In our previous blog post, we discussed our favorite reasons for staying on Disney property. However, we understand that not everyone can afford to stay on Disney property. Depending on how many trips we have planned, it is often more cost-effective for us to stay off property. There are several benefits to staying off property, and today we will share our top three reasons why we love it.
There are hundreds of different hotels and resorts to choose from when looking to stay off property, and many factors to consider such as cost, distance to Disney World, amenities at the resort, whether it is a "good neighbor" hotel with Disney World, transportation to and from the park, and many other factors. We have experienced both the benefits and downsides of staying off property. However, among all these factors, cost is the number one reason most people choose to stay off property.
Cost
If you have been to Disney or are planning to go, you have likely done some research, and one of the first things you probably looked into is accommodation. One of the most striking differences you may have noticed is the price disparity between staying on and off property. It is evidently cheaper to stay off property, which is our main reason for choosing off-property accommodations. When comparing the prices of Disney resorts and off-property resorts, there is usually a significant difference. However, there are hidden fees such as resort fees and parking fees that need to be considered when deciding where to stay. As mentioned earlier, there could be additional costs associated with other factors when booking an off-property hotel. It is essential to check with each hotel to see what they offer and if there are any fees associated with their services.
Staying off property can save you a considerable amount of money, and one of the things we like to do with those savings is to use them for experiences that we would not otherwise be able to afford if staying on property. For example, we plan to stay off property this coming November, and with the savings, we are considering purchasing the Premier pass for our Magic Kingdom day. There are several other things you can do with the savings, and it will be unique to each family. Staying off property can allow you to experience things that you would not necessarily be able to afford otherwise.
Good Neighbor Hotels
When discussing off-property hotels, we could spend days listing all of them near and far from Disney World. However, we usually opt for "good neighbor" hotels. If you're not familiar with what a good neighbor hotel is, I'll give you a quick rundown. Good neighbor hotels are hotels and resorts that meet specific quality and service standards, offer vacation planning, provide transportation to the parks, are located near Disney World, and most qualify for "extra magic hours" as well as a few other perks. With all these benefits and more, it's easy to see why we usually choose to stay at one of these hotels. It's the closest you can get to being inside the Disney bubble without actually being in the Disney bubble, and you'll pay significantly less in most cases! We have stayed at several of these hotels and resorts and have been very pleased with their quality, from the service to the cleanliness—they have truly been remarkable.
Space
One of the most significant differences between staying on property and off, other than the price, is the variety of room sizes. With most Disney resorts, other than deluxe hotels, you have a choice between a standard room and, at some resorts such as the All-Star Music and Art of Animation, family suites. If you choose to stay at a deluxe hotel, you can choose from a studio, a one-bedroom, two-bedroom, or three-bedroom villa. These villas come at a steep cost compared to their off-property counterparts. When staying off property, you can get essentially a one-bedroom-sized room for the price of a studio at a Disney resort. We recently stayed at the Doubletree near Disney Springs in a King suite, which had over 500 square feet compared to a standard Disney hotel room of 260-300 square feet. And we paid less per night! Staying off property for families that need extra room just makes sense, both economically and for the amount of square footage per dollar you get compared to a Disney hotel room.
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