Disney World resorts are more than a place to sleep, but most guests never scratch the surface of what they offer. And with rates climbing every year, getting your money’s worth means knowing what’s actually there.

After staying over 100 nights on Disney World property over the years, I’ve rounded up 30 Disney World resort tips and secrets worth knowing before your next stay, from mobile check-in shortcuts to the perks most guests walk right past. Let’s get to it.

Resort Guests Can Actually Book Dining Reservations 60+10 Days Out

Advanced dining reservations are available for all guests to book starting 60 days in advance. However, did you know resort guests actually get a dining reservation advantage?

As a Disney World hotel guest, once the 60-day window opens, you can actually book dining reservations for the entire length of your trip. This is your chance to snag those hard-to-get reservations that the general public doesn’t have access to yet.   

Resort Guests Can Book Lightning Lanes 7 Days in Advance

This is a HUGE perk for guests looking to maximize attractions. All guests, including locals, those who stay off-property, and those who just visit the parks for a day trip, can book Lightning Lane 3 days in advance.

Resort guests, however, can book Lightning Lane 7 days in advance. This means more opportunity for ride selection and, most importantly, ride return times. There’s nothing worse than going to book Lightning Lane passes and the only times left are 8 pm or 9 pm return windows. Even worse when you have toddlers in tow! This is especially important during peak times like spring break and the holidays. 

Link Your MagicBands Prior to Arrival 

MagicBands are not only a stylish accessory and souvenir, but also one of the most convenient items to purchase as a Disney World resort guest. A MagicBand is your one-stop shop for your room key, theme park tickets, Lightning Lane passes, Disney dining plan, and a form of payment.

If MagicBands are purchased in advance, link them to your My Disney Experience app prior to arrival. This will allow you to utilize all the perks of your MagicBand as soon as you arrive.

Mobile Check-In Saves Time If It’s Set Up Properly

Mobile check-in is a great offering for Disney resort guests and can be a huge time saver. Mobile check-in allows guests to set up payment, select their hotel arrival time and contact preferences, and make room requests. Once online check-in is complete, guests are then eligible for direct-to-room arrival.

Direct-to-Room arrival lets you check in online and receive a push notification when your room is ready. No need to stop by the front desk. However, to ensure you save yourself that trip to the front desk, be sure your My Disney Experience account and check-in are set up properly before you arrive. 

Set Expectations for Room Requests

When filling out your mobile check-in, certain room request options are available, such as floor and building preferences. There is no online option to request rooms with specific views or layouts. To request a specific room number, view, or layout, guests must call Walt Disney World at (407) 939-1936. 

Floor and building requests have much better chances of being approved than specific room numbers or views, so set expectations accordingly. Personally, I don’t see much reason to request a specific room number, since 90% of rooms have the same layout and match the view you booked (resort, theme park, or pool view). 

However, if you have your heart set on something specific, just keep in mind these are requests, not guarantees, and don’t let the results make or break your vacation. 

Worried About Walking? Book a Preferred Room

Many first-time guests have a misconception about preferred rooms, thinking they may be larger, accommodate more people, or offer more amenities. In reality, preferred rooms are the same exact size and layout as standard or resort rooms. The difference? The location. 

If a long walk back to your room after a day at the parks, or to and from the dining, recreation, and transportation options, is a concern for you, consider spending the extra money on a preferred room. Preferred rooms hover around $50 per night, give or take, more than a standard room, but that money may be worth it. 

These rooms place guests in the buildings closest to the resort’s main hub, where dining, transportation, shopping, and activities are located.

Complimentary Transportation Is Included (But It’s Not All The Same) 

The famous Disney Monorail, the fun-themed Disney buses, leisurely sailings on Disney boat offerings, and the always popular Disney Skyliner. You’ve heard all about them, and yes – they are free to use! Disney’s complimentary transportation options take guests to and from their resort, all four theme parks, and Disney Springs. 

However, it’s important to know that not all of the above transportation options serve every Disney resort hotel. While the Disney buses do serve every resort, the remaining transportation options serve only select resorts. 

