3. A car becomes worth it

Image: Jett Farrell-Vega (@mykingdomforamouse Instagram)

It’s an ongoing subject of contention whether a rental car is worth it at Walt Disney World. For visitors from abroad who plan on staying within the resort, it probably isn’t (especially with the arrival of Uber and Lyft), but the story is completely different for Florida residents. Annual Passholders get free parking at all Disney parks, so while parking at the Magic Kingdom is still a pain at times (due to the obligatory monorail ride from the Transportation and Ticket Center), having access to your own vehicle on other occasions can save you a lot of time. Oh, and bringing snacks and groceries becomes way easier so you aren’t spending unnecessary money on breakfast and bottled water in the parks.

4. Visits become way less hectic

Image: Disney

For the average visitor, a Walt Disney World vacation may require years of preparation and careful saving, all for a grand total of a 4-7 day visit. There’s a lot of pressure to see all your favorite attractions, and trips may need to follow a much stricter plan for dining reservations and Fastpasses.

For Florida resident passholders, this pressure gets lifted off. The freedom to come and go from the parks as you wish means Disney trips can be much more improvised. We’ve taken multiple day trips where we never even stepped onto a ride. There’s a wonderful freedom to take your time, enjoy the small details, and explore freely. Want to spend a day watching all the films throughout the parks? Go for it. Want to savor a Dole Whip on the Swiss Family Treehouse or have a picnic on Tom Sawyer Island instead of stressing about Fastpass times? Go right ahead!

5. It’s much easier to bring small children

Image: Disney

One hot topic of disagreement is what age parents should bring small children to Walt Disney World. While kids of any age can enjoy The Most Magical Place on Earth, children under four can sometimes find Walt Disney World a stressful place. Surprising things in the parks like characters or dark rides might frighten some children, and parents often report their toddlers enjoyed the resort pool more than any other part of trip. It varies from child to child and can also depend on parents’ attentiveness and preparation. Some babies and toddlers love every part of the Disney experience while others find the environment confusing and scary.

However, this issue largely disappears for families that are Florida residents. Whereas families that have to save for years for a once-in-a-decade trip might be better off waiting until their children are a little older to fully enjoy Disney parks and attractions, Florida resident families have the freedom to take trips more often which helps kids get used to the bustle of the parks. There’s far less pressure if a little one just isn’t into it, and trips can be adjusted on the fly much more easily. If baby gets fussy during a day trip, you can always change plans and try again another time.