Staying at a Disney World Resort hotel will ensure that you’re fully immersed in the Disney “magic” throughout the entirety of your stay. But, just like the parks, they’re NOT always perfect.
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Like other unforeseen problems in Disney World, from gift card snafus to Park Pass hangups, the hotels have their OWN set of issues, including some that no one seems to talk about! The good news is that if you’re gonna run into a problem, Disney World is probably the best place for that to happen. But the bad news is problems in Disney World can be inevitable — even in the cozy confines of your hotel. So, allow us to shed some light on some particularly frustrating hotel problems that NO ONE is talking about!
The Awkwardness of Driving Into a Resort If You’re Not a Guest There
When it comes to security, Disney World is basically a whimsical Fort Knox. Seriously, sometimes we think we’d have an easier time walking into the Pentagon than we would a Disney World hotel! And, since the parks and resorts reopened after temporarily closing at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s only gotten harder to visit the hotels if you’re not staying there.
Disney’s Port Orleans — Riverside
Currently, Disney’s website states that guests visiting the resorts must either have a confirmed room reservation or a confirmed dining reservation — sounds simple, right?
For guests with reservations who are staying on property, it’s no problem at all! But have you tried driving into a resort for dinner at say Narcoossee’s in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa or a casual meal at the Steakhouse 71 Lounge in Disney’s Contemporary Resort WITHOUT being a guest there? It’s…weird. You’ll be asked to provide the name under your reservation (and usually a valid ID) and Disney’s security team will check their system for your reservation.
Steakhouse 71
On the one hand, it’s good that security is tight, but it’s strange to feel a little interrogated at the check-in gate when all we want to do is eat ‘Ohana Noodles without feeling the need to spend a few extra hundred dollars on a room.
FREE Overnight Hotel Parking Has Returned to Disney World!
Bus Transportation. ‘Nuff Said.
Listen, we’re grateful that Disney World transportation is abundant and free! But you know what ELSE can be abundant during your trip? Transportation headaches.
Bus Transportation
If you’ve ever relied on Disney World transportation, you’re probably familiar with the crowds and long lines that you can find at bus stops whether you’re traveling to the parks or back to the hotel. And, it doesn’t seem to matter whether you’re staying at a hotel with only a few bus stops (some even only offer ONE for ALL the busses) or one with multiple stops…you’re likely going to find yourself waiting with a crowd of other guests staring at the digital wait times board.
You never know how long your wait for the bus will be
Oh, and did we mention that you could be waiting on a bus for 20 minutes (or more in some cases)?
Waiting for the bus at Pop Century
No matter which way you look at it, hotel transportation isn’t a picnic!
See How This Orlando Airport Transportation CHANGE Could Impact Your Next Disney World Trip
The Struggle For Pet-Owners
Did you know that there are actually dog-friendly hotels in Disney World? That’s right, you can bring Fido with you to the “most magical place on earth” if you’re staying at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, and the Campsites or Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. But, it’s not without its own set of struggles.
Pluto isn’t the only pup that gets to visit Disney World!
When staying at a pet-friendly hotel with your pet, this doesn’t stop room service from needing to perform their routine room checks and upkeep. But, it’s a little different from the housekeeping service that you’re likely used to at Disney World.
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Housekeeping doesn’t want to disturb your pet when conducting these routine checks, so the somewhat awkward solution is having to negotiate a time when you’ll be in your room and able to comfort your pet while room service does their magic. NOT an easy feat for most people who like to spend a bulk of their day in the parks!
Plus there are quite a few other rules and recommendations that Disney has for guests who choose to bring their pet along that could throw a wrench into your traditional park plans.
Bringing Your Dog To Disney World JUST Got Easier!
You’re Paying for Location, Not Luxury
Even for the larger-than-life Deluxe Resorts, many hotel rooms at Disney World can feel small and cramped. And, this would all be fine, if it weren’t for the fact that you’re paying a LOT for these spaces!
