There are over 18 Walt Disney World Resorts and even more Disney Vacation Club Resorts. It is no wonder it is one of the hardest decisions when planning your Disney Vacation. It is also the thing you need to do first. Rooms sell out fast and so do the great discounts. My favorite place to get information about the Resorts is All Ears. They have photos, floorplans, and reviews. In addition, I can provide my personal experiences with my family. First and foremost, I believe you should *always* stay on the Walt Disney World property. There are several reasons, in my opinion, that you should do this:

• Extra magic hours. Everyday, a different park will have extra magic hours. These are hours when the park is open early and stays open late for an extra hour. This is important because this is only available to Disney Resort guests. It is nice to get the extra time withouts lines.
• Disney theming. When you have spent thousands of hours and dollars on your Disney vacation, you like to see the little disney touches you can’t get anywhere else.
• Souvenir Delivery. If you buy souvenirs inside the parks, Disney can send them to your room at no additional cost if you are staying at a Disney Resort.
• Disney Dining Plan. This is a pre-purchased dining plan that you can only buy if you are staying at a Disney resort. There is more on that in this post.
• Early access to Fastplass+. If you are staying in a Disney resort, you may make reservations for attractions, entertainment, and more for up to 60 days before the first day of your trip. Otherwise, you need to make a reservation 30 days before each day of the trip.
• Complimentary Magic Bands.  Use your MagicBand to get into the Disney theme parks, unlock your Resort hotel room, and check in at FastPass+.  Plus, you can even customize your MagicBand with your name and choice of 7 colors!
• Complimentary Airport Transportation.  You will be able to use Disney’s Magical Express, a complimentary round trip service between Orlando airport and the Disney hotel. You can skip baggage claim and your luggage is delivered right to the resort!

My favorite resort overall is the Wilderness Lodge near the Magic Kingdom. It is a Deluxe resort, so I understand this is not ideal for budget, but it is the lowest priced of all the Deluxe resorts. The theming is the best of any hotel in my opinion, with an upscale rustic feel. The restaurant in the lobby (Whispering Canyon Cafe) is great for kids and perfect for Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner. The best part is the boat transportation to the Magic Kingdom. This is the perfect accessibility for small children that need to go back to the room for naps or a break.

If you can not afford this option, a more moderate alternative is Port Orleans Riverside. It is beautiful and peaceful. Also, it is located in small bungalow type buildings rather than a large hotel. The amenities like the pool and the playground are top notch for kids and its location can’t be beat. There is no monorail or boat transportation, but there is bus transportation. I personally feel you should rent a car if in this situation and the parking is free at any Disney Park. The buses can take up a lot of precious time.

Another option is Disney Vacation Club, which rents its resorts to any guests, even if you are not a DVC member. It is available on the same registration system as the main resorts and offer more home-like amenities such as kitchens, bedrooms, and laundry machines. This is nice when traveling with young children or if you need to accomodate many people in one room. You can do many of your meals in the room and the bedrooms are handy if you need to put children down to sleep and stay up to watch tv in another room.

Contact me to help plan your vacation: yb*******@gm***.com