Pros and Cons of Hotels Off Disney Property

So you’re going to Walt Disney World and you’re not sure where to stay, right? Trust us, it can be a very overwhelming process to plan a trip to Walt Disney World especially if it’s your first Disney World Trip or your only trip. But, before you decide much else, you need to make the decision about whether or not you will be staying on-site or off-site at Walt Disney World. Here’s a quick guide we hope you find helpful in deciding if you should stay off property at Disney World.

Many factors play into whether staying off-site at Walt Disney will be a budget-friendly Disney vacation move. Depending on what time of year you are going, how big your family is, or what discounts you could get by staying on property at Walt Disney World will all make a difference.

Best Off Property Hotels Disney World

By staying off-property, you have so many more options and can really get away from it all. You can easily get a condo or even a whole house. Orlando has a lot of them, and some of them even have their own private pool.  Check out  Groupon for discounted hotel rooms and condos or AirBnB for unique listings. You can also choose Good Neighbor Hotels that come with many of the same perks as Disney Resort properties. Here are the closest Hotels to Disney World offering transportation, character options and more. Check out the full lineup of perks Disney Good Neighbor Hotel Perks. 

• Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace
• Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Disney Springs
• DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando – Disney Springs® Area
• Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
• Holiday Inn Orlando – Disney Springs® Area
• B Resort & Spa – Disney Springs® Resort Area
• Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort – Disney Springs® Area
• Four Seasons Resort Walt Disney World

Staying Off-Site Can Save You A Lot of Money ( Sometimes)

Staying at an off property hotel near Disney World often means cheaper hotel rooms, with most of the same Disney Perks you can find on property! Just look at the Hotels Near Disney Springs! These off property hotels include things like Disney shuttles, Early Theme Park Entry, advanced dining reservations and more. 

Of course, by staying off property you do miss out on the biggest discounts offered by Disney. This includes special offers like Free Disney Dining Plan and the Disney Bounceback Offer. Both of these can save you thousands on trips if you time your Disney trip right.  

Off-Site Hotels are Roomier

While not always 100% true, the chances of bigger rooms off-site in Orlando are greater. The Top 10 Best Hotels Near Walt Disney World offer things like family suites, larger beads, and more square footage. If you’re traveling with a bigger family or lots of luggage this could be a lifesaver. 

At Walt Disney World, families of 5 or more usually have to opt for the Little Mermaid Rooms with the 5th Sleeper at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort or the Family suites at Art of Animation Resort, which can be pricey. Worse still, is the alternative of booking two rooms at a Disney Resort so there is room for everyone. In cases like these, staying off property may be best. 

You Can Get Away from It All

After a busy day in the Disney Parks, you may just want to get away from the park chaos. Nothing says vacation like quiet time at the pool, or the spa, or a nice dinner. At a Disney Hotel on property, all of these things usually involve lots of crazy. If you need the break, then staying off-site may be for you.

Don’t get us wrong, we LOVE staying on Disney property. We love the theming, the vibe, and even the crazy cafeterias. But the truth is that even at some of the most relaxing Disney Value Resorts like Pop Century Resort there seems to always be an element of chaos.

Since we’ve taken up Disney resort hopping we have gotten to see a wide variety of resorts at all pricing levels and you can get away from the chaos if you pay more. Who doesn’t love grabbing a dole whip with their toes in the sand while at the Polynesian? Or having tea at the Grand Floridian during a classic Florida thunderstorm? But even then, there are ALWAYS people around. While that’s fine for some people, others really do want to get away and not be surrounded by people in Mickey Ears or taking photos every 5 seconds. 

You Can Cook Your Own Food (Maybe)

Unless you’re staying in a DVC villa or have rented an RV at Fort Wilderness, chances are you won’t have a kitchen during your vacation. And preparing your own food is one of the best ways to save money. Or if you’re watching your waistline, you may prefer to cook your own meals even just occasionally while at Disney.

