While writing an opinion column, one often finds oneself dancing awfully close to the precipice. To put it a bit differently, you should always try to avoid that proverbial “can of worms.” I’ve come dangerously close a few times with topics such as whether or not to bring small children to Walt Disney World. Of course, I never learn a lesson so… for this week’s column, I’m dusting off and updating something I wrote some time ago for my book. It concerns one of the biggest questions you’ll face when planning a trip to Walt Disney World—where do we stay? Similar to the myriad ways of getting yourself from airport to resort, the hotel/motel alternatives are seemingly endless.
Many of you might say that the hotel room is unimportant because all you do is sleep and shower there. Practically speaking, that’s certainly an understatement of fact but I catch the drift—I just think it’s wrong. If you’re not enjoying the amenities of your hotel, you’re missing out on a considerable component of your vacation. Of course, that presumes your resort actually has amenities and you haven’t rented the equivalent of a refrigerator box on I-Drive.
On- or off-site?
Before selecting the specific hotel, you need to answer a single, critical question: Do we stay on Walt Disney World property or off-site? The facts are that most hotel rooms will offer telephones whose buttons have the appropriate measure of springiness; beds that provide an acceptable level of bounciness; pillows with just enough fluffiness; and, typically, all will have indoor plumbing and hot and cold running water—well, most of them anyway. Beyond that, there may be significant differences in size, décor, location and amenities.
The on-site versus off-site question typically inspires some very spirited debate among Disney fans who can agree on almost everything else. Both camps are passionate about their preference and won’t hesitate to tell you why they’re right or threaten to beat the tar out of you if you disagree.
Why off-site is best
Some resorts are truly spectacular. Photo by Steve Russo.
I’m certainly aware of those wonderful arguments listed above (they are mine after all); they should convince you that staying off-site is the wise choice and to offer up additional money to the Mouse is just unnecessary. With that said, I still maintain that staying at an on-site Walt Disney World resort is the only way to go. Trust me. I wouldn’t lie to you.
Before I convince you that my way is the best way, let’s first delve into the real reason that anyone stays off-site: it’s the money, isn’t it? It’s the chance to stay in a comparable room for less money or a better-appointed room for the same dollars as a Disney Resort. Here’s a very critical question: If there were no difference in price, would anyone stay off-site? I think the answer to this is a resounding “No”—at the very least, a “Probably not.”
Themed pools are the norm at Disney World resorts. Photo by Steve Russo.
Now, consider the off-site drawbacks. There’s a distinct lack of Disney magic in off-site hotels. Ah, that Disney magic. It’s difficult to define, qualify or quantify but it’s real. The combination of the resort theme, its amenities, its feel and the way you’re treated by cast members makes a stay in a Disney resort special.
How about transportation? On-site, you can take advantage of the fleets of buses, boats, monorails, and mule trains that are designed to get you around Disney property—all one million square miles of it. Yes, you may have a less-than-stellar experience on a bus or be forced to wait twenty-five minutes for one at some point, but those situations aren’t the norm. If you’re off-site, you will have to incur the expense of a rental car and drive yourself to and from the parks each day—absorbing the additional cost of fuel and parking. You’ll also be fighting traffic and cursing other drivers—all the things you do at home when you’re not on vacation. If you choose to go without a rental car, you’re forced to travel on your hotel’s shuttle to Disney property—a shuttle that typically runs on a fixed schedule (orchestrated by the Marquis de Sade) and you would be required to adhere to it.
Some offer unique designs… Photo by Steve Russo.
My preferred method of touring the Walt Disney World theme parks (which, quite naturally, should also be your preferred method) is to arrive at park opening, spend several hours enjoying gloriously crowd-free attractions and then return to my resort mid-day for a nap and/or a swim. I then return to a park, refreshed, in the late afternoon or early evening. Try that with an off-site hotel. It’ll take you a minimum of three days to reach your hotel from the Magic Kingdom if you’re driving a rental car. At least a week if you rely on the hotel shuttle. Really … as I’ve stated, I wouldn’t lie to you.
What are the benefits of staying on-site? As mentioned above, you are immersed in the Disney experience from check-in to check-out and, face it, these people are so nice to you it’s almost sickening. You can rely on letting someone else do the driving and travel freely on Disney-supplied transportation vehicles. If you do rent a car (or bring your own vehicle) parking at the theme parks is free. Try to get free parking by showing your Larry’s Shady Rest Motel room key.
… and gorgeous views. Photo by Steve Russo.
You can purchase souvenirs anywhere on property and have them sent to your resort at no additional charge. A free service… from Disney, no less! You can use your room key as a charge card anywhere on property. Let’s not forget about Extra Magic Hours that will let you tour a theme park before or after its normal hours of operation without the threat of being detained by the authorities. While touring, you will be surrounded by fellow Disney resort guests only—no off-site riffraff allowed. The list is endless.
What’s the final tally? Stay off-site and save a buck. Stay on-site, be immersed in the Disney magic and have a true vacation from everything in the non-Disney world. It’s your decision.
In a future column, I’ll tackle the equally difficult decision of selecting the right on-site resort for your stay. For now, that’s my opinion. What’s yours?