Contemporary Guest Room
For example, the rooms at the VERY EXPENSIVE Grand Floridian Resort & Spa aren’t much more luxurious than a moderately appointed (and MUCH less expensive) chain hotel off-property, like a Hilton or a Hyatt.
Grand Floridian Hotel Room
Of course, Disney World’s Deluxe Resorts certainly have their luxuries, but at the end of the day, you’re MOSTLY paying for location over luxury when it comes to where you lay your head to rest at night. And, that can be pretty pesky if you’re expecting the latter for those prices.
Of course, there are quite a few more amenities at these hotels, like multiple Table Service restaurants, spas, and more, but you’re really only getting a big bang for your buck if you spend time enjoying the hotel rather than holed up in your room or at the parks all day.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
On the opposite end of the Disney World spectrum, the “value” in Value Resorts can be pretty subjective. If your idea of value is perks and amenities, you’ll likely find yourself disappointed.
Pop Century
For example, at hotels like Disney’s Art of Animation Resort or Disney’s Pop Century Resort, you won’t find ANY Table Service restaurants, nor any upscale add-ons like spa services. Instead, these resorts are pretty bare-bones with a Quick Service food court, a small merchandise shop, and pools.
The Art of Animation food court isn’t exactly California Grill
So, while it might be a value in terms of money (though even that is debatable), you’re really paying for a place to sleep at night and not much more.
Everything We Know About the New Hotel Rooms Coming to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
And The Crowds…
Speaking of Value Resorts, we didn’t even MENTION one of the biggest grievances Disney fans have with these “cheap” hotels. The one BIG problem with these money-saving properties, you ask? The fact that they can be more crowded than rope drop on Main Street, U.S.A.!
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
These hotels accommodate a LOT more guests than places like the Grand Floridian or Disney’s Beach Club Resort or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge which means that they tend to be more packed with people. In fact, these tend to be the go-to hotels for youth conventions, high school bands, and other large groups which can make for even more noise and general hustle-bustle.
All-Star Music Resort Entrance
So, if you book yourself a stay at these resorts looking to kick back and relax in a more subdued setting on your Disney World vacay, this could be a BIT of a problem!
My UNPOPULAR OPINION On The BEST Disney World Hotel Value of Them All.
Some Hotels Book Up WAY in Advance
You might be familiar with the struggle to secure a Park Pass Reservation during particularly busy times of the year, but nowadays it can be hard to find a reservation for the hotel you want too! In fact, we’ve seen some hotels book up MONTHS in advance.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Though Disney hasn’t confirmed whether capacity limits are still in place at the hotels and almost all have reopened, it’s become almost impossible to secure yourself a stay at certain resorts without some serious planning ahead. It could simply be a matter of not having enough beds for all the heads if capacity limits are still in place or Disney World could really be that hot of a vacation spot now that travel has nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels.
It can be hard to get a reservation at ANY hotel right now
Especially for those who prefer to hold out or wait a little bit, this can add quite a hectic little plot twist to your vacation-planning experience!
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
At the end of the day, all Disney World hotels are immersive and memorable, but that’s not to suggest they aren’t without their problems, as you can see here! Hopefully, though, with some extra planning and insight, you can work around this to ensure your Disney vacation is as dreamy as you’ve always dreamed!
And, be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney World tips, tricks, and updates!
Will Disney World Get Rid of Park Passes in 2023?
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Did Disney allow people to resort hop to see the Gingerbread houses during Christmas?
Hi Ted! I was able to visit the resorts to see the gingerbread houses by using Disney transportation. I took the Monorail to the Grand Floridian, then a bus over to Beach Club so it can be done.
One of our favorite things to do at WDW is walk from Polynesian to Grand Floridian and back. We just love the atmosphere, gift shops and often some food (usually walk ups). It used to be fairly easy to just tell the guard that we wanted to go eat at Captain Cooks and they would let us in. I suspect that would not work these days. Any suggestions on how we can still do this? We thought maybe going to Disney Springs where you can park for free and take a bus over but that sounds wildly inconvenient.
