These Are the 7 Most Underrated Perks of Staying at a Disney Resort Hotel Many Overlook

For many of us, the appeal of Disney's resort hotels is on par with the theme parks themselves. In fact, there are many people who enjoy a Disney World vacation without buying park tickets at all. Even if you want the full park experience, the benefits of staying at a Disney resort are hard to resist.

It's rare for my family to stay off-property on a Disney trip, mostly because we just love the resort hotels so much! We would rather share a small studio room or sleep in a tent than stay anywhere else, and I'm sharing seven reasons why.

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The Big Perks of Staying at a Disney Resort Hotel

Disney advertises the big advantages of staying on-property well, so you're likely already familiar with many of them. Personally, one of the most compelling reasons to stay at a Disney resort hotel is the ability to enter the theme parks 30 minutes earlier than the general public. Since early morning hours are still typically some of the least crowded, this is a valuable way to beat the masses to your favorite attractions. Similarly, if you decide to stay at a deluxe Disney World resort, extended evening hours on select nights at each theme park allow you to maximize your time with two bonus hours after the parks close to everyone else.

These two benefits alone can make a resort hotel stay worth the money. As frequent visitors, my family often has more valuable experiences in the theme parks during these early morning and late evening hours than at any other time of day. Other major perks of staying on-property include first dibs on character meals and dining reservations, early access to Lightning Lane selections, free parking at the parks and resorts, and, at Disney World in 2025, complimentary water park admission on your arrival day, which is huge! In addition to these well-known resort guest extras, there's a host of other not-so-low-key advantages of staying at a Disney resort hotel. Check out our list of the 7 most underrated perks below!

Note that while the Disneyland Resort hotels will have Early Entry through the remainder of 2025, this perk will be going away in 2026. There are no plans for Disney World to remove Early Entry at this time.

Location, Location, Location!

If you want to be close to the magic, there's no better way to do that than to stay at a Disney resort. Every Disney hotel is close to something, whether it be Disneyland, Disney Springs, EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, or the dining options at other Disney resort hotels.

If you're like me and have trouble waking up in the mornings, staying off-site during your Disney vacation can cost you more than a few minutes' worth of precious sleep. You'll most likely have to build in extra travel time in order to arrive prior to park openings, and if you want to head back during the day for a break from the crowds or a nap, that may not be feasible if your accommodations aren't within Disney limits. The prime location of Disney resort hotels allows guests to maximize their time enjoying everything Disney has to offer.

Various Modes of Free Transportation

Nothing can compete with staying at a Disney resort hotel in terms of transportation. At Disney World, there are many forms available for free, including buses (or “motor-coaches”), the Disney Monorail, water taxis and ferry boats, the Disney Skyliner, and the most convenient transportation method of all—walking.

Staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel means both theme parks and the Downtown Disney area are within walking distance, while off-site Disneyland guests may have to depend on shuttles or rideshare for transportation, depending on how far away they are from the resort. Guests with valid admission to Disneyland Park can also take the Monorail from Downtown Disney, located within a short walk of all three resorts, to Tomorrowland in the park.

Anyone can use Disney World transportation, but there are limitations. For example, an off-site guest hoping to take Disney transportation to the parks would either need to board at a Disney resort hotel or at another park. There is no Disney transportation from Disney Springs directly to the parks, and often, Disney World resorts restrict parking to overnight guests or those with dining, recreation, or entertainment reservations. During non-peak seasons, it's easier for off-site guests to park at a resort, but ultimately, it's going to cost a non-resort guest more time and/or money to enter the parks using an official mode of Disney transportation.

Staying on property at Disney World gives resort guests easy access to the various modes of transportation available at their specific resort hotel. The most advantageous of these options are Monorail resorts, Skyliner resorts, and resorts with walking paths to the parks. Granted, there are lots of non-Disney hotels that offer free shuttles to the parks, but their schedules can vary, and only Disney resort buses can drop guests at the Magic Kingdom entrance.

The “Disney Difference”

Disney cast members are renowned for their exceptional customer service for a reason, and in my experience, staying at a Disney resort hotel means I'll be treated with unmatched hospitality. Not only do I feel secure in knowing I'll be checking into an immaculately clean room, but I also know I can look forward to a warm welcome and cheerful interactions throughout my stay. The majority of Disney cast members are exceedingly friendly, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic about answering your questions, giving recommendations, finding solutions to your problems, and connecting with you personally.

They really do often go above and beyond to make your stay extra magical, whether mouse-keeping is adding a few Disney touches to your room in the form of a towel Mickey or a fun arrangement of the stuffed animals on your kid's bed, or the lobby is handing out warm towels during a rainstorm. The “Disney difference” is a real thing and a huge incentive for staying on-site during your visit.

Unique Pools

No matter which hotel you choose, staying at a Disney resort guarantees you access to awesome pools, often featuring splash pads and water play areas, water slides, hot tubs, and more! Even the most basic Disney pools boast iconic designs, gorgeous landscaping, and water heated to perfection for your enjoyment—regardless of the season.

Every Disney resort has one large feature pool with fun Disney theming, and most offer at least one additional “quiet” pool, designed with simple relaxation in mind. From the waterpark vibes of Stormalong Bay at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club resorts—where guests can explore a shipwreck, plummet down a 230-foot-long waterslide, and float down a lazy river in an inner tube—to the more modest value resort pools, every Disney swimming area is unique.

My family always makes visiting the pool at our resort a priority during our Disney vacations, and we frequently base our resort hotel decision on how much free time we'll have to spend swimming while we're there. Keep in mind, pool hopping is not allowed at Disney World or Disneyland, with only rare exceptions. Guests staying at one of Disney World's All-Star resorts can typically use any of the All-Star pools, and guests at Port Orleans Riverside can use the pool at Port Orleans French Quarter and vice versa. Finally, if a resort pool is undergoing refurbishment, those resort guests may be granted access to another resort pool instead.

Staying in the Disney Bubble

Part of the magic of staying on-site at the Disney resort hotels lies in the immersive quality of the environment. Beyond the conveniences of not having to navigate traffic, parking, or outside reservations, Disney surrounds guests with sights, sounds, and even smells that reinforce the storybook setting from the moment you arrive until the moment you check out.

Once you enter the “Disney bubble,” the outside world falls away, and you're free to connect with your loved ones and soak up every Disney detail together.

Extra Disney Magic

Each Disney resort offers a variety of free activities to enhance your stay, and we always try to take advantage of as many as we can. One of the simplest Disney pleasures for me is catching a movie under the stars. Most Disney resorts feature free showings of Disney and Pixar features on select nights throughout the week, and it's fun to experience a different location on each trip. Our kids also love kicking off our stay with a cast-member-led craft or learning activity.

Depending on your resort, other free offerings might include complimentary campfires, walking trails, playgrounds, ball courts with complimentary equipment, pool games and tabletop games, views of the fireworks at the parks, the Disney World Electrical Water Pageant, community halls stocked with rec room favorites like board games and billiards, and more!

Exceptional Theming

The incredibly detailed theming of each Disney resort is probably their biggest draw for me personally. Disney designs all its on-site hotels to make guests feel as if they're entering a special place or another time period in history, and every piece of decor reflects a meticulous commitment to bringing these places and eras to life.

Obviously, the level of theming at every resort varies according to nightly rate, and deluxe tier resorts typically showcase the highest level of Disney hotel design. However, I've stayed at Disney resorts in every price category, and every single one has its own unique charm and attributes. Whether you're staying on the African Savanna, in the South Pacific, at a National Park lodge, or among iconic Disney characters and animation, you'll be transported there by Disney magic.

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