Is it worth it to pay extra to stay at a resort inside the Magic Kingdom? Has anyone stayed at the Polynesian Resort - is it worth the $300+/night rate?

Another question: are the meal plans worth it? How do they work?

The advantages of staying on property are that there are extra magic hours at the parks where you can go early, stay late and sometimes both. Transportation is also free, you can charge items at the parks to your room, and have things delivered there throughout the day as well. (Great feature if you plan on buying lots of souvenirs!)

Having said that, there are also hotels close by, such as those on Hotel Plaza Boulevard (near Downtown Disney) that also offer free transportation and delivery of items to your rooms, and in most case, they cost a lot less.

So, basically, it depends on your budget, what you plan on doing while you're there, whether you plan on driving (parking is $9 per day), and whether you have kids. Many people with small children think it's worth it to stay on-site just for the experience. Disney does know how to do it right!

Here's a link on staying on or off-site:
http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/onoff.htm

I've never used the meal plan, but here's an article on that too:
http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/packages06a.htm

(allearsnet.com is a great resource for many different things!)

As for the Polynesian, it's definitely nice, and the location is perfect if you plan to spend most of your time at the Magic Kingdom. If you're not, then I would recommend Disney's Yacht or Beach Club resorts - they are more centrally located and close to Epcot, MGM & the Boardwalk area.

Disney's moderate resorts are nice as well. My favorite is Port Orleans, and my 2nd choice would be the Coronado.

Good luck & have fun planning!
Heidi

You don't say when you are planning to visit Walt Disney World, but if you are going between August 13 and September 30, 2006, Disney is offering Free Dining with a package which includes hotel room and park tickets. This can be a real savings. You receive credits towards one table service meal, counter service and a snack every day - free.

I recommend you go to disboards.com for very valuable information regarding Disney.

All mousesavers.com has a ton of info and possible discounts.

I think it is worth it to stay on property, but it is a personal decision.

We like the Epcot area (you can walk or take a ferry to both Epcot and MGM Studios from this area) and have stayed at the Boardwalk Inn twice - LOVE it.

Have fun planning your trip.

Hi!
I just returned from a spur of the moment trip to Disneyworld.
We were only able to secure a room at one of the Disney value resort-The All Star Sports.. If budget is a consideration, the value resorts are perfectly adaequate.

The BIG advantage to staying on a Disney property is the complimentary transportation to all Disney parks and attractions. The buses run every 15-20 minutes and are extremely convenient.
If you don't plan to do any major touring around Orlando, I really believe staying on-site is the best option.

In addition, if you stay at a Disney property, they provide complimentary airport shuttle service, in both directions, on the Disney Magical Express.

Hope this helps.Feel free to e-mail me with any other questions.
Lori

N.B. We took advantage of the extra magical hours whenever possible. This was especially advantageous at the Magic Kingdom, We arrived at the park for a 7;00 early opening and literally walked onto every ride and attraction,including those in Fantasyland. This was amazing, considering we were here the week before Easter and the resorts were fully booked!

It's definitely worth it for the easy transportation and the extra hours you can spend in the park; especially in the mornings, when it's very quiet. The Epcot area as mentioned is a great location. We stayed at the Swan, 195/night.