We have seen some offsite hotel properties that offer small kitchenettes, like Homewood Suites or Hyatt Place. Of course, if you’re going all out by staying in a condo or a house, you’ll have all the comforts of home right there for you. And there really isn’t anything like a nice home-cooked breakfast or late dinner after a long day at Disney. 

You’re Closer to Everything Else in Orlando, Florida

Want to visit Universal Studios? Trying to get away to Winter Haven for a day or even planning some beach time during your Walt Disney World vacation? You might be better off staying off-property. When we tackled the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in one day, we stayed at a hotel 5 minutes away from Universal. It was 30 minutes from Magic Kingdom. Walt Disney World is so huge that getting just on and off property can take a long time. Even without factoring in the crazy traffic that can sometimes happen in Orlando.

Staying Off-Site is Less Magical

We love staying on property at Walt Disney World. And if you’re looking for an immersive Disney experience this will be a big con for you too. For us, a Disney vacation really is about the theming of the resort with all our favorite Disney details, the access to Disney-themed food in the cafeterias, the late-night Disney movies on the lawn, and the trivia-filled pool parties. With Disney, it really is all in the details! Because you just won’t get the pirate pool at Disney’s Caribbean Resort, or the evening performers outside Disney’s Boardwalk Inn. 

You’ll Have to Pay for Parking Twice

Chances are you already paid for your hotel parking off-site. Unless you were lucky and got a deal, or are staying at an Airbnb. And now you’ll have to pay for parking at the parks as well. Unless you’re an Annual Passholder or are taking an Uber, the sad fact is that parking at WDW is EXPENSIVE. At $25/day, depending on how many days you plan to go, that can add up pretty quickly. Check out the best ways to Avoid Disney Parks Parking Fees. 

You Won’t Get Disney Discounts

Any discount that is part of a Magic Your Way Package is not available unless you’re staying off-property. It’s just that simple. To see what you’d be missing, check out the Disney Special Offers page.

You Have to Drive in Orlando

You Won’t Have Access to Complimentary Disney Transportation. While we can truthfully say we’ve driven in much worse places (Los Angeles, I’m talking to you), driving in Orlando can sometimes be the worst! While we haven’t run into any issues with congestion or accidents, we’ve heard enough horror stories to know that Disney transportation is a godsend. No matter how flawed it may be. The combo of the monorail, buses, Minnie Vans courtesy of Lyft, and the Disney Skyliner are multiple options for when you need to get around. But of course, if you stay off-site- you could also just call a taxi if you don’t want to pay for parking again. Note: Even if you’re not staying on the property, you will have access to Disney transportation once at the Parks and can use it freely.

You Don’t Get Early Entry or Extending Evening Hours

While 30 minutes extra in the mornings at the theme parks, may not seem like alot, it can sometimes make the difference. If you’re staying at Disney World then you get access to Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Theme Park Hours, if you’re a Disney Deluxe Resort Guest. Check the Disney Calendar for when these hours are offered. 

You Can Book Lightning Lane Passes 3 Days Before ( Instead of 7) 

If you’re staying off property at Disney World, then you can book Lightning Lane Passes to skip the lines at rides, 3 days before your trip. Which means you may miss out on popular rides. Guests staying on property get Early Access to purchase Lightning Lane Multi-Passes 7 Days in Advance of your trip. ( Swan and Dolphin Hotel Guests also get this perk.)

You Can’t Add the Disney Dining Plan

If you’re heading to Disney World, then you may want to prepay for your Disney food. But if you’re staying off property at Disney World, you don’t get the choice to add a Disney Dining Plan. 

Is Staying Off-Site at Walt Disney World Better?

As you can see from this post the truth is that it’s not a one-size-fits-all type of situation. It will depend on your family’s tastes, priorities, and budget, especially when traveling to Disney World with a Large Group. If you’re still going back and forth, check out the Perks of Staying On Property at Walt Disney World. We hope this has been helpful in your decision to stay Off Property at Disney World or on property. No matter which you choose, you will have an amazing vacation!