Booking a Walt Disney World (WDW) holiday can be stressful with so many different things to consider. I have already written a blog post on when to travel. This post will tackle some of the question ‘now where on earth do I stay?’
When booking your WDW holiday, there are many different thing to consider when it comes to accomodation. Should you get a villa, should you stay in a hotel on International Drive or should you stay at an onsite property? I have done all of these and I think that your decision should be made solely on your family’s situation. I think that each of these different options has its benefits but they all have a downside too.
Personally, I love staying on property. I find that they are the most convenient of the options but I do know that they are expensive. I book from the UK and I will only book a trip when there is the deal of free Disney dining. Disney dining allows you to eat at almost all restaurants on property completely free. I will go into more detail on the dining plan at a later date.
Staying on property means that you are able to book fastpasses earlier than other resort guests, you gain earlier entrance to the parks and are often allowed to stay later in the parks than other guests too.
If you stay in a Disney hotel, I know that there is a misconception that there will be too much ‘Disney’. I think that that can be the case if you want it to be, but there are hotels with a more luxury feel too where the disney references are a lot more subtle.
Disney provides free transportation around their resorts and parks and it means that there is no need for a rental vehicle when you get there. There are many different methods of transportation but these include busses, boats and a skyliner (cable car). Disney also provides transportation from Orlando International Airport meaning you can get to your resort free too.
A villa is a great option if you are a larger family. Many floridian villas are at least 3-4 bedrooms and it means that this can be a cheaper option for you. If you are staying in a villa, I would say that you NEED a car or you’ll need to be prepared to spend lots in taxis and Ubers. Many villas come with their own personal pool which means that you are able to take time out from the parks and enjoy time with your family. If you do rent a car, you will need to pay to park at each of the Disney Parks. If you stay in a villa it will come with a kitchen, meaning that you are able to save some money by cooking some or all of your meals and not having to eat ‘out’ every meal.
Staying at a hotel off-site (outside of Disney property) is another option. You would not necessarily need to have a car if you decide to stay in a hotel on International Drive for example. Many of the hotels here offer a free shuttle to the parks but you will have to abide by their times which may not always be suitable for your plans, so it is something to consider. There are LOTS of hotels and restaurants in Orlando near to the theme parks so it is important that you chose the best ones for you and your overall budget. Usually there are restaurants within walking distance of many hotels but remember to consider the weather. If you are going in the middle of summer, the heat can be unbearable and even walking for 10 minutes can be very uncomfortable. The rooms are very large in your typical hotel with 2 queen beds meaning that if you are a family of 4 (with 2 small children) you will only need one room.
When pricing your holiday, it is important that you remember to incorportate the prices for things such as food and paying to park when you get to the parks. If you do not consider these when booking and paying for your holiday, you will find yourself running out of spending money very quickly and it may result in you worrying about your funds and not enjoying your holiday.
As always, if you have questions, please let me know. The next blog will look at some of the Disney hotels in detail to help you decide which hotel to book should you decide to stay on property.
Disney Daydreamer 