| For families planning a trip to Disney World, a major | | | | the front desk know when you check in. Also, it is a |
| factor to consider is whether to stay on property at a | | | | good idea to have a "Keeper of the cards" in your |
| Disney owned hotel or stay off property. | | | | party. Hand over your card after you enter the turnstile |
| I must admit to being a big fan of staying on property, | | | | and then send that person off at a brisk pace to |
| in fact, I have a big bias in that direction. There is | | | | obtain a Fastpass for everyone in the group while |
| something comforting about being in a secure little | | | | everyone else walks at a relaxed pace to the first |
| Disney bubble. It is comfortable. It is familiar. It is | | | | attraction. |
| convenient. | | | | - Package Delivery - No need to haul your purchases |
| There are, however, other more tangible perks to | | | | around the parks all day or worry about how you are |
| staying on property that you should consider before | | | | going to keep your newly purchased goodies dry as |
| making a final decision: | | | | you zoom down Kali River Rapids. Just ask that your |
| - Extra Magic Hours - Extra Magic hours give you | | | | package be delivered to your resort gift shop. No fuss |
| extra time in the parks. At least one park a day will | | | | no muss! |
| either open one hour early or stay open three hours | | | | - Dining Plan - If you purchased a package deal for |
| late for resort guests. While the park with the Extra | | | | your travel, you have the option of taking advantage |
| Magic hours in the morning tends to be a lot busier the | | | | of the Dining Plan (or it's Quick Service and Deluxe) |
| entire day, the evening Extra Magic hours do not tend | | | | cousins. The dining plan is easy to understand and is |
| to draw the same crowds. If you have a Park Hopper | | | | very convenient. If you are smart about how you |
| ticket, it may be a good plan to take advantage of the | | | | spend your credits, it will also save you a lot of money. |
| early opening at one park and and then move on to a | | | | It is also nice to have a pretty good idea of what your |
| less crowded park for the remainder of your day. | | | | food costs will be before you ever arrive. |
| - Disney's Magical Express - The Magical Express is | | | | - Refillable Mugs - If you are a Coke addict...and I do |
| one of the best deals around. You say goodbye to | | | | mean the cola...then a refillable mug may be right up |
| your luggage at your local airport (hopefully for only a | | | | your alley. Purchase a mug at your resort for around |
| few hours!) and hop on an Orlando bound plane. When | | | | $14 and you can get as many refills at your resort as |
| you land, just follow the signs to the Magical Express | | | | you wish. Grab a drink as you head out to the parks |
| buses, check in, and you will be whisked away to your | | | | for the day and another when you come in for a |
| hotel. No baggage claim or car rental necessary. Your | | | | break, and by all means bring that mug with you when |
| bags will magically appear in your room a few hours | | | | you head out to the pool! The longer your stay, the |
| later! Just remember to carry on anything that you | | | | more cost beneficial your mug will be. Now you have |
| think you may need within a few hours of landing... | | | | an excuse to stay a few more days! The best part |
| important medications, park tickets, sunscreen, comfy | | | | about the refillable mug is that it is will fit nicely in your |
| park clothes or a bathing suit would all be good | | | | suitcase and will bring back all of the fond memories of |
| choices! | | | | your trip every time you use it. |
| - Free Parking - All resort guests can self park free at | | | | - It is affordable...or not! - If you must adhere to a strict |
| resorts and parks. If you drove your own car, or | | | | budget or if you have saved for a splurge there is a |
| rented one when you arrived, you can save $14 per | | | | hotel for you. |
| day in parking fees by staying on property. If staying | | | | - Child Care - It's a vacation for Mom and Dad, too! |
| off property, be sure to add your hotel's parking fee, if | | | | Stash the kiddos at one of the kids "clubs" offered by |
| any, to your theme park parking free to get your total | | | | some hotels and enjoy an evening out. It is a bit |
| daily parking fee. | | | | expensive, but can you really put a price on a romantic |
| - Advanced Dining Reservations - As a Disney resort | | | | stroll around the World Showcase after Illuminations? |
| guest you get an additional perk when making your | | | | Or a peaceful and quite dinner at Victoria and Albert's? |
| ADR's. Instead of making your reservations 180 days | | | | It will be a fun night for all. |
| in advance for each reservation (calling every day for | | | | - Freedom to separate - You child may be old enough |
| several days in a row) you can make all of your | | | | to do some exploring on their own, but not old enough |
| reservations at one time, 180 days from your check in | | | | to drive your rental car. Your toddler may need a nap, |
| date. Disney calls this the 180 day +10 plan. You | | | | but your older child is just dying to see the parade. |
| can make one call and make your reservations for | | | | Staying on property and using Disney transportation |
| the next 10 days of your trip. This can give you a | | | | allows everyone in your group to come and go as |
| 190 day window for some reservations - a HUGE | | | | they please. |
| advantage if you are trying to book the hard to get | | | | - It is just cool. - Enough said! |
| Le Cellier or Cinderella's Royal Table! | | | | Well, since I said this is a debate about staying on or |
| - Disney Transportation - Disney transportation is really | | | | off property, I should probably mention some benefits |
| pretty cool. Yes, sometimes there can be quite a wait | | | | to staying off property. |
| if you are coming or going at a busy time. Yes, it can | | | | - Cost - While there are a range of price points for |
| be crowded. And there is certainly nothing more | | | | Disney hotels, you can almost certainly find a less |
| frustrating that watching a loaded bus take off for the | | | | expensive hotel off property. Even if you factor in |
| Magic Kingdom just as you breathlessly arrive at the | | | | rental cars and parking fees, you may still come out |
| bus stop! Overall, Disney transportation is a good thing. | | | | ahead by staying off property. You could also find a |
| It is amazingly efficient, free, and will get you where | | | | posher hotel with better amenities for the same price |
| you need to go in a reasonably timely fashion. Put | | | | that you would spend on a Disney hotel. |
| away your road maps and don't worry about telling | | | | - Car - Having a car can be nice. You can get around |
| every one in your party where you parked in hopes | | | | on your own schedule. Want to head to the outlet mall |
| someone will remember. Just hop on a bus, boat, or | | | | for some cheaper souvenirs? Need to stock up on |
| monorail, relax and review the first few items on your | | | | some bottles of water at the grocery store? Need |
| touring plan so you are ready to hit the ground running | | | | some bandages for that blister on your foot? It is nice |
| when you arrive! | | | | to be able to hop in your car and take off. |
| - Key to the World Card - Is it a room key? A park | | | | - Convenient for other Day Trips - If Disney World is |
| ticket? A credit card? Why it is all of the above! It is so | | | | part, but not all of your Orlando vacation, it may be |
| nice to have everything on one card. If you do not | | | | more convenient to stay off property. |
| want to allow your children charging privileges just let | | | | |