Disney’s Monorail to Magic Kingdom: 

• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Resort

Disney’s Skyliner to Hollywood Studios and EPCOT: 

• Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
• Disney’s Beach & Yacht Club Resort

• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• Disney’s Riviera Resort

Disney Boat Service to Magic Kingdom:

• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Resort
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

Disney Boat Service to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios:

• Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
• Disney’s Beach & Yacht Club

Disney Bus Arrival Times are Shown in the My Disney Experience App

There’s nothing worse than arriving at the bus stop just to watch your bus drive away without you. Now, with a fairly recent addition to the app, guests can track the bus arrival times to ensure this doesn’t happen. 

By tapping the “My Resort” button in the app, a tab labeled “See Bus Times” will appear. This will show all bus arrival times at your resort. By using this feature, you’ll know whether you have time to grab that morning iced coffee or should pick up the pace to the bus stop.

Groceries Can Be Delivered to Your Resort

Whether you’re trying to save some money or just prefer to have your favorite snacks at the ready, ordering groceries to your resort is a seamless process. 

Disney allows delivery services like Instacart, DoorDash, and Walmart+ Delivery, as well as local small businesses such as Vacation Grocery Delivery, to drop off orders to guests in the lobby or to Bell Services to hold until pickup. (Exceptions include items such as alcohol, for which the guest must be present). 

This is a great way to have breakfast on the go in the room: protein bars and, most importantly, water bottles. 

Disney Resorts Offer More Activities Than You Think

Everyone knows Disney resorts offer common recreational activities like pools, arcades, and playgrounds. But there’s so much more than that! 

Disney resorts offer a plethora of free and paid activities for guests to enjoy. All Disney resorts offer free nightly campfires for guests to roast marshmallows. Plus, trivia and group games take place poolside every day. Movies Under the Stars are held most nights at all resorts, where guests can grab a chair and enjoy their favorite Disney movies. Some resorts also offer free yoga and wellness classes. And certain resorts, including Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Polynesian Resort, and others, offer free scavenger hunts. 

During select holidays, some resorts will also host costume contests, parades, trick-or-treating, and crafts. Additionally, paid activities such as daily crafts, tasting classes, arcade tournaments, horseback riding, fishing, boat rentals, and art classes are available at select Walt Disney World resorts.

You Don’t Have to Be Staying at That Resort to Participate in Paid Activities

While certain areas of the resort are reserved for resort guests only, like the pools, not everything is off-limits. Anyone can book a paid experience at a resort, whether or not you’re staying there. 

Interested in horseback riding or a fishing excursion? You don’t have to be staying at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort to book them. Sangria University and mosaic tile art classes at Disney’s Coronado Springs are popular activities that book up quickly for guests throughout Walt Disney World. 

To book these experiences, head to the Walt Disney World website. 

Disney Vacation Club Tours are Available at All DVC Resorts

Disney Vacation Club is a timeshare program at select Walt Disney World resorts. While all rooms are available to regular paying customers, DVC rooms primarily consist of 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom villas. 

If you’ve ever wanted to see what a multi-bedroom villa at a resort looks like, you can. DVC tours are available to guests staying at any Walt Disney World resort to see the rooms and learn about the program. I’ve taken these tours myself and have never felt pressured or uncomfortable. 

Plus, there are often promotions for free Disney gift cards if you participate in a tour. Worth it! 

Plan a Resort-Only Day

Obviously, the main attraction of Disney World is the theme parks, but don’t sleep on the resorts. Resort stays aren’t cheap, and you deserve to embrace all they have to offer. 

Not only is a rest day from the parks important, but walking over 15,000 steps per day in the heat for multiple days in a row will require some self-care. Sleep in, take advantage of the immersive resort pools and theming, then indulge in fantastic resort dining. 

This is not only a Disney World resort tip but also an important Disney World planning tip overall. Plan wisely to avoid exhaustion and bad attitudes by the end of the trip.

Utilize Early Entry

Did you know all resort guests gain access to the theme parks 30 minutes before the general public? If the high-ticket attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Rise of the Resistance, and Flight of Passage are important to you, this is a must-use perk. 

Arriving at the parks for early entry will significantly reduce your wait times. Rides with wait times normally over one hour are commonly walk-on or have shorter wait times during early entry. 

