WDW "official" hotels vs hotels on property - a difference? About This Page:

[minnie gc]

I am so confused! I know all about the WDW resorts and the categories -- but then I read about Swan and Dolphin and Hilton -- etc - are these not "official" hotels?

I am trying to figure out where to stay for just 3 nights to be able to take advantage of early park openings and closings. We have friends staying in the area who will be meeting us during the day......thought it would be nice to have a place 'on property' that might allow some to return to during mid day if any needed a break while the rest stayed and played...... so I am looking for something very inexpensive but on the transportation system.

so, How do I know which hotels allow the early admit to parks & are on the free transporation system? (besides the official resorts which I know already have all the perks). Will our friends who are staying with locals be able to use the Disney transportation system as well?

I will have plenty more questions when I get this one figured out first! Thanks!!!!

[Sue M.]

The Hilton is the only DTD hotel that offers the extra magic hours. But isn't in the WDW transportation system. All the DTD hotels have their own system which runs every half hour I think. The Swan & Dolphin are on WDW transportation & I believe have Extra Magic hours too. But as they aren't Disney owned, you can't add the Dining plan to your pkg, & I don't think you can get parcel deliv. to your room.
It is def. nice to stay on property. Neither The Hilton or Swan & Dolphin are Disney owned.
If you are looking for an inexpensive place on property that has the WDW transportation you could look at some of the moderates (Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans or Coronado). We loved the Caribbean Bch. or the Value resorts (Pop, or the Music resorts) Of the Deluxe resorts, The Wilderness or Animal Kingdom lodges are the least expensive in that category.
I hope this helps! And welcome to The Boards!!!
Sue

[Pris]

The Swan and Dolphin are in the midst of official Disney resorts. They are on the transportation system and I believe they have the EMH benefits, etc. They are not what I would call "inexpensive", however. There are also about 6 more hotels on property, but not official, near Downtown Disney. The Hilton is there. They offer their own bus system which is good, but not quite as good as the official WDW transport. I don't think these hotels have the EMH benefits. Your off site friends should be able to use the WDW transport. It is for all park guests, and I have never seen them check for tickets or anything. You are likely to find your best onsite prices at the WDW value resorts--All Stars or Pop Century. By the way welcome to the boards.

[Sue M.]

Just as an after-thought, The Moderates & Value Resorts are both less expensive than the Swan & Dolphin, if you were considering staying there. The advantage of The Swan & Dolphin is that they are in the Epcot/Boardwalk area & the monorail
Sue

[minnie gc]

Thank you, Sue. Yes, that was quite helpful --- I will just spend some time checking it all out........ it confused me when I began to realize there are non-WDW owned accomodations on property -- I did not know if they are included in early / late park hours and transportation systems or only the WDW resorts......... so much to learn!

So -- another question. If I do decide to book one of the non-owned WDW resorts just to have a place near by for others to go back to the room to relax during the day -- and if that property IS on the transportation system - will they be able to use the free transportation system if they are not staying there themselves?

I guess my question is what determines who can use the transportation system?

[minnie gc]

Pris, I saw your post after I posted mine.......thanks for your clarification too.....sounds like it is back to the drawing board for me to figure this out!

Thank you so much for the help and direction.......and the welcome to the board! Glad to be a part........

[Sue M.]

Yes, as Pris has said, anyone can use the Disney Transp. Personally, I wouldn't recommend a DTD hotel because their transportation isn't as good as the Disney system, and their bus pick-up at the parks is quite farther away than the DTS busses. I've heard a few complaints about the DTD hotel busses. There is a link on the Allears.net web site that has loads of pictures of all the WDW hotels. That's a great place to go to see what appeals to you. Have fun planning!
Sue

[bradk]

SOG, Swan/Dolphin and Hilton DTD all have EMH privileges as well as free parking at the parks (although they all charge to park at the hotels). all other hotels on property have neither privilege. as per passporter, swan/dolphin can do resort delivery for packages (bear in mind that even at disney resorts, deliveries go to the gift shop unless staying at club level).

all this is subject to change at any time for any reason, as it is, SOG briefly lost EMH privileges for about a month not too long ago.

and of course since the DDP requires staying at a disney resort, that's not available at any other hotel.

[aliceinwdw]

Just to add my 2 cents...

My DH and I have stayed at the Hilton the past 2 years and plan to do so again in December. Assuming they offer the same priviledges as the Hilton, the Swan and Dolphin should allow for EMH privledges as well as package delivery.

The other great thing about the Hilton, and real selling point for DH and I, is that it is right across the street from DTD's Marketplace, which is obviously within walking distance/attached to Pleasure Island! It's great! Bored after an early closing park, walk across the street! No waiting for busses, getting crammed with all your stuff (should you chose to carry stuff back to the resort with you), etc. Have a lot of merchandise? Ship it back to the room! The front desk always calls us when it arrives and we pick it up there.

