I always recommend staying onsite at a Disney hotel. There are so many terrific perks you get staying at an official Disney onsite hotel:
a. you get a free shuttle to and from the airport to your hotel (and have your bags delivered)
b. you’re surrounded by Disney magic 24 hrs
c. you can use Disney transportation around resorts, parks
d. you can make purchases throughout the “world”, charge to your room key, and have delivered back to your hotel
e. you can add the Disney dining plan, and
f. the primo benefit – you get access to the EXTRA MAGIC HOURS – which means you can get into a park an hour early, and stay at another up to 3 hours longer than non-onsite guests
Choosing a hotel requires you to consult with your travel advisor. Price is a factor, but it is not the only factor. You have to consider what kind of vacation your family wants to have, the style of hotel you normally like to vacation at, and how much time you want to spend commuting each day. In my conversations with new clients, we focus on 8 factors/ parameters in choosing between the 22 onsite hotels:
1. the level of service you like from your hotel (are you a Best Western or a Four Seasons kinda gal?)
2. the price point you’d prefer (cheap as long as clean, vs. willing to pay for luxury?)
3. the room size you’d like (and bedding size – more budget-oriented hotels are smaller w double beds)
4. the amenities you’d like at your hotel (e.g., do you want a waterslide, kids’ club, etc.)
5. the dining options you’d like at your hotel (e.g. do you want just takeaway kiosk or character meals or fine dining choices)
6. the location you prefer (e.g. do you want the closest to the parks and higher price, or happy with lower price but also accepting they are the furthest away and have longer commute times), and
7. the convenience you prefer (e.g. what ease and speed of access to the parks do you want, and how about ease of getting to your hotel room once you get back to your resort – e.g., a standard room at a value resort could have a 15 minute walk back to your hotel room vs. a preferred room being 5 minutes walk)
8. the recreational activities you prefer at your resort (e.g., do you want the ability to rent water craft, do you want access to pool activities, etc.)
If you’re thinking about a trip to Disney, give me a call and let’s chat about what’s most important to your family. Balancing all the factors/ parameters is all about matching your family to the perfect resort for you!
Sheila 613-837-0699