Disney Resort or non-Disney hotel?
Choosing whether to stay on site or off really depends on what kind of a vacation you have in mind. If you plan to visit the Sunshine state in all it’s glory by also visiting the beach, shopping in downtown Orlando, or spending time at non-Disney theme parks like Universal Studios or Sea World, I’d suggest looking for a hotel outside of the Disney theme parks in a more centralized location to your ultimate destinations. That way you can easily navigate in and out of Disney World on the days you plan to visit.
You may also be able to piece together a cheaper vacation package by staying off site and preparing meals in your hotel room. Downtown Disney has several hotels which, while they are not 'official' Disney Resorts and don't qualify for the Disney dining plan option, allow guests to stay in or near the parks with direct access to shopping and the Disney shuttle system.
The true Disney savings come in purchasing a Disney Resort vacation package. This is not the right decision for all guests but for many people who are visiting to experience all the parks have to offer with ease, this is the way to go. The reason the vacation package is so appealing is that guests who stay in a Disney resort may also purchase greatly discounted park tickets as well as a Disney dining plan. This is where the real savings begin.
In fact, on our family of four’s most recent visit, choosing an additional day in the parks for our whole family came down to adding only $30 more total to our vacation package. Choosing whether the Disney dining plan is right for you or not takes some consideration as well. See our article Chow Time: Eating in the Disney Parks for more on whether a meal plan is right for you.
If you’d like a more carefree vacation where you can simply use the Disney dining plan then your decision is fairly simple: you must stay in an official Disney resort. The dining plans are only offered to Disney resort guests. You may still purchase meals at any restaurant in the parks but the dining plan makes eating in the parks fairly easy, although using the dining plans also take some getting used to.
You may also be able to piece together a cheaper vacation package by staying off site and preparing meals in your hotel room. Downtown Disney has several hotels which, while they are not 'official' Disney Resorts and don't qualify for the Disney dining plan option, allow guests to stay in or near the parks with direct access to shopping and the Disney shuttle system.
The true Disney savings come in purchasing a Disney Resort vacation package. This is not the right decision for all guests but for many people who are visiting to experience all the parks have to offer with ease, this is the way to go. The reason the vacation package is so appealing is that guests who stay in a Disney resort may also purchase greatly discounted park tickets as well as a Disney dining plan. This is where the real savings begin.
In fact, on our family of four’s most recent visit, choosing an additional day in the parks for our whole family came down to adding only $30 more total to our vacation package. Choosing whether the Disney dining plan is right for you or not takes some consideration as well. See our article Chow Time: Eating in the Disney Parks for more on whether a meal plan is right for you.
If you’d like a more carefree vacation where you can simply use the Disney dining plan then your decision is fairly simple: you must stay in an official Disney resort. The dining plans are only offered to Disney resort guests. You may still purchase meals at any restaurant in the parks but the dining plan makes eating in the parks fairly easy, although using the dining plans also take some getting used to.