Walt Disney World Resort Benefits
The benefits to staying at a Walt Disney World Resort are endless. To see all benefits, scroll through the list and check out all Disney Resorts have to offer.
Dining Plan Transportation Parking
Package Delivery Room Charging
Location
Walt Disney World is huge! We are talking 47 square miles, huge! It is twice the size of Manhattan, huge. Staying at one of the many Walt Disney World Resort Hotels means you are closer to the action. If you are going to play in the magic, shouldn’t you stay in the magic?
Theme
Each Walt Disney World Resort boasts its own unique theme. There is a range of themes, and something is sure to interest everyone. The attention to detail, whether a guest is in a value room or a deluxe suite, is something that makes an on-site Disney stay stand out from a regular hotel room. The Value Resorts feature huge and over-the-top icons and pool areas. For example, at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, there is sports equipment fit for a giant sprawled throughout the resort. The theming only gets more inspired as you move up to a Deluxe Resort. Consider a stay at the incredible Animal Kingdom Lodge, complete with an African Savannah, where guests can view animals at any time of day.
Early Theme Park Entry And Extended Evening Park Hours
All onsite guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort are able to take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry. On-site guests can enter the park 30 minutes before the official opening time. This allows time to get a nice head start on grabbing a cup of coffee or heading to your favorite attraction.
Guests staying at Deluxe Resort Hotels and Disney Deluxe Villas can enjoy Extended Evening Park Hours at select theme parks on select nights.
MagicBand+
Guests staying onsite at the Walt Disney World Resort can purchase a MagicBand+ for each Guest up to 6 days prior to arrival. Guests can use these bands to open resort doors, charge meals and purchases to rooms, link PhotoPass photos to their account, and even access their tickets for park entry. They are the ultimate in convenience and make your vacation planning even more exciting! MagicBand+ is available in a variety of colors and styles.
Early Access to Lightning Lane Options and Park Reservations
All guests at Walt Disney World have the benefit of using the My Disney Experience Lightning Lane service, which allows guests to reserve ride times and skip the wait. Only Guests staying in a Walt Disney World Resort have the added benefit of purchasing a Lightning Lane selection at 7:00 AM. This is a big benefit for on-site Walt Disney World Resort guests because non-resort guests cannot purchase a Lightning Lane option until the parks are open.
On-site guests can also make park reservations for the number of days on their tickets. Those not staying on-site can reserve three park days at a time.
Disney’s Dining Plan
Additionally, a Disney Dining Plan allows guests to enjoy many of Disney’s fantastic restaurants through a convenient, prepaid package. As a Disney Resort guest, you also receive the added benefit of booking all dining reservations 60 days before your arrival for up to 10 days of your stay, while off-site guests must book reservations 60 days from each individual day of their trip. Beginning in 2026, the Disney Dining Plan is available again—and as an extra perk, kids dine free in 2026 when included in a package with a paying adult.
Transportation
Walt Disney World Resort Benefits allow guests unlimited (and FREE!) use of all Disney transportation. Disney will make sure that you get where you need to go. Motor coach, ferryboat, Skyliner, and monorail services are available to take you throughout Walt Disney World Resort. Some resorts are even close enough to walk to certain Theme Parks. Sit back and leave the driving and navigation to Disney! The ferryboats, Skyliner, and monorail are a fun way to get to and from the parks. Many guests consider these transportation options to be attractions to experience.
Free Parking
If you do choose to drive while on Disney property, guests staying at a Disney resort are entitled to free parking at the theme parks. This is a big savings!
Resort Package Delivery
This service is currently suspended, though we anticipate it could return. Did you find that most amazing souvenir at the parks, but don’t want to carry it with you all day? No problem! With resort package delivery, guests can select resort package pick-up when paying for their purchase. Items are delivered directly to their resort (usually the gift shop there) to be retrieved once your park touring is done for the day.
Room Charging
Guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort can use their MagicBand+ to charge purchases to their room. MagicBand+ is a great commodity for all guests at Disney, but it is especially useful with specific Walt Disney World Resort Benefits. If a credit card is on file, guests can charge purchases directly to the room, no matter where they are on Disney property. They can also access their Dining Plan credits this way. A MagicBand+ provides access to souvenirs, food, Lightning Lanes and even opens the door back at the room. How convenient!
Payment Option with Disney Gift Cards
The Walt Disney World Resort accepts payment for resort stays with Disney gift cards. Buying a few gift cards at a time is a great way to save for a Walt Disney World Resort vacation, and there can be savings if the gift cards are bought with a discount at big-box warehouse stores. The Magic For Less Travel can accept the gift cards as payment for resort stays.
All the Magic, all the time. As you can see, staying on-site offers a great deal of flexibility. There are so many Walt Disney World Resort Benefits. At every turn, Disney cast members work hard to make your stay memorable. Without the hassle of traveling off property, guests can have everything they need right at their fingertips. The magic of Disney for an entire vacation could be the best benefit of all!