Where to stay in Disneyworld.

Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse welcome guests to the Magic Kingdom

I have been a fan of Disney for as long as I can remember. But it isn’t the rides, the food, or the resorts—the reason I love Disney is because of Walt Disney. And while the company seems to shift its beliefs from those of its founder, there are still many things that remain steadfast and true to Walt’s personal beliefs.

Traveling to Orlando semi-frequently (a couple times a year), I have the opportunity to stay in a variety of hotels and resorts—most often because of where friends or family are staying. But one thing I always ask myself is whether the cost of staying at the true “Disney Property” is worth the extra wad of bills.

Most frequently, I stay at the Dolphin hotel and perhaps its because it was the first hotel I stayed at due to conferences I was attending, however, there are unique values added to the property that other “non-Disney” properties are not able to provide and equally important for me is it’s a Sheraton, which falls under my Marriott brand. I also consider what I plan to do during my trip. If it is my goal to spend the majority of my time at parks, shopping, or simply out of my hotel room; that becomes a consideration of what I’m willing to spend—it should be included in your’s too.

Disney properties provide access to early hours for guests, premier shuttle experiences, and the true Disney customer service. Non-Disney resorts may still provide shuttle experiences (but you usually get to walk farther or in the case of the Magic Kingdom you get to take separate transportation to the ticket center to catch your bus), however, with the exception of the Swan and Dolphin hotels there is no early-bird access. Before FastPass went away, Resort guests could also book their tickets sooner than non-Disney resort guests. Additionally, you were able to have your purchases from within the parks delivered to your hotel rooms.

There is only one pro for staying at non-Disney properties: cost savings. Which can be very significant. A few years ago I visited Disneyworld with my family and while they decided to stay at a Disney Resort, I stayed off site (not even on resort property) and was able to save a few hundred dollars per night for my hotel. (I also have an annual pass, so I wasn’t looking for the housing/park ticket specials). I was able to join them and spend time at the “real hotel” when we weren’t in the parks.

As far as the pros of staying at a Disney Resort: well, they’re significant. From a seamless housing/park experience because everything is linked to your magic band, to having the premier transportation services between the hotel, parks, and Disney Springs—list of amenities is endless. You can also expect to see Disney characters at their properties, where you won’t find them otherwise.

So—with the pros and cons, what’s my recommendation? I encourage folks to look at the Swan, Dolphin, or Swan Reserve properties. Maybe I’m partial because of my loyalty to the Marriott brand, but it offers the best of both worlds. You can use Bonvoy points to cover your stay, earn points, have early access to the parks, and enjoy transportation ease. In fact, you can enjoy water shuttles to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and the Boardwalk. And since you can board both the Monorail and Skyliner from Epcot, you also have access to the Magic Kingdom without having to board a bus—the experience of these two is worth the additional travel time. If it’s more than sleeping you plan to do at the hotel, the Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve also offer a plethora of pools, dining experiences, and a spa. And because it is tied to Disney, you can also see characters at restaurants on site.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve alway enjoy staying at an official Disney property, but I don’t believe there is the value add—for me.