Of course, many theme park fans don't care about getting on-site hotel rooms and selective dinner reservations. That's part of the appeal of theme parks — the offer so many options for so many people. So where do you stand? How often do you stay on-site when visiting a theme park? Not every park offers an official on-site hotel, so it's not always possible to stay on-site. But when those rooms are available, do you take advantage?
We will make this our Vote of the Week. But first, let's crowdsource lists of the pros and cons of staying on-site at top theme park resorts. I'll get the lists started, then invite you to add to or correct them in the comments. I'll update the post as comments come in. We can add other resorts, too, if they have on-site hotels and you'd like to start a list for them.
In each case, let's note that part of the appeal of staying on-site is a more immersive vacation experience where you, essentially, stay with the park 24 hours a day. So we will accept that as a given for all the resorts listed below, and instead focus on more specific and unique pros and cons for each resort.
(Update: One more given for all resorts - if location is a plus, that's not only for getting to the parks in the morning and back "home" after the day, it makes taking a mid-day break much easier, as well. Especially if you don't need to move your car to do it!)
Walt Disney World Resort
Pros:
Cons:
Universal Orlando Resort
Pros:
Cons:
Disneyland Resort
Pros:
Cons:
Cedar Point
Pros:
Cons:
Let's talk more in the comments about the pros and cons of staying on-site at theme park resorts. And thank you, as always, for being part of our Theme Park Insider community!
The big con at Universal Orlando is that they don't have value resorts, just expensive, luxury ones. We can stay at a good hotel close to Universal for MUCH less per night. And early access to Potter is an overrated perk.
As for Disneyland, the on-site hotels are very overpriced.
Thanks to deals, we often stay at the Dolphin, great way to get to the parks and enjoy the feeling. And yes, being able to have stuff sent from parks to your room is a major plus that makes it easier to handle in-park stuff. I know, more costly but the convience of being so close to parks is worth it.
I haven't been to Disney many times recently, but the last couple times I did I stayed at the Dolphin. Being a psuedo-Disney property, the rates are more reasonable than other hotels, plus the boat access to EPCOT and DHS is almost as good as being at Universal.
You might consider the new Cabana Bay at Universal. The rate there was under $90 a night for much of the fall. It's on the level of a Disney Moderate resort, though the prices are comparable with a Disney Value. Plus, it WAY closer to its parks than any Disney Moderate/Value resort is to the WDW parks.
If money weren't an issue for me (hold on.... okay, I've stopped laughing now), I'd just move into the Grand Californian at Disneyland. That's probably my favorite theme park hotel anywhere. But it ain't cheap.
Final question: I know that MANY people cite "Disney magic" or the "Disney touch" when talking about staying at a WDW hotel. But I would love to ask people to cite specific aspects of staying at Disney that make them feel that way. I've enjoyed staying with Disney, but I've enjoyed staying at a lot of other hotels around the world, too.
So if cost isn't a factor, then there's no reason not to stay on site. Obviously for 99% of us cost is an issue (albeit to different degrees), but is there really a debate as to if it's BETTER to stay on site or not?
Robert to me the Disney magic includes things like Mickey Mouse waffles, wake up calls by Disney characters, and being totally ensconced in Disney (Mickey bedspreads).
I think people need to do their research on how much their money can go at the WDW resorts. I heard that many feel that the rooms are not big enough at Disney (which is usually true), but places like OKW and Saratoga Springs have pretty spacious rooms.
Anywhere else, I'd only stay on site if offered a good deal.
We will go to Universal for the first time this June. I think it makes more sense to stay at Universal than WDW, but looking at the costs, I just can't book the on-site hotel.
However, in my opinion, the WDW Transportation System has not worked efficiently for a number of years. The time lost waiting for an overcrowded bus that may take over an hour to reach a Park from your resort or another Park doesn't seem worth it, on balance. Our vacation time has value, so with it, a cost; so a rental is effective for us.
I may be one of the heartless few who believe that life exists outside of WDW, but I like the flexibility a rental car provides. Orlando has one of the least expensive daily auto rental fees in the entire US. Additionally, I remember reading somewhere that you can rent and return a car at one of the hotels in WDW, as you need it. Unsure which hotel location and what rental company, but perhaps another commentator is familiar and can provide that info for you.
Never stayed onsite in 25 years of going to Orlando though.
