BASICS of WALT DISNEY WORLD LODGING
Locating suitable accommodations is critical to planning any Walt Disney World vacation. The basic question is whether to stay inside the World. Luxury lodging can be found both in and out of Disney World. Budget lodging is another story. In the World, hotelroom rates range from about $80 to more than $900 per night during high season. Outside, rooms are as low as $35 a night.

Beyond affordability is convenience. There’s no real hardship in staying outside Disney World and driving or taking a hotel shuttle to the theme parks. We’ve lodged both in and out of Disney World, however, and there’s special magic and peace of mind associated with staying inside the World. “I feel more a part of everything and less like a visitor,” one guest writes.

Benefits of Staying in the World
Staying In or Out of Walt Disney World: Pros and Cons

THE DISNEY RESORTS

WDW Hotel Photos and Video In-depth photos of every WDW resort, including video

READERS' DISNEY RESORT REPORT CARD
Each year, several thousand readers send us their responses to the survey at the end of the Unofficial Guide. This "Report Card" following documents their opinions of the respective Disney resorts, as well as of Swan, Dolphin, and Shades of Green. Click here to read the report.

DISNEY TRAVEL PACKAGES
Hundreds of Walt Disney World package vacations are offered each year. Some are created by the Walt Disney Travel Company, others by airline touring companies, independent travel agents, and wholesalers. After reading this article you'll know how to evaluate these package and figure out whether you'll save money in purchasing one. Click here to read the article.

THE DISNEY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
To enable you to assess your transportation options, we've developed a chart comparing the approximate commuting times from Disney resorts to various Walt Disney World destinations, using Disney transportation or your own car. A separate chart shows the fastest way to get between Disney resorts using Disney's free bus service instead of taxis.  More details can be found here.

MAGIC YOUR WAY DINING PLAN
Disney has a dining plan to accompany its Magic Your Way ticket system. Called the "Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining," it's available to all Disney resort guests except those staying at the Swan, Dolphin, and Shades of Green, which are not Disney-owned or -operated. (Disney Vacation Club members, and those renting DVC points are eligible, too.) Guests must also purchase Magic Your Way tickets as part of their package to qualify for the dining plan. (DVC members do not have to purchase tickets.)

The dining plan's cost is determined by the number of nights staying at that Disney resort. For guests ages 10 and up, the price is around $39.99 per adult, per night, and $10.99 per child ages 3-9, with tax included. Children under 3 eat free. Click here for more details

THE BEST HOTEL DEALS ON THE NET
We'll show you which websites have the least expensive rates for more than 250 Orlando-area hotels. We'll also tell you how good the rate is as compared to other times of the year, and we'll predict whether the rate is likely to go up or down during the next week.

The site is updated daily, with more than 100,000 rate quotes from more than two dozen websites, covering more than 250 hotels, up to 300 days in advance. You can search by hotel name, hotel class, driving distance from Walt Disney World, cost, and more. Click here to start your search.

THE BEST SPAS IN ORLANDO NEW!
We've compared nine top spas in and around Walt Disney World for massages, manicures and pedicures, and facials. See which ones offer you peace and tranquility at a reasonable price. Click here to read our report.