Is Staying on or off Property Better for Your Walt Disney World Adventure?

There are a considerable amount of logistics involved when visiting Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Among the chief concerns for many visitors is how to decide whether to stay “on property” at a Disney-owned hotel or off property at another hotel unaffiliated with Disney.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each, but staying directly on the property will land you right in the middle of all the magic and will likely make more sense for anyone trying to immerse themselves completely in the Disney experience.

For those trying to watch the budget on a trip to Disney, an off-property hotel (or another type of accommodation) may be the ticket.

To make the decision easier, let’s examine the ins and outs of staying on or off property at Disney World.

Staying on Property

What does it mean, exactly, to stay on property? That term refers to staying at a Disney-owned and operated hotel. The company has 22 of these at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, providing options for a wide range of budgets and travel preferences.

Advantages

When you stay at a Disney-owned and operated hotel, there are several factors to consider that will make your visit to the happiest place on Earth that much better.

Ease of Transportation

All Disney hotels and resorts have on-site transportation, whether it’s on buses (this is the most common form), the monorail, boats, or the Disney Skyliner. The exact resort you stay at will determine which transportation options you’ll have access to, but every hotel provides service to each of the 4 Disney theme parks, making getting from your hotel to the parks incredibly easy.

These services are completely free to use, and you can utilize them to travel to Disney Springs as well.

Excellent Theming

Each Disney resort has a distinct (and well-executed!) theme, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the place or program that the hotel represents.

For example, Disney’s Old Key West Resort transports guests to the charming streets of the Florida Keys, and Disney’s Riviera Resort does an excellent job of making guests feel like they’re actually across the pond in Europe.

Each resort and hotel has guest rooms designed to suit the place or program it represents. Note, though, that newer resorts or those in a better location will cost more.

No Resort Fees

You read that right: Disney resorts do not charge resort or destination fees. Additionally, all amenities — such as access to the pool and fitness center, Wi-Fi, and even parking — are included in the room rates.

Early Entry and Extended Evening Hours

Guests at select Disney hotels and resorts are entitled to dedicated times to access the theme parks before opening and after closing.

Disadvantages

While I think the pros outweigh the cons in this equation, there are a few drawbacks to staying on property.

Cost

Disney-owned and operated hotels and resorts are often more expensive than other hotels that are located off property, especially because you can’t use traditional loyalty programs to cover the cost of your lodging.

Disney does have so-called Value Resorts, such as Disney’s All-Star Movie Resort, at which you’ll find some of the lowest rates on property, but these can still cost more than an off-site hotel room. However, you can rent Disney Vacation Club points to reduce the costs of accommodations.

There is a notable exception to this, however. Walt Disney World Swan, Walt Disney World Dolphin, and Walt Disney World Swan Reserve are 3 Marriott Bonvoy properties located near Epcot. These hotels are actually on property, but they’re not Disney-owned hotels and thus incur a nightly resort fee.

Potential for Disney Overload

Sometimes, staying at a Disney property can almost be too much, depending on the guest. Some would prefer to leave Disney at the park, so to speak, and don’t find it ideal to be surrounded by Disney characters, the hustle and bustle of families with small children running around, or the in-your-face themes.

Staying at an off-site hotel allows guests to book a more generic hotel without all the Disney touches, providing an “escape” from Disney, at least for a few hours, which some will certainly appreciate.

It’s Harder To See and Do Other Things

If you’re staying on Disney World property without a car, it can be very difficult to get to places, such as restaurants, that aren’t within the confines of Walt Disney World.

Many guests take a ride-share or another form of transportation from Orlando International Airport (MCO) and don’t have a rental car for their vacation. If this is the case, they’re more or less forced to eat at Disney-owned restaurants or venture to Disney Springs.

Staying off property can provide a lot more flexibility, as there are more plentiful (and less expensive) food options — not to mention the myriad other attractions and sites to see in the Orlando area outside of Disney World.

Hot Tip:

Disney’s room rates, like all other hotels, tend to fluctuate based on demand. It’s always worth checking rates at the hotel you’ve selected after you book to see if the rate has dropped before you check in.