The primary reason, in my humble opinion, to stay at a WDW-Disney property is consistent cleanliness. You know that at the very least, your room and resort will be clean. Now, as I don't have children, I probably shouldn't comment on the benefits of "convenient nap time locations," but considering how spread out the resort is, an extra five-to-ten minutes shouldn't really make that much of a difference.
I stay off-property (and have since 2002) because you plainly and obviously get a loooooottttt more for your money when you do. The basic math is this: on-property WDW-Disney hotels command a premium that prices them at the class above their actual ranking. Which is to say that you're paying a:
Radisson/Courtyard by Marriott price for a lightly-themed motel
Hyatt/Omni price for a highly-themed motor inn
Four Seasons/Waldorf-Astoria price for a well-themed Hyatt/Omni
For me, that's not really worth the extra expense of having transit and theming, especially considering that nearly every property in the area offers either complimentary or for-charge transportation to and from the parks (and really, is it that hard to walk another 100 feet and remember your bus bay code? No, it's not.)
To put this in perspective:
For the price of a Value (with DOUBLE BEDS, no less,) you can get into the decent Radisson Resort Celebration, which has a superb pool complex, casual, moderate and bar dining/drinking options, is within walking distance to a cool strip of dining, and has transport to the parks (free.) OR you can book into the Best Western: Lake Buena Vista and get balconies, a walk to Downtown Disney, and their transport.
For the price of a Moderate, you can and should book into one of the numerous higher-end chains in the region, including (depending upon the offers and time of year,) the SUPERB Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, where you'll get 4-star service, another superb grotto pool complex, golf, a portfolio of dining options, a BALCONY (seriously, at above $150, one should expect a balcony in FLORIDA,) and Mears Town Car service to the parks. Another good option here is the Marriott World Center, as well as the Omni ChampionsGate. Depending upon management and offers, either the Hilton or the Buena Vista Palace in DD are also pretty great...and sometimes are cheaper than the 3-star motor inns Disney is offering you.
For the price of a Deluxe, you can check into the amazing Grand Bohemian in downtown Orlando for true 5-star service. You can get a VILLA at the Sheraton Vistana. Or a villa at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress resort complex. Or a room at the newly opened Waldorf-Astoria. Or whatever the former Peabody became. Or a super-great room at the Gaylord. And so on.
I think the one truly 'worth it' Disney resort is the Animal Kingdom Lodge, as you have the savannah there.
I also like how, depending where your staying, you can see the firework displays from the parks. It is a nice little surprise to find that after you left the parks, there is something that follows you.
But I will say when I was younger staying on property was amazing to me because like many have said the little things Disney does to completel immerse you in a theme and story is incredible.
However after traveling for a living and being put up by my company hundreds of five-star resorts I honestly have become a Hotel snob, and after last two stays on property I wrote a nice long email to Disney Customer Service because in both bathrooms (Port Orleans - Riverside and Coronado Springs) Tiles were coming off the walls in the bathrooms and the quality was close to that of a Motel 6 which I have stayed at as well on trips.
But I think what really did it for me was on a business trip a client said they would prefer to put more money in my pocket versus putting me up first class and I always am fine with that. So they put me in a Microtel (now owned by Wyndham) and it was $49.99 a night.... Folks that room was more modern, cleaner, and fancier than even a nights stay at some of the dated Deluxe Resorts. And after that I just lost the desire to pay a high premium for less than 3 star rooms.
HOWEVER....Everything else about staying on property is amazing at Disney the Resorts (minus the rooms) are theme parks in themselves to an extent.
If we had the money, which we don't, we would totally buy into Wilderness Lodge as DVC members because with our first child on that way (a boy) I know he would love being near the Geysers and the outdoors.
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At WDW, the Magical Express is nice to immediately get into the Disney experience, and waiting for the Disney Transport buses from resort to park is a nice forced slow-down of the pace of daily living. One of the lessons of a vacation is to ask yourself, what's the rush? I even like to play bus roulette: when I can't decide which park I want to go to, I'll take whichever bus comes first.
When I rent a car, it is never to get to "other" place. I might have a car for motives that include business excursions, shopping, or to securely store my suitcase on the long last day without returning to a hotel bell desk. Although I am a passholder for both and can pick whatever catches my fancy any day, most people will be ahead on costs by picking one resort (e.g., Disney or Universal) and buying additional days of the same resort, not buying that more expensive "day one and two" for multiple resorts. If it's a once-a-decade (or more) long vacation, then of course go for it, but for those who visit every year or two, you'd probably be better off to alternate than to try to do both each time.