There are a lot of great reasons to stay at a Disney World Resort Hotel. For example, you get perks like Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours (trust us, that extra 30 minutes in the parks in the morning for Early Entry can be a huge game-changer for ride enthusiasts!). PLUS, the free Disney transportation via Monorail, bus, boats, or Skyliner offered at all the hotels is unlike any other.
While we could go on and on about all the reasons we love staying at a Disney World hotel, we can’t ignore some of the issues that also come with these accommodations. If you’re planning a Disney World vacation, you might want to consider this list of perks that are MISSING from the Disney hotels. Some may be small problems, but that’s up to you to decide!
Package Delivery
Way back before 2020 (has that REALLY been nearly 6 years ago??), Disney World offered Package Delivery for Disney hotel guests. This perk was a life (and arm) saver.
As you were celebrating around the parks, you could purchase your souvenirs and have Disney send them to your hotel room. You would return to your hotel later that day to find them there waiting for you, just like magic! This was great, so you didn’t have to lug your precious souvenirs around and worry about losing them on rides.
Unfortunately, after the parks reopened in 2020 during the pandemic, this perk didn’t return. Now, over 5 years later, it’s still not an option, and we’re desperately wishing for its return.
Room Service
Another perk that disappeared in 2020 and never returned is room service. Only one Disney-owned hotel currently offers this service. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is the place to stay if you’re hoping for a lazy morning breakfast in bed or a late-night dinner.
This service at the Grand Floridian is called “Private Dining” and is available from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM for breakfast and from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM for dinner.
If room service is something you need while on your vacation, it is also offered at the Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve Resort Hotels.
Complimentary Breakfast
As great as it would be to get a complimentary, continental-style breakfast while staying at a Disney World hotel, you won’t find one.
If a complimentary breakfast is something you’re looking for, you might want to check out the Good Neighbor hotels located near Disney Springs. These options typically have a lower price point, are popular hotel chains, have transportation options to the parks, and many offer a complimentary breakfast.
Magical Express
This is a sore spot for many Disney World fans and for good reason. The Magical Express was a Disney bus system that would pick you up and drop you off at the Orlando International Airport and transport you to or from your Disney hotel. It was a complimentary service with your stay, and folks loved it!
Disney got rid of the service. You can still get a similar bus to your hotel through Mears Connect — run by the company that actually provided the Magical Express. This is a paid option, that must be reserved in advance. While this is also a convenient option, many people miss having the free option offered directly from Disney.
Here’s What You Need to Know About Mears Connect
Free for the Taking: Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Wash
Another “perk” that Disney removed was its bottled shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in the rooms. You used to get bottles of the H20+ toiletries that you could take home with you if you didn’t use them all while at the hotel. These toiletries were SO good and always made us think of Disney World, so of course, we always wanted to take some home with us.
Nowadays, the bottles are no longer available in the rooms as more and more hotels are offering shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in larger dispensers in the shower.
MagicBands
Another sore subject is MagicBands. When Disney first came out with the original MagicBands, they sent every hotel guest a FREE basic, single-colored band ahead of their arrival. This was a great perk, but it eventually ended. Disney stopped giving out free MagicBands to hotel guests, but they began offering bands at a discounted price.
Unfortunately, even the discounted MagicBand perk has recently ended! Quietly, at the beginning of October 2025, Disney World stopped offering discounts on MagicBand+ for hotel guests and Annual Passholders ahead of their stays.
While hotel guests and Annual Passholders can still get their bands shipped for free ahead of their arrival and can still get them personalized, you will be paying full price for your MagicBand+.
Disney+
Ironically, Disney does not offer Disney+ on any of its TVs at any of its hotels! There is no way to sign into your Disney+ account on a Disney World hotel TV. Odd, right?!
You might not plan to have time for Disney+ in your hotel room, but for those who enjoy a break from the parks, this might be a sad deal.
By staying at a Disney World hotel, you get MANY benefits, including transportation to the parks, extra time in the parks, and the incredible Disney theming and activities. But you do miss out on some of these other perks that either used to be available and never returned, or have never been available. Keep these things in mind if they are important to your vacation!
For more Disney planning info, keep following AllEars!
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What do you like about staying at a Disney World hotel? Let us know in the comments!
Package delivery, Magical Express and toiletries are still available in Disneyland Paris! Sure, there are rules (and the Magical Express is a separate, paid service – not free) but it’s nice to know these things haven’t entirely disappeared. I’ve often wondered, though, why Disney+ isn’t available for free in the hotels: it would seem a good opportunity to attract anyone who hasn’t tried it yet.
This site is never as up-to-date as they think they are. Disney+ has been available in rooms for some time now, and it was actually announced. Geesh haha.
You used to be able to book dining 6 months in advance and fast passes 3 months in advance when staying in a WDW resort. I miss these the most. You are paying a premium price for a Disney hotel and you should receive more perks.
Last one, Disney+, is not right. I stayed ay Wilderness Lodge in September and was using my Disney+ account from the UK