There are many benefits to staying off-property as well.
The first and most obvious benefit to staying off-property is cost. Most Disney World resorts are going to cost considerably more than other hotels. Additionally, you can typically get a larger room at a non-Disney hotel or house rental for the same price as a Disney World resort room. For the average hotel price, most of the available rooms on property are rather small. This can be especially challenging for families of 5 or more as many won’t fit in a standard Disney World resort room and must pay more for a larger room.
There are many hotels or houses off-property that may include additional bathrooms, multiple bedrooms, kitchens, or even private pools at a comparable price to a standard room at many Disney World resorts. Plus, you can also use loyalty points at many non-Disney hotels which can be a huge money-saver.
Additionally, there are dozens of “Good Neighbor” hotels such as the Disney Springs area hotels and the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels. “Good Neighbor” hotels are partnered with Disney to provide you with some of the same benefits as on-site resorts but are not actually Walt Disney World resorts.
You can get larger rooms, transportation to the parks, and convenient locations while staying at one of the “Good Neighbor” hotels. Not to mention, many are going to have rooms at a lower price. Hotels like the Swan and Dolphin hotels can even give you a bit of that “Disney Bubble” feeling in addition to several dining options. Furthermore, many of the “Good Neighbor” hotels are included in the 30-minute early park entry and the ability to book a theme park package (allowing that refund up to 30 days).
It is always best to weigh the benefits that are most important to you to ensure you pick the perfect place for your family. However, based on the current pros and cons, staying at a Disney “Good Neighbor” hotel can give you many of the same benefits as staying on-site, while also offering lower costs and larger rooms. It may be beneficial to consider one when planning your next Walt Disney World trip.
Comments
The problem with staying off site right now is that it is NOT less expensive (if you have to fly to Florida like we do) because rental cars are so incredibly expensive (over $1000 for a week) that it wipes out any savings you would get from staying at an offsite hotel. And then of course you also have to pay for parking at the them parks. I've tried staying offsite without a rental car before and it was a disaster. The free shuttle buses from those other hotels only run once in the morning and once at night, so you're completely locked into whatever times the shuttle bus decides is good and have no flexibility. And if you miss it, you're out of luck.
You could take an Uber or Lyft though, couldn't you? Usually they are pretty fast and reasonable.