If you’re skipping Lightning Lane Multi Pass this trip, be sure to take advantage of early entry.

Deluxe Evening Hours

Not a morning person? Well, staying at a deluxe resort might be for you, then. While all resorts can take advantage of early entry, only deluxe resorts can participate in deluxe evening hours. 

Deluxe evening hours allow all deluxe guests to stay in select parks on select days two hours after park close. This perk results in virtually no wait times. Depending on your priorities during your vacation, splurging for a deluxe resort may be worth it for deluxe evening hours. 

All Resorts Offer Quiet Pools

For those not interested in poolside games, Disney music, or just the hustle of the main pool’s waterslides and activities, all resorts offer quiet pools as well. Now, there aren’t any specific noise restrictions here; however, most families with children tend to head to the main pool. 

If you’re looking to read a book poolside, sunbathe, or relax somewhere a bit less stimulating, find a quiet pool at your resort. 

Important note: quiet pools do not have lifeguards on duty.

Pool Hopping is Not Allowed – Except at Select Resorts

Disney World pools are the highlight of many resorts – sometimes the main reason guests book a specific resort! Because of this, Disney is strict about the utilization of its pools. Only guests staying at that specific resort are allowed to use the pools. For example, if you’re staying at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, you’re not allowed to use the pool at Disney’s Beach Club. 

There is one small exception, however. If the resort you’re staying at has a sister resort, using both pools IS allowed! For instance, guests staying at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside can use the pool at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter. Additionally, guests staying at any All-Star Resort can use all the All-Star Resort pools. 

Bell Services Will Store Your Luggage

If you’re arriving at the resort early or leaving the resort late, dragging luggage around is the last thing you want to do. Good news, bell services will hold your luggage for you.

All resorts offer bell services, so drop your bags and start your vacation. Bell services are a free service provided by Walt Disney World, though tipping is encouraged. 

Amenities are Still Available Even If Your Room Isn’t Ready

Now we know luggage can be dropped off at the bell desk, but what is there to do afterward? Consider packing a day-of-arrival bag with swimsuits and a change of clothes, since guests can use resort amenities even if their rooms aren’t ready.

Head to the pool, the arcade, dining options, playgrounds, or other recreation options until you get the famous text that says “your room is ready!” This also applies to check-out day. Check-out might be at 11 am, but the fun doesn’t have to stop there. Drop your luggage at the bell services and enjoy the last day of vacation.

Additionally, room charging privileges and dining plans remain valid until 11:59 pm on check-out day, not until 11 am, when room check-out takes place.  

Ask for a Late Check-Out

If your flight out of Orlando is later in the day, a late check-out may suit your needs. 

Upon arrival at your resort, head to the front desk and request a late check-out. Typically, the latest they can push it back to is 12:30 or 1 pm. The earlier you request it, the better! Late check-out requests aren’t always guaranteed, but we’ve been pretty successful in getting them granted. 

This removes the stress of rushing to wake up, eat, pack the room, and leave by 11 am, especially if you aren’t departing until the evening.

Resort Parking is Free

Though most resorts across the country charge daily self-parking fees, Walt Disney World does not. This is a huge help for budgeting, and you should strongly consider this perk when deciding between staying on Disney property and off-property. Many resorts charge $30-$40 per day for parking. For a week’s stay, this could be an extra $200 or more.

Additionally, staying at a resort means theme park parking is free. If you’d rather drive to the theme parks than use Disney’s transportation options, resort guests can do so for free by scanning their MagicBand or room key.

Consider a Split Stay

A split stay means staying at two different Disney World resorts during your vacation. Maybe you’re staying at a value resort to save money, but want to splurge one night on a deluxe resort. Or, you just want to experience multiple resorts in one trip.

Not only do split stays allow guests to see more of Walt Disney World, but they are also extremely convenient. Yes, you have to pack your luggage twice, but bell services will transfer it between the two resorts for you. All guests have to do is fill out a quick form, and their luggage will be delivered right to their new room at their new resort. 

Deluxe Amenities with Moderate Prices? Book Disney’s Coronado Springs Gran Destino Tower

If the idea of exterior room doors and outdoor walks to resort amenities doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, yet deluxe resort prices seem a bit too steep, consider the Gran Destino Tower. 

