Disney Fans Reveal the Hotel Lessons They Learned the HARD Way

What’s a Disney hotel lesson you learned the hard way?

Art of Animation

We know people have A LOT of opinions about Disney World hotels — ourselves included! We wanted to know the lessons our readers learned the hard way about staying in Disney hotels, and you all did not hold back!

There are some things you can only learn from experience… or by learning from other people’s experiences! We asked our Facebook followers, “What’s a lesson you had to learn the hard way about staying at a Disney World hotel?” and you all shared some great insights on both the good AND bad lessons you’ve learned!

We’ll start things out on a positive note about a happy lesson Barbi learned about how to save money on your next trip, “That there is a bounce-back offer!” Bounce-back offers are discounts that are generally offered to guests at Disney World hotels if the guest books a future vacation within 7 days of their current hotel stay. If you’re already dreaming about your next Disney World trip, remember to check the “View Special Offers” section of your My Disney Experience app or call the Ticket & Hotel Reservations number within 7 days of check-out to take advantage of the bounce-back discount if it’s applicable during your stay.

Gran Destino Tower

As far as which hotels are worth it, there were definitely some competing opinions! Several people pointed out the positives of saving money in your budget by opting for a value hotel, like Steve, who said, “If your resort is a place to sleep and get dressed, [De]luxe is wasted money you could be spending on snacks and merch.” On the other hand, plenty of Disney fans say that Deluxe is the only way to go for them, like Laura, “Once you stay at a deluxe, you can’t ever go back.”

The Grand Canyon Concourse at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Essentially, it’s about choosing the right hotel to match your vacation budget and priorities, like Matthew said, “I think all Disney properties are fine. Is the [Grand Floridian] better than the All Stars? Yes. Is it 5-7 times the price? Yes. Do what’s within the budget and regardless you’ll have a great time.”

Grand Floridian Lobby at Christmastime

Speaking of where to stay, several people also chimed in on the importance of your room location within the resort. Barbara said, “I will always pay extra at the value and moderate hotels, to have a preferred room closest to the pool and dining.” Martha also shared her experience about learning the hard way how far rooms can be from transportation hubs, saying, “If you are worn out with sore feet by the time you leave the park, the trek to your Little Mermaid room at Art of Animation will be agony.”

Calypso Pool at All-Star Music

Also, Megan learned that if you are close to the lobby, it may be better to head there and talk to a Cast Member instead of using the phone in your room, since it doesn’t connect directly to the front desk. “The room phone doesn’t connect you to the front desk. It’s better to walk there and talk to them than try to get help from the call center.”

Coronado Springs Gran Destino Tower Lobby

Another important lesson about location and how big the resort areas can be comes from Rebecca, “To leave the room in PLENTY of time to make it to the bus or a Lyft. We ordered a Minnie van for both of our breakfast reservations from [Port Orleans Riverside] and I got lost, even looking at a map – and almost made us late because I couldn’t figure out what path took me to that turn around by the parking lot.”

Port Orleans

Christine also learned the hard way that rooms that it’s typically NOT a refrigerator in the room, but a “beverage cooler,” which doesn’t get as cold as a standard refrigerator. “It’s not a fridge but a beverage cooler. The half-gallon of milk we bought at the resort gift shop spoiled before we drank it all.”

Beverage Cooler

With over 20 hotels to choose from, there are TONS of different experiences and vibes you can find around Disney World! And if you plan to spend a lot of time around your resort, it might be worth taking a close look at the activities they offer. That’s why Natalie loves Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, saying, “Staying at Fort Wilderness is like 2 vacations in one. It’s glamping and a Disney vacation in one. However I still miss the rustic cabins.”

Fort Wilderness

From happy surprises to unexpected snags, our readers shared TONS of helpful lessons they learned from their Disney World hotel stays! Do you have a hotel lesson you learned the hard way? Let us know!