Combining on site and off site hotels

[LKing]

We are planning a trip around a conference. We are thinking of spending the first night in an inexpensive Disney resort so that we can book ADR for the entire trip. The next couple of nights will be at the conference hotel and then to the Hyatt Cypress for a week where we can use points.

What perks can we take advantage of by spending the first night in the Disney property. Is it just booking ADR?

 

[CarolynFH]

Sorry, staying at a Disney resort only gets you ADR booking from checkin day through checkout day, up to ten days. So if you’re there one night, you could book ADRs for only those two days, not the entire trip you’ve planned. The ADRs for days you’re staying offsite would be booked 60 days from each day.

If you’re visiting the parks, you could take advantage of early morning entry on checkin and checkout days, as well as free parking at the theme park and/or use of Disney transportation, for both checkin and checkout days.

 

[georgina]

To me, the value of staying at a Disney resort has gone way down. Recent reports have been that most ADR's have not been that difficult to get, with a few exceptions of course. My next 2 trips are at Fairfield Inn Flamingo Crossings ($93/nt in Sept, with free breakfast, so far $110/nt in Dec but I expect that will also come down in price as my Sept rate has)

I do have a DVC rental for next March, $300/nt at Saratoga Springs, and I will take advantage of the Extra hours at MK and Epcot for deluxe guests.

 

[LKing]

Okay then I misunderstood what was posted in another thread. Is it if you are staying in a resort but not going into the park for three days, you can still book your reservations 10 days out from the first day/night you are at the resort?

 

[Twilghtsprkle]

Okay then I misunderstood what was posted in another thread. Is it if you are staying in a resort but not going into the park for three days, you can still book your reservations 10 days out from the first day/night you are at the resort?

Guests with a Valid Disney Resort Hotel Reservation: Make reservations for your entire length of stay (for up to a 10-night stay)

No 10 days out if you are not staying 10 nights at a Disney resort.

 

[LKing]

Guests with a Valid Disney Resort Hotel Reservation: Make reservations for your entire length of stay (for up to a 10-night stay)

No 10 days out if you are not staying 10 nights at a Disney resort.

Yes, I understand that now. What if I stayed at a WDW hotel the whole time but only went into the parks on the last 5 days? Can I start making reservations 60 days from when I check into the hotel or is it 60 days from my first park reservation?

 

[gottalovepluto]

Yes, I understand that now. What if I stayed at a WDW hotel the whole time but only went into the parks on the last 5 days? Can I start making reservations 60 days from when I check into the hotel or is it 60 days from my first park reservation?

They don’t care about park reservations, most visitors to Disney don’t even have park reservations anymore as that’s just for APs and non date-based tickets.

If you’re staying at Disney just to get a jump on ADRs don’t, that’s a waste with how easy they are to get…

 

[CarolynFH]

Yes, I understand that now. What if I stayed at a WDW hotel the whole time but only went into the parks on the last 5 days? Can I start making reservations 60 days from when I check into the hotel or is it 60 days from my first park reservation?

Yes, if you stay 10 nights at a Disney resort, at 60 days before checkin you can make all your ADRs (dining reservations) for your stay. Going to the parks (or making park reservations) has nothing to do with making ADRs - they’re entirely separate.

If you plan to go to the parks the last five days, and you buy park tickets that cover those specific dates, you don’t need to make park reservations. If you have an AP or certain other ticket types that aren’t dated (such as convention tickets or military tickets), then you do need to make park reservations, and you can do that as soon as you link the tickets to your profile in MDE. Again, it has nothing to do with dining reservations.

 

[LKing]

Yes, if you stay 10 nights at a Disney resort, at 60 days before checkin you can make all your ADRs (dining reservations) for your stay. Going to the parks (or making park reservations) has nothing to do with making ADRs - they’re entirely separate.

If you plan to go to the parks the last five days, and you buy park tickets that cover those specific dates, you don’t need to make park reservations. If you have an AP or certain other ticket types that aren’t dated (such as convention tickets or military tickets), then you do need to make park reservations, and you can do that as soon as you link the tickets to your profile in MDE. Again, it has nothing to do with dining reservations.

Thank you for taking the time to explain.

I know Disneyland like the back of my hand, but haven't been to WDW in close to 20 years.

 

[CarolynFH]

Thank you for taking the time to explain.

I know Disneyland like the back of my hand, but haven't been to WDW in close to 20 years.

I’m happy to have helped! It’s very confusing to me, too!

 

[LKing]

If you’re staying at Disney just to get a jump on ADRs don’t, that’s a waste with how easy they are to get…

So..... besides the ambiance, the benefit of staying in a Disney owned hotel is the early entry and early booking of LL?

I'm trying to weigh staying somewhere on points and using the money saved to pay for ILL vs staying at a Disney hotel. If it matters, we're two adults and are looking at April, 2025.

 

[lanejudy]

If you will be purchasing ILL$, those onsite may do so starting at 7am each morning. Those staying offsite can only book ILL$ at park opening.

 

[georgina]

So..... besides the ambiance, the benefit of staying in a Disney owned hotel is the early entry and early booking of LL?

I'm trying to weigh staying somewhere on points and using the money saved to pay for ILL vs staying at a Disney hotel. If it matters, we're two adults and are looking at April, 2025.

Easter is April 20, 2025, so consider crowds the week before and after. I have never had an issue buying ILL at park opening when staying offsite. Thrill data has times they have been selling out.

https://www.thrill-data.com/lightning-lane/wdw

 

[LKing]

I have never had an issue buying ILL at park opening when staying offsite. Thrill data has times they have been selling out.

https://www.thrill-data.com/lightning-lane/wdw

Wow, what a crazy website! Thanks for sharing it.

Since our trip is based around a conference, we are pretty locked in on dates. We'll be there Saturday - Wednesday, four park days and one free day. I'm thinking one park per day, no park hoppers, and pay for rides that we don't have in California (ex. skip Galaxy's Edge).

Based on thrill-data, if we have a strategy for what we want to buy and do it at park opening, we should probably be okay staying off site, right?