Hi Starr, and welcome back to planDisney.
One of the biggest decisions when planning a
Walt Disney World vacation is where to stay, and the great news is that you really can’t go wrong. Guests who choose a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel get the full slate of benefits, including early theme park entry, extended evening hours at select parks for Deluxe Resort Guests, complimentary transportation across the resort, earlier access to book
Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections, and the ability to make dining reservations for the length of your vacation (up to 10 days) instead of one day at a time. Those conveniences add up quickly and make for a smoother vacation.
That said, sometimes a Disney Resort hotel isn’t in the cards, and I completely understand. I’m planning a spontaneous trip myself this holiday season, where I may find myself at one of the Official or Gateway Hotels. These are non-Disney-owned hotels located within or very close to Walt Disney World property. While they don’t include every perk of a Disney Resorts Collection hotel, many still come with select benefits such as early theme park entry, which can be a huge plus.
To view these options, head to the Walt Disney World website, hover over “Places to Stay,” and scroll toward the bottom, where you’ll see categories for
Disney Springs Resort Area,
Bonnet Creek, and
Gateway Hotels near the Western Entrance (often referred to as Flamingo Crossing). From there, you can explore the available hotel brands and find the one that works best for your family. Another quick way to see which hotels offer early entry is to check the
Early Theme Park Entry page on the Walt Disney World site, where you’ll find an updated list of participating hotels.
I hope this helps you sort through your choices, Starr. If you’d like my two cents on narrowing things down based on location, budget, or perks, send me another question and I
’d be glad to share my personal recommendations.
TTFN,
Brent