I participate in several Disney related facebook groups. One question I see over and over is a variation of, “Is such-and-such worth it?” People ask about cruises, specific hotels, staying on or off property, and a variety of other vacation-related topics. So I wanted to take a few moments to help those overwhelmed Disney vacation planners focus their answers.
Let’s start with the basics. Disney is a pricey adventure. Whether you are looking to stay for 2 days in California, a week at Aulani, or take a Disney Cruise, a quick search on travel consolidator sites like Booking.Com or vacationstogo will list hotels and cruises that are much cheaper than Disney products. Know that Disney products do come with a level of service and other perks that bring the total cost of the trip more in line with other companies.
Disney Cruise Line
Nowhere do I see more questions about cost than with Disney Cruise Line. Disney’s cruises are more pricey “looking” than other global cruise lines. However, if you look at, say, NCL, they will list a cabin for a specific price. When you go to book, taxes, fees, and port charges are added onto that base fare. In some instances, the initial cabin price quoted can double once the associated taxes and fees are included. When Disney prices the cruise for you, the initial quote will include all those fees and taxes.
Furthermore, Disney cruises include free coffee, tea, and sodas at their pool deck machines. All dining is included on a Disney cruise with the exception of the specialty restaurant. On other cruise lines, while there will be no shortage of food at the cafeteria, on deck, and at the “standard” dining room, most other cruise lines have multiple specialty restaurants that come with an extra charge. Sure, you don’t have to eat at any of those, but that seemingly endless cafeteria selection becomes boring after several days of the same dishes.
As a quick example, a few years back we sailed on a Baltic Cruise with NCL. The ship had 5 specialty restaurants that charged extra. We ate at several of them and the costs weren’t high, but you do need to factor in those prices when you look at the cost of your cruise.
The other thing Disney offers on their cruises is kids’ programming in separate areas. From babies to teens, Disney has clubs, activities, and fun spaces for every age. Yes, other cruises have this, but they are behind the Disney experience in this aspect. Take a Disney cruise with your school age kids and you might not see them at all! If that sounds like a great idea, then Disney is definitely your cruise choice.
Disney World on Property versus off Property
Heading to Florida? Disney World a vast sprawling property that covers 43 square miles and straddles both Orange and Osceola Counties. There are dozens of Disney properties in every budget category. You can stay at a less pricey family hotel such as Art of Animation. Or you can splurge and rent a villa at the Grand Floridian. There’s something for everyone. The perks of staying on property include free bus service, free parking at the theme parks, and early entry into the parks on different days. These are all great money savers for a Disney World vacation.
You can stay off property at a hotel with a shuttle service into Disney World, but you need to do your homework on the hotels’ shuttle times before you book. You might end up spending the difference of the room cost in Ubers. Alternately, you can rent a car, but then you are paying $25 per day to park at the theme parks in addition to the car rental costs. So that off property hotel might not be any cheaper than a budget friendly Disney property.
California Disneyland on Property versus off Property
Disneyland in California is a much smaller property. With 2 parks connected by Downtown Disney. At roughly 500 acres, the California Resort is 1/5 the size of the Florida Property. There are 3 hotels on property at Disneyland and they are expensive. If you really want to immerse yourself in Disney-ana, you can stay on site. However, there are a multitude of hotels ranging from large Marriott and Hilton properties to budget-friendly locally owned properties all within walking distance. Most charge a nightly fee for parking, but some do not. Either way, if you stay within walking distance, there is no need to pay the $40 per day at the theme park lots.
Anaheim also has a local bus service with lines that run from the hotels further down Katella Blvd right into the resort. This is a great option as well since there are some nice hotels at decent rates throughout the area, but aren’t within comfortable walking distance.
Off Site Explorations
Whether you are headed to Florida or California, you must also decide whether your vacation will include off-site explorations. Are you going to Disney World and only spending time at the parks? That’s another vote for staying on property. You won’t need a car. If, however, you plan to head out to Cocoa Beach, explore Kennedy Space Center, or venture over to Universal for several days, then the additional costs associated with a Disney hotel might not be justified. After all, you wouldn’t take advantage of extra magic hours at Disney on the days you aren’t going to the Disney parks. Plus, you might score free hotel parking off-site. Another saving when you aren’t in the parks.
Whatever you ultimately choose, be sure to do some research before booking. Everyone’s trip goals and budgets are different. For some, Disney’s immerse cruise line environment is completely worth it. For others, Princess or NCL might be a better fit.
The same holds true for Disney Resort hotels. Do your research. As with everything in travel, there are pros and cons to every option. If budget is most important to you, than you might want to stay off property and use that saved cash on park snacks or extra activities. If the experience is most important, by all means, stay on property.
Whatever you choose, you will have a magical vacation.