Staying off Property

Many people visiting Disney World choose to stay off property, and there are a few distinct advantages to doing so.

Advantages

Stay on Points

The biggest upside to staying at a hotel off property is the wider ability to use points and miles to cover your stay. For example, there’s a nearby Hyatt hotel, the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, which is a Category 4 World of Hyatt property. This means an award night costs 12,000 World of Hyatt points on off-peak nights, 15,000 on standard nights, and 18,000 on peak nights.

Another nearby hotel, the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista, is a Hilton Honors property. Rooms start at 47,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

Using points — regardless of the chain you prefer and select for the trip — is a great way to mitigate the cost of a Disney trip, especially when rates soar during popular periods.

Flexible Transportation

If you stay off property, transportation is your responsibility, but that can also be a positive thing. You can call a ride-share or taxi when it’s convenient for you and don’t have to rely on Disney buses or other methods of transport.

Save Money on Food Costs

Many off-property hotels include breakfast as part of the room rate or as a perk of elite status, depending on the chain. This can represent a large savings in the cost of your trip, as no Disney hotel provides complimentary breakfast, save for the extremely rare club-level rooms, which are difficult to book and have practically zero availability.

Park Hop All You Want

Disney isn’t the only game in town — there’s also Universal Orlando Resort in the area. If you want to hit both on your trip to Orlando, staying at an off-site hotel between the 2 parks may be a smart decision, as you can reach either without much hassle.

Disadvantages

Now, it’s time to discuss the downsides of staying off property at Disney World.

Miss the Efficacy of Disney Transportation

If you’re planning to spend the vast majority of your time on Disney property, you’ll likely want to take advantage of Disney’s well-thought-out and robust transportation network. Staying off property limits the ease you’ll have in navigating the parks.

While some nearby hotels offer a shuttle to select parks, they don’t run nearly as often as you see the Disney buses plying the streets of the property. These buses arrive at stops every few minutes, but shuttles from nearby hotels may only be offered once or twice per day and may only take you to select locations.

Some off-property hotels may only offer shuttle service to the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC), which then requires you to take the monorail to the Magic Kingdom or Epcot or take a transfer bus from either of those parks to Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom later in the day after park hopping hours begin.

Miss the Streamlined Disney Ecosystem Experience

Disney has built a self-contained ecosystem for its resorts. The My Disney Experience app (iOS, Android) allows you to access your hotel stay, your theme park reservations, restaurant bookings, and much more.

If you stay off property, all of these trip elements would have to be made and accessed separately, which is just another thing to think about and could be the last thing you want to juggle, especially when traveling with the family.

Responsible for Resort Fees

While your room rate may be cheaper at an off-property hotel or resort, many now charge resort or destination fees that include access to pools, fitness centers, Wi-Fi, and other benefits for an additional charge.

These fees can range from around $20 per night to well north of $50 per night. They’re tacked onto the room rate, so you’re paying extra for the amenities you’d get complimentary at a Disney property.

The Best Card for Disney Stays, Both on and off Property

If you’re paying cash for parts (or all) of your trip to Disney, there are several great credit cards, including the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®. This card earns 3x Ultimate Rewards points on travel and dining expenses, which will be the lion’s share of your trip’s expenses.

The card comes with a $300 annual travel credit that can help lower the cost of a Disney trip. It also offers perks like car rental elite status, travel insurance and protections, and many more.

Hot Tip:

To learn more, read our full guide on the best cards to use for trips to Disney and Universal!

Final Thoughts

I’ve visited Disney World many times, and I can say that I very much prefer to stay on property when I have the chance, even if I have to forgo using points or getting a complimentary breakfast at off-property hotels.

I find that the experience of staying on site is truly immersive and it’s incredibly easy to get around Walt Disney World — it’s a combination you just don’t get when you stay off property.

With all that being said, your decision is going to come down to what’s best for you and those you’re traveling with. If you want to have the ultimate Disney experience, it’s tough to beat staying on property, but if you prefer to keep some money in your pocket by using points, an off-property hotel may be the best route for you.