A Quick Guide to Disney Resort Guest Benefits

Each year, many people who travel to the Orlando Florida area usually spend a few days visiting Walt Disney World. It would be difficult not to, Walt Disney World is one of the greatest theme parks on the planet. Considering the myriad of attractions available to visitors of the Magic Kingdom, planning a vacation that allows you and your family to see as much of the parks as possible can be a daunting task. A great way to ensure that you and your family will get the most out of your vacation time is to stay at a Disney resort instead of another hotel outside of the park area. Disney Resorts offers guests a multitude of extras that can make a Walt Disney World vacation unforgettable for you and your family.





The majority of visitors to Disney World are families with children. Most parents are aware of how difficult it can be to travel with kids. Imagine driving long distances each day from a hotel outside the park areas with excited children. Over the course of several days, that pattern could become extremely tiresome. Staying at a Disney resort right on the property can cut transportation time, gas and stress a great deal. If you consider the time spent driving from an Orlando hotel and the time spent in the parking lot, and also the time getting out of the park each day and back to your room, it can really add up. Now, compare that scenario to hopping onto a free monorail, boat or shuttle bus outside the Disney resort. Even if the difference is only 45 minutes, that equates to an hour and a half every day, for every family member. So, for the average family of 4 who visit for 5 days, that's 30 hours of time that the family can be enjoying attractions instead of commuting back and forth to their hotel.





Staying at a Disney Resort is beneficial in many ways. Everyone knows that having fun can be exhausting at times. It's good to be able to take a short break in the middle of the afternoon to relax in a quiet space for a short nap or rest. Not only does it refresh the body for a full evening of celebrations, it's a good time to don clean clothes, change shoes, or obtain any forgotten items. Returning to the hotel room for this needed break is virtually impossible unless a guest is staying right on the property. Traveling beyond Disney properties and back would be extremely inconvenient. Disney Resort guests can get back to their room easily and relatively quickly. Plus, the best time to take advantage of any Disney Resort's fantastic, landscaped pool area is during the heat of a typical Florida afternoon!





Although the advantages of staying at a Disney resort are considerable, it's not just the logistics of the Disney Resort locations and the availability of free ground transportation that makes it worthwhile to stay within the park. There are numerous other advantages that make it clear why staying at a Disney resort hotel can maximize a family's enjoyment while on vacation.





Extra Magic Hours- Disney Resort Guests can enjoy Theme Parks more than other guests. One park daily opens an hour early and closes up to 3 hours later just for Disney Resort Guests to enjoy at their leisure, offering shorter lines and cooler temperatures. (The water parks of Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon open one hour early for Disney Resort Guests every day.)





Disney Magic Express- Disney Resort Guests can attach specialized baggage tags before checking in at participating hometown airports. Upon arrival in Orlando, guests board a deluxe motor coach, bypassing the baggage claim, and have their luggage delivered directly to their room. Upon checkout, Guests can obtain airline boarding passes and check their bags right at the Disney Resort, eliminating airport check-in.





Disney Dining Plan- Resort Guests can select from 100 restaurants throughout the Disney properties for 2 meals per day plus a nighttime snack. This includes fine dining and Disney Character Experiences.





Disney Priority Seating- Resort Guests can make reservations at selected Disney restaurants up to 120 days in advance.





Complimentary Parking - Resort Guests who drive to Disney Theme Parks can park for free.


Services for Disabled Visitors and Children-Disney Resort Guests with handicaps can receive special accommodations. Disney also offers in-room child care, learning programs, dinner clubs and activities. (Additional fees may apply.)





Charging and Delivery- Disney Resort Guests can charge meals, tickets and purchases to their rooms with their Resort ID, and then have any items delivered right to their hotel door.





Guest Recreation- Without even having to leave their hotel premises, Disney Resort Guests can enjoy championship golf courses, health spas, tennis courts, parasailing, horseback riding, fishing, and waterskiing. Disney Resort Guests also have unlimited use of unique pools, which offer some of most fabulous settings in the world for water enjoyment!





Concierge and Cast Member Service- Disney Resort Guests can obtain round-the-clock service from its many outstanding employees, whose only goal is to ensure visitor satisfaction. With personalized attention at the front desk, refreshments throughout the day and helping Guests find answers, reservations, tickets and transportation, visitors to a Disney Hotel will always find assistance when needed!





The Walt Disney World Resort can create magic and make dreams come true. The extra benefits afforded to a Disney Resort Guest are considerable. With 16 Resorts from which to choose, Disneyworld Guests will find a favorite that offers them all that and more!

Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about topics involving vacations and the travel industry including Walt Disney World | Disney Vacation

Fort Lauderdale Florida