Not only is the tower’s layout designed like a deluxe resort, it also offers club-level rooms, suites, a rooftop lounge, and a fitness center. No other moderate resorts offer these amenities! Staying at Gran Destino Tower can save you hundreds of dollars per night without losing too many of the deluxe amenities. 

Guests staying here do not gain access to deluxe evening hours, however. 

Save Money with 5th Sleeper Rooms

If you’re a family of five, booking a resort can be tough. Typically, this means you’re either booking two rooms or a multi-bedroom suite to accommodate everyone. At Disney, you have more options! 

Select resorts offer 5th sleeper rooms, featuring two queen beds and a pull-down single bed. 

Moderate Resorts featuring 5th Sleepers: 

• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside 

Deluxe Resorts featuring Studio Villa 5th Sleepers: 

• Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
• Disney’s Beach Club Villas
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

Kids Eat Free with Disney Dining Plan in 2026

Dining at Disney World has become an adventure in itself, for good reason! However, costs add up fast. Throughout 2026, kids eat free with the Disney Dining Plan when booking your vacation through a Walt Disney World Vacation Package. 

This can result in savings of hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars you’d spend on dining. Not sure how to book a vacation package? Contact our travel partners at MEI & Mouse Fan Travel for a free, no-obligation quote! 

Consider Packing Cubes and Over-the-Door Storage for Longer Trips

One thing Disney World standard rooms lack is storage space, especially in 5th-sleeper rooms. Rooms typically have dresser drawer storage and a small hanging area, but that’s it. 

When planning a week-long trip with 4 adults or older kids in one room, the space can feel tight. Who gets to unpack where? To avoid some of this clutter, consider packing cubes and over-the-door hanging storage. Small items, toiletries, and shoes can fit in the door hanger, while packing cubes help keep clothes separated in the drawers.

All Resorts Offer Laundry Rooms

To piggyback off the lack of storage, another solution is to just not bring that many clothes. All resorts, even value resorts, offer a laundry room for guests. 

Detergent is available in the laundry rooms and resort gift shops, and washers and dryers cost roughly $3-$4 per load. Most laundry rooms now use a credit card machine that sends a text when the clothes are done.

Mobile Order at Quick Service Locations

One of my favorite hacks, especially at Deluxe resorts, is mobile ordering! There’s nothing better than waking up, mobile-ordering breakfast and coffee from your room, grabbing them, then eating on your balcony. My favorite place to do this is Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge in a Savanna View room. 

While breakfast is my go-to for mobile ordering, the service is convenient at all times of day. It’s a great option for poolside eating, as well. Only one person has to dry off before getting the food. That means more time for swimming. 

At peak times, resort quick-service dining lines can get long, especially at value resorts where quick-service dining is the only option available. Mobile ordering is the quickest way to beat the system.

Marriott Bonvoy Members Should Consider Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resorts

For Marriott Bonvoy members, Disney’s Swan and Dolphin resorts may be the best option that not many people know exists. While they aren’t technically Walt Disney World resort properties, they are the only two resorts, other than Disney World resorts, that offer nearly all the same resort perks. Plus, members can use points to stay here – a huge benefit for some! 

Disney’s Swan and Dolphin resort still offers early entry, advance dining reservations, the ability to purchase Lightning Lanes in advance, complimentary transportation, free theme park parking, and even deluxe evening hours. 

Some Resorts Allow Pets 

Dogs can enjoy Disney World, too! There are four resorts across the property that have designated dog-friendly accommodations: 

• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
• Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
• Disney’s Yacht Club

Per Disney’s website, “Dogs are the only pets allowed, with a maximum of 2 dogs per guest room. All dogs are expected to be well-behaved, leashed in public areas, and properly vaccinated. Dogs are not permitted in theme parks, water parks, or common areas such as restaurants, pools, and recreational spaces.” Additionally, Disney World must be informed of any dogs traveling in your party prior to arrival.

Disney even has its own doggy daycare! Best Friends Pet Care allows guests to drop off dogs while at theme parks, water parks, Disney Springs, and more. 

Comments

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