Walt Disney World is absolutely massive in size. It features four separate theme parks, two waterparks, and a very large shopping and dining district, known as Disney Springs. Walt Disney World is also home to over 25 on site Disney resorts that range from a value resort all the way up to the fanciest of deluxe resorts. There is no shortage of things to do and see once you set foot on Disney property, but why should you stay on site at Walt Disney World for your next vacation? Will it really make a difference in your Disney Vacation?

Yes! It absolutely will, and here’s why….

The Disney Bubble

You may have heard the term Disney Bubble used before, but what exactly does that mean? Due to the grand size of Walt Disney World, you literally feel like you’ve stepped into a bubble once you enter. Everything is clean, well kept, people are friendly, and everything has the level of immersion and perfection that you’ve come to expect from Disney in their theme parks. But this is everywhere!

When you stay on site at Walt Disney World, you never have to leave this magical bubble. This in and of itself adds an easiness factor that you just can’t get if you stay off site. Time is a precious commodity for your Walt Disney World vacation. You want to make sure you’re maximizing it. Staying on site makes it much easier to take breaks both during your park days, but also in between park days.

Something for Everyone

Disney is known for their fabulous theming, and the hotels are no different. There is so much to do and see at just the on site resorts. This makes them an adventure all on their own. Do you want to wake up and look out your hotel window to giraffes and zebras grazing on the savanna? You can, if

you stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. If you prefer more of a Cape Cod vibe, then waking up to the sandy shores at Disney’s Beach Club might be your perfect resort choice. The themes available to choose from seem endless.

*Animal Kingdom Lodge at Walt Disney World*

Resort Categories

Besides having a wide variety of hotel themes to choose from, there are also options for every family’s budget. Disney offers on site resorts in three main price categories: value, moderate, and deluxe.

Here is a quick breakdown of the differences between the three categories:

With over 25 on site resorts to choose from with varying themes and price points, there is a perfect match for every family.

The Resorts are Can't-Miss Attractions

The resorts are basically attractions all on their own. There is so much to look at and explore while at the Disney resorts. It is common to take what is known as a resort day during your Disney vacation. Instead of visiting any of the theme parks, a resort day is spent exploring your resort to soak up all the amazing offerings. Don’t be afraid to explore other resorts that you aren’t staying at as well! You can easily fill an entire day hopping from resort to resort, just taking in the sights and food/drink options.

Best Food and Drink Options

While there are some amazing food and beverage options in the parks, some of the best dining and cocktails can be found inside the Disney Resorts. ‘Ohana in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is a highly sought-after table service location. It is known for its Lilo & Stitch character breakfasts and their Hawaiian flavored family-style dinners, that include the life-changing ‘Ohana Noodles. California Grill, on the top of the Contemporary, offers breathtaking views of Seven Seas Lagoon with Magic Kingdom in the distance, while sending your palate on a California cuisine adventure.

And don’t forget to stop by Beaches and Cream at Disney’s Beach Club Resort for the biggest ice cream sundae you’ve ever seen, called the Kitchen Sink. There is definitely no shortage of great dining options at the on-site resorts.

*Beaches and Cream Soda Shop at Disney’s Beach Club Resort*

Resort Activities

Throughout the day there are a variety of activities going on right at your resort. A favorite activity for many guests is enjoying the pools located at their resort. Each resort has a feature pool that is themed to match that specific resort. Some of these feature pools are almost like

small water parks because they are so impressive. Some of the larger resorts will also have smaller quiet neighborhood pools that might be closer to your room than the feature pool, which is usually located right off the lobby.

All Disney pools are kept heated during colder months. No need to worry if you’re planning to visit during Florida’s colder months. You can still enjoy the amazing pool options.

*Luna Park Pool at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn*

Guests can also take advantage of other activities right at their resort. Each resort offers a variety of paid and free activities for guests to partake in. These can include outside movie nights, crafting, s’mores around a campfire, fishing, boating, horseback riding and more.

Transportation

Another perk of staying on site at Walt Disney World is the Disney transportation. Depending on the location of your resort, Disney has multiple modes of free transportation to get you anywhere you need to go within the Disney Bubble. These transportation options include the Monorail, Disney buses, the Skyliner system, and multiple boat systems.

*Disney Skyliner over Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort*

Using Disney transportation as a park guest can also get you into the parks faster. For example, if you were visiting Magic Kingdom but staying off site, then you would have to go to the Ticket and Transportation Center to either park or be dropped off. From there you would have to take either the monorail or the ferry boat over to Magic Kingdom. If you are staying on site, you get let off Disney transportation right outside Magic Kingdom’s gates.

Another benefit of Disney transportation is not having to worry about the commute back to your off site location both during park days and after park days. Disney transportation makes it easy for guests to get back and forth from the parks to their rooms.

Time is precious on your Disney World trip, so not having to deal with that commute after a long park day can be worth a lot.

Park Perks

Guests staying at an on site Disney resort get to take advantage of special park perks exclusive to resort guests.

Early Entry

All resort guests are allowed into all four parks 30 minutes before everyone else for early entry. This is a great time to knock out some rides that tend to get longer lines throughout the day, like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Flight of Passage. Usually 1-2 rides can be accomplished during this 30 minutes of early entry. That extra half hour can make a big difference in your overall park day and set your park day up for success.

Extended Evening Hours

Guests who are staying at a deluxe resort also get to take advantage of extended evening hours after the park has closed. These are offered at Magic Kingdom and Epcot only on certain nights. A great perk of the extended evening hours is a 3rd virtual queue option for Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind and TRON Lightcycle/Run. The 3rd virtual queue option is only available to extended evening guests.

*Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind in Epcot*

Individual Lightning Lanes

Resort guests can get a jump on Individual Lighting Lane purchases for the day. Resort guests can make their first Individual Lightning Lane purchase at 7am, whereas everyone else has to wait until park opening. This can be a game changer for Individual Lightning Lanes that can fill up very quickly, such as Rise of the Resistance and Tron Lightcycle/Run.

There are so many reasons to stay on site at Walt Disney World for your next vacation. The Disney Bubble is something truly special. Not having to leave this magical world can drastically improve your family’s overall vacation. Staying on site puts you right in the middle of many wonderful resorts that have so many different sights, dining options, and fun activities to take part in. It also puts you in close proximity to the parks, with easy transportation options and extra park perks included.

Need help figuring out which Disney Resort is the perfect choice for your family’s Disney World vacation? Quickly and easily compare the on site resorts with our Walt Disney World Resort Guide.