If you can find a deal/go at the right time (like Disney on-property resorts), you can spend $179 for their concierge level which will grant you access to their complimentary continental breakfast/snacks and drinks during the day/hors d'vours (which can be a meal in itself!) in the evening. Granted I have no info about DDP b/c DH and I have passes and never seem to go at the right time of year, but all else aside, the hotel still offers free food (in Towers lvl), great location, and great hotel!

And...if the DTD transportation is just not working for you on a certain day (of which it does pick you and drop you off right at the hotel door), you can always walk across the street to DTD Marketplace and catch a Disney bus!



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[Pris]

One warning. The busses from DTD Marketplace (not the hotel transport) do not go to the parks, only to the resorts. They went to this system a number of years ago to prevent offsite guests from parking free at the Marketplace area and bussing to the parks.

[disneyqueenmum]

What time of year are you going to Disney? During really busy times you may be better off staying out of the parks that have EMH because they tend to get really busy.

[guarn3md]

We just returned last night from a trip to WDW. We stayed at the Buena Vista Palace in DTD. It was across the street from DTD Marketplace. I really enjoyed the hotel. We had our 6 year old son with us. We used the hotels transportation when it was convenient for us - the busses arrived every half hour on the hour. If we had just missed a bus we took the 5 minute walk across the street to DTD and used those busses. Yes, we did have to take 2 different busses to the theme parks but it wasn't much of a pain. I found the busses to Port Orleans were the best. Last year we stayed at AKL and I didn't notice much of a difference with transportation times between the two hotels.
I really liked the proximity to DTD - there was always something to do. We also had a Disney view room and we could watch the fireworks at both Epcot and MK from our balcony.
We were not eligible for EMH and DDP but really didn't miss it. Breakfast was included in our package. Also, everyday housekeeping put two new bottles of water in our fridge. We had the dining plan last year and I didn't miss it that much - especially since this was a quickly planned trip and ADR's were hard to come by. Also since our son is so young we barely used the evening EMH's last year and we have never been able to get to a park when it opened so morning EMH's are out of the question. Last, there was a character buffet breakfast, also included in our package, Sunday morning.
We really enjoyed the hotel and felt we would stay there again.
Debbie

[Donna Kebabs]

We always stay at the Hilton, its a great location, right across the road from Downtown Disney, so you don't have the hassles of parking there in the evenings, I can't comment on the buses as we always have a car. But I love it there. Another Disney good neighbour hotel at a more moderate cost is the Grosvenor Hotel (although I think its name has now changed to the Regal Sun Resort) we stayed there a couple of times before moving across to the Hilton (its right across the road), and its a great hotel as well, the Hilton is just a little bit "posher" !!!

You do get the EMH and the package pick up service at the Hilton, but I don't think you get free parking at the parks?

[Sheila Gallant-Halloran]

Wow - interesting perspectives, and every family is different, for sure. My family stayed at the Beuna Vista, and although the hotel itself was pleasant enough, we hated the long bus ride at the end of the day. It sometimes took an hour to get from the park back to the hotel, and when you're lugging a sleeping and/or overtired 5 year old, and there isn't anywhere to sit on the bus, it can be taxing on your patience (and your back) to say the least. It really put a damper on that vacation.

Since that experience, we've always stayed onsite. For me, location is key. My vacation dollars and time is very precious (as is everyone's), and I choose to save my pennies to stay closer if I can help it at all. And if I really hoard those pennies, I stay at a monorail hotel - we love the Contemporary and being able to walk to the park, and the Grand Floridian is a wonderful splurge spot.

Staying onsite has other great perks - EMH can't be beat and are worth it alone to stay onsite, and shopping and charging stuff to your room (and having it delivered to your room too) is a nice perk. The dining plan and the Magic Express shuttle have been mentioned by others already.

[minnie gc]

Absolutely wonderful info has been shared!!!!!!!! I know many others will enjoy these tips and first-hand experiences.

Is there a website that shows locations of 'non-property' hotels that DO use the transportation system?

I am not interested in the Dining Plan so that does not bother me -- the early/late hours would be a nice perk - but not necessary. What I AM most interested in is the lcoation on the transportion system. As I mentioned (but maybe it was not very clear)this is just a 'landing pad' for those with toddlers for maybe 3 days -- as we are all staying off resort either w/ friends or in a condo-type unit for a week.

So, if I can find something rather inexpensive just to use for convenience then that would be super. I am just having a hard time locating a website.

thanks!

oh - -and someone asked when we are going -- early October seems to be the time we are planning for.