Hi Donna! Welcome to planDisney!
I'm excited to hear that you're planning a visit to the
Walt Disney World Resort! With countless options to create the ultimate itinerary, you will have no shortage of choices for your stay.
When choosing to stay in a
Disney Springs Resort Area hotel, there will be some perks included, although you will be limited in other options. When staying in one of these hotels, the
Disney Dining Plan will not be available to add to your vacation package. You must be staying in a Disney Resort hotel in order to utilize this service. These hotels will typically offer some type of shuttle service to the theme parks; however,
Disney Bus Transportation will not be an option. You'll need to check with the specific hotel you are staying at to see what the transportation schedule looks like. Also, the drop-off area for the Magic Kingdom will be at the Ticket and Transportation Center. This will require you to take an additional mode of transportation to get to the entrance of the park. You can either hop on the monorail or the ferry boat to get to the Magic Kingdom.
One perk that is included with most of the hotels in this area is
Early Theme Park Entry. You'll need to double-check that your resort qualifies, but if so, you can enter all four theme parks 30 minutes before the official park opening each day. This will give you a head start over other Guests and allow you to maximize your time each day.
I've stayed at a few of these hotels on several occasions, and I've always had a great experience. While transportation was not as convenient as staying in a Disney Resort hotel, you are within walking distance of
Disney Springs. You practically have countless dining locations at your fingertips.
Donna, I hope this information helps you plan for your stay!
Stop back and see us again at planDisney!
Greg