✨The Perks of staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel

*Updated 2025

Perks. Give me all the Perks, please! I wholeheartedly and unbiasedly, stand behind staying at a Disney Hotel for the BEST and Most Magical Disney Vacation Experience ever. 💙

Now, I know what you are thinking. But Disney has been eliminating some of the best perks: free Magical Express shuttle service to/from MCO Airport to the Resorts, free MagicBands and free Fastpasses! Ugh, I feel your pain! Talk about a Triple Whammy. Cue the sad/mad emoji face. It’s not easy getting something INCLUDED and then have it taken away almost instantly. I understand how you feel.

I’m still adjusting. However, these take-aways are not keeping me from staying on Disney property. If anything, it is making me value my experience on property even more! There are still plenty of perks that come with staying at a Walt Disney World Hotel. That’s why I will ALWAYS stay on propety!

So, let’s discuss.

✨10 PERKS of WHY you should stay at a Walt Disney World Hotel✨

1. FREE Transportation!! When you stay at a Walt Disney World Hotel you can use Disney’s Transportation to/from your Disney Hotel to all 4 Theme Parks, both Water Parks and Disney Springs! We’re talking Buses, Skyliner, Monorail and Water Taxis. Disney’s Transportation is convenient, reliable and well, when we’re talking about the Skyliner & Monorail…super cool. 🚡🚝🚌🚤
2. DEALS, PROMOTIONS!! When you stay a Walt Disney World hotel you can take advantage of great deals and exclusive promotions. Plus, when you book with me, I price watch…so, I will apply any available promotions to your vacation package immediately! 💚
3. MagicBands! 💜 I LOVE my MagicBand. What is a MagicBand? Waterproof Wristband. Features: Unlock the door of your Disney Resort Hotel room, enter Disney Theme Parks (tickets linked), connect Disney Photopass to your MDE (My Disney Experience) account, and charge food & merchandise purchases to your Disney Resort hotel room. Totally cool, right?! Get Discounts on MagicBands when you stay at a Disney Hotel! You can purchase discounted MagicBands in your MDE account have them sent to you before your arrival. They typically have basic colors, exclusive, and limited-edition MagicBands available. The NEW MagicBand+ features interactive experiences, color-changing lights, vibrations, and gesture recognition. This band must be charged. Wow, talk about TECH-y. 💲
4. Early Theme Park Entry! That’s right all Disney Hotel guests (and some guests from Select Hotels) get to enter all 4 Theme Parks, every day…30 minutes EARLY. Trust me, this gives you a big advantage when park touring. Ride a couple popular attractions before all the other guests are even allowed in the park! Awesome-sauce. 🎫
5. ADRs (advance dining reservations) can be made 60 days prior for your ENTIRE trip! If you stay off-site, you can only book 1 day at a time. So, this perk gives you major advantage at scoring those popular restaurants and character meals. 🍽
6. Book your Lightning Lane *Multi Pass, Single Pass, Premier Passes up to 7 days before your Arrival! Guests not staying on-site have to wait until 3 Days prior! Typically, many Lightning Lane passes are sold out or booked by then! ⚡
7. Close Proximity to the Theme Parks! This gives you flexibility in park touring and saves you TIME. You’ll find it is so easy to take a mid-day break back at your hotel, especially since 11 am – 4 pm is peak crowd/heat in Disney World. Rest, recharge your phone battery, visit your resort pool or just come & go as you please. Sanity, money and time saver! 🏰
8. Disney World Dining & Shopping! Some of the best restaurants/lounges at Disney are at the hotels: Topolino’s Terrace at Riviera Resort, California Grill at Contemporary Resort, Ohana at Polynesian Resort, and Citricos at Grand Floridian Resort, just to name a few! Don’t forget about Disney Springs: restaurants, nightlife, shopping & entertainment! Be sure to stop by some of the resort hotel gift shops! You’ll find exclusive, unique merchandise from each spot. 🍸
9. Disney Bubble! Staying in the Disney “bubble” means you are surrounded by the magic of Disney. Location. Location. Location. Can’t emphasize this enough. All the hotels have Disney theming, touches and decor. You can trust in Disney’s exceptional hospitality and incredible cast members to make you feel at home and extra special. 🐭
10. Extended Evening Hours (EEH) for Disney Deluxe Hotel & Villas Guests including Shades of Green, Swan, Dolphin & Swan Reserve. ✨In Bold, below. 2 Extra hours, people! OMG…low low wait times and even better, hardly any guests! I love the parks at nighttime-cooler temps and sparkling lights. YES, please! Currently, EPCOT has EEH on Mondays and Magic Kingdom on Wednesdays. Sometimes, Animal Kingdom replaces Magic Kingdom. Always check the official calendar & park hours.

Any Questions or want to know more? Send me an email: angiebaycura@d2travel.com

Ready to start your Disney Vacation Countdown? Let’s get your Vacation booked today!

Enchantingly Yours🥀,

AB

Participating Hotels

• Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
• The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort
• Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
• Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
• Disney’s Beach Club Villas
• Disney’s Boardwalk Villas
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
• Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
• Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
• Shades of Green® on Walt Disney World® Resort

Additional SELECT Hotels with Early Theme Park Entry

• B Resort & Spa Lake Buena Vista
• DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando
• Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace
• Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
• Holiday Inn Orlando
• Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista
• Wyndham Lake Buena Vista
• Four Seasons Resort Orlando
• Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
• Waldorf Astoria Orlando
• Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista