walmart for food to go or to cook also drives food costs down substantially. If you stay on site the majority of rooms have no amenities to allow you to cook so your food costs will stay high, particularly if you don’t have a hire car.
3. No escape from Disney
Staying onsite means that you can’t escape easily unless you spend more money on a car or on Ubers / Lyfts. The Disney Resort site spans an area the size of Liverpool, and with no free way out you are stuck in the Disney bubble for all your needs.
If you have people in your party who do not like Disney as much as others the Disney bubble can become a tedious place. Theming abounds and although in on site accommodation it is not ostentatious, it is still there.
4. Lightning Lanes – no help to plan for UK guests
The new Disney System which is rolling out this summer on the 24th July is tailored to US consumers only. The advantage of being able to plan before you go and buy lightning lanes in advance is not a perk UK guests can access until they land in the US. The problem with this is that the US guests will most likely have booked the best tier one slots already.
A VPN may be a way around this for some, but this is an additional cost and there is no guarantee of it working. This park perk is not something that is really relevant for UK guests at this time and as such it has left people feeling a bit annoyed.
Lightning Lanes are an add-on cost to your holiday, aiming to enhance your park day experiences. You don’t need them and you can strategize to avoid the cost. Resort guests purchasing lightning lanes can do so at home 7 days before their park trip with a cup of tea. This is a great planning perk, but it’s only available if you are in the US. Sadly for Brits this is a perk for the US market.
5. Free water park admission on the day you arrive from 2025
This perk is not going to be a perk for many guests flying from the UK. Given the long flight time and airport transfer times, many guests will not make it to resort until afternoon assuming a perfect travel day. The use of a full waterpark day for free on the day you check-in if you are staying on site for the duration of your holiday is highly unlikely for UK guests.
Disney is most likely assuming that if you are from the UK and staying on site you will most likely have a 14 day magic ticket which gives water park access too. It’s an assumption that won’t fit everyone however and some people will miss out. It is a perk with little to no value for most UK guests.
Is Disney overlooking perks for UK guests, or is the 14 day magic ticket the best perk we are ignoring? That’s the question we need to answer as UK guests.
A short comparison of pros and cons
It comes down to a numbers game. You have to cost it out to, unless you have a specific need for amenities. If you are looking for a holiday where you have spacious accommodation with lots of amenities and a quiet place to relax then a Disney hotel is not best for you. There are quiet spots. Amenities vary slightly with increasing costs, but if you are looking for a budget option where you can relax with plenty of snacks on hand, Disney hotel rooms fall short.
Staying on site at Disney World resorts is costly, but only relative to the number of park days you plan on having. If you want 14 days of park access, the on site option will most likely give you the best value for money and a better experience overall when heading to Disney from the UK. Your mornings will be calmer, you can have a drink in the parks, you’ll save on transport costs, and you won’t need to pack towels to head to the water parks.
The on site perks for Brits are different to the perks for the US guests. Guests have a real value for money park perks when heading out to Disney from the UK. The 14 day magic ticket. This is an entirely different way of viewing the on site pros and cons. Considering the use of that ticket in conjunction with onsite perks is a good way to work out what is truly best for you.
Conclusion
When flying out from the UK, we find the pros outweigh the cons, plus the magic for UK guests on site is captivating. The savings outweigh the costs when staying for on site two weeks, and if you want to mainly visit Disney World it’s your best option. Picking what is best for you is important, and we always keep things under review.
Head to the accommodation page to find out more information about your options when heading to Disney World from the UK.
