Table of Contents
5 Good things about staying on Disney Property
Disney! It is one of my family’s favorite vacation spots. We have gone more than 10 times over the years. We have stayed off property and on property. While staying off property may save you some money, I have found that by staying on property, I actually save money! There are so many advantages to staying on property as well. The top 5 good things (to me) about staying on property are:
1. Disney Vacation Club Properties!
You don’t have to be a member of DVC to stay on their properties. Surprising… right? I found out several years ago that we could stay at the properties without having to become a member. Don’t get me wrong, membership may be completely right for you, but, for me, it just didn’t fit. We love to stay at Bay Lake Towers. How do I do this? There are a couple of ways but if you want to be able to add the tickets and extras, you will need to go through Disney’s own site.
If you are going to go through the Disney site, you will need to plan ahead. It is easier to get in these properties if you go during low demand times but you can get in them during peak times as well. We typically go the 4th of July week. How? I usually start this planning about 8 – 10 months out. And, sometimes you do better when you call Disney directly. The cast members (Disney employees) go out of their way to help!
2. Dining Plans!
Let’s face it, when you are on vacation the last thing you want to have to think about is your meal budget. I love the Disney Dining plan. There are several different ones you can choose from but you have to be wise in your choices otherwise, you will end up paying more than if you were paying out of pocket. Because I like to eat and so does my family, we usually go for the Deluxe Dining plan.
Here is the secret to getting the best out of the meal plans. You need to make sure you get the most expensive thing on the menu that your meal plan covers. But be aware that there are meals that will take two tickets. Things that may take more than one ticket are Character Dining and special meals like certain steak dinners.
Another benefit with the meal plans can be used in some of the restaurants in Disney Springs, but again, these may require more than one ticket per person.
3. Magic Hours!
When you stay on property, you get the advantage of extra magic hours. My family loves this and now that my kids are teenagers, they can stay for the later hours without me having to follow after them. The times for the park hours and Extra hours are posted on the TV and you can always ask a cast member.
Another fun tidbit of info to keep in your back pocket is to plan your day. We have found that if you go see the firework show in a park one day, then on another night, go on the rides that are most popular while everyone else is watching the show. You will thank me for this! I can’t tell you how many popular rides we were able to get on without a fast pass and without waiting.
Also, if you wait until the evening to go to some of the parks, it will not be as hot (in the summer) and you will enjoy it much more! Take the daytime to do the water parks or swimming pools at your hotel.
4. Early Fast Pass Access!
With so many popular rides out there, it becomes almost impossible to get a fast pass if you can’t reserve it early. When you are booked on property, you get the advantage of setting up your fast passes about 60 days in advance! If you like to plan ahead and want to get the most popular rides, then this is your answer!
5. Activities Only Available On Property!
You read that right. There are some activities that you can do that are only offered to on property guests. At Bay Lake Towers, we have enjoyed jet skiing and boating. You may need to make reservations for these and there is an extra charge but it can give you a break from the hustle and bustle of the parks.
Final Word
So there you have it, my 5 reasons why I stay on property on Disney Properties. There are a lot of sites out there that offer hints on planning a Disney vacation. I would suggest taking from these as they can help you a lot!
Love it! I’d love to help you plan and book your next trip. My services are complimentary and I wait on the phone when you need to chat with a cast member?.