If you’ve stayed at a Disney World hotel, you probably love it for the immersive theming, great perks, delicious food, and that unbeatable Disney bubble feeling.
Disney’s Port Orleans — Riverside Resort
Whether you’re at a Value Resort with larger-than-life icons or a Deluxe with monorail access, Disney hotels are designed to keep the magic going long after you leave the parks. There are lots of reasons to love a Disney resort, and we talk about those a LOT. But there are also some not-so-magical things that go with staying at any resort. Let’s talk about the bed situation — specifically… the sheets.
Every single Disney World hotel bed I’ve ever slept in has had the same issue: the dreaded “short sheet.” Disney uses flat sheets (no fitted sheets), and for whatever reason, the bottom sheet is tucked in so tightly at the top of the mattress that there’s barely any length left to properly tuck in at the foot of the bed. The result? The sheet doesn’t extend past the end of the mattress enough to stay secure.
Pillows
If you’re even remotely tall or just a human who moves in their sleep, that sheet starts creeping up during the night. By 3 AM, your feet are no longer on a sheet, and they’re on the mattress pad. And listen, I know housekeeping works incredibly hard, but this is just a standard in the rooms. There is actually plenty of sheet to cover the mattress. It’s just tucked disproportionately at the top, leaving the bottom shorter.
Animal Kingdom Lodge bed
Maybe it’s just my sleep preferences, or maybe it’s the fact that I don’t want my feet directly on a mattress pad in a hotel. Whatever the reason, it absolutely ruins my sleep, and I think we can all agree that sleep is essential at Disney World. We have literally re-made the bed every single time I check into a Disney hotel. Instead of collapsing after a park day, I’m pulling the sheet loose from the top, redistributing the length, and re-tucking everything so the bottom actually stays put. Which at 11 PM, after a full park day, that’s just not something I want to do.
Grand Floridian Resort beds
If I’m checking a bag, I now bring my own fitted sheet — that’s it. That’s the hack. It’s a basic, inexpensive fitted sheet that doesn’t take up much space in a suitcase, and it completely eliminates the problem. You pop it on over the mattress pad, and suddenly the sheet stays in place, your feet are covered, and you don’t wake up half on/half off the bed setup. It gives me peace of mind knowing it’s going to stay put. Disney hotels have laundry available, or if you’re staying in a one-bedroom or bigger DVC villa, you’ll find your own washer and dryer right there for free!
Art of Animation
Pack these Amazon Basic sheets!
©Amazon
Some simple sheets like this set from Amazon Basics. These sheets are super soft, made with a breathable, wrinkle-resistant material. This is a 4-Piece Bed Sheet Set with 14-Inch Deep Pockets, so you can bring the whole set to your Disney resort.
At the end of the day, Disney World hotels are still some of the most immersive and convenient places to stay during your trip to Disney World. But if the “short sheet” situation has you resenting your bed every night, bringing a fitted sheet could be the easiest fix ever. For more Disney hotel hacks, packing tips, and brutally honest travel advice, keep following Disney Food Blog.
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We always untuck at the foot of the bed as my husband is a tall man. You can try that
I pull the top blanket and duvet off as it’s usually too warm to use them and cleaning cycle on them is questionable, and I’ve never once woken up on just the mattress pad. Also short sheeting is when the top sheet is deliberately put on sideways so you can’t pull it up far enough to cover your torso. Rather than drag a sheet with you, why not just remake the bed the way you prefer if it bothers you that much?
I’m short so the sheets aren’t an issue for me. My problem is the awful pillows. I just returned from a stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge & the synthetic down (hope they’re synthetic) pillows ruined my sleep. They’re so soft as soon as you lay your head on them they flatten completely & you’re resting on the mattress! I asked the housekeeper if any other kind was available and she said no.