Top Reasons to Stay at a Disney World Resort

With multiple kids spread over a 10-year age span, my family has made a few trips to Disney World in Orlando, which is by far our favorite go-to spot for vacations. One thing I've learned is that we definitely prefer to stay at the resort hotels at Disney World, regardless of the age and number of people in our parties. Here are the top reasons why:

1. You can take advantage of Disney's Magical Express luggage services. Fly-in and Disney's staff will pick up your checked bags, transport them to the resort and even deliver them directly to your room. (They also handle your checked bags at departure if flying on their partner airlines.)
2. Free, easy to access transportation between the hotel and all Disney parks. Every single resort hotel is connected by bus, boat or monorail to the other resort hotels and Disney World parks. The buses run frequently and every kid HAS to ride the famous monorail at least one time. While these are still available to all park guests once on-site, it really comes in handy at the end of the day when tugging tired tots back to the hotel room after a late night fireworks show.
3. Staying on property gets you access to Disney's "Extra Magic Hours." This means that the parks open earlier or stay open later for guests staying on property. (The later hours require your "key to the world" pass to access certain attractions.)
4. Everything is tied to your "key to the world" pass. This means you don't have to carry money at all in the parks, nor paper fast passes and the like. I love being able to grab a small bag with some sunscreen and anti-bacterial wipes with no other worries for the day. Disney resort guests get their dining plan, fast passes and credit card tied to their key to the world pass, leaving you with just one thing to keep up with during your stay.
5. In park shopping deliveries. Whether you're buying pictures, souvenirs or anything in between, you don't have to lug your purchases around all day. Just swipe your key to the world pass and sign a form to have your purchases either sent to your room or, on your last night, available for pick-up at guest services. This service is only available to resort guests. (It can take up to a day for your purchases to be delivered, but they are usually left at your hotel concierge desk or in your room by the end of the next day.)
6. Disney quality standards apply. The same amazing level of clean and good repair that applies to Disney's quality control in-park applies to the hotels. I've yet to enter a public or private area in a Disney resort hotel that wasn't extremely clean and in near-perfect condition. I can't really say the same about the themed or lower cost hotels outside the park.
7. In-room/in hotel child care. Some of the Disney resort hotels actually offer in-room sitting or on-site child care centers. In room sitters are often in the form of a Disney character to ease your child's comfort with the temporary caregiver. Child care service times should be reserved in advance of your visit, but are a great option for getting some adult-only time during your stay.
8. In-room celebrations. Make your trip special with a variety of gift packages that will magically appear in your room near the end of your first day or on a day of your choosing. (See "gifts" when making your reservation.)
9. Character experiences in the hotel. Most of the resorts offer meet and greet times with a variety of characters. See your concierge upon arrival for the schedule and locations during your visit.
10. Hotel amenities vary but always stick to the hotel and Disney theme. In addition to beautifully decorated themed rooms, the value resorts feature great pools and fun areas for kids while the moderate and deluxe hotels include themed water slides, play areas, game rooms and spas depending on the hotel. If you're willing to shell out extra for a top notch experience, reserve a room at Animal Kingdom with a balcony that looks out over the animal enclosures. There's nothing quite like waking to see a giraffe just outside your window!

All-in-all, you may find cheaper places to stay off property, but you simply cannot beat the total value and experience you get when staying in a Walt Disney World resort hotel. By the time you add in food and transportation costs, you may even find it's cheaper to stay in a WDW value resort than almost anywhere off property. Now Disney also offers the option to buy fewer park pass days than resort nights, allowing you to stay on-site but visit other attractions in Orlando during your vacation. Honestly, with the amount there is to do at WDW, you'd need to stay more than 10 days to find a reason to venture beyond the resort's borders during the months that all the parks and attractions are open.