Hi Frank! Welcome to planDisney!
The only thing better than visiting a Walt Disney World theme park is staying in a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel while there! My family has been known to plan weekend getaways for a resort-only stay and take advantage of the amenities and dining that the hotel has to offer. Just last summer, we stayed at
Disney's Beach Club Resort and hung out at
Stormalong Bay for the majority of the time. We dined at many restaurants at the resort and also along
Disney's Boardwalk, which is within walking distance to the hotel.
In addition to the amenities, staying at a Disney Resort Hotel gives you access to many perks at the theme parks. One benefit is the opportunity to book
Individual Lightning Lane Reservations starting at 7 AM the day of your park visit. This perk will allow you first access to secure your timeslot and bypass the standby queue for select popular attractions. All other Guests need to wait until the official park opening to make their first reservation.
Another benefit to staying onsite is
Early Theme Park Entry. While staying in a Disney Resort Hotel, you can enter any of the four theme parks 30 minutes before the official park opening. If you are an early riser like myself, this extra time gives you a chance to get ahead of the crowds and ride attractions with minimal wait times.
The biggest benefit for me to staying at a Disney Resort Hotel is the transportation options at your fingertips. Depending on where you stay, you can take either a boat, bus, monorail or the
Disney Skyliner to get to where you need to be. Where else can you vacation where transportation is already accounted for and part of the fun of it all!
Frank, I hope you have a magical time on your upcoming stay! I hope it is your best visit yet!
See ya real soon!
Greg