Hello Carrie, and welcome to planDisney! Thanks for dropping us a line!
Ah, the age-old question...to package or not to package?! One of my favorite things about a
Walt Disney Resort vacation is how you can make the Magic yours whichever way works best for you! While I'm usually sailing the high seas over at
Disney Cruise Line, I find myself asking the same questions you are when we pull into port and visit The Most Magical Place on Earth!
Whether you're planning on visiting for one of the many festivals at
EPCOT, want to experience "
The World's Most Magical Celebration," or just can't wait to spend time relaxing at your favorite
Walt Disney World Resort Collection hotel, you ARE the magic from the moment you arrive! Speaking of arriving, check-in time is 4:00 PM for all Disney Deluxe Villas, and 3:00 PM for the other Walt Disney Resort hotels. When it's time to say goodbye to all our company, the check-out time is 11:00 AM!
OH, and a "plan-Drew approved" tip: if you arrive for your vacation before your room is ready and want to head to the parks, or if you have already checked out and want to return to the parks before heading to the airport, you can leave your luggage with Bell Services until you return to your resort so you don't miss out on any of the excitement! I know I make use of this on my last trip when checking out with a late flight!
Now, on my last few trips, I've found that I enjoy the flexibility of making resort reservations and adding my family's theme park tickets later. This allows us to prioritize where we'd like to stay and make that decision first, and then decide how many days we'd like to spend at the
Theme Parks! I always suggest building in at least one day in the middle of your vacation just to enjoy whichever resort you'll be staying at and to recover from the dreaded "park feet!" Booking the two separately also gives you more flexibility when it comes to changes you may decide to make to the timing or duration of your vacation!
BUT, if you still haven't made your final decision between a package and resort-only reservations, be sure to check out the Magical Extras that are currently included when you do book a package! As of February 10, 2022, extras include
Miniature Golf, as well as discounts to various dining locations and shops!
There's so much to consider and I hope that helps you as you continue planning! If you run into any additional questions, please come back around and see us at planDisney! We'll be ready to lend a helping hand!
Thank you for sending your question, Carrie, and I wish you a magical vacation whichever you choose!
TTFN, Ta Ta For Now!
Andrew