Walt Disney World is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. And for good reason! It provides world-class attractions, incredible dining and a guest experience like no other. But with 4 theme parks, over 25 hotel options, numerous restaurants and various transportation options, it can feel like a burden to plan a Disney World trip. And don’t forget needing to learn the Disney lingo, with terms like Genie+ (a system to let you skip the line for attractions) and ADRs (Advance Dining Reservations).
So where do you even start? To aid your planning process, ask yourself the following 5 questions. By thinking through these, you can narrow down an overwhelming list of options into something much more manageable.
1. Are you planning to spend most of your time in the theme parks?
Disney World has 4 amazing theme parks, all magical in their own way: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. While we believe every park is worth visiting, we realize they’re not for everyone. (Be sure to check out our guide to help you decide which parks may be the most appealing for your family.)
So how do you keep your Disney trip within your budget? If you are planning to spend most of your time in the parks during your visit, opt for a Value resort. This is the cheapest category of Disney World hotels. Why spend a lot more money on a Moderate or Deluxe resort if you won’t be spending much time there anyway? When you’re exhausted after a full day in the parks, a bed in a Value resort will feel just as nice as a more expensive hotel.
But maybe the focus of your trip will be more to relax at a hotel and just visit a park or two. In that case, it may be worth it to spend more on a resort with more amenities or a better pool.
You also don’t need to be in the parks to experience great Disney dining. Many of the hotels have cant-miss restaurants. And the best part? You don’t need to be a guest of the hotel to eat there. But the good ones are popular, so you’ll definitely want to secure a spot with an Advance Dining Reservation (ADR). Places like ‘Ohana at the Polynesian, California Grill at the Contemporary or Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge (just to name a few) are definitely worth a visit during your stay!
To help you pick a resort, check out our post on how to choose a Disney World hotel.
2. Do you need park hopper tickets?
On paper, park hoppers sound like a great option. You can visit multiple parks a day and not be tied down to the park you first enter in the morning.
However, Disney theme parks have a TON of attractions to fill your day. From rides to shows to food, there is plenty to do. Hollywood Studios was the one park we used to have trouble spending the whole day at. But now with the addition of Toy Story Land and Galaxy’s Edge, that will no longer be an issue.
While there are differing opinions, we personally believe park hoppers aren’t worth the extra cost. (And like we said earlier, those additional dollars add up real quick when you have multiple family members!) Instead, take your time in each park. Chances are, you probably won’t see or do everything that you want to in a single day anyway. Plus, don’t forget that the parks are spread out. So when you buy park hoppers, you’re paying extra money to not be in the parks while you’re moving from one to the other.
3. Is price more important than the “Disney experience”?
We believe that a Disney hotel is a large part of the “magical experience” that is promised in all the Disney World advertising. The Cast Members (what Disney calls their employees) are trained to provide excellent customer service. In addition, the attention to detail in hotel theming is the same level you would find in the theme parks.
Each Disney resort has its own benefits. Some are located within walking distance to a park. Others have a great pool, access to transportation like the monorail or the Skyliner, or a popular restaurant.
All these things are designed to provide a seamless Disney experience during your visit. And that level of service and offerings come at a price. Now, there are Disney hotels across all budget ranges. Value Resorts are affordable, but their rooms take a pretty basic, no-frills approach. However, if you’re looking for a suite, a location on the monorail, or even a view of a savanna with live animals, the price per night skyrockets.
Many off-property hotel may be similar in price to a Value or Moderate resort. But you can usually get more bang for your buck. If you’re looking for larger rooms, going with a non-Disney hotel will certainly provide you with more options. Another benefit of going off-property is you can earn points if you are part of a loyalty rewards program.
But choosing a non-Disney hotel may mean giving up certain benefits. These can include dedicated park transportation, extra time in the parks, and more. You’ll just need to decide if keeping your hotel costs down is more important than the amenities that Disney resorts provide.
4. Will you be taking little kids?
We believe Disney World is a destination for all ages. But undoubtedly, children are a big target audience. If your kids are very young, some parks may not be the best fit. Epcot and Hollywood Studios are geared a bit towards older audiences. A toddler may not find walking through all the country pavilions in Epcot all that exciting. And nearly every ride at Hollywood Studios has a height restriction.
That said, Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom are probably your best bet with the littlest ones. Of course, traveling with babies and toddlers means fitting naps into your schedules. Many parents choose to leave the parks during the afternoon to head back to their hotel for nap time. Choosing a hotel near Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom may make things much easier. The closest option to Animal Kingdom is, to no surprise, the Animal Kingdom Lodge. In the Magic Kingdom resort area, there are several options: the Grand Floridian, the Polynesian, the Contemporary and the Wilderness Lodge. These hotels can be accessed from the Magic Kingdom by monorail, by boat and/or by walking! In other words, you can avoid a long bus ride back to your hotel.
But like we mentioned earlier, great location does come at a cost. All of these are Deluxe resorts, which have the highest room rates across Disney hotels. However, one way to stay at these nice accommodations at a cheaper price is to rent Disney Vacation Club (DVC) points. By renting DVC points, you can stay at Deluxe resorts for a significant discount!
But what’s the catch? Well, the DVC owner will need to make all the reservations for you, since Disney doesn’t work with non-DVC members for DVC stays. Your reservation is also subject to availability, and you typically need to pay for the entire cost up front with a non-refundable payment.
Sound confusing? Well, luckily there are companies that work with renters and owners to make it a smooth process for all parties involved. We’ve had great experience using David’s Vacation Club Rentals. You can use their cost calculator to get an idea of how much your rental will cost. Then once you submit your request, their excellent customer service team will guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have.
5. Is your schedule flexible?
Lastly, it should come as no surprise that the timing of your visit affects how expensive your visit will be. Theme park tickets and hotel reservations are much more expensive during peak times of the year. These include when schools are out on break and around holidays. So for the best deal, you’ll have to go during low season. These are times such as mid-January to mid-February or the first half of September after Labor Day.
If you have kids in school, it may be hard to avoid high prices. However, Mousesavers.com has one of our favorite resources: a room rate chart with each “season of pricing” clearly labeled. By using this tool, you can see which of your possible dates would have the lowest hotel room rates. Of course, if you’re dead set on going around Christmas, starting saving now!
LET'S PLAN A DISNEY WORLD TRIP!
By asking yourself the 5 questions above, it should help provide a framework to start planning your trip. Based on your preferences, budget and who you are traveling with, you should be able to start narrowing down the list of hotels and parks to make the planning process less overwhelming.
For more detailed posts on specific aspects of taking a trip to the most Magical Place on Earth, be sure to check out the Disney World section of our blog. If you have any questions about planning a Disney trip, drop it into the comments below. We’ll be happy to assist!