As always, DFB, thank you for the excellent and very informative article! Yes, I’m military and checking into Wilderness Lodge and The Yacht Club for our dining reservations in October 2021, was worse than entering the Pentagon or any other military installation for that matter!
Are taxis available at the resorts to drop us off at the parks?
I have been eating at hotels while staying off property for years. You pull up to the gate, show your drivers license, give them your name and ADR time and they very nicely tell you where to park. It is not awkward at all and it is much harder to get into the Pentagon!
Oh please people. The value resorts are amazing. Some of the best pools around. The themes are incredible. The gift shops are well supplied and staffed . I have stayed at moderate resort and it does not have the feel of Disney. Who cares if you are sleeping on real wood framed headboard. They are clean and efficient. I would rather spend my money on food and drinks than worry about staying at a high priced hotel.
I always find complaints about Disney’s buses amusing and not in a good way. As someone who does not drive (never got my license & I’m 50) I can tell you that there are only two major differences between Disney’s bus service and non Disney public transit bus service. Those differences? Location and a set schedule for when the buses will leave a park, hotel, or Disney Springs (and more often than not the buses are late anyway). In my 40+ years of public transit I’ve been on crowded not even standing room buses, buses with loud, obnoxious, rude passengers, waited for buses in bad weather with no shelter, had police board the bus to look for and/or arrest someone and many other things. So, I find the complaints about Disney’s bus service ridiculous. If you don’t like the bus service than don’t use it. Rent a car, use Uber or Lyft, or take a taxi instead, but for the love of Mickey stop complaining about the bus service.
@June W, thank you for your response, Madame! Usually that is the case, However, during October 1-10 2021, I wonder why they gave me such a hard time once I showed my Driver’s License and Magic Band? As a US Army Attorney, I never have a problem entering the Pentagon or any other installation for that matter with my CAC! Notwithstanding , I love WDW, so I’ll move on to another topic!
I remember staying at the Contemporary Resort, 1986, a new college grad. Alone-and the adjoining room connecting door didn’t lock. I told the front desk I told security and at 22 I wrote a letter. The reply was disturbing kinda like no harm no foul. I wasn’t looking for a refund I was passing it on. And now that I think about it the door didn’t have a peep hole. Dirty little secrets.
Great article! And ALL so true! The best way now to get to the other resorts is to leave the Park and visit those hotels on Disney transportation. If you are in the MK, you can just walk to the Contemporary or Grand Floridian, or take the monorail. If you are in Epcot or HS, you can take the friendship boats or walk to the Boardwalk and all of those deluxe resorts.
And wow, Laura, you seem to have a bee in your bonnet about anyone who complains about transportation, but that is their prerogative, I guess.
The only other thing I would have mentioned in this article is that if you expect daily mousekeeping and fresh towels, that doesn’t happen …. Even in the deluxe resorts, these days. There is no longer any excuse for them not to clean your room and make beds daily! Please let us know when this comes back!
Thanks, DFB!
@Dottyanna – I agree on our recent stay at the Yacht Club having to call and ask for supplies and to have our trash taken out was so annoying for the amount of money we paid. Also, many times we called they brought the wrong thing (one night we called for more coffee supplies and they brought a Keurig Coffee Maker). The Markert at Ale and Compass always seemed dirty.
Hi. I had 2 items worth over $400 stolen from my room at Disneys Boardwalk Inn this past Saturday. I noticed that they were missing right after the cleaning person had left. They would not have fit in the safe and clearly were not valuables that you should lock in a safe however I should have locked them in my suitcase. Filed a police report with the Orange County Police Department because Disney insists that they are “lost” and does nothing to remedy the situation or reimburse you for the stolen items.
Hi, I ordered the DFB with more information offered in April. I have not received them as of today. May 15,2023. Can you help me?
Hi Beverly! Please send an email to [email protected] with the email address you entered when making the purchase and one of our support associates will be able to assist you. Thanks so much!