Welcome to planDisney, Heidi and thanks for dropping by with your question.
I know that quite a lot of thought goes into choosing where to stay for your Walt Disney World Resort vacation, especially since time away with family is precious and budgets (even larger ones) are finite. While I will miss the Fastpass+ system (and haven’t yet tried
Disney Genie) I find that as a
Disney Vacation Club Member my family chooses to stay “on-site” because we love the theming of the resorts, the on-site dining options, the pools, the
complimentary theme park transportation and the special “extras” like resort activities. One trip we had even planned a resort-only stay with no theme park time, just to enjoy a “taste” of Disney.
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is great for this type of trip with its walking path to Disney Springs
(but I’ll gush about that property at another time!).
Heidi, each time a beloved part of our Walt Disney World experience retires (like my favorite nighttime show: Happily Ever After), I need to remind myself that Walt Disney said, “
we keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” While it doesn’t stop me from shedding a tear, it does help me get excited about all the Magic that’s yet to come.
Heidi, I know that where to stay on vacation is a personal decision with many factors involved and there is certainly no “one-size-fits-all” but I hope this perspective helps as you’re debating your next adventure.
Lauren