Seven Reasons to Stay Off Property on Your Next Disney World Vacation

The Walt Disney World Resorts are all amazing. Each has a different theme, and you will constantly be surrounded by magic. Thousands of people stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel each night of the year. Thousands of other people also remain off property. Staying at a Walt Disney World hotel isn’t for everyone. Here are seven reasons why you might want to consider staying off property.

There are a couple of things that you will want to know before staying off property. Many area hotels charge a resort fee, which is essentially saying that you have to pay extra because of the facilities, even if you don’t use them. That fee is usually not included in the initial price that you’re quoted. Some hotels charge for parking. If you plan to take the hotel’s shuttle to Walt Disney World, find out the details before you make your final decision. Some hotels charge for the shuttle, others only offer it once each way per day. Call the hotel before your trip and ask about extra fees and benefits so that you won’t be surprised.

7 – Free Breakfast

Not all off-property hotels in the Orlando area offer free breakfast, but many do. If you stay at a hotel that offers it, take advantage of it. That will be one less meal that you will need to buy per day. Free breakfasts range from simple things like doughnuts and coffee to full hot breakfasts of eggs, pancakes, and the like.

6 – Pets

Only a select few of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels are pet-friendly. If you don’t want to leave your best friend at home, you have three choices. You can stay at the Campgrounds at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, all of the RV sites are pet-friendly. You can board your pet at Best Friends Pet Care and not have him with you. The best choice for most pet owners is to stay off property. There are plenty of pet-friendly hotels in the area. Remember, if you bring your pet to return to your room in the middle of the day to check on him, don’t leave him alone all day.

5 – Leave Disney Behind

Believe it or not, some people do not want to have Disney all around them 24 hours a day. They think that there can be too much pixie dust and magic. If you’re going to calm things down a bit and stop looking for Hidden Mickeys for a little while, you might want to consider staying off property.

4 – Location

The location of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels is not convenient for everyone, especially if you plan to visit more than just Disney while you’re in the Orlando area. There is so much more to see and do! If you plan to hit Universal Orlando Resort one day, spend the next one at Daytona Beach, and then take a third day to explore some of the new options on International Drive such as the Orlando Eye, you might not want to stay on Disney property.

3 – Luxury

There is no doubt that the Deluxe Walt Disney World Resorts are luxurious. They just aren’t the only five-star hotels in the Orlando area. If you want to spend part of your vacation being pampered, staying off property might be the way to go. You will find spas, fantastic pools with mini water parks, gourmet dining, and more. You’ll be able to hit the theme parks during the day, and then really relax when you return to your hotel at night.

2 – Size

On vacation, you will want to spread out and relax. Some of the rooms at Walt Disney World are a lot smaller than you might expect them to be. This is especially true at the Value Resorts. Off property, there are plenty of comfortable rooms at nice hotels that are much larger. If you really want to have a lot of space, consider renting a vacation home for the duration of your trip. You can rent anything from a two-bedroom condo to a large home with six bedrooms or more. Most vacation homes have full kitchens and laundry facilities. If you rent a house for your trip, you might even have a private pool. If your idea of a fun vacation doesn’t include a small hotel room, staying off property might be the right choice.

1 – Price

The main reason that people stay off property is that it costs less than staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel. If you’re hoping to spend as little as possible on your vacation, you should look into staying off property. There are thousands of budget hotel rooms in Orlando and Kissimmee. Some of these hotels are a bit older and may not look as great as the Disney hotels, but ultimately you just need a place to sleep, right? Many nice places cost the same or even less than a Value Resort. You might be able to get a suite for less than you would pay for the smallest Disney room in the worst location. If you want to save as much money as possible, staying off property might be the best idea.