So. You’re planning a trip to Disney World. Congratulations! With all the new things to see and do around the parks, you’ve got plenty to keep you busy. But before you dive in headfirst, you might want to take an extra look at your Disney World hotel options. You’ve got TONS of possibilities, and it can be tempting to just pick the cheapest resort or the one your neighbor highly recommended that one time. But there’s no one-size-fits-all hotel that works for everyone, and we see people make the WRONG choices all the time.  

We’ve got TONS of tips and tricks to make your Disney vacations go smoothly, but a big part of your Disney experience starts and ends at your resort. So come with us to see how you can avoid making one BIG mistake in Disney World. 

First of all, before you book your Disney World hotel, take a hard look at your budget. Going to Disney World is expensive — and while there are TONS of ways to save money, there are also TONS of ways to spend money. Things add up quickly!

 

OK. Now, once you’ve got your budget all sorted out, here comes the next question you need to ask yourself: “What are my priorities when I get to Disney World?” Are you planning to ride as many attractions as possible? Park hop to multiple places in one day? Take an afternoon nap each day? No matter how you answer those questions, there’s one thing standing between you and the Disney parks: transportation. 

Whether you choose to bring your own personal car, rent a car, use a rideshare service, or rely on Disney’s free transportation, there’s no perfect method of transportation. We’ve used every. single. mode of transportation available, and we’ve been burned by them all at one time or another. So, what does this mean for you?

Well, there are two hotel-related transportation mistakes that you can avoid to help you have a smooth vacation.

1. Not considering the location of your resort

There are hotels located all over the Walt Disney World Resort (and Disney is HUGE), so there’s no way to stay at a hotel that’s super close to every park. If you’re hoping to be among the first to arrive at the Disney parks each morning, you’ve got a big advantage the closer your resort is to the park you’re visiting. That said, consider which parks you plan to visit first thing in the morning, and ask yourself if you’re willing to spend extra time getting to the parks in the morning. 

If being within walking distance of Magic Kingdom is important to you, you just narrowed your hotel options down to about three places. If you don’t mind waiting for a bus, you could probably get away with staying at a Value Resort to save some money.

Many Disney guests may not realize how far Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is from all the parks (besides Disney’s Animal Kingdom) and might end up a little frustrated with the time it takes to get to the other three parks.

On the other hand, Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts and Disney’s BoardWalk Resort are SUPER close to both EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. 

As you can see, where you stay plays a BIG part in how quickly you can get to (and from) the parks.

You can walk to the parks from these FIVE Disney World hotels!

2. Not considering all the available transportation options

While we’re on the subject, make sure to familiarize yourself with ALL the transportation options at your hotel. Of course, Disney bus transportation is available at every Disney World hotel, but there are also hotels that offer additional forms of transportation that you might find more convenient.

For example, you might be able to use the Disney Skyliner, which takes guests to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Guests staying at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disney’s Rivera Resort all have access to special stations for the Disney Skyliner. The Skyliner is a POPULAR mode of transportation that is usually faster than the bus or a boat. 

There’s also the monorail and plenty of boats that can get you where you need to go, so make sure to weigh allllll the options before you book a hotel.

If you’d prefer to avoid Disney buses or you just want some extra options, knowing all the transportation methods at each hotel can help narrow down your choices.

Disney transportation can truly make or break your day, so make sure you’re prepared for bus delays, Skyliner closures, and anything else that may arise during your journey. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.

The Free Service You’re Not Using in Disney World

 

What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made when booking a Disney World hotel stay? Tell us in the comments!