Why You Should Stay at an Official Disney Resort Now

For many years now, Disney experts have shared the same bit of wisdom.

You should always stay at an official Walt Disney World resort.

However, recent events have reinforced this point to an epic degree. In fact, the topic is tearing apart the Disney community.

Park officials just announced that changes are coming to the former Disney Genie+ system.

In the process, Disney has provided even more massive benefits to onsite guests.

So, here’s why you should always stay at an official Disney resort now.

Early Booking Windows

Let’s start with the new reason as of July 2024.

Disney has officially taken guests back to the future, changing an amenity in a familiar way.

Before the pandemic forced changes, Disney offered the FastPass system.

Under that program, guests could book FastPasses 60 days ahead of time.

Then, after every Disney theme park closed for a while, management adjusted on the fly.

That’s when Disney Genie+ opened, and it had a core flaw: Guests couldn’t book ahead of time.

Instead, everyone had to wake up and try to buy and book digital reservations at 7 a.m. Let’s just say people didn’t like that.

So, less than two years later, Disney introduced new systems called Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass.

Once again, you can reserve your digital reservations ahead of time, and that’s why some fans are angry.

Under the upcoming Multi Pass system, guests staying at official Disney resorts may buy and book seven days before a visit.

Helping You Avoid Sellouts

What’s the big deal? The former Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lanes often sold out.

Presumably, that issue will remain under the new Multi Pass and Single Pass rules as well.

People not staying onsite may still book early, but their window opens 72 hours before their visit.

For this reason, guests staying at official Disney resorts will gain a massive competitive advantage!

You get four extra days to book. So, if you remember to do so, you’re ahead of the game.

The odds are very good that you can buy, as sellouts are unlikely at seven days out.

Also, you’ll gain another 14 days after that to book.

In other words, on the first date of your booking window, can buy and book for your entire trip.

Let’s say you’re staying at Disney World for a week. Once your seven-day window opens, you can purchase a Multi Pass for each day.

Similarly, you can buy Lightning Lane Single Passes in advance, and some of them are imperatives.

You’ll need one for Tron Lightcycle / Run and probably Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

The seven-day window is vital since those sell out, especially during popular tourist seasons.

Early Theme Park Entry

Somehow, that’s arguably not even the best amenity.

When you stay onsite, you also gain an amenity called Early Theme Park Entry.

Basically, Disney allows you to enter the theme park of your choice 30 minutes before it opens to regular guests.

What can you do in 30 minutes? Well, you can ride the most popular attraction at the park before it’s officially open.

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you head to Pandora – The World of Avatar for Avatar Flight of Passage or Na’vi River Journey.

Magic Kingdom guests flock to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train as well. But the real value is at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

You can ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance after a wait that is MUCH shorter than during standard operating hours.

Alternatively, you can head to Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith.

We’ve done both during the Early Theme Park Entry window, underscoring the tremendous value of this amenity.

As a reminder, Early Theme Park Entry is ONLY available for guests staying at official Disney World resorts!

Free Transportation and Bus Schedules

Here’s an amenity that’s even better than it sounds.

Yes, Disney offers free transportation to everyone. So, all guests can ride the boats, buses, monorails, and the Disney Skyliner.

However, when you stay at an official Disney hotel, you gain access to a private bus schedule.

On My Disney Experience, the app will show you when the next bus arrives at your hotel.

You must be checked into the hotel with your reservation connected on My Disney Experience to see this information.

However, once you have access, you’ll know the bus schedule from your hotel to all the major points of interest.

The app’s information is generally accurate within one or two minutes, providing clarity about the arrival time.

You can sit in your hotel room, shop, or snack while you wait for the next bus to arrive.

The Locations

Of course, you don’t need a bus at some resorts!

At places like Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, you can simply ride the Disney Skyliner.

Disney has added Skyliner stations at five different official resorts.

These gondolas will transport you directly to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.

Similarly, the monorail resorts will allow you to exit your room and be at Magic Kingdom in a matter of minutes.

In fact, some Disney resorts reside right beside the various Disney theme parks.

Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Disney’s BoardWalk Villas are a short walk from EPCOT.

Also, since Disney World’s opening day, tourists have had an even shorter walk from the entrance to Magic Kingdom.

There’s a side path for guests at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

More recently, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa added a walking path, too.

You simply cannot beat the locations of the various Disney World resorts.

Spectacular Amenities

I haven’t even touched on the best part of a Disney hotel stay. That’s the amenities!

Disney has constructed some of the most remarkable hotel facilities you’ll ever experience.

More impressively, they’re overflowing with the spirit of Disney!

You’ll find immaculately themed facilities that recreate settings like the South Seas, the rustic wilderness, and even various Disney animated movies.

The details will stun you, especially when you explore the various pools.

Disney has even designed one as an ancient ruin! Another is affectionately described as the Lava Pool.

Then, we have the legendary Stormalong Bay, which is nearly water park-sized, even though it’s technically “just a pool.”

I haven’t discussed the restaurants yet, but they’re spectacular.

In fact, you’ll find some of the highest-rated restaurants in Central Florida at Disney resorts.

One fine-dining experience, Victoria & Albert’s, even has a Michelin Star!

These are the features you can find at official Disney resorts, and I’ve barely scratched the surface.

Other options include campfires, Movies Under the Stars, and unique Disney crafting sessions.

So, in addition to all the other advantages previously mentioned, these hotels will remind you that you’re at Disney, no matter what you’re doing!

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Feature Photo: Disney