A Disney World stay involves a lot of planning. There are dining reservations, park tickets and reservations that must align, transportation options, and booking where you’ll call “home” for your next visit.
Art of Animation
But just because you book a certain resort doesn’t mean you can’t visit the other resorts too! Keep reading to avoid this BIG mistake in 2024.
If you’re like us, we could spend full days just hanging at the resorts. In fact, we resort hop to check out what each Disney hotel has to offer. Better yet: Resort hopping is FREE, and you can use Disney Transportation to get there.
Time to resort hop!
This includes exploring different restaurants, gift shop merchandise, and special events exclusive to certain resorts. One of our favorite gift shops to check out is at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort called Moana Mercantile. A tip many guests might not know is that not all merchandise locations offer the same souvenirs. A specific pin may only be found in a limited amount of resort gift shops before ever being found at the Magic Kingdom’s Emporium.
Moana Mercantile
Dining Reservations
Guests are not limited to only eat at the resort they stay at. In fact, limiting yourself is a HUGE mistake. How else are we supposed to try the famous beignets at Scat Cat’s Club – Café if we’re staying over at Disney’s Pop Century Resort? Or dare we say you’d miss out on Ohana noodles if you weren’t staying at the Polynesian! *gasp*
Grand Floridian Lobby
Restaurants on property are typically on theme with the resort. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort = ‘Ohana. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge = Geyser Point. If you have a cuisine you’re craving, chances are Disney World offers it, but not all will be found in just one resort. That’s why it’s such a big mistake to not explore the 25+ resorts on Disney property.
‘Ohana
Using your My Disney Experience app, you can reserve your party to eat at any of the resort dining options. Advanced Dining Reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance. If staying on property, you can book your entire stay 60 days in advance. This is a huge perk for guests that book Disney resorts for their vacation! This means you get priority reservations over guests not staying on property.
©Disney
Special Sites
The dining and food are one thing you don’t want to miss, but the resorts also host some magical spectacles at certain times in the year. Some offer daily viewings of Disney Parks’ entertainment, and all you have to do is resort hop to get a good spot.
Disney Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter!
If you plan a Disney vacation sometime around the holidays, the resorts are full of hidden secrets. For instance, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is home to the well-known, life-like gingerbread house. While Disney’s Wilderness Lodge has a 5-story high Christmas tree display in the center of their Yellowstone inspired lobby.
Grand Floridian Lobby at Christmastime (2022)
Not only can you marvel at its beauty in the glamorous Grand Floridian lobby, but you can pay to buy and eat a gingerbread shingle! Don’t just take our word for it. Add this to your Disney World bucket list stat! Ahh the smell of cinnamon and spices fill the air while live piano music plays in the lobby. Oh and that massive Christmas tree! And that’s just one resort experience. Each resort offers something special during the holiday season.
Gingerbread House Shingle
But what if you don’t visit around the holidays? Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge offers guests three 11-acre savannas for animal watching their permanent residents, including, but not limited to, giraffes, okapi, and zebras. The resort even offers a “Wildlife Spotting Guide” for guests to spot from their guest room or common observation areas. And while you’re checking out this mini safari adventure, make a reservation for Boma Flavors Africa to indulge in the legendary Zebra Domes. These bite size pieces of heaven are addicting. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
Okapi at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge!
Looking for a new view of the park’s firework shows? Hop over to the Polynesian Resort, grab a Dole Whip at Pineapple Lanai, and head to their beach to get a front row seat of “Happily Ever After.” Maybe you prefer a birds eye view of fireworks? The Dahlia Lounge at the top of Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort’s Gran Destino Tower offers a beautiful view of both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios nighttime spectacles.
Outdoor seating with a VIEW
Resort hopping can be a full day, half day or even just an evening outing. Where you stay is only a tiny part of the Walt Disney World Resort experience. Guests are more than welcome to explore the different hotels on property, eat at their restaurants, and shop. In fact, if you don’t take advantage, you’ll be making a big mistake!
Check out other mistakes to avoid on your next Disney World trip!
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WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
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Visiting other hotels can be soooo much fun, especially the hotels on the monorail route. They have great shops, good restaurants and you get to ride on the monorail! This is really fun to do if you visit on a rainy day. There is also game rooms to visit at each of the hotels.