Author: Colleen Bentley

Once you’ve decided to visit Walt Disney World, the first step is choosing a resort. You probably have a ton of questions, even if you’ve been to WDW before. Pricing, room options, transportation options, location, on property vs. off property – there are so many things to consider.

So how do you pick the resort that’s right for your family’s vacation? I get this question a lot, so I’ve broken out some general guidelines to follow to make your process a little bit easier. I love providing consultation on this topic for my clients, so if you’re thinking about booking your vacation, contact me for some resort guidance and tips!

Staying “on property”

A few perks of staying at a Disney resort include the free resort and park transportation options (bus, boat, or monorail), free airport transportation on the Magical Express (to/from Orlando International Airport), Fast Pass+ booking 60 days out, and Extra Magic Hours. I always encourage staying on property if you can, as it really makes the Disney experience even more magical.

That being said, Disney has expanded its list of affiliated resorts, meaning local properties that aren’t actual Disney resorts now have some of the perks that Disney hotel guests have. Check out the list HERE.

Budget

It’s important to have an idea of how much you plan on spending per night on your resort of choice. Start researching the different price points for each level of Disney resorts (Deluxe, Moderate, Value) to see what pricing will be like for the dates you plan on traveling. It’s important to check all levels of resorts, as prices tend to fluctuate between them (i.e. sometimes Moderate can be as pricey as Deluxe, or you might find a deal on a Deluxe).

Different resorts have different room options, so determine what type of room makes the most sense space-wise and financially (villas can be a better option than two standard connecting rooms). Do you plan on eating breakfast or lunch in your room? Then you might want to consider an option with a full kitchen (don’t forget you can have Amazon groceries delivered upon arrival!).

Trip Outline

It’s helpful to have an idea of what your general trip outline looks like (i.e. what parks you’re visiting what days and how frequently). Here are a few areas to consider:

• Parks:  Does it make more sense to be closer to certain parks over others? If you have young kids and think you’ll be at Magic Kingdom the most, you may want to consider a resort option on the monorail since it’s the easiest way to get to that park (if that’s within your budget). If you’re traveling to WDW for a special festival at Epcot, you want to consider a resort within walking distance of that park.
• Transportation:  Do you prefer taking the bus versus the boats? Or do you love taking the monorail or think your kids would enjoy it? Disney transportation runs frequently at all of the hotels, so we’ve never had a major issue. But think about what would work best for your family and your vacation!
• Pool time:  Do you think you’ll be spending most afternoons or even a full day at the pool? Most resorts have a good pool option, but some are better than others and more kid friendly.

There’s so much to consider when picking the right resort for your vacation, so let me help make the process a little bit easier. Contact me today and we can get started!